UnitSix

=Chapters [TwentyThree-TwentySix]=

U.S. Steps to Joining World War I
1914 - Britain put a blockade on Germany preventing it from trading with America; Since America was a neutral nation, it should have stopped trading with Britain when it ceased trading with Germany. However, the US wanted the large business/demands for war supplies so they continued to trade with Britain and in 1915, allied with the British.

May 7th, 1915 - While the Germans were sinking British vessels, they were also killing Americans who were on those ships which angered Americans. The British ship, the Lusitania, that the Germans sunk with their submarine killed 128 Americans and 1,070 British.

Fall 1915 - The tensions between Germany the United States was increasing; Wilson began to prepare the nation war by proposing an increase in the armed forces.

February 25th, 1917 - German minister Arthur Zimmermann was caught trying to send a telegram to the Mexican government. In the telegram, Germany asked Mexico to ally itself with them if a war between the US and Germany broke out and in return, they will receive American southwestern lands after the war was over. This angered the Americans and because of this, many people began to support the war.

March 1917 - Russia dropped out of the war after the Russian Revolution occured which changed the government which made Americans more comfortable with joining the war.

Mid-March 1917 - German used "Unrestricted subarmarine warfare". German submarines continued to sink and destroy American ships.

April 6th, 1917 - The American Declaration for War on Germany was passed by Congress. They joined World War as part of the allies.

Key Characteristics of Post-WWI America (1919-1921)
Recession - Bust part of the boom and bust cycle --> 453,000 farmers lost their farm lands; 5 million people lost their jobs, 100,000 businesses went bankrupt, the gross national product value decreased by 10%.

Demand for Rights - African Americans began to demand for equality of rights which was caused by the fact that African Americans had fought in the war.

Strikes - Strikes were being organized as people we being laid off and wages were being cut. Even the Boston Police went on strike because of this.

Race Riots - Tension between blacks and whites increased. Blacks would trespass and march into white neighborhoods. In response, the whites would gather in even larger groups and killing/beating people as well as destroying their homes.

Antiradicalism - The Red Scare.

**Top Ten Key Terms/Concepts for Chapter 23**

League of Nations - Organization established to oversee the nations and to encourage the nations to cooperate and maintain peace with each other.

Race Riots - Tension between the blacks and the whites increased -- violence was breaking out in black and white towns; the blacks would invade the white towns while the whites would invade the black towns even worse.

Antiradicalism - Many American citizens were beginning to believe in the Red Scare and were scared of the possibility of a communism government; they portrayed protests and any form of instability as a form of a radical threat.

Espionage & Sedition Act - Acts that were passed in order to prevent opposition to the war and to the president/government so that there would be an increase in the support for the war and not vice versa.

Women's Peace Party - Group created in 1915 by Carrie Chapman Catt that opposed the war.

Zimmermann Telegram - Telegram from the Germans to the Mexican government that was intercepted before it could reach its destination and was one of the reasons for the support from the American citizens for the nation to join the war.

The Lusitania - A British passenger liner that was sunk by a German submarine killing 128 Americans and 1070 other people which resulted in negative responses from Wilson and Roosevelt who frowned upon the Germans for involving Americans in the European war.

Opposing Alliances - Britain, France, and Russia were all allies --> "The Triple Entente" against Germany, Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire --> "The Triple Alliance"

Wilson's 14 Points - Wilson's principles for the nation going to war which included the establishing of the League of Nations.

"Great Migration" - Due to the increasing poverty and racism in the south, hundreds of thousands of African Americans moved into industrial cities in the north due to the availability of jobs as well as the increase of freedom they would have in the north.

Chapter 24 - "The New Era" - "The Roaring Twenties"

 * Affluence - wealth and prosperity
 * Conservatism - Valuing the status quo and traditions -- not wanting too much change.
 * Cultural Frivolity - Spending, leisure, socializing, partying -- new forms of public entertainment was established which allowed for the public socializing of the people.
 * Era --> has lots of contrasting points/trends. Clash between conservation and cultural frivolity -- spending, partying, etc. -- tension.
 * Prohibition
 * Technology - Computers, radio, cars
 * Welfare Capitalism
 * Worked to protect labor conditions
 * New technologies in farms
 * Entertainment - theaters, advertising, music, radio shows,
 * The Flapper - "The new woman"
 * Women --> some entered the profession, still had limited opportunities; used birth control; increase in demand for women's rights.

