20th Century America



1914-1939: boom to bust273864831 World War I (1914-1918): The first “modern war,” WWI initially pitted the Triple Alliance/Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) against the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia) in a battle for supremacy. The United States entered the war in 1917. Called “The Great War” or the “War to End all Wars,” WWI saw unprecedented loss of life and the advent of industrialized weaponry. The Triple Entente (after American intervention) eventually prevailed and forced Germany to accept harsh terms in the Treaty of Versailles. The most ironic legacy of “The War to End all Wars” was that it led to World War II 20 years later.61679837419600-41910081661000The Roaring Twenties (The jazz age): War production generates a strong economy, and, for most of the 1920s, America enjoyed a time of prosperity and excitement fueled by the new Jazz music that came out of the Harlem Renaissance. However, in the shadows of this seemingly carefree time, there were shadows in terms of racial discrimination, government corruption, crime, the morality of the rich, and the despair of the poor.The great depression: The unregulated spending and recklessness of the 1920s led to a massive and debilitating stock market crash in October 1929. The resulting depression and economic despair, complicated by natural disasters like the Dust Bowl, continued well into the 1930s. The leadership of FDR, the New Deal, and the rising threat from Germany eventually brought the US out of the Great Depression, but it remains a desperately sad time in American history.Themes and Broad strokesThemes of WWIThe Rise of the Nation State – As European nations became more prosperous and industrialized, they sought to protect their power on the continent by militarism – an increase of military capabilities, imperialism – a political philosophy where a larger country exerts influence (military, financial, territorial) over a weaker one & nationalism - an overarching, and often unquestioning, sense of national pride. A complex system of alliances further led to the inevitable conflict.American Isolationism - While geographically distant from Europe, America could not be entirely neutral in European conflicts because of trade concerns and its immigrant population. In both WWI and WWII, an early policy of isolationism ended as events forced the US into the conflicts. In both conflicts, American intervention was necessary for victory over the European aggressors. Modern Warfare - WWI I marked the true beginning of industrialized warfare as the tank and airplane dominated the battlefields and both the machine gun and mustard gas became weapons of mass destruction. However, infantry tactics did not adjust and masses of men were mowed down as they emerged from their trenches in futile attempts to gain ground. The Politics of Revenge - The brutality of WWI led the victors seek revenge and vanquish Germany in an attempt to make WWI “The War to End All Wars.” However, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were so economically damaging that the resulting economic despair gave rise to a demagogue (Hitler) and intense nationalism (the Nazi Party) as Germany sought to restore its former glory.Themes of Revolution, Risk and RaceThe Rise of Communism - As WWI made European empires vulnerable, a Russian workers party (The Bolsheviks) saw their chance to bring down the Romanov dynasty. The resulting government incorporated Communist beliefs, and the rebels became the tyrants as they silenced the “enemies of the revolution.” This marked the beginning of the Soviet state and one of the prevailing conflicts of the 20th centuryGlobal Concerns America’s decisive entry into WWI firmly established the US as an integral part of the world economy and political landscape. However, this new confidence didn’t come without complications. Instead, it often meant the US was vulnerable to European problems and wary of emerging ideologies like Communism, Facism, and Naziismpostwar Prosperity and a Consumer Economy – The economic boom caused by wartime production and the “eat drink, and be merry” attitude meant many, but of course not all, had money to burn. Advertising emerged as people wanted to buy more and more. This excess of consumerism (and the concept of buying on credit) led to a false confidence in business (and the stock market) and the eventual crash.Mobility and the Search for a Better Life -The automobile and even the airplane made it easier for African Americans/others to flee stagnant economies (i.e. Southern sharecropping) and seek new opportunities in the vibrant industrial cities. However, the American Dream was still elusive and prejudice was everywhere. During the Great Depression, the desperate migrant plight emphasized man’s vulnerability to shifting economiesThemes of The TwentiesThe Lost Generation - Literally, an entire generation died during the Great War. Figuratively, those who survived were aimless and disillusioned in the aftermath of a brutal and pointless war. They followed the “eat, drink, and be merry…for tomorrow we may die” philosophy because they had already seen the worst of humanity.Postwar Prosperity - WWI industrialism fueled the American economy, and it remained strong through the Roaring Twenties. The WWI propaganda machine transformed into consumer advertisements that sent consumer spending to new heights. The media – including the fantastic new radio – depicted the trends and spirit of the age.Cultural Conflict - Beneath the grand exterior of Jazz Age, there were deep conflicts. The reform movement (including women’s suffrage) led to Prohibition which only led to organized crime and the morally questionable “flapper.” The Harlem Renaissance celebrated African American culture while Jim Crow still restricted it. Science and religion clashed, and political corruption was rampant The Harlem Renaissance amid Racial Discrimination - As African American urban communities grew, the Harlem Renaissance (an artistic movement that celebrated the strength, depth, and resiliency of the African American Culture) brought recognition to the African American culture. However, Jim Crow and the KKK were still powerful enemies in the South and racial discrimination still flourished in other parts of the country.The Crash - All good things must end. Throughout the 