Key Figures and Events of World Wars and Great Depression

Adolf Hitler

Dictator of Nazi Germany → Caused Holocaust + WWII through expansionism.

World War I (1914-1918)

Global conflict (Allies vs. Central Powers) → Caused massive destruction + political upheaval.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister → Caused morale boost + Allied resistance against Nazis.

Josef Stalin

Leader of Soviet Union → Caused famine through collectivization but later Allied victory.

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy → Caused Italy to join Axis + inspired Hitler.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Ended WWI, punished Germany → Caused instability + rise of extremism.

Tripartite Pact (1940)

Alliance of Germany, Italy, Japan → Caused increased global tension.

Great Depression

Worldwide economic crisis (1929) → Caused unemployment, poverty, + political shifts.

John Maynard Keynes

British economist → Caused new policies boosting demand + jobs during Depression.

Warren Harding

29th U.S. President → Caused loss of trust from scandals (Teapot Dome).

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

Agreement to renounce war → Caused little impact as nations ignored it.

Calvin Coolidge

30th U.S. President, pro-business → Caused economic imbalances → Depression.

Herbert Hoover

31st U.S. President during Depression → Caused criticism for weak response.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

32nd U.S. President → Caused New Deal reforms + U.S. WWII leadership.

United Fruit Company

U.S. corporation controlling farmland in Latin America → Caused economic dependency on the U.S. in Latin America.

Dependent Development

Foreign investors exploit a country's resources for profit → Caused weaker nations to stay dependent on industrial powers.

Argentine Wheat

Major export crop in the early 20th century → Caused Argentina to rely on foreign markets.

Brazilian Coffee

Brazil's main export crop → Caused economic dependency on global demand and vulnerability to crashes.

Canada's Conscription Crisis (1917)

Mandatory draft during WWI → Caused deeper divide between French and English Canadians.

William Lyon MacKenzie King

Canadian Prime Minister → Caused political unity by balancing French and English Canadian interests.

Canada's Liberal Party

Major political party in Canada → Caused policies of compromise with French Canadians under King.

Canada's Conservative Party

Right-leaning Canadian party → Caused division by supporting conscription.

Canadian Shield

Mineral-rich geological region → Caused U.S. mining investment, tying Canada's economy to foreign demand.

Canadian Branch Plants

U.S.-owned factories in Canada → Caused dependency on American markets.

Andrew Mellon

U.S. Treasury Secretary in the 1920s → Caused reduced debt but widened inequality with tax cuts.

Federal Reserve

U.S. central banking system → Caused speculation and crash risk due to weak oversight in the 1920s.

Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922)

Raised U.S. tariffs to protect farmers → Caused retaliation and hurt global trade.

The Roaring Twenties

Decade of economic growth and cultural change → Caused consumerism and speculation leading to 1929 crash.

Wall Street Crash (1929)

Stock market collapse in October 1929 → Caused onset of the Great Depression worldwide.

Hoovervilles

Shantytowns built by the homeless → Caused anger toward Hoover, symbolizing government failure.

Dust Bowl

1930s drought in the Great Plains → Caused crop failures and migration to California.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930)

Raised U.S. import taxes → Caused global retaliation and worsened the Depression.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation (1932)

Loaned money to banks and businesses → Caused limited relief but failed to restore confidence.

Hoover Dam

Public works dam project → Caused jobs and set precedent for later New Deal projects.

Bonus Army (1932)

WWI veterans demanding early bonuses → Caused outrage when Hoover used force to disperse them.

3 R's: Relief, Recovery, Reform

New Deal guiding principles → Caused programs for unemployment, recovery, and stability.

First New Deal (1933-1934)

Early FDR programs against Depression → Caused jobs, banking reforms, and trust in government.

Emergency Banking Act (1933)

Gave government power to regulate banks → Caused restored confidence and stability.

Economy Act (1933)

Cut federal salaries and pensions → Caused savings but angered government workers.

Glass-Steagall Act (1933)

Split commercial and investment banking → Caused FDIC creation and trust in banks.

