6.4 Lend-Lease Act (Due: 2/26)

 Lend-Lease Act of 1941

Before the United States entered the war, many Americans were hesitant to join another war on foreign soil. President Roosevelt needed to guide the nation and combat the spread of Fascist regimes now openly fighting against Democratic Allies in Europe. One of the things President Roosevelt campaigned for was staying out of the war. However, with foreign politics and what was going on in Europe, he realized that was not going to be. The United States needed to prepare for war but also keep its neutrality. The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 was one of President Roosevelt's many acts that assisted the Allies.  The task before you is to look at what the Lend-Lease Act was and whom it benefited.

Read the following article that is located from History.com. The URL link below will take you to the article. After reading, answer the questions below in short-answer response format. 

History of Lend Lease 

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease-act-1

Questions:

1) How was the Lend Lease used to deal with the war in Europe?

2) President Roosevelt initially partnered with Prime Minister Winston Churchill to assist the United Kingdom in their war with Germany and get the necessary equipment. Who were the prominent people that President Roosevelt had to sway with this action, and what were their reasons for wanting the Lend-Lease Act? 

3) What countries gained the right to participate in the Lend-Lease Act? 

4) What were the qualifications a country would have to show to be offered the equipment from the Lend-Lease Act?

5) Do you support or disagree with President Roosevelt and the United States with signing and enacting the Lend Lease act, and why?

6.3 U.S. History: Pearl Harbor (Due 2/19)

 Tora! Tora! Tora!

Tora! Tora! Tora! was the command words that were used by the Japanese to give orders that would lead to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. "Tora" translates to Tiger in Japanese. Prior to this attack, the United States tried to stay out of the fight that was currently raging on in the world. This one attack would bring the nation to war with not only Japan but Germany too. Admiral Yamamoto said this about the attack on which he designed, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” 

Below are some videos to help you explore the history behind this attack. Watch these videos and use any source material to help you answer the questions below. Also below, is a link to the New York Public Library that showed the news response to the attack. 

Youtube: John Anderson- Pearl Harbor USS Arizona

Youtube: "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" U.S. Navy Dec 8, 2018

Pearl Harbor Attack Footage

Newspaper Articles after Pearl Harbor Attack: New York Public Library

Discussion Questions:

What do you want to know about Pearl Harbor?

How did the News Media report the attack?

What were some of the outcomes of the Pearl Harbor attack? 

What were some of the takeaways from John Anderson explaining what occurred to him during the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

What role do you think Roosevelt played in leading the nation during this era? 

6.2 US History: New Deal Due 2/12

 

The Great Depression - The New Deal

Directions: Read the following article. Answer the questions below. Post your answers. Comment on another classmate's post. 

Downloaded from ushistory.org

The New Deal

Within days of his inauguration, President Roosevelt presented the Emergency Banking Act to Congress, which quickly approved the legislation. Here, Roosevelt signs the bill, making it law.

When America hit rock bottom, Americans expected bold leadership.

Herbert Hoover was perceived as doing nothing to help when the nation was in its darkest hour. When the votes were tallied in 1932, Americans made a strong statement for change, and sent Franklin D. Roosevelt to the White House. Ironically, Roosevelt made few concrete proposals during the campaign, merely promising "a new deal for the American people." The plan that ultimately emerged during his Presidency was among the most ambitious in the history of the United States.

With the unemployment rate at an incredible 25%, FDR realized that jobs were needed to get people back on their feet. A few of the 8,500,000 participants in the New Deal's Works Progress Administration are shown here hard at work in Tuskeegee, Alabama.

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT was born in 1882 to a wealthy New York industrialist. The fifth cousin of THEODORE ROOSEVELT, FDR became involved in politics at a young age. A strong supporter of WOODROW WILSON and the LEAGUE OF NATIONS, Roosevelt became the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Vice-President in 1920. The following year he contracted polio, and learned that he could never walk without crutches again.

Roosevelt campaigned hard for fellow New Yorker AL SMITH's 1924 and 1928 Presidential bids and then received Smith's support to run for governor of New York. In his two terms as governor of New York, Roosevelt earned a reputation as a progressive reformer. He then threw his hat into the ring of Presidential politics.

Radio's golden era coincided with Roosevelt's presidency. Radio shows entertained, advertised, and made an escape for American audiences. Roosevelt wisely used his weekly "Fireside Chats" to keep in touch with the populace.

Roosevelt had no grand strategy to fix the Depression. He was a bold experimenter. FDR liked to examine an idea and evaluate it on its philosophical merits. The details could be negotiated later. If it worked, fine. If not, he was more than willing to start over with a new plan. He surrounded himself with competent advisors, and delegated authority with discretion and confidence. As a master of the radio, his confidence was contagious among the American populace.

Before his first term expired, Roosevelt signed legislation aimed at fixing banks and the stock market. He approved plans to aid the unemployed and the nations farmers. He began housing initiatives and ventures into public-owned electric power. New Deal programs aided industrialists and laborers alike. His friends and enemies grew with every act he signed into law.

The NEW DEAL sparked a revolution in American public thought regarding the relationship between the people and the federal government.

AUTHOR	ushistory.org
TITLE OF PAGE	The New Deal
TITLE OF PROGRAM	U.S. History Online Textbook
URL OF PAGE	http://www.ushistory.org/us/49.asp
DATE OF ACCESS	Thursday, February 02, 2017
COPYRIGHT	2017

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Questions: 

What economic event preceded FDR's election as President of the United States and what did he set out to improve in the American economy and society.  

Describe at least three of the legislation signed by FDR as part of the New Deal.

Research what type of programs were created to put people Back to Work. Name and describe 3 such programs.

What programs started during the New Deal are still functioning today and how do they continue to impact the American society and economy?

6.1 The 1920's and Causes of the Stock Market Crash: The Bubble... due 2/5/21

 

Americans Speculate and Buy Stocks on Credit;

America experienced an era of great peace and prosperity during the 1920s. After World War I, the so-called “Roaring Twenties” economic and cultural boom was fueled by industrialization and the popularization of new technologies such as radio and the automobile. Air flight was becoming common as well.

The Dow stock average soared throughout the Roaring Twenties and many investors aggressively purchased shares, comforted by the fact that stocks were thought to be extremely safe by most economists due to the country’s powerful economic boom. Investors soon purchased stocks on margin, which is the borrowing of stock for the purpose of gaining financial leverage. For every dollar invested, a margin user would borrow nine dollars worth of stock. The use of leverage meant that if a stock went up 1%, the investor would make 10%. Unfortunately, leverage also works the other way around and amplifies even minor losses. If a stock drops too much, a margin holder could lose all of their investment and possibly owe money to their broker as well.

From 1921 to 1929, the Dow Jones rocketed from 60 to 400, creating many new millionaires. Very soon, stock trading became America’s favorite pastime as investors jockeyed to make a quick killing. Investors mortgaged their homes and foolishly invested their life savings into hot stocks such as Ford and RCA. To the average investor, stocks were practically a sure thing. Few people actually studied the finances and underlying businesses of the companies that they invested in. Thousands of fraudulent companies were formed to hoodwink unsavvy investors. Most investors never even thought a crash was possible – in their minds, the stock market “always went up.”

By Jesse Colombo http://www.thebubblebubble.com/1929-crash/

Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. How did Americans get financial backing to purchase stocks in the 1920's? 
2. Why did those who invested in the Stock Market believe the stock prices would go up?
3. What does it mean that people invested in stocks on margin?
4. Do people still use margin, if so how?