US v. Nixon

The Cover-up

1. Regardless of the outcome, should the President of the United States have a right to privacy in regards to the Oval Office tapes? Explain.
No. It does not say anywhere in the constitution that people have the right to privacy. Also, Nixon was impeding an investigation. The investigation was reasonably searching and seizing because the tapes would be the definitive evidence for or against Nixon's involvement in the Watergate break-in.

2. Was President Nixon justified when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox? Explain.
No. It is not a fair trial if you can get rid of the person trying to find you guilty and replace him with someone more supportive of your cause.

3. Was Nixon creating a Constitutional crisis by refusing to hand-over the tapes? Explain.
Yes. If he had not forfeited them, there might have been a coup, and Nixon could have been assassinated. Or he could have been arrested, maybe a civil war?

Closure

4. Why do you think the American public was so outraged by Watergate?
Because Nixon lied to the public, and tried to cover up his lies. It wasn't the Watergate break-in itself that got the public upset, but the lying to the public part.
5. Do you think President Nixon should have resigned? Explain.
Yes. It was good he did, because if he didn't he might have been assassinated. And if he wasn't assassinated, he would probably have been impeached, which would have been too time-consuming.
6. Do you think President Nixon should have been prosecuted? Explain.
Yes. Nixon committed crimes such as: obstructing justice, misuse of power, and ignoring House subpoena. He was a criminal, even though he was a president, and should have been tried as a criminal.

Watergate: Nixon's Downfall

1. How ere the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon?
They were his burglars trying to collect information about the democratic national convention.
2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
Judge Sirica. He thought the burglars were taking orders from someone.
3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?
Dean was a former white house counsel person.
4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?
Chief of Staff, Chief Domestic Advisor
5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?

a. Dean
He said that the President was deeply involved in the conspiracy and cover-up.
b. Butterfield
Said that Nixon taped everything in the whitehouse
6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"?
Richardson would not fire cox and resigned. Deputy attorney general resigned too. Solicitor General fired Cox.
7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts?
Because the transcripts were edited. Even the president is not allowed to withhold evidence.
8. What did the tapes reveal?
They Had many gaps in them, but a conversation between Haldeman and Nixon gave the investigators enough evidence to impeach him.
9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign?
He accepted bribes while Governor of Maryland.
10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
obstruction of justice, abuse of power, contempt for Congress for refusing to obey a Congressional subpoena to release the tapes.
11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
Nixon had become an emperor not a president. He was abusing his power, and living above the law.

Women Fight for Equality

1. Experiences in the workplace
in 1950- 1 out of 3 women worked for wages. By 1960 the number had increased by 60% certain jobs considered "mens' work" and "womens' work"
2. Experiences in social activism
Ironically women were often put in unimportant positions in such organizations as the SNCC and SDS.
3. "Consciousness raising"
Groups where women would talk about their feelings about sexism.
4. Feminism
The belief that women should have the same rights as men.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique
The Feminine Mystique was a bestseller which captured the discontent women were feeling. Betty Frieden was its author, she was disatisfied with her life, and decided to write a book about sexism.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964

7. National Organization for Women (NOW)
Created to pursue women's goals. Pushed for creation of Child-care facilities and prompted EEOC to declare sex-segregated job ads illegal.
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine
a journalist, a political activist, founded Ms. Magazine. Ms. Magazine treated contemporary issues from a feminist perspective.
9. Congress
IN 1972 congress passed a ban on gender discrimination in "any education program or activity recieving federal financial assistnace" Hyer Education Act
10. Supreme Court
In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decided that women have a right to have an abortion in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
"The New Right" opposed the ERA because they thought it would ruin the family, cause same-sex marriage, and stop men from providing for their families.

