Exam III

The Social Security Act borrowed some ideas from which of the following? A. the Townsend Plan B. the Division of Negro Affairs C. the Education Trust D. the NIRA

A. the Townsend Plan

Which of the following groups or bodies did not offer direct relief to needy people? A. the federal government B. local police and schoolteachers C. churches and synagogues D. wealthy individuals

A. the federal government

What assessment of Herbert Hoover's presidency is most accurate?

Although he did not cause the stock market crash, Hoover deserves criticism for his inadequate response to it.

What did the popular movies of the Depression reveal about American values at that time? How did these values contrast with the values Americans held before the Depression?

American films in the 1930s served to both assuage the fears and frustrations of many Americans suffering through the Depression and reinforce and idea that communal efforts--town and friends working together-- would help to address the hardships. The previous emphasis on competition and individualism slowly gave way to notions of "neighbor helping neighbor" and seeking group solutions to common problems. The Andy Hardy series, in particular, combined entertainment with the concept of family coming together to solve shared problems. The themes of greed, competition, and capitalist-driven market decisions no longer commanded a large audience among American moviegoers.

What were Hoover's plans when he first entered office, and how were these reflective of the years that preceded the Great Depression?

At the outset of his presidency, Hoover planned to establish an agenda that would promote continued economic prosperity and eradicate poverty. He planned to eliminate federal regulations of the economy, which he believed would allow for maximum growth. For Americans themselves, he advocated a spirit of rugged individualism. Americans could bring about their own success or failure in partnership with the government, but remain unhindered by unnecessary government intervention in their everyday lives. These philosophies and policies reflected both the prosperity and optimism of the previous decade and a continuation of the post war "return to normalcy" championed by Hoover's Republican predecessors.

Which of the following was not a destabilizing factor immediately following the end of the war? A. a flu pandemic B. a women's liberation movement C. high inflation and economic uncertainty D. political paranoia

B. A women's liberation movement

Which of the following statements accurately describes Mary McLeod Bethune? A. She was a prominent supporter of the Townsend Plan. B. She was a key figure in the NYA. C. She was Eleanor Roosevelt's personal secretary. D. She was a labor organizer.

B. She was a key figure in the NYA.

Which of the following was not a policy undertaken by the NRA? A. agreement among industries to set prices B. agreement among industries to reinvest profits into their firms C. agreement among industries to set production levels D. recognition of the right of workers to form unions

B. agreement among industries to reinvest profits into their firms

Which of the following was not a key factor in the conditions that led to the Dust Bowl? A. previous over cultivation of farmland B. decreasing American demand for farm produce C. unfavorable weather conditions D. poor farming techniques regarding proper irrigation and acreage rotation

B. decreasing American demand for farm produce

Which of the following is a cause of the stock market crash of 1929? A. too many people invested in the market B. investors made risky investments with borrowed money C. the federal government invested heavily in business stock. D. World War I created optimal conditions for an eventual crash.

B. investors made risky investments with borrowed money

Why did the war not increase overall prosperity?

Because inflation made the cost of living higher.

Why was the German use of the unterseeboot considered to defy international law?

Because they refused to warn their targets before firing.

Which man was both a professional baseball player and an influential evangelist during the 1920s?

Billy Sunday

How did postwar conditions explain Warren Harding's landslide victory in the 1920 presidential election?

By the time of the 1920 election, the United States was tired and traumatized by the events of the past year. The nation had fought a brutal war, with veterans bringing home their own scars and troubles, and it had suffered domestically as well. Economic uncertainty and shortages,violent racial conflicts, fear of a Communist takeover, and a deadly flu pandemic had left Americans overwhelmed and unhappy. They did not seek new Progressive ideals, they did not want to be the world's policeman, and they did not want to destabilize what already felt unsteady. By choosing a reassuring-looking candidate who promised to bring things "back to normal," Americans squarely voted to hunker down, nurse their wounds, and try to enjoy themselves.

What of the following was not used to control American dissent against the war effort? A. propaganda campaigns B. repressive legislation C. National Civil Liberties Bureau D. loyalty leagues

C. National Civil Liberties Bureau

Which of the following best describes Roosevelt's attempts to push his political agenda in the last months of Hoover's presidency? A. Roosevelt spoke publicly on the issue of direct relief. B. Roosevelt met privately with Hoover to convince him to institute certain policy shifts before his presidency ended. C. Roosevelt awaited his inauguration before introducing any plans. D. Roosevelt met secretly with members of Congress to attempt to win their favor.

