From Great Depression 22-2 Reading
1. How did the Great Depression affect minorities?
The Great Depression was particularly hard for the minorities. The minority's unemployment rates were higher, and they received the lowest pay. Minorities also faced racial hate due to the competition against whites to get jobs. Twenty-four African Americans were killed by hanging in 1933. In the southwest whites were urging the government to deport people of Mexican descent.
2. Why did so many men leave their homes during the Depression?
Many men left their homes during the Depression because they were discouraged due to their inability to get a job, and ashamed because they could no longer support their family. These men could no longer support their family, a duty that they were use to. After years of trying to get a job, these men became discouraged and simply gave up, and left their homes out of shame.
3. How did the Great Depression affect women and children?
The Great Depression was trial for both woman and children. The woman, who didn't work, struggled to conserve money for their families. They sewed cloths and canned food. The woman who did work were generally paid less than men. Also, the working woman was seen in increasing resentment as the Depression wore on because, people believed that woman shouldn't have a job when there were so many unemployed men. Often parents didn't have enough money to give their children proper diets and healthcare. Due to this there was a rise in diet-related diseases. Also, due to tax cuts, many schools shut down and others shortened their school year. Many children left their homes on freight trains, looking for a better life.
From Great Depression 22-3 Reading
4. What were some of Hoover’s key convictions about government?
Hoover believed that the government should not, play a big role in rebuilding the United States' economy. Hoover believed that the government should, make peace between competing businesses and the interests of society, and that families should support themselves through their own efforts.
5. Why do you think people blamed Hoover for the nation’s difficulties?
People blamed Hoover for the nation's difficulties because Hoover's policies were not improving the nation's economy. A year after the Great Depression started the economy had not improved. Also, families were angry, and they were ready to blame anyone. Hoover,refusing to provide direct support, was the perfect target for all of the anger and blame the american people.
6. What were some of the projects proposed by Hoover, and how effective were they?
Hoover proposed the Boulder Dam project, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and the National Credit Corporation. The Boulder Dam project was the perhaps the greatest success of Hoover. The dam provide electricity, flood control, and a regular water supply. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation would give money to failing businesses; by doing so Hoover hoped that the money would cause higher wages and job growth. However, businesses continued to fail even after $805 million had been given to small businesses. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was a failure. The National Credit Corporation would loan money to smaller banks. This corporation was a success; it helped small banks avoid bankrupcy.
7. What did the Bonus Army want?
The Bonus Army wanted The Patman Bill to be authorized. The Patman Bill would give World War I veterans $500 of a promised bonus immediately, instead of giving the soldiers their bonus in 1945.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The Crash Occurs and the Great Depression Begins
1. What industrial weakness signaled a declining economy in the 1920s?
The 1920s are said to have been an age of prosperity for the United States, but underlying the age of prosperity were serious industrial problems. Industries such as steel, textiles, and railroads were hardly making any profits, the mining and lumber industries were no longer in high demand because World War I had ended, agriculture prices dramatically dropped, and fewer houses were being built. All of these industries were major parts of the United States' economy.Their decline pointed to economic trouble for the United States.
2. What did the experience of farmers and consumers at this time suggest about the health of the economy?
The demand that World War I created for agricultural goods quickly declined after the war was over. From 1919-1921 the yearly income for farmers declined by 40%. Because the farmer's incomes were falling, the farmers weren't buying as many goods and services. In fact, most people weren't buying as many goods and services. There was a surplus of goods and services and not enough people to buy them. The falling prices of a staple industry such as agriculture and the surplus of products suggested that an economic crisis was looming in the future for the American people.
3. How did speculation and margin buying cause stock prices to rise?
In the 1920s the stock prices were artificially rising because of speculation and buying on margin. People were hurrying to buy shares without thinking through all of the risks involved. This caused the stock prices to rise because there was a higher demand. Also, people were borrowing money to invest in the stock market. Speculation and margin buying caused the stocks to not be backed with real money, and caused a high demand for the stocks.
4. What happened to ordinary workers during the Great Depression?
Ordinary workers were hit hard by the Great Depression. The unemployment rate went from 3% to 25%. The workers who still had jobs were confronted with pay cuts, and reduced hours. Many workers had lost their saving, either from stock market investments, or failed banks.
