Kelsey B
Roaring Twenties Chapter 12 Assessment
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Terms and Names
1. Communism: an economic and political system based on oneproperty government and state ownership of property; ruled by a
dictator.
2. Sacco and Vanzetti: in May 1920, they were arrested and charged
with the robbery and murder of a factory paymaster and his guard
in South Braintree, Massachusetts.
3. Calvin Coolidge: after the Teapot Dome scandal (and Harding),
Coolidge was elected President; Coolidge was a respectable man
of integrity, who helped restore people’s faith in their government
and in the Republican Party.
4. John L. Lewis: in 1919, the United Mine Workers of American
(organized in 1890), got a new leader, John L. Lewis; Lewis helped
coal miners receive a raise.
5. Warren G. Harding: was elected President in 1921; 29th President
6. Fordney-McCumber Tariff: a set of regulations, enacted by
Congress in 1922, that raised taxes on imports to record levels in
order to protect American businesses against foreign competition.
7. Isolationism: opposition to political and economic entanglements
with other countries.
8. Quota system: a system that sets limits on how many immigrants
from various countries were admitted to come to America;
specifically European immigration.
9. Teapot Dome Scandal: Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall’s
secret leasing of oil-rich public land to private companies in return
for money and land.
10. Installment Plan: an arrangement in which a purchaser pays over
an extended time, without have to put down much money at the
time of purchase.
Main Ideas
1. Explain how the Red Scare, the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and the
rise of the Ku Klux Klan reflected concerns held by many
Americans.
 Many Americans became afraid for the future of the United
States; they worried that the nation would turn to
communism and racial prejudice Nativism led to fear of
immigrants and forigners.
2. Describe the primary goal of the immigration quota system
established in 1921.
 The primary goal of the immigration quota system was to
limit the number of immigrants (from each country) were
admitted to the US; specifically the European immigrants.
3. What did Harding want to do to return America to “normalcy”?
Kelsey B
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Harding wanted to return America to the days similar to
those before the Progressive Era and the Great War;
(Harding supported big businesses and monopolies).
4. Summarize the Teapot Dome Scandal.
 The government had set aside oil-rich public lands for use by
the U.S. Navy. Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall,
managed to get the oil reserves from the Navy to the Interior
Department. Then, Fall secretly leased the land to two
private oil companies.
5. How did changes in technology in the 1920s influence American
life?
 Launched gasoline stations, repair shops, public garages,
motels, tourist camps, and shopping centers.
 More traveling for vacations, shopping, entertainment.
 Transportation by airplanes.
 Standards of living increases (people spent money on
household items such as washing machines, vacuum
cleaners, and electrical sewing machines).
6. What evidence suggests that the prosperity of the 1920s was not
on a firm foundation?
 The Great Depression followed soon after.
 The installment plan: enabled people to buy goods over an
extended period, without having to put down much money at
the time of purchase; lead to superficial prosperity.
 Stocks soared.
Critical Thinking
1. Create a cause and effect web, similar to the one shown, in which
you give several causes for the declining power of labor unions in
the 1920s and give examples of the unions’ decline.
Causes:
- Much of the work force consisted of
immigrants willing to work in poor conditions.
- Since immigrants spoke a multitude of
languages,
- Unions seen as communist organizations and
unpatriotic. Industrial Workers of the World
(Wobblies)
- Violent Strikes public opinion turns on unions
Effects:
- Declining Power of Labor Unions
Examples:
Kelsey B
2. Calvin Coolidge said, “After all, the chief business of the American
people is business.” What events and trends of the 1920s support
Coolidge’s statement?
 Lowering of income tax on rich. Tariffs on the Brittan and
France raised to 60% not allowing them to repay their war
debt to us. .Support for business will drive the US economy
3. Look at the path of Route 66 in the map on page 423. What factors
may have influenced where and why the highway was built?
Explain your answer.
 Major cities. Important direct routes out west.
Visual Summary: Politics of the Roaring 20s
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Life in Postwar America
o Economic
 A superficial prosperity ensued
 Increased production of consumer goods
 Buying on credit
 Increased standard of living and consumer spending
o Societal/ Social
 A perceived threat of communism
 Fear and distrust of immigrants
 Fear of the labor movement and faith in business
 Strikes and worker unrest
o Governmental
 Election of pro-business presidents Harding and Coolidge
 Isolationist philosophy
 Immigration quotas
 Tariffs on imports to discourage foreign business competition
 Corruption in Harding’s administration
o Technology/ Industry
 Growth of automobile industry
 Introduction of airlines as transportation
 Widespread use of electricity
 Advertising gains popularity