The Red Nightmare documentary

1. In the beginning of the film, it appears to be an ordinary American small town, but where is it? (Between 1:00 and 2:30).       
The Soviet Union, deep behind the Iron Curtain!



2. What is the father's (Jerry) attitude toward his responsibilities, such as attending a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTA) and going to Army Reserve training (6:20)?     
He doesn't like going to them so he makes up excuses to not go.



3. According to the film, if all people had the attitude that Jerry has, what is the Red Nightmare? 

Communist ideals would spread from one town to another, children would leave their parents in favor of working on a commune, organizations like the PTA would be able to tell you what to do exactly an any given moment and access your personal information, your job would force you to work to an unreasonable standard or be punished, your youngest children would be brainwashed into believing in Communism, and your church would become a place to praise Russian scientific advancements.

4. What is Jerry's experience like at trial?     
Jerry's trial is not even really a trial. He is forced to either confess or just be sentenced, no option to defend himself. His own wife helps convict him with a statement that he indoctrinated his children.
 

5. Consider this film in the context of the Red Square Era. If you were a high school student 50 years ago, how would you have reacted to this film in a history class?

I would be extremely scared of what Communism could do to America. I wouldn't want to sleep again.
  

The Race to Control Space

“We have vowed that we shall see space filled not with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding"
-President Kennedy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, September 12, 1962

President Kennedy was eager for the United  States to lead the way in exploring space.  The Soviet Union was ahead of the United States, having launched the first satellite Sputnik in 1957 and the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin to orbit around the earth in 1961.

President Kennedy said, “No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.” In 1961 Kennedy asked Congress to approve more than twenty two billion dollars for Project Apollo, which had the goal of landing an American man on the moon before the end of the decade.

First, go to this website at the JFK Museum. Read the introduction and the JFK and Space material.


Read the telegram and the two memos and answer the SIX questions that follow:

Telegram A.
On April 12, 1961 cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin from the Soviet Union orbited around the
earth in 108 minutes. The same day President Kennedy wrote a telegram to Premier Nikita
Khrushchev congratulating the Soviets on the first successful manned flight.

Memo B.
A few days later President Kennedy wrote a memo on April 20, 1961 to Vice President
Lyndon B. Johnson, who was the chairman of the Space Council.

Memo C.
Eight days later, Vice President Johnson responded to President Kennedy’s memo.


1. In the telegram to Premier Nikita Khrushchev, how does President Kennedy say he would like the United States and the Soviet Union to work on exploring outer space?     
President Kennedy says he would like the United States and the Soviet Union to work together for the overall benefit of mankind.



2. In the memo to Vice President Lyndon Johnson, what is President Kennedy's main objective?       
It seems that President Kennedy's main objective is to beat the Soviets in the space race, as he keeps asking how they could win.



3. What is the main difference between what President Kennedy says in the telegram and what he says in the memo in terms of how the Americans and the Soviets should explore
outer space?       
In the telegram, Kennedy says that the USA and the USSR should work together in space exploration, while in the memo he focuses on how the USA can beat the USSR in the space race.


  
4. Why do you think President Kennedy appears to be giving two conflicting statements?     
He doesn't want the Soviets to be aware that he is trying to make every possible advance to beat them. This way they will be none the wiser when they are surpassed.



5. How does Vice President Johnson connect the space race with the Cold War in his April 28th memo to President Kennedy?      
Johnson mentions that the Department of Defense would like to increase research in solid propellant boosters. This boosters would most likely be researched for the purpose of intercontinental missiles.


6. What are Vice President Johnson’s suggestions for the President?     
Overall, Johnson suggests that the budget for space research is heavily increased, since the only reason the research has not been nonstop is due to a lack of financial means.

NSC-68 and the Arms Race

1. Study Source 7. According to this source, how serious was the Soviet nuclear threat?      
Source 7 says that the Soviet nuclear threat was extremely serious. According to the source, the Soviets would be able to deal heavy damage to many Americans and make a first strike within only a few years.


2. What measures is Source 7 calling for?     
Source 7 calls for increased air defenses, air warning systems, and a more developed civilian defense program. The source states that if they did not take these measures, the Soviets would have the upper hand in the arms race.


