20th Century United States
The 20th Century United States
The 20th century was a time of considerable transition for the United States. Going from the countries lowest point in history, to becoming the strongest nation in the world, left Americans and their leaders confronted with many difficult decisions. The decade of depression that had preceded World War II had produced enormous changes in US politics and the American political and economic systems. Beyond politics, Americans also faced challenges in their day to day lives as American culture and society was also going through transitions. The ways in which these questions and problems were attempted to be answered, the balances of power that resulted, and the significance of wartime government were all key to how we got to where we are today. In the start of the century, the country was struck with hardship and despair. The stock market crash of 1929 leading to the largest depression in United States history, had left the American people feeling hopeless and were searching for a plan of recovery. By the time of the 1932 elections, the country was in desperate need for change and for someone to bring about that change. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the democratic candidate was willing to promise this change. On July 2, 1932 in his acceptance speech for the democratic presidential nomination, FDR promised a “new deal for the American people.” He outlined the policies he had in mind to get the people what they wanted and needed: “What do the people of America want more than anything else? Two things; Work; work with all the moral and spiritual values that go with work. And with work, a reasonable measure of security- security for themselves and for their wives and children” (Polenberg, 8). FDR arrived promising hope and change, and America believed in him, and so when the results came back it came as no surprise when he won handedly. He harbored the American Dream just like the millions of people who sent him to the White
The 20th century was a time of considerable transition for the United States. Going from the countries lowest point in history, to becoming the strongest nation in the world, left Americans and their leaders confronted with many difficult decisions. The decade of depression that had preceded World War II had produced enormous changes in US politics and the American political and economic systems. Beyond politics, Americans also faced challenges in their day to day lives as American culture and society was also going through transitions. The ways in which these questions and problems were attempted to be answered, the balances of power that resulted, and the significance of wartime government were all key to how we got to where we are today. In the start of the century, the country was struck with hardship and despair. The stock market crash of 1929 leading to the largest depression in United States history, had left the American people feeling hopeless and were searching for a plan of recovery. By the time of the 1932 elections, the country was in desperate need for change and for someone to bring about that change. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the democratic candidate was willing to promise this change. On July 2, 1932 in his acceptance speech for the democratic presidential nomination, FDR promised a “new deal for the American people.” He outlined the policies he had in mind to get the people what they wanted and needed: “What do the people of America want more than anything else? Two things; Work; work with all the moral and spiritual values that go with work. And with work, a reasonable measure of security- security for themselves and for their wives and children” (Polenberg, 8). FDR arrived promising hope and change, and America believed in him, and so when the results came back it came as no surprise when he won handedly. He harbored the American Dream just like the millions of people who sent him to the White