RECONSTRUCTION

dates

1865
● 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution: slavery was officially abolished
everywhere in the U.S.
● the assasination of President Abraham Lincoln by an actor John Wilkes Booth in
theatre
● the end of the Civil War:
-two Union armies led by William T. Sherman and by Ulysses S Grant joined and
occupied Richmond in Virginia (Confederate capital)
-9th April 1865 - Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to
Ulysses S.Grant in Appomattox
1866
● Civil Rights Act (Andrew Johnson)

1877
● The Bargain of 1877

People

John Wilkes Booth

● an American actor
● Confederate sympathizer
● infamously known for assassinating President Abraham Lincoln.
● On April 14, 1865, just days after the end of the American Civil War, Booth shot
Lincoln in the head at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., while the president was
attending a play. Lincoln succumbed to his injuries the following day, on April 15,
1865.
● Escaped to Virginia but ws found after 12 days and shot by Union soldiers

Andrew Johnson
● the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869.
● Democrat
● He assumed the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
● faced challenges during the turbulent Reconstruction era following the Civil War
(dealing with the defeated South)
● he decided to continue Lincoln’s plans to “reconstruct” the South by:
-reunite South with the rest of the nation
-punish only the southern leaders, not people of seceding states
-he decided that if people promised to be loyal to the US government they could elect
new state assemblies
-if a state voted to accept the 13th amendment (abolition of slavery), it could be
accepted back to the Union as an equal member
● *Johnson was a Southerner and a racist and unofficially supported exclusion of
blacks form state governments
terms

13th amendment
● 1865, the 13th amendment to the US Constitution - slavery was officially abolished
everywhere in the U.S..
● Prepared by Lincoln, but added to the Constitution by Andrew Johnson

Black Codes
● Laws passed in Southern states after Civil War and the ratification of the 13th
amendment - there was a disagreement in the South bc they didn’t want to accept
the 13th amendment *(blacks were free but did not own land - system of
sharecropping)
● Aimed to control and restrict the freedom w newly emancipated African Americans,
maintain social hierarchy, essentially creating a system of legalised racial segregation
● limiting their mobility, economic opportunities, and civil rights.
● To keep slaves inferior, unskilled, uneducated, landless
● According to the Black Codes, they couldn’t:
-vote
-serve on juries
-testify in court against white men
-buy or rent farmland (in Mississippi)
-had to work for one employer a year, refusal meant imprisonment and forced labour
● *These codes were a precursor to the Jim Crow laws that persisted for decades.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

● Passed by the Congress (President Andrew Johnson)
● Aimed to protect the basic civil rights of the blacks in the South and counteract the
restrictive “Black Codes”
● Declared that all people born or brought to USA had equal rights as citizens
● All slaves were now citizens
● Equal rights in owning and selling property
● Legal protection
● Right to sue and testify
● Congress also set organisation called “Freedman’s Bureau” & introduced the 14th
amendment to the Constitution - full rights of citizenship for black people (which btw
was denied by all Confederate states except Tennessee)

Freedmen’s Bureau
● A federal agency set up in the North,
 ● Established by the Congress along with the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (lasted until
1870)
● It was aimed to help former slaves (freedmen), poor whites in the Southern states
and refugees who were displaced or affected by the war
● provided essential services such as education, healthcare, food, and legal aid,
aiming to facilitate the transition from slavery to freedom (legal marriages, formal
education, reuniting with families, sharecropping)

14th Amendment
● Followed the Civil Rights Act
● Gave black people full citizenship and equal protection under the law
● Was denied by all Confederate states except Tennessee SO-> the Congress replied
with passing the Reconstruction Act

Reconstruction Act
● Series of laws passed by the Congress, after the former Confederate States (except
Tennessee) refused to accept the 14th amendment
● Designed to bring the Confederate States BACK into the Union
● The Act dismissed white governments of southern states and placed them under
military rule
● It the states accepted the 14th amendment and promised loyalty to the government it
could be brought back to the Union

“Carpetbaggers”
● Northerners who moved to the Southern United States during the Reconstruction era,
particularly after the Civil War.
● Often motivated by economic opportunities, political influence, or philanthropy
● some carpetbaggers were perceived as opportunistic and were sometimes involved
in Southern politics.
● The term "carpetbaggers" was sometimes used pejoratively by Southern opponents
to describe these individuals, because of their large cheap bags made of carpeting
material in which they carried their belongings

“Scalawags”
● White southerners, who cooperated with carpetbaggers
● Supported and cooperated with the Republican Party
● Often seen as traitors to their region by Southerners who opposed Reconstruction for
aligning with the Northern-led Reconstruction efforts.
● Many scalawags believed in reforms and sought to participate in the political and
economic reconstruction of the Southern states during the Reconstruction era

