US History and Government

1920s/Great Depression Review

What was Harding’s “Return to Normalcy?”to return to the pre-Progressive/WWI business time and practices = less government regulation of businesses
What hurt the Harding Administration?Scandals such as the teapot dome
What was the guiding economic principle during the Coolidge administration?Less government in business and more business in government- a laissez faire (hands off) approach
What promoted consumerism in the 1920s?easy credit and advertisements
What were the characteristics of the “boom” years of the 1920s?a lot of spending, economic growth and prosperity
What impact did the auto have on American life? New businesses, new roads, more products, more freedom – especially for teenagers
What was Prohibition? Was it successful? Why/why not?The ban of sale, and manufacturing of alcohol, it was successful in lowering the rate of drinking because less drank, yet people would still illegally drank, smuggled in liquor from other countries and allowed for the rise of organized crime….
What was the “Lost Generation?” Who were some of its authors?A group of authors who were disgusted with the materialism of the Americans in the post WWI era. Some authors were F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Earnest Hemmingway
Why did the Ku Klux Klan gain strength in the 1920s?Blacks were gaining economic power and immigrants were moving into the north eastern cities and the nativists opposed it
What were the significance of the Red Scare and the immigration quotas of the 1920s?It showed thatAmerica was intolerant of people with different beliefs
How did women change in the 1920s?they got the right to vote, changed social behavior, changed clothing, dress styles
What was the significance of the Scopes Trial?It showed that science was advancing and that many Americans were opposed to it (esp. Christian fundamentalists)
What were the effects of the new production techniques?More jobs were available, prices went down, more goods were available
Why did the stock market crash?Too many people bought on credit and brokers and banks called back loans due to a low fiscal quarter
What conditions led to the Great Depression?the stock market crashed, buying on margin, overproduction, bad global economic climate, large gap between the rich and the poor
What was Hoover’s approach to the Great Depression?rugged individualism, trickle down- did not want the Fed. Gov. to give direct relief to the people – believed that the private charities and local gov.s should do this
What did FDR promise to do in the 1932 election about the Great Depression?no specific promises, but offered America new deal that would change the governments role on economy
What were the immediate goals of the New Deal? Faith in banks, and relief
What impact did the New Deal have on unemployment?Lessened it
What were some of the effects of the Great Depression?hopelessness, suicide, waiting for marriage/brought extended families together….
Why did FDR have clashes with the Supreme Court over his New Deal programs? Which were declared unconstitutional?They declared them unconstitutional because the federal government was infringing on state power
What are some lasting impacts of the New Deal?Social security, FDIC, Security and Exchange Commission
Why did the radio and film industriesflourish in the 1930s?entertainment, escape from the reality of the Depression
Why did some Americans criticize the New Deal?Some said it didn’t go far enough, and some said it went too far
What was the Harlem Renaissance?The revival of black culture in N.Y.C. with authors such as Countee Cullins, Langston Hughes, etc//
What was the Dust Bowl?The Dust Bowl was located in Oklahoma where their was severe drought and farms were ruined

New Deal Programs To Know

Emergency Banking Act

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

TennesseeValley Authority

Agricultural Adjustment Act

Civilian Conservation Corps

Works Progress Administration

National Industrial Recovery Board

Securities and Exchange Commission

Wagner Act

Social Security Administration