3. How would you describe the tone of Source 7? Use examples of words and phrases in the text to support your answer.     
The tone of source 7 is exaggerated. All the statements regarding crippling America's "superiority in economic potential" and "decisive initial attacks" were followed by a clause that basically said "if we do nothing." This clause added onto almost everything described in the document make it seem like the threat level was heavily exaggerated.


4. Study Source 8. What criticisms are made of Source 7?    
Source 8 says that Source 7 willfully exaggerated the actual threat of Soviet power in the report. It also states that the report completely exaggerated how unprepared America actually was. 


5. Do you think the author of Source 7 wanted to increase tension and the risk of war? If not, what were his motives?     
I think the author of Source 7's motives were to intimidate the Soviet Union so that they wouldn't make an attack. He knew that we were already much more armed than they were, but with this report the defense budget was quadrupled. Hence our arsenal of bombs was much larger than the Soviet Unions, providing for an effective intimidation method.

6. Do the criticisms in Source 8 mean that Source 7 is not a useful historical source? Explain your answer.

No, Source 7 is still very useful as a historical source. It shows evidence of what strategies were taken for the pure purpose of intimidation. It also shows the extent to which the U.S. government was concerned about the U.S.S.R. attacking purely based of the fact that they believed this.

The Formation of NATO

1. Look at Source 2. What did NATO members agree to do?    
They agreed to keep up defenses on an armed attack against them, and that they would defend each other if any one of them were attacked. 


2. The members of NATO argued that this was a defensive alliance. Explain why Stalin was not convinced about this.    
Stalin believed that the Western Powers were trying to spit the world into two military blocks right at each others throat. He saw it as a threat on Soviet control in Eastern Europe as they prepared for "defense". 


3. Study the cartoon in Source 4. Does the cartoon give the impression that Stalin feels threatened by NATO?     
The cartoon gives the impression that Stalin does feel threatened. He has a whole group of leaders against him and doesn't seem to know what to do. In the cartoon he looks perplexed and unsure about what to do with his hand. 


4. Explain how Sources 4 and 5 present NATO in different ways.   
Source 4 shows NATO as a delicate card game in which the leaders of NATO have the upper hand. Source 5, on the other hand, shows NATO as a vicious animal ready to attack the Soviet Union at any time. 


5. Now explain why they present NATO in different ways.     
The cartoons present NATO in different ways because Source 4 was made in America and therefore shows a more favorable view of how the leaders are handling the evil Communists. Source 5 was made in the Soviet Union, therefore they wanted portrayed the NATO, the vicious capitalists, as being much more aggressive than reality. 

Berlin Blockade Document Analysis

1. What type of document is this? What is its purpose?      
These documents are formerly classified memorandums written for President Truman. They are meant to inform him on the Soviets' reaction to events in Berlin and possible Soviet plans.


2. When was it written? Why is that significant?     
 They were written in 1948 just after the Berlin Blockade began. This means all of the plans and actions that are being written about are probably taking place in response to the Blockade and its consequences. 


3. Who created the document? Who received the document?     
 Rear Admiral Hillenkoetter, the Director of Central Intelligence, created the document. President Truman, General Walsh, Mr. Murphy, the Army, and the State Department received the document.


4. Who is Marshal Sokolovsky?     
 Marshal Sokolovsky was a Russian official involved in figuring out the consequences from the Berlin blockade on East Berlin. He discovered that East Berlin was more reliant on the Western zone than they had originally thought. 


5. How did the CIA get information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and German members of the German industrial committee?      
 The CIA got this information most likely from a spy at the meeting. It was definitely a source they believed they could rely on, as stated in the last sentence in parenthesis. 
  

6. What were the three Soviet alternatives as they presented themselves when this document was written? What policy did the Soviets pursue over the course of the next nine months? Why?     

The three alternatives presented were going to war, ending the blockade, or handing over control of all of Berlin to the West. They ended up choosing none of these options and continued the blockade. All of these alternatives were either too dangerous or would make the Soviets lose too much face. 

