American History
PART 1: At the start of the 20th century the nation was at a critical turning point. During the twenty years from 1900 to 1920 technological, political, economic, and social developments transformed the country in ways that still affect us today. Select one reason why these were? Pivotal decades and analyze the events associated with its historical significance. Provide support for your opinion, using information from a scholarly source. Also, incorporate and cite in APA format one of the primary sources in your response that you found in the textbook.
The period from 1900 to 1920 is attributed to immense transformation in the human life aspects in America. These changes laid in the technological, political, economic and social advancements. In the technological sector advancements were seen in the airplane, radio and television as well as the emergence of the motor industry. In this double decade period the airplane invented by the Wright brothers was a significant tool and was set to be applied for business purpose. This advancement led to the notable creation of the NASA in the coming years. Radio invention also known as “wireless technology” was except from a means of communication but also a way to offer entertainment and give information. In 1903 the motor company was started by Henry Ford which was called the Ford Motor Company. This demonstrated a growth in the motor industry (Milton, Oct 22 1990). The ditched roads gave way to the paved roads and were occupied by automobiles in the cities, towns and countryside. Development was also undertaken in electromagnetism and radiation bringing to being the knowledge of matter and energy. All of these advancements in the double decade made America to be technologically developed.
{Source: Pivotal Decades: The United States, 1900-1920 [Paperback]
John Milton Cooper Jr. (Author)}
PART 2: If asked to name one of the most troubling years in American history few would select 1919. Many think that after World War I, the war to end all wars, the United States was a peaceful and prosperous place because the hostilities ended. This was far from the truth. Identify one reason that 1919 was a year of a savage peace, and provide a supporting explanation. Describe the short and long term impacts this reason had on the nation. Then analyze your selection for its historical significance.
The year 1919 showed a series of happenings; the post-world war, an epidemic of flu and the Russian Revolution. Americans began this period with a lot of desires and expectations, among them being peace and stability. This was however not meant to be as it experienced a weaken civil liberties and an increase in conspiracy powers as well as terrorism (Hagedorn, April 10, 2007). The year saw peace being brought down as Americans were denied their basic rights of exercising democracy. Each and every American was tagged as being of suspicion and later there was the formation of the Bureau of Investigation. Lives were placed at risk with bomb explosions all around America. Engagements in the labor sector was part of the daily activity, African-American soldiers, who went back home to restore democracy which they laid down their lives for, were gravely disillusioned. As the year came to a close it showed a series of riots in 26 cities. The short term implication of this was that the whole country was indulged in the mentality of war, culture of fear and crisis, that later vindicated the intrusion of the democratic rights and arose the matter of a weak stability between national balance security and the protection of the constitution. Democracy was the only viable tool to make right all wrongs committed, as power was to be issued to the citizens of America. Consequently, as the year came to a close democracy was able to outdo the threats to autonomy to speech and was summarized as “Democracy lives on the exercise and functioning of democracy” which is presently being applied in America.
(Source: Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America 1919, author Ann Hagedorn)
PART 3: Fear was on the minds of Americans from 1920 to 1945. Most notably President Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Select one significant experience from these years that caused Americans to be fearful, and analyze its historical significance. Briefly summarize the event and then describe the effects it had on the American people. Examine how this fear helped or hindered the American people. Examples could include a red scare, stock market crash, the Great Depression, and Hitler’s expansion throughout Europe. Also, incorporate and cite in APA format one of the primary sources in your response that you found in the textbook.
After the Second World War, USA came up as the most powerful countries in the whole world. Its foes were defeated and friends were down beat. USA was running on confidence in this period. Later USA was experiencing fear and suspicion called Communism known as the Red Scare. This happened as a result of the international situation prevailing at the time; tense relationship with the USSR in the Cold War and political advancements in USA. Several Americans were investigated to see their alliance with the Communists. Those found guilty were forced from their jobs. The people of the USA reacted to this development with a lap up (Hastings, 19 JANUARY 2009). Others, even though anti-communists accepted it as a value for America, those who played part were told to name names. As for politicians, so as to win the votes of the citizens, they had to show a strong stance against communism. In the great Depression, President Roosevelt was characterized with the driving the country out of the crisis. The problems in Europe help the country out of the crisis. In 1939 the US gross domestic product went down, the 2nd world war brought with it an increase of foreign investments as the UK and France bought more of US foods for arms. This funded the economic war period for America. Roosevelt stepped in to assist in destroying Nazism. He also bought against fascism. These steps were in effort for the survival of UK which he did manage to secure.