Why the US lost Vietnam

1. US military tactics in Vietnam
The US had very poor tactics. The US did not know how to fight a guerilla war. source 40 confirms this, showing that the soldiers had no hope of winning the war. Also, the US never had experienced soldiers in Vietnam, according to source 43 the recruits the army was choosing were not only inexperienced, but not very intelligent either.
2. The unpopularity of the South Vietnamese regime
Diem oppressed Buddhists (which is the main religion in Vietnam), as well as being corrupt. Diem spent all his money on material goods rather than military supplies. Source 33 shows Quang Duc burning himself in protest of the attacks on Buddhist shrines by Diem.
3. The experience of the Viet Cong and the inexperience of the American soldiers
The Viet Cong were more experienced because they knew the terrain. Also, they did not have the option of leaving the army after 1 year. According to source 43, soldiers served 1 year, and just when they were getting the hang of it, they left.
4. Domestic opposition to the war in the U.S.
The people of the US became more and more upset with the war as time went on. They began to see people getting killed, like in source 57, on a regular basis. By 1973 the public demanded th war to end.
5. Chinese and Soviet support for the Viet Cong
Source 31 shows the Ho Chi Minh trail. This trail was used by the Vietnamese to get supplies from the USSR and CHina.
6. 'But did they really lose?' Summarize the argument put forward in Source 57, and your view on it.
I think that the US did not really have a clear direction and purpose when it went into Vietnam. The US wanted to destroy the idea of Communism with guns but it did not work. By the wnd of the war, we just wanted to get out of the war without looking bad. I think, although the US was not exactly defeated, it did fail at everything it tried to do in Vietnam.
Add other if you think there are factors you should consider.

Vietnam War Turning Point

1. Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point? Explain your answer.
Although the Tet offensive was a strategic failure for the Viet Cong, and they lost a lot of soldiers, it raised questions for the public as to why they were fighting the war in the first place. Also Hue was destroyed, and US taken by surprise.

2. Are Sources 51 and 52 making the same point about the My Lai Massacre?
They both seem to be agreeing that the MY Lai massacre was bad, but 51 is saying that the massacre was wrong, but 52 is saying that they didnt do anything wrong


3. Why do you think it took 12 months for
anyone to do anything about the massacre?
Because soldiers only served one year. And Ridenhower did not want to get in trouble.

4. Why was the massacre so shocking to
the American public?
It was evidence that the war was going wrong.

US struggles against communism in vietnam

Stage 2: Thinking it through

Step 3: in each row of column 3, draw some scales to show which way the balance falls for this quality. Did the USA or the Viet Cong have the advantage?

1. Now think about the overall picture - how the strengths and weaknesses work together.

a) Were the armies finely balanced or was the balance strongly weighted to one side or the other?
The Viet Cong had the advantage except for good technology. They were behind on that.
b) Which quality was most important in determining who won the war? Was one feature so important that being ahead in that area meant that other advantages or disadvantages did not matter?
Good tactics was most important. The US soldiers could never tell when the Viet COng would strike next.
Stage 3: Explaining your conclusions
The failure of the U.S. army to beat the Communist in Vietnam was the result of its own weaknesses and Viet Cong strengths.

2. Now write up your answer. Use this structure:
a. The U.S. weaknesses were:
Unfamiliar territory, not supported by Vietnamese, low morale, fear
b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were:
guerilla tactics, support of populous, good tactics
c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example:
Rolling Thunder bombing campaign brought the North Vietnamese to bargaining table, and disruputed Ho Chi Minh trail. Tet offensive, La Dreng valley
d. However, there were some major failures as well. Examples of these were:
My Lai massacre
e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as:

f. However, they also suffered defeats, for example:
Tet Offensive, La Dreng valley
g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be support of the people because: If the US had the people on there side they could have won. The peasants would give up info to the soldiers about where the Viet COng were hiding, and then the US mght have won.

h. The key Viet Cong strength was tactics because: No matter what the US tried to do to get rid of the Viet Cong, there would always be more, because the Viet Cong and the people worked together. Like in Japan in WWII the US would probably have to kill the whole country to conquer it.

US Atttempts to Control Cuba

1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
Most of the businesses on the island were owned by Americans, and the US had a huge base on Guantanamo bay.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
If the US invaded themselves, it would be an open act of war, and the USSR might get involved and it could start a nuclear war.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The US did not provide the air cover it promised. Also, there were only 1,400 Cuban exiles, but 20,000 well armed commies.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
Earlier in the cold war, the US could hit locations in the USSR with icbms in 30 mins, but since the USSR had icbms in Cuba, the USSR could hit America, just as fast or faster.

Cuban Missle Crisis

1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.
On Oct. 24 20 soviet ships neared the blcokade with the apperent intentinon of attacking, but then left. War almost started. On October 17 a U2 spy plane was shot down and its pilot killed over Cuba, war almost happened again.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
On those two days i think it was possible.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
American because it shows Kruschev shaking with exertion. It looks as though he is the one weakening and JFK staying strong.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.

Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA
Ussr trying to remove missles from table only if US makes concessions
To test the USA
The USSR wanted to see if the US was strong enough to stand up to the USSR. And Kruschev wanted to see if JFK was a strong president.
To trap the USA
To try to get the USA to start a nuclear war.
To get the upper hand in the arms race
To prevent the US from launching a first-strike against the USSR.
To defend Cuba
The USSR wanted to have a niche in the western hemisphere.
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think the USSR was just trying to use the Cuban missles as a bargaining piece but also so if the US attacked them, they got strike back fast. I do not think the USSR was trying to start a nuclear war because on Wednesday the 24 of OCtober their ships did not attack the American bloackade.

The American Dream in the 1950's

1. Baby Boom
As soldiers returned from WWII and started families, the population soared. In 1957 every 7 seconds a baby was born.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
Developed the Polio vaccine.
3. Interstate Highway System
Connected and homogenized nation, made it easier to drive long distance and live in suburbs.
4. Franchise
A company that offers similar products and services in different locations.
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
Because of new electric devices, and shorter work-weeks, Americans had more leisure time. The attended more sports games, played golf, bowling, hunted and boated. And read how-to books, mysteries, and romance novels. In 1953 Americans spent $30 billion on leisure goods and activities.

The Arms Race

1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
He was probabley thinking of deplomacy.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would not say that the Communist world was encircled because it was the USSR's neighboring countries that felt threatened and made pacts together.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
Maybe Dulles thought the best way to defeat the USSR was to out-spend it.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The U2 is being used to spy on them by the nosey Americans.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The US invaded the USSR's airspace, denied it was spying even though it was obvious it was, and did not apologize.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
It would say it wanted to make sure the USSR wasn't going to attack it.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
Yes, the USSR was just as suspicious of the US as the US was of the USSR
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
So the USSR would not try to attack Western Europe.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Using the threat of nucclear attack as a detterent to nuclear attack.

RED SCAR (1950's)

For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.


1. HUAC
It was this organization that identified potentional commmunists and brought them to trial.

2. Blacklist
When someone can no longer get a job in their industry and is essentially banished .

3. Alger Hiss
A supposed Soviet spy who was accused by a fromer spy, WHittaker Chambers. He was convicted for perjury.

4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Two minor activists in the American COmmunist Party who were executed for espionage for leaking information about the atomic bomb to the USSSR.


5. Joseph McCarthy
An extremeley anti-communist senator who made many unfounded accaustations about communists so he would be reelected.

6. McCarthyism
Unfounded attacks on suspected communists.

7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?

McCarthy wanted to use the hystery created by communism to get himself elected. But when he accused the US army of being communist, there was a trial and he made himself look stupid and he lost public support. Three years later he died of alcoholism.

Korean War Lessons

Prompt:

It is 1952. A new president, Eisenhower, has been elected in the US. Your task is to write a report for him on what lessons the United States can learn from the war. Your report should advise the President on:

the US aims in Korea
how the support of the UN helped
how far the US achieved its aims
whether MacArthur should have been allowed to invade North Korea
why MacArthur was removed
the military and civilian cost of war


For each point you will need to use the sources and text on pages 338-41 to compile your answer.

Finally, make up your own mind as to whether, on balance, the policy of containment succeeded and then write up your ideas as a balanced report.

Aims:
The US intended at first to occupy Korea to prevent the soviets from advancing. After the communists invaded south Korea, however, the US wanted push them back. The Inchon landing worked so well, they decided they wanted to free all of Korea.

UN:
The UN was important because the US wanted the world on their side and opposing communism.

If the US reached their aims:
They did not protect Korea from invasion, and the US did not successfully free North Korea, but they did maintain the border at the 38th parallel.

Invasion of North Korea:
MacArthur should not have been allowed to invade NOrth Korea because a lot of people died in the invasion and when it was repelled. MacArthur underestimated China's power, and a general should not make mistakes like that.

Why MacARthur was removed:
MacArhur was removed because he was critizing Truman's administration. Also, MacArthur disobeyed Truman and continued fighting even when he was ordered to stop.

MIlirary and Civilan Cost of the War:
Over 100,000 soldiers died, and over 13,000 civilians died in the war.

Dropping the atomic bomb

1. What factors have affected viewpoints on Truman's decision?
Whether the bombs were dropped just to see if it would work. The ethicalness of not telling the Japanese that the US had a nuclear weapon.

2. Do you think he made the right decision? Give your reasons.
I think that the Japanese should have been warned about the bomb. If they did not believe us, we could have dropped it in some remote part of Japan. If that did not work, we could have dropped it right over the emperor's head quarters. When we bombed Tokyo we encountered little resistance, so we might not encounter much resistance if we bombed the emperor.

War in the PAcific

1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?

