Chapter #20 APUSH Vocabulary

Bonus Expeditionary Force

20,000 World War One veterans marched the capital in the summer of 1932 demanded immediate payment of their entire bonus. Despite their effort, it was not passed in congress, however Herbert Hoover tried to pay the return fair of 6000.

American Civil Liberties Union

Abbreviated ACLU, The American Civil Liberties Union sprouted from the Civil Liberties Union formed in 1920. The organization brought about a new meaning to civil liberties like freedom of speech and instill new rights such as the right to privacy. Although it was simply a small organization when it first began, it grew to have quite an effect on American society.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act

Assigned with reluctance by Hoover in 1930, the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act made the economic situation in America worse. This tax raised the already high taxes on imported goods, causing the reduction of foreign trade. This tax was an attempt to push Congress in 1932 to balance the federal budget by aiding American purchasing power. This act was not beneficial and instead caused more problems to the United States.

Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge, a previous Massachusetts governor, became famous for using state troops against striking Boston policemen in 1919. Despite his lack of strong opinion, Calvin Coolidge exemplified Yankee honesty. Shortly after, the rumor and talk was excused and Coolidge continued his presidential roles. Becoming president after Harding had a heart attack, Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States.

Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover, America's 31st President, was born in Iowa in 1874. After World War One, Hoover became famous in the United States for coordinating overseas affairs. With this achievement, Hoover became known as a great example of the "new era" of American capitalism. While serving as secretary of commerce, he published American Individualism. Shortly after Calvin Coolidge announced he wasn't running for a second term, Hoover jumped on the scene; he won the election with flying colors.

1929 Stock Market Crash

On Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the United States stock market crashed, this ultimately lead to the Great Depression. The 1929 Stock Market Crash destroyed a large majority of the investment companies that had been created to buy and sell stock, wiped out thousands of investors, and it greatly reduced business and consumer confidence. This crash caused 26,000 businesses to fail in 1930.

Harlem Renaissance

The 1920s brought the emergence of Harlem, black self-conscious and aware African Americans particularly in Northern Ghettos. Harlem contained a vibrant black cultural community that established links with New York's artistic mainstream. Famous artisis such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Claude McKay were African American poets and novelists present and originally famous in Harlem who had a relationship with the whites. The Harlem allowed for the establishment of the "New Negro" an African American who broke the stereotypes of African Americans at the time.

Sacco-Vanzetti case

The Sacco- Vanzetti case greatly illustrated the fault lines beneath the surface of American society of the 1920s. This case brought to the scene all ethical, class, and social system disputes and controversies present. Not only did it show the undermined American freedoms, but also brought to attention the fierce cultural battles that raged in many communities during the decade. The case occurred on April 25, 1920 as F.A. Parmenter, a shoe factory paymaster, and guard Alessandro Berardelli were murdered in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Arrested several weeks later, two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested as suspects. After being tried, both were executed by electrocution. These trials bring to attention the nativism and fairness present in the court systems of the 1920s.

Scopes trial

The Scopes Trial brought to light the differences between traditional values and modern culture. The trial encompassed John Scopes, a Tennessee public schoolteacher, arrested for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. This trial brought large rivals, the traditional fundamentalist Christians and modernists up against each other. Scopes was found guilty. Encouraged by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Scopes Trial challenged at a national level the acceptance of new beliefs and cultures into American society

Immigration Act 1924

The immigration act of 1924 first introduced the idea of an "illegal alien". Prior to World War One, limits had been placed on those who could enter and become citizens of the United States (not open to those with disabilities, with diseases, or prostitutes). However, during World War One immigration into the United States became almost open range. After the war, a sense of fear regarding immigrant radicalism became apparent. In 1921 America restricted immigration to 357,000 per year, three years later to 150,000. In addition, the 1924 Immigration Act barred the entry of those ineligible for naturalized citizenship.