(Source: Franklin D Roosevelt: The man who conquered fear, Author Max Hastings)
PART 4: On December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This thrust America into World War II, and for the next four years it dominated nearly every aspect of American life. Select one of the following main issues gender, race, ethnicity, technology, and politics and discuss the ways that World War II shaped that issue. Analyze the positive and/or negative consequences of the selected issue in relationship to WWII. Identify the long-term effects of the selected issue, including the impact on present-day society.
This attack led to war with the Allied side. China made its way to the Allies as well as most of the other countries of the world. Most of the countries taking part in the war by 1942 were all against Japan. Continuing from 1945 battles was undertaken in Europe, the northern part of the Atlantic and Northern part of Africa and other parts. The war led to the death of over 62 million where most of them were innocent civilians who died from diseases, starvation and genocide as well as bombings. After the World War II, Europe was divided into the western and Soviet regions (Ethier, 2012). The western part was aligned to NATO while the Eastern to the Warsaw Pact. Power was translated from Europe to the USA and the Soviet Union who later tackled each other in the cold war. Japan’s defeat led it to become democratized, while in China it went on with the civil war which after it ending led to what is presently known as the People’s Republic of China. The countries that were under European colonial rule were able to acquire their independence.
(Source: America in WWII: The End, Author: Eric Ethier)
PART 5: The years from 1945 to 1974 were an era of Grand Expectations. At the end of World War II, spontaneous celebrations filled downtown streets across the nation. The war was over. Sons and daughters were coming home. Democracy triumphed over fascism. The Great Depression was a memory. Prosperity was ahead. It was time to purchase a home, start a family, and return to work. However, despite the optimism, new concerns were on the horizon. Select what you consider to be the most significant challenge of this era and discuss its historical significance. Make sure to incorporate what you learned from the Multi-Media podcast you selected this week. Include the name of the historian, his or her central argument, the title of the podcast, and how it relates to the topic of the week. Also, incorporate and cite in APA format one of the primary sources in your response that you found in the textbook.
The most challenging time in this period was the grand depression which was by far the longest depression undergone by the western world. The depression led to a drop in production, extreme unemployment and sharp deflation in most of the countries of the world. The depression was as a result of the drop in spending hence the drop in production. This decline was experienced similarly in other parts of the world (Romer, December 20, 2003). The stock market dropped as an attribute of the rigid monetary policy that was geared towards trimming the stock market. The crash resulted to a reduction in the aggregate demand massively. This led to uncertain future expectations which led to clients and organizations to do away with buying of durable goods. The depression le to severe human suffering; people experienced a decline in the standards of living. The great depression led to the international gold standard. By 1973 fixed rates of change were done away with as they were not accepted for sue with the floating rates. Notable from the depression is that a drop in spending will never be acceptable in multiplication and spread all over the world.
The great depression was a period that brought the USA down to its knees with poor living standards. The depression was so great that it spread all over the world and lasted for a long time. For it to come to an end would surely be a cause for celebration as people would get jobs, and raised living standards among other developments. The main argument by Christina D. Romer is on the Great Depression.
(Source: The Great Depression, author: Christina D. Romer)
PART 6: Every era in American history has had notable men and women who shaped their times, for better or worse. Identify one person from this week’s reading who you believe had a significant impact on the years from 1945 to 1974. This could include a president who introduced important policies that changed the country, a social activist who inspired reform or someone else who had an important positive or negative impact on this era. Briefly explain who this person was, their specific individual influence? On the times, and then discuss why you made your selection.
