How did Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shape his policies during the Great Depression?
"Rugged individualism is the idea that people should succeed through their own efforts. They should take care of themselves and their families, rather than depend on the government to bail them out." (p. 685)
President Hoover's philosophy was to not provide any form of federal welfare or direct relief to the needy. During the Great Depression he did provide any help for the poor, instead, he called on local organizations to supply the poor with their needs. He did provide jobs during the Boulder Dam project. This belief only shaped his policies during the beginning of the Great Depression, towards the end he attempted to help the American people, but his efforts fell short.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Current Events Summary #4
Due to the 17.6% increase in food prices as a result of food shortages, inflation has risen .3% to 6.5%. This is the highest increase in over 11 years. The main cause of this increase is the 55% price increase of pork, which is a key ingredient in many Chinese dishes. In an attempt to lower inflation banks are now keeping more money in the reserves in order to allow for less available for loans.
On a brighter note China's trade surplus has reached a new high, rising 13.6% more than last month. The trade is now at $27bn. PetroChina, an olil company, saw its shares increase by more than double, rising from 16.7 to 43.96 yuan. This increase gives the company a market value of about $1 trillion.
China raised fuel prices by 10% in an attempt to to ease the countries depleted supply. They hope this increase will cause refiners to increase production, which in turn, would ease the rationing at the stations.
On a brighter note China's trade surplus has reached a new high, rising 13.6% more than last month. The trade is now at $27bn. PetroChina, an olil company, saw its shares increase by more than double, rising from 16.7 to 43.96 yuan. This increase gives the company a market value of about $1 trillion.
China raised fuel prices by 10% in an attempt to to ease the countries depleted supply. They hope this increase will cause refiners to increase production, which in turn, would ease the rationing at the stations.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Ch. 22 sec. 2 critical thinking #4
How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? children?
When the Great Depression hit it affected many people, but it might have affected the men worse, at least it affected them a great deal differently than the women and children. The men, as the head of the house, were expected to feed, provide for, and protect his family. When the Great Depression hit it was incredibly hard for the men to provide enough means to get by for their family. Many families barely made $2.00 a week. That number includes the amount the women working outside of the homes made. Men would go out for hours on end in search odf jobs. Many men, who had been sturgy and self-repcting men, were having trouble keeping their hopes up, and in the end many gave up trying to find jobs or left their families behind.
But the women went out and found jobs and worked to save every penny they could. Many women partnered up with neighbors to split the payments for food and take turns paying for more or less. But instead of beggin out on the streets many women were starving in cold attics and rooming houses because they were too ashamed to show reveal their hardships.
Children also suffered during this time of hardship. Many children had serious health problems due to lack of proper hygiene and healthcare. They had poor diets and as a result the nation saw a dramatic increase in malnutrition and diet-related diseases. As a result of falling tax revenues many schools had to shorten the school year and in some cases even close schools all together. Many teenagers looked for a way out of their troubles and hopped trains traveling across the country looking for adventure and jobs. Many teenagers left home to ease the stress on their parents and provide one less mouth to feed.
Men, women, and children all suffered, but men suffered the most emotionally because they were unable to provide for their families and they felt ashamed and that they had let down their families.
When the Great Depression hit it affected many people, but it might have affected the men worse, at least it affected them a great deal differently than the women and children. The men, as the head of the house, were expected to feed, provide for, and protect his family. When the Great Depression hit it was incredibly hard for the men to provide enough means to get by for their family. Many families barely made $2.00 a week. That number includes the amount the women working outside of the homes made. Men would go out for hours on end in search odf jobs. Many men, who had been sturgy and self-repcting men, were having trouble keeping their hopes up, and in the end many gave up trying to find jobs or left their families behind.
But the women went out and found jobs and worked to save every penny they could. Many women partnered up with neighbors to split the payments for food and take turns paying for more or less. But instead of beggin out on the streets many women were starving in cold attics and rooming houses because they were too ashamed to show reveal their hardships.
Children also suffered during this time of hardship. Many children had serious health problems due to lack of proper hygiene and healthcare. They had poor diets and as a result the nation saw a dramatic increase in malnutrition and diet-related diseases. As a result of falling tax revenues many schools had to shorten the school year and in some cases even close schools all together. Many teenagers looked for a way out of their troubles and hopped trains traveling across the country looking for adventure and jobs. Many teenagers left home to ease the stress on their parents and provide one less mouth to feed.
Men, women, and children all suffered, but men suffered the most emotionally because they were unable to provide for their families and they felt ashamed and that they had let down their families.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Ch. 22 sec. 1 critical thinking #4
Judging from the events of the late 1920's and early 1930's, how important do you think public confidence is to the health of the economy?
