Blogging is so much fun.
Well, I really enjoyed your class and I hope you have an awesome summer!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
the film projects
The film projects were very interesting. Some of the movies I enjoyed, like Bladerunner, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. But the others were kind of different. I like Metropolis okay, but it was kind of long. The one I like least was the one I cannot even remember the name of. Oh yeah, it was Chinatown. Anyways, I liked that we could do the paper in groups, otherwise it would have been a whole lot of work for everyone to do individually.
I liked that we had to sit and think about the films and relate them to our class in some way. It made watching them much more interesting, and we could do something entertaining but call it educational.
The movie Bladerunner was my favorite out of the movies we had to watch. It kind of reminded me of Jurassic Park which was my favorite movie for the longest time. Just something about the creating of new things out of science interests me. But humans would be really weird, so I hope they don't ever start actually doing that. However, they probably do.
After watching Breakfast At Tiffany's my friend showed me the song and I have been obsessed with it ever since. It's by 'Deep Blue Something'. In fact, I'm listening to it right now.
If you keep doing the film assignments, I recommend keeping it a group project, because college students obviously need help learning to work together as demonstrated by our class :)
Black Power
Black Power emerged because of the African Americans dissatisfaction with the civil rights movement. According to Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton in the article Black Power: the Politics of Liberation in America, Black Power "is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to begin to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations and to support those organizations. It is a call to reject the racist institutions and values of this society."
The African Americans holding this belief pushed away the white liberals who were trying to fight alongside them. They wanted to figure out their place in the American society without the help of whites. This group was called a reverse racist group by some, however, it was not. Carmichael and Hamilton defend it as being a peaceful group of African Americans who did not want to suppress the whites of America, they simply wanted to discover their place in society and therefore they could not be called black supremacists.
This organization was identified as an inside (as in, in the country) terrorist group. Therefore there were U. S. counter insurgency policies placed to counter act them.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Ronald Reagan
Arguably the best president this country has ever seen. He ran as a Republican against Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. He ran as a strong leader. He had the 'Reagan Revolution' also known as the Conservative revolution. Because he had been in the film industry, and been cast in lots of movies, and had great speaking skills he was nicknamed 'The great Communicator'.
He was a very strong conservative president. His main goal was the cut taxes. Many people claim that when taxes are cut, that it only benefits the rich; but it is the rich who are paying the majority of the taxes, so they are the ones who have more taxes to be cut. Like John Kennedy Ronald Reagan believed that cutting taxes increased economic productivity, and therefore increased tax revenues in the long run.
He also cut spending (except for defense spending such as on military weapons) and de-regulation (of businesses and such). He believed in smaller government and that the government was not the answer to everyone's problems and that people should take responsibilty for themselves. He believed in a strong military and strong family values even though he himself was divorced and remarried.
He was president from 1981-1989 winning with a landslide his second term.
He was a very strong conservative president. His main goal was the cut taxes. Many people claim that when taxes are cut, that it only benefits the rich; but it is the rich who are paying the majority of the taxes, so they are the ones who have more taxes to be cut. Like John Kennedy Ronald Reagan believed that cutting taxes increased economic productivity, and therefore increased tax revenues in the long run.
He also cut spending (except for defense spending such as on military weapons) and de-regulation (of businesses and such). He believed in smaller government and that the government was not the answer to everyone's problems and that people should take responsibilty for themselves. He believed in a strong military and strong family values even though he himself was divorced and remarried.
He was president from 1981-1989 winning with a landslide his second term.
Exam 3 Thoughts
I never thought that a 100 level final take home exam would take so much time and be so difficult. I found it difficult to incorporate all of the articles in the paper and have my paper flow and not be a scramble of events and ideas. I never realized though how much the Untied States has changed and accomplished over those sixty years. Through this take home exam, I was able to put both the women’s rights movement and the Civil Rights movement in some perspective. However, incorporating around thirty different sources for one less than eight page paper was intense!
What I learned through this assignment – First, I learned that it was not that long ago that both women and African Americans were completely discriminated against. I always knew the dates and the facts – I love history – however it was not until this assignment that I really understood that it was around fifty years ago that all of these impressive movements took place. Second, I made a connection between the current movement for gay rights and the Civil Rights and Women’s Movement. Are we going to look back in fifty years and say wow I can not believe we treated the gays like that as we do now looking back on the treatment of African Americans and women?
