Do you think the passage of the Volstead Act and the ruling in the Scopes trial represented genuine triumphs for traditional values?
Due to changes in city life, the little effect of prohibition and the events of the Scope trials, it would seam that the Volstead act had little influence on the people over "traditional values." In the early 1920's, city's became a common living area, the three largest being New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Foe small town migrants, they had to adapt to a world of competition and change. Common activities in the city included drinking, gambling and casual dating.
Drinking was such a common thing in the twenties that the idea of prohibition didn't even stand a chance. Although is caused the consumption of alcohol to declined, it still caused disrespect for the law and the growth of organized crime. Prohibition was what brought mobsters to the cities. The Scope trial was a fight over evolution and the role of science and religion in public schools and in American society. Steering away from traditional values, science won the trial.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
20-1 Critical Thinking #3
Do you think Americans were justified in their fear of radicals and foreigners in the decade following WWI?
Americans had two problems to fear: the goals of the leaders of the Russian Revolution, and the challenges facing the United States. Both of these fears revolved around communism. These fears are commonly known today as "the Red Scare." The scare in the States started when the revolutionaries in Russia overthrew the Czar. After the Czar's death, Vladimir I. Lenin and his followers called the "Bolsheviks" established a new Communist State. In response to the events in Russia, a Communist party formed in America as well, with seventy-thousand members. The fear started to spread when the government started getting bombs sent by the Industrial Workers of the World, some of which were members of the communist party.
A challenge within the states itself, other than the formation of the Communist party, was the Palmer Raids. This gathered agents to hunt down any people suspected to be a communist, socialist and anarchists. This was difficult for the Americans because it gave these agents the ability to break people's civil rights. As a result of of the Red Scare and the anti-immigration feelings, many prejudice groups and bigots used it as an opportunity for creating groups to harass groups of foreigners and immigrants. The most frightening of these was the Ku Klux Klan.
Americans had two problems to fear: the goals of the leaders of the Russian Revolution, and the challenges facing the United States. Both of these fears revolved around communism. These fears are commonly known today as "the Red Scare." The scare in the States started when the revolutionaries in Russia overthrew the Czar. After the Czar's death, Vladimir I. Lenin and his followers called the "Bolsheviks" established a new Communist State. In response to the events in Russia, a Communist party formed in America as well, with seventy-thousand members. The fear started to spread when the government started getting bombs sent by the Industrial Workers of the World, some of which were members of the communist party.
A challenge within the states itself, other than the formation of the Communist party, was the Palmer Raids. This gathered agents to hunt down any people suspected to be a communist, socialist and anarchists. This was difficult for the Americans because it gave these agents the ability to break people's civil rights. As a result of of the Red Scare and the anti-immigration feelings, many prejudice groups and bigots used it as an opportunity for creating groups to harass groups of foreigners and immigrants. The most frightening of these was the Ku Klux Klan.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
19-4 Critical Thinking #3&5
Why didn't the treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for a lasting
peace?
The treaty had weaknesses which eventually led to WWII. First of all the treaty humiliated Germany. This was due to it containing a war-guilt clause, which forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting WWI, although it was truly Austria-Hungary that started this war to control Serbia. Another factor was the Newfound USSR, formerly Russia, that was preparing to take back the territory they lost to Germany in WWI. And finally, the treaty ignored the claims of colonized people for self determination. Specifically the Vietnamese, who wanted the same political rights as the Western Nations.
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Predict Germany's reaction to the treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your predictions.
The German's obviously react in the creation of yet another war, but there are reasons behind it. One of which is their response to the War-Guilt clause of the Treaty. Germany did not feel responsible for starting the war, but simply played a major igniting role. Also because of this clause, Germany had been striped of its colonial possessions in the pacific, which might have helped them pay the reparations bill. finally, in Germany's week state, the Russians, now the USSR, decide to take back what territory they lost to the Germans. So, now, Germany is also left with an even smaller country than they had after the war had ended.
peace?
The treaty had weaknesses which eventually led to WWII. First of all the treaty humiliated Germany. This was due to it containing a war-guilt clause, which forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting WWI, although it was truly Austria-Hungary that started this war to control Serbia. Another factor was the Newfound USSR, formerly Russia, that was preparing to take back the territory they lost to Germany in WWI. And finally, the treaty ignored the claims of colonized people for self determination. Specifically the Vietnamese, who wanted the same political rights as the Western Nations.
_________________________________________________
Predict Germany's reaction to the treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your predictions.
The German's obviously react in the creation of yet another war, but there are reasons behind it. One of which is their response to the War-Guilt clause of the Treaty. Germany did not feel responsible for starting the war, but simply played a major igniting role. Also because of this clause, Germany had been striped of its colonial possessions in the pacific, which might have helped them pay the reparations bill. finally, in Germany's week state, the Russians, now the USSR, decide to take back what territory they lost to the Germans. So, now, Germany is also left with an even smaller country than they had after the war had ended.
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