Roaring 20’s & Great Depression Study Guide
Roaring 20’s & Great Depression Study Guide
People & Figures
Warren G. Harding
Republican; promoted a “return to normalcy” after WWI.
Favored pro-business policies, lower taxes, and less government regulation.
His administration was plagued by scandals.
Died in office in 1923; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president.
Calvin Coolidge
Became president after Harding died.
Republican; strongly pro-business and limited government.
Supported lower taxes, less regulation, and laissez-faire economics.
The economy boomed during his presidency (the “Roaring Twenties” growth).
Chose not to run for reelection in 1928.
Herbert Hoover
Republican; believed in limited government and self-reliance.
Stock market crashed in 1929 early in his presidency.
Avoided direct federal relief at first, thinking it would weaken independence.
Unemployment and poverty worsened → many blamed him (e.g., “Hoovervilles” shantytowns).
Lost the 1932 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democrat; elected in 1932 after Hoover.
Created the New Deal — government programs to provide relief, jobs, and economic recovery.
Expanded the role of the federal government in the economy.
Programs included Social Security, FDIC, CCC, WPA, etc.
Used “fireside chats” on radio to communicate directly with Americans.
Restored public confidence in banks and government during the Depression.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Very active and influential; redefined the role of First Lady.
Strong advocate for civil rights, women’s rights, and helping the poor.
Advised FDR and supported New Deal programs.
Huey Long
Louisiana Governor and populist politician.
Criticized FDR for not doing enough to help the poor.
Proposed the “Share Our Wealth” plan — limit personal fortunes and give money to poorer Americans.
Promised free education, pensions for the elderly, and aid to the poor.
Gained huge national support but was assassinated in 1935.
John Scopes
Central figure in the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial” during the Roaring ‘20s.
Tennessee high school teacher charged with teaching evolution, which violated state law.
The trial became a national debate: science vs. religion.
Prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan; defended by Clarence Darrow.
Scopes was found guilty and fined, but the trial exposed the cultural divide between traditional values and modern ideas of the 1920s.
New Deal Programs & Agencies
Study your alphabet soup!
Historical Events & Movements
Sacco & Vanzetti Trial
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants and anarchists accused of robbery and murder.
The trial reflected fear of immigrants and radical political ideas.
Many believed they were convicted more for their beliefs and background than clear evidence.
Found guilty and executed in 1927.
Became a symbol of prejudice and injustice in the 1920s.
Palmer Raids
Led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
Targeted suspected radicals, communists, and anarchists in the U.S.
Thousands were arrested; many were immigrants.
Often violated civil liberties (no warrants, limited trials).
Heightened fear of communism and anarchism during the 1920s.
The Red Scare
Widespread fear of communism, anarchism, and radical leftism in the U.S., especially after World War I.
Americans feared immigrants would bring radical ideas.
Led to events like the Palmer Raids, deportations, and suppression of radical groups.
The Great Depression
Severe worldwide economic crisis in the 1930s.
Started with the stock market crash in 1929.
Caused massive unemployment, bank failures, and poverty.
Farmers lost land; many lived in shantytowns called “Hoovervilles.”
Led to major government programs under FDR’s New Deal to provide relief, recovery, and reform.
Lasted roughly until the U.S. entered World War II in 1941.
The Dust Bowl
Environmental disaster during the 1930s that worsened the Great Depression.
Severe drought hit the Great Plains.
Over-farming and poor soil management caused massive dust storms.
Crops failed, livestock died, and many farmers lost their land.
Sparked federal programs to improve farming practices and soil conservation.
Harlem Renaissance
Centered in Harlem, New York City.
Celebrated African American culture, art, music, and literature.
Famous figures: Langston Hughes (poet), Zora Neale Hurston (author), Duke Ellington (jazz), and Louis Armstrong (jazz).
Helped challenge racial stereotypes and promoted pride in Black identity.
Influenced music, literature, and civil rights for decades.
Bonus Army March
1932 protest during the Great Depression.
Thousands of WWI veterans marched on Washington, D.C.
Demanded early payment of a promised bonus for their military service.
President Hoover ordered the U.S. Army to remove them.
Soldiers used tear gas and tanks, causing public outrage.
Highlighted the struggles of the Depression and hurt Hoover’s reputation.
Policies, Acts, & Laws
Emergency Quota Act
Limited the number of immigrants allowed from each country.
Targeted Southern and Eastern Europeans and virtually excluded Asians.
Aimed to reduce immigration after WWI due to fear of radicals and cultural change.
Part of a broader trend of nativism in the 1920s.
Teapot Dome Scandal
Major political scandal during Harding’s presidency.
Involved illegal leasing of federal oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and Elk Hills, California.
Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall accepted bribes from oil companies.
First time a U.S. cabinet member was sent to prison for crimes committed in office.
Damaged Harding’s reputation and symbolized corruption in the 1920s government.
Prohibition of Alcohol
Nationwide ban on making, selling, or transporting alcohol in the U.S.