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

● Democrats
● A secret white supremacist terrorist organisation
● Emerged in the Southern states during Reconstruction era
● The largest and the most feared - Members dressed in white sheets and hoods
● Composed primarily of former Confederate soldiers and sympathetic whites
 ● sought to resist the social and political changes brought about by Reconstruction,
which included the granting of civil rights to African Americans.
● Rode at night through the southern countryside to beat and kill (lynching) any black
who wanted to improve their position
● A burning cross left in front of homes of the victims was their sign
● Targeted: freed slaves, carpetbaggers (Northerners who moved to the South), and
scalawags (Southern whites who supported Reconstruction policies)

15th amendment
● Gave black men the right to vote
● Prohibited discrimination
● Stated that every man could vote regardless of their skin colour, race or being
enslaved in the past

Bargain of 1877
● an informal, unwritten agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 U.S. presidential
election between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) and Samuel J. Tilden
(Democrat).
● In the Presidential campaign neither candidate won the majority of the electoral votes
● In exchange for Hayes becoming president, Republicans agreed to withdraw federal
troops from the South, marking the end of Reconstruction.
● This compromise essentially allowed Southern Democrats to regain control of
their states, leading to the abandonment of federal efforts to protect the civil
rights of African Americans in the South!
● Blacks weren’t protected anymore and were discriminated again

Jim Crow Laws

● State and local laws introduced in the Southern states
● enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans
● mandated separate public facilities, schools, transportation, theatres,
cemeteries, parks, restaurants etc.
● Blacks were seen as “second class citizens”,
● deprived from the rights to vote (“grandfather clauses” - they could vote if their
grandparents coud in 1865) (blacks couldn’t vote also without paying high taxes they
couldn’t afford)
● “Jim Crow” was a pejorative term for an African American
● Breaking those laws meant prison, fines, violence or death

Segregation
● Racial separation in the South
● Enforced by Jim Crow laws
● Began after the Bargain of 1877 when Southern Democrats controlled their states
again
● Separate public facilities like parks, schools, transportation, restaurants, cemeteries,
etc. for blacks and whites
● Breaking those barriers meant prison, violence, fines or even death
GILDED AGE / PROGRESSIVISM / IMPERIALISM / WW1
Dates

1898
● The annexation of Hawaii by the United States
● The Spanish-American War of 1898

1917
● British agents intercepted and decoded the Zimmermann telegram: Germany tried
to convince Mexico and Japan to attack the U.S.
● April 1917 - U.S. declared war on Germany

people

Eli Whitney
● Invented the cotton gin (automated cotton production) which revolutionized the cotton
industry by speeding up the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds.
● He also opened a gun factory with machines, producing identical, interchangeable
parts that could fit any gun
● Each worker did a particular task and they didn’t need special skills to make
complete guns
● That way of manufacturing was named “American system” of production later known
as mass production

Henry Ford
● Father of mass production
● Known for making automobiles, founder of Ford company
● Every model was assembled from identical parts,
● Use of such parts was called “standarization”
● He introduced a revolutionary moving assembly line which reduced the time of car
production from 12 hours to 1,5 hours - every worker did one same operation and the
car was completed by the time it reached the end of the assembly line
● Ford's introduction of the Model T, an affordable and mass-produced automobile,
made car ownership accessible to a broader segment of the population.

John D. Rockefeller
● an American industrialist and philanthropist
● one of the “captains of industry”,
● played a key role in the development of the American petroleum industry.
 ● Called the “king” of the oil industry
● As the founder of the Standard Oil Company in 1870, he became one of the
world's wealthiest individuals because eventually he created monopolly and
controlled most of the oil businesses
● Used agressive monopolistic strategies to dominate the industry (swallowing up
rival firms or driving them out of business)
● His business practices were controversial what eventually led to the breakup of
Standard Oil in 1911 under antitrust laws.
● Later in life, Rockefeller became a major philanthropist, donating a substantial
portion of his wealth to various causes, including education and public health.
●

Theodore Roosevelt
● 26th President of the US
● Republican
● One of the most influential presidents, dynamic leader, known for progressive polices
(left impact on domestic and foreign policy)
● Known for “square deal” agenda that aimed to regulate big bussinesses, protect
worker’s rigts and conserve natural resources
● He established national parks and wildlife reserves
● Played a key role in the contruction of the Panama Canal
● Roosevelt was also a prominent advocate for a strong and assertive American
presence in international affairs, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize for
mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.