7. Stalin stated in a speech on February 9, 1946, "he [Stalin] blamed the last war on 'capitalist monopolies' and warning that, since the same forces still operated, the USSR must treble the basic materials of national defense such as iron and steel, double coal and oil production, and to delay the manufacture of consumer goods until rearmament was complete." Who are the "capitalist monopolies?" How does this statement enlighten the Soviet viewpoint against the United States? Were the Allies justified in cancelling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II? Why did the Soviets rely so heavily on Germany for food and industry?        

The "capitalist monopolies" were the allies who created the Treaty of Versailles. This statement shows that the Soviets didn't agree with anything the United States was doing and that they wanted to be ready for any possible attacks from the West. I think the allies were justified. Clearly the Soviet Union was planning on arming themselves for a possible war. The Soviets relied on Germany for food and industry because the West was supplying West Germany and they, without knowing it, received many supplies and industry in East Berlin from West Berlin.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is saying that Tito is a traitor, hence the "Judas" on his blanket, by taking money from the Marshall plan. The Soviet Union wanted to portray him as an enemy and a weakling, which they did by having him on his knee appearing to be a beggar. This cartoon was likely made around the time that Yugoslavia was expelled from Cominform.


2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
Stalin believed that Tito set a bad example for the other Communist states. He believed that America was trying to make Eastern European countires dependent on them so they could enter into his Communist controlled area. With Tito being the only Communist leader who did take Marshall Aid, Stalin believed he was making the USSR seem weak to the west and to other nations in Cominform. He had to show everyone that they still had power.


3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
Yugoslavia is just east of the Iron Curtain. This means if Stalin had sent troops, it would have been an easy target for the Allies to defend, as it is also reasonably close to West Germany. Stalin had no way of knowing if Truman had some of his fancy new Atomic bombs in West Germany either, so he didn't take that risk.

4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The Soviet Union claimed there were technical difficulties that made it impossible for the trucks of supplies to get through. They also claimed they had coal shortages to explain why they had cut off some electricity to parts of Western Germany. 


5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
It seems unlikely that all of these difficulties would just happen to occur when there were very high tensions between the two nations. Stalin was feeling less powerful due to the Marshall Aid money going to Yugoslavia. Getting rid of all supplies and electricity into West Berlin was a perfect chance to get back at the U.S., and the U.S. knew it.


6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
Source 41 claimed that neither side gained anything but a prolonged conflict due to the blockade and subsequent airlift. Source 42, on the other hand, as it was a speech by Truman, made the air lift seem like a fight for freedom that America was unquestionable winning. Source 43 says that the USSR never even blockaded Berlin in the first place, and that it was all a scheme by America to make the Soviet Union look bad. 


7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
Source 40 is the most useful. It shows a genuine government document that contains pure facts. The facts are that the Soviet Union was not letting supplies into Berlin supposedly because of technical difficulties and shortages. These facts are left up to interpretation by the historian. 



8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?      
Source 41 gives the most reliable view of the blockade. It was made by a historian looking in hindsight rather than an official on either side of the government writing during the blockade, when they constantly have to think about the reaction of the Soviet Union. This way the historian can weigh the benefits and detriments of the blockade without worrying about anyone's reaction.


          

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)      


I believe it is exactly what Stalin was planning to do. The evidence of his actions in Eastern Europe show that he's willing to be aggressive in order to spread Communism. His unwillingness to accept non-communist governments bordering the Soviet Union was evident and he made it clear that he wanted to spread Communism around the world. 


  
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?      
Most likely similar documents were being produced. We were close allies with Britain and probably had similar views. Not to mention Truman was very anti-communist and anti-communism was a popular ideal at this time in America.



3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. Explain how each factor helped.     
1.) Imprisoning opposition leaders and Church leaders in Hungary. - This ensured that the Communist party was the only one in the "free" elections so they would definitely come to power.

2.) Banning all other parties in Czechoslovakia. - This way Czechoslovakia became a one party state run totally and completely by the Communist.

3.) Executing the other members of a left wing coalition in Bulgaria. - By executing the other leaders, the Communists were able to ride them to power then keep power after their death since the coalition had been elected as a whole. 

Truman's Decision to Drop the A-Bomb

1. Who was Harry S. Truman's Secretary of War?      
Henry L. Stimson.


2. Who was Truman's Chief of Staff?       
Admiral William D. Leahy

3. Why did Truman believe nuclear bombs needed to be used?    
He believed it was the only way that America could get Japan to unconditionally surrender

4. Why did Admiral Leahy believe nuclear bombs didn't need to be used?      
He said that they had already effectively won with conventional bombing and a successful blockade.

