APUSH notes

PERIOD 1 Early Farming and the Importance of Maize (Corn)

• Domestication and Cultivation:
  • Maize, or corn, was domesticated by Indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica over 9,000 years ago.
  • Through selective breeding, they transformed teosinte, a wild grass, into the high-yielding maize crop.
• Agricultural Significance:
  • Maize became a staple crop due to its adaptability and productivity, allowing communities to produce surplus food.
  • This surplus supported population growth and the development of complex societies.
• Cultural Importance:
  • For many Indigenous cultures, maize held profound spiritual significance.
  • The Iroquois revered maize alongside beans and squash as the “Three Sisters,” viewing them as gifts that sustained life.

Spanish Settlement and Relations with Native Americans

• Colonial Expansion:
  • Following Christopher Columbus’s voyages, Spain established colonies throughout the Americas to expand its empire, spread Christianity, and exploit resources.
• Encomienda System:
  • To control and benefit from Indigenous labor, the Spanish implemented the encomienda system.
  • This system granted colonists authority over Indigenous communities to extract tribute and labor, often leading to severe exploitation and population decline among Native Americans.
• Cultural Interactions:
  • While there were instances of cooperation and cultural exchange, Spanish colonization often resulted in the suppression of Indigenous traditions and significant demographic changes due to disease and conflict.

Columbian Exchange and Early Slavery

• Exchange of Goods and Ideas:
  • The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and ideas between the Americas, Africa, and Europe following Columbus’s voyages.
  • This exchange introduced new crops and livestock to various continents, reshaping diets and economies.
• Introduction of Slavery:
  • As European powers established colonies in the Americas, the demand for labor to cultivate cash crops like sugar and tobacco grew.
  • Initially, Indigenous peoples were enslaved, but due to high mortality rates from disease and overwork, Europeans increasingly imported enslaved Africans, leading to the transatlantic slave trade.

PERIOD 2 Beginning of Plantation Economies in the Americas

• Origins:
  • The plantation system in the Americas developed as European colonial powers established large-scale agricultural enterprises to produce cash crops for export.
  • Initially, these plantations relied on indentured servants; however, as the demand for labor grew, enslaved Africans became the primary labor force.
• Key Features:
  • Focused on monoculture, cultivating a single crop such as sugar, tobacco, or cotton.
  • Utilized a labor-intensive system, heavily dependent on enslaved labor.
  • Played a significant role in integrating the Americas into the global economy through the export of these commodities.

English Colonists and Native Americans: King Philip’s War

• Background:
  • As English settlements expanded in New England, tensions with Native American tribes, particularly the Wampanoag, escalated due to land disputes and cultural differences.
• Conflict:
  • In 1675, these tensions erupted into King Philip’s War, named after Metacom (also known as King Philip), the Wampanoag leader.
  • The war was marked by brutal attacks on both sides, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.
• Outcome:
  • The conflict led to the decimation of several Native American communities and the expansion of English colonial territories.

Colonial Economics: Navigation Act of 1660

• Navigation Act of 1660:
  • Enacted by the English Parliament to control colonial trade and bolster the mercantile system.
  • Mandated that certain goods produced in the colonies, such as tobacco and sugar, be shipped exclusively to England or its colonies.
  • Required that all trade between colonies and other countries pass through England, ensuring that England benefited from colonial commerce.
• Impact:
  • These regulations aimed to monopolize colonial trade for the benefit of the English economy, often leading to colonial resentment and smuggling.

Chesapeake Bay Colonies: Labor and Tobacco

• Tobacco Economy:
  • In colonies like Virginia and Maryland, tobacco emerged as the dominant cash crop, driving economic growth.
• Labor Force:
  • Initially, labor needs were met through indentured servitude, with individuals working for a set number of years in exchange for passage to America.
  • Over time, as the demand for labor increased and the supply of indentured servants decreased, planters increasingly turned to enslaved Africans, leading to the entrenchment of chattel slavery in the region.

