U.S. History Review - Units 4 & 5

U.S. History Test Review - Units 4 & 5

• Return to Normalcy: The U.S. returned to isolationism after WWI primarily due to domestic issues and the economic fallout from the war's massive loss of life and financial costs.
• Consequences of Isolationist Policies: The isolationist policies led to increased racism, nativism, and paranoia about radicals in the U.S.
• Palmer Raids: Directed towards communists in the U.S. during the 1920s. Americans worried about communist infiltration following the Russian Revolution of 1917.
• Klan Activities in the 1920s: The Klan expanded their targets to include more minority groups such as Jews, Communists, and immigrants.
• European Immigration Quotas: Quotas placed on European immigration in the 1920s increased immigration from Mexico and the demand for higher skilled workers.
• Prohibition's Failure and Reasons: Prohibition was enacted to reduce perceived moral depravity, but failed due to lack of adequate funding and manpower to enforce the law, resulting in more problems than it resolved.
• Scopes Monkey Trial: The clash between Christian Fundamentalism and Scientific Theory was highlighted at the Scopes Monkey Trial. John Scopes was defended by Clarence Darrow who argued that religious doctrine should not be taught in public schools.

1920s Presidents & Economy

• 1920s Republican Presidents vs. Progressive Presidents: Republican presidents of the 1920s adopted a laissez-faire approach to the economy, letting businesses thrive without significant government interference, in contrast to the progressive presidents of the early 1900s.
• Factors Leading to the Economic Boom: Several factors contributed to the economic boom of the early to mid-1920s. These include:
• America as a creditor nation
• New production techniques
• A consumer-based economy
• The growth of the automobile industry
• A bull market
• Growth of Other Industries: Increased car ownership and affordability spurred increased growth of industries like the suburbs, glass, rubber manufacturing and concrete.

Pop Culture & Harlem Renaissance

• Charles Lindbergh: made the first transatlantic flight, leading to increased funding for air travel.
• Henry Ford: revolutionized automobile production with the assembly line, making vehicles more affordable.
• Marcus Garvey: founded the Pan-African movement, advocating for Black pride and racial separatism.
• Harlem Renaissance: a period of flourishing of Black art and culture in Harlem, instilling pride in Black art and inspiring future generations of Black artists.

The Great Depression & New Deal

• Overproduction and Underconsumption: Efficient production techniques led to excess goods, while consumers lacked adequate purchasing power, resulting in the Great Depression.
• Stock Market Crash: The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday) due to excessive speculation and investors' panic-selling of stocks. This led to many banks failing.
• Bank Failures: Following the Stock Market Crash, bank runs occurred as people panicked and withdrew their savings, leading to many banks' inability to meet the demand.
• Hoover's Response: Hoover's policies emphasized individual responsibility and charitable giving to solve economic problems, rather than federal government intervention.
• Roosevelt's Response: Roosevelt's New Deal programs focused on relief, reform, and recovery, establishing government programs to assist Americans during the Depression.
• New Deal Programs: Examples of New Deal programs include the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), National Industrial Recovery Act, Glass Steagall Act, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and Social Security Administration (SSA). These programs impacted the economy in various ways, addressing specific needs like unemployment, job creation, fair wages, crop surplus, and banking regulation.