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.

Chapter 24 Responses

1. After the First World War America experienced a period of prosperity in the 1920's. Prosperity played a key role is changing American lifestyle in the 1920's. Before the war America goods were mostly capital goods such as factory machinery and railroad tracks which of little benefit for household lifestyle. Postwar economic growth mainly rested on consumer goods such as washing machines, refrigerators, radios and vacuum cleaners. These new innovations made household chores much easier. The life during the 1920's was much less structured and work oriented. It was instead more about leisurely activities. With the invention of the Model-T and asphalts roads, Urban Americans now had access to rural areas for day-long jaunts. Also as mobility increased families were able to go to movies, amusement parks, and sporting event at any time and more teenagers started to move away from their families more. In order to attract American the new products professional advertising firms developed. The advertisements of the 1920's were mostly aimed at the new rising middle class. Even though these new innovations made American lifestyle easier, a big percentage of working-class families couldn't buy these products. To make it possible for working-class families to partake in new American market place consumer credits were introduced. Consumer credit allowed consumer to purchase any expensive items by making down payment and paying the rest in installments.

2. Women were seeking to establish a new identity for themselves in the 1920's and break the informal rules that ruled woman's lives. They started to wear shorter skirts, wear red lipstick and be more self reliant. Women in the workforce were segregated. Women received much lower wages than men for the same job. Women were also confined to only lower level ranks of jobs. Women of the 1920's were uninterested in political reform. Many women gave up on political reformed and focused on gaining equality and freedom just in society.

3. American Business and Government were more closely related in the 1920's than ever before. The president of the time were very probusiness. American businessmen regained their status as leaders which they had before the Progressived Era. The Republican presidents of the 1920's commited to minimal goverment and probusiness economics. Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge's campaign of back to "normalcy," which had little interest in regulation gained great support from the American public.

4. Calvin Coolidge believed in laissez-faire bussiness while Hoover believed in associationalism. Laissez-Faire is a bussiness philosophy which states that the government should not control trade or any business affairs. Laissez-faire stated that the only way the economy would prosper is if the Government did not involve. During his presidency, Coolidge put great focus on reducing the Government control on the economy. Coolidge passed the Revenuc Act of 1926, which greatly reduced the high income and estate taxes that were passed during the first World War 1. He also reduced the power of the Federal Trade Commission to regulate businesses. On the other hand, Herbert Hoover, the Secretary of Commerce during Coolidge's president believed that instead of controlling the enconomy, the government should help businesses form coroporations. Hoover believed that both the bussiness owners and the workers should form a trade association where they could discuss the problem of production and distribution, and then find ways to increase efficiency and profit. These ideas of Laissez-Faire and associationalism took over the debate on Foreign policy.

5.During the 1920's, America's economic rested more on metropolis than on rural farmers. Also, the 1920's census showed that more American lived in Urban areas than in rural areas. This change to a more urban life raised fear in the rural white Americans. They feared that the urban lifestyle of amusement parks, departmental stores, movies, cabarets, flashy fashion and open sexuality would destroy what a "true" American really was. The rural white American's tried to protect their way of life by supporting Prohibition, the KKK, immigration restrictions, and religious fundamentalism.
The prohibition movement resulted in the 18th amendment which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol but the 18th amendment did not prevent the consumption of alcohol, instead it encourage law-breaking and illegal consumption of alcohol. Transporting and selling alcohol became a underground profitable business and mobsters such as Al Capone became rich by liquor trafficking. This rebellion even more encouraged Protestants to rid the country of Alcohol and they saw Catholic and Jew as the reason for the rebellion.
The Ku Klux Klan was reestablished in 1915 by William Simmons and the KKK’s hatred against foreign races expanded to include Jew and Catholics. The KKK believed that Jews and Catholics should be completely removed from the American population and restore purity to "Anglo-Saxon" race. The Klan's nativist ideas attracted many people. By 1924 almost 4 million American were part of the Klan.The nativist ideas of the Klan led to Johnson-Reed Restriction Act of 1924 , limiting the entry. In the 1920’s American’s didn’t see the need of allowing more immigrants into America. Unskilled workers were not needed to work in factories anymore and American felt that is was hard to Americanize the new immigrants. Although Americans did not exclude all immigrants. American considered the British, German, and Scandinavians racially superior. Therefore the Johnson-Reed Act denied entrance to Italians, Greeks, Poles, Slavs, Japanese, Chinese and eastern European Jews but allowed the superior races. Lastly, Protestant Fudamentalists were the most enduring in protesting the urban lifestyle.

6. Even though America was experiencing a period of prosperity there was a revival of a more stronger racist feelings towards Catholics, Jews and still African Americans. Catholic, Jews and African American were the target of the Klans hatred. Many Protestant Americans believed that Catholics and Jews were destroying the pure "Anglo-Saxon" race. In addition, to the revival of racism Fundamentalists started to favor religious bigotry. Fundamentalists believed that the Bible was the " fundamental truth" and should be followed word for word. They rejected the scientific theories of evolution which disapproved the Bible's theory on evolution.

