Chapter 25-27
Flashcard #1
Term: Black Tuesday
Definition: October 29, 1929 - The stock market crashed and essentially ushered in the Great Depression.Flashcard #2
Term: Causes of Depression
Definition: The economy was too dependent on a very small number of industries, customers were too poor to purchase goods, too much credit extended, decreasing European demand for American goods, and accumulating European debt leading to default.Flashcard #3
Term: Progress of the Depression
Definition: Stock market collapse, bank bankruptcies, decreased money supply, decreased purchasing power, and companies cutting prices, production, and employees.Flashcard #4
Term: Unemployment
Definition: Estimated at 25% or more in 1932. Averaged 20% throughout the 1930s and never got below 15%. Some cities saw rates as high as 80%.Flashcard #5
Term: Relief
Definition: Financial assistance to the unemployed through various government agencies.Flashcard #6
Term: Dust Bowl
Definition: A severe drought during the 1930s that caused millions of acres of farmland to dry up and blow away.Flashcard #7
Term: Scottsboro Case
Definition: In 1931, nine black teenagers were accused of raping two white women in Alabama and were sentenced to death by an all-white jury.Flashcard #8
Term: The Depression’s impact on Families
Definition: Women learned to sew clothes, preserve food, and take in laundry, while families often broke up or moved in with relatives.Flashcard #9
Term: Dale Carnegie
Definition: Author of 'How to Win Friends and Influence People', promoting the value of individual initiative.Flashcard #10
Term: John Steinbeck
Definition: Author of the novel 'The Grapes of Wrath', depicting the trials of a family of 'Oakies' migrating to California.Flashcard #11
Term: Escapist Radio Shows
Definition: Radio shows that provided entertainment during the Great Depression.Flashcard #12
Term: Life Magazine
Definition: Popularized photojournalism and occasionally portrayed conditions during the depression.Flashcard #13
Term: Abraham Lincoln Brigade
Definition: A group of over 3000 young Americans who fought in Spain against Franco's fascist forces.Flashcard #14
Term: Popular Front
Definition: The American Communist Party's alignment with downtrodden groups, gaining support while following orders from the Comintern in Moscow.Flashcard #15
Term: Agricultural Marketing Act
Definition: Established by Hoover to help farmers maintain prices, it was largely ineffective.Flashcard #16
Term: Hawley Smoot Tariff
Definition: Raised tariff rates to protect farm products, but led to retaliatory trade restrictions from other countries.Flashcard #17
Term: Hoovervilles
Definition: Makeshift shantytowns established by the destitute on the outskirts of cities, named after President Hoover.Flashcard #18
Term: Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Definition: A government agency established by Hoover to provide federal loans to banks, railroads, and local governments.Flashcard #19
Term: Bonus Army
Definition: In 1932, WWI veterans marched to Congress demanding early payment of their promised bonuses.Flashcard #20
Term: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Definition: Wealthy, educated at Harvard and Columbia, he promised a 'New Deal' for Americans and overcame polio.Flashcard #21
Term: Fireside chats
Definition: Informal radio broadcasts by FDR explaining his plans and making the public feel cared for.Flashcard #22
Term: Bank Holiday
Definition: FDR ordered all banks to close for four days to stabilize the banking system.Flashcard #23
Term: 21st Amendment
Definition: Repealed Prohibition in 1933.Flashcard #24
Term: Henry Wallace
Definition: Secretary of Agriculture during the FDR administration.Flashcard #25
Term: Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)
Definition: Government paid farmers subsidies to lower production; struck down in 1936 by the Supreme Court.Flashcard #26
Term: Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
Definition: Led by Hugh Johnson, aimed at extending electricity to rural areas.Flashcard #27
Term: National Recovery Administration (NRA)
Definition: Involved government regulation of industries to stimulate economic recovery.Flashcard #28
Term: Tennessee Valley Authority
Definition: Government initiative to develop the Tennessee River watershed, building dams and canals.Flashcard #29
Term: Gold Standard (1933)
Definition: FDR took the US off the gold standard to manipulate currency value.Flashcard #30
Term: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Definition: Guaranteed the security of bank deposits up to $2500; now $250,000.Flashcard #31
Term: Securities and Exchange Commission
