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U.S. History : Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - USA: 1919-1932 - The US Economy In The 1920s (Questions)

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The American economy seemed to be booming during the 1920s, but the appearance was deceptive. Half of all American citizens did not share in the general prosperity, and the half who did enjoyed a fragile wealth.

1. Which of the following list of US presidents during this period was not a Republican?
[ ] Harding
[ ] Woodrow Wilson
[ ] Hoover
[ ] Coolidge
2. During this period United States governments imposed taxes on the import of foreign goods in order to protect the domestic market. What were such duties called?
[ ] Levies
[ ] Tariffs
[ ] Emoluments
[ ] Fees
3. Which US businessman of this era was most closely identified with mass production, which lead to cheaper goods and - temporarily - to more employment?
[ ] Rockefeller
[ ] Carnegie
[ ] Dow
[ ] Henry Ford
4. Which method of purchase became popular in the US before 1929, whereby buyers obtained a loan from the retailer in order to complete the transaction?
[ ] Mail order
[ ] Hire purchase
[ ] Discounted buying
[ ] Using a credit card
5. Many people were tempted to buy shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange using the "on the margin system". What did this mean?
[ ] Borrowing from banks to find the purchase price
[ ] Buying at a reduced price for a cash deal
[ ] Taking out an insurance policy against the possibility of the share value going down
[ ] Paying a reduced commission to the stockbroker in return for lower dividends
6. Which group of Americans had invested in new land and equipment in order to export to Europe during the Great War, and then found themselves often bankrupt when the war ended?
[ ] Coal owners
[ ] Steelmen
[ ] Arms manufacturers
[ ] Farmers
7. Which of the following is an example of a declining industry, which was unable to benefit from the new ideas that circulated in the 1920s, and which therefore declined further?
[ ] Shipbuilding
[ ] Textiles
[ ] Shoemaking
[ ] Brewing
8. What was the minimum registered unemployment figure in the US throughout the 1920s?
[ ] 5 million
[ ] 2 million
[ ] 1 million
[ ] 7 million
9. What nickname was given to the 1920s decade, suggesting a furious pace of life and rapid changes?
[ ] The Cool Twenties
[ ] The Fabulous Twenties
[ ] The Roaring Twenties
[ ] The Terrific Twenties
10. Black Americans missed out on the 1920s spree, but they had always experienced discrimination - so this was nothing new. Which laws discriminated against them, particularly in voting rights?
[ ] The Penal Laws
[ ] Old Squaw Laws
[ ] Jim Crow Laws
[ ] Uncle Tom Laws
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U.S. History : Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - USA: 1919-1932 - The US Economy In The 1920s (Answers)
1. Which of the following list of US presidents during this period was not a Republican?
[ ] Harding
[x] Woodrow Wilson
[ ] Hoover
[ ] Coolidge
Republicans were opposed to any state interference in the economy, believing that any problems would iron themselves out naturally
2. During this period United States governments imposed taxes on the import of foreign goods in order to protect the domestic market. What were such duties called?
[ ] Levies
[x] Tariffs
[ ] Emoluments
[ ] Fees
Foreign states replied in kind: thus the US found it harder to export its surplus goods abroad, leading to greater unemployment
3. Which US businessman of this era was most closely identified with mass production, which lead to cheaper goods and - temporarily - to more employment?
[ ] Rockefeller
[ ] Carnegie
[ ] Dow
[x] Henry Ford
Many factories had assembly lines, with each worker carrying out only one or two tasks before the product moved on to the next stage
4. Which method of purchase became popular in the US before 1929, whereby buyers obtained a loan from the retailer in order to complete the transaction?
[ ] Mail order
[x] Hire purchase
[ ] Discounted buying
[ ] Using a credit card
Failure to maintain installments meant forfeiture of the goods, no matter how much of the price had been already paid
5. Many people were tempted to buy shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange using the "on the margin system". What did this mean?
[x] Borrowing from banks to find the purchase price
[ ] Buying at a reduced price for a cash deal
[ ] Taking out an insurance policy against the possibility of the share value going down
[ ] Paying a reduced commission to the stockbroker in return for lower dividends
Many people, who had not been involved with the stock market before, were encouraged to buy, believing that the boom in share prices was bound to continue
6. Which group of Americans had invested in new land and equipment in order to export to Europe during the Great War, and then found themselves often bankrupt when the war ended?
[ ] Coal owners
[ ] Steelmen
[ ] Arms manufacturers
[x] Farmers
This group never benefited from the 1920s economic boom, and suffered even worse when it came to an end. Many had borrowed heavily during the war, and found it hard to repay these loans after 1918
7. Which of the following is an example of a declining industry, which was unable to benefit from the new ideas that circulated in the 1920s, and which therefore declined further?
[x] Shipbuilding
[ ] Textiles
[ ] Shoemaking
[ ] Brewing
Well before the great crash of 1929 not all of America's old, traditional industries prospered
8. What was the minimum registered unemployment figure in the US throughout the 1920s?
[ ] 5 million
[x] 2 million
[ ] 1 million
[ ] 7 million
Even during the boom years there was never full employment in the US
9. What nickname was given to the 1920s decade, suggesting a furious pace of life and rapid changes?
[ ] The Cool Twenties
[ ] The Fabulous Twenties
[x] The Roaring Twenties
[ ] The Terrific Twenties
There was a boom in consumer goods, and much disposable income was spent on entertainment
10. Black Americans missed out on the 1920s spree, but they had always experienced discrimination - so this was nothing new. Which laws discriminated against them, particularly in voting rights?
[ ] The Penal Laws
[ ] Old Squaw Laws
[x] Jim Crow Laws
[ ] Uncle Tom Laws
Black Americans suffered a high rate of unemployment, and were lower paid - even if they had jobs