Untitled Flashcards Set

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20s & 30s Study Guide (Ch. 7, 8, and 9)

1. Why does the government pass the 18th Amendment?

  • The government passed the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) to reduce crime, corruption, and social problems caused by alcohol consumption. Many believed that banning alcohol would improve morality and family life.

2. What is NOT mentioned in the writing of the 18th Amendment?

  • The amendment does not specify how Prohibition would be enforced, leading to challenges in implementation and widespread illegal alcohol trade.

3. What becomes the purpose of advertisements in the 1920s?

  • Advertisements shifted to persuade consumers to buy products based on emotions, lifestyle aspirations, and status rather than just product function.

4. Why does prohibition lead to organized crime?

  • The ban on alcohol created a black market, leading to the rise of powerful criminal organizations that controlled the illegal production and distribution of alcohol.

5. What was the biggest impact of the Jazz Age?

  • The Jazz Age revolutionized music, culture, and racial dynamics, bringing jazz to mainstream America and helping to bridge racial divides.

6. Assembly Line:

  • A manufacturing process introduced by Henry Ford that sped up production, reduced costs, and made products like automobiles more affordable.

7. Two reasons why people wanted to work for Henry Ford:

  1. He offered high wages ($5 a day).

  2. He reduced work hours and introduced the 5-day workweek.

8. What is the difference between an installment plan and credit?

  • Installment plan: A payment system where consumers pay over time with set amounts.

  • Credit: A more flexible borrowing system that allows consumers to purchase goods with deferred payments.

9. Teapot Dome Affair:

  • A major political scandal where government officials took bribes in exchange for allowing private companies to lease federal oil reserves.

10. What led to the rise of the KKK during the 1920s?

  • The KKK grew due to fears of immigration, African American progress, and changing social norms.

11. What led to the decline of the KKK during the 1920s?

  • Internal corruption, criminal activity, and public backlash against their violent tactics led to a decline in membership.

12. What was the goal of Marcus Garvey’s movement? Why did it end?

  • Marcus Garvey advocated for Black pride, economic independence, and a return to Africa. His movement declined after he was convicted of mail fraud and deported.

13. Scopes Trial:

  • A 1925 trial where a teacher, John Scopes, was prosecuted for teaching evolution in Tennessee, highlighting the conflict between science and religion.

14. How did Calvin Coolidge contribute to economic growth during the 1920s?

  • He supported pro-business policies, tax cuts, and minimal government regulation, leading to economic expansion.

15. Black Thursday:

  • October 24, 1929 – the stock market experienced a massive sell-off, signaling the start of the Great Depression.

16. Black Tuesday:

  • October 29, 1929 – the stock market fully crashed, wiping out fortunes and triggering financial panic.

17. Causes of the Great Crash (explain each):

  1. Over-speculation: People borrowed money to invest in stocks, leading to inflated prices.

  2. Bank failures: Many banks collapsed due to unpaid loans.

  3. Overproduction: Factories and farms produced more goods than consumers could buy.

  4. Uneven wealth distribution: The gap between rich and poor limited consumer spending.

18. Explain the following four things Herbert Hoover did to solve the Great Depression:

  • Volunteerism: Encouraged businesses to maintain wages and employment voluntarily.

  • Localism: Believed state and local governments should address economic problems, not the federal government.

  • Hawley-Smoot Tariff: Raised tariffs to protect U.S. industries but worsened global trade.

  • Credit to Banks: Created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to lend money to struggling banks.

19. What was the New Deal & 2nd New Deal?

  • New Deal: FDR’s programs aimed at economic recovery and social reform.

  • Second New Deal: A continuation with more aggressive reforms, including Social Security and labor protections.

20. What were the causes of the Dust Bowl?

  1. Severe drought.

  2. Over-farming and poor soil management.

  3. High winds that eroded the soil.

21. What were the effects of the Dust Bowl?

  • Mass migration to California, economic hardship, and destruction of farmland.

22. Causes of the Great Depression (explain each):

  1. Stock market crash: Destroyed investor confidence.

  2. Bank failures: Wiped out savings.

  3. High unemployment: Reduced consumer spending.

  4. Reduced international trade: Due to tariffs like the Hawley-Smoot Tariff.

23. Why were the 1920s Farmers considered a warning sign of what was about to happen in America?

  • Farmers faced economic struggles due to overproduction and falling prices, foreshadowing the economic collapse.

24. Why did President Hoover sign the Hawley-Smoot Tariff?

  • To protect American industries by taxing imports.

25. What were negative effects of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff?

  • Other countries retaliated with tariffs, reducing global trade and worsening the Depression.

26. How did the “fireside chats” benefit FDR?

  • Reassured the public and restored confidence in the government’s efforts.

27. Why did FDR proclaim the four-day bank holiday?

  • To prevent bank runs and allow banks to stabilize before reopening.

28. Why did Congress pass the 21st Amendment?

  • To repeal Prohibition, boost the economy through alcohol sales, and reduce crime.

29. How did the New Deal change the role of the federal government?

  • Expanded government involvement in the economy and social welfare.

30. Define the following New Deal & 2nd New Deal Agencies:

  • Civil Conservation Corp (CCC): Provided jobs in conservation projects.

  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Regulated the stock market.

  • Social Security Act (SSA): Created pensions and unemployment benefits.

  • Works Progress Administration (WPA): Created public works jobs.

  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Insured bank deposits to prevent bank failures.

31. Why did the New Deal only bring some relief and not completely end the Depression?

  • It helped but did not generate enough economic recovery; full recovery came with WWII.

32. How did deficit spending on WWII get the U.S. out of the Great Depression when spending on the New Deal only brought some relief?

  • WWII spending created massive industrial and employment opportunities, fully reviving the economy.

33. How did the U.S.’s foreign policy of favoring Isolationism over Collective Security (L of N) possibly lead to WWII?

  • By avoiding international involvement, the U.S. allowed aggressor nations (Germany, Japan, Italy) to expand unchecked.

This should cover all the key points! Let me know if you need anything explained in more detail. 🚀