1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
ISOLATIONISM:
Americans believed that american interest were entirely different and often more important than those of Europe.
They also believed that American values and interests should be spread or negotiated through means other that war.
Misleading? Well the term isolationism gives the impression that americans wanted to cut themselves off completely from the rest of the world. This was not the case at all. Isolationists believed that america should take part in international afairs and trading, they also believed in abiding the international law that were created after World War I.
2. Why did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
Many americans were very racist and saw Japan and other asian countries as a very small threat to the nation. In addition they also believed that there was a large enough barrier (Pacific Ocean) between asia and the US that those nations, mainly Japan, would never be able to make it close enough to physically affect america.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings? 1934- 1936
The Nye Committee, led by Senator Gerald Nye, was established in order to figure out the causes of WWI and how/why America got involved. The theory was that if they understood the causes of WWI they would better understand how to avoid another war with Europe.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
- It increased isolationist support
- It said that if Wilson had not allowed large corporations to supply curtain (non ally) european nations the US might not have had to get involved in the war at all.
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
It prohibited the sale of war supplies like oil and steel to other nations.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
Americans were worried that Roosevelt was becoming almost like a dictator (exp. packing the court)
Americans didn't want a very intrusive government
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
The "Cash and Carry" was part of the Neutrality Act of 1939 it allowed the sale of american war supplies to Europe. Although it required european nations to provide the transportation of the supplies.
This was a huge plus for american businesses for now they could sell much more supplies and they didn't even have to transport the goods.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
Well at first Roosevelt tried to stop Japan's aggression by cutting off its supply of plane fuel and scrap metal. This didn't work however because, now Japan felt "strangled" and needed raw material badly. In September 1940 Japan invaded Northern French Indochina. It wasn't exactly an invasion because the government in French INdochina was largely run by the German government and therefore the Japanese were allowed to enter and take advantage of the abundance of oil that lay in Indochina.
This is what caused Roosevelt to ultimately "freeze out" Japanese assets in the US.
Germany Reacted by freezing US assets in Japan
9. What was the purpose of the American First Committee?
The main purpose of the AMerican First Committee was to keep America out of war with Europe.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
Even though the Japanese were invited to the convention they were not treated with nearly as much respect as they deserved nor as much as the other nation's embasadors were given. They were embarissed and when they returned to Japan they were determined to become a major and highly powerful nation.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
JAPAN'S GROWTH OF POWER:
"Enrich the nation and strengthen the army." - This was the slogan of a Japanese program that was started in 1860. Up till this point the nation had had little interest in international affairs with europe and the americas. This was the start of Japan's economic and military growth.
"Between 1885 and 1920, its gross domestic product, or all of the goods and services produced by Japan, increased threefold."
"Manufacturing and mining increased sixfold"
"In 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910."
Japanese Threats to America:
Japan was interested in expanding into China, but other powers, particularly Britain and the United States. saw Japanese interests in conflict with their own designs?
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
By 1920 Japan's huge teritorial,military and economic growth twas too great for America to ignore any longer. Particularly Japan's advancements in the pacific islands, which the nation had been gobbling up and rapidly shortening the distance between itself and the United States. In 1921 the US called together nine nations to discuss the rising powers of Japan. At these confrances, known as the Wachington Naval Conferences, the nine nations set up some peramiters for Japan's future progress. Niether Japan nor any nation at the convention was aloud to use poisonous gases, both parties were limited by a restriction on the size of battle ships aswell as the general number of them and a limit on submarine involvement in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was nearly the same as an aliance between america and France. It prohibited either countries from engaging in war against the other. America had remenmbered the deaths of WW1 and was reluctent to get dragged into another great war.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
-Hitler was an excellent speaker
-Hitler was good at telling the people of Germany what they wanted to hear.
-Germany was in a huge economic decline and was eager to turn to a leader who could get them out of the many troubles they had
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
1) to gain control of raw materials
2) to gain power
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
Both desasters were mainly beneficial to both Japan and Germany for although they caused damage to their property they were good excuses to blame their aponents and increase national resentment towards enemy nations.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
In adition to Japan's disregard for the Treaties it had signed at the washington naval conferences the US army had drastically shrunk after the first world war and was therefore not prepared for a fight against Japan.
Even though the Japanese were invited to the convention they were not treated with nearly as much respect as they deserved nor as much as the other nation's embasadors were given. They were embarissed and when they returned to Japan they were determined to become a major and highly powerful nation.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
JAPAN'S GROWTH OF POWER:
"Enrich the nation and strengthen the army." - This was the slogan of a Japanese program that was started in 1860. Up till this point the nation had had little interest in international affairs with europe and the americas. This was the start of Japan's economic and military growth.