It destroyed a lot of the Japanese navy. after that the tides turned and the Americans began island hopping.
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
Island Hopping

3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
Because if the Americans captured it, they could set up a airplaine base to bomb Japan.

4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?

Because 7,600 Americans died. The Japanese refused to surrender. Two generals committed suicide rather than surrendering. So if they defended Okinawa that fiercely, it would be even worse on the mainland of Japan.

5. What was the Manhattan Project?
It was a project to create an atomic bomb.

6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
To avoid an invasion of Japan.

War for Europe and North Africa--II

6. What was D-Day?

It was the day when American and British forces attacked Northern France, and from there, invaded Germany.

7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?

It was Hitler's last ditch offensive to stop the allied advance.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?

Death camps
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler committed suicide. FDR had a stroke and died and Truaman became the president.

War for Europe and North Africa

1. To what did Roosevelt and Churchill agree early in the war?

Hitler and Mussolini were a greater threat than Japan.

2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
Because it allowed supplies to get to Britain and the USSR
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
It stopped the German avance and started the Russian advance.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?

5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?

Japan and US relations in 1941

Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

Document A
-Japan has an aggressive attitude towards the US
-They want to strike America's raw materials by controling the "south"
-they want to encircle asia and then conquer America
-they believe if Enlgand falls, America will "reconsider her position"

Document B
-Shows Japan protesting encirclement whil encircling the Allies
-Japan is hypocritical

Document C
-Japanese don't like American's proposal
-The Japanese gov. wanted to buy time
-Japanese are picky

Document D
-The Japanese are preparing for war
-They are doing because the emperor wanted to continue hostilities
-they want to accomplish their war aims

Document E
-December 7, 1941 Japan attacks Oahu
-Low point in US-Japanese relations
-Japanese have been deliberately decieving US to buy time

US heads towards war

1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
Allowed warring nations to buy US goods as long as they payed in cash, and got them themselves.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
Japan, Italy, and Germany
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
It lent money, and supplies to any nation whose defense was vital to the US
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas
5. Who were the Allies?
USSR, US, UK, as well 23 other countries
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.s. Pacific fleet?
It nearly destroyed it, except for 3 aircraft carriers.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
Because of the Tripartite pact

World events set stage for isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
They were angry at being racially discriminated. Some Japanese wanted Japan to become as powerful as the European nations, others thought that was impossible.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
It defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese war, it annexed Korea in 1910, and it had the fifth largest economy of the league of nations. It wanted to expand into china, but felt threatened by US control of Guam, the Philipines, and Hawaii.
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
The conference was convened because of Japan's increasing naval prescence in the Pacific. The parties agreeed to ban poison gas, stop making so many battleships, and limit submarine use in future wars.
4. Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and w The idely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
Americans did not want to be dragged into another war (like WWI), and Americans wanted the ability to do what they wanted without permanent alliaences.

5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
He improved the economic siruation, reduced unemployment, and gave Germans back their national pride.
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
As a means of getting raw materials and increasing Japan's power.
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accompllish?
They both gave the two governments excuses to get more power.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The US was not able to oppose Japan because of the Depression.
9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)
Socialists and Fascists thought they were the wave of the future. Liberal democracies have a constitution and emphasize individuals. Fascism is an authoritative form of government. Socialism wanted to create a classless society were everyone is equal.

FDR & the New DEAL

1. Describe how people struggled to survive during the depression.
They built communities of shacks called Shanty Towns, some people resorted to living in boxes. Many people were forced to beg and dig through garbage for food. Minorities were persecuted by whites who were competing for jobs. Conditions were a bit better in rural areas because farmers can at least grow their own food.
2. How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? Children?
Men would wander looking for jobs, and wait in bread-lines. Some left their families to become hobos. Women were generally too shy to wait in bread-lines, and would rather starve than be seen begging. Children often suffered from mal-nutrition and schools were closed because kids had to work in sweatshops.
3. Describe the causes and effects (on people) because of the Dust Bowl.
The causes were unsustainable farming methods and exhausting the soil, the effects were farmers losing their jobs, and dust storms.

4. What was the New Deal and its three general goals? (The 3 Rs)
A program designed by FDR to alleviate the problems of the Great Depression. The goals were: relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform.
5. What did Roosevelt do during the Hundred Days?
he helped pass 15 pieces of New Deal legislation, declared a banking holiday, passed EBR act, fire-side chats, FDIC, Federal Securites act.
6. Why were Roosevelt's fireside chats significant?
They made FDR more accessable to the public and gave him a chance to explain his polices.
7. Describe four significant agencies and/or bills that tightened regulation of banking and finance.
EBR act, FDIC, Federal Securities act, SEC

Causes of the Great Depression Outline

Prompt: To what extent was the Wall Street Crash a cause of the Great Depression of 1929? Support your argument with specific examples.

