chapter 27

1. There are three different perspectives on the origins of the cold war. The first and most accepted view by historians is the Soviets desire for new territory and the ideology to spread communism forced the United states to take as hard line as possible. Revisionist argued that after being invaded during both World Wars it is is natural respose for the Soviets to want to protect their borders. The revisionist believe that the U.S. should have reassured the Soviets instead of intensifying their fears. The last view states that the tension between the two powers was inevitable. In all three of th view Harry Truman played a important role in intensifying the tensions between the two nations. The US-Soviet relation worsened with the mention of the atomic bomb at the Potsdam Conference. Truman intented to scare the Soviet by using the atomic bomb on Japan but it is unclear if the use of the atomic made the Soviets scared or more agressive.

2. The policy of Containment was first introduced when Greece was facing a conflict in which, communist led insurgent were trying to take over the government. If the communist led insurgents won in Greece then Turkey would also become vulnerable to commnuism. Turman saw Turkey to be critical to U.S. interests. Truman knew that the Congress would not be in favor of providing foreign aid to Turkey and Greece. Therefore, inorder to gain support, Truman overally dramatized the whole situation. In an overally dramatic speech Truman stated that the U.S. national security depended on the future on all countries, not only Greece and Turkey and that if the United States did not help these countries fight communism then totalitarian communism would spread around the world. As a result of this speech Congress passed Truman's request for $400 million in assistance to Greece and Turkey. The term initially appeared in an article written in a journal called Foreign Affairs which was written by George Kennan the State Department's leading expert on Soviet affairs. In the article Kennan stated that the main element in the U.S. foreign policy should be "long term contaiment of Russian expansive tendencies."

3. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan were part of the U.S. foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine stated that U.S. must aid countries who are resisting attempted subversion by armed minorities or by outside pressures or else totalitarian communism would spread around the world. With the Truman Doctrine, 400 million dollar in assistance was provided to Greece and Turkey. The Truman administration also feared that the economic turmoil that Europe was facing at the time made it vulnerable to communist movements. In order to strengthen the economy of Europe George Marshall proposed the Marshall plan, which would provide Europe with the necessary funds to design and carry out a broad program of postwar economic reconstruction. Under the Marshall Plan, the U.S. provided nearly 13 million dollars in assistance to 17 Western European nations. The Soviet's response to the U.S. containment policy was the Berlin Blockade. In June 1948, Soviets cut off all highways, railroads, and water routes linking West Berlin to West Germany. However, the soviet blockade of Berlin failed because America provided round the clock delivery of 2 million tons of supplies.

4. As a result of Truman containment policies it was an easy win for Harry Truman in the election of 1948. The other candidates were Henry A. Wallace nominated by Progressive party, Thomas E. Dewey a republican nominee, and Thomas Thurmond, candidate of the States' Rights policy. Many believed that Truman had zero chance of winning the presidency. Truman's opponent, Dewey was so confident of winning that he developed a very slow, energetic campaign and when he reached Kansas City, Dewey relaxed by booking a hotel suite that the president used whenever he was in town. On the other hand Truman conducted a very energetic campaign, denouncing Dewey and Henry Wallace. In the end, Truman aggressive campaign paid off because in November, Truman gained a solid majority in the electoral college even though he only 49.6% of popular vote. Truman was easily able to win the election of 1948 because of Franklin Roosevelt's achievements. It was the benefits of the New Deal programs that helped Harry Truman in the election. In addition, Truman attracted people with his anticommunist policies.

5. Concerns for internal security greatly affected work life and the entertainment industry. Concerns

Atomic Bomb DBQ

On August 6, 1945 a United States B-29 bomber dropped a massive atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima was not a military base, in fact most of the casualities caused by the bomb were civilian death. While the people of Japan were still trying to coprehend the devastating situation. The U.S. planned for another bombing mission. Three days later, the United States droper another bomb on Nagasake. Nearly half of Nagasaki had been destroyed from the bomb. Th reason for the U.S. 's decision to use the atomic bomb is controversial, but the decison was mainly adeplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union