I also learned the importance of looking towards video and film for reference about the time period. I thought the film assignments were stupid at the beginning however I did learn a lot from them. I also learned (and enjoyed) watching the old television shows for this assignment.
What I learned through this assignment – First, I learned that it was not that long ago that both women and African Americans were completely discriminated against. I always knew the dates and the facts – I love history – however it was not until this assignment that I really understood that it was around fifty years ago that all of these impressive movements took place. Second, I made a connection between the current movement for gay rights and the Civil Rights and Women’s Movement. Are we going to look back in fifty years and say wow I can not believe we treated the gays like that as we do now looking back on the treatment of African Americans and women?
I also learned the importance of looking towards video and film for reference about the time period. I thought the film assignments were stupid at the beginning however I did learn a lot from them. I also learned (and enjoyed) watching the old television shows for this assignment.
History is important
The action of the United States during the Cold War further explains the current anti-American feelings through out the world. The United States’ foreign policy during the Cold War compared to now is completely different. During the Cold War the United States believed that if you are an enemy of our enemy you are our friend. We aligned ourselves with non-democratic actors in order to further beat the USSR. Our current foreign policy is being the democratic policemen of the world. We are trying to democratize states, such as Iraq, because they will be more favorable towards us; but, actually because of the major one-eighty in foreign policy the rest of the world does not understand the United States policy.
I believe it is very important to look at the past to determine the future. History is a very important subject and can be usefully and not only politics but every aspect of life. If policymakers look towards the past more then there will be less problems. I am very happy to have taken this class to get a better understanding of the United States actions in the past, so when I analyze the United States political behavior I can compare the current behavior to past events and behavior.
I believe it is very important to look at the past to determine the future. History is a very important subject and can be usefully and not only politics but every aspect of life. If policymakers look towards the past more then there will be less problems. I am very happy to have taken this class to get a better understanding of the United States actions in the past, so when I analyze the United States political behavior I can compare the current behavior to past events and behavior.
class in general
I enjoyed coming to class. I liked the different songs that were played before class each morning. And I liked the cute animals that were put on the slides of the quizzes, I do not know why everyone was so against them. But I did like how towards the end of the semester we did not have anymore quizzes. Thank you!
One thing that I particularly liked about the class was the use of video clips to enhance the learning process. Lecture style can get stale after a while, but the use of the video clips and pictures to actually show us what was being talked about was helpful. One of the videos that we watched that sticks out in my mind is the video about the African American running for office. It showed his struggle, but his hope in the people to elect him, and his eventual success through perseverance.
I also liked the casual but still educational feel of the class. While taking notes I could eat my breakfast without getting yelled at. In my 8 am that was before this class, my teacher ran a tight ship and would not even allow his students to eat breakfast during class.
As a teacher I liked the fact that you did not show favoritism of any sort to the students in the class.
One thing that I particularly liked about the class was the use of video clips to enhance the learning process. Lecture style can get stale after a while, but the use of the video clips and pictures to actually show us what was being talked about was helpful. One of the videos that we watched that sticks out in my mind is the video about the African American running for office. It showed his struggle, but his hope in the people to elect him, and his eventual success through perseverance.
I also liked the casual but still educational feel of the class. While taking notes I could eat my breakfast without getting yelled at. In my 8 am that was before this class, my teacher ran a tight ship and would not even allow his students to eat breakfast during class.
As a teacher I liked the fact that you did not show favoritism of any sort to the students in the class.
research paper
I prefer having papers to write over having multiple tests to take. When given a paper to write I can do it on my own time and not be rushed to do it all at once (unlike cramming for a test the night before). The research paper I wrote on Women's reform in Chicago I found to be very interesting. I did not realize that such interesting, history changing events had taken place there. In the City of Chicago was where Jane Addams lived and Built the Hull House for women to find a place to go. A place to find more for their lives and not live secluded to the home. In the time of Jane Addams many women were looking for an identity that was not just their motherhood, and wanted to live careers.
While writing my research paper I learned how to research old articles in the New York Times newspaper, by asking the man at the help desk in the library. The databases were much easier to use than I had expected, and I will continue to use them, now that I know how to, and see that they are readily available.
