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
Sunday, January 31, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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
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
Monday, January 4, 2010
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.
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.
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