20s, Americans spent and spent (often on credit) and the stock market soared. However, the corporate wealth that seemed to exist was an illusion. Wall Street crashed, The banks which had funded the boom closed their doors and both the wealthy and the common man lost everything.Themes of The ThirtiesThe Role of Government Desperate times call for desperate measures and the New Deal represented government intervention on an unprecedented scale. The New Deal enacted work relief programs, banking reform laws, the Social Security Agency, and other measures still enforce today. While many still debate the legitimacy of government “handouts,” there is little question that The New Deal was eventually an essential part of American recoveryThe Great Man Theory While many businessmen criticized Roosevelt’s New Deal as too liberal, the fact that FDR is a “top five” fixture in virtually all presidential rankings proves that Roosevelt’s leadership was indispensable. Furthermore, it is useful to contrast Roosevelt’s reassuring messages in economic crisis with other leaders of the time – most notably Hitler and Mussolini. The only president to serve more than two terms, Roosevelt was the man Americans turned to when the European crisis began to threaten American freedom.The American Work Ethic Sacrifice and hard work were the guiding values of the common man who had no choice but to trudge ahead through the desperate economic times. Migration continued as people would go where the work was and would do what it take to keep the job. It was this work ethic that fueled the labor pool that would be ready to produce the industrial might needed to win the looming war in Europe. terminology – peoplePresident Woodrow Wilson – President from 1912-1921; kept us out of war until his hand was forced by the Zimmerman Telegram; tried to enact a “League of Nations” for with “Fourteen Points” for peacekeeping after WWI but Congress failed to ratify it in order to maintain American autonomy. Kaiser Wilhelm – Emperor of Germany; grandson of Queen Victoria of EnglandGeorge V – King of England; grandson of Queen Victoria of EnglandCsar Nicholas II; Czar of Russia; grandson of Queen Victoria of EnglandPancho Villa – Mexican revolutionary; intended recipient of the intercepted Zimmerman Telegram which promised German aid to regain lost territory in the United States (in order to distract America from intervening in WWIVI Lenin – the founder of the Russian Communist Party, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, and the first head of the Soviet StateAl Capone – an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit.Lost Generation Authors writers whose work depicted the disillusionment of the postwar world.Ernest Hemingway – author of WWI novels including A Farewell to ArmsF. Scott Fitzgerald – author of Jazz Age novels including The Great GatsbyHarlem Renaissance Artists artists who work celebrated the vitality and strength of the African American cultureJazz Musicians Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella FitzgeraldWriters Langston Hughes and Zora Neale HurstonCharlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, Clarke Gable – early movie stars; The 1920s and 30s marked the real beginning of the celebrity culture (Hollywood and otherwise)Babe Ruth colorful star of the New York Yankees; an early sports celebrityPresident Warren Harding – President of the US from 1921-23; died in office; known for many scandals including a shady land deal called the Teapot Dome scandalPresident Calvin Coolidge – President of the US from 1923-1929: “Silent Cal” – he was a mild-mannered leader who focused on building American business interests. His catch phrase, “The Business of America is Business”, reflected his belief that the government should not intervene in private industryPresident Herbert Hoover – President when the stock market crashed in 1929. While he was not the cause of the Great Depression, he was its leader during its hardest points and made a few unpopular and unwise decisionsPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt – Elected in 1932: an inspiring leader whose rhetoric “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself,” his honest “Fireside Chats,” and New Deal Government programs were all credited with helping Americans through the Great Depression Huey Long – Governor of Louisiana during the Depression; rose to political power by promising to “Share the Wealth” and distribute money to all citizens equally; frequently considered a demagogue (a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims in order to gain power), Long pushed aside all political opposition but was assassinated before his planned run for presidentJohn Steinbeck – Depression era author who wrote primarily about the plight of migrant authors; The Grapes of WrathNorman Rockwell – popular artist who illustrated the cover of Saturday Evening Post during the early to mid 20th Century; his depictions of American life reflected the everyday life and inspired during times of trouble (The Great Depression/WWI)events and their significanceThe Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (June 1914) the assassination of this Austrian Arch-Duke led to WWI as European alliances were called into play.The Sinking of the Lusitania (1915) Hundreds of Americans died when a German U-Boat sunk this passenger liner. While this didn’t directly lead to America’s entry into WWI, it represented increasing German aggression in international waters.The Battle of the Somme (1916) This prolonged battle in France represented the futility of trench warfare; it lasted four months; both sides lost over a million men and, in the end, the British and French only gained 5 miles of territoryThe Zimmerman Telegram (1917) The Zimmerman Telegram contained a proposal from Germany to aid Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa in an attempt to recapture lands held by the United States. The Germans had intended to distract the US from entering the European conflict, but America intercepted and decoded the telegram. The US was then forced to fight against this German aggressionRussian Revolution (1917) a collective term for a pair of revolution which toppled the Tsarist regime in Russia and replaced it with a Communist (Bolshevik) government; The Armistice is Signed (1918) – The Armistice is the cease fire that occurred on