Although many believed that the Atomic bomb was the key to completely ending the war with Japan but it was apparent to everyone that even without the bomb Japan was already on the verge of collapsing. Japan had already been weakened by many other air bombing. The United States "had hit some 60 Japanese cities with our regular Hight Explosive and incendiary bombs and, as a result of our raid, about 241,000 people had been killed, 313,000 wounded, and about 2,333,000 home destoryed."(Doc B) It is very clear from General H.H. Arnold's accounts about the Japaneses situation in World War 2, Japanese surrender was inevitable. Although, the bomb might have quickened the process, Japanese unconditional Surrender of the Japaneses was coming with or without the bomb. " Japan was essentially defeated and that we could win the war in another 6 months."(doc F)

At the time, President Truman and much of the United States government was less concerned about the Japanese surrender and more about Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. Russia at the time was superior in military weaponry and military tactics. Many of the United States leaders felt that the United should show its power and strength and sort of scare Russia. The opportunity to do this presented by using the Atomic Bomb. Up until than Russia had the new and better weaponry but the Atomic bomb was a very powerful weapon, therefore it was big accomplishment that the United States, " won the race of discovery" of the atomic bomb.(Doc h) Even though without the bomb the surrender of Japan was possible but the United States needed from the Souviet Union. The United States strategic plan for the of Japan would require 5,000,000 men, which would only be possible with the help of the Souviet Union.(Doc A) Truman was relcutant to seek help because the United States wanted to undermine the power of the Souviet Union not seek their help. As Winston Churchill states in the Potsdam Conference, " We should not need the Russians" if the atomic bomb could be used. Like many Dwight D. Eisenhower feared that " no power on earth could keep the Red Army out of the war unless victory came before they could get in." (Doc C) The only way to gain victory with out the aid of the Russians was by the using the Atomic bombs.

1920's DBQ

Although America experience a period of prosperity during the 1920's, it was also a period of conflict between the old traditional ways and the new ways. Essentially, a groups known as the fundamentalists completely disapproved of the new ways. Many of these fundamentalists were white protestant. The people who embraced these ways were the city dwellers. The cause for the social and economical differences during the 1920's was effec ts of World War I and these differences were manifested by the KKK, and new immigration laws.

New method of mass production developed during the war increased production, therefore decreased prices. Additionally, with new invention of credit allowed even the common Americans to buy new products. One of the greatest inventions of the 1920's was the Ford model T. The Model T gave more freedom to teenagers and allowed farm famillies to go on family outings and see the exciting life of the city. These new products and especially the Model T, became signs of wealth as Sinclair says, "The standard advertised wares...were his symbols and proof of excellence.."(doc A)

When the men were away fighting the World War, women took over jobs, which were previously held by men. Women gained a new sense of independence, as a resulf of World War I. From the 1920's the flapper women image formed. A flapper women was more social and wore shorter dresses and had shorter hair. The one group the was aganist this new found independence amoung women, were white protestants and the KKK. They believed that women should go back to being a homemaker. These groups were against almost all new ideas and inventions of the 1920's. Importantly, the KKK and the fundamentalists were aganist darwinism and allowing more new immigrants into America. As represent by the trial in Doc C, Fundamentalist believed that the bible should be accepted as it is given, but the intellecuts of the 1920's discredited the bible with ideas of Darwinism.

Chapter 25 Responses

1. It was not just one cause for the Great Depression but numerous causes which intensified the depression and made it much harder to recovery and repair from the depression. The decisions made by authorities backfired and sunk America deeper into the depression. During the 1920, even if they did not have enough money to buy a stock, many investors bought on 10% margin. The investors only put in 10% of the price of the stock and borrowed the rest from banks and brokers. During the 1920 the stock market was doing so well that investors expected to pay of the loans by selling their shares after the prices of gone up, but their plan failed when the Stock Market crashed. Creditor demanded for the loans to be payed but the investors could not which left them in serious debt. The situation of the debtors grew even worse because of the decisions of Federal Reserve Board and high Tariffs. Federal Reserve Board decreased the amount of money in circulation and increased interest rates. This change made it much harder for debtors to pay creditors thus plunging the economy deeper into depression. To add to the country's trouble's the Tariff Act of 1930 increased the tariff on agricultural goods and manufactured good to 40 percent. This high Tariff was supposed to eliminate competition and improve the American Industry but Foreign government responded by increasing their tariff, keeping out American goods. Overall the boom of the 1920 and bad decisions by the leaders of America led to the great Depression.

