Knowt
beeper
D-Day/Operation Overlord: Definition: On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy, France. Significance: This marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. The success of D-Day accelerated the downfall of Germany and was a turning point in World War II.
V-E Day/V-J Day: Definition: Victory in Europe (V-E) Day on May 8, 1945, marked the official surrender of Nazi Germany. Victory over Japan (V-J) Day, August 15, 1945, followed Japan’s surrender after the atomic bombings, officially ending World War II on September 2, 1945. Significance: These days signified the end of World War II in both Europe and the Pacific, leading to post-war reconstruction and the rise of the U.S. and Soviet Union as global superpowers.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Definition: On August 6 and 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on these Japanese cities, leading to massive destruction and loss of life. Significance: The bombings forced Japan’s surrender but remain controversial due to their ethical implications and the beginning of the nuclear age.
Pearl Harbor: Definition: On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Significance: This led the U.S. to enter World War II, declaring war on Japan and, shortly after, on Germany and Italy.
Kellogg-Briand Pact: Definition: Signed in 1928, this international agreement attempted to prevent war as a tool of national policy. Significance: While largely ineffective, it set a precedent for future international peace efforts and the later establishment of the United Nations.
A. Philip Randolph: Definition: A civil rights leader and labor organizer who led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Significance: He pressured President Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, banning discrimination in defense industries during World War II, paving the way for later civil rights advancements.
Mexican Repatriation: Definition: During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of Mexican Americans, including U.S. citizens, were forcibly deported to Mexico. Significance: This reflected economic hardship, job competition, and racial discrimination, leaving a lasting impact on Mexican American communities.
New Deal Programs Chart: Definition: A collection of economic programs enacted by FDR to combat the Great Depression, including the CCC, WPA, and Social Security. Significance: These programs provided jobs, infrastructure improvements, and social safety nets that shaped U.S. government intervention in the economy.
Ridicule of Hoover & “Rugged Individualism”: Definition: Hoover’s belief that individuals, not the government, should resolve economic issues was criticized as ineffective during the Great Depression. Significance: His policies were blamed for worsening economic conditions, leading to public backlash and the election of FDR.
Fundamentalism vs. Modernism: Definition: A cultural clash in the 1920s between religious traditionalists and those embracing new scientific and social ideas. Significance: This was exemplified by the Scopes Monkey Trial, highlighting tensions between science and religion in American society.
Lost Generation: Definition: A group of disillusioned writers, such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald, who criticized materialism and the aftermath of World War I. Significance: Their works influenced literature and expressed the cynicism of the 1920s.
Bonus Army: Definition: In 1932, WWI veterans demanding early bonus payments were forcibly removed from Washington, D.C. Significance: This worsened Hoover’s reputation and contributed to his election loss.
Social Security Act (1935): Definition: A landmark program providing pensions for the elderly and unemployment insurance. Significance: It became a cornerstone of U.S. social policy, providing long-term economic security.
Huey Long & Marcus Garvey: Definition: Long, a populist Louisiana governor, proposed radical wealth redistribution. Garvey promoted Black nationalism and a return to Africa movement. Significance: Both influenced social and political movements advocating for economic and racial justice.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Definition: A civil rights activist advocating for immediate equality and co-founder of the NAACP. Significance: His work laid the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.
Atlantic Charter: Definition: A 1941 agreement between FDR and Churchill outlining post-war goals, including self-determination and free trade. Significance: It influenced the formation of the United Nations and post-war international relations.
Harlem Renaissance: Definition: A cultural explosion of African American art, music, and literature in the 1920s. Significance: Symbolized Black empowerment and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement.
Consumerism and Credit: Definition: The 1920s saw an economic boom fueled by mass production and increased use of credit. Significance: Led to economic expansion but also contributed to the Great Depression.
Teapot Dome Scandal: Definition: A 1920s political scandal involving bribery and oil reserves. Significance: Damaged public trust in the Harding administration.
Restrictions on Immigration (Quotas): Definition: Laws in the 1920s restricted immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe. Significance: Reflected nativist sentiments and shaped U.S. immigration policy for decades.
Scopes Monkey Trial: Definition: A 1925 trial over teaching evolution in schools. Significance: Highlighted tensions between science and religion.
Sacco and Vanzetti: Definition: Two Italian immigrants controversially executed for robbery and murder. Significance: Symbolized anti-immigrant bias and flawed judicial processes.
Purpose of the New Deal: Definition: FDR’s policies aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. Significance: Expanded government intervention in the economy.
Court Packing Scheme (1937): Definition: FDR’s failed attempt to expand the Supreme Court. Significance: Criticized as an overreach of executive power.
Wagner Act: Definition: Guaranteed workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively. Significance: Strengthened labor rights and collective bargaining.
