Deck 25: Transition to Modern America, 1919-1928

Question 1

The American economy in the 1920s saw explosive growth in________ .

A) the consumer goods industries
B) cotton mills
C) the energy industry
D) agriculture
E) the steel industry

Answer 1

the consumer goods industries

Question 2

What was the key to the new affluence of the 1920s?

A) new methods of business organization
B) the discovery of new sources of raw materials
C) better methods of financing business
D) a more skilled workforce
E) new technology

Answer 2

new technology

Question 3

Crucial to the growth of the automobile industry in the 1920s was________ .

A) new buyer financing techniques
B) new and increased marketing
C) the long life of the new automobile
D) the new method of financing the industry
E) greater disposable income

Answer 3

new and increased marketing

Question 4

What characterized the American economy of the 1920s?

A) a desire for foreign imports over domestic products
B) a reduction in consumer spending
C) advertising becoming a major industry
D) a revival in small shops over larger department stores
E) a boom in agriculture

Question 5

The revolution in consumer goods________ .

A) disguised the decline of many traditional industries
B) epitomized the growth of all areas of the economy
C) was a short-term factor in the American economy
D) aided all other kinds of industry
E) helped fuel growth in the railroad industry

Question 6

The weakest area of the American economy in the 1920s was________ .

A) automobiles
B) agriculture
C) banking
D) exports
E) manufacturing

Question 7

Women in the 1920s________ .

A) had mostly low-paying jobs
B) increasingly became doctors rather than nurses
C) earned nearly one-half of all graduate degrees
D) made considerable gains as college professors, reaching almost 25 percent of the faculty
E) made a substantial permanent gain in the overall number of working women

Question 8

What impact did the Nineteenth Amendment have on women?

A) It thrust women into the political arena.
B) It fundamentally redefined the sex roles in society.
C) It encouraged droves of middle class women to leave the home and enter the workforce.
D) It had less impact on women than women had hoped for.
E) It further unified women on national causes.

Question 9

Sports flourished in the 1920s because________ .

A) city dwellers attempted to escape the violence in the streets
B) it was part of the youthful revolt of teenagers
C) new sports were more interesting to women
D) the wealthy sought ways to relieve boredom
E) people had more leisure time

Question 10

The________ symbolized the flowering of African American culture in the 1920s.

A) growth of the NAACP
B) flapper era
C) Harlem Renaissance
D) expatriate community
E) "Garveyites"

Question 11

During the Red Scare of 1919-1920, who led the attack on the alien threat?

A) Mitchell Palmer
B) Clarence Darrow
C) Warren G. Harding
D) Alexander Berkman
E) William Jennings Bryan

Question 12

Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted of murder primarily because they were________ .

A) Russian immigrants
B) anarchists
C) atheists
D) guilty
E) black

Question 13

What did the Volstead Act do?

A) implemented prohibition
B) restricted immigration
C) created special supervision over stockyards, packinghouses, and grain trading
D) reduced income taxes for the wealthy
E) established a higher protective tariff

Question 14

The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s________ .

A) appealed to old-stock Americans nervous about social and cultural change
B) focused solely on blacks in both the North and the South
C) was not politically active or powerful
D) would not admit women
E) was active mainly in the Old South

Question 15

The Ku Klux Klan collapsed after________ .

A) several major leaders were convicted of sexual and financial crimes
B) it was unmasked as a secret communist conspiracy
C) new federal laws made membership a crime in 1927
D) evangelist Billy Sunday denounced it in a widely reprinted sermon
E) southerners abandoned it as being unlike the Reconstruction-era Klan

Question 16

Which of the following is true of the immigration legislation of the 1920s?

A) The legislation had no lasting effect.
B) It was opposed by the large corporations.
C) It encouraged immigration from underdeveloped countries.
D) The legislation was the most enduring achievement of the rural counterattack.
E) It was quickly repealed in the 1930s.

Question 17

Which group was exempted from the provisions of the National Origins Act of 1921?

A) Italians
B) Russians
C) Germans
D) Mexicans
E) Irish

Question 18

John Scopes was tried for________ .

A) sending package bombs through the mail during the Red Scare
B) evading the draft during World War I
C) shouting "fire" in a crowded theater
D) teaching the theory of evolution in a Tennessee high school
E) abducting and murdering the infant son of Charles Lindbergh

Question 19

Harding and his successors________ .