2. Herbert Hoover believed that to achieve the American Dream one has to work for it which is why, during the Great Depression, Hoover was against the Federal government providing relief to unemployed and homeless. Also, Hoover's method in helping the Depression didn't include that many Federal Agencies. The only Federal agencies mainly set up during Hoover's presidency are the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Home Loan Board. On the contrary, FDR established many agencies to help the depression. Hoover felt that if the federal government provided direct relief to the unemployed and homeless then they become lazy and dependent on federal money instead of working for the money and as result, they would the capacity for citizenship. Even though Hoover was against direct relief to the public, he was not against providing government assistance to failing banks and businesses. Roosevelt, on the other hand, created programs such as Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Civil Works administration to provide relief to the poor, provide jobs to young men planting trees to stop erosion or work in small-scale government projects. Hoover's and Roosevelt's views on federal activity could be explained by their background. Hoover worked hard in his studies and in his political career to develop and good reputation in the political world while FDR already had a reputation because of his cousin, Theodore Roosevelt. Before the 1920's, FDR had no political achievement and throughout his life FDR did not distinguish himself neither at school nor at law, like Hoover did.

3. Although there were many supporters of the New Deal, there were also critics of the New Deal programs. Critics pointed out the economic interest of the New Deal programs such as the AAA and the NRA. These critics felt that some programs were ignoring the ordinary people. Critics such as Huey Long, Father Charles Coughlin, and Francis E. Townsend that the New Deal Programs were run by banker and rich businessmen. These critics used the radio to denounce the New Deal programs and gain support for the support for their ideas of improving the economy. These attacks on the New Deal programs worsened the public's discontent with the programs and encourage rebellions. Workers staged strikes demanding that employers start following the provisions of the NRA codes, recognize their union and provide an increase in wages.

4. While the First New Deal dealt with providing relief to both the public and industries and banks, the Second New Deal mainly focused on limiting the power of the rich and increase security and welfare for the ordinary man. The First New Deal created programs to bail banks out, provide relief and job for the poor and unemployed and improve the environment. Also, FDR's theory of improving the economy over all changed. In the First New Deal, FDR limited the production but in the Second New Deal FDR's tried to increase consumer spending, by supporting unions, providing more social welfare and creating public works projects. The main of the Second New deal was to direct more money to ordinary Americans than to the needs of big businesses. One of the big pieces of legislation that provided financial security was the Social Security Act. This Act required states to set up welfare funds from which money would be distributed to the elderly poor, the unemployed, single mothers, and the disabled. The FERA from the First New Deal also provide relief but it more of a temporary federal organization, which did not always provide relief to women. The Social Security Act was more of a permanent welfare system and was a pension program. Another important program of the Second New Deal was NLRA like the NRA supported the worker's choose of joining a union and also required employer to recognize and bargain with the unions,but unlike the NRA, the NLRA actually succeeded.

5. During the Depression did not gain anymore independence than they already had. People still believed that a woman's proper place was at home. This view that women should stay inferior to male's intensified during Depression. During the Depression, men could not fulfill their responsibility in providing economic security for their families. Male employees who tended to work in blue collar industries had a higher unemployment rate than women who worked in white collar jobs. Therefore, during the depression women were mostly the breadwinners of the house.

6. Most minority groups met the requirements to receive the relief provided by the New Deal but the minorities which benefited the most are the Eastern and Southern European immigrants. Eastern and Southern European immigrants made up a big part of the urban population and the working-class. Therefore they were able to receive welfare, and unemployment relief provided by the New Deal programs. African Americans who lived in the northern cities and were part of union benefited from the New Deal programs, but most African Americans lived in the rural south as tenant farmers or sharecroppers under white Americans. In the rural south African Americans, were excluded from most New Deal programs or received unfair treatment. In addition, Roosevelt made no effort to decrease the racial discrimination. Roosevelt feared that if he supported African American minority than he would lose the support of the white south. Mexican American benefited the least from the New Deal programs. A great number of Mexican Americans were deported during the Depression. Americans believed that by deporting Mexican Americans, jobs would be available for white Americans. If Mexicans were unable to show any form of documentation of their citizenship than they were deported even if they lived in the United States for many generations. Even though the New Deal Programs helped some minority groups, the programs did not exclude racial discrimination.

