Name: _____________________________________ Block: __________ Date: _________ 1920’s
1. Scopes Trial: a battle of Christian values was waged over the teaching of the Theory of Evolution in schools- the
modern media made this case a national event – Science vs. Religion
2. Prohibition: continuing the battle over moral values, the 18th Amendment banned the sale and consumption of
alcoholic beverages- the law became unenforceable – organized crime, smuggling and bootlegging grew- the 21st
Amendment repealed the failed experiment
3. Red Scare: a reaction to the Communist victory in the Russian Revolution of 1917- various conflicts, including
labor strikes, urban riots, and unsolved bombings led to a national hysteria against foreign born persons, and a
mistrust of communism in general
4. Sacco and Vanzetti: tied to the Red Scare – these men were convicted of a murder from a bank robbery- many
believe they were unfairly convicted because of their personal beliefs and Italian heritage – the evidence against
them was weak in the case – they were executed
5. Harlem Renaissance: A growth in popularity of African-American writers, musicians, and artists - centered in
the Harlem district of New York City
6. W.E.B. DuBois: American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author and editor who cofounders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
7. Langston Hughes: was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist
8. Zora Neal Hurston: American folklorist, anthropologist, and author best known for her 1937 novel Their Eyes
Were Watching God.
9. Jazz music: - A blend of African, European, and American sounds- began in New Orleans – then up to Chicago –
the over to New York- the 1920’s became known as the “Jazz Age”
10. Mass consumption: large quantities of manufactured goods were available in the 1920’s- assembly line
production made goods cheaper and more available
11. Bull Market: rising business optimism led to a rise in investment activity in the stock market as well
12. Farmer’s plight: small farmers did not prosper like the rest of the American workers – earned 1/3 less than
others
13. The Great Depression: was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II
(1930’s)
14. Causes of the Great Depression: 1) An overall weak American economy 2) Weak corporate and banking
structures 3) Poor government policies 4) Weak world economy
15. Characteristics of the Great Depression: -1. low production 2. high unemployment 3. low prices 4. bank
failures 5. low morale 6. family issues
16. Hoover’s Response: Rugged Individualism/Charity: - Much of Hoover’s personal beliefs influenced how he
handled the problems of the depression. - He believed that individuals should work hard and pull themselves up
and not depend on government relief – and the Puritan work-ethic: hard work brought its own rewards- He
believed volunteer agencies should help those in need instead of the government
17. “trickle down” theory: are terms in United States politics to refer to the idea that tax breaks or other economic
benefits provided by government to businesses and the wealthy will benefit poorer members of society by
improving the economy as a whole.
18. Hoovervilles: - name given to the make-shift shanty communities built by homeless people in city parks – they
became a symbol of the depression.
19. The New Deal: name given to the new ideas Roosevelt had to help end the problems of the Depression- during
the Roosevelt administration’s first weeks, Congress passed 15 major acts of legislation
20. Bonus Army March: was the popular name of an assemblage of some 43,000 marchers—17,000 World War I
veterans, their families, and affiliated groups—who gathered in Washington, D.C., in the spring and summer of
1932 to demand early cash-payment redemption of their service certificates
21. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: the 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945) and a central figure in world
events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression
and total war.
22. The three “R’s” of the New Deal: Relief for people that were suffering, Recovery for the economy, Reform to
avoid future depressions
23. Impact of the New Deal: 1. power of the President expanded 2. system reform to prevent future economic
break downs 3. strengthened the FED(Federal Reserve System) 4. securities and banking regulated 5. size of the
Federal Government grew 6. Democrats in power
24. Court Packing: much of the New Deal legislation was struck down by the Supreme Court. Roosevelt tried to
change the balance of the court by adding more judges (ones he would choose) in order to get more laws passed
the court. It never happened and faced sharp criticism as a threat to separation of powers.
25. 22nd Amendment: After Roosevelt’s presidency, including a 4th term of office, Congress passed the 22nd
Amendment, limiting a President to two terms of office.