Middle Colonies: Religion and Economies

• Religious Diversity:
  • The middle colonies, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, were characterized by a mix of religious groups, such as Quakers, Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, and others, fostering a climate of relative religious tolerance.
• Economic Activities:
  • These colonies had a more diverse economy compared to the plantation-focused South, with agriculture (growing grains like wheat and corn), manufacturing, and trade playing significant roles.
  • The presence of navigable rivers facilitated commerce and the development of port cities like Philadelphia and New York City.

Anne Hutchinson

• Background:
  • Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual advisor and an influential participant in the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the 1630s.
• Controversy:
  • She held meetings in her home, discussing religious matters and expressing views that challenged the established Puritan clergy, particularly regarding the emphasis on “grace” over “works” in salvation.
• Consequences:
  • Hutchinson’s outspoken beliefs led to her trial and banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. She later settled in Rhode Island, contributing to the colony’s tradition of religious freedom.

John Smith and the Virginia Colony

• Role in Jamestown:
  • Captain John Smith was a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in America, founded in 1607.
• Leadership:
  • Smith implemented strict discipline and a policy of “he who does not work, shall not eat,” which was crucial in ensuring the colony’s survival during its early, challenging years.
• Relations with Native Americans:
  • He established trade relations with local Powhatan tribes, which provided the settlers with vital resources.
  • Smith’s accounts of his experiences, including the famous (and debated) story of his rescue by Pocahontas, have become integral to American colonial history.

Settlement at Jamestown

• Establishment:
  • Founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• Early Struggles:
  • Settlers faced severe hardships, including disease, famine, and conflicts with Indigenous peoples, leading to high mortality rates.
• Survival and Growth:
  • The introduction of tobacco cultivation by John Rolfe became the economic cornerstone of the colony, attracting more settlers and investment.
  • The establishment of the House of Burgesses in 1619 marked the beginning of representative government in the American colonies.

Slavery in the English Colonies

• Social and Legal Aspects:
  • Slave Codes: To regulate and control the enslaved population, colonies enacted slave codes that defined the legal status of enslaved individuals and the rights of slave owners. These laws made slavery a permanent condition, inherited through the mother, and defined slaves as property.
• Regional Differences:
  • New England and Middle Colonies: While slavery existed, these regions were considered “societies with slaves,” where slavery was not central to the economy or social structure.
  • Southern Colonies: Areas like the Chesapeake and Carolinas evolved into “slave societies,” where slavery was central to the economy, politics, and social hierarchy.

Comparison of English Colonial Settlement and New France

• Settlement Patterns:
  • English Colonies: Established both plantation economies in the South and family farms in New England and the Middle Colonies. The English encouraged immigration from various nations, boosting colonial populations and fostering diverse communities.
  • New France: Focused on the fur trade, with settlements along major waterways like the St. Lawrence River. French settlers often formed alliances with Native American tribes, relying on them for trade and survival.
• Economic Activities:
  • English Colonies: Diverse economies including agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. The Southern colonies were heavily reliant on cash crops like tobacco, while the Northern colonies engaged in mixed farming and commerce.
  • New France: Economy centered around the fur trade, with less emphasis on agriculture due to the harsher climate and terrain.
• Relations with Native Americans:
  • English Colonies: Relationships varied; while there were periods of trade and cooperation, expansion often led to conflicts and displacement of Native American tribes.
  • New France: Generally maintained cooperative relations with Native Americans, crucial for the success of the fur trade. French settlers often adopted aspects of Native culture and formed strategic alliances.
• Governance and Social Structure:
  • English Colonies: Operated with a degree of self-governance, developing local assemblies and town meetings. Social structures were influenced by a mix of religious and economic factors.
  • New France: Governed by a centralized authority under the French crown, with less autonomy for settlers. Society was less stratified, with settlers often relying on mutual cooperation for survival.

PERIOD 3 Strengths/Weaknesses (Colonies vs. Britain going into Revolutionary War)

• Colonies:
  • Strengths - Familiar with the land, guerilla tactics, strong motivation.
  • Weaknesses - Poorly trained militia, lack of resources
• Britain:
  • Strengths - Well-trained army, powerful navy, greater resources.
  • Weaknesses - Distance from home, underestimation of colonial resistance.

