DQ: 31.

How and why did America turn toward domestic isolation and social conservatism in the 1920s?

I. Thesis: Following World War I, America turned toward domestic isolation and social
conservatism as a means of combating “communism in America” suggested through
the Red Scare.

II. The events succeeding World War I led Americans to suspect a growth in communist
ideals coming from its peoples.
A. World War I aroused a tremendous amount of patriotism from the American citizens.
a. Those who were enlisted in the army and went overseas to fight in the war,
were looked upon as heroes.
b. Those who were unable to actively fight in the war, supported soldiers
overseas by working in factories to produce weaponry and other goods.
i. Many jobs were created solely for the purpose of support for the war.
B. After the war, many people lost their jobs.
a. Since many jobs were created for the purpose of supporting the war, many
companies went out of business as there products were no longer needed.
b. Additionally, several workers were released from work so as to avoid surplus
production.
c. The 4,000,000 returning home from overseas were left jobless as well.
C. Labor unions increased dramatically as Americans began to protest their loss of
available jobs.
a. Notably, the International Workers of the World proved to be a large group.
D. After experiencing the conditions of people in other countries through the war,
Americans began to fear the rise of communist ideals that could arise due to the
number of unemployed throughout the nation.

III. America began to isolate itself and denounce radicalism in an attempt to cleanse the
nation of communism.
A. Due to the number of people without jobs, Americans felt that
the immigration of more people into the country would only add
to the problem.
1. Immigrants provided cheap labor which would ultimately result in
them taking jobs from “nativists.”
2. The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 restricted European flow into
America.
3. The Immigration Act of 1924 reduced the flow of immigrants even
more and completely shut the door to those of Japanese descent.
B. Those who radically protested their labor strife were labeled as
communists and punished.
1. In December of 1919, 249 alleged alien radicals were deported on the
Buford.
2. The Red Scare restricted free speech since many feared that too
radical an idea would suggest communist belief.
 3. Some states made it illegal to merely advocate the violent overthrow of
government for social change.
4. In 1921, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomew Vanzetti were convicted of
murder but their judges were prejudiced against them because they
were foreign.
C. Ultimately, Americans looked down upon foreigners because of
their willingness work for low wages as well as their ties to
European Communist nations.

IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 31.2

Question: How and why did African Americans in the Harlem Renaissance and elsewhere begin
celebrating racial pride and the New Negro in the 1920s? Was Marcus Garvey’s movement to
encourage black migration to Africa an expression of that same spirit or a reflection of the still-
harsh oppression that most blacks experienced?

I. Thesis: Although the New Negro Movement was characterized by racial pride and an
uplift in culture that sought a new lifestyle for African Americans, they were still
faced with whites unwilling to accept them in a higher social class.

II. The Harlem Renaissance provided African Americans pride and newly inspired hopes
of having a better lifestyle by moving North.
a. Also known as the New Negro Movement
b. Blossoming of African American intellectual life
c. Characterized by racial pride
i. Through the idea of the New Negro
ii. Intellect in literature, art, and music would challenge racism
1. music: jazz was introduced
2. became very popular during the time
iii. Also, by moving North to seek better employment and be able to earn a
living
1. eventually the goal being to move up into the middle class
d. African Americans had this idea of becoming a New Negro, thus creating a better
lifestyle for themselves
i. However, they still faced oppression

III. Marcus Garvey’s movement for black migration to Africa represented the oppression
that African Americans still faced, despite their newly acquired hopes and pride.
a. Marcus Garvey started the back to Africa movement which proved to be a sign
that African American suffering was beginning to be too much
b. Despite the hopes of the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans were still being
faced with racism
i. Hopes of joining the middle class weren’t going to happen for a long time
because whites weren’t willing to accept them
ii. They weren’t welcomed in the North either
1. Whites weren’t use to so many free blacks
iii. Riots occurred and many were killed and injured
c. They couldn’t seem to escape the segregation and discrimination
i. Groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were formed that hated against them
ii. Going back to where they came from seemed like the easiest answer
d. Although it seemed like an act of surrender, the Harlem Renaissance still revived
something that did have more of an impact, which was hope
 i. This same hope would be the fuel that would influence African Americans
to fight for their rights during the Civil Rights Movement

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ 31.3

Question: In what ways were the twenties a social and cultural reaction against the progressive
idealism that held sway before and during World War I? (See Chapters 29-31)

I. Thesis: The 1920’s was a time period that broke away from progressive movements such
as reforms and also started the molding of what is known as the American culture.

