US History Chapter 11 Vocabulary

Study Notes

The Great Depression was marked by significant economic downturns impacting many sectors.
Stock Market: A system facilitating the buying and selling of company stocks; necessitated careful monitoring for profits.
Bull Market: Characterized by a prolonged increase in stock prices, benefitting investors and brokers financially.
Margin: Allows investors to purchase stocks by only paying part of the price upfront, which could amplify profits but increased risks.
Margin Call: Brokers requiring repayment for loans used to buy stocks on margin if stock prices fall, pressuring investors to sell.
Speculation: High-risk stock purchases with hopes of rapid price increases, contributing to market instability.
Bank Run: Occurs when customers withdraw their deposits en masse due to fears of bank insolvency, often leading to actual bank failures.

Installment: Purchasing goods on credit with scheduled payments, enabling consumers to buy immediately while spreading cost over time.
Collapse: Refers to the sudden devaluation or failure of assets; particularly relevant during the stock market crash leading to widespread financial loss.
Invest: The act of allocating money into businesses in anticipation of future returns, demonstrated by investments in thriving companies like Disney.
Sum: Refers to total amounts, highlighting financially significant figures, e.g., total wages in 1929.

Alfred E. Smith: A Democratic presidential candidate in 1928, representing an era of perceived economic prosperity.
Black Tuesday: October 29, 1929, when the stock market experienced a catastrophic crash, resulting in massive financial losses.
Hawley-Smoot Tariff: A protective tariff that raised import rates to unprecedented levels, ultimately hindering international trade despite initial intentions.

Bailiff: A court officer associated with evictions and property dispossessions, often feared by economically struggling families.
Hobo: A term for itinerant workers seeking employment and a better life, often traveling via freight trains during tough times.
Soap Opera: Dramatized serial entertainment on radio or TV, providing escapism for audiences during the difficult Depression era.
Suspend: The temporary halting of bank operations due to insufficient funds, illustrating how dire the economic conditions were.
Colleague: Refers to individuals in related professions; during the Depression, corruption resulted in firings within government ranks.

Dust Bowl: A major ecological disaster of the 1930s in the Great Plains resulting from severe drought, forcing many farmers to relocate in search of work and better living conditions.