Proclamation of 1763

• Prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflict with Native Americans.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Ended the Revolutionary War; Britain recognized U.S. independence and ceded territory east of the Mississippi River to the U.S.

Idea of Revolution

• Common Sense by Thomas Paine advocated for independence from Britain, influencing public opinion.
• The Declaration of Independence formalized the colonies’ separation from Britain.

Committees of Correspondence

• Established to foster communication between colonies, spreading revolutionary ideas and uniting them against British policies.

Acts/Laws & Protests

• Acts like the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and Intolerable Acts led to protests such as boycotts, the Boston Tea Party, and non-importation agreements.

Key Conflict (England vs. Colonies)

• Major issues: Taxation without representation, British control over colonial laws and trade, limits on westward expansion (Proclamation of 1763).

Foreign Aid

• France (key ally) provided aid after the 1777 Battle of Saratoga, motivated by rivalry with Britain and desire to weaken British power.

Importance of Congresses

• Albany Congress (1754): Early attempt at colonial unity
• Stamp Act Congress (1765): First formal opposition to British taxation.
• 1st Continental Congress (1774): Organized resistance to Intolerable Acts.
• 2nd Continental Congress (1775-1781): Led war efforts, created Continental Army, drafted Declaration of Independence.

French & Indian War

• Causes: Competition over the Ohio River Valley.
• Results: British victory, but massive war debt led to taxing colonies, setting stage for revolution.

Rebellions

• Examples: Shays’ Rebellion (1786) revealed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger national government.

Articles of Confederation

• Pros: Weak central government, preserved state sovereignty.
• Cons: Inability to tax, no standing army, weak foreign policy.

Constitutional Convention

• Compromises: Great Compromise (bicameral legislature), 3/5 Compromise (counting enslaved people for representation)
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Debated the strength of central government, resulting in the Bill of Rights.

Revolution & Women

• Women gained recognition for their roles in supporting the war effort, leading to the idea of Republican Motherhood—women educating their children in civic virtues.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

• Proposed national bank, federal assumption of state debts, and excise taxes to stabilize the U.S. economy and establish credit.

Foreign Policy

• U.S. pursued neutrality, exemplified by Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation (1793) to avoid entanglement in European conflicts.

Farewell Address

• In his Farewell Address (1796), Washington warned against political parties, urged the U.S. to avoid foreign alliances and maintain neutrality, and stressed the importance of national unity to prevent regional divisions.

PERIOD 4 Early Factory System & Effects

• Centralized production with machinery in the North during the Industrial Revolution.
• Led to urbanization, mass production, poor working conditions, and economic growth.

New Transportation

• Canals, railroads, and steamboats reduced shipping costs, connected markets, and expanded settlement westward.

Immigration & Northern Cities

• Irish and German immigrants settled in overcrowded, unsanitary cities, facing poor housing and nativist hostility.

Reform Movements

• Abolition: Movement to end slavery.
• Temperance: Campaign to limit alcohol consumption.
• Suffrage & Women’s Rights: Push for voting rights and equality (e.g., Seneca Falls Convention).
• Public Education: Advocated for free, universal education.
• Utopian Ideas: Experiments in ideal communities (e.g., Brook Farm).

Texas & Conflict with Mexico

• U.S. settlers moved to Mexican-controlled Texas.
• Tensions over slavery and governance led to the Texas Revolution (1836) and later annexation by the U.S.

Whig Party

• Formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson.
• Supported a strong Congress, national bank, tariffs, and internal improvements.

Election of 1824

• Candidates: Adams, Jackson, Clay, and Crawford.
• Controversy: Jackson won the popular vote, but the House chose Adams, leading to the “Corrupt Bargain.”