The Decline of the Self-Made Man
Self-made Man -- individiualism -- a person can advance as much as they could on their own. Without education and professional training, a person can not become successful. Promotes people to go to school and receive an education. Opportunities were limited --> was costly to get into medical school. Today --> Idea of self-made man is not existant; all children are required and have the opportunity to attend grades 1-12 without having to pay for any of it. Need education in order to be successful though there is a few exceptions.

The Cinema (America In the World - Page 649)

 * End of WWI - > 1/2 of the world's movie theaters were located in America
 * American supremacy in the film industry.
 * Cinema = Major American export
 * Cinemas in other countries would inspired other nations to make certain movies. Ex. Asian films inspired Americans to make violent films.
 * Hollywood --> became global; was influenced by film-makers in nations all around the world
 * Filming, acting, and marketing expanded internationally.
 * Film --> American culture --> shown to the other nations through films.
 * Caused controversy
 * Bollywood - In India --> industry is still booming.

The Dance Halls (Patterns of Popular Culture - Page 652-653)

 * Change in the urban lifestyles - more leisure time and socializing.
 * It was a dance craze during the 20's and the 30's
 * Dancing to Jazz --> popular among men & women --> particularly young couples.
 * Jazz --> Base player, drummer, trumpet/saxophone -- Solo Improvisation (Making it up as you go) --> makes it different from other genres of music; Deals with race, trends, changes --> has an important role in society.
 * Was a place for people to show off new clothes and hairstyles -> Jazz provided a powerful sense, to new, powerful, athletic, and sensual dances, which young couples found exciting
 * However some less popular dance halls were places where drugs were sold, as well as prostitution which led to cities passing laws regulating these dance halls (Taxi halls)
 * Trying to escape traditional values
 * Continued to be very segregated.
 * Fashion
 * Consumerism

Herbert Hoover

 * Was the Commerce Secretary (dealt with trade, taxes, economics -- the economy ) for Harding and Coolidge.
 * Considered expert in dealing with the economy due to his background and experience.
 * Became elected in America during the time of progress.
 * Volutary Associationalism - Wanted businesses to work together;
 * Laissez-Faire Capitalism --> Wanted the government to leave it alone. -- Leads the nation to go down the toilet.
 * Is he going to break with his philosophy? Is he going to do enough?
 * Wanted minimal government interference in the economy.
 * For companies to discuss ideas/tactics
 * Keep in contact
 * Working together to help each other out.

Top Ten Key Terms/Concepts for Chapter 24
Calvin Coolidge - President in 1924 - Passive -- minimal government intervention.

Warren G. Harding - President after WWI --> Promised to help the nation return to "normalcy" - conservative.

Herbert Hoover - President in 1928 - Another passive president -- previously the Secretary of Commerce for both presidents.

Andrew Mellon - Steel and aluminum tycoon; Worked to cut personal income, inheritance, and corporation profits taxes in half.

The "Flapper" - "New Woman" --> Wore shorter clothing, had new hair styles, listened to jazz -- had "inappropriate behavior"

Welfare Capitalism - Paternalistic techniques used to avoid disruptive labor unrest by employers in 1920

The Open Shop - Jobs that did not require its employees to join a union.

Prohibition - Alcohol sales were prohibited (though it did not really have any big effect since it was not effectively enforced)

Nativism - Wanted to keep traditional values alive -- went against immigrants who were bringing new cultural ideas to America.

Hoover's Associationalism - Laissez Faire Capitalism -- limited government interference -- businesses should help each other out.

