Questions: What is a bank holiday? What was the Emergency Banking Act? How did FDRs 'fireside chats' help usher the US through the Great Depression? What was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)? What did it do? What was the Federal Securities Act? Which Amendment established Prohibition? Which Amendment repealed it? Who was Huey Long? What movement did he start? What does the Securities and Exchange Commission do? What role does it serve? What was the Dust Bowl? What was Black Sunday? What was the unemployment rate during the heart of the Great Depression? Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath? What is it about? What was the League of Nations? Why did it fail to meet its objectives? What countries made up the Axis Powers? The Allies? Who was the leader of Germany during WWII? Italy? Japan?

Certainly! Let's address each of the questions in the text:

1. What is a bank holiday? What was the Emergency Banking Act?

   • A bank holiday is a day when banks are officially closed, typically for public holidays. However, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a bank holiday in March 1933 to prevent a run on the banks. The Emergency Banking Act was passed on March 9, 1933, during this bank holiday. It aimed to stabilize the banking system by allowing only financially sound banks to reopen, thus restoring public confidence.

2. How did FDR's 'fireside chats' help usher the US through the Great Depression?

   • FDR's 'fireside chats' were a series of radio broadcasts where he communicated directly with the American public. These chats helped reassure and inform citizens about the government's efforts to combat the Great Depression, fostering a sense of connection and trust between the president and the people.

3. What was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)? What did it do?

   • The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a New Deal program established in 1933 to address economic development and modernization in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected by the Great Depression. The TVA built dams and power plants, provided electricity, improved navigation, and controlled flooding, significantly contributing to regional development.

4. What was the Federal Securities Act?

   • The Federal Securities Act of 1933 was a law enacted to ensure more transparency in financial statements so investors could make informed decisions about investments. It required companies to provide accurate information about their securities and established penalties for fraudulent activities.

5. Which Amendment established Prohibition? Which Amendment repealed it?

   • The 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919, established Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The 21st Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed Prohibition.

6. Who was Huey Long? What movement did he start?

   • Huey Long was a charismatic and controversial political leader from Louisiana, serving as governor and then as a U.S. Senator. He started the "Share Our Wealth" movement, which proposed wealth redistribution to curb poverty and inequality during the Great Depression.

7. What does the Securities and Exchange Commission do? What role does it serve?

   • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a U.S. government agency created in 1934 to regulate the securities markets and protect investors. It enforces laws against market manipulation and fraud, ensuring fair and efficient markets.

8. What was the Dust Bowl? What was Black Sunday?

   • The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms during the 1930s, exacerbating the economic hardships of the Great Depression, particularly in the Great Plains. Black Sunday refers to April 14, 1935, when one of the worst dust storms occurred, causing extensive damage and displacement.

9. What was the unemployment rate during the heart of the Great Depression?

   • During the heart of the Great Depression, the unemployment rate in the United States reached approximately 25% in 1933.

10. Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath? What is it about?

    • "The Grapes of Wrath" was written by John Steinbeck. It is a novel about the Joad family, who are displaced from their Oklahoma farm during the Dust Bowl and travel to California in search of a better life, highlighting the struggles of migrant workers during the Great Depression.

11. What was the League of Nations? Why did it fail to meet its objectives?

    • The League of Nations was an international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries. It failed to meet its objectives due to a lack of enforcement power, the absence of key nations like the United States, and its inability to prevent aggression by Axis Powers leading up to World War II.

12. What countries made up the Axis Powers? The Allies?

    • The Axis Powers during World War II primarily included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allies included the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, and France, among others.

13. Who was the leader of Germany during WWII? Italy? Japan?

    • During World War II, Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany, Benito Mussolini was the leader of Italy, and Emperor Hirohito was the figurehead leader of Japan, with Prime Minister Hideki Tojo being a key military leader.

These answers provide a comprehensive overview of the topics mentioned in the text, based on historical facts and recognized theories.