"Between 1885 and 1920, its gross domestic product, or all of the goods and services produced by Japan, increased threefold."
"Manufacturing and mining increased sixfold"
"In 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910."
Japanese Threats to America:
Japan was interested in expanding into China, but other powers, particularly Britain and the United States. saw Japanese interests in conflict with their own designs?
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
By 1920 Japan's huge teritorial,military and economic growth twas too great for America to ignore any longer. Particularly Japan's advancements in the pacific islands, which the nation had been gobbling up and rapidly shortening the distance between itself and the United States. In 1921 the US called together nine nations to discuss the rising powers of Japan. At these confrances, known as the Wachington Naval Conferences, the nine nations set up some peramiters for Japan's future progress. Niether Japan nor any nation at the convention was aloud to use poisonous gases, both parties were limited by a restriction on the size of battle ships aswell as the general number of them and a limit on submarine involvement in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was nearly the same as an aliance between america and France. It prohibited either countries from engaging in war against the other. America had remenmbered the deaths of WW1 and was reluctent to get dragged into another great war.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
-Hitler was an excellent speaker
-Hitler was good at telling the people of Germany what they wanted to hear.
-Germany was in a huge economic decline and was eager to turn to a leader who could get them out of the many troubles they had
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
1) to gain control of raw materials
2) to gain power
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
Both desasters were mainly beneficial to both Japan and Germany for although they caused damage to their property they were good excuses to blame their aponents and increase national resentment towards enemy nations.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
In adition to Japan's disregard for the Treaties it had signed at the washington naval conferences the US army had drastically shrunk after the first world war and was therefore not prepared for a fight against Japan.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
How, and with what success, did the United States government try to solve the problems caused by the Great Depression?
OUTLINE:
1) Thesis: The New Deal was successful in lessening the negative effects of the economic decline during the 1930's by instituting some new acts and administrations into the government, such administrations were the FDIC and the Securities Exchange Commission. HOwever the New Deal was not the reason the Great Depression ended in america, it didn't completely solve all of the economic problems it was ultimately the approaching WWII that ended the recession. Apart from this the New Deal also had some flaws such as the NRA and what lost so many peoples support for FDR and the new deal was his decision to pack the court.
2) FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
-This was created by the Glass-Steagall Act
-Regulated irresponsible speculation by banks.
-Formed by Congress to insure deposits up to $2500.
Successful, people were depositing in banks more because they knew they would get their money back if the bank failed.
3) The Securities Exchange Commission:
-Regulated the Stock Market
-Prevented people with insider info from using it to minipulate the market for a personal profit.
Effective! Restored confidence in the Stock Market. And helped bring it back out of the crash.
4) NRA:
-Established codes of fair practice
- limited production and established prices.
-Set the prices of many products to ensure fair competition.
Not so successful. As businesses got concessions, workers then sought them as well. (Wagner Act).
Businesses and politicians critical because of too much government control of free market. Later ruled unconstitutional by Supreme Court.
5) Conclusion
OUTLINE:
1) Thesis: The New Deal was successful in lessening the negative effects of the economic decline during the 1930's by instituting some new acts and administrations into the government, such administrations were the FDIC and the Securities Exchange Commission. HOwever the New Deal was not the reason the Great Depression ended in america, it didn't completely solve all of the economic problems it was ultimately the approaching WWII that ended the recession. Apart from this the New Deal also had some flaws such as the NRA and what lost so many peoples support for FDR and the new deal was his decision to pack the court.
2) FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
-This was created by the Glass-Steagall Act
-Regulated irresponsible speculation by banks.
-Formed by Congress to insure deposits up to $2500.
Successful, people were depositing in banks more because they knew they would get their money back if the bank failed.
3) The Securities Exchange Commission:
-Regulated the Stock Market
-Prevented people with insider info from using it to minipulate the market for a personal profit.
Effective! Restored confidence in the Stock Market. And helped bring it back out of the crash.
4) NRA:
-Established codes of fair practice
- limited production and established prices.
-Set the prices of many products to ensure fair competition.
Not so successful. As businesses got concessions, workers then sought them as well. (Wagner Act).
Businesses and politicians critical because of too much government control of free market. Later ruled unconstitutional by Supreme Court.