5. Why did Supreme Allied Commander and future president Dwight D. Eisenhower believe they didn't need to be used?      
He too believed that Japan at this point was pretty much defeated.

6. Critics of Truman fall into two camps. One was that he acted rashly because of his "inferior foreign policy skills" when compared to FDR. What is the other major criticism?     
That since so much money had been spent on making the bomb Truman just wanted to use it so it wouldn't be a waste.

7. Key critics of Truman's use of the bomb weren't on the "historical fringe," but were who?      
His chief of staff, Admiral Leahy, and his secretary of war, Stimson.

8. Truman began to soften on his stance for unconditional surrender but something occurred that changed his mind for good. What was that?     
The successful Trinity test of the bomb.

9. Besides defeating Japan what was Truman's other possible motivation for using the nuclear bombs on Japan?    
Showing the Soviet Union that we were very powerful.

10. At Yalta Stalin promised to enter the war against Japan once Germany was defeated. Conventional thinking said this if the Soviets began fighting against Japan.     
The Japanese would surely surrender.

11. The four-power surrender ultimatum to be presented to Japan was to be written and decided upon where?    
Postdam conference, July 1945.

12. What did the Washington Post editorialize about "unconditional surrender"?     
It was never a good idea in the first place.

13. What is the significance of Paragraph 12 in the draft copy of the Potsdam Proclamation prior to Truman setting sail on the USSAugusta? (More detail is needed for this question)     
Paragraph 12 made it clear to the Japanese people that their emperor would still be safe. It also was more on the side of conditional surrender and the softening that Truman's advisers had suggested. The language used put the power to end the war in Japanese hands, giving them the power to stop the killing. 



14. What changed when the Proclamation was publicly announced on July 26?       
The portion regarding a constitutional monarchy with the present dynasty is removed.

15. According to the author, what might have changed Truman's mind to alter the wording in Paragraph 12? (More detail is needed for this question)      
The successful testing of the Trinity bomb was a large reason for the changing of the word. An uncertain test suddenly became a powerful weapon of war for Truman. He was now certain he could make the Japanese surrender. He also didn't want to seem soft to the Soviet Union since he knew he would have to deal with them after the war, and being merciless with Japan would show Stalin that he wasn't afraid.


16. Regarding his diary entry of a conversation with Winston Churchill (who is call "P.M." in the entry) what does the author suggest about Truman's attitude with the bomb despite learning what he does from Churchill?      
Truman learns from Churchill that the Japanese were planning to surrender, and nevertheless decides to use the bomb. The author suggests this shows that he had decided to use it regardless of what happened.

17. What does his caption on the back of the photo of Stalin and Truman suggest about the use of the bomb?      
It might be used by Truman almost as bragging rights over Stalin.

18. "From a foreign policy perspective" what two accomplishments were made by dropping the bomb?    
Ending the war with Japan and being the first to "attack" in the Cold War against the Soviet Union.

19. To give credit to Truman, why didn't he know what FDR's intentions were with the bomb?    
Before becoming president he was kept in total secrecy, and really no one knew what FDR's intention was in regards to the atomic bomb.

20. How did the discrepancy between the loss of 1 million U.S. soldiers lives versus 20,000 to 40,000 if Japan's mainland would have been invaded, affect the understanding of their use?           
This discrepancy was used to help Truman give the American public a bigger reason to support the bombing. He knew that if that many American lives were at stake no one would publicly disagree with it.

21. Based on your readings, this reading, and discussion in class, in a paragraph or two, answer the following: To what extent was President Truman's decision to drop bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?     
President Truman's decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justified in the context of the Cold War but not World War II. This means that the reasoning that it was justified because there was no other way to make Japan surrender is not correct. The emperor of Japan was planning to surrender by the time that Truman decided to drop the bomb. However, if Truman had not dropped the bomb, we would not have asserted our power over the Soviet Union to set the stage for the Cold War. Hence, it was the right decision for the Cold War. 

