Blog #3-Crawling Out of the Depression

After the Great Crash in 1929, the most esteemed and lucrative country in the World fell into a terrible era know as the Great Depression. This was a time of mass despair as well as literal depression while Americans lived day to day with considerably less than the bare essentials necessary for survival. Prior to this depression, America went through an amazing period of Prosperity. In the PBS documentary The Crash of 1929, this prosperity is illustrated by individuals who lived through this time as well as expert historians of this era. During the decade leading up to the Depression, Americans enjoyed more leisure time, jobs, and most importantly an unimaginable increase in income and spending money. People enjoys such new luxuries as movies, washers and dryers, air conditioners, and even deodorants. "What Will They Think Of Next?" became a slogan for the decade. It is also discussed in the film that during this era was the only time that virtually all Americans took interest in the stock market. Stocks were rising constantly which persuaded Americans into investing more money which in turn made them more. One historian describes the stock market in this era as "an arena of unbounded opportunity…you couldn't go wrong buying stock in American companies". Sure enough, this very outlet of success would be sole reason for the country's decline. On Tuesday, August 29th, 1929 millions of people attempted to sell all of their stocks and pull their money in fear of losing the large investments which made them the fortunes they had. Millionaire "bull of the bulls" William Durant even attempted on his own to save the stock market, filling the market with millions of his own just to stop the plummeting. Inevitably, the crash could not be stopped and had an extremely significant affect on America. It would shape the next few decades of the country both economically and politically.

In class we discussed the ecomonic decay that was the Great Depression. Normal Americans of innumerable proportions lost their jobs and in turn Americans became homeless and helpless. Just three years after the crash, University of Washington historians report nearly 30 million Americans ceased to have any source of income. At that point in time, more than half of the entire country lay jobless and insecure.  The norm of American life was living under the poverty line, in disarray and despair. From this point on, a serious of events occurred which led to the gradual climb out of the black hole which was the Great Depression. Journalist Robert Higgs of The Freeman claims "World War II got us out of the Depression". I definitely agree with that statement, however i do not believe it is the sole savior for Americans. The reversal of the Great Depression starts in 1932, several years before America even gets involved in the World War, with the election of Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The reading in our textbook American Horizons specifically outlines how Roosevelt issued legislations and mandates in order to stimulate the American Economy. Although viewed negatively by some as a "socialist communist invading the White House", FDR mades moves in Washington that were for the best of the economy and stimulated exponential growth over the next 2 decades, and still remain present in today's society. We discussed in class the most major of these legislations passed by Roosevelt, being the New Deal of 1933, upon Roosevelt's election. The New Deal was in order from 1933 all the way through 1945, when the war officially ended upon Japan's surrender. In this New Deal, we discussed programs such as the Social Security Act as well as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, both of these acts which were enacted to ensure the safety of American money as well as a net to catch those Americans who committed their lives to working etc. Both of those programs still exist today operating the same (if not more fine-tuned) as they were supposed to in the 30's. Along with insuring money, Roosevelt also created programs which in turn created jobs for the millions of unemployed Americans. PBS's documentary titled The CCC covers one of Roosevelt's most important organizations which took nearly 2.5 million Americans and gave them jobs maintaining and restoring national parks, lands, forests etc. stimulating job growth in the nation. Along with the CCC, we discussed in class how the Civil Works Administration gave millions of men and women to build roads, bridges, and parks for low wages. I would like to take the time to comment that not only did this create millions of jobs and wages for hopeful Americans, but it also increased and progressed the American infrastructure in our largest industrial cities. 

Secondly responsible for the progression out of The Great Depression was World War II, which America entered in 1939 and solely ended in 1945. There was much pride in America during this time, as well as money to be made on the home front. American's were left with the responsibility to not only fight in the war, but also create weaponry and necessary utensils for the war. Creating tanks and guns was a lucrative business which created even more jobs for unemployed Americans, simply pumping more money into the economy. Besides the job creation, morale and hope was increased and built during this time period. Americans felt powerful and stronger now than ever. This is illustrated through the large use of propaganda which we discussed in lecture. A prime scene of this propaganda is exemplified through the 1940's cartoon know as Superman. In the 1942 episode "Japoteurs" (shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor),  Japanese terrorists hijack and attempt to steal an American bombing plane who's purpose was to be used on the Japanese during the war. It is left to our countries hero, Superman, to take the plane back and serve justice which he does. Whether it's Superman's American Flag-like super suit or his defeat of Japanese terrorists in a television show, the American hope and pride was exemplified everywhere during this time period. This represents the cultural effects that World War II played in American society. 

Succeeding the 2nd World War, a new epidemic of worry arose. Americans feared an all out nuclear war with the feared Soviet Union. This period of tension was known as the cold war which affected the demographic of the country. As discussed in class, the Cold War was a time of worry and fear that the country would be bombarded by nukes at anytime. My grandmother recalls of a time during the late 40's when she was an 8 year old elementary school girl, "It was not uncommon for my teacher my teacher to have my classmates and I do a drill that we never properly understood. We practiced time and time again getting under our tables and desks on hands and knees cuddled into the position in which we covered the backs our heads with our hands and stayed there, bend over. When I asked my mother why I had to be trained to do so she simply replied 'It was necessary to know how to duck and cover'". "Duck and Cover" became a beg epidemic during this time period, illustrated by the video which was assigned to be watched. The video was created by the Federal Defense Administration in order to ensure that Americans knew what to do in the event of a nuclear bombing. Never mind the fact that your hands will not protect your body from disintegrating in the wake of an atom bomb, American government found this tactic helpful for informing the public of the imminent danger that was the Cold War. Demographically, Soviet Americans became a liability in the nation, being alienated and feared was common. In the case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were two innocent Americans accused of spying on America's "Manhattan Project" and reporting findings to the Soviet Union. This perfectly exemplifies the corrupt and unjustly wrong attitudes of Americans during this time period, representing another historical event which reshapes and colossally effects American society. 

After all of the discussions in class, readings, and videos which I processed during the past few weeks, I have learned of the large reshaping of American society that occurred from the 1920's to the 1960's. The Great Depression, 2nd World War, and The Cold War greatly influenced and enacted change in America that still remains today. 

Works Cited

Americam Horizons. 12th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Oxford UP, 2012. Print.

Folsom, Burton. "Which Strategy Really Ended the Great Depression?" The Freeman :         Foundation for Economic Education. Foundation for Economic Education, 24 Aug. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

Linder, Doug. "Rosenbergs Trial: An Account of the Trial." Famous Trials. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (UMKC) SCHOOL OF LAW, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

Superman-Japoteurs. Perf. Superman. Superman. Famous Studios, n.d. Web.

The Crash of 1929. By Ronald Blumner. PBS, 1929. PBS.org.