Example of the outline structure:

Thesis
I. Main Point 1
a. Evidence 1 that supports Main Point 1
i. further supporting details
b. Evidence 2 that supports Main Point 1
II. Main Point 2.... and so on.

The Wall street Crash was not a major cause of the Great Depression. There were far greater problems in the American economy, and the Crash was the culmination of these causes, resulting in the Great Depression. Some important causes of the Great Depression are the differences in income, living on credit, and farmers in debt.
1) Differences in income
-Most of the wealth controlled by wealthiest
-most americans too poor to participate in economy

2) Living on Credit
-Many Americans were encouraged to live beyond their means
-accrued debt; stopped buying things


3) Farmers in Debt:
-During WWI huge increase in demand for food so farmers took out loans to buy eqipment and land.
-after WWI demand subsided; farmers in debt
-farmers lost farms; banks lost money; banks failed

Conclusion: Restate thesis in a different way

Causes and Early Effects of the Great Depression

1. What happened on "Black Tuesday"?
The stock market crashed.
2. How did the economic trends of the 1920s in industry, agriculture, and with consumers help cause the Great Depression? (Make sure you include significant details about each area in your answer. It should be at least a paragraph)

In industry many key industries (like lumber, railroads, and coal mining) profits' fell. This is an indicator of a weak economy. Agriculture boomed after WWI and farmers took out loans to buy more eqipment but them demand fell and many farmers went into debt. Consumers at the time were also increasing the problem. They were investing in stocks which they couldn't pay for and buying stocks without considering the risks.
3. According to your reading, what are the major causes of the Great Depression?

The decline in industry and agriculture, irresponsible consuming, unequal distribution of wealth, and easy credit.
4. What was Hoover’s philosophy of government?

HOover was a humanitarian but did not beleive in social welfare. His refusal to help the needy made him very unpopular during the depression.
5. What was Hoover’s initial reaction to the stock market crash of 1929?

HE didn't really do anything. HE just got some leaders together and they discussed the stock market crash.
6. What was the nation’s economic situation in 1930?

Worse than in 1929 because nothing had been done.
7. How did voters in 1930 respond to this situation?

They ousted the republicans and elected democrats.
8. What did Hoover do about the economic situation?

The Federal Home Lone Act allowed people to refincance their houses, and the RFC helped big business.
9. How did the economy respond to his efforts?

It didn't really. Too little too late.

Prohibition and Scopes Trial

Do you think the passage of the Volstead Act and the ruling in the Scopes trial represented genuine triumphs for traditional values? Think About:

No. Prohibition was doomed to failure from the start because it undermines people's freedom to consume the fluids of their choice. The Volstead act was just some last-minute legislation to make prohibition work. It was too expensive and unrealistic and so it wasn't a triumph for traditional values. The Scopes trial wasn't a triumph for traditional values either. The trial wasn't about traditional values, it was about some backwards folk not accepting science or progress and then making a stupid law.


• changes in urban life in the 1920s
• the effects of Prohibition
• the legacy of the Scopes trial

Americans struggle with postwar issues

After World War I, many Americans feared that Communists would take over the country.

1. How did the Justice Department under A. Mitchell Palmer respond to this fear?
He rounded up suspected socialist, communists, and anarchists, invading private homes and jailing suspects without trials.
2. Why did Palmer eventually lose his standing with the American public?
He never found any evidence of a communist conspiracy.
3. How did the Ku Klux Klan respond to this fear?
The Ku Klux Klan used anti-communism to harrass catholics, jews, blacks, and promote nativism.
4. Why did the Klan eventually lose popularity and membership?
Because of its criminal activity
5. Briefly describe how Sacco and Vanzetti became victims of the Red Scare.
The witnesses of the crime thought the criminals were Italian and the judge was predjudice so Sacco and Vanzetti were executed.


Public opinion turned against labor unions as many Americans came to believe that unions encouraged communism.

6. Why was the strike by Boston police unpopular with the public?
Because the police were supposed to be protecting the public from communists.
7. Why did Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge become so popular?
Because he ended teh strike and called out the national guard.
8. Why was the strike at U.S. Steel unpopular?
The US Steel corporation used propaganda to link the strikers with communists
9. How did President Wilson respond to the steel strike?
He sent a plea to tell the strikers and the company to make peace.