US History Honors Final Exam

United States Culture and Controversies during the 1920s

• Social tensions due to prohibition/immigration/fundamentals

  • Prohibition

    • The increase in the illegal production and sale of liquor (bootlegging), speakeasies, and the accompanying rise in gang violence and organized crime led to waning support for prohibition by the end of the 1920s

  • Immigration

    • Policymakers reduced immigration with several cultural and economic goals in mind. One economic goal was to reduce the number of low-skilled workers in the US economy, therefore allowing manufacturing to evolve in the direction of higher-skilled, higher-productivity manufacturing activity

  • Fundamentals

    • Arose as a reactionary response to the rapid social and cultural changes occurring in urban areas. These ideologies led to societal division, suspicion of immigrants, and the rise of groups like the Second Ku Klux Klan

• Popular movement during the 1920s

  • Jazz Age: Explosion of jazz music, symbolizing the spirit of the era.

  • Harlem Renaissance: Flourishing of African American culture, literature, music, and art centered in Harlem, NYC.

  • Women's Suffrage: Victory with the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in 1920.

  • Prohibition Era: Banning of alcohol led to speakeasies and organized crime.

  • Labor Movement: Rise of labor unions demanding better working conditions and rights.

  • Red Scare: Fear of communism and anarchist movements, leading to political repression.

  • Consumer Culture: Rapid urbanization and economic prosperity fueled consumerism and lifestyle changes.

  • Cultural Shifts: Changing attitudes towards sexuality, gender roles, and societal norms.

  • Technological Advancements: Growth in radio, automobiles, and other modern conveniences shaping daily life.

• Harlem Renaissance 

  • A period of rich cross-disciplinary artistic and cultural activity among African Americans between the end of ww1(1917) and the onset of the great depression and lead up to ww2(1930s)

  • It gave artists pride in and control over how the black experience was represented in  American culture and set the stage for the civil rights movement

Great Depression & World War II

• Long-Term & Short-Term Causes of the Great Depression

  • Long term 

    • Lack of economic diversity 

      • 1920s economy - cars & Construction

      • End of 20s - car sales down 33%, construction 20%

      • No new industries to compensate

    • Unequal distribution of wealth 

      • 50% of American poor

    • Overproduction 

      • Industry & agriculture modernize, increase average productivity

      • European industries & agriculture return to full production

      • Americans' ability to consume decreases

    • Poor banking system

      • Lack of regulation allows mismanagement

      • Bank panics & failures

    • High tariffs & war debts

      • Tariffs raise prices = restrict trade

      • War debts restrict available credit = and ruin national economies

  • Short term

    • Stock market crash

    • Collapse of world trade

    • Government policies

    • Collapse of money supply

    • Bank failures and panics

• Social, Economic, & Political Effects of the Great Depression

  • Human Impact

    • This brought a rapid rise in the crime rate as many unemployed workers resorted to petty theft to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose as did reported cases of malnutrition. Prostitution was on the rise as desperate women sought a way to pay the bills

  • New Deal Programs (3 R’s – Relief, Recover Reform)

    • The program focused on what historians refer to as relief for the unemployed and the poor, recovery of the economy back to normal levels, and reform of the financial system to prevent a repeat depression

• Long-Term & Short-Term Causes of World War II

  • Long term causes

    • Treaty of Versailles (1919): Imposed harsh penalties on Germany, leading to resentment and economic hardship.

    • Rise of Fascism: Ideologies of Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, and militaristic leaders in Japan sought expansion and dominance.

    • Failure of Appeasement: Diplomatic attempts to pacify aggressors failed, emboldening them to pursue further aggression.

    • Economic Instability: Global economic depression of the 1930s heightened tensions and destabilized governments.

    • Nationalism: Intense nationalism in Europe fueled territorial ambitions and rivalries.

  • Short term causes

    • Invasion of Poland (1939): Germany's aggressive expansionism led to the invasion of Poland, triggering the start of WWII.

    • Non-aggression Pact (1939): Soviet-German pact allowed Hitler to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.

    • Failure of Diplomacy: Diplomatic efforts failed to prevent conflict as negotiations broke down and ultimatums were ignored.

    • Blitzkrieg Tactics: German military tactics of rapid, overwhelming force caught opponents off guard, facilitating early victories.

    • Failure of League of Nations: Inability of the League to enforce peace emboldened aggressors and undermined collective security.

• Reasons for U.S. entry into World War II

  • After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the US declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy declared war on the US a few days later, and the nation became fully engaged in WWII.

• World War II European Theater

  • Battles, Strategies, Major Events, Outcome

    • Battles

      • Battle of Britain (1940): RAF repels Luftwaffe air attacks, preventing German invasion.

      • Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943): Turning point as Soviets defeat Germans, halting their advance into the Soviet Union.

      • D-Day (1944): Allied invasion of Normandy marks the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

      • Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945): Last major German offensive on the Western Front is repelled by Allies.

    • Strategies

      • Blitzkrieg: Rapid, coordinated attacks using air power, armored vehicles, and infantry.