Public confidence in the economy is crucial to the survival and stability of it. The stock market crashed in 1929 because people were not well-educated in the stock market business and when the prices began to fall instead of waiting it out,a portion of the country panicked and sold their stocks. When other stock holders saw this huge sellout they decided to sellout, but with so many people selling there wasn't enough people buying and the stock market crashed. If stock holders had been confident that with every decrease of prices there would be an increase because thats what always happens, they would not have sold out. Another part of the economy that needs alot of trust and confidence is family income. At this time more than 70% of families annual income was lower than $2500, but with the steady increase in new household products and electricity becoming more and more available families were overcome with the lack of money to buy these new products.The way to get through this need is not to panic, but instead save as much as you can to build up and be able to support your family.
Public confidence in the economy is crucial to the survival and stability of it. The stock market crashed in 1929 because people were not well-educated in the stock market business and when the prices began to fall instead of waiting it out,a portion of the country panicked and sold their stocks. When other stock holders saw this huge sellout they decided to sellout, but with so many people selling there wasn't enough people buying and the stock market crashed. If stock holders had been confident that with every decrease of prices there would be an increase because thats what always happens, they would not have sold out. Another part of the economy that needs alot of trust and confidence is family income. At this time more than 70% of families annual income was lower than $2500, but with the steady increase in new household products and electricity becoming more and more available families were overcome with the lack of money to buy these new products.The way to get through this need is not to panic, but instead save as much as you can to build up and be able to support your family.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Ch. 21 sec. 1 critical thinking #5
Do you think the passage of the Volstead Act and the ruling in the Scope's trial represented genuine triumphs for traditional values?
I don't think it represented triumphs. It represented attempts to preserve traditional values. By the beginning of the 1920's many people were moving away from rural areas were traditional values were upheld to the city where many things once thought to be sinful were now common occurences and the norm. People went to speakeasies and movie theaters all the time. Women dressed scantily, died their hair, and wore short skirts. Everyone drank. You did not eat home much. The time you went out most was at night.
In rural areas you stayed home at night. You had a meal with the whole family, went to church on sundays and so on. Prohibition groups were formed to attempt to stop the manufacture and sale of alcohol. But this attempt quickly opened the doors for criminal acts, speakeasies, and illegal manufacture and transportation of alcohol. People just wanted to enjoy their lives.
The ruling in the Scope's trial did uphold traditional family values. Scopes was teaching about evolution and was arrested as a result. He was found guilty. This ruling showed that the court and government stil upheld the creation theory which many rural families stil believed in. But overall the traditional family values were being pushed farther and farther under the rug and people were now beginning to live their life the way they wanted.
I don't think it represented triumphs. It represented attempts to preserve traditional values. By the beginning of the 1920's many people were moving away from rural areas were traditional values were upheld to the city where many things once thought to be sinful were now common occurences and the norm. People went to speakeasies and movie theaters all the time. Women dressed scantily, died their hair, and wore short skirts. Everyone drank. You did not eat home much. The time you went out most was at night.
In rural areas you stayed home at night. You had a meal with the whole family, went to church on sundays and so on. Prohibition groups were formed to attempt to stop the manufacture and sale of alcohol. But this attempt quickly opened the doors for criminal acts, speakeasies, and illegal manufacture and transportation of alcohol. People just wanted to enjoy their lives.
The ruling in the Scope's trial did uphold traditional family values. Scopes was teaching about evolution and was arrested as a result. He was found guilty. This ruling showed that the court and government stil upheld the creation theory which many rural families stil believed in. But overall the traditional family values were being pushed farther and farther under the rug and people were now beginning to live their life the way they wanted.
Ch. 20 Sec. 1 Critical Thinking #3
Do you think Americans were justified in their fear of radicals and foreigners in the decade following WWI?
-goals of leaders of Russian Revolution
-challenges facing U.S.
The Americans were justified in their fear of the radicals and foreigners following WWI. Communism was rising in Russia. Communism was a radical form of government which really came into play when revolutionaries overthrew the czar, Vladmir Lenin and the Bolsheviks established a new communist state called the Soviet Union. The U.S. was in the midst of being influenced by the Ku Klux Klan, which was a radical group, who hated everyone except middle aged white males. Thousands of people flocked to join this group, that marched up and down the road next to the capital and White House. The country was also having trouble keeping the amount of immigrants down, until Congress passed the Quota system, which limited the amount of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. The immigrants were forming communist parties in the U.S. which threatened to take over the government if it got to strong.
-goals of leaders of Russian Revolution
-challenges facing U.S.
