The period in United States history after World War I through the early 1930s was a tumultuous time. Many of events that occurred during this time are unique but connected to other events in surprising ways. Some of the themes I will discus include the passing of post World War I legislation, the great contraction, the Great Depression, The presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, and the policies of the New Deal.
After World War I the United States feared entering into another conflict of such scale. Out of fear of events similar to World War I unfolding again, some very unusual legislation was enacted. These pieces of legislation include the Espionage Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, and the Sedition Act. The Espionage Act passed in 1917, made illegal “statements interfering with military success”. The Act also banned treasonable material to be sent through the mail. The Enemy Act censored foreign language newspaper and isolated the American public from newspapers with alternate perspectives. The third piece of legislation, the Sedition act, made illegal “anything disloyal to the American War cause.” Each of these pieces of legislation is surprising to me, as a 21st Century American, because of what I would view as a violation to the First Amendment. The great contraction was an economic event that had disastrous effects on the American public in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The great contraction led to massive increase in unemployment, bank failures, and a full-scale economic depression. During the great contraction, the Gross National Product was cut in half, unemployment skyrocketed, and banks collapsed. In previous years, people purchased many goods on credit but banks were not regulated. This meant that when the stock market crashed that many banks had lost people’s entire life savings. The economic situation worsened and worsened into what we now call the Great Depression. The Great Depression began on October 24, 1929 and peaked during the winter of 1932-1933. The Great Depression included many smaller scale events including the winter of 1932, poor living conditions for many Americans in Hoover Ville’s and, eventually the election of Franklin Roosevelt.. …show more content…
The winter of 1932-1933 had dramatic effects on the American psyche. These were the worst of times of the Great Depression. Many Americans were homeless and lived in temporary villages known as “Hoover Ville’s”. Conditions in these makeshift living areas were extremely poor and the people living in those spaces began to resent President Hoover. The winter of 1932 also coincided with an election so it was no surprise when Franklin Roosevelt snagged the Oval Office from the sitting president, President Hoover. The election of Franklin Roosevelt began one of the most remarkable presidencies in American History. Some of the most notable parts of his presidency were fireside chats, his first 100 days, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. President Roosevelt won the presidency with 61% of the vote. The American public needed somebody they believed could provide change and a better future and President Roosevelt was exactly this. He was a master of communication and also extremely charismatic. His inaugural address and weekly fireside chats reinvigorated the American public. The first 100 days of his presidency were extremely productive and more legislation …show more content…
Some of these acts and programs include the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Prohibition Repeal, and the Social Security Act of 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a project designed to give young men jobs. The work, which consisted of plating trees, paid low wages but gave young men enough money to live off of and help their families. One billion trees were planted as a result of this project and many of the men that worked in the CCC served successful military careers because of their experience. The Prohibition Repeal Act is the only time an amendment to the Constitution has ever been repealed. The reversal of Prohibition helped the United States government gain money through tax revenue and provided the economy (and American citizens) some relief. The Social Security Act passed in 1935, originally designed to help elderly poor people, infirmed, and children. This program put in place a tax that Americans must pay up until retirement age, when people may need more assistance. This program ahs survived to the present
After World War I the United States feared entering into another conflict of such scale. Out of fear of events similar to World War I unfolding again, some very unusual legislation was enacted. These pieces of legislation include the Espionage Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, and the Sedition Act. The Espionage Act passed in 1917, made illegal “statements interfering with military success”. The Act also banned treasonable material to be sent through the mail. The Enemy Act censored foreign language newspaper and isolated the American public from newspapers with alternate perspectives. The third piece of legislation, the Sedition act, made illegal “anything disloyal to the American War cause.” Each of these pieces of legislation is surprising to me, as a 21st Century American, because of what I would view as a violation to the First Amendment. The great contraction was an economic event that had disastrous effects on the American public in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The great contraction led to massive increase in unemployment, bank failures, and a full-scale economic depression. During the great contraction, the Gross National Product was cut in half, unemployment skyrocketed, and banks collapsed. In previous years, people purchased many goods on credit but banks were not regulated. This meant that when the stock market crashed that many banks had lost people’s entire life savings. The economic situation worsened and worsened into what we now call the Great Depression. The Great Depression began on October 24, 1929 and peaked during the winter of 1932-1933. The Great Depression included many smaller scale events including the winter of 1932, poor living conditions for many Americans in Hoover Ville’s and, eventually the election of Franklin Roosevelt.. …show more content…
The winter of 1932-1933 had dramatic effects on the American psyche. These were the worst of times of the Great Depression. Many Americans were homeless and lived in temporary villages known as “Hoover Ville’s”. Conditions in these makeshift living areas were extremely poor and the people living in those spaces began to resent President Hoover. The winter of 1932 also coincided with an election so it was no surprise when Franklin Roosevelt snagged the Oval Office from the sitting president, President Hoover. The election of Franklin Roosevelt began one of the most remarkable presidencies in American History. Some of the most notable parts of his presidency were fireside chats, his first 100 days, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. President Roosevelt won the presidency with 61% of the vote. The American public needed somebody they believed could provide change and a better future and President Roosevelt was exactly this. He was a master of communication and also extremely charismatic. His inaugural address and weekly fireside chats reinvigorated the American public. The first 100 days of his presidency were extremely productive and more legislation …show more content…
Some of these acts and programs include the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Prohibition Repeal, and the Social Security Act of 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a project designed to give young men jobs. The work, which consisted of plating trees, paid low wages but gave young men enough money to live off of and help their families. One billion trees were planted as a result of this project and many of the men that worked in the CCC served successful military careers because of their experience. The Prohibition Repeal Act is the only time an amendment to the Constitution has ever been repealed. The reversal of Prohibition helped the United States government gain money through tax revenue and provided the economy (and American citizens) some relief. The Social Security Act passed in 1935, originally designed to help elderly poor people, infirmed, and children. This program put in place a tax that Americans must pay up until retirement age, when people may need more assistance. This program ahs survived to the present