AQA GCSE History: America 1920-1973

Key Organizations and Figures

• NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a prominent civil rights organization.
• UNIA: Universal Negro Improvement Association, founded by Marcus Garvey to promote African American self-reliance.
• Al Capone: Notorious gangster in Chicago, controlled a bootlegging empire, and was involved in community aid through soup kitchens.
• Henry Ford: Revolutionized car manufacturing with the Model T and assembly line, enabling wider car ownership among Americans.
• W.E.B. Du Bois: African-American socialist and NAACP co-founder advocating for civil rights.

Economic Concepts

• Mass Production: The method of producing large quantities of goods quickly and economically, exemplified by Ford's Model T.
• Overproduction: A situation where production exceeds demand, contributing to economic decline.
• Laissez-faire: Economic policy advocating minimal government interference in market affairs.
• Economic Boom and Bust: Periods of rapid economic growth followed by downturns with inflation decreases and rising unemployment.

Laws and Amendments

• The Volstead Act: Enforced Prohibition (18th Amendment), banning alcohol production and sale.
• Jim Crow Laws: Legislation designed to maintain racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Social Trends and Movements

• Flappers: Young women in the 1920s known for their bold fashion and attitudes, symbolizing a cultural shift.
• Rugged Individualism: An ideology promoted by the Republican Party emphasizing self-reliance and minimal government support.

Events and Their Significance

• Bonus Marchers: Unemployed veterans who protested for early payment of war bonuses during the Great Depression.
• St. Valentine's Day Massacre: 1929 gang-related killings orchestrated by Al Capone, highlighting the violent conflict in organized crime.
• Wall Street Crash: The catastrophic stock market crash on October 29, 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

Government Responses to Crisis

• The New Deal: A series of programs and policies by FDR aimed at economic recovery during the Great Depression.
• Alphabet Agencies: Federal programs created under FDR, such as FERA, CCC, and NRA, to provide relief and stimulate the economy.

Cultural Impacts

• The Roaring Twenties: A decade marked by economic prosperity, cultural dynamism, and a shift towards consumerism, though benefits were unevenly distributed.
• Speculation: High-risk investment practices that contributed to the economic collapse post-boom.

Radical Movements and Ideologies

• The Red Scare: The fear of communism following Russia's 1917 revolution, leading to social and political repercussions.
• Ku Klux Klan (KKK): An extremist group advocating white supremacy and nationalism, gaining traction in early 20th century America.

Historical Figures and Their Role

• Herbert Hoover: 31st President during the onset of the Great Depression; known for his belief in limited government intervention.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR): 32nd President who introduced proactive government policies to combat the Great Depression.
• Sacco and Vanzetti: Italian immigrants executed after a controversial trial, reflecting anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1920s.

Concepts of Prejudice and Segregation

• Prejudice: Preconceived judgments not based on personal experience or reason.
• Racism: The belief in the superiority of one race over another, influencing social dynamics and policies.

Terminology Related to the Era

• Speakeasy: Illegal bars popular during the Prohibition era, reflecting the cultural defiance of the time.
• Moonshine: Homemade distilled alcohol, often produced illegally during Prohibition.
• Wets and Dries: Groups opposing and supporting Prohibition, respectively, highlighting the societal divide on alcohol regulations.