The Potsdam Conference

1. Read Source 17 (p 68). At Yalta, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed with Stalin that eastern Europe would be a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. Do you think Source 17 is what they had in mind?

No, I think the "sphere of influence" that Churchill and Roosevelt had in mind was much less militarily oriented. Based on Source 17, Stalin planned on keeping a firm grip on these nations with his powerful troops. Churchill and Roosevelt merely agreed to let him set up governments there, essentially Communist puppet governments. The fact that he felt the need to control them with his army as well shows some distrust he felt for the other two leaders. 

2. Would they agree with Stalin’s views expressed in Sources 17 and 18? Explain your answer.
No, Stalin expresses rather anti-U.S.A. and Great Britain sentiments in source 18. The tone sounds almost annoyed at the two countries for interfering, as he thinks he didn't interfere with Greece. He believes they should return the favor. I believe Churchill and Roosevelt would think that Stalin was thinking of mounting a conquest of all of Europe through Poland, where as Greece was crucial for Great Britain's security. I think they would agree to some extent with source 17. Although they would not think it was the ideal method of imposing ideology, I think the two leaders would acknowledge that a large army certainly helps.




3.  Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
The fact that Stalin was keeping his troops in eastern Europe was very threatening to the other leaders at the conference. Although he claimed it was to prevent further attacks, the war in Europe was over, so naturally the leaders were dubious. Truman's anti-communist tendencies certainly didn't help Stalin's image in his eyes either. Truman, with the newfound power of the atomic bomb under his belt, felt like he could genuinely go toe to toe with Stalin if need be. The three developments probably made for a tense conference. 

Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference

1. Choose two points of agreement from the list and explain why they were significant for the future peace of Europe.      

First Point: As countries were liberated from occupation by the German army, they would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted. This agreement allowed for democracy to spread in Europe. It also helped to prevent the Soviets from implementing Communist puppet governments. If this agreement had not been reached, the Communists would have tried to keep more of Eastern Europe than they did.      



Second Point: The Big Three agreed to join the United Nations. These three leaders were the most powerful leaders in the world, therefore all three joining an organization made for keeping the peace was influential. Without these three nations the United Nations would not have enough power to actually maintain peace.



2. Read Sources 2 - 11 on pages 320 and 321. What is your overall impression of the Yalta Conference based on these sources?
Based on these sources, I think the Yalta Conference was based on deception on all fronts. Stalin knew that Churchill and Roosevelt were anti-communist and distrusted their intentions. Roosevelt and Churchill distrusted Stalin because he was such a powerful and influential force in Eastern Europe. However, all three knew that for the sake of the world, it was necessary to put up a front of there being absolutely no disagreement between them to show everyone that the world powers were strong and united.        

America Enters World War II

1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?   
Based on the Germany and the axis powers' aggressive acts in Europe, the U.S.A. wanted to support the Allies in any way possible while still keeping their neutral position. With this idea in mind, Roosevelt was able to pass the "cash and carry" provision in the Neutrality Act so that the United States was still able to give weapons to the Allies without being part of the war officially. America also boosted its defense spending as Germany and the Axis powers became more and more aggressive in case they made an attack on the United States.


2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?    
Roosevelt chose to support Britain and the Soviet Union  because he wanted to help end the war quickly before America had to get involved. He wanted to take steps that would please the isolationist but also help win the war, which is why these steps were "unneutral" as opposed to acts of war. Roosevelt also considered Hitler an enemy of democracy, so he chose to support anyone who stood against him, including Stalin.


3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?   
The Atlantic Charter was essentially the beginning of the U.S. entering the war. The charter was an agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt essentially saying that the two countries would support each other during wartime. This Charter also led to the Declaration of the United Nations, led 26 countries to officially claim their opposition to the Axis powers.

4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?   
The U.S. entered into a shooting war against Germany in 1941 because the U-Boats were attacking American Navy and merchant ships. With each attack they were killing more and more people until Roosevelt had no choice but to instruct the Navy to shoot U-Boats on sight. Eventually the senate came around and allowed Merchant ships to be armed as well. 