When writing my paper I did the whole thing in endnotes, and later realized that it was supposed to be in footnotes. I am not very computer savy, but I figured out how to convert them to footnotes.
After writing my paper, it sounded very feminist, which is like the exact opposite of me. But I enjoyed writing about the important women, and what they contributed to the corruption of the city of Chicago. Not only did they help with the corruption, but they began to hold goverment positions that were notable to the feminist community. Many women who were activists came from the city of Chicago, and went on to do great things for the women of America.
While writing my research paper I learned how to research old articles in the New York Times newspaper, by asking the man at the help desk in the library. The databases were much easier to use than I had expected, and I will continue to use them, now that I know how to, and see that they are readily available.
When writing my paper I did the whole thing in endnotes, and later realized that it was supposed to be in footnotes. I am not very computer savy, but I figured out how to convert them to footnotes.
After writing my paper, it sounded very feminist, which is like the exact opposite of me. But I enjoyed writing about the important women, and what they contributed to the corruption of the city of Chicago. Not only did they help with the corruption, but they began to hold goverment positions that were notable to the feminist community. Many women who were activists came from the city of Chicago, and went on to do great things for the women of America.
scanning project
The scanning project was very interesting. Every time I went to the fire department to pick up some articles/pictures or take some back I had to talk to a few different people before they knew why I was there. And I particularly appreciated the little old man who sat at the front desk and told me I was pretty every time I went in.
The project itself was relatively painless. I enjoyed reading the articles and learning some history about the city of Winter Park and the fire department. I especially liked the article I read about the Fire Hazard dolls. It was interesting to see how people in the 60s reacted to a 'situation' such as that, and it was heart warming to see how much they cared.
The actual scanning of the project was tricky at first. I didn't remember how to do it because I had procrastinated doing it for so long that I forgot. But a nice lady from the IT desk came and showed me how to do it. However, I kept messing up the angle and having to redo it. Eventually I got it down and could do it pretty straight, and I'm sure next time I have a project that I have to scan something, I will be able to do it no problem.
The only thing that I did not like about the scanning project was the fact that we had to walk all the way to the fire department. I got a ride some of the times, but one time I had to walk all the way there and it was really hot! But that was a small price to pay I suppose.
Anyways, I enjoyed the scanning project all in all.
The Age of Containment
Once the Axis powers had been defeated during WWII, the shaky relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States began to disintegrate. This marked the beginning of what we would know as The Cold War. When the US was concerned about the threat of a communist takeover, causing our leaders to make attempts, both internationally and domestically, that would contain the communist threat.
Historians frequently debate what caused the Cold War. Was it the threat of Soviet expansion, or was it a reaction to America's foreign policy? After the detonation of the atomic bomb in Japan, during WWII, tensions increased among the two super powers. As the US flexed it's muscle, the Soviet scrambled to develop the same type of military, particularly nuclear, capabilities. Each nation demanded that the other give up development and possession of further nuclear capabilities, but distrust caused them both to refuse. In March 1947, the President put forth a document known as The Truman Doctrine. This document officially declared communism a threat to not only the US but to all peoples of the world. It was now the responsibility of the US to defend the globe from totalitarian regimes. This proclamation instilled fear in the hearts of many Americans, and convinced Congress to grant Truman the funding to aid Greece and Turkey in establishing democratic governments.
This containment theory declared that the US needed to remain vigilant, and not allow for Russia to gain influence over weaker nations. This constant paranoia abroad began to take effect internally. Shortly after he released the Truman doctrine, he declared that all employees of the federal government were subject to investigation in order to determine their loyalty. The US government was convinced that the Soviet Union had American spies who had infiltrated all layers of government, and were releasing confidential information to them. In 1933 US official intercepted a Soviet message that revealed financing for an American Communist Party, and then in 1944 information was received that they were in fact on the road to developing nuclear capabilities.