A) sought to continue the policies of Wilson
B) wanted a return to traditional Republican policies
C) advanced in new directions
D) sought to maintain the status quo
E) wanted to redefine "Republicanism"

Question 20

Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon pushed for________ .

A) lower tax rates for everyone
B) lower personal taxes for the rich
C) higher corporation taxes
D) higher taxes for the rich
E) the abolition of the income tax

Question 21

As secretary of commerce, Herbert Hoover________ .

A) sought to limit government-business relations
B) established a mediocre reputation
C) differed with the policies of Harding and Coolidge
D) pushed for closer relations between government and business
E) was totally unable to accomplish his goals

Question 22

What was the root of the farmers' problems in the 1920s?

A) crop disease
B) foreign competition
C) high labor costs
D) overproduction
E) high tariff rates

Question 23

The Democratic candidate in the election of 1928 was________ .

A) Robert M. La Follette
B) James Cox
C) John W. Davis
D) Al Smith
E) William McAdoo

Question 24

Which of the following was an indicator of the future strength of the Democratic party?

A) its success in the presidential race of 1924
B) the shift of urban voters to the party
C) an increase in the number of rural Democrats
D) the unpopularity of Republican presidents
E) a large number of women voters

Question 25

Beneath the surface, the two candidates in the election of 1928________ .

A) were strikingly similar
B) were radically different
C) were somewhat alike
D) had little in common
E) despised each other

Question 26

What was the significance of Ford's Highland Park plant in the transition to modern America?

A) It was the first factory to open in the United States.
B) It marked the beginning of mass production in the United States.
C) This plant produced crucial military equipment for the First World War.
D) It was the place where organized labor first emerged.
E) Women were employed here for the first time.

Question 27

How did the advent of mass production change the lives of Americans in the early twentieth century?

A) As a result, Americans attained the highest standard of living in the world.
B) It resulted in an increase in racial harmony among U.S. workers.
C) Due to the mechanization of production, unemployment rates plummeted.
D) The farmers of rural America benefited due to increased demand for produce.
E) Due to the availability of cheap goods, poverty went into decline.

Question 28

What was one of the weaknesses of the consumer goods economy?

A) Mass production resulted in the depletion of crucial natural resources.
B) Labor disputes disrupted the production process and damaged economic growth.
C) The quality of the goods that were produced was substandard.
D) It led to the spread of national supermarket and department store chains.
E) The production of so-called durable goods eventually decreased demand.

Question 29

What was the effect of uniformity and standardization on the lives of average Americans?

A) an increase in the average salary of the American worker
B) women being able to afford to enter the workforce
C) homogenization of consumer goods and a decline in regional variety
D) economic stability that persisted throughout the rest of the decade
E) countless new brands emerging as different regions produced their own goods

Question 30

What was one downside to this period of rapid economic growth?

A) Many traditional industries, such as agriculture, went into a period of decline.
B) Industry was frequently interrupted by crippling labor strikes.
C) The overall standard of living of Americans declined at this time.
D) Unemployment rates skyrocketed due to the advent of mass production.
E) It wsa difficult to differentiate between urban culture and rural American values.

Question 31

Where and why did the major demographic shift of the 1920s take place?

A) There was a mass movement of people from the cities to the suburbs due to the advent of the automobile.
B) There was a mass movement of people from the rural countryside to cities because consumer industries were located there.
C) The development of mechanization in agricultural production drew populations from urban to more rural areas.
D) People moved from the cities to rural areas to escape overcrowding and poor air quality.
E) Generally speaking, there was relative demographic stability during this period.

Question 32

How did the emergence of urban culture affect the lives of women?

A) Women had larger families as more children entered the workforce to supplement their family's income.
B) Traditional sex roles changed, so fewer women stayed home to raise the family.
C) Salaries of female workers began to climb during this period.
D) Being less restricted, some women felt more comfortable expressing themselves.
E) More women than men were able to attain graduate degrees.

Question 33

In what way can Jazz Age activities be seen as an effect of the economic growth of this period?

A) The consumer goods boom resulted in a multiplication of sporting events and other forms of entertainment.
B) Lower tariffs provided easier access to European goods, influencing fashion and other cultural trends.
C) Increased standards of living provided the middle class with leisure time and disposable income to spend on an increasing variety of diversions.
D) Exuberant dances like the Charleston expressed the new financial prosperity enjoyed by many Americans at this time.
E) As the overall standard of living increased, rural Americans felt less restrained by conservative morals and more free to explore new forms of entertainment.