Second Great Awakening & Reform Movements

• Abolition Movement
  • Goal: End slavery in the United States.
  • Key Figures:
    • Frederick Douglass: Former enslaved man, influential writer, and speaker.
    • William Lloyd Garrison: Published The Liberator, a radical abolitionist newspaper.
    • Harriet Tubman: Leader of the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.
  • Methods:
    • Lectures, writings, and petitions.
    • Organizations like the American Anti-Slavery Society.
• Temperance Movement
  • Goal: Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, which was linked to social ills like crime and domestic abuse.
  • Key Groups:
    • American Temperance Society: Advocated for abstinence and public pledges.
    • Women were prominent leaders due to alcohol’s impact on family life.
  • Impact: Led to reduced alcohol consumption and paved the way for Prohibition in the early 20th century.
• Women’s Rights Movement
  • Goal: Achieve gender equality, particularly in voting rights and property laws.
  • Key Event:
    • Seneca Falls Convention (1848): Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott; the Declaration of Sentiments demanded equal rights for women, including suffrage.
  • Key Figures:
    • Susan B. Anthony: Focused on suffrage and legal reforms.
    • Sojourner Truth: Advocated for both women’s and African Americans’ rights.
• Public Education Movement
  • Goal: Establish free, universal, and nonsectarian public education.
  • Key Figure:
    • Horace Mann: Advocated for standardized curricula, trained teachers, and expanded access.
  • Impact:
    • Education became more accessible, especially in the North, and literacy rates improved.
• Utopian Communities
  • Goal: Create ideal societies based on shared beliefs.
  • Examples:
    • Shakers: Focused on simplicity, communal living, and celibacy.
    • Brook Farm: Experimented with Transcendentalist ideals of individualism and community.
    • Oneida Community: Advocated for shared property and controversial social practices like “complex marriage.”
  • Most communities failed but reflected dissatisfaction with industrial and social norms.
• Prison & Asylum Reform
  • Goal: Improve conditions for prisoners and the mentally ill.
  • Key Figures:
    • Dorothea Dix: Fought for better treatment of the mentally ill and the establishment of asylums.
  • Impact:
    • Prisons and asylums began to focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
• Second Great Awakening’s Role
  • This religious revival emphasized individual morality and salvation, inspiring many reformers.
  • Preachers like Charles Grandison Finney urged people to improve society as part of their spiritual duty.
• These movements reflected a growing desire to improve society and address injustices, laying the groundwork for future reforms.

Martin Van Buren (MVB)

• Administration faced the Panic of 1837, a severe economic depression caused by bank failures and inflation.

Tariff Crisis & Nullification

• Southern states opposed high tariffs, leading South Carolina to nullify federal laws.
• Jackson opposed nullification, asserting federal authority.

Jacksonian Democracy

• Expanded voting rights for white men, increased focus on the “common man,” and limited federal power.

Panic of 1837

• Causes: Bank failures, speculative lending, and Jackson’s economic policies.
• Results: Widespread unemployment and economic hardship.

Election of 1800 & Jefferson Administration

• Peaceful transfer of power to Jefferson.
• Policies: Louisiana Purchase, reduced federal spending, and limited government.

War of 1812

• Causes: British impressment of sailors, trade restrictions.
• Effects: Boosted nationalism, ended Native resistance in the West.

American System & Henry Clay

• Plan for tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements to strengthen the economy.

Foreign Policy (Monroe Doctrine, Florida, Oregon)

• Monroe Doctrine warned Europe against colonizing in the Americas.
• U.S. acquired Florida from Spain (Adams-Onís Treaty) and resolved Oregon boundary disputes.

Andrew Jackson’s Top 6 key issues:

• Spoils System
  • Rewarded political supporters with government jobs.
  • Promoted loyalty to Jackson but criticized as corrupt and inefficient.
• Use of the Veto
  • Vetoed more bills than all previous presidents combined, asserting executive power.
  • Famous veto: Maysville Road Bill, opposing federal funding of local projects.
• Bank of the United States (BUS #2)
  • Opposed the Second Bank, seeing it as a tool for the wealthy elite.
  • Vetoed its recharter in 1832, leading to the “Bank War” and redistribution of funds to state banks.
• Native American Policy
  • Enforced the Indian Removal Act (1830), leading to the Trail of Tears
  • Relocated Native tribes west of the Mississippi, causing suffering and death.
• Tariff Crisis
  • Southern states opposed high tariffs (e.g., Tariff of Abominations)
  • Jackson rejected South Carolina’s nullification of federal tariffs and used the Force Bill to assert federal authority.
• Power of the ‘Common Man’
  • Expanded suffrage for white men by eliminating property requirements.
  • Positioned himself as a champion of the average citizen, reshaping American democracy.

