Identify who, what, where, when, and/or why the following are important:
1. business cycle
2. Smoot-Hawley Tariff
3. the "forgotten man"
4. NRA "production codes"
5. social insurance
6. Works Progress Administration
7. Gertrude Berg
8. Marian Anderson
9. "shelter belts"
10. John Maynard Keynes

1. **Business Cycle**: The business cycle refers to the fluctuations in economic activity that an economy experiences over a period of time. It consists of periods of expansion (growth) and contraction (recession). Understanding the business cycle is important because it helps policymakers, businesses, and investors make informed decisions to manage economic growth, control inflation, and mitigate the effects of economic downturns.
2. **Smoot-Hawley Tariff**: The Smoot-Hawley Tariff was an act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1930, which raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods. The importance of this tariff lies in its economic impact during the Great Depression. It is widely believed to have exacerbated the depression by reducing international trade and causing retaliatory tariffs by other nations, further hindering global economic recovery.
3. **The "Forgotten Man"**: This term was popularized during the Great Depression and was used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to describe the ordinary men and women who were suffering economically and felt neglected by the government. The concept is important because it helped shape the New Deal policies aimed at providing relief to the unemployed and poor, and it continues to influence political rhetoric and policy aimed at helping marginalized or disadvantaged groups.
4. **NRA "Production Codes"**: The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was a New Deal agency established in 1933. The NRA's production codes were designed to regulate industry standards, set prices, and limit production to eliminate overproduction and raise employment. These codes are significant because they represented an unprecedented level of government intervention in the economy, aimed at stabilizing markets and stimulating recovery during the Great Depression.
5. **Social Insurance**: Social insurance is a government-sponsored program that provides financial protection to individuals against economic risks (e.g., loss of income due to retirement, disability, or unemployment). Social insurance programs are important because they form the foundation of the modern welfare state, ensuring a safety net for citizens and reducing poverty and inequality.
6. **Works Progress Administration (WPA)**: The WPA was a key New Deal agency established in 1935 to provide public works jobs for the unemployed during the Great Depression. It is important because it funded the construction of a vast array of public infrastructure projects, provided employment for millions of Americans, and played a crucial role in the economic recovery of the United States.
7. **Gertrude Berg**: Gertrude Berg was an American actress, screenwriter, and producer, best known for her portrayal of Molly Goldberg in the popular radio and television show "The Goldbergs." She is important as a pioneer in the entertainment industry, creating one of the first character-driven domestic sitcoms and breaking ground for women in media production and writing.
8. **Marian Anderson**: Marian Anderson was a celebrated African American contralto singer. Her importance lies not only in her musical talent but also in her role as a symbol of the civil rights movement. In 1939, after being denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution because of her race, she performed at the Lincoln Memorial, an event that became a significant moment in the struggle for racial equality.
9. **"Shelter Belts"**: Shelter belts, also known as windbreaks, are rows of trees or shrubs planted to protect areas from the wind and prevent soil erosion. They became important during the 1930s as part of the response to the Dust Bowl, which devastated the Great Plains of the United States. The planting of shelter belts was a strategy to mitigate the environmental disaster and restore the ecological balance of the area.
10. **John Maynard Keynes**: John Maynard Keynes was a British economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments. He is important because he advocated for increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the global economy out of the Depression. His theories laid the foundation for Keynesian economics, which has had a profound influence on modern economic and fiscal policy.