WWI and Great Depression Test

• Imperialism

• Nationalism (pride increase)

• Military Alliances

  • Triple Alliance (Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary)

  • Triple Entente (GB, France, Russia)

• Militarism (great powers increase on sea/land)

What were the causes of WWI?

• Ethnic ties (German, Irish immigrants)

• Economic (England asks for loans → boosts the economy)

Why can’t America turly be neutral in WWI (two reasons)

RMS Lusitania

a British passenger ship torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland in 1915, killing nearly 1,200 people—including 128 Americans—and fueling anti-German sentiment that helped shift U.S. public opinion toward joining World War I.

Sussex Pledge

a 1916 promise made by Germany to the United States during World War I, agreeing to stop unrestricted submarine warfare and avoid targeting passenger ships after the German U-boat attack on the French ship Sussex injured several Americans.

Russian Revolution

a pair of revolts in 1917 that overthrew the Tsarist autocracy and led to the rise of the Bolsheviks, who established a communist government under Vladimir Lenin and withdrew Russia from World War I.

Peace and Preparedness

a U.S. campaign before entering World War I that balanced advocating for military readiness with a desire to avoid war, reflecting national debates between isolationists and interventionists.

Zimmerman Telegraph

a secret message sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917 proposing a military alliance against the U.S., which was intercepted and publicized by Britain, outraging Americans and pushing the U.S. closer to entering World War I.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

a set of principles proposed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918 to promote a just and lasting peace after World War I, including ideas like self-determination, free trade, open diplomacy, and the creation of a League of Nations.

War Industries Bar

a U.S. government agency established in 1917 during World War I to coordinate the production of war materials, regulate industries, and ensure efficient use of resources to support the war effort.

National War Labour Board

a U.S. agency created in 1918 to resolve labor disputes, prevent strikes, and ensure steady production during World War I by promoting fair wages, improved working conditions, and the right to unionize.

Food Administration

led by Herbert Hoover during World War I, was a U.S. government agency that encouraged voluntary rationing, increased agricultural production, and reduced food waste to support the troops and Allied nations.

Espionage Act

a U.S. law that criminalized interfering with military operations, supporting U.S. enemies, or obstructing military recruitment during World War I, and was later expanded to include penalties for anti-war activities and speech.

Sedition Act

an extension of the Espionage Act, making it a crime to publicly criticize the government, the Constitution, the military, or the flag, and was used to suppress dissent during World War I.

Schenck v. United States

a landmark Supreme Court case in which the Court upheld the conviction of Charles Schenck for distributing anti-draft pamphlets, ruling that speech could be restricted if it posed a "clear and present danger" to national security during wartime.

Treaty of Versailles

• Germany responible for war

• Germany pay reparations to allies ($33 billion)

• League of Nations

Internationalists

individuals or groups who advocated for global cooperation, diplomacy, and the promotion of international institutions, such as the League of Nations, to maintain peace and prevent future wars, often in contrast to isolationist policies.

Reservationists

U.S. senators, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, who were willing to support the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, but only if certain amendments or reservations were made to protect U.S. sovereignty and limit involvement in international conflicts.

Irreconcilables

A group who ouright rejected the Treaty of Versailles and belived in the aspects of the Moroe Doctrine

Wilson would try to gain public support for the treaty but the Irreconcilables would follow him and discourgae people from beliving in the treaty. It failed in the Senate because the US wants seprate peace and results in the US in not joining to the LON

Why did the Treaty of Versailles fail?

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

a highly controversial trial in the 1920s, where two Italian-American anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were convicted of murder and robbery despite questionable evidence, leading to widespread protests and debates over nativism, justice, and the fairness of the legal system.

“Birth of a Nation”

a silent film directed by D.W. Griffith, considered groundbreaking for its technical achievements, but highly controversial for its racist portrayal of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, which sparked protests and debates about racism in film.

“The Jazz Singer”

the first full-length feature film to include synchronized sound, particularly dialogue, marking the beginning of the "talkie" era in cinema and revolutionizing the film industry.

Flappers

young women in the 1920s who embraced a more liberated lifestyle, characterized by short skirts, bobbed hair, smoking, drinking, and defying traditional gender roles, symbolizing the cultural shift of the Roaring Twenties.

Margarent Sanger

an American birth control activist, nurse, and founder of the American Birth Control League (which later became Planned Parenthood), advocating for women's reproductive rights and pioneering the distribution of contraceptives in the early 20th century.

 Scopes Monkey Trial

a landmark legal case in Tennessee where high school teacher John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution, challenging a state law that prohibited the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution, and highlighting the conflict between science and religion in American society.

Great Migration

the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North between 1916 and 1970, driven by the search for better economic opportunities, escaping racial discrimination, and seeking improved living conditions.