5. How did the Great Depression affect the world economy?
Not only did the Great Depression affect the Untied States' economy, but the depression also affected the world economy. Countries already paying off war debts were earning less on the products exported to the United States. Also, the Hawley-Smoot Tarrfif Act inhibited other countries from earning American currency. In return other countries also made high tarrifs. As a result world trade fell by 40%.
The 1920s are said to have been an age of prosperity for the United States, but underlying the age of prosperity were serious industrial problems. Industries such as steel, textiles, and railroads were hardly making any profits, the mining and lumber industries were no longer in high demand because World War I had ended, agriculture prices dramatically dropped, and fewer houses were being built. All of these industries were major parts of the United States' economy.Their decline pointed to economic trouble for the United States.
The demand that World War I created for agricultural goods quickly declined after the war was over. From 1919-1921 the yearly income for farmers declined by 40%. Because the farmer's incomes were falling, the farmers weren't buying as many goods and services. In fact, most people weren't buying as many goods and services. There was a surplus of goods and services and not enough people to buy them. The falling prices of a staple industry such as agriculture and the surplus of products suggested that an economic crisis was looming in the future for the American people.
3. How did speculation and margin buying cause stock prices to rise?
In the 1920s the stock prices were artificially rising because of speculation and buying on margin. People were hurrying to buy shares without thinking through all of the risks involved. This caused the stock prices to rise because there was a higher demand. Also, people were borrowing money to invest in the stock market. Speculation and margin buying caused the stocks to not be backed with real money, and caused a high demand for the stocks.
4. What happened to ordinary workers during the Great Depression?
Ordinary workers were hit hard by the Great Depression. The unemployment rate went from 3% to 25%. The workers who still had jobs were confronted with pay cuts, and reduced hours. Many workers had lost their saving, either from stock market investments, or failed banks.
5. How did the Great Depression affect the world economy?
Not only did the Great Depression affect the Untied States' economy, but the depression also affected the world economy. Countries already paying off war debts were earning less on the products exported to the United States. Also, the Hawley-Smoot Tarrfif Act inhibited other countries from earning American currency. In return other countries also made high tarrifs. As a result world trade fell by 40%.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Prohibition Homework
1. How did small-town life and city life differ?
Small-town life and city life differed in the 1920's. Both city life and small-town life had different views on drinking, causal dating, and gambling. In the city people were tolerant of such behaviors, while in small towns people thought such behaviors were sinful. Also, in small town people would have intimate relationships with their neighbors; in small towns there were few strangers. In the city however, the streets were full of strangers. Finally, unlike the slow unchanging small towns, the city was all about competition and change. While in a small town people's background would be discussed; in a city the new scientific and social theories would be discussed.
2. Why do you think the Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption?
The Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption because, the government failed to sufficiently fund an enforcing agency, after World War I people were tired of giving up luxuries and the many immigrants did not believe that drinking was a sin. The government made the Prohibition Bureau in the Treasury Department in 1919. Unfortunately the agency did not have enough workers, and the agency was underfunded- a recipe for disaster. Also, after World War I people were not longer willing to give up alcohol, they wanted "to enjoy life". Finally immigrants didn't believe drinking to be a sin. The immigrants believe that drinking was a part of socializing, and so they influenced the U.S culture to be more tolerant of drinking.
3. How did criminals take advantage of Prohibition?
Criminals took advantage of Prohibition through selling illegal alcohol. Criminals could make fortunes off of illegal alcohol. Al Capone was said to have made $100 million off of illegal whiskey! The public was willing to pay a higher price for alcohol because of prohibition, and so criminals made fortunes.
4. What was the conflict between fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution?
Fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution differed on their believes of how all life forms were created. Fundamentalists believed that God created all life forms in six days. Those who accepted evolution believed that all life forms have changed and evolved into what they are today over the course of millions of years.
5. How might the overall atmosphere of the 1920s have contributed to the failure of Prohibition?
In the 1920's people were becoming more tolerant of drinking, and people were not longer willing to give up their luxuries. Life was good why not enjoy it? All of these factors contributed to the failure of Prohibition. People were more tolerant of drinking in the cities, and because most of the U.S's population lived in cities it became more socially acceptable to drink. Also, After World War I people were not willing to give up their alcohol. People were tired of giving up their luxury food, in World War I there was a food ration, and now even when the war was over they were stilled forced to give up food. The atmosphere of the 1920's was sure to make the Prohibition fail.
