Module 7: America at the Turn of the Century - 1900 to the 1930s

Join Terrence and Martina as they learn the importance of changing with the times and overcoming hardships. As America continued to grow, the country began struggling with international relations, trade, and conflict. Such turmoil led to small wars like the Spanish American War, and larger battles like World War I. American life and values also changed as the United States moved into the 1920s. With these changing viewpoints, people began to question their thoughts on religion, women’s rights, and alcohol consumption. As a result of new business practices, a huge shift in the economy occurred in the 1920s and 1930s. Overall, the early part of the twentieth century marks a period in history when the United States developed a unique identity.

Getting Started

Political cartoons depict social or political messages of a time period. Examine the political cartoon on the right. The person represented is Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty-second President of the United States. Roosevelt began his term as President in 1933, toward the end of the period discussed in this module. Based on the quotation in the political cartoon, what kind of culture do you think Americans lived in from 1900 to the 1930s? Do you think Roosevelt came into the presidency during a time of prosperity or upheaval? Why do you think this way?

 

Key Vocabulary

To view definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

 

Agricultural Adjustment Association (AAA)	Hoovervilles	Social Security Act
Black Tuesday	League of Nations	speakeasies
Dollar Diplomacy	National Origins Act	Treaty of Versailles
Eighteenth Amendment	New Deal	Triple Entente
fads	Nineteenth Amendment	Twenty-first Amendment
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)	Open Door Policy	USS Maine
Fireside Chats	overspeculation	Volstead Act
flappers	prohibition	Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Fourteen Points	Quota Act	Zimmerman Telegram
Hawley-Smoot Act	Rough Riders