Alevel History short answer test 1917-20

Paper 1 Revision: In Search of the American Dream 1917-1996

USA 1917-1920: Essay Questions

• How far do you agree that America benefitted from war?

• How accurate is it to say that economic factors had the biggest impact on presidential policies?

USA 1917-1920: Politics

• Wilson's Re-election (1916)

  • Campaign slogan: "He kept us out of the War"

  • Position as a progressive president highlighted by legislations like the Adamson Act, which limited railroad workers to an 8-hour workday.

• Entry into WWI (1917)

  • Driven by response to German aggression.

  • Marked a transition to a larger role for the state in American life.

• Draft and Military Involvement

  • Approximately 5 million men drafted for military service in WWI.

• Treaty of Versailles

  • Wilson promoted the treaty domestically, facing significant political opposition from Congress and public sentiment.

  • Republicans gained control of Senate in the 1918 mid-term elections, resulting in Wilson’s decreased political power.

• Political Consequences

  • Wilson’s unpopularity led to the exclusion of the Democratic Party from power for 12 years post-1920.

USA 1917-1920: Economics

• Impact of WWI on Taxation

  • Introduction of the income tax for the first time due to the financial demands of the war.

• Post-War Employment and Economy

  • A surge in unemployment as returning soldiers left the armed forces, contributing to downward pressure on wages.

• Economic Downturns

  • The USA faced two significant recessions in the aftermath of WWI.

• Labor Strikes

  • A high volume of labor unrest, with 3,600 separate strikes reported throughout 1919, reflecting economic discontent.

USA 1917-1920: Society

• Great Migration

  • Increased demand for labor in northern factories led to escalated migration from rural southern areas to urban centers, known as the Great Migration.

• Urban Segregation

  • Northern cities demonstrated de facto segregation, leading to increasing racial tensions and race riots.

• Jim Crow Laws in the South

  • Used to maintain legal segregation; these laws intensified societal divisions.

• Fear of Communism

  • The First Red Scare emerged in 1919, with anti-immigrant sentiments prevailing. Immigrants were scapegoated for introducing radical ideas like communism, leading to the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti case.

• Palmer Raids

  • Law enforcement arrested 6,000 foreign 'aliens' on suspicion of communism as a reaction to rising fears.

• Restriction on Immigration

  • The Literacy Tests Act of 1917 effectively closed doors to many immigrants and overrode Wilson’s presidential veto.

• Women's Suffrage

  • The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1919, a significant achievement influenced by their contributions and roles during the war, although job opportunities diminished post-war.

USA 1917-1920: Essay Questions

• How far do you agree that America benefitted from war?

• How accurate is it to say that economic factors had the biggest impact on presidential policies?

Introduction:

• Overview of the American social, political, and economic landscape from 1917 to 1920 and its lasting implications on the concept of the American Dream.

Theme 1:

• Possible focus on the political developments under Wilson's administration and their impacts on society and policymaking.

Theme 2:

• The social consequences of war, especially regarding race relations and women's rights, as reflections of broader cultural shifts.

Theme 3:

• Analysis of economic challenges faced during the post-war period, including strikes, unemployment, and the role of government in managing the economy.

Conclusion:

• Summary of findings related to the essay questions, assessing the balance of benefits and challenges that America faced as a result of WWI.