1. What campaign issues led to Herbert Hoover's election to the presidency?
A: Prohibition, religious values, and economic prosperity led to Herbert Hoover's election to the presidency.
2. What was the stock market like in the in the 1920s?
A: In the 1920s, the stock market was considered a bull market. Americans heavily invested in it, in hopes they would make a fortune overnight.
3. How did the bank failures contribute to the Great Depression?
A: Bank failures triggered a crisis of confidence in the banking systems, leading Americans to make runs on the nation's banks. This caused the banks to collapse.
4. What chain of events turned the once-fertile Great Plains into the Dust Bowl?
A: Since the beginning of homesteading on the Great Plains, farmers had gambled with nature. Their plows had uprooted the wild grasses that held soil's moisture. The new settlers then blanketed the reigion with wheat fields. When crop prices dropped in the 1920s, however, Midwestern farmers left many of their fields uncultivated. Then, beginning in 1932, a terrible drought struck the Great Plains. With neither grass or wheat to hold the scant rainfall, the soil dried to dust. From the Dakotas to Texas, America's pastures and wheat fields became a vast "Dust Bowl."
5. How did the artists, photographers, and writers, such as John Steinbeck, reflect the characteristics of the 1930s?
A: Artists, photographers, and writers, such as John Steinbeck, reflected the characteristsics of the 1930s by depicting the harsh and emotional times in their works.
6. Why did Hoover oppose deficit spending?
A: Hoover oppposed deficit spending because he feared it would dely an economic recovery.
These are all good answers. You might want to expand a little on the bank failures and what the results were.
7. What was the purpose of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) during the Great Depression?
A: The purpose of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) was to provide financial aid to struggling banks, railroads, and other businesses during the Great Depression. It aimed to stabilize the economy and promote recovery by offering loans and support to these industries.
8. What was the impact of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff on the economy during the Great Depression?
A: The Hawley-Smoot Tariff was a protective tariff signed into law in 1930, which significantly raised import duties on foreign goods. Despite its intention to protect American businesses and farmers, it ended up worsening the Great Depression. The tariff sparked retaliatory measures from other countries, reducing American exports and exacerbating the already declining global trade. This led to increased unemployment and economic hardships in the United States.
9. How did President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal aim to combat the effects of the Great Depression?
A: President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal aimed to combat the effects of the Great Depression through various economic and social programs. It included measures such as creating government agencies to provide relief for the unemployed and support for farmers, implementing financial reforms, and promoting infrastructure development through public works projects. The New Deal also sought to stimulate the economy through increased government spending and regulations to prevent future economic crises.
10. What were the major criticisms of the New Deal?
A: The major criticisms of the New Deal included arguments that it gave too much power to the federal government, that some of its programs were inefficient or wasteful, and that it did not do enough to address long-term unemployment and poverty. Critics also argued that the New Deal undermined free market principles and created dependency on government assistance.
11. How did the Social Security Act of 1935 impact American society?
A: The Social Security Act of 1935 had a significant impact on American society by establishing a system of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. It provided a safety net for elderly and unemployed individuals, helping to alleviate poverty and provide some measure of financial security. The Social Security Act remains a key component of the American social welfare system to this day.
To find out the campaign issues that led to Herbert Hoover's election to the presidency, you can research historical records, campaign speeches, and news articles from that time period. These sources will provide information on the main issues that were prominent during Hoover's campaign, such as Prohibition, religious values, and economic prosperity. Additionally, studying Hoover's campaign strategies and speeches will help you understand how he presented himself to voters and the messages he emphasized.
To understand the stock market in the 1920s, you can refer to historical data, books, and articles on that era. These sources will provide insights into the state of the stock market during the 1920s, including the general sentiment, investment trends, and factors that influenced the market. Understanding economic and financial concepts such as bull markets and investor behavior will also provide a comprehensive understanding of the stock market during that time period.
To learn about the contribution of bank failures to the Great Depression, you can research historical records, economic studies, and scholarly articles on that topic. These sources will explain how bank failures during the 1930s created a crisis of confidence in the banking system, leading to widespread panic and bank runs. Understanding the causes and consequences of bank failures, as well as the government's response to the banking crisis, will provide a comprehensive understanding of their role in the Great Depression.
To understand the chain of events that turned the Great Plains into the Dust Bowl, you can study historical records, scientific research, and firsthand accounts from that time period. These sources will explain how overfarming and poor land management practices, combined with a severe drought, led to the erosion of topsoil and the creation of vast dust storms. Understanding the agricultural practices, environmental conditions, and economic factors involved will help you grasp the complexity of the Dust Bowl phenomenon.
To explore how artists, photographers, and writers reflected the characteristics of the 1930s, such as John Steinbeck, you can review their works, biographies, and interviews. Analyzing their artistic choices, themes, and storytelling techniques will provide insights into the social, economic, and political atmosphere of the 1930s. Understanding the historical context and the artists' intentions will help you appreciate how they depicted the harsh realities of the time.
To discover why Hoover opposed deficit spending, you can study his speeches, writings, and interviews. Understanding Hoover's economic beliefs, policy preferences, and political ideology will shed light on his opposition to deficit spending. Analyzing his views on government intervention, fiscal responsibility, and free market principles will provide a comprehensive understanding of his stance on this issue.