Small-town life and city life differed in the 1920's. Both city life and small-town life had different views on drinking, causal dating, and gambling. In the city people were tolerant of such behaviors, while in small towns people thought such behaviors were sinful. Also, in small town people would have intimate relationships with their neighbors; in small towns there were few strangers. In the city however, the streets were full of strangers. Finally, unlike the slow unchanging small towns, the city was all about competition and change. While in a small town people's background would be discussed; in a city the new scientific and social theories would be discussed.
2. Why do you think the Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption?
The Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption because, the government failed to sufficiently fund an enforcing agency, after World War I people were tired of giving up luxuries and the many immigrants did not believe that drinking was a sin. The government made the Prohibition Bureau in the Treasury Department in 1919. Unfortunately the agency did not have enough workers, and the agency was underfunded- a recipe for disaster. Also, after World War I people were not longer willing to give up alcohol, they wanted "to enjoy life". Finally immigrants didn't believe drinking to be a sin. The immigrants believe that drinking was a part of socializing, and so they influenced the U.S culture to be more tolerant of drinking.
3. How did criminals take advantage of Prohibition?
Criminals took advantage of Prohibition through selling illegal alcohol. Criminals could make fortunes off of illegal alcohol. Al Capone was said to have made $100 million off of illegal whiskey! The public was willing to pay a higher price for alcohol because of prohibition, and so criminals made fortunes.
4. What was the conflict between fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution?
Fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution differed on their believes of how all life forms were created. Fundamentalists believed that God created all life forms in six days. Those who accepted evolution believed that all life forms have changed and evolved into what they are today over the course of millions of years.
5. How might the overall atmosphere of the 1920s have contributed to the failure of Prohibition?
In the 1920's people were becoming more tolerant of drinking, and people were not longer willing to give up their luxuries. Life was good why not enjoy it? All of these factors contributed to the failure of Prohibition. People were more tolerant of drinking in the cities, and because most of the U.S's population lived in cities it became more socially acceptable to drink. Also, After World War I people were not willing to give up their alcohol. People were tired of giving up their luxury food, in World War I there was a food ration, and now even when the war was over they were stilled forced to give up food. The atmosphere of the 1920's was sure to make the Prohibition fail.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Presidential Debate News Story Analysis
Source Information
Date: October 4,2012
What news organization (or individual) produced this?: MSNBC
What is the type of news source?: Online News Report
Content
What is the main headline?: "Policy Differences Take Center Stage in First Presidential Debate"
What facts (statistics, important events, etc.) are included?:
- President Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee debated Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee.
- The subjects Romney and Obama debated over
- Romney and Obama will have their next debate on October 16,2012
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Is anyone quoted? If so, who? What did they say?: Romney was quoted for saying," My number one principle is there will be no tax cut that adds to the deficit," and for saying “I like the way we did it in Massachusetts. I like the fact that in my state, we had Republicans and Democrats come together and work together..... What you did instead was to push through a plan without a single Republican vote.” Obama was quoted for saying,"The fact is that if you are lowering the rates the way you described, governor, then it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals to avoid either raising the deficit or burdening the middle class it's math. It's arithmetic." and for saying “At some point, I think the American people have to ask themselves, is the reason that Gov. Romney is keeping all these plans to replace secret because they're too good?” Jim Messina was quoted for saying “This is a race to 270 electoral votes in states like Ohio and Virginia and Florida, Romney’s positions on tax cuts and Medicare are going to be real problems for him. And he doubled down on those all night.”
What information or ideas might have been left out?:
-The audience's' perspective was left out
-
Message
Who is the intended audience?:
Eligible voters
Does the author seem to have an opinion? If so, what is it?:
The author did not have an opinion
What is the tone of the source?: Informative if a bit cynical; the author wanted to inform the reader about the debate on October 3,2012, but seemed to feel frustred that there was no clear winner.
What words or phrases create the tone?:
" In a time-honored debate tradition, both campaigns’ surrogates declared victory for their candidate of choice. "
"Obama didn’t score a knockout punch against Romney......"
Is any one person or group discussed positively? Negatively?:
Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama were not discussed negatively or positively.
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