ROARING 20’S, GREAT DEPRESSION, WWII

Roaring Twenties• In 1920, the American people were tired of tensions of

reform and war.• The nation had used so much energy in the last two

decades that Americans seemed to be hoping for a rest.• Americans wished the country would return to more normal

times.• Especially after WWI, Americans wanted the nation to be

less involved in world affairs, and more involved in activities at home.

• Warren G. Harding was elected President and promised weary voters a “return to normalcy.”

• This meant that the United States would return back to its isolationist foreign policy and work on healing itself.

Jazz Age- Harlem Renaissance• Jazz in the 1920’s seemed to capture the spirit of the

times.• This music was described as “hot”, energetic, and lively.• Jazz was not played just from musical notes written on

paper, but was improvised.• An area in New York City called Harlem became a

creative center for many African Americans.• Writers, poets, musicians, entertainers, and students

increased African American Pride.• Langston Hughes (poet) and Duke Ellington (musician)

were famous African Americans who were instrumental during the Harlem Renaissance.

http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/videos/the-harlem-renaissance

Threats to Civil Liberties

The Red Scare• A. Mitchell Palmer, Attorney General, ordered what was known as

“Palmer Raids”, which was an exercise to remove all Communist influence in the United States.

• There was mass hysteria in the United States that Communism would spread, therefore the Palmer Raids were put into effect to rid the threat of Communism.

• As a result, 4,000 people were arrested and accused of being Communists, most of which were held without charges and denied legal counsel.

• 560 of the 4,000 were immigrants and therefore deported back to their home countries, due to the fear that they may incite foreign ideas.

Threats to Civil Liberties

Sacco Vanzetti Trial• Closely linked to the Red Scare was the trial of Nicola Sacco and

Bartolomeo Vanzetti.• These men were Italian immigrants who were convicted of murder

in 1921 in connection with a Massachusetts robbery.• There was little evidence that proved that the two Italian

immigrants were guilty of the murder and many people began to question that the men were only charged of the crime due to their Italian origin and anarchist background.

• Despite mass demonstrations and appeals, the two men were executed.

• The governor of Massachusetts eventually cleared the two men in 1977, some 50 years later.

http://video.about.com/history1900s/Sacco-and-Vanzetti.htm

Great Depression• The end of the prosperity of the 1920’s was marked by a series of

plunges in the United States stock market.• The Great Stock Market crash occurred in 1929 due to individuals

speculating (investing in risky business venture in hopes of making large profit), who bought stocks on margin.

• When people bought stocks on margin they would only buy a small percentage of the stock, and then borrow money from another person to pay the remainder of the stock.

• The stock buyer would then be responsible to repay the amount he borrowed.

• However, many individuals could not pay back the debts they owed.• This in turn caused individuals to sell their stocks in a panic (in an

attempt to recover as much money as possible).• The Stock Market crashed triggered the start of the Great

Depression.

Causes of the Great Depression

The Great Depression was caused by an unsound economy with many weaknesses.

1. Overproduction and underconsumption of goods

2. Unequal Distribution of Wealth

3. Excessive Buying on Credit

4. Weak Bank Structure

5. Inadequate Government Policies

http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/videos/1929-stock-market-crash

http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression

Herbert Hoover• Herbert Hoover was the president who first had to deal with

the Great Depression.• Hoover had a strong reputation as a leader of a successful

relief program he used in Europe after WWI.• Hoover believed that the government should not become

directly involved in the economy.• Hoover promoted programs that aided business, on the

theory that as businesses recovered, economic benefits would “trickle down” to the workers and the consumers

• Despite these efforts, Hoover’s refusal to provide direct relief proved to be ineffective.

• High Unemployment along with poor urban and rural life were characteristics of the Great Depression

http://www.google.com/search?q=hoovervilles&safe=active&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=ncFWU-_DJKnY8AGCy4CADQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=930&dpr=1&surl=1

http://www.google.com/search?q=dust+bowl&safe=active&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=0cFWU4DEItO_sQThnoLwDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=930&dpr=1&surl=1

FDR- “NEW DEAL” PROGRAM• Franklin Roosevelt is ranked by historians as one of the

greatest presidents in American history.• Due to Hoover’s failure to help the United States get out

of the Great Depression, FDR had his own plan to combat the Great Depression

• FDR’s plan was called the New Deal, which can be summarized in three R’s.• Relief- for those people who were suffering• Recovery- for the economy so it can grow again• Reform- to avoid future economic depressions.

• Contrary to Hoover, FDR believed that it was the federal government’s responsibility to help the people of the United States.

Relief LegislationEmergency Banking Act 1933-

• Roosevelt’s first act of president was to close the nation’s banks by declaring a bank holiday

• This was done to ensure that the nation’s banking system would not collapse.• This time was used to assure the public that they could have confidence in the

banks once they reopened, and that only financially stable banks were to only be operating.

Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)-• $500,000 was provided to states and cities for direct relief and work projects for

the hungry, homeless, and unemployed.

Public Works Administration (PWA)-• PWA provided jobs through construction projects, such as bridges, housing,

hospitals, schools.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-• CCC provided work for 2.5 million young men between the ages of 18-25

conserving natural resources.

Recovery Legislation

The National Industrial Recovery Act, 1933-• NRA helped business recover by setting “codes of fair competition”

within business to help them maintain prices, minimum wages, and maximum hours.

Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC)-• HOLC helped homeowners save their houses from foreclosure and

to help pay off mortgages.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)-• Helped farmers by raising their income by cutting the amount of

surplus crops and livestock

Reform Legislation

Social Security Act, 1935-• Combination of public assistance and insurance;

• Provided old-age insurance, paid by a tax on both the employer and employee

• Provided unemployment insurance to workers • Gave assistance to dependent children and to the elderly, ill, and

handicapped

National Labor Standards Act (Wagner Act)• Guaranteed labor the right to form unions and to practice collective

bargaining

Evaluating the New Deal

• World War II was largely responsible for ending the Great Depression.

• Nevertheless, the New Deal did help people cope with the effects of the Great Depression while preventing economic and social disaster.

• The New Deal restored confidence in government while it brought power to the presidency and federal government

• The government assumed a role and a responsibility in more aspects of the life of its citizens.