key people

Explanation: founder of the FORD Motor Company and creator of the T model & pioneer of the assembly line. He set up english classes for his immigrant workers and paid his workers more than average.

Effects: T-model was easily reproducible & assembly line was incredibly efficient (due to hire purchase & credit his cars were affordable) so, it pushed mass production —> more money circulating —> consumer society.

• US prohibition agent.

• achieved the most arrests and convictions.

• American-Chicago based prohibition-era gangster.

• rivals with Al Capone.

Explanation: italian-american prohibition era gangster, also known as scarface. respected out of fear & genuine reverence by new yorkers. he set up soup kitchens for the unemployed during the depression.

Effects: people in brooklyn were able to make money and stay off the streets during the depression thanks to Capone’s alcohol and speakeasy businesses.

• american actress and producer during the silent era of film.

• Italian actor based in the united states during the golden age of cinema.

• black trumpeter.

• helped black people become more accepted in white spaces in the 1930s

Explanation: black christian civil rights activist who helped establish an organisation that organised non-violent protests (sit-ins, marches). he made a point to not make white people the enemy so they’d understand integration.

Effects: organised a march in washington d.c where he delivered his famous “i have a dream” speech which resulted in congress feeling pressure to pass kennedy’s civil rights bill.

Explanation: leader of the Nation of Islam which encouraged the idea of black separatism (if black people couldn’t achieve freedom in the US, they’d form their own separate nation). he later walked away from this idea and was killed by members of the nation of Islam. he believed peaceful protests achieved nothing and that people should use ‘any means necessary’ to achieve change.

Effects: his idea of black power was popularized was peaceful protest organisations and led to committees aiming to strengthen black communities and access to education & healthcare.

Explanation: president of the USA who was assassinated before he could pass the civil rights bill because congress initially had heavy resistance to it. however Johnson, his successor, used his death as means to push it and it was eventually passed.

Effects: forced federal governments to protect minorities & led to affirmative action, forcing organisations / business to meet a quota of minorities working for them. other marginalized groups used the civil rights bill as a blueprint to help them pass other important equality laws.

Explanation: Kennedy’s successor who also believed in desegregation. he used JFK’s death as means to push the civil rights bill and it was eventually passed with the help of MLK and other civil rights activists.

Effects: forced federal governments to protect minorities & led to affirmative action, forcing organisations / business to meet a quota of minorities working for them. other marginalized groups used the civil rights bill as a blueprint to help them pass other important equality laws. also passed the fair housing act to end segregation in real estate.

Explanation: Swing musician & famous actor during the 1940s. born into a impoverish family of Italian immigrants, became the embodiment of the American dream. However he lost popularity in the 50s due to the rise of rock’n’roll & mafia associations.

Effects: caused a wave of Sinatra-mania and begun teenage culture, paving the way for the success of Elvis ect. His fashion influenced men of the 1940s, provided an escapism from the war. Helped the acceptance of immigrants & Italians specifically.

Explanation: actor & front man of rock’n’roll during the 50s & 60s. brought up in poverty, embodiment of the american dream, in a black community which influenced his music. nicknamed ‘elvis the pelvis’ because of his suggestive dancing and ability to charm america’s teens. older generations were outraged by Elvis because they thought he influenced white kids to like the ‘devils music’ and encourage kids to have sex, rebel and commit crime.

Effects: his music gave access to African American culture that challenged the 1950s segregation and gradually contributed to the slow acceptance of black culture & people in america.

Explanation: actor during the 50s. starred in films such as ‘rebel without a cause’ which showed teenage rebellion which the older generations disproved of.

Effects: expanded the teenage market & idea. his movies contributed to disillusionment and the social estrangement during the 50s.