In 1947 US Congress passed the National Security Act which led to the creation of agencies such as the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These agencies were responsible for conducting covert activities and information gathering, which would influence the execution of US foreign policy. In addition to military strategy, the US also developed and economic strategy that would expand it's influence. After WWII, Europe was left destroyed and in economic shambles. Therefor in 1947 the Marshall Plan was declared; it would allow the US to provide economic aid these nations in need.The post-WWII American military lost a lot of men and resources during the war, and Truman was determined to strengthen our forces back up. Then in 1948 Soviet and American conflict began to increase in Germany. As US policy makers and our allies began to mobilize, in an attempt to integrate the separate areas of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet moved even quicker, as they blocked off all roads connecting to Berlin. This created another opportunity for the US to show its muscle, as they flew over the blockade, and distributed aid to Berliners.
During the 1948 election, the majority of Americans were convinced of the Communist threat, which allowed Truman to gain popularity, and rally support. His hard-lined policy of communist containment, would soon lead the US into another devastating war, which was simply an extension of the Cold War, the Korean War. In June of 1950, the communist regime of North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea was back by the Soviet Union, which caused the United States to view this act of aggression as the Soviet's attempt to expand it's influence. However the situation was extremely complex, with China at North Korea's border, the US had to be cautious in not instigating involvement of Mao Zedong, and his regime over The People's Republic of China. However when General Douglas MacArthur boldly led his troops closer to the border, causing China to send in reinforcements. Disagreements as to what to do next emerged between the more aggressive MacArthur, and President Truman. Eventually Truman ordered MacArthur to return home in order to avoid further escalation.
As the tensions in Korea died down, the US began to reach out to countries like Japan and Latin America, in order to further contain the communist movement. Additionally, the US government began to launch media campaigns to instill anti-communist feelings among Americans and the people of the world. This fueled baseless communist accusations and witch hunts all over the country. Union memberships suffered greatly, as people began to associate them with the communist movement. Lists were created in certain industries, which contained names of alleged communists, and prevented them from obtaining employment and other opportunities. The US federal government denied the existence of such lists, but none the less, there was an increasing sense of unease and distrust even among fellow Americans.
Historians frequently debate what caused the Cold War. Was it the threat of Soviet expansion, or was it a reaction to America's foreign policy? After the detonation of the atomic bomb in Japan, during WWII, tensions increased among the two super powers. As the US flexed it's muscle, the Soviet scrambled to develop the same type of military, particularly nuclear, capabilities. Each nation demanded that the other give up development and possession of further nuclear capabilities, but distrust caused them both to refuse. In March 1947, the President put forth a document known as The Truman Doctrine. This document officially declared communism a threat to not only the US but to all peoples of the world. It was now the responsibility of the US to defend the globe from totalitarian regimes. This proclamation instilled fear in the hearts of many Americans, and convinced Congress to grant Truman the funding to aid Greece and Turkey in establishing democratic governments.
This containment theory declared that the US needed to remain vigilant, and not allow for Russia to gain influence over weaker nations. This constant paranoia abroad began to take effect internally. Shortly after he released the Truman doctrine, he declared that all employees of the federal government were subject to investigation in order to determine their loyalty. The US government was convinced that the Soviet Union had American spies who had infiltrated all layers of government, and were releasing confidential information to them. In 1933 US official intercepted a Soviet message that revealed financing for an American Communist Party, and then in 1944 information was received that they were in fact on the road to developing nuclear capabilities.
In 1947 US Congress passed the National Security Act which led to the creation of agencies such as the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These agencies were responsible for conducting covert activities and information gathering, which would influence the execution of US foreign policy. In addition to military strategy, the US also developed and economic strategy that would expand it's influence. After WWII, Europe was left destroyed and in economic shambles. Therefor in 1947 the Marshall Plan was declared; it would allow the US to provide economic aid these nations in need.The post-WWII American military lost a lot of men and resources during the war, and Truman was determined to strengthen our forces back up. Then in 1948 Soviet and American conflict began to increase in Germany. As US policy makers and our allies began to mobilize, in an attempt to integrate the separate areas of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet moved even quicker, as they blocked off all roads connecting to Berlin. This created another opportunity for the US to show its muscle, as they flew over the blockade, and distributed aid to Berliners.
