World War 1
Use the acronym M.A.I.N.E. (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, Events) to list reasons the United States eventually entered WWI
Militarism (arms races), Alliances (European entanglements), Imperialism (global rivalries), Nationalism (ethnic tensions), Events (German unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram) pushed the U.S. toward war by 1917
Define Prohibition. Name two groups that supported it and one major unintended consequence
Prohibition (18th Amendment) banned alcohol production and sale. Supporters included temperance groups and some religious organizations; an unintended consequence was growth of illegal bootlegging and organized crime.
List three causes of the Great Depression
Causes include stock market speculation and crash (1929), overproduction and underconsumption, banking failures and weak regulation, and unequal income distribution.
What was new about FDR’s presidency style (e.g., Fireside Chats)? Explain one effect this style had on public opinion.
FDR used radio "Fireside Chats" and direct communication to explain policies and build public confidence; this increased trust in government and rallied public support for New Deal programs.
On the Homefront: What were Victory Gardens and why were they encouraged?
Victory Gardens were home/community gardens planted to supplement food shortages and free commercial food for troops; they encouraged civilian contribution to the war effort and boosted morale.
List four major weapons or technologies used in WWI and briefly describe the effect of each on warfare
Machine guns — caused massive casualties and stalemate; poison gas — inflicted long‑term suffering and forced protective measures; tanks — helped break trench lines; submarines (U‑boats) — threatened shipping and provoked U.S. entry.
What was the Great Migration? Give two social or cultural effects it produced
The Great Migration was the large movement of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities for jobs and to escape Jim Crow; effects included urban demographic shifts and cultural changes, contributing to political realignment and cultural movements.
Describe the experience of Americans during the Great Depression (work, housing, soup kitchens, unemployment)
Millions faced unemployment, homelessness, and reduced wages; many relied on soup kitchens and relief programs, and families often lost homes and farms during bank foreclosures and Dust Bowl migration.
Define "court packing": who proposed it, why, and what criticism opponents raised.
"Court packing" was FDR’s 1937 proposal to add Justices to the Supreme Court to obtain favorable rulings after setbacks; critics argued it threatened judicial independence and separation of powers, and Congress ultimately rejected broad court‑reform measures.
Explain rationing and war bonds — how did each support the war effort?
Rationing limited consumer use of scarce goods (gas, sugar, meat) to ensure military supply; war bonds funded military spending by borrowing from citizens and fostering patriotic investment.
Describe trench warfare and one major human and strategic result of its use.
Trench warfare Model answer: Trench warfare involved opposing armies dug into fortified lines; results included huge casualties, little territorial gain, and psychological trauma among soldiers, contributing to a war of attrition.
What was the Harlem Renaissance? Name two leading figures from the movement and their contributions.
The Harlem Renaissance was an African American cultural and artistic flowering in the 1920s. Leading figures: Langston Hughes (poetry celebrating Black life) and Zora Neale Hurston (fiction/folklore); both expanded African American cultural expression and identity.
Explain the immediate causes and effects of the Stock Market Crash of 1929
Immediate causes: speculative bubble, margin buying, and panic selling; effects included massive investor losses, erosion of consumer confidence, bank runs, and a contraction in credit that deepened the economic downturn.
Choose one Alphabet Agency not previously defined (e.g., WPA or NRA) and explain its purpose and effect on everyday Americans.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed millions in public works (roads, schools, arts projects), reducing unemployment and creating lasting infrastructure and cultural programs.
Describe the role of women and minorities in wartime factories and one long‑term social effect of their labor
Women and minorities filled factory jobs (e.g., "Rosie the Riveter") producing munitions and equipment; long‑term effects included increased labor participation, shifts in gender roles, and foundations for later civil rights and women's rights movements.
Who was Henry Cabot Lodge and what was his position on the League of Nations? What was the final result in the U.S. Senate
Lodge opposed unconditional U.S. entry into the League of Nations, advocating reservations to protect congressional war‑making powers; the Senate ultimately rejected the Treaty of Versailles and U.S. did not join the League.
Explain how the Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance, and the rise of jazz are connected historically and culturally.
The Great Migration concentrated Black populations in Northern cities, creating cultural communities where the Harlem Renaissance and jazz flourished; jazz synthesized African American musical traditions and became a national popular form tied to the era’s cultural dynamism.
Define each New Deal agency and its purpose: CCC, TVA, FDIC, SEC. (One sentence each: what the acronym stands for and what it did.)
Explain how the New Deal altered expectations for federal government responsibility in the economy — include one specific long‑term program that persists today.
The New Deal expanded expectations that the federal government would stabilize the economy and provide social welfare; Social Security is a key long‑term program that institutionalized federal economic support.
What was Executive Order 9066 and what were its consequences for civil liberties?
Executive Order 9066 (1942) authorized internment of Japanese Americans from West Coast military zones; consequences included loss of property, civil liberty violations, and later government redress and apology.
Define the Espionage Act and Sedition Act and explain how critics argued these laws conflicted with the First Amendment.
The Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1918) criminalized anti‑war speech and interference with the draft; critics argued they violated First Amendment freedoms by suppressing dissent and political speech.
Who was Marcus Garvey and why is he significant? Explain one major idea or program he promoted.
Marcus Garvey led the UNIA and promoted Black nationalism and economic self‑help, advocating racial pride and a Back‑to‑Africa movement; he influenced later Black nationalist thought despite controversy over his methods and legal troubles.
What was the purpose of Social Security? Explain how it changed the federal government’s role toward citizens.
Social Security (1935) established a federal safety‑net of retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to disabled workers; it expanded the federal government’s responsibility to provide economic security for citizens and remains a major long‑term entitlement program.
Analyze one major success and one major criticism of the New Deal with historical evidence.
Success — programs like the CCC and WPA reduced unemployment and built infrastructure; Criticism — some argue the New Deal failed to end the Depression fully, and certain policies discriminated against minorities or expanded federal power beyond preferred limits.
Explain the Manhattan Project (the secret mission), name the countries where atomic bombs were used, why they were used, and one immediate result.
The Manhattan Project was the U.S. secret program to develop atomic weapons. Bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) to force surrender and avoid a costly invasion; immediate results included Japan’s surrender and massive civilian casualties, and the start of the nuclear age.