HIS 1112 Final Exam- Short Answer
The crash of 1929 surprised most people. However, what warning signs existed in the 1920s that the economy was in trouble?
1. Real Estate Boom and Bust - a lot of speculation about real estate in 1920s; Boom of new houses on the market. Especially in Florida and California: Ex. Boza Rotan Plans; Hotels went unfinished as well as entire towns The Boom went bust properties sales at the same time. Lost millions 2.Income/ Debt - Highly unequal distribution of debt ; 0.1% had the same amount of money as 42%; the economic growth was based off money people didn't have; more personal and consumer debt 3. Other signs... - Midwestern Depression (1929) - Rising auto-home sales - New home and auto sales cost more than used; 1926 start to decline; People didn't feel as secure
The 1920s are sometimes called the Age of Prosperity. Did working-class people share in that prosperity? Explain.
60% of the working class wages had gone up and were keeping their head above water. Real rise in living wage. Example: Henry Ford $5 a day. For a eight-hour work day. Had to qualify: is the house clean, do you smoke, do you live with your family, do you drink? Welfare Capitalism- Americans should not look to government or labor unions but instead to their employers for benefits and job security. Benefits included: Cafeteria plans, company sponsored sports teams, retirement.
Why is 1968 is often characterized as a turning point in the Vietnam War for Americans?
The Tet Offensive (1968)- Communist revels attack and we weren't expecting it. Veitcong- 80,000 revels attacked over 100 sites all at once to prove they could do it. U.S thought the end was in sight. Americans now know the government isn't telling the truth about the war. The troops Mural is going down. Began war of attrition- drag it out until it becomes to costly. After the Tet Offensive it shaped many peoples opinions and more Americans opposed the war after.
Was the impact of the Cold War on the Civil Rights movement mostly positive or negative? Explain.
There were mostly positive impacts of the Cold War on the Civil Rights Movement. When the federal -government wakes up they take action. An example is the Brown vs. Board of Education. - Father of little girl Linda Brown. Her father was suing, she had to walk seven miles past the white school to go to the black school. It was a burden. She was friends with her neighbors which were white. They argued that separate but equal wasn't equal. Made trauma to African American Children. They were successful 9-0. Segregation had no right to be in public education
What was the Truman Doctrine? Provide two examples of the Truman Doctrine in action in Europe in the 1940s or 1950s.
Truman Doctrine- The United States can and must prevent the further expansion of communism; policy of containment; Contain Communism 1. First test in Action (Turkey and Greece) - both nations were having political chaos; they wanted to change their government to communist; the British said they couldn't do it anymore; First time Americans stepped in and supplied the non-communist with weapons- $400 million to fight communism in Turkey and Greece 2. Marshall Plan -1947 four year plan to help rebuild Europe; In response to communist party gains in Italy and France - Try to return economic stability- make people believe that the democratic and capitalist system is working -by investing in Europe and deviate the starving and jobless and that will restore confidence in the people - Congress passed a $13 billion budget Results - Starvation and worst effect of proverity were eliminated - Rebuilt a lot of factories - Agriculture is restored and then exceeded