WWII
What event caused the U.S. to officially enter WWII in 1941?
Pearl Harbor
In what year did the stock market crash, signaling the start of the Great Depression?
1929, specifically on October 29, which was known as Black Tuesday.
Which president launched the New Deal to combat the Great Depression?
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)
What was the main goal of the Progressive movement (1890–1920s)?
The main goal of progressivism was to reform problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption in the government and society.
What 1920s movement centered in Harlem celebrated Black art, music, and culture?
Harlem Renaissance
What strategy did the U.S. use to capture key islands in the Pacific and why?
The U.S. used the strategy of island hopping, which was where they travelled between multiple islands in a chain, to gain control of Japanese-held islands by capturing important locations.
What nickname was given to the shantytowns where homeless people lived during the Depression?
Hoovervilles, which were named sarcastically after President Hoover.
What New Deal program gave millions of Americans jobs building roads, schools, and public buildings?
The Works Progress Administration
What was one major issue that Progressives wanted to improve in cities during the early 1900s?
They wanted to improve unsafe living conditions and poor sanitation.
What was a common criticism of New Deal programs like the CCC and TVA from Black Americans?
They often excluded African Americans or gave them lower pay and worse conditions.
What did the Lend-Lease Act allow the U.S. to do before officially joining the war?
It allowed the U.S. to send weapons, food, war materials, and other supplies to Allied nations, such as Britain and the USSR, without being directly involved in the combat.
Name one major cause of the Great Depression.
One major cause could either be overproduction, stock market speculation, or bank failures.
What federal agency was created to insure savings in banks and restore public confidence?
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Which president promoted the “Square Deal” and fought against corporate monopolies?
Theodore Roosevelt. He used the Sherman Antitrust Act and protected consumers and the environment.
Who was an influential African American leader who pressured FDR to ban discrimination in defense jobs?
A. Philip Randolph, who planned a march on Washington in 1941.
What was the secret U.S. project to develop nuclear weapons during WWII?
The Manhattan Project, which was directed by Robert Oppenheimer, spent $2 billion to develop an atomic weapon, which led to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
What environmental disaster hit the Great Plains in the 1930s, forcing farmers to migrate?
The Dust Bowl, which caused droughts and poor farming practices.
What did the Social Security Act of 1935 provide for?
It provided for retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid for the disabled and dependent children.
What amendment allowed voters to directly elect their U.S. Senators, increasing democracy?
The 17th Amendment, which was ratified in 1913.
What executive order banned discrimination in federal defense industries during WWII?
Executive Order 8802, which was issued by FDR in response to A. Philip Randolph's pressure.
What did Executive Order 9066 do during WWII?
It authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans in camps due to the fear of espionage.
How did Herbert Hoover respond to the Great Depression at first?
He believed in “rugged individualism,” meaning people should help themselves, not rely on the government.
Why did the Supreme Court declare some New Deal programs unconstitutional?
They claimed that the federal government overstepped its powers and interfered with states’ rights and private businesses.
What were three major reforms pushed by Progressive presidents to regulate business and protect workers or consumers?
The Meat Inspection Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and trust-busting.
What organization used legal strategies to fight segregation and discrimination during this era?
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).