II. Although reform acts were supported by majority of the common people during the
Progressive Era, it lacked support when it started meddling into the common people’s
lives too much
a. Prohibition acts
i. Eighteenth amendment
1. Prohibited the drinking, making, and selling of alcohol
2. Majority of the people were hostile to it
ii. Changed lifestyles of the foreign-born people
1. Their social lives were built upon drinking in beer houses
iii. Caused rebellion against governmental law
1. Speakeasies
a. Places that sold illegal liquor
2. Bootleg alcohol was produced by the youth of the jazz age
b. Gangsterism
i. Spawned by Prohibition
ii. Crime and corruption increased
1. Rival gangs from different cities started violet riots
2. Distribution of illegal alcohol
a. Policemen were bribed off with money to not speak of any
illegal acts

III. The Roaring Twenties brought new forms of entertainment and critical events which will
test American society and mold its identity to have the true “American identity.”
a. New forms of entertainment helped unite America together through general
societal ideas
i. Radio
1. In the beginning, it was only able to reach out to local listeners, but
eventually spread to regional broadcasting
2. Tied the nation together
a. Different people from across the nation are able to listen in
on the same news, shows, and politicians with people from
across far away cities
ii. Movies
1. Motion picture films attracted everyone in the country
2. Movie stars united the way citizens thought the nation was
 a. People from across the nation seeing the same film would
think that the film is the general idea of the whole nation,
thus tying America together
b. Advertisement created an economic and societal impact on America
i. Innovative strategy to promote companies and products and lure the
attention of its targets
1. Main target: middle class families and workers
2. Pictures, radio broadcasting
ii. Made an influence on targeted audience
1. Women were mostly used in advertisements to attract other women
to buy household products
a. Henry Ford also used women for car advertisements to
reach out to the mass market
2. United America’s thoughts of the nation
a. Audiences believed that advertisements were shown nation-
wide, so the whole nation would be tied together with the
same interests and products

IV. Conclusion
 Corvin Macapinlac
DQ: 32.1

What were the effects of America’s international economic and political isolationism in the
1920s?

I. Thesis: America’s international economic and political isolationism in the 1920’s

eventually brought about the largest economic slump in the nation’s history- the Great
Depression.

II. America turned toward isolationism following the war to avoid the hassles of foreign
affairs.
A. Prior to the war, America wanted to keep from getting involved in the
war and its complications.
1. When America entered into the war, it entered as a last resort in
order to stop Germany from further aggravating the American
people.
B. After the war, America did not want to associate itself with the League
of Nations despite declaring that it wanted to help promote peace.
1. America viewed the League of Nations as a condemned union of
countries.
2. Part of the agreement of the League of Nations was that if one
country was under attack or went to war, its fellow countries would
assist it, and the US did not want to entangle itself in
“unnecessary” catastrophes.
C. Americans feared that any involvement in foreign countries whether it
be in war or trade, would threaten the high prosperity that the country
had worked to create.

III. The nation’s isolationist actions resulted in the plummet of its economy.
A. Businessmen did not want Europe flooding American markets with cheap
goods after the war, so Congress passed the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law,
which raised the tariff from 27% to 35%.
1. However, this would later prove to be a problem since Britain needed
to sell its supplies in order to pay off its war debts owed to America.
B. Debt owed to America through the war was not technically received.
1. America demanded its pay for assisting England and France who in
turn demanded their money from Germany who in order to raise
money, printed a large amount of paper money and caused inflation.
2. Through the Dawes plan, America loaned money to Germany who
repaid Britain and France who repaid America.
3. Ultimately, the circular flow of money led to America not truly being
repaid.
C. Farmers had attained much economic prosperity during the war due to the
amount of food produced for the soldiers.
1. Unfortunately, after the war, the large amount of food was no longer
necessary.
 2. Farmers went into an economic slump as they lost their market.
D. In 1930, the Hawley-Smoot Tariff raised the tariff to 60% thus widening
trade gaps between America and foreign countries.
E. Additionally, America found that though it produced many goods, it had no
one to sell them to but itself which led to another fault in the economy.
F. On October 19, 1929, the economy crashed.
1. Stockholders lost over $40 million dollars.
2. By 1932, 12 million Americans were jobless.
3. The nation had entered The Great Depression.

IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 32.2

Question: What were the economic and social effects of the Great Depression on the American
people? Why did so many of the unemployed blame themselves rather than economic forces for
their inability to find work?

I. Thesis: Although the Great Depression sent the economy spiraling downhill, setting
the country at a low point, it was equally psychologically devastating to the people
who inflicted self-blame on themselves for the horrible outcomes.

II. The Great Depression was a worldwide economic depression that started with the
stock market crash in the US, which hurt the nation economically and socially.
a. The stock market crash of October 29, 1929
i. Also known as Black Tuesday
ii. Had a domino effect that spread to most countries in the world
b. Unemployment rate rose to 25%
i. One in every four American didn’t have a job
c. Crop prices fell by 60%
i. Farmers were hit hard
d. Hoover tried numerous programs to attempt to fix it, but failed
i. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act- tried to raise tariffs to force people to buy
American goods, but it backfired as other countries raised their tariffs in
retaliation
e. Hoovervilles- many people had no job, no income, so they lost their home. They
then resorted to places known as “Hoovervilles” where they basically lived in a
cardboard box, it was a slum there
f. Drought and erosion caused the Dust Bowl, which caused many farmers to
relocate to the West
i. They were kicked off their land and they were usually emotionally
attached to land, so parting was extremely difficult
g. The United States was at an extremely low point
i. Even after FDR fixed some problems after being elected president, the
country’s debt rose (from 20% to 40%) and unemployment didn’t get
much better

III. Despite the obvious effects, it also took a psychological toll on Americans who had to
go from the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties into the Great Depression.
a. The 1920s were a high point for Americans and the Roaring Twenties were full of
inventions and seemed like America was heading in a good direction
i. Until the stock market crash
b. Americans believed that success went to those who deserved it
i. So when they were successful during the Roaring Twenties, they thought
they were doing good
 ii. But when they were faced with unemployment in the Great Depression, it
hurt them mentally
c. Social Darwinism said that those who were rich earned it, those who were poor
were lazy
d. They blamed themselves and that the reason they had no jobs was their own fault
i. It came from the idea that you got what you deserved
ii. It was because of the success from the 1920s
iii. The crushing blow of the Great Depression seemed like punishment
1. for something they didn’t know why, so they put it on themselves
2. others blamed Hoover though which is why he is usually looked
down upon for the Great Depression happening during his
presidency

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ: 32.3

Question: Why did American intervention in Latin America in the 1920s run contrary to the
general turn toward isolationism?

I. Thesis: Although the US made isolationism their excuse in not participating in

international issues in the 1920s, they contradicted themselves on intervening in Latin
America areas and thus breaking their isolationism reputation

II. America turned its back on the European countries affected by the World War because of
their “strong belief” in isolationism
a. Worldwide debt caused foreign nations to turn to America for help
i. Countries involved in World War I all suffered through a depression in
each other their countries
1. European countries depended on America for trade and products
a. Newly placed high tariffs prevented a lot of trade
i. Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law
1. Raised tariff from 25% to 35%
2. Decreased trade demand
2. Germany asked for a loan but the money trade was unsuccessful
b. Disarmament
i. Act of reducing and limiting the amount of weaponry
1. Businesspeople and investors were tired of spending money on
keeping the finance for weaponry stable
ii. Stopped intervention in all countries that were involved in the war
1. Harding had to watch the actions of Japan and Britain for any
possible hostile actions

III. Although America did not want to help out its European allies, it did intervene on its
neighboring countries
a. Some withdrawal from other countries took place, but America did not leave
every single country alone
i. Withdrew troops that were in the Dominican Republic in 1924 and
Nicaragua in 1925, but only briefly
ii. Left troops in Haiti for twenty years
1. 1914-1934
iii. Overall, kept an eye on the Latin America countries to make sure the
region is safe
1. Probably due to the Big-Sister Policy previously established
b. The Americans helping out its neighboring countries but not the European
countries did not help in any way
i. Latin America grew resentful of America for keeping some of its military
there

IV. Conclusion
 Corvin Macapinlac
DQ: 33.1

Was the New Deal essentially a conservative attempt to save American capitalism from collapse,
a radical change in traditional American antigovernment beliefs, or a moderate liberal response
to a unique crisis?