PERIOD 5 Manifest Destiny & Expansion

• Manifest Destiny: Belief in the U.S. destiny to expand westward across North America.
• War with Mexico (1846-1848): Sparked by border disputes (Rio Grande vs. Nueces River); resulted in the Mexican Cession (1848) through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
• Election of 1844: James K. Polk (Democrat) supported expansion (Texas annexation, Oregon territory).

Sectional Conflicts over Slavery

• Free-Soilers: Anti-slavery party; motto: “Free soil, free speech, free labor, free men.”
• Wilmot Proviso (1846): Proposed banning slavery in Mexican Cession territory; failed but fueled debate.

Compromises and Tensions

• Compromise of 1850: Admitted California as a free state, introduced Fugitive Slave Act, and allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): Allowed popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska; overturned the Missouri Compromise.
• Bleeding Kansas: Violent clashes over slavery in Kansas (e.g., John Brown’s actions).

Southern Secession & Civil War

• Southern Secession (1860-1861): Triggered by Lincoln’s election; South Carolina first to secede.
• Crittenden Compromise (1860): Attempted to extend the Missouri Compromise line; failed.
• Dred Scott Decision (1857): Declared African Americans were not citizens and Congress couldn’t ban slavery in territories.

Lincoln and the Civil War

• Lincoln’s Election of 1860: Republican platform opposed slavery’s expansion.
• Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Freed slaves in Confederate territories; shifted war aims to abolition.
• Major Civil War Battles:
  • Fort Sumter (start of war)
  • Antietam (bloodiest single day; led to Emancipation Proclamation)
  • Gettysburg (turning point)
  • Vicksburg (Union gains control of Mississippi).
• Union Strategy (Anaconda Plan): Blockade Southern ports, control the Mississippi, and capture Richmond.

Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

• Amendments:
  • 13th: Abolished slavery.
  • 14th: Granted citizenship and equal protection.
  • 15th: Voting rights for African American men.
• Radical Republicans: Advocated for harsh Reconstruction policies and civil rights for freedmen.
• Civil Rights Act of 1866: First U.S. law to define citizenship and ensure equal protection
• Black Codes: Laws to restrict freedoms of African Americans.
• Freedmen’s Bureau: Aided freed slaves with education, housing, and employment.
• Sharecropping/Tenant Farming: Economic system trapping freedmen and poor whites in cycles of debt.

Important Concepts

• Missouri Compromise (1820): Admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state; banned slavery north of 36°30′.
• Popular Sovereignty: Idea that territories decide slavery by vote; led to violence in Kansas.

PERIOD 6 New Immigration/immigration restrictions:

• Old immigrants
  • push changes in agriculture, famine, poor, population pressure
  • Pull is job opportunities, land/farming, religious tolerance, money
  • South and Eastern Europe
• Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
• Supported/ voted for political machines

Labor unions/strikes/riots/worker problems

• Wages, hours, conditions, no job security
• Carneige strike

Changes in Education/Morrill Land Grant Act

• Educated voters, land for universities
• Civil service test

Booker T. Washington & WEB DuBois

• Washington said to work on issues inside community first
• DuBois called for activism and franchisement

Politics of the Gilded Age (Pres. Chart – important events)

• Grant: Credit scandal, Assassination, Pendleton act.
• Political machines, parties were very similar

Importance of Railroads, Industrialization (good, bad and the ugly)

• Railroad drove economy meaning steel and land economy also grew
• Good for the owners but not for the workers, expensive to build, drove US economy

Growth and problems of cities during this time – connect to immigration, political machines, etc.

• Language barriers, school education, finding people with same views and beliefs, “civilizing efforts”
• Chinese immigration: had the worst discrimination, government and nativists talk about ending chinese immigration

Settlement Houses/Jane Addams

• Purpose was to store new families into them

The New South, segregation/Jim Crow laws/Plessey v. Ferguson, agriculture/share-cropping system

• Segregation laws, separate but equal was legal, sharecropping- cycle of poverty in the south

Panic of 1873/inflation/hard $ vs. soft $…all things economy!

