Section 2: The USA: A nation of contrasts, 1910–1929 Chapter 4 The main political and social challenges facing America, 1910–1929 4.1 Why did immigration become such a major issue in American society? Exam practice (page 36) Use the information in Source A and your own knowledge to explain how the immigration acts of the 1920s restricted entry into the USA. [4 marks] Sample answer: Source A shows how the Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924 set quota levels for the number of immigrants entering the USA. The quota level for each country was based upon a percentage figure of the total number of immigrants from that country already in the USA. In 1921 the Emergency Quota Act set a 3% level and in 1924 the National Origins Act reduced the figure to 2%. Countries from western Europe like Britain and Ireland had higher quota levels than those from eastern Europe like Poland and Russia. In 1929 an immigration act was introduced which restricted the total number of immigrants to 150,000 per year, 85% of them being people from northern and western Europe. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It makes good use of the information provided in the source, quoting percentage figures and naming countries. By naming the two Acts of 1921 and 1924 the candidate has included own knowledge, as is the information provided on the 1929 Immigration Act. 4.2 Was America a country of religious and racial intolerance during this period? Exam practice (page 38) How useful is Source A to a historian studying the reasons why the Monkey Trial took place in 1925? [6 marks] Sample answer: Source A is useful to the historian because it tells us that what was taught in schools in the southern states of the USA was the cause of considerable concern to many Americans who were in favour of an anti‐evolution law. They were opposed to the teaching of evolution and thought that the stopping of the teaching of old‐fashioned religious faith based upon the Bible had caused a lowering of moral standards. The source is part of an interview given by Austin Peay, the Governor of the southern state of Tennessee, which was printed in the ‘Nashville Banner’ newspaper in 1925. Tennessee was a part of the Bible Belt states which opposed the teaching of evolution in schools and supported the prosecution of the teacher Johnny Scopes in 1925 during the Monkey Trial. The biased beliefs of the Governor reflect the views of many of his voters. The source is useful to the historian as it spells out the beliefs of religious fundamentalists at the time of the Monkey Trial. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It provides a good discussion of what the source says (its content) and links it to the Monkey Trial; it identifies the author (its origin) and the date; it concludes that the source is biased because it is the view of a religious fundamentalist who was governor of the state of Tennessee within the Bible Belt, and it was reflecting the view of the anti‐evolutionists (its purpose). © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 1
Exam practice (page 41) How far does Source A support the view that the Ku Klux Klan was a racist organisation? [5 marks] Sample answer: Source A contains the views of Hiram Wesley Evans, the Imperial Wizard of the KKK, who was interviewed in 1924. As he was the leader of the Klan his views would be very biased. He says that steps were needed to keep the white race of America pure. He believed that only WASPS were true Americans – white, Anglo‐Saxon Protestants. He considered the black population and Roman Catholics to be the enemy and described them as being un‐American and anti‐American. These were very biased views which confirm that the KKK was a racist organisation. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. Good use has been made of the content of the source to illustrate the biased and racist views held by members of the KKK. Reference is made to the fact that these are the views of the leader of the KKK who was interviewed in 1924. The concluding sentence provides a judgement upon ‘how far’. 4.3 Was the 1920s a decade of organised crime and corruption? Exam practice (page 43) Describe the career of Al Capone. [4 marks] Sample answer: By the mid‐1920s Al Capone had emerged as the most powerful gangster in Chicago. When he took over the running of Johnny Torrio’s gang he quickly built up a vast empire of organised crime. He operated speakeasies, bookmakers, gambling houses, nightclubs and breweries. He grew rich by bootlegging, supplying illegal alcohol and he bribed senior police chiefs and the city mayor, Big Bill Thompson, to ignore his operations. He took action to eliminate rival gangs and in 1929 he was behind the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The authorities eventually brought him to justice and in 1931 he was found guilty of tax evasion and was sent to prison. He was released early due to ill health. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It contains good attention to detail through the inclusion of specific names and events such as bootlegging, Johnny Torrio, Big Bill Thompson and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. This is a concise answer which describes the rise and fall of Capone’s career as a gangster. Chapter 5 The rise and fall of the American economy, 1910–1929 5.1 What were the causes of the economic boom? Exam practice (page 46) Describe how the policies of the Republican presidents aimed to help the US economy to grow during the 1920s. [4 marks] Sample answer: The three presidents of the 1920s were all Republicans who followed the same policies. Warren Harding followed a ‘Back to Normalcy’ policy and he reduced the high taxes of the war years in the belief it would encourage Americans to spend more. His successor Calvin Coolidge believed in the policy of ‘Laissez‐faire’ which meant limited interference by government in the © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 2
