The Roaring '20s and the Great Depression: U.S. History Overview

What cultural clash intensified in American society during the 1920s?

The clash between Modern America (urban, industrial, secular) and Traditional America (rural, agrarian, WASP).

What was the effect of the 18th Amendment?

It prohibited alcohol, challenging traditional societal norms.

What major technological impacts influenced society in the 1920s?

The impact of the radio and automobile.

What characterized the politics of the 1920s?

A resurgence of conservatism with a Republican-dominated government focused on pro-business and laissez-faire policies.

What was the foreign policy approach of the U.S. in the 1920s?

'Return to Normalcy,' aiming to return to isolationism and the Monroe Doctrine.

What economic phases occurred in the 1920s?

Transition from War to Peace (1919-1920), Huge Boom (1921-1926), and Warning Signs (1927-1929).

What significant event marked the end of the economic boom in the late 1920s?

The Crash of the Stock Market, with key dates being Black Thursday, Black Monday, and Black Tuesday.

What was the Great Depression?

A severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929.

What was the New Deal?

A series of programs and reforms introduced by President Franklin Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression.

What led to the 1st Red Scare in the U.S.?

Postwar economic difficulties and labor unrest, leading to fears of communism.

What was the Emergency Quota Act of 1921?

An immigration law that restricted immigration based on 3% of each nationality living in the U.S. in 1910.

What was the Immigration Quota Act of 1924?

An immigration law that limited immigration to 2% of each nationality living in the U.S. in 1890 and excluded Japanese immigrants.

How did the KKK evolve during the 1920s?

It evolved into a pro-American ideology focused on WASP values and spread to urban areas.

What was the Volstead Act?

The act that enforced Prohibition, leading to a rise in organized crime.

What were the Palmer Raids?

Raids led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer to search for political radicals and deport foreign-born activists.

Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?

Two Italian anarchists convicted of murder in 1921, whose trial was seen as a prime example of nativist backlash.

What was the Great Migration?

A mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas of the North, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970.

What were the push factors for the Great Migration?

Poverty, indebtedness, racism, and violence in the rural South.

What were the pull factors for the Great Migration?

Factory jobs in the urban North and the opportunity for more freedom and autonomy.

What was the impact of the automobile on American society in the 1920s?

It transformed transportation, urban planning, and social interactions.

What was the significance of the radio in the 1920s?

It revolutionized communication and entertainment, bringing news and culture into homes.

What was the general public's attitude towards Prohibition?

While many supported it, there was a strong desire to drink, leading to organized crime.

What was the societal response to labor unrest post-World War I?

Labor unrest was blamed on Bolsheviks, leading to the Red Scare and anti-labor sentiment.

What was the role of big business conservatives during the Red Scare?

They used the Red Scare to undermine labor unions by associating them with communism.

What was the outcome of the Sacco and Vanzetti case?

Despite public protests, they were executed in 1927, highlighting nativist sentiments.

What characterized the economic transition from war to peace in the early 1920s?

Control of industries shifted back to the private sector, leading to layoffs and unemployment.

What was the National Origins Act of 1924?

A law that established quotas based on nationality for immigration to the U.S., limiting immigration from southern and eastern Europe.

What was the purpose of the Mexican Repatriation program (1929-1939)?

To encourage Mexicans to voluntarily move back to Mexico, partly due to the Great Depression.

What was the Bracero Program (1942)?

An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico allowing the importation of temporary contract workers from Mexico to fill workforce gaps during WWII.

Who was Luisa Moreno?

A social activist who unionized workers and created the first national Latino civil rights assembly in 1939.

What characterized the 'Lost Generation'?

A generation of men and women disillusioned by their war experiences and critical of the consumerism of the 1920s.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

A literary and artistic movement in the 1920s centered around Harlem, showcasing African-American life and culture.

Name a notable musician from the Harlem Renaissance.

Duke Ellington or Jelly Roll Morton.

What is jazz music known for?

A uniquely American style characterized by improvisation and syncopation, primarily developed in African-American communities.

What was KDKA in Pittsburgh known for?

The world's first commercial radio station, which began broadcasting in 1920.

What was the significance of The Jazz Singer (1927)?

It was the first motion picture with sound, marking the beginning of the 'talkies' era.

What was the Ku Klux Klan March on Washington (1925)?

A march led by the KKK claiming 5 million members, demanding laws against immigration and opposing various minority groups.

What was the Scopes Trial?

A famous trial symbolizing the conflict between science and theology, where John Scopes was charged for teaching evolution.

What did the 18th Amendment establish?

A nationwide ban on the sale, production, and importation of alcohol, known as Prohibition.

What were the four major characteristics of an economic crisis?

Business failures, unemployment, bank failures, and deflation.

What were some causes of the Great Depression?

Buying on credit, stock market crash, and agricultural and industrial failures.

What were the economic effects of the Great Depression?

High unemployment, ruined companies, banking crises, and a halt in international trade.

What were some social effects of the Great Depression?

Increased crime, family breakdowns, and a rise in the suicide rate.

What political changes occurred due to the Great Depression?

Shifted dominance from Republicans to Democrats and led to the emergence of temporary socialist government solutions.

What was the Ashcan School?

A group of New York artists focusing on portrayals of urban life in the early 1900s.

Who was Edward Hopper?

A painter known for his depictions of urban scenes illustrating life in modern America.

What was Yiddish Theater?

Political and artistic plays performed in Yiddish in New York during the 1920s, reflecting the Jewish community's culture.

What was the impact of the Great Migration on African Americans?

It led to a significant cultural diffusion in northern cities but also resulted in hostility and discrimination.

What did the term 'Hoovervilles' refer to?