• Circulation of money and inflation

Social issues/women’s movement/suffrage

• New message for why women should vote,15th amendment
• if men can vote why cant women, voting at local and state level

Pullman Strike – causes/results (think the situation of a company town)

• Regulate railroads, coining silver

Farmers begin to organize/grievances/Populist Party and platform/William Jennings Bryan and SILVER

• William Jennings was pro-silver, inflation

Native Americans/importance of buffalo/Helen Hunt Jackson

• Decline in buffalo meant decline of plains indians
• Helen Hunt Jackson poet for NA

Open-range ranching

• Barbed wire ends it
• cattle roam throughout without fencing

PERIOD 7 PART 1** idk PERIOD 7 PART 2 1920s Presidents

The 1920s saw three Republican presidents:

• Warren G. Harding (1921–1923): His administration focused on pro-business policies and a “return to normalcy” after World War I. However, his term was marred by scandals, most notably the Teapot Dome scandal.
• Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929): Succeeding Harding, Coolidge promoted limited government intervention and continued pro-business policies, contributing to the economic prosperity of the era.
• Herbert Hoover (1929–1933): Hoover’s presidency began with optimism but was soon challenged by the onset of the Great Depression.

Amendments (#16–21)

• 16th Amendment (1913): Authorized the federal government to impose an income tax.
• 17th Amendment (1913): Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.
• 18th Amendment (1919): Instituted Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
• 19th Amendment (1920): Granted women the right to vote.
• 20th Amendment (1933): Changed the dates for the start of presidential and congressional terms, reducing the “lame-duck” period.
• 21st Amendment (1933): Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition.

Scopes Trial and the “Red Scare”

• Scopes Trial (1925): Also known as the “Monkey Trial,” it was a legal case in Tennessee where teacher John T. Scopes was tried for teaching evolution, challenging laws that mandated the teaching of creationism.
• First Red Scare (1919–1920): A period of intense fear of communism and radical leftism in the U.S., leading to widespread suspicion, government raids, and the suppression of civil liberties.

Isolationism

Post-World War I, the U.S. adopted an isolationist foreign policy, avoiding entanglements in international alliances and focusing on domestic affairs. This stance influenced immigration restrictions and limited involvement in global conflicts.

Bonus March (1932)

In 1932, thousands of World War I veterans, known as the “Bonus Army,” marched on Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of promised bonuses. The government’s forceful eviction of these veterans led to public outrage and highlighted the government’s inadequate response to the economic crisis.

Purpose of the New Deal

Initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the New Deal aimed to address the Great Depression through:

• Relief: Immediate support for the unemployed and poor.
• Recovery: Economic revival through job creation and industrial growth.
• Reform: Structural changes to prevent future economic crises, including financial regulations.

President Hoover & the Depression

Herbert Hoover believed in limited government intervention, emphasizing voluntary cooperation and local relief efforts. However, as the Depression worsened, his policies were seen as insufficient, leading to public dissatisfaction.

Prosperity of the 1920s and Its Consequences

The 1920s, known as the “Roaring Twenties,” experienced economic growth, technological advancements, and increased consumerism. However, this prosperity led to speculative investments and an overextended stock market, culminating in the 1929 crash and the ensuing Great Depression.

Economic Philosophies of the 1920s and 1930s

• 1920s: Laissez-faire capitalism dominated, with minimal government intervention and a focus on individualism and free markets.
• 1930s: The Great Depression prompted a shift towards Keynesian economics, advocating for increased government spending and intervention to stimulate demand and economic recovery.

Farmers: Problems and Solutions

Post-World War I, farmers faced overproduction, falling prices, and mounting debts. The New Deal introduced measures like the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which paid farmers to reduce crop production, aiming to stabilize prices and restore agricultural prosperity.

Compare & Contrast Hoover & FDR

• Hoover: Advocated for limited government intervention, relying on voluntary actions and believing the economy would self-correct.
• FDR: Implemented active government intervention through the New Deal, creating programs to provide direct relief, stimulate recovery, and reform economic systems.