running of the economy, letting it control itself. This meant businesses were free to make their own decisions. Herbert Hoover believed in ‘Rugged Individualism’ which aimed at encouraging people to achieve success through their own hard work. All three presidents believed in protecting home markets and introduced tariffs such as the 1922 Fordney‐McCumber Act which imposed high import taxes. This encouraged Americans to buy cheaper US goods rather than more expensive foreign imports. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. The answer is well informed, making specific reference to a number of key policies followed by the Republican presidents – ‘Back to Normalcy’, ‘Laissez‐faire’, ‘Rugged Individualism’ and ‘Tariffs’ (protectionism). Explanation was included to show how these policies attempted to boost economic growth. 5.2 How did this prosperity affect American society? Exam practice (page 49) What does Source A tell you about the lifestyle of some farmers during the 1920s? [2 marks] Sample answer: During the 1920s many farmers were poor and Source A shows a farming family from the mid‐West living in poverty. They have few possessions, are dressed in rags and the whole family lives in a small room with little furniture. Comment: The candidate has made two statements which develop and pick out details from the photograph and also make use of the caption. 5.3 Why did the boom period come to a sudden and dramatic end in 1929? Exam practice (page 51) How far does Source A support the view that many Americans were encouraged to buy shares in the 1920s? [5 marks] Sample answer: Source A supports the view that many Americans were encouraged to buy shares during the 1920s because it says that by investing in shares people will get rich. By investing $15 a month for 20 years it would build up a jackpot of $80,000 which would result in a monthly income of $400. The author of the source was John S. Raskob, Director of General Motors. He made his comments in 1928 when share prices were reaching an all time high and many Americans had made money buying and selling shares. The source fully supports the view that many Americans saw such investments as an easy way to get rich quick and they were encouraged to do so. However, it was said by a man who was in charge of one of America’s biggest companies and he would be biased wanting people to invest in his company. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. There has been a good attempt to explain the content of the source, linking it to own knowledge to provide context, saying that by 1928 share prices were reaching their peak. As part of the judgement reference is made to the author, noting that as the head of a large company he was bound to be biased in expressing the view that Americans should buy shares. © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 3
Exam practice (page 51) Describe the Wall Street Crash of October 1929. [4 marks] Sample answer: By the autumn of 1929 share prices on Wall Street had reached record levels and several big investors had decided to take profits and sell large numbers of shares. This caused small investors to panic and it led to a rush to sell, causing share prices to fall sharply. On Saturday 19 October 3.5 million shares were traded and this was the first big fall in prices. Over the next few days millions of shares were traded and prices continued to fall. On 24 October, Black Thursday, 13 million shares were traded causing a drastic fall in prices. On 29 October, Black Tuesday, 16 million shares were traded, the fall in prices making it the worst day ever on the stock market. The result was a crash and the collapse of the stock market. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It is a well‐
informed answer providing a clear overview of events on the US stock market in late October 1929. Key dates and specific terms such as Black Tuesday and Black Thursday are mentioned, as well as the number of shares traded. There is a clear attempt to describe the sudden collapse of the stock market. Chapter 6 Changes in American culture and society 6.1 How did popular entertainment develop during this period? Exam practice (page 53) Explain why some Americans were critical of the movie industry. [5 marks] Sample answer: The movie industry was blamed by some Americans for causing a decline in moral standards. Sections of US society such as religious fundamentalists strongly believed that films encouraged Americans to follow the glamorous lifestyle of the movie stars and take part in immoral activity. They disliked how movie stars such as Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino were portrayed as sex symbols and they disapproved of stories of wild parties and their love affairs. They thought that films did not uphold the moral values of American life and encouraged people to behave inappropriately. They believed that the Hays Code of Practice did not go far enough in regulating the movie industry. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It identifies and illustrates several points, saying that films helped to lower moral standards and movie stars were portrayed as sex symbols. It says that the film industry was not doing enough to clean up its act. The answer includes specific terminology such as religious fundamentalists, the names of movie stars and the Hays Code of Practice. © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 4
