1920s-2000s

The “Lost Generation” – generation that grew up during WWI/20’s, very doubtful and cynical, carnage and destruction stripped them of illusions about the world (democracy, peace, prosperity, etc.)

The “Roaring ‘20s” - golden era of economic increase with additional social economic, and political changes. The country had more national wealth and more people lived in cities than farms

Charlie Chaplin – (1889-1977) Comedian, writer, composer, director and producer. One of most important figures in motion-picture history. Played “misfit” characters

The Jazz Singer (1927) – the first “talkie;” 1927 musical drama film

Babe Ruth - baseball player for Yankees and for the Atlanta Braves,

Jack Dempsey - professional boxer; world heavyweight champion,

Bobby Jones - golfer and lawyer; co-founded Masters tournament

Jim Thorpe - first indigenous American to win a gold medal for the US in Olympics: decathlon and pentathlon,

Helen Wills - tennis player; 19 singles titles,

Harold “Red” Grange - football player for Chicago Bears and NY Yankees

The Harlem Renaissance - 1920s and 1930s A cultural/intellectual revival of African American fine arts (music, dance, theatre), visual arts (fashion, sculptures, paintings), literature (especially poetry), and politics. Set in Harlem, Manhattan, NYC.

Consumer credit- Consumers can borrow money and defer repayment over time. In the 1920s, stores used this, especially with cars, to “help” families make expensive purchases over time. They’d pay a downpayment of $100 or so, then get a loan to pay the rest $700 of the car with interest.

Buying stocks “on margin”- Getting a loan and using that money to invest in more securities with the available cash. Wasn’t controlled by the government in the 1920s, but by self-obsessed brokers.

Stock Market Crash of 1929 (aka “Black Tuesday”)- Share prices on the NY Stock Exchange collapsed. It greatly contributed to the emergence of the Great Depression. Over 16 mil shares were traded in a single day, and billions of dollars were lost.

The Dust Bowl 1930-1936 - Series of severe storms of dust that damaged the agriculture of American/Canadian prairies. Caused by natural AND manmade factors. (drought, poor agricultural practices, unusually high temperatures).

Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930)- A law that implemented protectionist policies in trade for the USA. Signed by Herbert Hoover on June 17. Sponsored by Senator Smoot and Representative Hawley.

Herbert Hoover- 31st - President from 1929-1933 Republican who held office during the beginning of the Great Depression

Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) 1932-1957 - Government Corporation that financially supported state+local governments. Made loans to banks, railroads, mortgage associations, & businesses.

“Hoovervilles”- Homeless encampments during the Great Depression. Testified the house crisis and went alongside the employment crisis of the early 1930s.

FDR’s New Deal 1933-1939 - Programs, public works, financial reforms, + regulations enacted by FDR.

The “Hundred Days”

FDR’s first 100 days in office, enacting the programs that became known as the New Deal.

“Fireside chats”

First: March 12, 1933 Series of evening radio programs given by FDR. Purpose: addressing the fears and concerns of the American people & informing them about the actions taken by the government.

1st New Deal: The “Three ‘Rs” (relief, reform, recovery)

RELIEF: for the unemployed

REFORM: of capitalism through regulatory legislation and new social welfare programs

RECOVERY: of the economy with federal spending and job creations

1st New Deal: “alphabet soup” programs

AAA: Agricultural Adjustment Act - offered farmers money in exchange for limiting their production of certain crops

CCC: Civilian Conservation Corps - putting hundreds of young men to work on conservation projects for the environment

FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - protected depositors of insured banks against losses of deposits if they failed

TVA: Tennessee Valley Authority - provided jobs and electricity to Tennessee River Valley (spanned 7 states in the South)

NRA: National Recovery Administration - governed trade practice, wages, hours, child labor, collective bargaining \n NIRA: National Industrial Recovery Act - limited hours/launched public works program, established minimum wage

PWA: Public Works Administration - reduced unemployment and increased purchasing power through infrastructure (highways and public buildings)

2nd New Deal: the “social safety net”

Designed to improve the lives of lowest-income families; “catches” them if they fall.

2nd New Deal: Social Security Act (1935)

Providing general welfare by having federal old-age benefits, having states accommodate for maternal/child welfare, blind people, disabled people, and the administration of their unemployment compensation laws

2nd New Deal: Wagner Labor Relations Act (1935)

Proposed new independent agency (National Labor Relations Board) made up of 3 members chosen/confirmed by President and Senate to enforce the rights of the employee.

“Court packing”

1937 Officially the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill. Proposed by FDR to add more justice to the US Supreme Court in order to yield favorable rulings to New Deal.

George Meany/Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

GM: labor union leader; key figure in merging and creation of the AFL-CIO

CIO: federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions from 1935-1955; focused on organizing unskilled workers

Wagner Act (1935)

Guaranteed right of private sector employees to organize into unions and engage in collective bargaining and strikes

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Protects the right of private sector employees to join with/without a union to improve their wages and working conditions

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Restricts some of the activities and powers of labor unions during national emergencies. Enacted by Truman.

PATCO Strike (1981)

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization - trade union operating from 1968-1981 until broken after an illegal strike by the Reagan administration.