Unit 8 Test (Spring 2017)

Based on the information provided in the chart, the year 1933 had the highest unemployment percentage in both presented categories.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal agency that aimed to create new jobs. It was established during the Great Depression to provide employment opportunities for millions of unemployed Americans. The WPA focused on public works projects such as building roads, bridges, schools, and parks, as well as supporting artists, writers, and performers through various cultural programs. By creating jobs, the WPA aimed to stimulate the economy and provide relief to those suffering from unemployment.

The term Harlem Renaissance refers to a period of African American cultural achievements. During this time, which took place in the 1920s and 1930s, there was a flourishing of African American literature, art, music, and intellectualism. Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City, became the center of this cultural movement. African American artists and writers such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington emerged during this period, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of the United States.

The correct answer is paying farmers to cut production and in some cases destroy crops. The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 aimed to address the surplus of agricultural products during the Great Depression. By paying farmers to reduce their production and destroy excess crops, the government hoped to increase demand and stabilize prices. This measure was intended to alleviate the economic hardships faced by farmers and stimulate economic recovery in the agricultural sector.

The correct answer is "Protect individual investors from stock fraud and bank failure." The creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) were both key components of the New Deal, aimed at restoring confidence in the financial system after the Great Depression. The SEC was established to regulate the securities industry and protect investors from fraudulent practices, while the FDIC was created to insure bank deposits and prevent bank failures. These measures were put in place to safeguard individuals' investments and prevent a repeat of the financial crisis that had devastated the economy.

The passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 helped American workers by providing financial assistance after retirement. This act established a system of social insurance that would provide a safety net for workers in their old age. It created the Social Security program, which is funded through payroll taxes and provides retirement benefits to eligible individuals. This was a significant step in ensuring the economic well-being of retired workers and continues to be an important aspect of the social welfare system in the United States.

President Hoover believed that the best way to address the Great Depression was to rely on the American people's voluntary giving and the responsibility of local government. He believed that through charity and mutual self-help, the country could overcome the economic crisis. This approach suggests that Hoover favored limited government intervention and instead emphasized the importance of individual and community efforts in dealing with the effects of the Great Depression.

The statement is false because FDR's Fireside Chats were indeed an effective means of communicating and building trust from the American people. These radio broadcasts allowed FDR to directly address the nation, providing updates on government policies, explaining complex issues, and reassuring the public during times of crisis such as the Great Depression and World War II. The chats helped to create a sense of connection between FDR and the American people, fostering trust and confidence in his leadership.

The Wagner Act (NLRA) of 1935 helped organized labor by guaranteeing workers the right to collective bargaining. This means that the act ensured that workers had the freedom to negotiate and bargain collectively with their employers. It protected workers' rights to form and join labor unions, and it prohibited employers from interfering with or restraining these rights. By guaranteeing the right to collective bargaining, the Wagner Act empowered workers to have a stronger voice in determining their wages, benefits, and working conditions, leading to improved labor conditions and increased worker protections.

Prohibition, which was the ban on the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol in the United States from 1920 to 1933, unintentionally provided organized crime syndicates with an opportunity to gain wealth and power. With the demand for alcohol still high, despite its illegal status, criminal organizations stepped in to fill the void left by legal establishments. They smuggled and distributed alcohol, creating a lucrative black market. This illegal trade allowed these syndicates to accumulate vast amounts of wealth and influence, solidifying their power within society.

Zora Neal Hurston was indeed an African American poet during the Harlem Renaissance. She was a prominent figure in the movement, known for her literary works that celebrated African American culture and folklore. Hurston's contributions to the Harlem Renaissance were significant and she played a vital role in shaping the artistic and cultural landscape of the time.

During the New Deal era, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented various policies and programs that significantly expanded the role and size of the federal government. Critics argued that these measures were an overreach of federal power and infringed upon individual liberties and states' rights. They believed that the government should have a more limited role and that the New Deal was creating a dependency on the federal government. Therefore, opponents of the New Deal criticized President Roosevelt for expanding the role and size of the federal government.