5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?   
With Britain busy fighting against Germany, Japan decided to expand its lands into southeast Asia where there were unprotected British colonial lands. The U.S. had to find a non-war method of fighting against this newfound aggression, so they used an embargo on supplies. The most important supply being cut off was oil, and this angered the Japanese. They needed oil for their war machines, so they would either forcefully make the U.S. stop the embargo or seize more land which was oil-bearing. 


6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?  

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solved the problem of the increasingly popular idea of isolationism in America. With this very obvious attack from an Axis power, Roosevelt finally had good reason to declare war, and reason that the senate would support. However, since Japan made the first attack, it was clear that Roosevelt had to fight in both Europe and the Pacific. In order to do so he needed a larger Navy and Air Force and more infantry for the land battles in Europe. 

Dictators Threaten World Peace

1. Why did the new democracies set up after World War I fail? (And yes, I am aware the answer is in the reading so make sure your answer is in your own words.)      
The new democracies set up after World War I failed for several reasons. The biggest was a lack of any desire to have a democratic government from the people, as they were not used to it. A democratic government is made to be run by the people, so when the people are not willing to have it it is doomed for failure. Power hungry dictators capitalized on this situation and aided in the collapse of the democracies so they could take control.


2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?     
A totalitarian state means that the government has total control over the people in the nation. This allows the government to get rid of all the people that disagree with their views. The government controls every aspect of everyone’s lives. As a result, no one has privacy or many other basic civil rights that other forms of government have.


3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?    
The economic depression was affecting Italy in the form of huge labor strikes led by Communists. The people who still had jobs felt unsafe in this environment, so Benito Mussolini stepped up as  a leader to keep them “safe”. To try and calm the disgruntled public, he stressed one of the staple ideas of Fascism: extreme nationalism. He tried to bring them together as one country, serving the state rather than themselves. Under Fascism, serving the state essentially meant serving the small group of leaders, at the top of which was Mussolini himself.


4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?      
Hitler presented the idea of extreme nationalism for all German speaking peoples in Mein Kampf. This book was also where Hitler first proposed his ideas about the Aryan race being fit to rule all others, the very ideas that were the basis of the Final Solution. As part of the nationalistic idea was also the idea of giving more land to the German people fit to live in the empire, more “living space.” He believed German speaking peoples were entitled to the entire world.


5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?     
Japan invaded Manchuria because the militarist taking power held similar beliefs about Japan that Hitler held for Germany. They wanted and believed they deserved more land to live in, as they were superior. Manchuria was  close and not very well guarded part of China, so they launched a surprise attack.


6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?     
America was slightly involved in the Spanish Civil War, as some soldiers voluntarily went to fight against Francisco Franco in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. Overall though, most western countries remained neutral. Italy and Germany, on the other hand, provided ammunition, tanks, and other supplies to Franco’s troops. The Soviet Union sent some aide to the opposition forces, but nothing to match what the Rome-Berlin Axis was doing.


7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?      
One of the largest factors contributing to the isolationism was the hindsight anger regarding how America got into World War I. Many Americans believed that the only reason thousands of American lives were lost was due to the bankers and businessman in the country who would profit off war, and they wanted no such part in it again. This isolationism manifested itself in such legislation as the Neutrality Acts, and the Good Neighbor Policy. Clearly congress and Roosevelt were responding to the antiwar feeling that spread across the nation.

The 2nd New Deal, Minorities, and FDR's Impact

DIRECTIONS: Read, Chapter 23-2, which is about President Roosevelt’s Second New Deal, and then summarize the following important legislative acts. Make sure you include significant details in your summary.

1. What was the Works Progress Administration?
The Works Progress Administration was an organization that focused on giving work to many unskilled workers that could not find employment elsewhere. It was similar to the Public Works Administration in that it helped create lasting infrastructure and aid, such as schools and roads. The WPA also helped keep a history of slavery in America by interviewing former slaves. Many accused the WPA of being a make-work project, nevertheless it lowered unemployment.



2. How did the New Deal help labor? (Hint: Wagner Act)
The Second New Deal helped labor by reestablishing collective bargaining and other rights stripped by the Supreme Court. The Wagner Act set the maximum number of hours in the work week and set the first minimum wage in America, $.25 an hour. This act also set rules on child labor regarding people under 16 and people under 18. Part of the Wagner Act was setting up the National Labor Relations Board, which helped to get rid of unfair practices by employers.