Woodrow Wilson
● 28th President of the US
● Democrat
● Known for leading during WW1
● Wilson is known for his idea to establish the League of Nations, an international
organization aimed at maintaining peace and preventing future global conflicts.
● His domestic agenda, known as the "New Freedom," focused on progressive
reforms such as antitrust legislation and the creation of the Federal Reserve
System.
● Created “Wilson’s 14 points” (Wilson’s speech to the US Congress in 1928 about
his vision of peace after WW1 - league of n, national boudries, stop with secret
agreements between nations, etc.)
● also supported the Progressive Movement
Wilson’s “The New Freedom”
- income tax imposed on the richest
- everybody could have the right to pursue his own American Dream

Terms

“American system” of production

● Now known as “mass production”
 ● Set of manufacturing methods of producing goods using interchangeable parts and
the use of moving assembly line that emerged in the United States during the early
19th century, particularly in the decades following the War of 1812.
● Invlolved also: division of labor, the establishment of a network of infrastructure like
roads and canals to facilitate transportation.
● The system aimed to: increase efficiency, lower production costs, and spur
economic development.
● Eli Whitney opened a gun factory producing identical intechangeable parts that
could fit any gun
● Henry Ford invented the moving/automatic assembly line which speeded up the
process of creating affordable cars
● Both inventions played a crucial role in the implementation of the American
System, influencing the growth of industry in the United States.

“captains of industry” vs. “robber barons”

Two contrasting views of influential businessmen during the Gilded Age.

captains of industry
● (Andrew Carnegie (steel), John D. Rockefeller (oil), William H. Vanderbilt
(railroads) who created large corporations
● Influential, innovative and successful industrialists and business leaders of the late
19th and early 20th centuries
● they contributed positively to the economic growth of the United States.
● praised for: their innovations, job creation, and philanthropic activities (used their
money to improve society)
● Constantly seeking new ways to improve their product and to improve society

robber barons
● wealthy and powerful industrialists and ruthless businessmen of the late 19th century,
often with a negative connotation.
● Became wealthy through: exploitation, bribes, monopolistic practices, unfair
treatment of workers and competitors during the Gilded Age
● engaged in exploitative and unethical business practices, accumulating vast fortunes
at the expense of workers and competitors
● Contributed to economic inequality and social unrest (also John D. Rockefeller and
J.P. Morgan)

muckrakers & “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair

● Journalists writers and photographers of the Progressive Era (late 19th to early
20th century)
● Upton Sinclair, one of the best-known muckraker
● exposed and criticized social and economic injustices, corruption, and political
issues.
● Muckrakers aimed to bring about positive change by raising public awareness and
advocating for reforms.:
● “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair A novel written by Upton Sinclair and published in
1906.
 - The Jungle exposed the harsh working conditions and unsanitary practices in
the American meatpacking industry during the early 20th century.
- While Sinclair intended to highlight the plight of workers, the public was more
disturbed by the unsanitary food production practices, leading to the passage
of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.

Progressive Movement
● A movement in the late 19th century and early 20th that aimed to fix social problems
caused by industrialisation and political corruption
● Belief that human society gets better over time
● Movement aimed to improve the situation of average people by reforming working
conditions, letting women vote and making bussines fair
● 1901-1909: 26th President Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) - the leader of the
movement
● everybody should be treated in a fair way and get their square deal
● “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
● *1906 - Nobel Peace Prize for Theodore Roosevelt

Aims of the progressive movement :

● to eliminate corruption, cheating
● to improve the education system
● to give women the right to vote
● to improve the situation of workers (child labour laws, shorter working hours)
● to control large corporations
● prohibition (alcohol is evil)
● conservation - national parks

The Square Deal

● a domestic policy program introduced by President Theodore Roosevelt in the
early 20th century
● aiming to address issues of social justice, economic concentration, and conservation
(national parks and forests)
● Roosevelt sought to strike a balance between business interests and the
well-being of the American people. (All ordinary man and woman should get their
“square deal”.)

The Square Deal's key components included:

- the regulation of big business through antitrust measures
- consumer protection (food and drugs safety)
- the promotion of workers' rights.
- It also emphasized conservation efforts, leading to the establishment of
national parks and forests.