Dust Bowl: Definition: Severe droughts and poor farming practices led to agricultural collapse. Significance: Forced mass migration and economic hardship for farmers.
Fireside Chats: Definition: FDR’s radio addresses during the Depression and WWII. Significance: Reassured Americans and bolstered support for policies.
Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930): Definition: High tariffs intended to protect U.S. industries. Significance: Worsened the Depression by reducing international trade.
Bank Failures & Buying on Margin: Definition: Risky financial practices led to bank collapses and economic turmoil. Significance: Contributed to the Great Depression.
Stock Market Crash (1929): Definition: A key trigger of the Great Depression. Significance: Resulted in widespread economic collapse.
Good Neighbor Policy:
Definition: FDR’s foreign policy aimed at improving relations with Latin America by reducing U.S. military intervention.
Significance: Strengthened diplomatic ties and economic cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.
Neutrality Acts (1935, 1937, 1938):
Definition: Laws passed to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts by restricting arms sales and loans to warring nations.
Significance: Reflected U.S. isolationism but later amended as threats from Germany and Japan grew.
Munich Conference and Appeasement:
Definition: A 1938 agreement in which Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in hopes of avoiding war.
Significance: Failed to prevent World War II and is considered a major example of the dangers of appeasement.
Non-Aggression Pact:
Definition: A 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, pledging not to attack each other.
Significance: Allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet interference, triggering World War II.
Cash-Carry Policy and Lend-Lease Act:
Definition: U.S. policies that allowed the sale and later lending of war materials to Allied nations.
Significance: Marked the shift from neutrality to active support for the Allies before formally entering the war.
Navajo Code Talkers:
Definition: Native American Marines who developed an unbreakable code using the Navajo language.
Significance: Played a crucial role in secure communications during Pacific battles.
Island Hopping:
Definition: A U.S. military strategy in the Pacific, capturing key islands while bypassing heavily fortified ones.
Significance: Allowed the U.S. to advance toward Japan with minimal losses.
Manhattan Project:
Definition: A secret U.S. project to develop the atomic bomb.
Significance: Led to the creation of nuclear weapons and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Internment Camps & Korematsu v. U.S. (1944):
Definition: The forced relocation of Japanese Americans into camps during WWII; the Supreme Court upheld it in Korematsu v. U.S.
Significance: Highlighted racial discrimination and civil rights violations during wartime.
Yalta Conference/Big Three:
Definition: A 1945 meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss post-war plans.
Significance: Led to the division of Germany and the establishment of the United Nations.
Good Neighbor Policy:
Definition: FDR’s foreign policy aimed at improving relations with Latin America by reducing U.S. military intervention.
Significance: Strengthened diplomatic ties and economic cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.
Neutrality Acts (1935, 1937, 1938):
Definition: Laws passed to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts by restricting arms sales and loans to warring nations.
Significance: Reflected U.S. isolationism but later amended as threats from Germany and Japan grew.
Munich Conference and Appeasement:
Definition: A 1938 agreement in which Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in hopes of avoiding war.
Significance: Failed to prevent World War II and is considered a major example of the dangers of appeasement.
Non-Aggression Pact:
Definition: A 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, pledging not to attack each other.
Significance: Allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet interference, triggering World War II.
Cash-Carry Policy and Lend-Lease Act:
Definition: U.S. policies that allowed the sale and later lending of war materials to Allied nations.
Significance: Marked the shift from neutrality to active support for the Allies before formally entering the war.
Navajo Code Talkers:
Definition: Native American Marines who developed an unbreakable code using the Navajo language.
Significance: Played a crucial role in secure communications during Pacific battles.
Island Hopping:
Definition: A U.S. military strategy in the Pacific, capturing key islands while bypassing heavily fortified ones.
Significance: Allowed the U.S. to advance toward Japan with minimal losses.
Manhattan Project:
Definition: A secret U.S. project to develop the atomic bomb.
Significance: Led to the creation of nuclear weapons and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Internment Camps & Korematsu v. U.S. (1944):
Definition: The forced relocation of Japanese Americans into camps during WWII; the Supreme Court upheld it in Korematsu v. U.S.
Significance: Highlighted racial discrimination and civil rights violations during wartime.
Yalta Conference/Big Three:
Definition: A 1945 meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss post-war plans.
Significance: Led to the division of Germany and the establishment of the United Nations.
Period 7 Part 2 Study Guide
Modernism vs. Fundamentalism Event
Scopes Trial (1925): Clash between modernist science (evolution) and fundamentalist religion (creationism) in Tennessee. Teacher John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution.
Significance: Highlighted the growing divide between traditional religious values and new scientific/modernist ideas in the 1920s.
Immigrant Attitudes During the 1920s
Nativism: Fear of immigrants, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe.