3. What benefits did the Social Security system provide?
Social Security provided a small amount of money for retirees 65 years or older so that they would be sure to have a certain standard of living. It also provided some money to unemployed people to help keep them afloat while they searched for jobs. Social Security provided a weekly sum of money to those with dependent children or the disabled to help support these people who could not work.


Read pages 710 to 713 in Chapter 23-3 (The New Deal Affects Many Groups) and answer the following questions:


4. Why was the “Black Cabinet” important to the Roosevelt administration?
The “Black Cabinet” was important to the Roosevelt administration because it helped to gain him support among the black population of America. Although he did not fully support Civil Rights for African-Americans, he did do his best to promote more equality than there was. African-Americans recognized that he was appointing many more blacks into government than there had been before and respected his efforts. In general, blacks supported the New Deal.


5. Evaluate the actions and policies of the Roosevelt administration on civil rights.
For the most part, Roosevelt did not do much directly for civil rights. Although he made significant efforts to include blacks and Mexicans, most New Deal agencies ended up discriminating often. However, the New Deal did a lot for the Native Americans civil rights. It helped create more self-sufficient reservations that could govern themselves and have schools on the reservation. Overall, Roosevelt made steps forward in civil rights, but did not move very far.


6. What changes occurred for Native Americans as a result of the New Deal?
As a result of the New Deal, America was no longer attempting to assimilate Native Americans, but rather help them to live separately from many Americans, within their own culture. They were given reservations that definitely belonged to one tribe, as opposed to being up for selling by the government if they believed them abandoned. The Native Americans were also given the right to govern their own reservations how they wanted. They could also practice their own cultural practices as they pleased.


7. Why was the Wagner Act significant?
The Wagner Act was a huge help to organized labor in America. The Act helped increase union membership exponentially and give more power to unions. The act also created some of the first industry wide unions, as opposed to local unions. It helped with the creation of the Congress of Industrial Organization as well, which created large and powerful unions.




DIRECTIONS: Read, Chapter 23-5, which is about the impact of New Deal reforms, and take notes about the lasting effects of those reform on American society.

 8a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for LABOR? 8b. And, what were the lasting effects of these LABOR laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
Wagner Act
National Labor Relations Board
Fair Labor Standards Act


This legislation created limits and regulations on labor that still are in effect today. This was the first time child labor was actually banned in America. The minimum wage and limits on work weeks were set as well. This also helped to increased government's role in labor relations with granting all workers the right to collectively bargain.


9a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for AGRICULTURE AND RURAL LIFE? 9b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
Agricultural Adjustment Act
Commodity Credit Corporation


The government help to set prices for crops. It also helped to keep farmer's income more stead with loans from the Credit Commodity Corporation. These policies made government a larger part of the agricultural section of America's economy. Most of the practices were continued by the government up until the 2000s, and they helped agriculture to grow more in America.





  
10a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for BANKING AND FINANCE  10b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Glass-Steagall Act


These acts and organizations helped to monitor the stock market and ensure consumer confidence, and are still in effect today. The Securities and Exchange Commission still monitors the stock market to make sure prices don't get too high or low. FDR used the FDIC to help rebuild consumer confidence by insuring everyone's bank accounts for up $2500. Nowadays, accounts are insured for up to $100,000.




11a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for SOCIAL WELFARE  11b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
Social Security Act


Social welfare in America was improved by far by Social Security. Of all the effects of the New Deal, this one has endured the best of all. People still pay into Social Security every month from their pay checks. It continues to help modern Americans, as it did during the Great Depression, by providing old age insurance, unemployment insurance, and disabled insurance.





12a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for ENVIRONMENT  12b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
Civilian Conservation Corps
Soil Conservation Service
Taylor Grazing Act
Tennessee Valley Authority


The Civilian Conservation Corps planted thousands of trees and built many hiking trails throughout America that still stand and are being used today. Both the Soil Conservation Service and the Taylor Grazing Act helped to encourage farmers to use safer practices, mainly that would prevent something like the dust bowl from happening again. The Tennessee Valley Authority helped build dozens of dams in the Tennessee Valley area that prevented floods and gave the rural, isolated area electricity.