Harlem Renaissance

a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York, where African American writers, artists, musicians, and intellectuals celebrated Black culture and produced influential works that shaped American culture and the fight for civil rights. (Zora Neale, Langston Hughes)

Marcus Garvey

a Jamaican-born political leader, journalist, and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), who promoted Black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and economic self-sufficiency, advocating for the return of African Americans to Africa and the empowerment of Black communities.

Lost Generation

refers to a group of American writers in the 1920s who were disillusioned by the aftermath of World War I and the social upheavals of the time, expressing feelings of disillusionment and loss of direction, with notable figures including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein.

Dawes Plan

an agreement between the United States, Germany, and Allied powers to restructure Germany's World War I reparations payments, providing Germany with loans and extending the repayment period to stabilize the German economy and facilitate European recovery.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

an international agreement in which nations, including the U.S., pledged to renounce war as a means of resolving disputes and to settle conflicts through peaceful diplomacy, though it ultimately lacked enforcement mechanisms.

Warren G Harding

29th president of the United States (1921–1923), known for his conservative policies, pro-business stance, and efforts to return to "normalcy" after World War I; his administration was marred by scandals, most notably the Teapot Dome scandal, though he died suddenly in office.

Teapot Dome scandal

a political scandal in the early 1920s involving the illegal leasing of federal oil reserves, including the Teapot Dome reserve in Wyoming, to private companies by members of President Warren G. Harding's administration, particularly Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall, who was later convicted of accepting bribes.

• Stock Market Crash of 1929

• Bank Failure

• Overproduction and Underconsumption

• Weak Banking System

• Global Trade Decline

• Agricultural Collapse

• Income Inequality

• Monetary Policy

What are the causes of The Great Depression?

During the Great Depression, wealth was highly concentrated in the hands of a few, with the richest 1% owning a large proportion of the nation’s wealth while the majority of Americans, especially workers in agriculture and manufacturing, faced low wages and poor living conditions. This unequal distribution of wealth resulted in widespread underconsumption, as most people lacked the purchasing power to buy goods and services, leading to overproduction, falling prices, and rising unemployment. The economic collapse was particularly devastating for those without savings or investments, while the wealthy were more insulated from the downturn, further deepening the divide between the rich and poor.

Describe the unequal distribution of wealth during the Great Depression.

Agricultural Overproduction during WWI:
During World War I, U.S. farmers increased production to meet the needs of both domestic and Allied forces, leading to a surplus of crops. After the war ended, demand for agricultural products fell sharply, causing crop prices to plummet. Farmers, unable to sell their surplus at profitable prices, faced financial ruin and widespread foreclosures.

Industrial Overproduction during WWI:
Industrial production during WWI was heavily geared toward war supplies, with factories operating at full capacity to produce weapons, equipment, and materials for the military. When the war ended, the demand for war-related products sharply decreased, resulting in overproduction in many sectors. This overproduction led to unsold goods, reduced wages, and factory layoffs, contributing to the economic instability that worsened after the war.

Describe agrciultural and industiral overproduction.

Black Thursday

marked the beginning of the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression, as widespread panic selling led to a dramatic plunge in stock prices, wiping out billions of dollars in wealth and eroding investor confidence, which, coupled with underlying economic weaknesses, set the stage for the prolonged economic downturn that followed.

Black Tuesday

the day when the stock market experienced its most catastrophic collapse, with a record 16 million shares traded, causing a sharp drop in stock prices and accelerating the onset of the Great Depression by wiping out billions of dollars in wealth and deepening economic uncertainty.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

a U.S. protective trade policy that raised tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods, aiming to protect American businesses and farmers during the Great Depression, but it led to retaliatory tariffs from other nations, worsening global trade and deepening the economic downturn.

Herbert Hoover's policies during the Great Depression were focused on voluntary cooperation between businesses, labor, and government to restore economic stability, with an emphasis on limited government intervention. He supported the creation of public works programs, such as the Hoover Dam, to provide jobs, and established the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to provide loans to banks and businesses. However, his belief in "rugged individualism" and reluctance to enact more direct government relief measures were criticized for not being sufficient to address the severity of the economic crisis, leading to widespread public discontent.

Describe Herbert Hoover’s policies.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

a government agency designed to provide financial support to banks, railroads, and other large businesses struggling during the Great Depression by offering loans to prevent further bankruptcies and stimulate economic recovery.

Bonus March

a protest by approximately 20,000 World War I veterans who marched to Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of a promised bonus for their military service, which was due in 1945; the protest ended in violence when the U.S. Army, under President Hoover’s orders, forcibly removed the veterans, leading to public outrage and further tarnishing Hoover's image.

The Dust Bowl

a severe environmental disaster during the 1930s, primarily affecting the Great Plains, where prolonged drought, high winds, and poor farming practices led to massive dust storms, crop failures, and the displacement of thousands of families, exacerbating the economic hardships of the Great Depression.

