Imperialism, Progressive Era, and Spanish-American War
Explain one factor of the Omaha Platform. The Omaha Platform was created by Populists who called for stronger government to protect ordinary Americans.
called for public ownership of railroad and telegraph systems, protection of land from monopoly, federal income tax on rich, and looser monetary policy to help borrowers
What concept did small European nations adopt post-WWI? (Hint: Woodrow Wilson)
European land, like Austria-Hungary, was split. Self-determination was adopted and caused many geographical changes.
Name the specific event, including the year it occured, that led to the onset of the Great Depression.
stock market crash of 1929
Explain the reason behind the creation of the United Nations.
To be an international peacekeeping organization
To resolve conflicts between nations
To negotiate a postwar world order
Describe the Harlem Renaissance.
The Harlem Renaissance was the explosion of art, music, and literature in New York City which challenged the social, racial and political inequalities that many African Americans faced. Key figures were Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston and James Weldon Johnson.
Explain one Act or decision made during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency that brought Progressive Era reform to the federal government.
Hepburn Act (1906), the Standard Oil decision (1911), and the Newlands Reclamation Act (1902)
The sinking of the Lusitania and the interception of Zimmerman Telegraph led to the US abandoning their neutrality.
Renewed the strength of the Allied military because they had been fighting significantly longer than American troops had.
What tariff was passed in 1930 to raise taxes on over 20,000 imported goods in an attempt to protect American businessmen and farmers during the economic crisis? Was the tariff successful?
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
No, it was not successful. It actually worsened the economic climate at the time.
Justify the use of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project.
Japanese civilians were warned
A demonstration would not have the same impact
Less casualties than if there was an invasion
Describe an instance when there was a push and pull between modernism & science with the traditional religious views.
The Scopes Trial was a highly publicized trial where John Scopes violated a Tennessee state law by teaching evolution in high school. Scopes was prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by Clarence Darrow. Scopes was convicted, and this instance displayed the fundamentalism prevalent in rural areas at the time.
Evaluate the social limitations of the Progressive Era.
Issues of civil rights for African-Americans were ignored, new voting restrictions brought elitism and racial prejudice, Divided political power blocked passage of uniform national policies on issues like child labor, divisions in working class
Name one Act that significantly changed American militarism, national, or international influence.
Selective Service Act of 1917: introduce the draft into United States causing an influx of soldiers into the military for decades.
Sedition Act of 1918: made antiwar/anti-government associations, sentiments, and criticisms illegal in the United States.
Explain hyperinflation and name the foreign country where this phenomenon had also occurred.
Hyperinflation is an extreme form of inflation where the value of money decreases an excessive amount over a short period of time. This also occurred in Germany following World War I.
How did women respond to the challenges of wartime work?
Women stepped up and took over jobs for men who had to fight.
Overcome cultural stereotypes of working women.
Describe the lifestyle of the urban middle & working class in the cities and those in the Midwest & South in the 1920s.
While the urban middle and working-class in the cities enjoyed a good standard of living with advanced technology, there were signs of trouble in rural areas. Farmers in the Midwest and South were struggling as the price of agricultural products fell.
Why did the U.S. enter the Spanish-American War in 1898 and what amendment resulted that assured that the U.S. would uphold democracy abroad as well as at home?
The U.S. declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. The Teller Amendment was added to the 1898 U.S. declaration of war against Spain disclaiming any intention to occupy Cuba.
Explain why the United States did not join the League of Nations.
Although President Wilson wanted to join, the Senate did not approve. America took on an isolationist role in international influence post World War I. Membership in the league of Nations required America to aid other countries in desperate times, this did not align with the isolationist values of the time.
Describe the stigma associated with President Hoover during the Great Depression and use specific terminology (looking for three) to describe the reaction of American citizens to Hoover’s plan of action.
People were disgusted by Hoover’s response to the economic crisis. In turn they named common day items such as blankets after him (Hoover blankets), would walk around with their empty pockets pulled out (Hoover flags), and even named their neighborhoods after him (Hooverville).
Explain the impact the bombing on Pearl Harbor took on the United States.
Turned U.S. public opinion in favor of entering the Second World War.
Americans were shocked, surprised, and angered.
Describe the foreign policy of the 1920s.
The 1920s was mainly an isolationist period, with some exceptions for war reparation payments and international war agreements. The Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1929, which was ratified by 62 nations, was an agreement that outlawed war as part of foreign policy. The Dawes Plan was a reparation payment plan between Germany & the U.S.
True or False: Under the Square Deal, the federal government signed a treaty with Panama to begin development of the Panama Canal.
False: The Square Deal included the three C’s: Conservation of natural resources, Creation of corporate regulation, and Consumer protection programs. Roosevelt helped develop the Panama Canal but it was not established under the Square Deal.
Although women won the right to vote under the 19th Amendment in 1920, other groups faced violence and oppression instead. Explain the social implications for African Americans, immigrants, or laborers.
African Americans faced the harsh conditions of war in segregated units. NAACP was formed to fight racism and discrimination for African Americans, advocating for justice at home.
Immigration was limited during the War, especially from European nations. Many immigrants faced few opportunities and lived in low socioeconomic areas. They were often underpaid and discriminated against, Americans feared them because of their isolationist views.
Laborers became a workforce dominated by women as the SSA of 1917 drafted most men into WW1. Unions continued to form and fight for fair wages and hours. Socialist Party and Industrial Workers of the World brought new perspectives to the labor force for more democracy.
List the three major types of programs that arised as a result of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and give a specific example of each.
relief
Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
National Youth Administration (NYA)
recovery
Emergency Banking Relief Act
Homeowners' Loan Corporation (HOLC)
Public Works Administration (PWA)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Civilian Works Administration (CWA)
reform
Tennessee Valley Act
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Federal Housing Act (FHA)
How did U.S.A. respond to Germany’s invasion of Poland?
Decided to maintain neutrality
But supported the British and Allies
Served as an “arsenal of democracy” through the Lend-Lease program
Analyze the extent to which the 1920s and 1950s were similar.
Many aspects of mass culture in the 1920s would be surface again in the 1950s along with new technologies of production and distribution. The 1920s had advances in movies, automobiles, airplanes, home appliances, etc while the 1950s had innovations in television, interstate highways, the rise of Levittown, etc. Both time periods also faced racial violence. For example the Ku Klux Klan was in the ‘20s and lynchings of African Americans continued in the ’50s.