Spanish-American War of 1898 *(US territorial gains & what happened to Cuba)
● A short conflict between the US and Spain
● Started due to Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain
 ● Because of the strong economic and political ties to Cuba, the US joined the conflict
to help (people of US had a saviour complex when they saw how Cubans were
treated by Spaniards + they had imperialist dreams)
● The US sent their most modern ship “The Maine” to Havana to show their power but
it was blown up into piecies (maybe by Spaniards)
● USA won the war and as a result:
- Spain sold the Philippines to the US
- US gained territories of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam
● Cuba case was different:
- They gained independence from Spain but started to be under protectorate of
the US
- US build naval base there and Cuba had to accept that US have the right
to send troops and take control of Cuba anytime they belived that
American interests were in danger (so basically they could attack
whenever they wanted)

Annexation of Hawaii to the United States

● Happened after Spanish-American war
● Reflecting a broader imperialistic expansion by the United States in the late
19th century.
● Due to the financial, political and strategic reaons to secure dominance of the US in
the region
● US established a strong naval base in Pearl Harbor (that was attacked by Japan’s
suprise attack)
● They looked for new markets and resources so they took over Hawaii
● American business interests, particularly in sugar and pineapple plantations,
played a significant role in supporting the annexation.
● The annexation of Hawaii faced controversy and opposition, as it was accompanied
by protests from native Hawaiians who opposed the overthrow of their monarchy and
the imposition of foreign rule.

Philippine War (1899-1903)

● Conflict between Philippino nationalist and American forces after the
Spanish-American war
● Started after Philippines declared Independence from Spain, but US didn’t accept
their independence and wanted to control them, whic led to war
● US won and established colonial rule there
● American racially motivated atrocities - concetration camps, torture, rape, executions
of civilians (criticism of American anti-imperialists (Mark Twain)

Roosevelt’s Corollary (1904)

● An addition to the Monroe’s Doctirne (which stated that Old Europeans shouldnt
intervene in Latin America) proposed by President Theodore Roosevelt - or in other
words a “corollary” to the doctrine
● Stated that the US had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries
to prevent European intervention, protect American interests there and ensure
stability of Latin America
Panama Canal
● U.S. wanted to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama to facilitate sailing
between the east and the west coast of the U.S.
● The Canal was built to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and serve as a
crucial shortcut for maritime trade.
● The area belonged to Colombia
● 1903: President T. Roosevelt sent warships to Panama to organize rebellion against
the Colombian government because of the failure to reach an agreement with
Colombia over the construction terms.
● The United States played a pivotal role in the creation of the Panama Canal after
supporting Panama's declaration of independence from Colombia in 1903.
● The U.S. then negotiated the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty with the newly independent
Panama, securing control over the canal zone.
● The construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1914.

Open Door Policy

● A US proposal, or statement of principles initiated by the United States in 1899 and
1900 that aimed to:
- Establish equal trade chances with China for all nations
- Preventing any single nation from dominating the Chinese market (but it
contributed to China exploitation)
- Keep China’s borders and independence safe
● The statement was issued in the form of circular notes dispatched by U.S.
Secretary of State John Hay to: Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and
Russia.
● the Open Door policy was received with almost universal approval in the United
States, and for more than 40 years it was a cornerstone of American foreign policy in
East Asia.

The Great War (WW1 1914-1918)

● Global conflict that started in Europe, involved over 30 coutires
● the Allies (France, GB and Russia) vs. the Central Powers (Germany and Austria)
● 28th President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) declared neutrality
● Americans treated the war as European affair but were shocked by the hostility of
Germans
● 1915 - German submarines sank *the Lusitania (British passenger ship with some
Americans on board)
● 1917 -British agents intercepted and decoded *the Zimmermann telegram:
Germany tried to convince Mexico to attack the U.S.
● The third reason of the US joining the war was economic ties with the Allied nations
April 1917 - U.S. declared war on Germany
● money, food, and munitions produced in the US were sent immediately to the GB and
France
● soldiers had to be recruited and trained - were sent 1918
● 11th November 1918 - Allied (France, GB and Russia)victory; the end of the war
● 1919 - Paris Peace Conference
● 1919 - Treaty of Versailles
● Germany was blamed for the war
 ● high “reparation” payments for the damage caused by the war

The Lusitania
● The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner that gained notoriety during World War I.
● On May 7, 1915, during the war, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German
submarine, U-20, off the coast of Ireland.
● The attack resulted in the loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 Americans.
● The attack turned public opinion against Germany in the United States
● was a contributing factor in the eventual entry of the United States into WW1 (but not
the only reason for joining the war!)
● The incident raised questions about the use of unrestricted submarine warfare and the
targeting of civilian vessels during the conflict.