Definition: Established to police the stock market.Flashcard #32
Term: Federal Emergency Relief Administration
Definition: Provided cash grants to states for local relief agencies, led by Harry Hopkins.Flashcard #33
Term: Civil Works Administration (CWA)
Definition: Allowed people to work for the money the government was providing.Flashcard #34
Term: Keynesian Economics
Definition: Philosophy stating government spending stimulates a sluggish economy.Flashcard #35
Term: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Definition: Provided jobs on conservation projects for over 500,000 young men.Flashcard #36
Term: American Liberty League
Definition: Formed by wealthy opponents of FDR who opposed his policies.Flashcard #37
Term: Dr. Francis E. Townsend
Definition: Proposed a pension plan for the elderly, advocating they spend it to stimulate the economy.Flashcard #38
Term: Father Coughlin
Definition: Catholic priest advocating for monetary reform and creating the National Union for Social Justice.Flashcard #39
Term: Huey Long
Definition: Louisiana governor and senator who proposed the Share-Our-Wealth Plan; assassinated in 1936.Flashcard #40
Term: National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) 1935
Definition: Required employers to bargain with legitimate unions.Flashcard #41
Term: Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
Definition: A group representing industrial workers.Flashcard #42
Term: United Auto Workers
Definition: Utilized the 'sit-down-strike' in 1936 to force GM to recognize them.Flashcard #43
Term: Social Security Act 1935
Definition: Provided financial help for the elderly, disabled, unemployed, and dependent children.Flashcard #44
Term: Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Definition: Founded by Harry Hopkins as an extension of the CWA.Flashcard #45
Term: Alfred M. Landon
Definition: Kansas governor who ran for president in 1936.Flashcard #46
Term: Court-packing Plan
Definition: FDR's attempt to appoint justices that would support his policies.Flashcard #47
Term: Recession of 1937
Definition: Economic crisis resulting from FDR's decision to cut spending.Flashcard #48
Term: Broker State
Definition: Elevated interest groups and regulated competition among various economic groups.Flashcard #49
Term: Indian Reorganization Act
Definition: Legislation allowing Indians to preserve tribal identities.Flashcard #50
Term: Cultural Relativism
Definition: Philosophy asserting that all cultures are valid and important in their own right.Flashcard #51
Term: Frances Perkins
Definition: Secretary of Labor, notable for her influence on labor policies during the New Deal.Flashcard #52
Term: Economic Impact of the New Deal
Definition: Helped protect groups from suffering, halted further economic decay, and increased government role in the economy.Flashcard #53
Term: Isolationism
Definition: America’s desire to close off from the world and shrink international responsibilities.Flashcard #54
Term: Washington Conference
Definition: Produced agreements to preserve world peace, including the Five Power Pact defining naval tonnage.Flashcard #55
Term: Kellogg-Briand Pact
Definition: Agreement among nations to outlaw war as national policy without enforcement provisions.Flashcard #56
Term: Mussolini
Definition: Leader of Italy from 1922 to 1943.Flashcard #57
Term: Hitler
Definition: Leader of Germany during the rise of the Third Reich.Flashcard #58
Term: Neutrality Acts of 1935-1937
Definition: Legislation to prevent US involvement in European conflicts.Flashcard #59
Term: Axis
Definition: Alliance between Germany and Italy during WWII.Flashcard #60
Term: Panay Incident
Definition: Refers to the sinking of an American gunboat by Japanese forces.Flashcard #61
Term: German Aggression (1936-1939)
Definition: Period of territorial expansion and military aggression by Germany.Flashcard #62
Term: Munich Conference (1938)
Definition: Meeting where attempts were made to appease Hitler.Flashcard #63
Term: Blitzkrieg
Definition: A fast, surprise military attack strategy employed by Germany during WWII.Flashcard #64
Term: World War II (1939-1945)
Definition: Global conflict involving most of the world's nations.Flashcard #65
Term: Winston Churchill
Definition: British Prime Minister during WWII.Flashcard #66
Term: Lend-Lease
Definition: Program where the US provided military aid to Britain and later the USSR.Flashcard #67
Term: Atlantic Charter
Definition: Joint declaration by the US and UK outlining goals for the post-war world.Flashcard #68
Term: Hideki Tojo
Definition: Japanese military leader during World War II.Flashcard #69
Term: Pearl Harbor
Definition: Site of the Japanese attack that led the US to enter WWII