During the 1948 election, the majority of Americans were convinced of the Communist threat, which allowed Truman to gain popularity, and rally support. His hard-lined policy of communist containment, would soon lead the US into another devastating war, which was simply an extension of the Cold War, the Korean War. In June of 1950, the communist regime of North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea was back by the Soviet Union, which caused the United States to view this act of aggression as the Soviet's attempt to expand it's influence. However the situation was extremely complex, with China at North Korea's border, the US had to be cautious in not instigating involvement of Mao Zedong, and his regime over The People's Republic of China. However when General Douglas MacArthur boldly led his troops closer to the border, causing China to send in reinforcements. Disagreements as to what to do next emerged between the more aggressive MacArthur, and President Truman. Eventually Truman ordered MacArthur to return home in order to avoid further escalation.
As the tensions in Korea died down, the US began to reach out to countries like Japan and Latin America, in order to further contain the communist movement. Additionally, the US government began to launch media campaigns to instill anti-communist feelings among Americans and the people of the world. This fueled baseless communist accusations and witch hunts all over the country. Union memberships suffered greatly, as people began to associate them with the communist movement. Lists were created in certain industries, which contained names of alleged communists, and prevented them from obtaining employment and other opportunities. The US federal government denied the existence of such lists, but none the less, there was an increasing sense of unease and distrust even among fellow Americans.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Great Depression and the New Deal
The Great Depression began in 1929 and lasted until 1939. It all began on Tuesday October 29, 1929, which is known in American History and Black Tuesday. Black Tuesday reversed the decade of prosperity that American enjoyed during the 1920's. There were many factors that contributed to the depression but those that had the greatest impact were the rampant stock markets speculations, mistakes made by the FED, and the uneven distribution in wealth among the American public. From 1928-1929 the DOW Jones industrial average doubled and Americans were recklessly investing in companies using only a 10% margin. They assumed that they would eventually sell their stock for a higher price and packet all of the profits. That was until Black Tuesday arrived and investors began to realize that the stock market was artificially high, this spurred the massive selling that took place, as creditors called back their loans. As the market plummeted more and more Americans owed more money than they even possessed.
The Federal Reserve than made a series of bad moves that exacerbated the economic chaos. First they reduced the money supply and raised interest rates which made it harder for people to acquire loans. This not only hit hard at home but internationally as well. Then countries like Germany and Austria felt the pinch since they depended on the US for most of it's aid; the ripple affect hit all over Europe, pushing Europe into a depression of it's own. Then to make things worse, the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act was enacted, which raised tariffs on all sorts of manufacturing goods. The angered our international trading partners, causing them to raise their tariffs. This just made everything worse as international trade declined.
Additionally, most of the economic wealth that was created in the 1920's concentrated into the hands of the wealthiest 20% of the nation. The inequality in wealth had a negative effect on consumption, and the consumer industries that flourished in the 1920's were hurt.
Herbert Hoover, who was elected into office in 1928, was determined to save America from this economic crisis. Initially his strategy was to work with corporate America since he did not favor social welfare to aid the poor. Unfortunately for him, his plan didn't work and if he wanted to truly help America he would have to develop and new strategy. However, he was unable to implement a succesful strategy causing him to lose the 1933 election to Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. By the time FDR took office it was very clear that drastic measures were needed to aid Americans, that is how the first New Deal was born.
The first thing that FDR did was to give the bank a holiday, and to seperate commercial from investment banking. He then made the government create the Security Exchange Commission, who was to oversee and enforce the stock market. He than granted economic relief to the poorest of society, and created the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Civil Works Administration. The put a large portion of young unemployed Americans to work on government projects to improve the environment and infrastrusture. He then turned his attention to the agriculture industry that was in dire need of change.
The 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act lead to the development of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. They basically paid farmers to keep a portion of their farms from production, in hope that a decline in supply would lead to an increase in prices and revenues. All of these measures excluded the poor, especially Southern African Americans. FDR than pushed for the National Industrial Recovery Act that briefly helped increase wages and reduce the hours per work week. This only lasted a few months, since companies gradually began to violate codes, knowing that there was no way the government could enforce all of them.
The National Industrial Recovery Act also created the Public Works Adminstration which build bridges, roads, sewage systems, schools, libraries, dams, and hospitals all over the country. The Tennessee Valley needed further government intervention in order to endure the depression, this led to the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act. The government was determined to provide the Tennessee Valley with the infrastruture needed to develop vital industries and businesses. Out of all the areas in the US the Tennessee Valley and South West benefited the most from the first New Deal. This created resentment among the American public, who pushed for more aid and intervention for the poor. This pushed Roosevelt to create the Second New Deal.