FDR and the Court-Packing Scheme

Frustrated by the Supreme Court striking down New Deal legislation, FDR proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, aiming to add more justices to the Court. This “court-packing” plan faced widespread criticism and was viewed as an overreach of executive power, ultimately failing in Congress.

New Deal Programs

Key initiatives included:

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): Provided jobs in natural resource conservation.
• Works Progress Administration (WPA): Created public works jobs in infrastructure, arts, and education.
• Social Security Act: Established a system of unemployment insurance and pensions for the elderly.
• National Recovery Administration (NRA): Promoted industrial recovery by establishing fair competition codes.

Social Issues of the 1920s and 1930s

• 1920s: Cultural clashes arose over issues like Prohibition, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and debates between modernism and traditionalism, exemplified by the Scopes Trial.
• 1930s: The Great Depression led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and shifts in family dynamics, with increased migration and changes in societal roles.

Critics of FDR (from Both Left and Right)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies faced criticism from various political perspectives:

• Critics from the Left:
  • Some left-wing critics argued that the New Deal did not go far enough in addressing economic inequality and social justice.
  • The Communist Party USA labeled Roosevelt’s policies as steps toward fascism, accusing him of favoring capitalist interests over workers’ rights.
  • Socialist leader Norman Thomas contended that the New Deal preserved capitalism when there was an opportunity for more radical reforms.
• Critics from the Right:
  • Conservative opponents viewed the New Deal as an overreach of federal power and a threat to individual liberties.
  • The American Liberty League, composed of prominent businessmen and political figures, argued that Roosevelt’s policies were unconstitutional and leaned toward collectivism.
  • Economist Friedrich von Hayek cautioned that government intervention in the economy, as seen in the New Deal, could lead to a loss of personal freedoms.

The Three R’s of the New Deal

Roosevelt’s New Deal focused on three primary objectives, often referred to as the “Three R’s”:

1. Relief: Providing immediate assistance to those suffering from the economic downturn, including the unemployed and impoverished. Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) were established to create jobs and offer direct aid.
2. Recovery: Implementing measures to stimulate economic growth and pull the country out of the Great Depression. This involved efforts to revitalize industries, agriculture, and overall economic activity.
3. Reform: Introducing long-term changes to prevent future economic crises. This included financial reforms such as the establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate the stock market and the creation of the Social Security system to support vulnerable populations.

Labor Unions and FDR

Under Roosevelt’s administration, labor unions experienced significant growth and gained substantial support through various legislative measures:

• Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act) of 1935: This pivotal law guaranteed workers the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. It also prohibited unfair labor practices by employers and led to the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to oversee labor disputes.
• Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938: This act introduced minimum wage and maximum hour standards, effectively reducing exploitative labor practices and improving working conditions across various industries.
  These initiatives not only empowered labor unions but also contributed to the expansion of workers’ rights and the establishment of labor standards that continue to influence the American workforce today.

PERIOD 7 PART 3 U.S. Neutrality Acts up to World War II and the Decision to Aid Great Britain and the USSR

• Neutrality Acts (1935–1939):
  • Enacted to prevent U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
  • Prohibited arms sales and loans to nations at war.
  • Aimed to maintain U.S. neutrality and avoid the factors that led to involvement in World War I.
• Shift Toward Support:
  • As Axis powers advanced, the U.S. modified its stance to support Allied nations.
  • The “cash and carry” policy allowed belligerent countries to purchase arms if they paid cash and transported the goods themselves.
  • The Lend-Lease Act (1941) permitted the U.S. to supply military aid to nations deemed vital to its defense, notably Great Britain and the USSR.

Japanese Internment Camps

• Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, fear and suspicion toward Japanese Americans escalated.
• In February 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, leading to the forced relocation and incarceration of approximately 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens.
• They were confined in internment camps located in remote areas across the country, a decision now recognized as a grave injustice driven by wartime hysteria and racial prejudice.

Lend-Lease Act

• Enacted on March 11, 1941, the Lend-Lease Act allowed the U.S. to provide military aid to foreign nations during World War II.
• Authorized the president to transfer arms or other defense