the fragility of the roaring Twenties
What was Prohibition?
The 18th Amendment (and Volstead Act) made the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol illegal, leading to bootlegging and speakeasies
Why was Hoover's approach criticized?
The scale of the economic crisis was too massive for volunteerism to handle. While Hoover did use federal power to help businesses (through the RFC), his refusal to offer direct relief to individuals was seen as "heartless" and out of touch.
How does economic "dislocation" drive internal migration?
Economic dislocation occurs when local industries collapse, technology replaces labor, or agricultural land becomes unproductive, rendering people's jobs obsolete. This forces residents to leave their homes for areas with better employment opportunities, typically moving from declining rural areas or smaller towns to growing urban centers (a process known as rural-to-urban migration).
What were the "3 R's" of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal?
Relief, Recovery, and Reform.
What phrase was commonly used to describe the employment status of African Americans during the Great Depression, who were often the first to lose jobs?
"Last hired, first fired."
Who were the "flappers"?
Young women who defied traditional Victorian norms by wearing shorter dresses, cutting their hair (bobs), dancing to jazz, and wearing makeup.
What was the public perception of the administration?
The public became heavily disillusioned with his approach. Shanty towns built by homeless people were called "[Hoovervilles]" and empty pockets turned inside out were called "Hoover flags," highlighting the blame placed on him for the crisis.
What are the primary socioeconomic "push" factors causing internal movement?
Push factors are negative conditions that make people leave their current location. Common socioeconomic push factors include:
Lack of employment opportunities.
Agrarian distress
High cost of living.
Declining regional economies.
Which New Deal "R" was focused on providing immediate help, such as food or direct payments, to jobless workers and the needy?
Relief
Which First Lady became a prominent advocate for racial justice and women's rights, famously resigning from the DAR after they barred Marian Anderson from performing?
Eleanor Roosevelt.
What was the "Great Migration"?
The movement of African Americans from the rural Southern U.S. to Northern and Midwestern cities.
What was the significance of the "[Bonus Army]"?
When thousands of WWI veterans marched on Washington in 1932 demanding early payment of their bonuses, Hoover refused to meet with them and eventually used the military to remove them from their encampment, resulting in severe political damage and bad publicity.
What are the primary socioeconomic "pull" factors attracting migrants?
Pull factors are positive conditions that attract people to a new location. Keypull factors for internal migration include:
Better job opportunities and higher wages.
Improved standard of living.
Better education and healthcare facilities.
Urbanization and industrial growth in cities.
This New Deal program gave jobs to young men to work on environmental conservation projects like planting trees and building parks?
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
This 1931 legal case involving nine African American teenagers falsely accused of assault in Alabama became a symbol of the racial injustice prevalent during the era.
The Scottsboro Boys case.
What was the Harlem Renaissance?
A blossoming of African American culture, arts, and literature, centered in Harlem, New York.
How did the 1932 election represent a rejection of these policies?
The American people voted overwhelmingly for Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), who promised a "New Deal" with direct federal government action and relief, rejecting Hoover's restrained, rugged-individualist approach
What is the difference between voluntary and forced internal migration due to dislocation?
Voluntary migration is prompted by an individual’s desire to improve their life, such as moving for a better job. Forced migration(often resulting in Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs) is caused by sudden, uncontrollable events, such as conflict, violence, or natural disasters, which cause people to flee immediately, losing their possessions and safety.
Established as a reform measure, what agency was created to insure bank deposits and restore public confidence in the banking system?
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Between 1929 and 1936, the U.S. government pressured or forcibly removed up to 2 million people of Hispanic descent to Mexico in a campaign known as what?
Mexican Repatriation.
Why is it called the "Jazz Age"?
Coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this term refers to the popularity of jazz music, which broke musical traditions and became the soundtrack of the decade.
What steps did the Hoover administration take to fight the Depression?
Volunteerism: He urged business leaders to maintain wages and not cut prices.
[Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)] (1932): Authorized federal loans to banks, railroads, and insurance companies to prevent them from failing, believing the benefits would "trickle down" to workers.
[Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act] (1930): High tariffs aimed at protecting American farmers and businesses from foreign competition, though it ultimately backfired by reducing international trade.
Public Works: He supported the construction of projects like the Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam) to create jobs
What are the consequences of massive internal migration for rural areas?
When large numbers of people leave, rural areas experience significant imbalances.
Which major 1935 act created a system of pensions for the elderly and unemployment insurance, representing a long-term reform of the American economy?
The Social Security Act
During the Depression, many states passed "marriage bars." What did these laws specifically prohibit?
Married women from working(based on the belief they were taking jobs away from male "breadwinners").