      • Allied Strategic Bombing: Targeting German industrial centers and infrastructure to weaken war effort.

      • Soviet Scorched Earth: Destroying resources to hinder German advance, followed by counteroffensive.

    • Major events

      • Holocaust: Systematic genocide of six million Jews by Nazis.

      • Pearl Harbor: Japanese attack on US naval base brings US into the war.

      • Operation Barbarossa: German invasion of the Soviet Union, largest military operation in history.

      • Battle of Berlin: Soviet forces capture the German capital, leading to Hitler's suicide and Germany's surrender.

    • Outcome

      • Allied Victory: Axis powers defeated, leading to the liberation of Europe.

      • Division of Germany: East Germany under Soviet control, West Germany under Allied control.

      • Nuremberg Trials: Nazi leaders held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

      • Beginning of the Cold War: Tensions between US and USSR emerge, shaping post-war geopolitics.

• World War II Pacific Theater

  • Battles, Strategies, Major Events, Outcome

    • Battles

      • Battle of Midway (1942): Turning point as the US Navy defeats the Japanese fleet, halting their advance.

      • Battle of Guadalcanal (1942-1943): First major Allied offensive in the Pacific, securing a strategic airfield.

      • Battle of Iwo Jima (1945): Brutal battle for control of Japanese island, crucial for American air raids on Japan.

      • Battle of Okinawa (1945): Bloodiest battle of the Pacific War, paving the way for Allied invasion of Japan.

    • Strategies

      • Island-Hopping: Allied strategy to bypass heavily fortified Japanese positions, capturing key islands.

      • Kamikaze Attacks: Japanese suicide pilots targeting Allied ships, causing heavy casualties.

      • Naval Blockade: Allied naval forces blockade Japanese islands, cutting off vital supplies.

    • Major events

      • Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941): Japanese surprise attack on US naval base, drawing US into the war.

      • Doolittle Raid (1942): US air raid on Tokyo boosts American morale and damages Japanese morale.

      • Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945): US drops atomic bombs, leading to Japanese surrender.

    • Outcome

      • Allied Victory: Japan surrenders unconditionally after atomic bombings and Soviet declaration of war.

      • Occupation of Japan: US-led Allied occupation reforms Japan's government and society.

      • Decolonization: Japanese defeat weakens colonial powers in Asia, leading to independence movements.

      • Emergence of Superpowers: US and USSR rivalry intensifies, shaping post-war global politics.

• U.S World War II Home front

  • Women & Minorities

    • During World War II, women and minorities played crucial roles on the U.S. home front, entering the workforce in large numbers to support the war effort.

  • Japanese Internment Camps 

    • During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly relocated and interned thousands of Japanese Americans, based on fear and prejudice, in camps across the country.

  • Labor

    • During World War II, labor shortages led to increased employment opportunities for workers, including women and minorities, in industries vital to the war effort.

  • Propaganda 

    • During World War II, the U.S. government used propaganda to shape public opinion, boost morale, and support the war effort.

• Impact of U.S. Presidents on the Great Depression and/or World War II

  • President Herbert Hoover

    • President Herbert Hoover faced the brunt of blame for the Great Depression due to his perceived in-[action and reliance on market forces to solve economic woes, leading to widespread suffering and discontent among Americans

  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt

    • President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal programs to combat the Great Depression, providing relief, recovery, and reform measures that expanded government intervention in the economy and significantly reshaped the role of the federal government, ultimately guiding the nation through the crisis and into World War II.

  • President Harry S. Truman 

    • President Harry S. Truman played a pivotal role in leading the United States through the final stages of World War II, including the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan, and he initiated the post-war reconstruction efforts, shaping the early stages of the Cold War with the implementation of containment policies against Soviet expansionism.

• The Great Depression & World War II Vocabulary

  • The Great Depression

  • Stock Market

  • The New Deal

  • Court Packing Plan

  • Neutrality Acts

  • European Theater

  • The Holocaust

  • Pacific Theater

  • Manhattan Project

Cold War Era (1945-1991)

• Roots of the Cold War

  • Capitalism v. Communism

    • Capitalism: An economic system that allows private ownership and promotes the idea of a free market. Communism: Favors collective ownership and restricts the free market with government intervention.

  • Truman Doctrine

    • The Truman Doctrine was a policy stating that the United States would support countries threatened by communism, aiming to contain its spread.

  • NATO

    • NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance formed for mutual defense among North American and European countries.

• Cold War Fears

  • McCarthyism 

    • McCarthyism was a period of intense anti-communist paranoia and political persecution in the United States during the 1950s.

  • Space Race

    • The Space Race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to explore outer space and achieve milestones such as manned spaceflight and lunar landings.

  • Possibility of Atomic/Nuclear War

    • The possibility of atomic/nuclear war remains a grave global concern due to geopolitical tensions and proliferation risks.

  • Being drafted to fight and die 

    • Being drafted to fight and die means being compelled by the government to serve in the military and potentially sacrifice one's life in combat.