The Great Migration of African Americans between 1915 and 1930 refers to the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern cities. This migration was driven by several factors, including the desire to escape racial discrimination, economic opportunities in northern industries, and the hope for a better future for themselves and their families. The rural South was characterized by poverty, limited job prospects, and oppressive Jim Crow laws, while northern cities offered the promise of better wages, improved living conditions, and greater social and political freedoms. This migration had a profound impact on the demographics, culture, and civil rights movement in both the South and the North.

The controversies over Prohibition, the National Origins Acts, and the Scopes Trial in the 1920s were all reflections of disagreements over the cultural values of the American people. Prohibition was a nationwide ban on the production, importation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, which was seen as a clash between the moral values of temperance and personal freedom. The National Origins Acts imposed strict immigration quotas based on nationality, reflecting debates over the cultural makeup of American society. The Scopes Trial, also known as the Monkey Trial, centered around the teaching of evolution in schools, highlighting the clash between traditional religious beliefs and modern scientific ideas. These controversies all revolved around differing cultural values and beliefs held by the American people.

The graph supports the statement that the income gap between the wealthiest fifth and the rest of the population increased. This can be inferred from the data on the graph, which shows that the percentage of income controlled by the top 20% of Americans increased significantly during the period from 1918 to 1929. This indicates that the wealthiest Americans were able to accumulate a larger share of the national income, while the rest of the population did not experience a similar increase in their income share.

During the 1920s, the United States experienced an expansion of easy credit, which contributed to the Great Depression. This expansion led to an increase in consumer spending and speculation in the stock market, resulting in an unsustainable economic bubble. When the bubble burst in 1929, it triggered a severe economic downturn, as people were unable to repay their debts and banks suffered significant losses. The expansion of easy credit therefore played a significant role in the collapse of the economy and the onset of the Great Depression.

The Great Migration refers to the movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North between 1915 and 1970. This mass migration led to the formation of vibrant African American communities in cities like Harlem, New York. The Harlem Renaissance, which occurred in the 1920s, was a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in Harlem as a result of the Great Migration. It was a period of significant cultural and intellectual growth for African Americans, with notable contributions in literature, music, art, and theater. Therefore, the statement that the Great Migration resulted in the creation of the Harlem Renaissance and other African American neighborhood formations is true.

The main message of the cartoon is that the man depicted in the cartoon is facing the consequences of a bank failure. This suggests that the man may have lost his savings or investments due to the failure of a bank, highlighting the potential risks and negative impacts of such failures on individuals.

The Teapot Dome scandal was a scandal during the presidency of Warren Harding. It involved the illegal leasing of government-owned oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and Elk Hills, California to private oil companies in exchange for bribes. The scandal exposed corruption within the Harding administration and damaged the reputation of the government.

During the Great Depression, many Americans lost their jobs, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty. As a result, makeshift settlements known as "Hoovervilles" emerged, named after President Herbert Hoover, who was blamed for the economic crisis. These shantytowns consisted of makeshift shelters made from cardboard, tin, and other scrap materials. The photograph likely depicts one such Hooverville, highlighting the main reason for their emergence - the mass unemployment caused by the Great Depression.

The prosperity of the United States in the mid-1920s resulted in part from an increase in demand for new consumer goods. This can be attributed to several factors such as rising incomes, technological advancements, and a growing middle class. As people had more disposable income, they were able to purchase a wide range of products, from automobiles to household appliances. This increased demand stimulated economic growth and fueled the expansion of industries, leading to a period of prosperity known as the Roaring Twenties.

Buying on margin allowed traders to purchase stocks with borrowed money, using their projected future profits as collateral. This practice increased the amount of money in circulation in the stock market, leading to inflated stock prices. When the stock market eventually crashed in 1929, many traders were unable to repay their loans, causing widespread financial losses and contributing to the severity of the crash.

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement that took place in the 1920s and 1930s in Harlem, New York City. It was characterized by a flourishing of African American literature, music, art, and intellectualism. Billy Holiday, Langston Hughes, and Louis Armstrong were all prominent figures during this period. Billy Holiday was a renowned jazz and blues singer, Langston Hughes was a poet and writer, and Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter and singer. They all contributed significantly to the cultural and artistic achievements of the Harlem Renaissance. Billy Sunday, on the other hand, was a prominent American evangelist and not associated with the Harlem Renaissance.