The Zimmermann telegram

● The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic communication sent by German Foreign
Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico in January 1917, during
World War I.
● In the telegram, Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico if the United States
entered the war against Germany.
● The Germans promised Mexico the territories of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona as a reward
for joining the Central Powers against the Allies.
● When the British intercepted and decoded the message, they revealed its contents to the
United States, significantly contributing to the U.S. decision to enter World War I on the
side of the Allies, (along with the attack on Lusitania with Americans of board)

Wilson’s 14 points
● 1918 - Wilson’s speech to the U.S.Congress about his vision of peace after the
WW1, key principles:
● no secret alliances between countries
● freedom of the seas in peace and war
● the reduction of trade barriers among nations
● the general reduction of armaments
● independence for Poland, including access to the sea
● Creation of the League of Nations - first international organisation to prevent future
conflicts peacefully and maintain world peace through diplomacy
● Wilson's vision for a just and lasting peace heavily influenced the post-war negotiations and
the drafting of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, although some of the points faced challenges
and were not fully realised.

League of Nations
● an intergovernmental internation organization
● established after World War I,
● as part of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
● first international organization intended to prevent future conflicts and maintain world
peace through diplomacy
● Conceived by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson as a key component of his Fourteen
Points, the League aimed to promote international cooperation, prevent future
conflicts, and maintain peace.
 ● It provided a forum for member nations to resolve disputes through diplomacy and
collective security.
● However, the League faced challenges, including the absence of the United States,
and it proved ineffective in preventing the outbreak of World War II.
● It was eventually replaced by the United Nations in 1945.

ROARING 20’S
dates

1848
● Seneca Falls Convention
● California Gold Rush
1920
● 19th amendment - gave women the right to vote

people

Susan B. Anthony
● Women’s rights activist & prominent American suffragist (peaceful)
● Social reformer (involved in the process of abolition of slavery in the US)
● played a crucial role in women’s suffrage movement:
-co-founder of the National Women's Suffrage Association (with Elizabeth Cady
Staton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone)
-devoted her life to advocating for women’s right to vote (she had a pivotal role in the
eventual passage of the 19th amendment in 1920, though she did not live to see the
ratification)
● Gave powerful speeches, led campaigns
*she did not attend the Seneca Falls Convention!!!

Elizabeth Cady Staton

● Women’s rights activist & Prominent American suffragist (peaceful) with other women
● Abolitionist
● co-founder of the National Women's Suffrage Association (with Susan B.
Anthonny, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone)
● Co-author of Declaration of Sentiments during the Seneca Falls Convention,
which stated women’s grievances and demands for equality
● One of the 5 women who organised the Seneca Falls Convention (Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, Lucretia Coffin Mott, Martha Coffin Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and
Jane Hunt.)
● Her work also laid the foundation for the eventual success of the women's suffrage
movement, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Calvin Coolidge
 ● The 30th President of the US (1923-1929)
● Republican
● Supported limited government intervention in economics (a laissez-faire approach to
government)
● Promoted pro-business policies (high taxes on import, low taxes on high incomes
and profits, limited government spending)
● Contributed to great economic growth (increased industrial production, a booming
stock market and prosperity)
● He, as a republican believed, that if government looked after the interests of the
businessmen, everybody would become richer
● Low unemployment rate & rising wages during his presidency
● However, his presidency led to the rise of speculative behaviours - buying shares on
margin that resulted in the stock market crash & the Great Depression
● Had a nickname “Silent Cal” due to his reserved nature

Al Capone

● Also known as “Scarface”

● A well-known American gangster, son of Italian immigrants, born in Chicago
● He rose to prominence during the Prohibition as the leader of the Chicago Outfit, a
powerful and violent criminal organisation involved in illegal activities such as
bootlegging, gambling, and racketeering.
*(bootlegging -the illegal manufacture, transport, distribution, or sale of alcoholic
beverages during the Prohibition period)
● Had an “army” of 1000 men with machine guns.
● His income from illegal activities was 100M dollars a year - he and his gangsters
used the money to bribe the police and public officials (contributed to high levels of
corruption)
● Was convicted for tax evaion and nothing else (for 11 yrs), after controlling illegal
activities from within the first prison, he was sentenced to high security prison
“Alcatraz”

terms

Seneca Falls Convention

● First women’s rights convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, in July 1848.
● The birthplace of women’s suffrage movement in the US
● organized by Quackers; attended by (supportive) men also
● to discuss social, civil, religious rights of women
● right to vote

● Organised by 5 women: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Coffin Mott, Martha Coffin
Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt
● For the convention, Elizabeth Cady Staton prepared a manifesto - the Declaration
of Sentiments - stating women’s complaints and demands that women wanted to
 spread around the world (like the right to vote), it had similar structure and language
to the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Sentiments
● A document drafted and presented during the Seneca Falls Convention
● Written by Elizabeth Cady Staton
● Similar in structure and language to the Declaration of Independence
● Expressed women’s grievances and demands (including the right to vote, gender
equality, educational opportunities)
● Women wanted injustices and inequalities to be recognized in the world

Suffragettes vs. suffragists

"Suffragettes" and "suffragists" were both part of the broader women's suffrage movement
advocating for women's right to vote, but they differed in their approaches.