Question 34

How did attitudes toward sex and marriage change at this time?

A) Victorian attitudes towards sex and marriage reemerged to dominate American society throughout the 1920s.
B) There was little change in attitudes toward sex and marriage at this time in American history.
C) Extramarital affairs became less prevalent, as conservative values dominated urban American society.
D) The increase in drinking and the countercultural style of urbanites resulted in a return to more conservative attitudes toward sex and marriage.
E) There was an increased permissiveness in attitudes toward sex, and more tolerance toward and a higher incidence of divorce.

Question 35

How did conservatives react to the cultural transformations taking place in American cities during the 1920s?

A) They had a general concern that cultural change would lead to economic instability and loss of international influence.
B) In their minds, the transformation was eroding traditional values and was seen as threatening.
C) They saw change as a good thing and cultural transformation as a natural process.
D) They were pleased that the changes taking place in American cities in the 1920s resulted in an increase in church attendance.
E) They believed that sporting events, cultural activities such as concerts, and the rise of speakeasies all represented opportunities for economic growth.

Question 36

How did the "Red Scare" shape American society in the 1920s?

A) The authorities ensured the civil liberties of all citizens, despite fears of radical elements within American society.
B) There was an increased sense of fear as radicals committed violent acts such as the bombing of Attorney General Palmer's home in 1919.
C) The Red Scare contributed to a rise in membership of the Communist party in the United States.
D) The Red Scare led to heightened antagonism toward Asians and their widespread deportation.
E) In cases such as the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, America's founding ideals were upheld and justice prevailed over prejudice.

Question 37

What did the "Red Scare" reveal about the darker side of American society?

A) There was a deep undercurrent of intolerance and bigotry in American society.
B) Americans were more interested in economic growth than in personal liberties.
C) Racism emerged as a new phenomenon in the America of the 1920s.
D) Americans were willing to tolerate immigrants and racial minorities as long as they stayed out of political life.
E) There was a general indifference toward issues of race, ethnicity, and national identity in the United States at that time.

Question 38

Which group in American society benefited most from prohibition?

A) The upper middle class benefited most because they were exempt from prohibition.
B) Those who benefited most were the ones who controlled the illegal production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
C) As the champions of this "noble experiment," conservatives were the ones who benefited most.
D) Churches and psychologists benefited due to the increased role they played in counseling alcoholics.
E) The judicial system benefited as its role in enforcement gave it more power in state and local government.

Question 39

Why did the KKK experience rapid growth during the decade of the 1920s?

A) Since the KKK were the chief producers and purveyors of illegal liquor during prohibition, many Americans entered their ranks.
B) The perception of eroding traditional values and the influx of foreigners led many to adopt extremist views such as those espoused by the KKK.
C) As with the rise of jazz, sports, and other leisure activities at this time, the growth of the KKK was an indicator of a rise in the standard of living.
D) The KKK was primarily concerned with preserving the ethnic diversity of American society, which attracted many to its ranks.
E) The presence of a Junior Order for young boys gave the Klan a broader appeal.

Question 40

Why did so-called nativists resist the influx of immigrants from Europe at this time?

A) There was a strong sense of resentment of Europeans due to American involvement in the First World War.
B) In general, nativist Americans tended to favor immigration from "native" Latin American countries rather than from Europe.
C) European immigrants were taking a large percentage of high-paying jobs, which angered citizens of the United States.
D) There was widespread concern that the influx of foreigners would deprive Americans of lower-paying but more abundant jobs.
E) Scientists had proven than European peoples were genetically inferior and therefore ought to be prevented from intermingling with American people.

Question 41

What did the Scopes trial reveal about religious tensions during the 1920s?

A) It revealed a sharp divide over modern ideas between Christian fundamentalists of rural America and more liberal-minded Christians of urban areas.
B) It demonstrated that Protestant Americans were deeply suspicious of the Roman Catholic Church.
C) The Scopes trial was a pivotal moment in the heated debate over abortion and the role that government should or should not play in its use.
D) It highlighted the divide between more aggressive fundamentalist sects and forms of Christianity that emphasized good works and personal service.
E) The Scopes trial was the beginning of religion's central role in American politics, alienating many who believed strongly in the separation of church and state.