5) Conclusion
Monday, February 1, 2010
FDR & the New Deal
1. Describe how people struggled to survive during the depression.
-Unemployment = very little money to support families
-Hunger - the dust bowl had cause an even greater shortage of produce for the cities
-Homelessness
2. How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? Children?
MEN: Many men didn't know what to do when they lost their jobs. They were very used to supporting their families, when they were unable to do so many of them left their families. Many men also begged for money, something very few women were willing to do.
WOMEN: Many women set budgets for their families and sewed their own clothes rather then buying it at a store.
CHILDREN: Many children had very poor hygiene which resulted in a lat of illness and disease.
3. Describe the causes and effects (on people) because of the Dust Bowl.
The Dust bowl was caused by poor farming in the midwest of the United States, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. Which caused huge and frequent dust storms across the midwest some of the dust was even recorded as reaching as far as Massachusetts (in a small amount). This huge agricultural disaster caused a large price increase in produce as well as a large shortage of it.
Objective: Summarize the initial steps Franklin D. Roosevelt took to reform banking and finance.
4. What was the New Deal and its three general goals? (The 3 Rs)
Relief for the needy
Economic Recovery
Financial Reform
5. What did Roosevelt do during the Hundred Days?
The hundred days lasted from March 6 to June 16 1933. During this time the Roosevelt administration/ congress passed 15 major pieces of the New Deal legislation.
6. Why were Roosevelt's fireside chats significant?
The Fireside Chats were a series of radio broadcasts that focussed on the goals of the New Deal. In these broadcasts President Roosevelt talked directly to the people about his hopes for the recovery plan. He spoke in clear and simple language that made americans feel as though he was talking directly to themselves. It gave many Americans the opportunity to learn about and understand important aspects of the political and economic changes that their country was undergoing.
7. Describe four significant agencies and/or bills that tightened regulation of banking and finance.
-The Glass-Steagall Act (1933) established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which provided federal insurance for individual bank accounts (of up to 5,000) This assured that if the bank was unable to pay back its customers the customers would not lose all of their money. The FDIC also required banks to be more cautious when borrowing money from their customers.
-The Federal Securities Act (1933) required corporations to provide complete information on all stock offerings and made them liable for any misrepresentations.
-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) aimed to prevent people with inside information from "rigging" the stock market for their own profit.
-Unemployment = very little money to support families
-Hunger - the dust bowl had cause an even greater shortage of produce for the cities
-Homelessness
2. How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? Children?
MEN: Many men didn't know what to do when they lost their jobs. They were very used to supporting their families, when they were unable to do so many of them left their families. Many men also begged for money, something very few women were willing to do.
WOMEN: Many women set budgets for their families and sewed their own clothes rather then buying it at a store.
CHILDREN: Many children had very poor hygiene which resulted in a lat of illness and disease.
3. Describe the causes and effects (on people) because of the Dust Bowl.
The Dust bowl was caused by poor farming in the midwest of the United States, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. Which caused huge and frequent dust storms across the midwest some of the dust was even recorded as reaching as far as Massachusetts (in a small amount). This huge agricultural disaster caused a large price increase in produce as well as a large shortage of it.
Objective: Summarize the initial steps Franklin D. Roosevelt took to reform banking and finance.
4. What was the New Deal and its three general goals? (The 3 Rs)
Relief for the needy
Economic Recovery
Financial Reform
5. What did Roosevelt do during the Hundred Days?
The hundred days lasted from March 6 to June 16 1933. During this time the Roosevelt administration/ congress passed 15 major pieces of the New Deal legislation.
6. Why were Roosevelt's fireside chats significant?
The Fireside Chats were a series of radio broadcasts that focussed on the goals of the New Deal. In these broadcasts President Roosevelt talked directly to the people about his hopes for the recovery plan. He spoke in clear and simple language that made americans feel as though he was talking directly to themselves. It gave many Americans the opportunity to learn about and understand important aspects of the political and economic changes that their country was undergoing.
7. Describe four significant agencies and/or bills that tightened regulation of banking and finance.
-The Glass-Steagall Act (1933) established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which provided federal insurance for individual bank accounts (of up to 5,000) This assured that if the bank was unable to pay back its customers the customers would not lose all of their money. The FDIC also required banks to be more cautious when borrowing money from their customers.
-The Federal Securities Act (1933) required corporations to provide complete information on all stock offerings and made them liable for any misrepresentations.
-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) aimed to prevent people with inside information from "rigging" the stock market for their own profit.
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