The Americans were justified in their fear of the radicals and foreigners following WWI. Communism was rising in Russia. Communism was a radical form of government which really came into play when revolutionaries overthrew the czar, Vladmir Lenin and the Bolsheviks established a new communist state called the Soviet Union. The U.S. was in the midst of being influenced by the Ku Klux Klan, which was a radical group, who hated everyone except middle aged white males. Thousands of people flocked to join this group, that marched up and down the road next to the capital and White House. The country was also having trouble keeping the amount of immigrants down, until Congress passed the Quota system, which limited the amount of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. The immigrants were forming communist parties in the U.S. which threatened to take over the government if it got to strong.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Ch. 19 sec 3 #3
How did the war affect government power?
In 1917 Congress passed the Espionage and Sedition Acts which stated that a person could be fined yp to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or the war effort. This new law targeted socialists and labor leaders. The U.S. spent around $35.5 billion on the war effort. One-third of this was raised through taxes. Most of the taxes were on high-income families. The government gave Wilson more power as well. He establish the War Industries Board. This board raised industrial production by 20%, but applied price controls at the wholesale level.
In 1917 Congress passed the Espionage and Sedition Acts which stated that a person could be fined yp to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or the war effort. This new law targeted socialists and labor leaders. The U.S. spent around $35.5 billion on the war effort. One-third of this was raised through taxes. Most of the taxes were on high-income families. The government gave Wilson more power as well. He establish the War Industries Board. This board raised industrial production by 20%, but applied price controls at the wholesale level.
Ch. 19-2 #3
In what ways did WWI represent a frightening new kind of warfare?
The casualty figures in the U.S. were 48,000 men lost, 62,000 men dead due to disease, and 200,000 wounded. New tanks that ran on catapillar treads were built of steel in which bullets bounced off. The officers also learned how to use the tanks to clear out large portions of barbed wire fencing to allow the infantry to move across fields with relative ease. Airplanes now dropped bombs and poison gas that would destroy the inside of one's body. New machine guns that could put out 600 rounds each minute. These new weapons produced a devastating effect on the casualty numbers of the war and the war became more of a massacre than anything.
The casualty figures in the U.S. were 48,000 men lost, 62,000 men dead due to disease, and 200,000 wounded. New tanks that ran on catapillar treads were built of steel in which bullets bounced off. The officers also learned how to use the tanks to clear out large portions of barbed wire fencing to allow the infantry to move across fields with relative ease. Airplanes now dropped bombs and poison gas that would destroy the inside of one's body. New machine guns that could put out 600 rounds each minute. These new weapons produced a devastating effect on the casualty numbers of the war and the war became more of a massacre than anything.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Ch. 19, sec. 1 critical thinking # 4 & 5
Why were America's ties with the Allies stronger than its ties with the Central Powers?
Many people still had ties with countries from which they had emigrated. For example, people who came to the U.S. from Germany sympathized with the Germans and people from Ireland remembered British oppression and saw the war as a chance for Ireland to gain independence.
But, likewise, many people still felt close to Britain. They shared the same language and many had common ancestry. Germany's aggressive sweep through Belgium increased their sympathy for the allies.
America also had stronger economic ties with the allies than with the Central Powers. Before the war, America's trade with Britain and France was more than double it's trade with Germany. During the first two years of the war, the allies flooded American manufacturers with orders for war supplies. The United States shipped millions of dolllars worth of supplies to the allied forces.
Because of the economic stance and backround with the allies, the U.S. was far more tied to the allied forces than with the Central Power.
Why do you think Germany escalated its U-boat attacks in 1917?
Germany escalated its U-boat attacks due to military build-up. They wanted to be superior to Britain. They also did not want any power trading with it's enemies. They did it in an attempt to ruin Britain's economy and provent them from sending forces to aid their allies in continental Europe.
Many people still had ties with countries from which they had emigrated. For example, people who came to the U.S. from Germany sympathized with the Germans and people from Ireland remembered British oppression and saw the war as a chance for Ireland to gain independence.
But, likewise, many people still felt close to Britain. They shared the same language and many had common ancestry. Germany's aggressive sweep through Belgium increased their sympathy for the allies.
America also had stronger economic ties with the allies than with the Central Powers. Before the war, America's trade with Britain and France was more than double it's trade with Germany. During the first two years of the war, the allies flooded American manufacturers with orders for war supplies. The United States shipped millions of dolllars worth of supplies to the allied forces.
Because of the economic stance and backround with the allies, the U.S. was far more tied to the allied forces than with the Central Power.
Why do you think Germany escalated its U-boat attacks in 1917?
Germany escalated its U-boat attacks due to military build-up. They wanted to be superior to Britain. They also did not want any power trading with it's enemies. They did it in an attempt to ruin Britain's economy and provent them from sending forces to aid their allies in continental Europe.
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