Imperialism
Define the term "imperialism" and explain how it applies to United States foreign policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Identify the key European powers involved in World War I before U.S. entry.
Allies - United Kingdom, France, Russia
Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Define the term "Roaring '20s," & identify three major characteristics of the 1920s in America.
The period of American history from 1920 until the start of the Great Depression in 1929. It was characterized by:
- Consumerism
-Laissez-faire economic policies
-Jazz & flappers
-Prohibition
Define the Great Depression and identify the year it began.
The period of American history from 1929 until World War II when the US economy was devastated by a prolonged financial crisis that caused mass unemployment, bank failures, and migrations.
Define the New Deal.
Which American president implemented this "New Deal."
The New Deal were policies put in place by President Franklin Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression from 1933 to 1941.
List three territories that the United States acquired during the period of American imperialism (1890s–1920s).
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii
(Cuba)
Name three technologies or weapons used during World War I.
Airplanes, Tanks, Chemical Gas, Blimps, Telephones
(Machine Guns, Submarines, Large Artillery, Telegram)
List three technological innovations that emerged during the 1920s and explain how each one affected daily life.
Radio, affordable automobiles, commercial airplanes, household appliances (refrigerator, AC, washer, etc.).
The radio connected American homes to a variety of things: sports, advertisements, music, news, fictional stories, and politics (fireside chats).
List three major causes of the stock market crash of 1929.
Buying on margin
Risky investment in the stock market (banks & individuals)
Overproduction - bubbles in certain industries
Overuse of credit -> consumer debt -> lower spending -> businesses failed
What caused the Spanish-American War?
What was the outcome?
Causes: USS Maine, Yellow Journalism, Spanish rule over Cuba, and protecting American business interests.
Outcome: American victory. US gains control of Puerto Rico, Guam, & Philippines. Cuba becomes an independent nation.
List the major reasons the United States entered World War I in 1917.
US business interests/trade, Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, the Zimmerman Telegram, Propaganda
Recall the major causes of the Great Migration during the 1920s and identify which regions people moved between.
Causes: World War 1, lack of job opportunities in the South, Jim Crow/discrimination, and factory jobs in the North.
Regions: The South -> industrial centers in the North & West
What was the Dust Bowl?
Who did it impact and where did it take place?
An environmental crisis caused by years of drought & over farming across the Great Plains. Massive dust storms and the destruction of farmland led thousands of farms to fail & many to migrate west to California.
Identify who was President of the United States during the Great Depression and describe his initial response to the crisis.
Herbert Hoover
Initial response: Hands off, do nothing
Eventually supported the Smoot-Hawley Tarriff which worsened/deepened the crisis
What was the goal/purpose of the Roosevelt Corollary?
The Roosevelt Corollary was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine. Its goal was to protect American interests in the Western Hemisphere by justifying US intervention in the affairs of Latin American & Caribbean nations.
What is propaganda, and how did it influence the citizens of the warring nations? (Think before, during, and after the war)
Before the war: nationalist sentiment, superiority of nations, quick victory
During the war: villified enemies, restricted freedoms of citizens (speech, press)
After the war: Punishment of Germany, a return to isolationism (US), Red Scare
Define "Prohibition" and state when this policy was in effect in the United States.
The period of American history when the 18th amendment outlawed the production, slave, and consumption of alcohol in the United States.
1919-1933
Compare and contrast the economic conditions of the 1920s (the "Roaring Twenties") with the economic conditions of the 1930s during the Great Depression.
1920s: High consumer spending/confidence, laissez faire policies, international trade, buying on credit, Bull market, growing economy
Depression: low consumer confidence/spending, government influence on economy, bear market, shrinking economy, mass unemployment, bank failures
Name at least two New Deal programs and explain what each one provided.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Works Project Administration (WPA)
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Explain the relationship between Social Darwinism, the "White Man's Burden," and the ideological justification for American imperialism.
Belief among Americans & Europeans that western/white civilization was superior to other groups. Non-white nations (such as in Latin American & the Caribbean) were unable to govern themselves.
In order to protect American business interests & help humanity "progress," the US needed to govern these areas.
How President Wilson's personal beliefs about democracy and self-determination influenced his foreign policy decisions regarding World War I.
It initially led Wilson to pursue a policy of neutrality for the United States while seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict. "Peace without victors."
Once the US got involved, Wilson argued they were fighting to preserve democracy & freedom for the world. He pursued his 14 points for peace & created the League of Nations.
Summarize the role of women in the 1920s, including changes in fashion, work, and political participation. How did the 1920s differ from the previous decade?
Fashion: women's fashion became a major industry. Women wore new kinds of clothing: swimsuits, pants, short skirts that represented increased independence & changes in gender expectations.
Work: More women worked during World War 1 and after. Many young women worked for higher ed degrees & to have careers. Financial independence.
Political participation: The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote across the country. Many women were voted into public office.
Summarize the role of banks in causing and deepening the Great Depression. How did bank failures affect ordinary Americans?
Banks helped cause the depression by making risky investments in the stock market (buying on margin), not holding enough cash on hand, inability to collect payments on loans they gave
Bank runs -> bank failures -> Americans losing their savings
How was the New Deal a success? How did it fail?
Success: provided short-term relief/employment, stabilized banking, provided needed reforms, created welfare for elderly Americans, and kept the crisis from getting worse
Failures: Did not completely reverse the crisis (WWII did), political disagreements, unconstitutional use of Presidential authority