• Cold War Events

  • Korean War

    • The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea, backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations, ending in an armistice in 1953.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis

    • The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962 over the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

  • Bay of Pigs

    • The Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles supported by the U.S. government in 1961.

  • Vietnam War

    • The Vietnam War was a prolonged conflict (1955-1975) between communist forces, primarily the Viet Cong, supported by North Vietnam, and the anti-communist forces, primarily the South Vietnamese government, backed by the United States.

  • Vietnam pre-war events

    • The Vietnam War was preceded by French colonial rule and Vietnamese nationalist movements against foreign domination.

  • Vietnam War causes and politics

    • The Vietnam War stemmed from Cold War tensions and the desire to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, leading to conflict between North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States.

  • Vietnam War battles and fighting conditions

    • The Vietnam War was characterized by intense jungle warfare and guerrilla tactics, with key battles including those at Dien Bien Phu, Hue, and Khe Sanh.

  • Perception of the Vietnam War by the public in the US

    • The perception of the Vietnam War by the public in the US was largely negative, marked by growing disillusionment and opposition over time.

• End of the Cold War (Reagan’s Star Wars, Fall of the Berlin Wall, etc.)

  • The end of the Cold War was marked by the collapse of the Soviet Union, spurred by factors including Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) and the fall of the Berlin Wall, leading to the dissolution of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.

• Changing Society

  • War on Poverty and Johnson’s “Great Society”

    • The War on Poverty and Johnson's Great Society aimed to alleviate poverty through social welfare programs and economic reforms in the 1960s United States.

  • Civil Rights Movement(s)

    • The Civil Rights Movement was a grassroots struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States, marked by nonviolent protests, legal challenges, and legislative victories.

  • Conformity v. Counterculture

    • Conformity emphasizes fitting into societal norms, while counterculture challenges those norms.

  • Hawks v. Doves

    • Hawks advocate for aggressive action, while doves prefer peaceful solutions.

• Understand historical events in relation to different U.S. Presidents:

  • Harry S. Truman

    • Harry S. Truman served as the 33rd President of the United States, overseeing the end of World War II and the implementation of the Marshall Plan to aid in European post-war recovery.

  • Dwight D. Eisenhower

    • Dwight D. Eisenhower served as the 34th President of the United States and played a key role in the Allied victory during World War II as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe.

  • John F. Kennedy

    • JFK, as the 35th president of the United States, initiated significant domestic reforms such as the New Frontier and played a pivotal role in the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War.

  • Lyndon B. Johnson

    • Lyndon B. Johnson, or LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States who enacted significant social reforms including the Civil Rights Act and the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid.

  • Richard Nixon

    • Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, known for his foreign policy initiatives, including the opening of diplomatic relations with China, but also for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, leading to his resignation in 1974.

  • Gerald Ford

    • Gerald Ford served as the 38th President of the United States, taking office after Richard Nixon's resignation, and prioritized healing the nation after the Watergate scandal.

  • Jimmy Carter

    • Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States, focusing on human rights, energy conservation, and diplomacy.

  • Ronald Reagan

    • Ronald Reagan, as the 40th President of the United States, implemented conservative economic policies and played a key role in ending the Cold War.

  • George H.W. Bush

    • George H.W. Bush served as the 41st President of the United States, overseeing the end of the Cold War and leading the coalition in the Gulf War.

• Cold War Vocabulary 

  • The Cold War

    • The Cold War was a prolonged geopolitical tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological, political, and military competition, without direct armed conflict between the two superpowers.

  • Communism

    • Communism is a socio-economic system where the property is commonly owned and resources are distributed based on need.

  • The Civil Rights Movement

    • The Civil Rights Movement aimed to secure equal rights and opportunities for African Americans, challenging systemic racism and discrimination in the United States.

  • Conformity

    • Conformity is the tendency to adjust one's beliefs or behaviors to match those of a larger group.

  • New Frontier

    • The New Frontier was a term coined by President John F. Kennedy to encapsulate his vision of progress and innovation in the United States during the 1960s.

  • Great Society

    • The Great Society was a set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice and promoting social welfare and economic opportunity in the United States during the 1960s.

  • Domino Theory

    • The Domino Theory suggests that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will also fall in succession.

  • Proxy War

    • The Proxy War was a conflict where opposing powers supported rival factions in other countries rather than engaging in direct combat themselves.

  • Counterculture

    • Counterculture typically refers to a social movement advocating unconventional lifestyles and challenging mainstream norms.

  • Watergate

    • Watergate was a political scandal in the 1970s involving the Nixon administration's illegal activities, including the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up.

  • Silent Majority

    • The "silent majority" refers to a presumed large group of people in a society who do not express their opinions publicly, often thought to represent a conservative viewpoint.

Other topics:

• Civil Disobedience

  • Civil Disobedience is the deliberate refusal to obey certain laws or commands as a peaceful form of protest against perceived injustices.

• Civil Rights movements from the 1920s until the present

  • The Civil Rights movements from the 1920s until the present have been ongoing struggles for equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, encompassing various actions, protests, and legal reforms.

• Terrorist attacks of 911

  • 9/11 was a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, where hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of human lives.