FDIC

Insured bank deposits → Caused restored public faith in banking.

Gold Standard

Currency tied to gold → Abandoning it caused cheaper exports and growth.

AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act)

Paid farmers to reduce crops → Caused higher prices but controversy over waste.

NRA (National Recovery Administration)

Regulated wages, hours, conditions → Caused short-lived improvements but was struck down.

FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration)

Sent funds to states for relief → Caused uneven but immediate aid.

PWA (Public Works Administration)

Funded large infrastructure projects → Caused jobs and modernization.

CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)

Employed young men in conservation → Caused environmental gains and wages for workers.

TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)

Built dams and electricity in rural areas → Caused modernization and flood control.

FHA (Federal Housing Administration)

Insured mortgages → Caused more housing availability and mortgage stability.

SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

Regulated stock market → Caused reduced speculation and more confidence.

Fireside Chats

FDR's radio addresses → Caused higher trust and morale.

Second New Deal (1935-1936)

Expanded welfare and labor rights → Caused Social Security and stronger unions.

WPA (Works Progress Administration)

Employed millions in public works → Caused growth in infrastructure and relief.

Federal Project Number One

WPA program for arts and culture → Caused cultural enrichment and documentation.

REA (Rural Electrification Administration)

Expanded rural electricity → Caused better living standards and farm productivity.

NYA (National Youth Administration)

Jobs for young people while schooling → Caused reduced youth unemployment.

NLRB (National Labor Relations Board)

Enforced union rights → Caused stronger unions and worker protections.

SSB (Social Security Board)

Ran Social Security Act → Caused aid for unemployed and elderly.

Court-packing Plan

FDR's attempt to expand the Supreme Court → Caused backlash and fears of dictatorship.

Greenbelt Communities

Planned housing projects for displaced families → Caused model towns but limited scope.

SCS (Soil Conservation Service)

Promoted sustainable farming → Caused reduced erosion and environmental benefits.

Third New Deal

Last phase of Roosevelt's programs, weaker due to Court pushback → Fewer reforms passed, slowed New Deal momentum.

USHA

Created public housing to reduce slums → Funding unfair, big cities lacked resources.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Set minimum wage and max workweek → Excluded many Black, brown, and female workers.

Roosevelt Recession (1937)

Economic downturn in Great Depression → Led FDR to restart New Deal spending.

Upton Sinclair

Writer/politician, ran for CA governor with anti-poverty plan → Criticized New Deal as too moderate.

Huey Long

Louisiana governor, pushed wealth redistribution → Threatened FDR with mass support for 'Share Our Wealth.'

Floyd Olson

Minnesota governor, wanted nationalized factories/utilities → Pressured government for more radical reforms.

Father Charles Coughlin

Catholic priest with 30M radio listeners → Attacked New Deal as pro-banker, caused distrust.

American Liberty League

Business group (DuPont family) opposing FDR → Organized resistance, pro-business stance.

CPUSA

Said New Deal didn't help poor enough → Pushed FDR left but fueled fear of communism.

Townsend Plan

Proposed pensions for elderly, paid by sales tax → Pressured FDR to create Social Security.

Milton Friedman

Economist critical of Keynesianism → Sparked debates over free markets vs. gov. control.

Keynesian Economics

Gov must regulate demand & spending → Justified FDR's big spending programs.

William Leuchtenberg

Historian who praised New Deal as compassionate → Framed gov as responsible for people's welfare.

Howard Zinn

Historian critical of New Deal helping big business → Inspired critiques of capitalism under FDR.

NAACP

Civil rights group fighting for Black equality → Pushed gov for reforms, but change was slow.

Mexican Repatriation

Deportation of Mexicans & Mexican Americans → Split families, revealed racial discrimination.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady to FDR → Politically advised him and pushed for arts accessibility during the Great Depression.

Federal Writers’ Project

Part of Federal Project Number One, collected narratives and texts → Caused public access to stories of formerly enslaved people and other historical works.

Farm Security Administration

Included a photography program → Caused documentation of impoverished conditions during the Great Depression.