In American history no one would forget the steps played by Franklin D. Roosevelt who was the president from 1933 to 1945. President Roosevelt is credited with driving the country out of the Greta Depression as well as the global conflict of the time. He is credited with introducing policies that changed the society massively. The president applied interventionism with a lot of care. He believed that America could do away with fascism which did bring down Woodrow Wilson in his time of presidency. He was involved in increasing the spending rate of America which was one of his policies in eliminating the great depression. With the passage of the Lend-lease Bill he was able to increase US Navy’s help to the Royal Navy in sending supplies to the Atlantic (Hastings, 19 JANUARY 2009). He was loved for raising the citizens from poverty and misery that was characterized by the Great Depression, raising the government to undertake varied activities, led industrial activities, reflation rural electrification and infrastructure advancement among others.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt is credited with coming to the need of USA when it needed it most. The country had undergone long suffering in the period of the depression which was characterized by extreme suffering, his policies raised the country to higher heights and lessons were learnt. He will forever be remembered for these and many more, his traits remain the basis of judging the current leadership in USA.
(Source: Franklin D Roosevelt: The man who conquered fear Author: Max Hastings)
PART 7: In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the nation struggled as a giant might to generate positive momentum. Select one specific challenge that, in your opinion, was the most significant problem that confronted the United States between 1974 and 1999. Why did you select this topic? What were the reasons it had such a great impact on the nation? How did it contribute to America being a restless giant?? Also, incorporate and cite in APA format one of the primary sources in your response that you found in the textbook.
The diplomatic relation between US and Vietnam was at a standstill for over a decade. Their relation was set to be revived through bilateral trade between the two countries. This would set the two countries economic path on the way to growth. The economic aspect of a country is hence of significant importance to a country. US was facing problems is accounting for the economic aspect that was at a risk considering that Vietnam was poor in upholding human, rights, religious and labor rights. Vietnam was accused of not doing enough to cater for the soldiers of war (Manyin, June 17, 2005). This was a major testing time for the trade relations for USA. Considering that the argument and criticism experienced by the US over its relation with Vietnam, which threatened the trade between the two countries, the argument eventually was sorted out. Due to normalization in the trade agreements it brought about a rigid US business interest in the transforming Vietnam economic transformation as well as its stability and advancement in the trade sector. This led to full normalization and permanent trade relations between the countries.
(Source: The Vietnam-U.S. Normalization Process, Author: Mark E. Manyin)
PART 8: In President Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union address he looked ahead to the turn of the millennium and gave the American people an important message. He said, “My fellow Americans, this is our moment. Let us lift our eyes as one nation, and from the mountaintop of this American Century, look ahead to the next one.” A new century was ahead that promised unknown challenges and an uncertain future. These included a contested election, hurricane Katrina, financial meltdown, war, terrorism, etc. Which of the challenges of the 21st century has proved most significant and why? What challenge will have the greatest impact on the future?
The issue on building public consensus that upheld a US Global Leadership which did serve the US and America well in the 20th century was under fire in the new decade of 21th century in the political scene. Most of the countries have isolated America from its operations. With the rise of the information age, the aspects of globalization, democracy, and American pre-eminence a good relation with other countries is vital. This called for the need to reintroduce and reliance on several trade alliances which developed the US values and interests (Issues, August 1, 2000). The Clinton has been able to restore this and has proved to be quite significant. The challenge that has had a great impact on the future is on the financial crisis which brought all of the countries to their knees. It demonstrated a trying time for US that led to severe lessons to be learnt. Measures have hence been put in place to hinder this from happening again.
(Source: Bill Clinton on Foreign Policy, Author: On the Issues)
Bibliography
Ethier, E. (2012). The End . America in WWII.
Hagedorn A., (April 10, 2007). Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America 1919,
Hastings, M. (19 JANUARY 2009). Franklin D Roosevelt: The man who conquered fear. The Independent .
Issues, O. t. (August 1, 2000). Bill Clinton on Foreign Policy.
Manyin, M. E. (June 17, 2005). The Vietnam-U.S. Normalization Process. CRS Issue Brief for Congress.
Milton C. J. (Oct 22 1990)Pivotal decades: the United States, 1900-1920. Norton.
Romer, C. D. (December 20, 2003). Great Depression. Encyclopedia Britannica.