Quota Acts: Immigration Act of 1924 limited immigration from non-Northern European countries.
Rise of the KKK: Targeted immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.
Sacco & Vanzetti Trial: Reflected anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiment.
Effects of Mexican Repatriation
Mass deportation (1929–1936): Around 500,000 Mexican Americans (many U.S. citizens) were forcibly deported due to economic struggles of the Great Depression.
Discrimination: Reinforced racial prejudice and economic marginalization of Mexican communities.
America’s Foreign Policy After WWI
Isolationism: U.S. avoided involvement in foreign conflicts.
Washington Naval Conference (1921-22): Limited naval arms race.
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): Agreement to avoid war (but had no enforcement).
Compare FDR to Hoover
Hoover: Laissez-faire approach, believed in "rugged individualism" and minimal government intervention.
FDR: Used New Deal programs to actively combat the Great Depression, expanded government’s role.
Alternatives Proposed by FDR Critics
Huey Long: "Share Our Wealth" program (redistribute wealth).
Father Coughlin: Wanted nationalization of banks and anti-capitalist reforms.
American Liberty League: Opposed FDR’s policies as too socialist.
Effects of Prohibition
18th Amendment (1920): Banned alcohol.
Rise of organized crime (Al Capone, bootlegging, speakeasies).
Decline in tax revenue; repealed by the 21st Amendment (1933).
Causes of the Great Depression
Stock Market Crash (1929) – Over-speculation and buying on margin.
Bank Failures – People lost savings, economy collapsed.
Overproduction – Too many goods, not enough buyers.
Unequal Wealth Distribution – Poor workers couldn’t support demand.
Global Economic Issues – High tariffs (Smoot-Hawley Tariff) worsened trade.
Harlem Renaissance
1920s cultural movement centered in Harlem, New York.
Celebrated Black culture, music (jazz), literature, and art.
Key Figures:
Langston Hughes (poetry).
Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong (jazz).
Zora Neale Hurston (literature).
U.S. Reason for Joining WWII
Pearl Harbor Attack (Dec. 7, 1941) – Japan bombed U.S. naval base.
Germany & Italy declared war on the U.S.
End of isolationism; U.S. mobilized for total war.
Unconstitutional New Deal Programs
NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act): Struck down in Schechter Poultry v. U.S. (1935).
AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act): Declared unconstitutional because it regulated agriculture, which was seen as a state power.
German Goals and Tactics at Start of WWII
Blitzkrieg ("Lightning War") – Fast-moving warfare with tanks and planes.
Takeover of Poland (1939), France (1940), and attacks on Britain (1940-41).
U-Boat warfare in the Atlantic.
Neutrality Acts and Modifications
Neutrality Acts (1930s): Prevented U.S. involvement in foreign wars.
Cash-and-Carry (1939): Allowed sale of weapons to Allies if they paid in cash.
Lend-Lease Act (1941): Supplied weapons to Britain & USSR, moving U.S. closer to war.
U.S. Changes After Joining War
Total War Economy: Shifted to war production (factories made weapons, not consumer goods).
Women in Workforce: Rosie the Riveter symbolized women working in factories.
Japanese Internment: Executive Order 9066 forced Japanese Americans into camps.
New Deal Programs Around Today
Social Security Act (1935): Still provides retirement benefits.
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation): Protects bank deposits.
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): Regulates the stock market.
Progressive Era Writers
Upton Sinclair (The Jungle) – Exposed meatpacking industry.
Ida Tarbell – Exposed Standard Oil’s monopoly.
Lincoln Steffens (The Shame of the Cities) – Exposed political corruption.
Government Attitudes During 1920s
Pro-business: Laissez-faire policies, low taxes, deregulation.
Republican leadership: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover (favored big business).
Limited government intervention in the economy.
End of WWII
Germany surrenders (May 1945) after Hitler’s suicide.
Hiroshima & Nagasaki (August 1945): U.S. drops atomic bombs on Japan.
Japan surrenders (Sept. 2, 1945) – V-J Day.
Red Scare
Fear of communism (1919-1920, 1940s-50s).
Palmer Raids (1920): Arrests of suspected communists/anarchists.
McCarthyism (1950s): Senator Joseph McCarthy’s communist witch hunts.
1920s Presidents
Warren G. Harding (1921-1923): "Return to Normalcy," Teapot Dome Scandal.
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): Pro-business, "The business of America is business."
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933): Blamed for Great Depression, Hoovervilles.
U.S. Strategies in the Pacific Theatre
Island Hopping: Capturing strategic islands to get closer to Japan.
Battle of Midway (1942): Major turning point, U.S. crushed Japan’s navy.
Atomic Bombs (1945): Dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki to force Japan’s surrender.