C. Roosevelt awaited his inauguration before introducing any plans.

Which of the following films released in 1927 was the first successful talking motion picture? A. The Clansman B. The Great Gatsby C. The Jazz Singer D. The Birth of a Nation

C. The Jazz Singer

Which of the following groups would not be considered "the deserving poor" by social welfare groups and humanitarians in the 1930s? A. vagrant children B. unemployed workers C. stock speculators D. single mothers

C. stock speculators

Which of the following protests was directly related to federal policies, and thus had the greatest impact in creating a negative public perception of the Hoover presidency? A. the Farm Holiday Association B. the Ford Motor Company labor strikes C. the Bonus Expeditionary Force D. the widespread appearance of "Hooverville" shantytowns

C. the Bonus Expeditionary Force

Which of the following did not influence the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment? A. women's contributions to the war effort B. the dramatic tactics and harsh treatment of radical suffragists C. the passage of the Volstead Act D. the arguments of President Wilson's daughter

C. the passage of the Volstead Act

Who was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?

Charles Lindbergh

Which novel of the era satirized the conformity of the American middle class? A. The Side of Paradise B. The Sun Also Rises C. A Farewell to Arms D. Babbitt

D. Babbitt

Which of the following policies did Roosevelt not include among his early ideas for a New Deal? A. public works B. government regulation of the economy C. elimination of the gold standard D. aid to farmers

D. aid to farmers

Which of the following was not enacted in order to secure men and materials for the war effort? A. the Food Administration B. the Selective Service Act C. the War Industries Board D. the Sedition Act

D. the Sedition Act

Which of the following hardships did African Americans not typically face during the Great Depression? A. lower farm wages in the South B. the belief that white workers needed jobs more than their black counterparts C. white workers taking historically "black" jobs, such as maids and janitors D. widespread race riots in large urban centers

D. widespread race riots in large urban centers

The Scopes Monkey Trial revolved around a law that banned teaching about ________ in public schools.

Darwinism

Which amendment did Alice Paul promote to end gender discrimination?

Equal Rights Amendment

How did Henry Ford transform the automobile industry?

He was determined to build a simple, reliable, and affordable car; a car the average American worker could afford. This idea brought about two innovations. The Model T and the assembly line. These revolutionized American society and molded the world we live in today.

What attempts did Hoover make to offer federal relief? How would you evaluate the success or failure of these programs?

Hoover formed the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) in 1932. This represented a significant effort, although it did not provide any direct aid to needy Americans. The RFC set aside $2 billion in taxpayer money to rescue banks, credit unions, and insurance companies, hoping to promote Americans' confidence in financial institutions. However, by lending money only to banks with sufficient collateral, he ensured than most of the recipients of the aid were large banks. Additionally, most Americans at this time did not have assets to place into banks, however confident they may have felt. In 1932, Hoover also endorsed the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, which allotted $1.5 billion to states to fund local public works projects. Hoover's limitations upon the types of projects that could receive funding and the types of workers who could participate, however, limited the program's utility.

What barriers did Wilson face in his efforts to ratify the Treaty of Versailles? What objections did those opposed to the treaty voice?

In order to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, Wilson needed to ensure a two-thirds approval by the U.S. Senate, which meant overcoming the objections of a majority of Senate Republicans, Isolationists, most notably Henry Cabot Lodge, worried that the treaty's Article X would oblige the United States to intervene extensively in international affairs. Interventionists, alternatively, argued that Article X would prevent the United States from using its military might protect its interests abroad. Ultimately, Congress defeated both the originally worded treaty and a later version that included amendments. As a result, the United States never officially signed the treaty nor joined the League of Nations.

What was the economic outlook of the average American when Herbert Hoover took office in 1929?

Most Americans believed that their prosperity would continue. The stock market continued to flourish, prompting many Americans--including those who had never done so before-- to invest their savings and hope for the best.

What phrase best characterizes Herbert Hoover's foreign policy agenda?

Mutual respect, in terms of being available to support others when called upon, but not interfering unnecessarily in their affairs.

Why was preparation crucial to ensuring U.S. victory in World War I?

Preparation was crucial to victory in World War I because if the US failed to have the correct amount of technology, food, or resources, they could lose the war. In order to ensure that the US had enough of these materials, several different agencies were created. This included: 1) War Industry Board- This oversaw the production of war related material. This agency had the power to tell companies what to produce and how much to produce. 2) Lever Food and Fuel Control Act- This law focused on reducing waste and increasing agricultural product. This law lead to campaigns that aimed to convince citizens to reduce the amount of bread and other commodities needed to send to soldiers overseas.

What was the purpose of Roosevelt's "Brain Trust"?

Roosevelt recruited his "Brain Trust" to advise him in the inception of a variety of relief and recovery programs. Among other things, the members of this group pushed for a new national tax policy; addressed the nation's agricultural problems; advocated an increased role for the federal government in setting wages and prices, and believed that the federal government could temper the boom-and-bust cycles that rendered the economy unstable. These advisers helped to craft the legislative programs that Roosevelt presented to Congress.

In 1929, Albert Fall was convicted of bribery while holding the position of _______.

Secretary of the Interior

The popularization of which psychologist's ideas encouraged the new morality of the 1920s?

Sigmund Freud

What was the Harlem Renaissance, and who were some of the most famous participants?