FDR first declared the need to abolish evil corporate holdings, as well as increased spending for social programs and public work projects in order to increase the amount of dollars in circulation, which would then boost consumer spending. Two of the most important acts in US history were developed around this time, the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act. The Social Security Act set up a welfare fund that was for the unemployed, elderly poor, and disabled. It gave seniors a form of income upon retirement. The National Labor Relations Act allowed workers to join the union of their choice, and investigated unfair labor practices. The Second New Deal also increased taxes on the wealthy, and abolished the monopolistic holdings of industries like utilities that were notorious for hiking up rates.
Roosevelt's actions allowed him to gain the favor of the poor, and he won the 1936 election. For the first time in American history the African American community voted overwhelmingly Democrat. Although Roosevelt shifted his policies in favor of the poor, it still excluded immigrant farm workers, predominantly Mexican, and Southern African Americans. He did however welcome Jew and Catholics into his administration, who prior to this were excluded from high level government or political positions. Many more women also entered the administrative ranks, who pushed for laws protecting women in labor intensive industries. All of the progress made as a result of the new deal did not pull America out of the Great Depression, the Second World War was around the corner, which would give the economy what it needed to emerge triumphant.
The Federal Reserve than made a series of bad moves that exacerbated the economic chaos. First they reduced the money supply and raised interest rates which made it harder for people to acquire loans. This not only hit hard at home but internationally as well. Then countries like Germany and Austria felt the pinch since they depended on the US for most of it's aid; the ripple affect hit all over Europe, pushing Europe into a depression of it's own. Then to make things worse, the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act was enacted, which raised tariffs on all sorts of manufacturing goods. The angered our international trading partners, causing them to raise their tariffs. This just made everything worse as international trade declined.
Additionally, most of the economic wealth that was created in the 1920's concentrated into the hands of the wealthiest 20% of the nation. The inequality in wealth had a negative effect on consumption, and the consumer industries that flourished in the 1920's were hurt.
Herbert Hoover, who was elected into office in 1928, was determined to save America from this economic crisis. Initially his strategy was to work with corporate America since he did not favor social welfare to aid the poor. Unfortunately for him, his plan didn't work and if he wanted to truly help America he would have to develop and new strategy. However, he was unable to implement a succesful strategy causing him to lose the 1933 election to Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. By the time FDR took office it was very clear that drastic measures were needed to aid Americans, that is how the first New Deal was born.
The first thing that FDR did was to give the bank a holiday, and to seperate commercial from investment banking. He then made the government create the Security Exchange Commission, who was to oversee and enforce the stock market. He than granted economic relief to the poorest of society, and created the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Civil Works Administration. The put a large portion of young unemployed Americans to work on government projects to improve the environment and infrastrusture. He then turned his attention to the agriculture industry that was in dire need of change.
The 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act lead to the development of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. They basically paid farmers to keep a portion of their farms from production, in hope that a decline in supply would lead to an increase in prices and revenues. All of these measures excluded the poor, especially Southern African Americans. FDR than pushed for the National Industrial Recovery Act that briefly helped increase wages and reduce the hours per work week. This only lasted a few months, since companies gradually began to violate codes, knowing that there was no way the government could enforce all of them.
The National Industrial Recovery Act also created the Public Works Adminstration which build bridges, roads, sewage systems, schools, libraries, dams, and hospitals all over the country. The Tennessee Valley needed further government intervention in order to endure the depression, this led to the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act. The government was determined to provide the Tennessee Valley with the infrastruture needed to develop vital industries and businesses. Out of all the areas in the US the Tennessee Valley and South West benefited the most from the first New Deal. This created resentment among the American public, who pushed for more aid and intervention for the poor. This pushed Roosevelt to create the Second New Deal.
FDR first declared the need to abolish evil corporate holdings, as well as increased spending for social programs and public work projects in order to increase the amount of dollars in circulation, which would then boost consumer spending. Two of the most important acts in US history were developed around this time, the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act. The Social Security Act set up a welfare fund that was for the unemployed, elderly poor, and disabled. It gave seniors a form of income upon retirement. The National Labor Relations Act allowed workers to join the union of their choice, and investigated unfair labor practices. The Second New Deal also increased taxes on the wealthy, and abolished the monopolistic holdings of industries like utilities that were notorious for hiking up rates.
