Question 1

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. 
Federal Emergency Relief Act, Harry Hopkins

Accepted Answer

The Federal Emergency Relief Act was a law passed in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program. It provided federal funds for state relief programs for the unemployed and those in need during the Great Depression. The act aimed to provide immediate assistance to those suffering from the economic downturn and to create jobs through public works projects.

Harry Hopkins was a key figure in the implementation of the Federal Emergency Relief Act. He was appointed by President Roosevelt to head the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), the agency responsible for distributing the federal funds to the states. Hopkins was known for his efficient and direct approach to relief efforts, and he played a crucial role in providing aid to millions of Americans during the Great Depression.

Overall, the Federal Emergency Relief Act and Harry Hopkins' leadership of the FERA were significant in providing immediate relief to those in need during a time of widespread economic hardship. The act and Hopkins' work helped to alleviate suffering and provided a foundation for later New Deal programs aimed at stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

Question 2

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. 
Civilian Conservation Corps

Accepted Answer

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a work relief program that operated in the United States from 1933 to 1942 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. It was designed to provide jobs for young men during the Great Depression while also addressing the nation's environmental degradation. The CCC is significant for its dual role in both economic recovery and conservation efforts.

Established by the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which was signed into law by President Roosevelt on March 31, 1933, the CCC was one of the earliest New Deal programs and was intended to combat the high unemployment of the Depression era. The program was directed by Robert Fechner, and later by James McEntee following Fechner's death.

The CCC recruited men between the ages of 18 and 25, later expanded to ages 17 to 28, and provided them with food, clothing, shelter, and a small wage. These men were organized into work camps, which were overseen by the U.S. Army. The camps were located in national parks, forests, and other rural and wilderness areas across the country.

The work performed by the CCC included a variety of conservation projects such as planting trees to combat soil erosion, building infrastructure in national parks, restoring historic battlefields, and constructing trails and shelters. Over its nine-year existence, the CCC planted more than 3 billion trees, which was crucial in reforesting the nation and is often cited as one of the program's most enduring legacies.

The CCC also played a role in developing the infrastructure for the growing national and state park systems, making them more accessible to the public. The work of the CCC helped to lay the foundation for the modern environmental movement and the concept of sustainable land management.

The program was disbanded in 1942 as the United States' entry into World War II shifted the nation's priorities and resources. By the time the CCC concluded, it had provided jobs for over 2.5 million young men, making it one of the most successful New Deal programs. The legacy of the CCC is still visible today in the many parks and natural areas that were shaped by its work.

Question 3

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. 
Hundred Days

Accepted Answer

The term "Hundred Days" refers to a specific period of intense activity by a political figure or a significant sequence of events. The most famous instance of the "Hundred Days" is associated with Napoleon Bonaparte and marks the period between his return from exile on the island of Elba to Paris on March 20, 1815, and the restoration of King Louis XVIII following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815.

During these Hundred Days, also known as "les Cent-Jours" in French, Napoleon made a dramatic comeback to power in France. After his abdication in April 1814 and subsequent exile, the Bourbon monarchy was restored in France with Louis XVIII as king. However, the new regime quickly became unpopular. Seizing the opportunity, Napoleon escaped from Elba and landed in France, where he was welcomed by cheering crowds and a disenchanted army. He marched to Paris, taking power once again without firing a single shot, as Louis XVIII fled.

Napoleon's return to power led to a renewed period of political and military mobilization. He attempted to introduce reforms and create a liberal constitution in an effort to gain wider support. However, the rest of Europe, which had been at peace since Napoleon's abdication, formed a coalition to remove him from power once again. This culminated in the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon's forces were defeated by the British, led by the Duke of Wellington, and the Prussians, under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.

The significance of the Hundred Days lies in its impact on European history. It disrupted the post-Napoleonic peace that the Congress of Vienna (September 1814 to June 1815) was trying to establish. The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo effectively ended his rule and the Napoleonic Wars, leading to a long period of peace in Europe known as the Concert of Europe. Napoleon was subsequently exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821. The Hundred Days is remembered as a remarkable episode in European history, showcasing Napoleon's charisma and the volatility of the political landscape at the time.

Question 4

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. 
Okies, Dust Bowl

Accepted Answer