Election of 1932

resulted in a decisive victory for Democratic candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt, who defeated incumbent Republican President Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt's promise of a "New Deal" to address the Great Depression resonated with voters, and he won with 472 electoral votes to Hoover's 59. This election marked a major shift in American politics, ending 72 years of Republican dominance and beginning a new era of Democratic leadership focused on economic recovery.

Fifth Party System Dems

• Populists

• Labor Unions

• White Southerns

• Immigrants

• Progressivists

• Urban Machines

• Blacks

Fifth Party System Repubs

• Pro-buisness

• Economic conservatives

• Social conservatives

Keynesian economics

an economic theory developed by John Maynard Keynes, which advocates for increased government intervention in the economy through fiscal policies, such as public spending and tax adjustments, to manage demand, reduce unemployment, and smooth out business cycle fluctuations, particularly during periods of economic downturns.W

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs in the 1930s provided much-needed relief and economic opportunities to Black Americans, which they had not received under previous Republican administrations. Additionally, the Democratic Party, especially under Roosevelt, began to address issues of racial inequality more directly, while the Republican Party was seen as being more aligned with the interests of big business and less responsive to civil rights issues. The migration of African Americans to northern cities during and after the war also exposed them to more progressive political movements, leading to increased support for the Democratic Party as a party of reform.

Why did blacks start to vote for democrats?

So the government could tax people serving alcohol to make money during the Great Depression

Why did the government ratify the 21st amendment?

FDR’s Message of Hope

emphasized the need for decisive government intervention to combat the Great Depression, reassuring the American people that fear, rather than economic hardship, was the greatest obstacle, and setting the stage for his New Deal policies aimed at providing relief, promoting recovery, and enacting lasting reforms to restore confidence in the nation's future.

FDR’s New Deal

a series of federal programs, public works projects, and financial reforms implemented between 1933 and 1939 to address the economic hardships of the Great Depression, focusing on the "Three Rs"—Relief for the unemployed, Recovery of the economy, and Reform of the financial system

FDR’s New Deal - Relief

• Halts effect of Depression

• Provide immediate relief to unemployed

• “Prime the pump” and decrease unemployment

FDR’s New Deal - Recovery

• Restore economy to full employment

• Restart consumer demand/investment

FDR’s New Deal - Reform

• target causes of Depression

• prevent future economic castrophes

Emergency Banking Act

a crucial piece of legislation aimed at stabilizing the U.S. financial system by temporarily closing all banks to prevent further bank runs, allowing only solvent banks to reopen after being inspected, and restoring public confidence through the establishment of federal deposit insurance under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act

a landmark piece of legislation that aimed to restore public confidence in the banking system by separating commercial banking from investment banking, thereby preventing excessive risk-taking with depositors' funds, and establishing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to insure bank deposits and protect consumers from bank failures.

Gold Reserve Act

required U.S. citizens to surrender their gold to the government, devalued the dollar by raising the official price of gold to $35 per ounce, and marked the end of the gold standard in the U.S. economy.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

a public work relief program in the United States as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. It provided jobs for young, unemployed men during the Great Depression, focusing on natural resource conservation projects such as planting trees, building parks and trails, fighting soil erosion, and improving national and state parks. The CCC helped restore the environment while reducing unemployment

Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)

a New Deal agency created in 1933 to help farmers by reducing agricultural overproduction. It paid farmers to limit crop and livestock production in order to raise prices and stabilize the farming economy.

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)

a 1933 New Deal law aimed at boosting the economy during the Great Depression. It allowed industries to create fair competition codes and supported workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively.

Tennesse Valley Authority (TVA)

a New Deal program created in 1933 to provide economic development and improve quality of life in the Tennessee Valley region. It built dams and power plants to control flooding, generate electricity, and modernize rural communities.

Alphabet Soup

refers to the group of New Deal agencies created during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration to combat the Great Depression. These agencies, like the CCC, AAA, TVA, and WPA, were often known by their acronyms, leading to the nickname "Alphabet Soup."

Works Progress Administration

a New Deal agency created in 1935 to provide jobs for millions of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. It funded public works projects like building roads, schools, and bridges, as well as supporting artists, writers, and musicians.

Social Security Act

a key New Deal law that created a safety net for Americans by providing retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to the disabled and needy families. It was designed to offer long-term financial security and reduce poverty, especially among the elderly.

Wagner Act

protected workers' rights to form unions and bargain collectively with employers. It also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce labor laws and resolve disputes between workers and employers (collective bargaining)

Dorothy Lange

an American photographer best known for her powerful images documenting the hardships of the Great Depression. Her most famous work, "Migrant Mother," captured the struggles of a migrant farm worker and became an iconic symbol of the era. Lange’s photography helped raise public awareness and support for New Deal programs aimed at alleviating poverty and unemployment.

