History GCSE AQA Unit 3 - The Roaring 20s (3.2) - Revision Cards in GCSE History

Rich vs Poor

1929, one third of Nation's weath was shared by 5 per cent of the population
Wealth of the USA was more than Germany, France, Britian, Japan and 18 other countries put together
Blacks were 10 per cent of the population in USA
Lived in squalor and misery in the south (seen as inferior beings)
Mississippi and South Carolina - they lived in
In 1929, 71 per cent of all families were living uner minimum living wage ($2,500)
Up to 2 million 14-15 year olds worked for up to 11 hours on low wage
Farmers also struggled due to overproduction

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Gained freedom from slavery in 1860s, HOWEVER still treated badly
In 1896, US Supreme Court gave legal approval of the Jim Crow laws; which allowed people to treat blacks as inferior
1920s - 1 million people left the South to go to the North, where the living conditions were a little better, however there was still racism there

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Formed in 1866, after American Civil War, disbanded and reformed in 1915, once reformed also opposed to Catholics, Jews and ALL foreigners
1920-25, Klan had 5 million members
Klansmen met in secret at night
Spoke in "Klonversations" and read from the rule book known as the "Kloran"
Also paraded in white sheets and hoods
Black people suffered violence, ****, beating and lynching
1925, involved in a scandal, Stephenson (leading member) was involved in the kidnapping, **** and murder of a woman
The Klan's influence decreased

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Volstead Act, 1920 January, stated that any drink with over 0.5 per cent alcohol would be banned
Evils of alcohol were stressed
75 per cent of USA was 'dry'
1918, Association Against Prohibition Amendment (AAPA)
More support in the North against Prohibition
17 Jan 1920, law against alcohol

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Al Capone - Bribed officals, politicians and police
Didn't fear arrest and operated openly
Employed over 1,000 men
Was making around $60 - 100 million from his crime
227 murders in four years
No arrests
St Valentine's Day Massacre (1919), killed 6 members of rival gang, no arrests made
1932, Roosevelt in elections promised to repeal Prohibition

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Women gained freedom, wealth and opportunities for leisure
Young middle-class women "flappers" cut their hair short, smoked in public, wore rouge and lipstick, wore short skirts and danced until late at night
This angered and shocked their parents and the older generation

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