Question 42

What did Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover have in common?

A) All three were presidents from the Democratic party.
B) All three presidents were raised in one of America's large cities.
C) All three were conservatives who epitomized traditional American values.
D) All three were involved in scandals while in office.
E) All three strongly supported small business owners and labor unions.

Question 43

What was the intent of the Republican party's push for "normalcy" during the 1920s?

A) The return to normalcy indicated a Republican reservation about innovation and a preference for federal approaches to creating wealth and prosperity.
B) It suggested a strategy that resulted in the raising of income taxes on all classes of Americans.
C) This phrase indicated that Republicans would seek to reverse the cultural transformation and modernization sweeping American society.
D) As part of the planned return to normalcy, Republicans sought to shrink government intervention in all aspects of the American economy.
E) Reacting to fast-paced reforms of progressive presidents such as Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt, Republicans in the 1920s sought stability and security.

Question 44

How did Republican policies affect the wealthiest Americans?

A) Overall, the wealthiest Americans paid a higher percentage of their income in taxes.
B) Both poor and wealthy Americans benefited from Republican policies in the 1920s.
C) Throughout the 1920s, wealthy Americans saw their income taxes reduced significantly.
D) Due to Republican policies, the wealthiest Americans would end up being the hardest hit during the Great Depression.
E) Unemployment among the wealthiest Americans went into sharp decline during the 1920s.

Question 45

Why did Hoover have greater appeal than Smith in the election of 1928?

A) As a Catholic and big-city politician, Hoover appealed to the immigrant population that was larger than the "nativist" population.
B) As a Protestant and someone who stood for traditional American values, Hoover appealed to a larger majority of Americans.
C) Hoover was a self-made man who embodied the American belief in freedom of opportunity and upward mobility.
D) Hoover had fought in the First World War, but Smith had not.
E) Prior to the presidential race of 1928, Smith had never been involved in politics.

Question 46

What was the pivotal role of religion in the 1928 election?

A) Most Americans voted for Hoover as the Protestant candidate.
B) Most Americans were Catholic immigrants and identified with Smith.
C) The Ku Klux Klan supported Hoover because he was Protestant.
D) The Roman Catholic Church ordered its faithful to vote for Al Smith.
E) Religiously active Protestants refused to participate in this election.

Question 47

Which issue from the 1920s continues to affect politics and education today?

A) evolution versus creationism
B) segregation versus integration
C) immigration rights versus nativist exclusions
D) prohibition versus legal alcohol consumption
E) local versus national government powers

Question 48

What was the impact of the First World War on the United States during the 1920s?

A) The United States emerged as the most powerful country in the world and spent the 1920s solidifying its preeminence through political and economic policies.
B) The United States was greatly devastated financially and emotionally and spent the 1920s rebuilding financial and emotional confidence.
C) The United States emerged from the war as one of the dominant nations of the world and spent the 1920s economically and politically solidifying that dominance.
D) The United States was frightened by worldwide conflict and spent the 1920s doing everything it could to avoid foreign contacts.
E) The United States continued well into the 1920s to be divided by ethnicity, with German and Russian Americans on one side, and English and French Americans on the other.

Question 49

How were families affected by changes sweeping American society in the 1920s?

A) Generally, childhood and adolescence became shorter periods because families needed to send children to work at a younger age.
B) Casual sex and the consumption of alcohol declined among youth during the 1920s.
C) The "youth movement" of the 1920s championed traditional family values, such as respect for one's parents.
D) Church attendance increased in urban areas due to the availability of a wider variety of options.
E) The average American family decreased in size due to the availability of more effective birth control methods.

Question 50

Why were Republicans able to dominate politics in the 1920s, controlling both Congress and the presidency?

A) Republicans appealed to the traditional values of immigrant groups and factory workers.
B) Americans were looking for a return to traditional policies following the changes of the Progressive Era.
C) Republican government pushed for increased taxation to provide more services to the urban poor.
D) The government role in the economy decreased in the 1920s.
E) Lower tariffs provided better access to inexpensive, European consumer goods, fueling the Jazz Age culture.

Question 51

How did mass production, mass marketing, and popular culture begin to homogenize regional and local subcultures during the 1920s?

Question 52

What factors account for the "conservative counterattack" of the 1920s? What forms did it take? What was its most significant success?

Question 53

What political scandals occurred during the 1920s? Why were Americans so tolerant of these scandals?