7. Of the many ethnic groups present in the United states during the 1920's, the African American population was still the minority that was the least accepted was the Black population. During the 1920's millions of blacks moved to north. As the black population in the North increased, small black communities and cities formed but even with these communities African Americans had to face racial discrimination. African Americans could only find work which were least desired and the lowest-paying. They also only could find houses in poor conditions with very high rents. Although there were still racial division in the work place, during the 1920's the Black culture was vigorous,productive. African Americans brought their distinct musical, artistic, and literary talent to the north. Mexican American immigrants became the source of cheap labor in the United States during the 1920's. Mostly Mexican American worked on railroads, agriculture, and manufacturing but some also worked in steel, auto, and meatpacking industries. Like African Americans worked long hours for little wages. Unlike African Americans, the Mexican Immigrants did not settle in one place and create communities. Mostly, Mexican farmers only worked for several days at a farm and depended on the farm owner for shelter.

Treaty of Versailles DBQ

By 1918, both the Allies and the central powers knew the had to end the war. Therefore, at 5:00am on November 11, 1918 an armistice was signed. The recuperation process of the was was to be decided by the Treaty of Versailles but it faced great opposition from the U.S. senate. The U.S. senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles because it established the league of nations and Wilson refused to compromise of the League. Although there was a great opposition from both, liberal and conservatives. It was Wilson's stubbornness to compromise that led to the defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.
William Borah in his speech to the U.S. senate questioned President Wilson, " will anyone advocate that those matters which are of vital importance to our people shall be submitted to a tribunal created other than by our own people and give it an international army subject to its direction and control to enforce its decrees?"(Doc A) Borah predicted correctly, the Republican senate Refuse to ratify the Treaty of Versaille because it established the power to make U.S. foreign affairs decision on the League of Nations. Other reasons Republican refused to ratify the treaty because it didn't guarantee any of the goals that the Americans claimed as the reasons to joining the war. America's war aims were to free the European people of imperial powers but the "Treaty of Versailles doesn't even try to satisfy these aspirations."(doc B) " Liberals all over the world hoped that a war...would end in a peace which would moralize nationalism by releasing it from class bondage and exclusive ambitions.
Eventhough there was great opposition , if Wilson had compromised the Treaty would have been accepted. Wilson would not compromise even if some of his closest advisers told him . Herbert Hoover, in a letter to Wilson suggested that some how the treaty had to go into effect. Hoover explained that" the delay have already seriously imperiled the economic recuperation of Europe."(Doc D) Wilson supported the treaty and the League of Nations by stating to the public that America is the " light of the world created to lead the world in the assertion of the rights of free nations... this light the opponents of the league would quench."
As a result of the Wilson's stubborness, the U.S. senate failed to ratify the Treaty and join the League of Nations. Both Wilson and the Republican failed to see the " need for continued effort to bring about an adequate internal organization." Since they failed to see this America has alienated itself from foreign affairs.

Chapter 23 DBQ

1. America claims that the reason for them to join the World war 1 was to bring the war to an end and "to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power." (President Wilson, 1917)

2. Wilson in his war message stated that America should fight for " democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own government, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free people's as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free." Wilson's war goals were very unrealistic and overly moralistic. He expected a world of peace and democracy which impossible when other nations didn't have these intentions. Wilson's goals never were achieved because the Treaty of Versailles excluded these ideals. Wilson's ideas had no economic benefit to other countries, so they were uninterested.

3. I believe that both moral ideals and national interests should guide American diplomacy. There should be a balance between moral ideal and national interest because not every country would choose the same moral ideals as America, therefore the difference in moral ideals could alienate America but national interests shouldn't completely control foreign policy either. Moral ideal should be included to gain public support and to remind ourselves of our morals.

4. During and after the war Americans feared about being overthrown by foreign countries and being ruled by communism. To avoid this, Americans started to force immigrants to fully become Americanized and pledge to be loyal to America. As punishment for being disloyal American believed they " should be disfranchised and interned."

Chapter 23 Responses

1. World War I was initiated with the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne. Austria-Hungary blamed this death on Serbia and declared war on Serbia on July 28. Due to a treaty with Serbia Russia was compelled to come and rescue Serbia. In response to Russia's involvement into the war, Germany was obligated to protect Austria-Hungary from Russian attack because of the Triple Alliance, which required Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy to come to each other's aid if attacked. However, Germany instead of attacking Russia, the Russian troops struck France, Russia western ally. This military tactic involved France and Britain because of the Triple Entente, which obligated Britain, France and Russia to come to each other's aid if attacked. Finally, Europe was in all out war.

2. Even though the United States claimed to be neutral, but most American sided with Great Britain because of the strong ties between the two nations. America was linked to Britain economically, politically, and culturally. America shared the English language, a common ancestry and a commitment to liberty with Britain while Germany was still a very foreign country to many Americans. Germany was very different American traditions. Germany's monarchical rule and militarist views were very different from the Democratic traditions of the U.S. which lead Americans to judge Germany harshly. America was tied economically to Britain because much of the American products were exported to Britain. Also, the number of exports increased during the WWI. During the WWI $800 million worth of American goods were exported to Britain. In addition, members in creating the U.S. foreign policy were pro-British such as Colonel Edward M. House and Robert Lansing.