Suffragettes
● Determined to gain the right to vote by any means
● Known for direct action, using strong and aggressive methods like; vandalism,
hunger strikes, militant campaigning in general
● Their actions attracted publicity, often faced criticism and legal consequences

Suffragists
● Campaigned for women’s rights using peaceful and law-abidingl methods to achieve
their goals
● Lobbying, petitions, public lectures, peaceful protests
● They believed in educating and convincing people
● Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Staton

19th amendment
● Ratified in 1920, the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote
● The amendment was a culmination of decades of activism by suffragists and
suffragettes

Isolationism
● The US foreign policy after WW1, a policy of avoiding involvement in the international
conflicts and affairs
● Caused by the WW1 trauma
● People wanted the normal and peaceful life
● Promoted by President Warren Harding
● Focus on the US country, domestic issues, economic growth and prosperity, cultural
changes
● Resulted in the Rejection of the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles
● Avoiding being involved in any military affairs with other countries
● Avoiding and being sceptic towards international alliances and obligations
● High taxes imposed on imported products
● Limited immigration
Hollywood
● Roaring Twenties were a beginning of the golden age for Hollywood
● It became film-making capital of the world because of its climate and landscapes
● The time of the rise of the studio system (Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios,
Warner Bros)
● The emergence of iconic stars
● Introduction of sound film in 1927 - early movies were silent (Charlie Chaplin era) so
they were international and showed a dream world that was free, exciting and equal
what inspired people to improve their lives
● Celebrity culture and fan magazines

Harlem Renaissance
● African American movement in 1920 centred in the Harlem neighbourhood in NYC
● Caused by migration of black families to the Harlem, NY
● A cultural, social, and artistic movement that challenged racial stereotypes and
celebrated African American culture.
● Time of great creativity in music theatre, art and literature that celebrated the African
heritage and culture
● Gave recognition to black artists, laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement by
promoting racial equality and solidarity for African Americans
● Had a huge impact on popular culture

Flappers
● Rebellious young women who challenged traditional norms and societal expectations
for women during the Roaring Twenties era
● Unconventional and liberal attitudes, rejected Victorian ideals of femininity
● Short skirts and dresses
● Short, bobbed hair
● Strong makeup
● Smoking in public
● Dancing provocatively
● Drinking alcohol during prohibition era
● Clara Bow

Art Deco Style (with examples)

● A popular design and art style in 1920s and 30s
● Combined modern and traditional elements
● Bold geometric shapes, luxurious, glam, modern
● Symmetric shapes
● Vibrant colours
● Use of materials like: exotic woods, marble, glass
● It influenced architecture, interior design, fashion and arts
● Examples: NYC Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center,
Paramount Theatre Oakland California
Prohibition (18th amendment, bootleggers, speakeasies)
● A period from the 1920s and early 1930s when production, sale and transportation of
alcohol was illegal in the US due to the 18th amendment
 ● Aimed to stop alcoholism, reduce social problems associated with alcohol and make
US better and healthier country
● People started to break prohibition and opened illegal hidden bars called
speakeasies in the basements and back rooms - These hidden bars or clubs
provided venues for people to gather and consume alcoholic drinks discreetly.
● Prohibition also led to the rise of organised crime, formation of criminal groups called
“bootleggers” working togethers in gangs of mobs, those were individuals or groups
engaged in the illegal production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages,
sometimes even running those underground speakeasies, or simply providing alcohol
for them (Al Capone was the leader in this business)

CRASH / DEPRESSION / FDR

dates

1929
● October 29, 1929 - The Wall Street Crash
people

Herbert Hoover
● 31st President of the US
● Republican
● remembered for leading during The Great Depression (he created Reconstruction
Financial Corporation, tried to help banks and provide financial support, but still he
faced a lot of criticism because people thought he didn’t do enough to deal with the
depression)
● “In Hoover we trusted, now we are busted” = common phrase used by angered
farmers
● Hoovervilles - Named after President Herbert Hoover. They were settlements made
up of unemployed and homeless people.
● he kept telling people that end of depression is just around the corner
● lost the next election to FDR