Father Charles E. Coughlin

a Roman Catholic priest and popular radio personality in the 1930s, known for his outspoken support of economic reforms during the Great Depression. Initially a supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Coughlin later became a critic, advocating for populist policies, including monetary reform and government intervention in the economy. His views became increasingly controversial, and he was eventually silenced by the Catholic Church due to his anti-Semitic rhetoric and extremist ideas.

Huey Long

a Louisiana politician and governor who became a prominent critic of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Known for his "Share Our Wealth" program, He advocated for wealth redistribution, including caps on personal fortunes and guaranteed incomes for all Americans. He gained a large following through his populist rhetoric but was also known for his authoritarian style of governance and was assassinated in 1935.

Court Packing (FDR)

refers to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's controversial proposal in 1937 to expand the U.S. Supreme Court by adding more justices. FDR introduced this plan after the Court struck down several key New Deal programs, hoping to gain favorable rulings for his policies. The proposal was widely criticized as an attempt to undermine the judicial branch's independence and was ultimately rejected by Congress.

The New Deal had a mixed impact on African Americans. While many benefited from programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided jobs, African Americans still faced discrimination in both the administration of these programs and the broader society. FDR's administration, while offering some support, often failed to fully challenge racial segregation and inequality, and many New Deal agencies, such as the Public Works Administration (PWA), initially practiced racial exclusion. However, the New Deal also gave rise to a "Black Cabinet," a group of African American advisors who worked to advocate for racial justice within the government.

Describe the New Deal and African Americans.

The New Deal had a significant, though limited, impact on women. While many New Deal programs, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), provided job opportunities, women often faced discrimination, receiving lower wages than men and being excluded from certain jobs. However, figures like Eleanor Roosevelt played a key role in advocating for women's rights, and the New Deal saw the first female cabinet member, Frances Perkins, who became Secretary of Labor. The New Deal also laid the groundwork for future policies benefiting women, such as improved labor protections and support for working mothers.

Describe the New Deal and Women.

Eleanor Roosevelt

the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, known for her advocacy of civil rights, women's rights, and social justice. She transformed the role of First Lady by actively engaging in political and humanitarian work, including working with the United Nations after World War II.

Frances Perkins

the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. She played a key role in the creation of the Social Security Act and other New Deal programs, significantly shaping labor policies and advancing workers' rights in the U.S.

Escapism

he ways people sought relief from the hardships of the era, often through entertainment such as movies, radio shows, and music. These forms of entertainment provided a temporary escape from economic struggles, offering hope, distraction, and a sense of normalcy in a time of widespread poverty and uncertainty.

Disarmament Initiatives

international efforts aimed at reducing the number of weapons and military forces to prevent future conflicts.

Washington Naval Conference

set limits on naval armaments among major powers

Kellogg-Briand Pact

nations agreed to renounce war as a means of resolving disputes

Stimson Doctrine

declared that the United States would not recognize any territorial gains made by force, specifically in response to Japan's invasion of Manchuria. It reflected a policy of non-recognition rather than direct intervention, aiming to uphold international law without engaging in conflict.

Good Neighbor Policy

aimed to improve U.S. relations with Latin American countries by promoting non-intervention and mutual respect. It marked a shift away from military intervention and emphasized economic cooperation and diplomacy.

Nye Committee

established in 1934 to investigate the role of arms manufacturers in influencing U.S. entry into World War I. Its findings suggested that profit motives of "merchants of death" helped drag the U.S. into the war, fueling isolationist sentiment in the 1930s.

Quarantine Speech

called for peaceful nations to "quarantine" aggressive nations to stop the spread of war and violence. It marked a shift from strict U.S. isolationism by suggesting a more active response to global aggression, particularly by Japan, Italy, and Germany.

Neutrality Acts

a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s to prevent American involvement in foreign wars by restricting arms sales, loans, and travel to nations at war. These acts reflected growing isolationist sentiment and aimed to keep the U.S. out of conflicts like those that led to World War I.

Preparedness

refers to the movement before U.S. entry into both World Wars that advocated for strengthening the military in case of involvement in global conflict. In the lead-up to World War I, it involved building up armed forces and promoting military training, while in the late 1930s and early 1940s, it included measures like the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.

Lend-Lease Act

allowed the United States to send military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II without immediate payment. It marked a shift away from neutrality and made the U.S. the "arsenal of democracy," supporting the fight against Axis powers while not yet being directly involved in the war.

FDR’s Four Freedoms

freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These ideals framed the moral justification for U.S. involvement in World War II and highlighted the principles the Allies sought to protect globally.

Atlantic Charter

signed in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, outlined the shared goals of the United States and Britain for the post-war world. It emphasized self-determination for nations, free trade, economic cooperation, and the promotion of peace, setting the foundation for the establishment of the United Nations after World War II.