6.2 How did the lifestyle and status of women change during this period? Exam practice (page 56) How important was the First World War in changing the lifestyle of women in America? [5 marks] Sample answer: The First World War was very important in helping to change the lifestyle of women in America. Before the war middle‐ and upper‐class women led secluded and restricted lives. Unmarried women needed a chaperone, and it was expected that they should not drink or smoke in public. They wore long dresses and little make‐up. The war provided women with new opportunities and many entered the workplace, working in factories or on farms. This gave them more freedom and after the war they adopted a less restrictive lifestyle. Flappers emerged. They refused chaperones, they drank, they went to speakeasies and night clubs and they wore short and sleeveless dresses. The First World War was therefore very important in creating a climate of change. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It shows how the war helped create new opportunities for women and enabled them to break away from the restrictive life they led before 1917. The position of women before and after the war is compared and contrasted and there is a clear attempt to provide a judgement. 6.3 Why did sport and other leisure activities witness so much growth during this period? Exam practice (page 59) The Roaring Twenties saw great change in the cultural and social life of many Americans. Was the growth of the cinema the most important development in American culture and society during this period? [10 marks + 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)] In your answer you should: ‐ discuss the importance of the growth of the cinema ‐ discuss other important developments in American culture and society. Sample answer: The growth of the cinema played a significant part in the development of American culture and society during this period. The silent cinema saw tremendous growth. In 1910 there were 8000 cinemas and by 1930 this had grown to 303,000. They showed a variety of films covering many themes such as romantic, westerns and slap‐stick comedy. Stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow attracted large audiences. In 1927 the first talking picture appeared which was called ‘The Jazz Singer’. The cinema changed the social life of millions of Americans and it became one of the most popular forms of entertainment. However, the cinema was not the only cultural and social development to affect America during this period. Another important development was the impact of Jazz music. This was the music of black Americans which developed in the Deep South and became popular during the 1920s. Jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became household names as did singers like Bessie Smith. Popular entertainment such as listening to the radio and gramophone, and attending the new clubs and dance halls also became fashionable. People went to perform the new dances such as the Charleston and Black Bottom. Organised sport also grew in popularity during the 1920s and became © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 5
an important part of the social life of many Americans as they had more free time and more money to engage in leisure activities. Baseball grew in popularity due to the appeal of stars such as Babe Ruth and Oscar Charleston who attracted large crowds and large radio audiences. Women also made great social progress during the 1920s with the development of the flapper lifestyle. New modern women dressed in new fashions with sleeveless dresses, a bob haircut and wore make‐up. They ditched the chaperone and followed a more liberal lifestyle. During the 1920s people had more leisure time and disposable income to engage in cultural and social events. They listened to the new Jazz music on the radio, they went to watch their sporting heroes in the new stadia, and they went to nightclubs and dance halls. However, one of the greatest changes was due to the growth of the cinema. It was cheap entertainment enjoyed by millions of Americans, making it the most important development in American culture and society during this period. Comment: This response displays the characteristics of a high‐performing answer. It is a well‐
developed two‐sided argument which is supported with specific factual detail. The growth and development of the cinema is well‐documented with supporting examples. The counter‐argument is explored and a range of alternative factors are discussed. The essay concludes with a reasoned judgement, with a clear link back to the question. The standard of spelling, punctuation and grammar is very good throughout. © Hodder & Stoughton 2012 6