Where Historians Disagree - Causes of the Great Depression (Pages 670-371)

 * Lack of business investments because of fears of government taxes/regulations
 * International economic forces
 * Low wages & High prices = low demand to buy products because they could not afford to.
 * Milton Friedman & Anna Schwartz --> "Monetary" --> Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates when they should have been lowered.
 * Peter Temin --> Decrease in investment & consumerism (People were no longer buying things) = decrease in money supply
 * Michael Bernstein --> The timing --> if it were to happen years earlier = car/construction industries would have lifted it out and into a recovery; a few years later = newer established industries would have led it to a quick recovery.

I think the Great Depression was caused by mostly all of this as well as because of the passive presidents. The presidents did not believe in government interference in the people's lives, therefore the government was not really regulating the economy and making sure that it was running okay. People were being paid very low wages while the prices of products were continually increasing, therefore, people could not afford to buy things and keep the economy running.

Causes of the Great Depression

 * Overproduction because of over-expansion - more supply than demand
 * Decline in exports -> low demand for American goods
 * Farmers could not pay back their debts but they borrowed a lot of money.
 * Shaky banking systems -> Making risky loans/investments, were not regulated
 * Global debt from WWI - European countries were not paying back their loans.
 * Economy was dependent on automobiles and construction industries
 * Small portion the American population owned most of the nation's wealth, workers were recieving minimal pay - maldistribution of wealth
 * Over-speculation in stocks
 * Stock market crash 1929
 * Banks failed
 * Rapid increase in unemployment rates
 * Less money flow = unemployment = poor people = can't buy goods = less need for production = more unemployment

Escaping/Preventing Economic Depression/Recession

 * Establishment of new industries = new job opportunities
 * Make sure loans that are being loaned out can be paid back.
 * Keep the cash flow in the economy flowing --> consumerism.

Things The Government Can Do

 * Becoming involved in the lives of the people -- help regulate the economy -- do not just let it run by itself.
 * Reduction in taxes = more money for people to spend on products = cash flow.
 * Investment in different industries = creation of new jobs = decrease in unemployment rates.
 * Regulation of banking systems.
 * FDIC --> Government backing up banks --> if you put money into a bank that goes bankrupt, you can get up to a certain amount of money back.
 * Offer financial aid to the unemployed.

Hoover's Attempts to Fight the Depression

 * Established the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to give out federal loans (government money) in an attempt to get them up and running again.
 * Only loaned to big companies who were capable of paying back or had collatoral
 * Created some more jobs opportunities for people.
 * Only used about 20% of of the $1.5 billion they had to available to use.
 * Limited -- Ineffective.
 * Funded/Supported --> Public Works Projects.
 * Building schools, libraries, hospitals, parks; fixing the streets, filling potholes, etc.
 * Created government funded jobs for the people.
 * Voluntarism --> Convinced employers not to fire any one and convinced employees not to demand increase in wages/better hours.
 * Agricultural Marketing Act --> Program --> helped farmers maintain prices.
 * Government spending money to buy surplus crops.
 * Lower supplies --> Higher price.
 * If had a lot of supply --> would have to lower the prices.
 * To keep farm prices somewhat high - average.
 * Did not want the farmers to lower their prices again and lose even more money.
 * Hawley-Smoot Tariff - Protected farm products from competition.
 * Tariff --> Tax on imports.
 * So Americans buy American --> American grown, American made.
 * Increase domestic consumerism increased --> not buying foreign products.
 * EUROPEAN COUNTRIES PASSED THE SAME TARIFFS --> FURTHER SLOWED DOWN INTERNATIONAL TRADE EVEN MORE.

Went against some of Hoover's philosophies --> Only did a little of it (public work projects). Philosophy --> Thought the government should stay out of the lives of the people.

Ensuring Hoover Does NOT Get Reelected

 * Franklin Delano Roosevelt
 * Ran against Hoover in 1932
 * Won by a landslide
 * Popular --> was cousin of Theodore Roosevelt
 * Bonus Army
 * Farmers' Holiday Association

Hoover Video
Was it coincidental or just him that made the depression? What if someone else were president during Hoover's presidency?
 * Was an orphan -- Self-Made Man -- Made himself into a milionaire.
 * "The only thing bad about Capitalism is Capitalists" - Hoover.
 * Highly Defensive
 * Hoover Hotel - Cardboard Shack
 * Hooverville - Shack City
 * Hoover Flag - Empty pocket turned inside out
 * Running government like a business - budgeted, organized.

