ap us history chapter 15 notes

Lemon

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02-02-2025

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This outline covers key themes and concepts typically found in Chapter 15 of most AP US History textbooks, focusing on the 1920s and the onset of the Great Depression. Remember to consult your specific textbook for detailed information and page numbers. This is intended as a supplemental study guide.

I. The Roaring Twenties: A Decade of Change and Contradiction

A. Post-War Social and Cultural Transformations:

• Prohibition and its impact: The 18th Amendment and the rise of organized crime; speakeasies, bootlegging, and the growth of gangster culture (e.g., Al Capone). Explore the social and economic consequences of Prohibition and its eventual repeal.
• The changing role of women: The 19th Amendment granting women suffrage and its broader impact on women's lives; flappers, changing fashion, and shifting social expectations. Analyze the limitations women still faced despite gaining suffrage.
• The Harlem Renaissance: A flourishing of African American culture in literature, music, and art; key figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Louis Armstrong. Discuss the significance of the Harlem Renaissance in the context of racial progress and limitations.
• Mass Culture and Consumerism: The rise of radio, movies, and advertising; the impact of mass production and assembly lines on consumer goods; the development of a national popular culture. Analyze the social and economic consequences of mass consumerism.
• Immigration Restrictions: The rise of nativism and xenophobia; the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924; the impact on immigration patterns and American society. Examine the motivations behind these restrictive laws and their long-term effects.

B. Political Developments:

• Republican Dominance: The presidencies of Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover; their laissez-faire economic policies and their impact on business and the economy. Assess the successes and failures of Republican policies during the 1920s.
• Isolationism and Foreign Policy: The rejection of the League of Nations; the focus on domestic issues; limited involvement in international affairs. Analyze the reasons for American isolationism and its consequences.
• The rise of the Ku Klux Klan: A resurgence of the KKK in the 1920s; its targets and methods; its influence on politics and society. Explore the factors contributing to the KKK's resurgence and its ultimate decline.

II. The Great Depression: Causes and Consequences

A. Economic Factors Leading to the Crash:

• Overproduction and Underconsumption: The imbalance between the production of goods and consumer demand; the role of installment buying and credit. Explain how these factors contributed to the economic downturn.
• Stock Market Speculation: The boom in the stock market during the late 1920s; the role of margin buying and the subsequent crash of 1929. Analyze the causes and consequences of the stock market crash.
• Banking Panics and Monetary Contraction: The failure of banks and the resulting loss of savings; the impact on credit and investment. Explore the ripple effects of bank failures.
• International Economic Conditions: The interconnectedness of the global economy; the impact of the Depression on other countries. Discuss the international aspects of the Great Depression.

B. The Impact of the Depression:

• Unemployment and Poverty: The widespread unemployment and its impact on families and communities; the rise of homelessness and soup kitchens. Analyze the social and psychological consequences of mass unemployment.
• The Dust Bowl: Environmental disaster in the Great Plains; its causes and impact on agriculture and migration. Explain the environmental and human costs of the Dust Bowl.
• Social and Political Unrest: The rise of radical movements; the growing discontent with the government's response to the crisis. Analyze the social and political responses to the Depression.
• Hoover's Response: President Hoover's initial policies and their limitations; the criticisms of his administration. Assess the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of Hoover's approach.

This is a framework; remember to delve deeper into each point using your textbook and supplemental readings. Good luck with your studies!