The Harlem Renaissance was a rediscovery and celebration of black culture and race pride. Within this context, black literature and art flourished. Writers such as Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston created fiction and poetry that spoke directly to the experiences of black Americans. Meanwhile, black scholars and political leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, created new social and political ideologies and defined a distinct national identity for African Americans.

What were the major goals and accomplishments of the Indian New Deal?

The Indian Reorganization Act, or Indian New Deal, of 1934 put an end to the policies set forth in the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887. Rather than encouraging assimilation, the new act promoted Indians' development of local self-government and the preservation of Indian artifacts and heritage. John Collier, the Commissioner on Indian Bureau Affairs, was able to use the law to push for federal officials' return of nearly two million acres of government-held land to various tribes.

How did the NRA seek to protect workers? What difficulties did this agency face?

The National Recovery Administration (NRA) established a "code of fair practice" for every industry. Business owners were made to accept a set minimum wage and maximum number of work hours, as well as to recognize workers' right to organize and use collective bargaining. While the NRA established over five hundred different codes, it proved difficult to adapt this plan successfully to diverse industries with very different characteristics and practices.

Why was prohibition's success short-lived?

The ban on alcohol did not take effect until one year after the war, when the public sentiments that had eased its passage began to wane. The law proved difficult to enforce, as ever-greater numbers of Americans began to defy it. Organized crime's involvement in the illegal liquor trade made enforcement even more difficult and the procurement of alcohol more dangerous. All of these elements led to the law's repeal in 1933.

How did the government work to ensure unity on the home front, and why did Wilson feel that this was so important?

The government took a number of steps to ensure that Americans supported the war effort. Congress passed several laws, including the Trading with the Enemy Act, the Espionage Act, the Sedition Act, and the Allen Act, all intended to criminalize dissent against the war. The government also encouraged private citizens to identify and report potential disloyalty among their neighbors, teachers, and others, including those who spoke out against the war and the draft for religious reasons. Wilson believed these steps were necessary to prevent divided loyalties, given the many recent immigrants living in the United States who maintained ties to European nations on both sides of the conflict.

In what ways did the New Deal both provide direct relief and create new jobs? Which programs served each of these goals?

The most prominent of Roosevelt's job-creation programs included the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Public Works Administration (the latter under the auspices of the National Industrial Recovery Act.) Both employed millions of Americans to work on thousands of projects. While programs such as the Tennessee Valley Authority were not incepted solely for the purpose of generating jobs, they nevertheless created thousands of employment opportunities in service of their greater goals. Direct relief came primarily in the form of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, which lent over $3 billion to states to operate direct relief programs from 1933 to 1935, as well as undertook several employment projects.

What was the inciting event that led to the Chicago Race Riot of 1919?

The murder of a black boy who swam too close to a white beach

Why did the prohibition amendment fail after its adoption in 1919?

The prohibition amendment failed due to its in feasibility. It lacked both pubic support and funds for its enforcement. Its also lessened Americans' respect for law and order, and sparked a rise in unlawful activities, such as illegal alcohol production and organized crime.

What was the platform of the Second Ku Klux Klan, and in what activites did they engage to promote it?

The reincarnated Ku Klux Klan championed an anti-black, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jewish philosophy, and promoted the spread of Protestant beliefs. The Klan publicly denounced the groups they despised and continued to engage in activities such as cross-burning, violence, and intimidation, despite their public commitment to nonviolent tactics. Women's groups within the Klan, also participated in various types of reform, such as advocating the prohibition of alcohol and distributing Bibles in public school.

Who was the Republican presidential nominee for the 1920 election?

Warren Harding

In order to pursue his goal of using American influence overseas only when it was a moral imperative, Wilson put which man in the position of Secretary of State?

William Jennings Bryan

To what extent were Woodrow Wilson's actual foreign policy decisions consistent with his foreign policy philosophy or vision?

Wilson's foreign policy goal was to minimize American involvement abroad and use a less imperialistic approach than the presidents before him. Rather than being guided by America's self-interest, he hoped to enact a policy based on moral decisions, acting only when is was morally imperative. In practice, however, Wilson found himself, especially in South and Central America, following the steps of other, more interventionist presidents. He sent troops into Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, often to ensure that American's interests were met. In Asia and Mexico, Wilson also found it difficult to remain outside of world affairs without jeopardizing America's interests.

Which of the following was not included in the Treaty of Versailles? A. extensive German reparations to be paid to the Allies B. a curtailment of German immigration to Allied nations C. France's acquisition of disputed territory along the French-German border D. a mandate for Germany to accept responsibility for the war publicly

a curtailment of German immigration to Allied nations

What type of help did the CWA provide?

employment opportunities

The popularization of ________ expanded the communications and sports industries.

radio

Coolidge's presidency was characterized by ________.

silence and inactivity

What was the first New Deal agency to hire women openly?

the WPA

What was Article X in the Treaty of Versailles?

the agreement that all nations in the League of Nations would be rendered equal.