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New Deal Legacies

 * FDIC - Helped people to gain confidence in the banks since it will guarantee people atleast $2,500 if the bank is to go bankrupt.
 * Social Security - Program is still used today to guarantee workers a monthly check when they are older and incapable of working -- changed the rule of the government.
 * Government became more of a regulator/safety net.
 * Electoral Realignment - Democratic party gained a lot of influence at this time -- would take the Republicans decades to recover and gain back power.
 * First major Republican president after FDR -- Ronald Reagan -- 1980; Democrat had power from 1932-1980 --> almost 50 years.

Top Ten Key Terms/Concepts for Chapter 25
Black Tuesday - October 29th, 1929 – day the great bull market failed – 16 million shares were traded; stocks = worthless. Took a decade to recover. – Caused the great depression.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff - Agricultural tariffs placed on 75% of farm products in order to prevent Americans farmers from having to compete with foreign farmers.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation - Government agency established January 1932 to keep banks, railroads, and other failing businesses afloat with federal loans.

Banking Crisis - American Banking System --> Rapidly collapsed; Banks were declaring bankruptcy one after the other --> Caused a panic = people rapidly withdrawing their money from banks, and public confidence was dwindling

Maldistribution of Wealth - People were not being paid enough at their jobs to buy a lot of things – “demand was not keeping up with supply”

Self Blame - The people blamed themselves for not being able to find a job – found it embarrassing and did not want other people to see them and think that they are failures – some would hide in their homes and refuse to leave.

Disapproval of Female Employment - People thought women should not work and instead should give up their spots so that unemployed men would be able to work; they also believed that women who had employed husbands should not accept jobs either.

Unstable International Debt Structure - WWI, the European countries have borrowed a lot of money from American banks which they had a lot of trouble paying back – Americans would not reduce/forgive the loans and demanded to be paid back

The Dust Bowl - 1930; A decade long drought in an agricultural settlement in the Great Plains of the South and West; From Texas into Dakotas; Decline in rain, increase in heat; Lasted a decade.

The Grapes of Wrath - Book written by John Steinbeck – 1939; offered a view of the harsh agrarian life in the west; most successful novelist on social conditions in the 1930s.

Top Ten Key Terms/Concepts for Chapter 26
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Emergency Banking Act - protected the larger banks from being pulled down because of the weaker/smaller banks. Treasury Department --> Inspected all the banks before they were allowed to reopen.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">National Recovery Administration - Federal agency run by Hugh S. Johnson; Proposed a “blanket code” that required a 30-40cent an hour wage, 35-40 hour working weeks, and abolition of child labor

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Section 7(a) - Part of the National Industrial Recovery Act allowing employees to unionize and collectively bargain

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tennessee Valley Authority - Did a lot with the building of electricity and waterways in the West.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Securities and Exchange Commission - Was established in order to watch the stock market and prevent it from collapsing.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Civilian Conservation Corporation - Work relief; Millions of young MEN --> had more job opportunities planting trees, building reservoirs, developing parks, etc. Were segregated by race.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Glass - Steagall Act - June 1933; Government --> allowed to curb irresponsible bank speculations; Created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) --> guarantee of up to $2,500 of deposits. Helped people to gain confidence in the banks again.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Share-Our-Wealth Society - Proposed by Huey Long - supported the taking away of surplus riches from the wealthy and distributing it evenly to the poor.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Works Progress Administration - (1935) – System of work relief for those unemployed; had a $5 billion budget. Built/renovated a total of 110,000 schools, post offices, government buildings, 600 airports, 500,000+ miles of roads, and 100,000+ bridges; Also created many jobs for people to be paid by the government.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Court Packing Plan - Roosevelt’s plan to increase the number of Supreme Court justices by 6 that he would appoint so that his New Deal programs would be passed -- was not a success, the current Supreme Court justices began to veto New Deal programs less.