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

● 32nd President of the US, served 4 terms!
● Democrat
● chosen to run against Herbert Hoover and won by the biggest margin in
history - 42 out of 50 states chose him as their leader
● led country during The Great Depression and WW2 (victory)
● introduced a “New Deal” - series of programs and reforms aiming to help the
US recover from The Great Depression - he improved the economy and
social welfare, created jobs - this New Deal was a series of programs and
policies aimed at economic recovery, relief, and reform (3Rs)

terms
The Wall Street Crash
● a catastrophic stock market collapse in NY, on Oct 29, 1929
● marked the beginning of the Great Depression
● also known as “Black Tuesday”
● caused by excessive popularity of stock trading - people were “playing the market” by
buying and selling stocks to own shares and businesses and make profit, but they
often had to take loans to do it, so they:
-bought the stocks
-sell them and pay the loans
-save some money for themselves on the margin
● it was so popular that is was called “national sport”
● BUT when company profits were falling, people started to panic, which caused a
massive sell-off and led to a 40 billion drop in stock values and general financial
distress

The Great Depression

● a severe economic crisis that lasted from 1929 up to 1939
● led to global economic crisis
● it caused: widespread unemployment, bank failures and poverty (8M unemployed
Americans - no unemployment benefits)
● Thousands of banks and businesses closed down
● Industrial production and wages fell drastically
● the main reason for it was: the Wall Street Market Crash, banking failures,
agricultural overproduction, and global economic instability.
● President FDR introduced the New Deal - a set of programs aiming to help the
country and people recover from the GD
● Globally: “web of debts” - European powers borrowed money from US for WW1,
Germany had to pay reparation, during the GD US stopped lending money -
economic crisis in France and GB

Hooverville
● poor communities/settlements populated by homeless and unemployed individuals
and families who had lost their homes due to the economic hardships of the GD
● named after President Herbert Hoover what symbolized the failure of his presidency
and the attempts to fix economic hardships during the GD
● symbolized widespread poverty and despair of the time
● they were called shantytowns

Bonus Army
● a group of WW1 unemployed veterans who marched on Washington D.C., the
capital, in 1932 to demand immediate payment of a bonus promised to them for their
service during war
● The bonus was scheduled to be paid in 1945, due to the Great Depression, veterans
were struggling financially and wanted early payment of the bonus
● they set up camps near the Capitol
● President Hoover ordered soldiers and the police to burn their camps and get them
out of Washington
 ● The action caused public outrage. The event had a significant impact on Hoover's
public image and contributed to the perception of his administration as insensitive to
the plight of those suffering during the Great Depression.
● the newspaper called them “the Bonus Army”

The New Deal (3 Rs, alphabet agencies, 21th amendment, Social Security Act)
● The New Deal was a set of economic and social programs introduced by the
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to help the US recover from the Great
Depression
The programs aimed to:
-provide relief for the unemployed,
-stimulate economic recovery
-and implement reforms to prevent future economic crises.
Key components included:
-the establishment of the Social Security system,
-the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration
for employment,

The New Deal consisted of 3Rs:

● Relief, Recovery, and Reform.
● Relief aimed to provide immediate financial help to those suffering from the
economic downturn,
● Recovery sought to stimulate economic growth and restore stability, by
putting people back to work
● Reform aimed at regulating the economy to prevent future economic crises.
The 3Rs encapsulated the multifaceted approach Roosevelt took to address
the complex challenges of the time.

Alphabet Agencies
● Established by FDR as a part of the New Deal
● various federal agencies known by their acronyms, often called “alphabet
agencies”
● designed to address various aspects of the economic crisis, providing relief,
employment, and reforms across different sectors of society, some of them still exist
today
● examples:
-CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) - found work for unemployed young men
-AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) - paid farmers to reduce crop
production to stabilise markets
-TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) - built dams for flood control and make
electricity
-NRA (National Recovery Administration) - established rules for businesses to pay
fair wages and charge fair prices
-WPA (Works Progress Administration) - created jobs useful in building roads and
public structures (schools, hospitals)
-SSA (Social Security Administration).
21th amendment
● Replaced the 18th amendment & ended the Prohibition thereby legalising the
manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States.
● Prohibition ended due to the rise of illegal activities and economic difficulties of the
GD, and the amendment gave the states the right to regulate the laws regarding the
sale and consumption of alcohol
● The only time in history when one amendment was replaced by another.

Social Security Act

● Was a part of the New Deal (FDR)
● It established the Social Security System, which provides financial assistance to
retirees, disabled individuals and families of deceased workers.
● created a safety net that would provide income support through a system of payroll
taxes and benefits
● It also established social insurance
● The Social Security Act remains a cornerstone of the U.S. social welfare system.