Depression Era Journal

In the beginning of the depression we lived in Colorado but once the depression started we ended up living no where. In our family there was my father, my mother, my two younger brothers and I. Before the Dust bowl, the stock market crash and before any of the bad thing happened we were doing okay. Well, our crops weren't doing that good but our neighbors used to help us out. Every wee, all the farm families used to come together for church dinners, dances, playing board games and listening to the radio.

All the fun and games disappeared when the dryness, heat and grasshopper finally hit hard and all our crops were destroyed. We were left with no money or food. After a few month's all that was left of our farms was dry soil. Even when things were bad we always used to be a happy family but during the depression we never smiled or looked happy. The worst part was when we lost our farm because we couldn't pay the farm payment. For the first time my father collapsed right in front of us and cried. My father was always the backbone of our family and to see him fall to pieces like that made me realize how bad our situation really is. After that day our father wouldn't look straight into our eyes.

To add to our trouble there was the dust bowl. There was dust blowing everywhere. Some days you couldn't see anything but this big black cloud. By the end of the day you were covered in dust from head to toe. " We lived with the dust, eat with it and would sleep with it..." The worst of all dust storms occurred on April 14, 1935. We called it the Black Sunday. There was no sunlight and you couldn't see anything past two feet from you. There was black dust all around you.

So we had to leave Colorado because we had no home there anymore. We packed the few clothes and food we had and started walking towards the Golden State with the other families who also had no choice but to leave. By walking, riding the train and buses we finally arrived to California. We had heard so many stories about the land of “milk and honey.” There were even rumors that you could just each out and pluck food from the trees. In the movies that we saw, which were made in Hollywood, California, the people seemed so happy. Therefore everyone thought if they left their horrible lives here and move to California than they could have a nice life too. Also, there were lots of flyers from farmer promising as abundant amount of farm work in California.

Once we got to California, we found out that what we thought was all wrong. My family was expecting to work in a family farm, so after awhile we buy our own farm but we were told “land monopoly and agriculture on an industrial scale.” There fore, like the Mexican American already in California we became migrant farmers. We moved so often that we never really had a real home and the homes we lived weren't really a home. We lived in ditch camps set by farmers. These ditch camps had a "little cabin which one could throw a cat through the roof, and the stove was just about ready to fall down." These cabins were unsanitary and covered with water and mud. My two younger used always get sick from exposed to the water all the time. I hated the place, we all hated the place but we had nowhere else to go.

Our lives got better when FDR became president. One of his New Deal programs, the Farm Security Administration provided relief to migrant farmers like us. The program set up 12 new camps which were so much better than the ditch camps. We had hot showers, flush toilets, breakfast for children and excellent recreation facilities and a big hall for entertainment, and even had a library. With the start of the World War II the depression completely ended.

Bibliography:

Life during the Great Depression." All about History. All about History. org, 2002-2010.Web. 21 March 2010. http://www.allabouthistory.org/life-during-the-great-depression.htm.

Ganzel, Bill. "The Dust Bowl." Farming in the 1930's. Ganzel Groups, 2003. Web. 21 March 2010. http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_02.html.

C., Meredith. "Okie life in California." Migrant Okies in California. The Head-Royce School, Oakland, 25 May 2010. Web. 21 March 2010. .

thesis statement

During his presidency, FDR put much of the federal money for human relief and for public works projects which at the moment helped poverty-stricken Americans but his policies neglected businesses.

Chapter 24 DBQ responses

1. Many Americans in teh early 1920's were hostile towards immigrants and foreign ideas because American's that they were destroying the "Anglo-Saxon" race. American feared foreign political ideas such as communism because they believed that communism would take contro of the American government and destroy the "perfect" democrarcy which existed.

2. Both parents and Factory owner might the opposition to a prohibition on Child labor. The parents of the children might agrue that they need their children to work in order to increase their income and make some amount of savings. Factory owners might argue that children are a source of cheap labor.

3. Scientific theories of evolution caused great controversy because theories such as Darwinism went againist the idea of evolution explained in the bible. Darwinism "has not one syllable in the Bible to support it." ( Bryan) Many protestant whites believed that Darwinism was Atheism.(Hodge) They believed that by teaching Darwinsim, religion is being destroyed.