U.S. History: Chapter 23

Why did the war not increase overall prosperity? a) because inflation made the cost of living higher b) because wages were lowered due to the war effort c) because workers had no bargaining power due to the "no-strike pledge" d) because women and African American men were paid less for the same work

a) because inflation made the cost of living higher

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 it 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 America's interests were met. In Asia and Mexico, Wilson also found it difficult to remain outside of world affairs without jeopardizing America's interests.

What was the inciting event that led to the Chicago Race Riot of 1919? a) a strike at a local factory b) a protest march of Black activists c) the murder of a Black boy who swam too close to a White beach d) the assault of a White man on a streetcar by Black youths

c) the murder of a Black boy who swam too close to a White beach

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

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 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 to 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.

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 Alien 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.

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

b) a curtailment of German immigration to Allied nations

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

Why was the German use of the unterseeboot considered to defy international law? a) because other countries did not have similar technology b) because they refused to warn their targets before firing c) because they constituted cruel and unusual methods d) because no international consensus existed to employ submarine technology

b) because they refused to warn their targets before firing

What was Article X in the Treaty of Versailles? a) the "war guilt clause" that France required b) the agreement that all nations in the League of Nations would be rendered equal c) the Allies' division of Germany's holdings in Asia d) the refusal to allow Bolshevik Russia membership in the League of Nations

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

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

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? a) Charles Hughes b) Theodore Roosevelt c) William Jennings Bryan d) John Pershing

c) William Jennings Bryan

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