Established by the 18th Amendment.
Goal: reduce crime, improve health, and strengthen morals.
Led to a rise of speakeasies (illegal bars) and organized crime (gangsters like Al Capone).
Difficult to enforce; many Americans ignored the law.
Repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
Hoovervilles
Named after President Herbert Hoover, who was blamed for the Depression.
Built by homeless families on public land.
Symbolized poverty, unemployment, and government inaction.
Many disappeared as the economy improved under FDR’s New Deal.
Economic Issues
Overproduction
Factories and farms made more products than consumers could afford.
Led to falling prices and unsold goods.
Businesses cut jobs or closed, increasing unemployment.
A major cause of the Great Depression.
Underconsumption
Many Americans couldn’t afford products because of low wages or debt.
Factories and farms produced more than could be sold → overproduction worsened.
Contributed to business failures, layoffs, and the Great Depression.
Stock Market Speculation
Many Americans bought stocks on margin (borrowed money).
Created an artificially inflated stock market.
Fueled by the “get rich quick” mentality of the Roaring Twenties.
Contributed to the stock market crash of 1929 and the start of the Great Depression.
Mass Consumer Culture
Fueled by rising incomes, advertising, and installment buying (credit).
Popular products: cars, radios, household appliances, and fashion.
Created a culture of entertainment, leisure, and modern lifestyles.
Mass Production
Popularized by Henry Ford with the assembly line for cars.
Lowered costs, making products like cars and appliances affordable for more people.
Boosted industrial growth and consumer culture.
Key feature of the Roaring Twenties economy.
U.S. Foreign Policy
Isolationist Policies
Main Idea: U.S. foreign policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs.
After WWI, Americans wanted to focus on domestic issues.
Refused to join the League of Nations.
Passed high tariffs to protect U.S. businesses.
Limited immigration.
Reflected desire for “return to normalcy” under Harding and Coolidge.
Social & Cultural Terms
Flappers
Young women in the 1920s who challenged traditional social norms.
Wore short skirts, bobbed hair, and makeup.
Embraced jazz, dancing, smoking, and independence.
Represented a shift in women’s roles after gaining the right to vote (19th Amendment).
Bootleggers
People who illegally made, transported, or sold alcohol during Prohibition.
Supplied speakeasies and private drinkers.
Often connected to organized crime (e.g., Al Capone).
Helped Prohibition fail by making alcohol widely available despite the law.
Consumerism
Fueled by advertising, mass production, and credit/installment plans.
Encouraged people to purchase new products like cars, radios, and appliances.
Reflected a shift toward a materialistic culture and modern lifestyle.
Overproduction
Factories and farms produced excess products, leading to falling prices.
Businesses faced unsold inventory, cut wages, and laid off workers.
Combined with underconsumption, it helped trigger the Great Depression.
Highlighted the risks of industrial expansion without balanced demand.
Mass Media
Included radio, newspapers, and movies.
Helped spread news, advertising, and popular culture.
Made celebrities, sports stars, and cultural trends national phenomena.
Installment Plans
A way to buy expensive goods by paying overtime instead of all at once.
Allowed people to buy cars, appliances, and radios they couldn’t afford upfront.
Fueled mass consumer culture and economic growth.
Encouraged debt accumulation, which became risky when the Great Depression hit.
Assembly Line
Popularized by Henry Ford for automobile production.
Made production faster, cheaper, and more efficient.
Lowered costs, so goods like cars became affordable to more Americans.
Key factor in the economic boom.
Court Cases & Legal Terms
Court Packing
FDR’s 1937 plan to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
Proposed adding a new justice for every current justice over 70 years old.
Goal: make the Court more favorable to New Deal programs.
Criticized as an attempt to undermine judicial independence.
Plan failed in Congress, but the Supreme Court later became more supportive of the New Deal on its own.
Supreme Court
Interprets the Constitution and reviews laws for constitutionality.
In the 1920s, often supported business and limited government regulation.
During FDR’s presidency, some New Deal programs were challenged by the Court.
Led to the Court Packing controversy when FDR tried to add justices to influence.
Social Tools
Fireside Chats
Radio talks by FDR to communicate directly with the American people.
Began in 1933 during the Great Depression.
Explained New Deal programs, banking, and government policies in simple language.
Reassured Americans and restored confidence in banks and the government.
Helped FDR build a personal connection with citizens.
Public Opinion
The views and attitudes of the general population on issues or leaders.
Influenced politics, elections, and policies.
During the Great Depression, negative public opinion hurt Hoover’s reputation.
Positive public opinion helped FDR gain support for the New Deal.
FRQ Topics
Changing American culture in the 1920s & 1930s
a. 18th Amendment
b. Assembly Line
c. Easy credit
d. Red Scare
e. Harlem Renaissance
f. Role of government
The rebirth of the KKK
Causes of Great Depression
Dust Bowl “Black Blizzard"