3. At the beginning of the WWI Wilson stated that is was "European" war which America should not be involved. Therefore, Wilson stated that America would remain normal relations with both sides. Even though, Wilson proclaimed American neutrality it was hard to remain neutral. American neutrality was initially threatened by British blockade of German ports because it impacted American trade with Germany, thus involving America in the war. Wilson's administration did try to protest the search and seizure of American merchant ship, but failed. Other incidents that threatened American neutrality such as the sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex. A German U-boat torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship because it was allegedly carrying a large store of munitions to Great Britain. In the explosion 128 American citizens were killed. This incident increased the hatred towards Germans and more and more americans were starting to favor British. In response to the attack, Wilson demanded that Germany pledge never to launch another attack on the citizens of neutral nations but again in 1916 the Germans attacked the French passenger liner, Sussex. As more incidents were pulling America into the war Wilson was trying harder and harder to keep peace through a peace movement but on April 6, 1917, America inevitably entered the war.

4. World War I was the first "total" war which required the United States to invest all of its resources into the war. In order to bring the war to an end, United States had to devote its agricultural, transportation, industrial and population resources to the war effort. In order to finance and mobilize the war Wilson created centralized federal agencies to supervise nationwide activity. Some of the Agencies were the Food Administration, U.S. Railroad administration, Aircraft production Board and Emergency Fleet corporation, and the War Industries Board. The agencies were successful but also failed at certain jobs.. The Food Administration and the Railroad Administration created a more efficient way to distribute supplies to Europe but the Aircraft Production Board and Emergency Fleet Corporation failed at supplying the allies with combat aircraft and merchant vessels on time. Another weak side to these agencies is they were unorganized. For example the WIB lacked a stable authority therefore unable to implement their plans.

5. Initially, Americans were not in favor of American intervention into the War, to populrize the war effort Wilson created the Committee on Public Information. This Committee, led by George Creel, a progressivist and a muckraker, consisted of professional propagandist that explained the U.S. war aims to arouse public support for the war. The CPI distributed 75 millions of pamphlets and "Four minute Men" very concise, uplifting war speeches to large groups of people. As a result of the propagandist's efforts to spread the word about the war, a nationalist feeling began to spark in Americans. Workers, women, immigrants, and African Americans questioned that the democratic ideal America is fighting for abroad should first be established at home. CPI's efforts led American's to believe that the Progressives work would come to a conclusion with end of the war. Women believed that their fight for woman's suffrage would become successful, African Americans dreamed that the war would produce them second class citizenship and immigrants were hoping to increase their chances for success in the United States after the war has ended. In addition, to the nationalist feeling there was a rising hatred towards Germans. The CPI started to demand that all immigrants become 100 percent Americanized and reject their native language and native customs.

6. The Republicans played a crucial role in the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. In order for the Treaty to be ratified by the League of Nation, the Treaty first had to be ratified by the U.S. senate. The senate was dominated by the Republican who strongly opposed the Treaty. The Republicans were split into two group, who both opposed the Treaty but just for different reasons. The members of the first group were primarily mid-westerners and westerners who were strong conservationist and isolationist, who believed that America should remain a separate nation from the European countries. The second group was led by Henry Cabot Lodge, which rejected Wilson's theory that every group of people regardless of their size, political power or economic condition, had the right to form their own nation and have a say in foreign affairs. Instead of Wilson's theory, Logde's group believed that only a few powerful, militarily strong country should control foreign affairs. Other issues that the Republicans raised about the treaty was that if it was constitutionally accurate to give the League the authority to take military decisions when this power was strictly given to the Congress. Regardless of the Republican opposition, the treaty was ratified with the required 2/3 majority.

7. The "Red Scare" was the fear that American government is going to be overthrown by Socialists, communists and anarchists. As a result of this scare Americans started on a campaign of repression. Radical and communist American were losing their jobs, killed and assaulted. Immigrants were forced to become a 100 percent Americanized.

8.

It has been six months since i was drafted into the military and tomorrow i will be going to Europe to face the war. I am a tab bit scared because i have heard the horrible stories of the trench warfare. I have heard that more people have died because of the diseases caused by the trenches than gun wounds. I have been chosen to be a trench runner. So, from tomorrow onwards i will be sending messages from one command unit to another. My higher authority has told me that I'm a trench runner because of my speed and excellent map reading. I guess i should be happy for that but scared because I'm going to be moving target until this war ends. This war is much different than the stories i have heard about the civil war from my father. Now there were machine guns, aircraft and submarines. These new technologies now cause more fatalities than before. Today I'm just a 19 year old guy without much responsibility but tomorrow i'll be a trench runner that the Allies depend on.