Why was the New Deal criticised?

● Could be seen as communist
● Some said that the country could not afford the money that was spend, and it cost
too much
● Some feared that the New Deal would stop people from being able to stand on their
own feet
● Disrupted the economy
● Didn’t help everyone equally
● Might hurt the country’s future growth

The Dust Bowl

● Environmental disaster during 1930’s in the Great Plains (Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas,
Colorado and New Mexico)
● A series of severe dust storms caused by a combination of prolonged drought, poor
farming techniques and high winds which led to the erosion of topsoil, creating
massive dust storms.
● It led to: crop failures, economic hardship for farmers, forced migration and illnesses
● Thousands of families were forced to leave the dust bowl during the GD - the largest
internal migrations in U.S. history.
● FDR proposed the FSA (Farm Security Administration) - which provided temporary
housing for the refugees

WW2

dates

1941
 ● Pearl Harbor attack
● US joined the WW2

1944
● Operation Overlord (Allied invasion of Western Europe, which was occupied by the
Nazi Germany)
● Battle of Bulge (last German invasion)

1945
● bomb attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
● end of WW2

people

Harry Truman
● 33rd President of the US (serving from 1945-1953)
● Democrat
● assumed the presidency after the death of FDR
● made the decision to drop two boms “Little Boy” oh Hiroshima and “Fat Man” on
Nagasaki, which hastened the end of WW2 and Japan’s surrender.
● implemented post-war policies, including the Marshall Plan( a U.S. program
providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II) and the
formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which was really
important during Cold War, he also established the Truman Doctrine (which aimed
to contain the spread of communism)

terms

Isolationism
● a policy of avoiding involvement in the international conflicts, popular in the US after
WW2 (contrast with imperialism)
● US rejection of the League of Nations (focus on domestic issues and prosperity,
economic growth, etc.)
● resulted from post WW1 trauma - people wanted peaceful and normal life
● Isolationists (the Congress) passed the Neutrality Acts )laws stating that Americans
can’t sell military equipmen or lend money to any nations at war)

Reasons for joining the WW2

● Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
● being surrounded by hostile powers - Japanese control of Asia & Germany
● Germany’s victory over Europe (Britain was the last nation standing against Hitler) -
fear of German expansion and invasion
● people voting to join the war

Pearl Harbor
 ● in 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, Hawaii - the American navy’s main base in
the Pacific Ocean
● The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, and destroyed or
damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including 8 battleships.
● Reasons for the attack: US embargoes on arms, iron and oil, Japan desire to expand
territory in Asia, they though a surprise attack would weaken the US and help their
military plans
● after the US declared war on Japan, Germany, Japan’s ally, declared war on the US
and the war in Europe and in Asia became one war

Operation Overlord
● in 1944, the code name for the Allied invasion of Western Europe (GB, Soviet Union
and USA) which was occupied by Nazi during WW2
● the largest seaborne invasion in history
● also known as D-Day (Deliverance Day) led by gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
● troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France aiming to begin the liberation of
occupied Western Europe
● it was a turning point in WW2 that eventually led to defeat of Nazi Germany

Pacific arena of the war

● US battling Japan across vast ocean expanses and numerous islands
● after the Pearl Harbor attack, US pursued a strategy of island-hopping, capturing
strategic islands and engaging in pivotal naval battles like Midway
● fierce campaigns such as Guadalcanal & the use of atomic bombs ultimately led to
Japan’s surrender in 1945, ending war in the Pacific

Project Manhattan
● a secret American research & development project during WW2
● aiming to build the first atomic bomb which would help to end the war in Japan
● involved many scientists, physicists, engineers and mathematicians (like Robert J.
Oppenheimer)
● project successfully produced and tested nuclear weapons, leading to the bombings
of Hiroshima (“Little Boy”) and Nagasaki (“Fat Man”) in 1945
● Truman believed that is saved lives because if the US invaded the Japan more
people would have died

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

● in 1945, two Japanese cities were severely affected by atomic bombingd
● the US dropped an atomic bomb called “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, and 3 days later
dropped bomb called “Fat Man” on Nagasaki
● the attacks caused severe destruction, and death of 200 000 civilians
● Japan surrendered and it was the end of the war

end of WW2
● the WW2 concluded in 1945, with the defeat of Nazi Germany (Battle of Bulge, the
Allies won) and Imperial Japan (atomic bombings)
● the Battle of Bulge was the last German attack
● the war officially ended with the signing of surrender documents aboard the USS
Missouri in Tokyo Bay, marking the conclusion of one of the deadliest conflicts in
history