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Great Depression and World War II Study Deck
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1
Question
What was the significance of consumerism in the lead-up to the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
In the 1920s, Americans began buying more goods like cars, radios, and appliances on credit, which led to overproduction and economic instability when debts could not be repaid.
2
Question
How did overproduction contribute to the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
In the 1920s, factories and farms produced more goods than people could buy, leading to surpluses, falling prices, and widespread economic hardship.
3
Question
What role did unequal distribution of wealth play in causing the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
In the 1920s, a small percentage of the population held most of the wealth, leaving the majority with low wages unable to purchase goods, which reduced demand and deepened the economic crisis.
4
Question
How did stock market speculation lead to the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
In the late 1920s, people and banks invested heavily in the stock market on margin (borrowed money), creating a bubble that burst in the 1929 crash, wiping out savings and confidence.
5
Question
What was the impact of bank failures during the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
After the 1929 crash, banks failed as people rushed to withdraw money, leading to loss of savings, reduced lending, and a collapse in business activity that worsened unemployment.
6
Question
How did the weak economy of 1930 lead to further depression?
Page 1
Answer
In 1930, the economy weakened further with declining business, rising unemployment, and stock market instability, turning a recession into the full Great Depression.
7
Question
What caused the Dust Bowl and its relation to the Great Depression?
Page 1
Answer
Severe droughts and poor farming practices in the 1930s turned the Great Plains into the Dust Bowl, displacing farmers, destroying crops, and adding to national unemployment and poverty.
8
Question
How did Hoover's policies contribute to the Great Depression's severity?
Page 1
Answer
President Hoover believed in limited government intervention, relying on voluntary business and local aid, which failed to stem the crisis and led to public frustration and demands for change.
9
Question
What was the symbolism of the Bonus Army and its impact on Hoover?
Page 1
Answer
In 1932, WWI veterans marched on Washington demanding early bonus payments; Hoover's use of troops to disperse them symbolized government insensitivity, damaging his reputation.
10
Question
How did the Great Depression limit government action according to the study guide?
Page 1
Answer
The crisis exposed flaws in laissez-faire policies, leading people to demand more federal intervention to provide relief and restore economic stability.
11
Question
What was the outcome of the 1932 election for Franklin D. Roosevelt?
Page 2
Answer
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, defeating Herbert Hoover and promising a New Deal to combat the Great Depression.
12
Question
What was the purpose of the Emergency Banking Relief Act?
Page 2
Answer
The Emergency Banking Relief Act, passed days after FDR's inauguration, closed failing banks for inspection and reopened solvent ones to restore public confidence in the banking system.
13
Question
How did the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) help during the New Deal?
Page 2
Answer
The FDIC insured bank deposits up to $5,000, preventing future runs on banks and stabilizing the financial system for everyday Americans.
14
Question
What was the goal of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)?
Page 2
Answer
The AAA paid farmers to reduce production, raising crop prices to help them recover from the Depression while protecting against overproduction.
15
Question
Describe the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and its benefits.
Page 2
Answer
The CCC provided jobs for young unemployed men in conservation projects like planting trees and building parks, offering wages, skills, and relief during the Depression.
16
Question
What did the Public Works Administration (PWA) accomplish?
Page 2
Answer
The PWA funded large-scale public works projects like dams and bridges, creating jobs and modernizing infrastructure to stimulate the economy.
17
Question
How did the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) aid the New Deal?
Page 2
Answer
The TVA built dams and power plants in the Tennessee Valley, providing electricity, flood control, and jobs to one of the poorest regions.
18
Question
What was the purpose of the National Recovery Administration (NRA)?
Page 2
Answer
The NRA set industry codes for fair wages, prices, and hours to reduce competition, boost purchasing power, and promote economic recovery (later ruled unconstitutional).
19
Question
Explain the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
Page 2
Answer
FERA provided direct federal grants to states for unemployment relief, helping millions with food, shelter, and immediate aid during the crisis.
20
Question
What role did the Works Progress Administration (WPA) play in the New Deal?
Page 2
Answer
The WPA employed millions in public works, arts, and infrastructure projects, providing jobs and cultural contributions during the Depression.
21
Question
How did the Social Security Act address long-term relief?
Page 2
Answer
The Social Security Act established pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and aid for dependents, creating a safety net for future generations.
22
Question
What were the main causes of World War II in Europe according to the study guide?
Page 3
Answer
The main causes included the harsh Treaty of Versailles, economic depression, rise of dictators like Hitler and Mussolini, and aggressive expansion by fascist powers.
23
Question
How did appeasement contribute to the outbreak of WWII?
Page 3
Answer
Appeasement, led by Britain and France, allowed Hitler to annex Austria and Czechoslovakia without resistance, emboldening Nazi aggression toward Poland.
24
Question
What was the role of the Axis Powers in starting WWII?
Page 3
Answer
Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis, pursuing expansionist policies: Germany in Europe, Italy in Africa, and Japan in Asia, leading to global conflict.
25
Question
Describe the Lend-Lease Act and its significance for US involvement.
Page 3
Answer
The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to supply weapons and goods to Allies like Britain without direct payment, shifting from isolationism toward support.
26
Question
What event led to the US entry into WWII?
Page 3
Answer
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, destroyed much of the US Pacific fleet, prompting Congress to declare war the next day.
27
Question
How did the US respond to the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Page 3
Answer
The US declared war on Japan, and soon after, Germany and Italy declared war on the US, fully involving America in the global conflict.
28
Question
What was the significance of the Manhattan Project?
Page 3
Answer
The Manhattan Project developed the atomic bomb in secret, giving the Allies a decisive weapon that ended the war with Japan.
29
Question
How did the US mobilize its economy for WWII?
Page 3
Answer
The US shifted to wartime production, converting factories to make weapons, ships, and planes, while rationing resources to support the war effort.
30
Question
What was the role of selective service in WWII?
Page 3
Answer
The Selective Service registered men for the draft, building the US military from a small force to millions of soldiers needed for the global fight.