The United States faced many problems in the 1920s.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Americans were alarmed at the 1917 Russian Revolution.
2. [1] Fear of communism.
3. [1] Fear that immigrants were bringing radical political ideas such as anarchism with them.
4. [1] Fear of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe.
5. [1] The strikes of 1919 made Americans more fearful.
6. [1] The bomb blasts of 1919 made Americans more fearful.
7. [1] Fears that strikes were inspired by communism.
8. [1] Strong reaction by the authorities – suspected communists rounded up and deported.
9. [1] The press and some politicians whipped people up so that conspiracies were seen everywhere.
10. [6] (Level 4) One of the reasons for the growth in popularity was the arrival of talking pictures in 1927. Up until then, every movie was silent and cinemas employed musicians to play music during the films. The use of sound and speech in films made them much more exciting. The talkies were far more popular and people flocked to the cinema. In a few years after the first talkie, ticket sales more than doubled.
11. [5] (Level 3) The cinema's popularity surged with the 1927 introduction of 'talkies,' which, by adding sound and speech, made movies significantly more exciting than silent films. This innovation dramatically increased attendance, doubling ticket sales within a few years.
12. [1] (Level 2) It was very inexpensive.
13. [1] (Level 2) Americans had more leisure time.
14. [1] (Level 2) The attraction of big stars.
15. [1] (Level 2) Incomes were going up in the 'boom'.
16. [1] (Level 2) The economic boom.
17. [1] (Level 2) An escape from their everyday lives.
18. [1] (Level 2) The arrival of 'talkies'.
19. [1] (Level 2) People could socialise in cinemas.
20. [1] (Level 2) The films included exciting romances and gangster action.
21. [1] (Level 2) The cinemas were warm and very comfortable.
22. [1] (Level 2) More people had cars so they could drive to cinemas.
23. [1] (Level 2) A major industry was developing in Hollywood.
24. [1] (Level 1) The cinema became more popular because lots of people wanted to see the films. It became part of everyone's life.
25. [10] (Level 5) Although the gangsters were a real problem in cities and caused murder and corruption, they were caused by Prohibition. In 1933, Prohibition was abolished and gangsterism was largely defeated. The KKK was much more of a problem. The gangsters were a small minority but the KKK had millions of members in the South and represented the prejudices of a lot of people. They also murdered far more people than the gangsters did. The KKK was the biggest problem because it represented attitudes deeply rooted in American society.
26. [6] (Level 3) Gangsterism developed in the 1920s largely because of Prohibition. This was a ban on selling and making alcoholic drinks. In big cities people were willing to still buy and drink alcohol. This gave criminals the chance to supply it. Gangsters like Al Capone started to do this but soon they were fighting each other for control of parts of cities. This led to the gangs having gun fights and murdering each other. Soon, many cities were plagued with murders coming from the gangsters, which was a real problem for the authorities.
27. [6] (Level 3) The Ku Klux Klan was a real problem. It was an organisation that believed in white supremacy. It was racist and attacked, intimidated, tortured and murdered black Americans. Thousands were murdered by lynching. It was a serious problem because the KKK had a membership of five million people, including many important politicians. It was also against Jews, Catholics and foreigners. In fact, it was against anyone who it thought was a danger to what it saw as American values.
28. [1] (Level 2) The gangsters supplied the illegal speakeasies with alcohol.
29. [1] (Level 2) The gangsters largely killed each other.
30. [1] (Level 2) There was the St. Valentine's Massacre.
31. [1] (Level 2) The gangsters corrupted policemen and judges.
32. [1] (Level 2) The gangsters spread crime across whole cities.
33. [1] (Level 2) The gangsters were finished when Prohibition was repealed.
34. [1] (Level 2) The KKK was revived after 'The Birth of a Nation' in 1915.
35. [1] (Level 2) The KKK had support among politicians.
36. [1] (Level 2) The KKK attacked Jews, Catholics and foreigners.
37. [1] (Level 2) Members of the KKK were often found not guilty in Southern courts.
38. [1] (Level 2) The KKK had millions of members.
39. [1] (Level 2) The KKK murdered thousands of black Americans.
40. [1] (Level 2) The KKK operated largely in the South.
41. [1] (Level 2) The KKK represented views held by many people in the South.
42. [1] (Level 2) The KKK declined after 1925.
43. [1] (Level 1) Both of these were terrible and did many terrible things. The USA was better off when both groups had been dealt with and faded away.