I. Thesis: The New Deal helped to restore the American people’s faith in the
government as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made the radical change of
expanding the power of the executive branch in order to affect reforms that would
combat the Great Depression and ultimately restore the nation’s stable capitalist
system.

II. When America fell into the Great Depression, President Hoover theorized that
excessive government involvement on solving the problem would undermine the
hard-working nature of the American people as well as laissez-faire.
A. The nation’s isolationist actions resulted in the plummet of its economy.
i. Businessmen did not want Europe flooding American markets with cheap
goods after the war, so Congress passed the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law,
which raised the tariff from 27% to 35%.
1. However, this would later prove to be a problem since Britain needed
to sell its supplies in order to pay off its war debts owed to America.
ii. Debt owed to America through the war was not technically received.
1. The Dawes Act created a circular flow in which America loaned
money to Germany who used the money to repay Britain and France
who in turn repaid America.
iii. Farmers had attained much economic prosperity during the war due to the
amount of food produced for the soldiers.
1. Unfortunately, after the war, the large amount of food was no longer
necessary.
2. Farmers went into an economic slump as they lost their market.
iv. Additionally, America found that though it produced many goods, it had no
one to sell them to but itself which led to another fault in the economy.
v. On October 19, 1929, the economy crashed.
1. Stockholders lost over $40 million dollars.
2. By 1932, 12 million Americans were jobless.
3. The nation had entered The Great Depression.
B. President Hoover argued that direct Federal assistance to those affected by the
depression should not occur.
i. Hoover believed that intervention amongst the people would undermine
their independence.
ii. Hoover felt that the people could solve their problems through local
government, charity organizations, and hard-work.
iii. Due to his beliefs in staying out of the picture, Hoover was incorrectly
labeled as, “do-nothing” president.
1. Hoover helped a little bit by passing acts that would increase funds
to banks.
 C. President Hoover’s lack of intervention led to the nearing collapse of capitalism.
i. Communities of impoverished citizens living in make-shifts tents and
shacks outside the city became known as “Hoovervilles.”
ii. In 1924, a group known as the Bonus Army which consisted of over
fifteen thousand World War I veterans, camped outside the capital in the
hopes that they would be awarded cash for their efforts in the army.
iii. Communist ideals were becoming increasingly more appealing.

III. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when elected, took on the opposite approach of
Hoover by instituting his plan called the New Deal which immersed the government
in direct intervention with the people.
A. The New Deal had two primary objectives.
i. The first objective was to maintain American’s loyalty to the government
as well as the capitalist system.
1. Discontent with capitalism was a prominent concern as many
people were unemployed.
ii. The second objective was to motivate capitalist action.
B. President Roosevelt planned to achieve these goals through three phases: the
“Hundred Days,” the First New Deal, and the Second New Deal.
i. The New Deal hoped to provide relief for businesses and people, recovery
of the economy, and reform from these experiences.
C. In the first “Hundred Days” of his term as well as during the execution of the First
New Deal, Roosevelt initiated several reforms.
i. Roosevelt’s first order of business was to expand the power of the
executive branch so that he had the necessary power to effectively fight
off the Great Depression.
ii. Following, Roosevelt established many reforms including:
1. The National Bank Holiday closed all banks that were not
financially stable, and helped to fix them. The nation was also
taken off the gold standard which inflated prices and stocks.
2. The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) paid farmers to reduce
their crops in an effort to raise prices.
3. The Civil Works Administration (CWA) employed workers for
construction jobs.
iii. Despite Roosevelt’s actions, many were still not pleased with their current
state.
D. After reelection, Roosevelt put the Second New Deal into effect which issued
reforms similar to the First New Deal except with larger budgets so as to expand
the economy through new investments.
E. Ultimately, Roosevelt’s efforts assisted in stimulating the economy and helping
the nation back onto its feet.
i. By 1929, wages had returned to a stable state.
ii. When World War II came around, the need for an army as well as the
increase in job positions and need for supplies brought the nation fully out
of the Great Depression.
IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 33.2