the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918. The formal Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.The Influenza Pandemic (1918) – The worst epidemic in America history; it killed over 600,000 Americans and over 30 million people worldwide.The Scopes Monkey Trial (1925) In this well publicized trial, a young teacher in Tennessee, John Scopes, was found guilty of teaching evolution and fined. Argued by two well-known American lawyers, the trial represented the great divide between religion and science.Sacco and Vanzetti Executed (1927) This was the culmination of a trial in which two Italian born anarchists were convicted of murder despite weak evidence. In retrospect it appears that their conviction was based on prejudice toward their immigrant status and political views.Charles Lindberg Flies Across the Atlantic (1927) – “Lucky Lindy” completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic. When the Spirit of St. St. Louis landed in Paris, Lindbergh became a worldwide celebrity and a representative of American potential. The celebrity culture, however, proved tragic as his young son was kidnapped and killed in a sensational crime in 1932.The Stock Market Crash (1929) – The beginning of The Great Depression, the crash was the result of inflated business values during the 1920s.The Bonus Army Marches on Washington (1932) – in 1924, the US promised WWI veterans a cash bonus to be paid in 1945; At the height of the Great Depression In 1932 over 17,000 veterans plus their families, the“Bonus Army,” went to DC to demand an early payment of these bonuses; After being refused, the 43,000 “members” of the Bonus Army camped on the grounds of govt buildings and pledged to stay until the bonuses were paid. President Hoover eventually mobilized the military who burned the “Bonus Army” camps and forced them to disperse; 2 were killedFranklin Roosevelt Inaugurated – On March 4, 1933, FDR began his dramatic 12 year presidency and reassured the suffering nation that the “only thing they had to fear was fear itself”other terminologyimperialism a political philosophy where a larger country exerts influence (military, financial, territorial) over a weaker one. nationalism an overarching, and often unquestioning, sense of national pride and devotionmilitarism an increase in military strength for the purpose of retaining power by intimidating other countries the Triple Alliance Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italythe Triple Entente England, France, and RussiaU-Boats German submarinesThe Selective Service Act of 1917 The WWI Draft; of the 4 million Americans in the who served in WWI, 2.8 were draftedThe Committee on Public Information the govt agency responsible for WWI propaganda; it was a coordinated advertising and public speaking effort to sell war bonds, enlist volunteers, enforce rationing and justify the fight in EuropeAmerican Expeditionary Forces The official name of the American army in WWI; informally, the men were called doughboys although the origin of the term is unknownFourteen Points Woodrow Wilson’s peace proposal; most of the fourteen points were rejected by the allies because they limited national imperialism; The Treaty of Versailles the official peace treaty of WWI; it contained the war guilt clause - a statement that Germany was responsible for WWI, a demand that Germany pay reparations – financial repayment for damages caused to the victor nation, and a forced demilitarization The League of Nations a forerunner of the United Nations and one of the only parts of the Fourteen Points to be included in the Treaty of Versailles; the League of Nations was a formal organization of international cooperation; 20th Amendment granted women the right to vote!Prohibition: the name commonly associated with the 18th Amendment – a constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation and transportation of Alcoholic Beverages; The Volstead Act is legislation designed to enforce the ban. Prohibition lasted from 1920 until it was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933,Speakeasies a saloon or nightclub that illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition; Flappers a mostly derogatory term used to describe women of the 1920s who behaved and dressed in a radical fashion; The Great Migration refers to the movement of 6 million African Americans from the South to urban areas of the Northeast, Midwest and WestThe Red Scare of 1919-1920; a nationwide fear of communists, socialists, anarchists, and other dissidents; prompted by a series of anarchists bombings; Palmer Raids part of the Red Scare; a series of government raids (1919-20) of suspected political radicals in 32 cities; National Origins Act of 1924 an act setting an immigrant quota; under this act, a nation’s immigrant migration could not exceed 2% of its population The Kellogg Briand Pact 1928 international agreement in which nation’s pledged not to use war to resolve “disputes or conflicts or whatever nature and whatever origin they may be”Hooverville a name given to the shantytowns of the 1920s. Hoover Flag was a term used to refer to one’s empty pockets“Happy Days are Here Again” FDR’s 1932 election slogan; FDR inspired confidence that the Great Depression would end and “America would be great again”The New Deal The name given to a series of government programs enacted by FDR; these programs provided work opportunities, banking reform, and other benefits; a Second New Deal was enacted to strengthen and expand the agencies for government assistance The Alphabet Agencies a term given to New Deal Agencies because they were known by their acronyms; The Tennesesee Valley Authority was the TVA, the Works Progress Administration was the WPA, etc.Social Security Act of 1935 a New Deal program which required employees to contributed taxes to pay for their guaranteed pension.Fireside Chats the name given to a series of radio broadcasts in which FDR reassured the American public about their fears during the trying times of The Great Depression and WWII.The Dust Bowl a series of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the agricultural industry and worsened the effects of the Great DepressionOkies and Arkies terms used describe migrant workers who had travelled to California from Oklahoma and Arkansas. ................
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