BOOM TO BUST: POLITICS AND POLICIES UNIT 4 LESSON 3 NOTES 1

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: The government policies of the 1920s supported a “hands off” approach to the economy This resulted in an economic situation that required more government involved policies in the 1930s Prohibition and women’s suffrage were major social and political issues of the 1920s and 1930s After World War 1, the United States decided, for the time being, to stay out of the affairs of other countries and maintained an isolationist foreign policy.

LET’S REVIEW Since the middle of the 1800s, women had been joining together protesting for equal rights and the ability to vote. America was busy celebrating the end of WWI, so life seemed like a party, but there were many who didn’t agree with the rebellious nature of the younger generation. The Boom of the 1920’s lead to the Bust of the 1930’s, many Americans were left with nothing and were struggling to survive.

1920’S: ECONOMIC POLICIES In 1929, President Hoover, a member of the Republican political party, was elected president. He was the president when Black Friday occurred, followed by the Great Depression. Hoover had a laissez-faire attitude toward the country’s economics. This meant that he believed in letting things take their own course, without interfering. In other words Hoover had a “Hands Off” attitude. Location: data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJR

1930’S: ECONOMIC POLICIES In 1933 a Democratic President was voted into office, Frederick Delano Roosevelt, also know as FDR. President Roosevelt’s philosophy was “The worst is past us; prosperity is around the corner!” President Roosevelt believed that the country should help the citizens who were suffering due to unemployment and the loss of homes, money and possessions. The New Deal was an economic program implemented (say aloud, or started) by FDR to help the country pull out of the Great Depression data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxQSEhUUEhQW

BASICS OF THE NEW DEAL Government took more of a responsibility in the economy The New Deal provided large sums of money for direct payments to needy citizens through grants (free money) to the states. FDR’s program also established new agencies to create government-sponsored work for the unemployed (building construction, forestry labor, flood control construction) Social Security Act: federal guaranteed payment towards citizens who retired at or after age 65.

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE When the United States Constitution was written, only white men had the right to vote. Women were not allowed to vote under the law. Women also did not have many other rights: such as the right to own property or to be educated for certain jobs. Women’s Suffrage was a reform movement aimed at giving women the right to vote. The 19 th Amendment was passed by Congress in 1919, and became law in Gave women the right to vote - “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Location: data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAk

THE LIFE OF WOMEN IN THE 1920’S AND 1930’S Many more women join the workforce Many people still believed a woman's place was in the home Most women found it difficult to find work except as a teacher or secretary Some women were adventurous and became Flappers, a nickname given to modern and rebellious women during the 1920’s. Flappers Often: Location: Location: data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkEhQW

PROHIBITION The 18 th Amendment was added to the Constitution in This amendment outlawed the selling, making, and/or transporting alcohol in the United States. Speakeasies were popular but illegal liquor-serving bars where you had to give a password to enter, hence the name. Crime began to increase, and the number of gangsters increased who illegally sold alcohol. The 18 th Amendment was finally repealed (say aloud, or reversed) in 1933 because prohibition proved to cause many problems for the country.

FOREIGN POLICY The United States’ decided to pull back from involvement in foreign economics or politics The government began to practice Isolationism. Isolationism is a government’s policy to avoid political or economic agreements with other countries so the country stays “isolated” from other countries. The Isolationist policy was a result of the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I. Location:

LET’S REVIEW: In the 1920s the government believed in a “hands off” approach to the economy As a result of the Bust, it was obvious that the government had to get involved economically, this lead to the reform polices of the 1930s. Prohibition and women’s suffrage became significant political issues during this era. As a result of WWI, the United States believed it was best to not interfere with the affairs of other countries.