Shantytowns developed during the Great Depression, named after President Hoover, symbolizing the economic hardship.

What was the role of advertising in the economic boom of the 1920s?

Advertising encouraged consumer spending and contributed to the economic bubble that preceded the Great Depression.

What was the significance of the stock market crash in 1929?

It marked the beginning of the Great Depression, leading to widespread economic failure and unemployment.

What did the term 'buying on margin' refer to?

A practice where investors borrowed money to purchase stocks, contributing to the stock market crash.

What were the 'fireside chats'?

Radio speeches by Franklin Roosevelt from March 1933 to June 1944, addressing various topics and providing comfort to the American people.

What triggered the Great Depression?

An economic imbalance characterized by too much supply and not enough demand.

What was the significance of the Stock Market Crash of 1929?

It marked the beginning of a ten-year depression affecting all industrial societies in the Western world.

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff?

The highest tariff rate in U.S. history, enacted in 1930, which worsened the international depression.

What was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation?

A U.S. government agency established in 1932 to provide financial aid to railroads, financial institutions, and businesses.

What was the Bonus March of 1932?

A protest by unemployed World War I veterans demanding early payment of bonuses, which was violently dispersed by the U.S. Army.

What are the 'Three Rs' of the New Deal?

Relief, Recovery, and Reform aimed at providing immediate aid, stimulating economic activity, and preventing future depressions.

What did the Glass-Steagall Act (1933) accomplish?

It forbade commercial banks from excessive speculation and established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

What is the purpose of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)?

To regulate banks and insure bank deposits for consumers.

What does the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) do?

Regulates financial markets and investment companies.

What was the Wagner Act (1935)?

Also known as the National Labor Relations Act, it protected workers' rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

What did the Social Security Act (1935) provide?

Federal financial assistance for old age, unemployment, widows, and the disabled.

What was the Court-Packing Plan (1937)?

An unsuccessful attempt by Roosevelt to add new justices to the Supreme Court to support his New Deal programs.

What was the Roosevelt Recession (1938)?

A period of economic stall caused by cuts in government spending introduced by Roosevelt.

What was the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)?

A labor organization formed to unionize unskilled industrial workers, later merging with the American Federation of Labor.

What was the New Deal Democratic Coalition?

An alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the New Deal and the Democratic Party from 1932 to 1968.

Who was Huey Long?

A critic of the New Deal who advocated for wealth redistribution and was assassinated in 1935.

Who was Charles Coughlin?

A Roman Catholic priest and critic of the New Deal known for his antisemitic views and support of fascism.

What was the impact of the Russian Revolution on the U.S. in 1919?

It led to distrust of socialists and immigrants, contributing to the fear of the 'Bolshevik menace.'

What was the Seattle General Strike?

A major strike in 1919 involving 60,000 workers that heightened fears about labor unrest in the U.S.

What was the response to the Boston Police Strike?

Governor Calvin Coolidge declared that all striking police officers would lose their jobs.

What role did the American Legion play during the post-World War I period?

It promoted patriotism and countered the perceived threats from anarchists and socialists.

What was the significance of A. Mitchell Palmer's residence being bombed?

It intensified fears of radicalism and the perceived threat to American society.

What magazine was effectively shut down during the Palmer Raids?

The Masses magazine.

What violent events occurred in American cities during the summer of 1919?

Armed white Americans attacked black neighborhoods, resulting in killings, looting, and arson.

What significant demographic change contributed to racial tensions in the North during this period?

The Great Migration, which increased the African American population in Northern cities.

What was the impact of the Spanish Influenza pandemic in 1919?

It killed over half a million Americans, primarily affecting those in their prime working age.

What amendment prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages?

The 18th Amendment.

What act enforced the 18th Amendment?

The Volstead Act.

What was the initial effect of Prohibition on alcohol consumption?

Alcohol consumption dropped considerably, along with alcohol-related crimes and diseases.

Who was a notorious criminal that rose to power during Prohibition?

Al Capone.

What was Warren G. Harding's campaign promise?

To return to 'normalcy', a term coined by his speechwriters.

What scandal involved the misuse of federal land during Harding's presidency?

The Teapot Dome scandal.

What significant change occurred in American voting rights in 1920?

The 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote.

What cultural movement emerged from the African American experience in the 1920s?

The Jazz Age.

What was the significance of the Scopes Trial in 1925?

It represented the clash between modern science and traditional religious beliefs, focusing on the teaching of evolution.

Who defended John Scopes in the Scopes Trial?

Clarence Darrow.

Who represented the prosecution in the Scopes Trial?

William Jennings Bryan.

What was a notable characteristic of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s?

It broadened its hate to include Catholics, Jews, anti-Prohibitionists, and new immigrants.

What societal changes did women experience during the Prohibition era?

Women began to frequent speakeasies, which were previously barred to them.

What was a common method of purchasing new consumer goods in the 1920s?

Buying on credit or installment plans.

What was the general perception of the 1920s in America?

An era that 'roared' with cultural and social changes.

What was the outcome of the Scopes Trial for John Scopes?

He was convicted for teaching evolution.

What was the public reaction to the rise of African American veterans after World War I?

Many white Americans were incensed by their new attitudes and demands for rights.

What did the Great Migration signify for African Americans?

A movement towards northern cities for better job opportunities and living conditions.

What was the role of the Women's Christian Temperance Union during this period?

They were instrumental in the push for Prohibition.

What was the role of the Klan in the 1920s?

The Klan was strong in the Midwest, serving social and recreational purposes, and many public officials were Klan members.

How did the automobile industry change in the 1920s?

Mass production techniques, like Ford's assembly line, made cars affordable for more Americans, tripling the number of cars on the road.