Question: How did Roosevelt’s programs develop such a strong appeal for the “forgotten man,”
and why did the New Deal arouse such opposition from conservatives, including those on the
Supreme Court?

I. Thesis: Although FDR faced the acquisitions of communism, his programs and
methods reached towards the “common man” in an approach that had never been
done before.

II. Roosevelt faced opposition from conservatives who wished to keep things like they
were, like how they were under Hoover.
a. After the Great Depression that happened during Hoover’s presidency, FDR
sought to fix it with his New Deal
i. But, critics complained that the New Deal pushed for socialism and
communism
b. His first hundred days consisted of so much reform that it was overwhelming and
confusing
i. Those against FDR’s programs did not want this much change
ii. The people were confused with what has happening
c. Hoover was a conservative, but his reforms during his presidency failed
i. Unlike Hoover, FDR’s actually helped
ii. It showed that Hoover’s methods of hands-off and letting things play out
on its own weren’t working
d. Roosevelt pushed for strong government intervention on behalf of the people
i. Even though most people don’t like government intervention, in this case
they preferred it

III. Unlike Hoover, Roosevelt was able to save the people from the Great Depression and
connect to them.
a. Roosevelt’s New Deal
i. The first thing he did was call a national bank holiday
1. they weren’t able to reopen until he passed the Emergency
Banking Act
ii. Other economic programs to help the economy recover
iii. Some of these still exist today
1. Social Security
b. Roosevelt was the first to connect with the people through a weekly radio
broadcast
i. Every week he would inform the American citizens what was happening
ii. This had never been done before
iii. Roosevelt was a good speaker and was able to convince the people
1. He got them on his side and in return they supported his reforms
2. He was also a very popular president
 c. He achieved progress
i. He was able to connect with the people
ii. He was able to save them from the disasters of the Great Depression

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ: 33.3

Question: How was the New Deal a culmination of the era of progressive reform, and how did it
differ from the pre-World War I progressive era?

I. Thesis: Although the New Deal was similar to the age of reform after the Gilded Age, it
concentrated less on morals and values and more on economic gain.

II. The Progressive Era focused on changing the way society was to give the common man,
women, and children more rights with the general idea of morals leading the way
a. Big businesses were simmering down due to the common people wanting more
rights for themselves
i. Strikes broke out from union workers seeking higher wages and better
conditions
1. Shirtwaist company
a. Building burned down and many women died from the fire
because they found no way out since all the doors were
locked
b. Called for reform and gave unions a bad name
i. Muller vs Oregon
1. Protected the rights for women
2. Government intervened and saw the
popularity in reform, thus gaining the
government side toward morality over the
big businesses
2. 1902 Pennsylvania strike
a. 140,000 union workers for a coalmine company went on
strike
i. Demanded a 20% increase in wages and a reduction
of workday to nine hours
ii. Teddy Roosevelt threatened to intervene and make
it a governmental company if production would not
continue
iii. Results: 10% increase in wages and a nine hours
workday

III. The New Deal tended to America’s needs in improving the economy due to the Great
Depression, thus making the reform movement away from the Depression and not
toward morals and values
a. Franklin Roosevelt established many groups in hopes to create jobs for the many
unemployed
i. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
1. Intended to provide governmental employment
2. Employed about 3 million uniformed young men
ii. National Recovery Administration (NRA)
 1. Assisted industry, labor, and the unemployed
2. Established minimum wages, more rights for union members, and
choosing their own representatives in bargaining
iii. Dust Bowl incident called for action for famers and government
1. Farmers were forced to migrate from the west to California
2. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)
a. Government helped farmers meet their mortgages

IV. Conclusion