Roosevelt's actions allowed him to gain the favor of the poor, and he won the 1936 election. For the first time in American history the African American community voted overwhelmingly Democrat. Although Roosevelt shifted his policies in favor of the poor, it still excluded immigrant farm workers, predominantly Mexican, and Southern African Americans. He did however welcome Jew and Catholics into his administration, who prior to this were excluded from high level government or political positions. Many more women also entered the administrative ranks, who pushed for laws protecting women in labor intensive industries. All of the progress made as a result of the new deal did not pull America out of the Great Depression, the Second World War was around the corner, which would give the economy what it needed to emerge triumphant.
The Roaring 20's
The decade of the 1920s can be seen as one of the most prosperous decades in American history. From 1922-29 the unemployment rate never surpassed 5%, technology allowed for an increase in efficiency, productivity, and the availability of a wide variety of new consumer goods. In 1920 Ford released the model T, which sold a meager 8 million cars to the American public, in 1929 one in every 5 American families own a car. Other popular goods were telephones, washer and dryers, iron, radios, and vacuum cleaners. There was an increase in the selection of agricultural goods as well due to improvement in farming technologies and distribution services. The improvement in the US roadways and the development of the traffic light allowed for American families to more conveniently partake in leisure activities such as camping, going to the movies, amusement parks, and sporting events. Corporations seeking to expand now needed much more capital, they began to go public by selling shares of stock, more and more Americans began investing in the stock market. The led to the creation of the New York Stock Exchange in 1972, in order to facilitate these types of transactions.
Although there was an overall increase in wages and consumption there remained a gap between those who could afford these new products and those who could not. Companies developed the consumer credit system that allowed consumers to acquire goods by making a down payment, and then paying off the balance monthly with interest added. Now that consumers had such a wide selection of goods and services, companies began to used strategic advertising methods. I was evident that there was a wide social movement within American society that entailed self-improvement and personal pleasure. There for new advertising companies emerged that used psychology and a foundation in order to attract consumers. Luxuries like perfume, cosmetics, fashion, games, and toys all geared their adds to housewives, children, and working men, assuring that these goods would reinforce their social status and satisfaction.
Attitudes towards sex and marriage took a noticeable shift as well. The new modern couple were more like partners as opposed to unequal. They participated in all sorts of fun activities together as though they were discovering the pleasures of life together. Many younger middle class women became more open towards sexuality, wearing short dress, smoking, using lipstick, and dancing provocatively.
As communication and entertainment systems became a part of the American social culture, popular celebrities began to emerge. The level of fame and recognition that people like Babe Ruth or Charles Chaplin achieved was paramount, never before has Americans been so obsessed with these icons; in order to meet the demands tabloids and entertainment news stories blossomed. This marked the beginning of a new mass popular culture that not only defined America, but placed us in the world's spotlight.
The 1920's did bring an increase in the overall quality of wealth for the new middle and upper class but unfortunately, most of the unskilled working class suffered despite of economic growth. As new machines and technologies replaced unskilled workers their wages were down, placing them at a great disadvantage. In 1921 the Supreme Court banned striking and picketing by employees, which further discouraged union membership causing them to fall to about 10% of America's workforce.
Working class women were also affected as job opportunities favored their male counterparts. In addition to having to work in harsh industries such as meatpacking, they were often segregated and paid much less than men. However white-collar work did attract many women as the demand for secretaries, bank tellers, department store clerks, and accountants increased. If she possessed any of these skills she had an upper hand in finding a good job, especially white women. The passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, allowed them to influence the political environment. In 1921 the Sheppard-Towner Act was passed that allocated federal funds to prenatal and child health care clinics nationwide, which would support the working mothers of America. Also in 1920, the National American Woman Sufferage Association changed to the League of Women Voters that encourage women to fun for office, educated women about issues, and provided assistance to the poor. Although this made great progress, it did not acknowledge or help African American women in achieving equality.
Although there was an overall increase in wages and consumption there remained a gap between those who could afford these new products and those who could not. Companies developed the consumer credit system that allowed consumers to acquire goods by making a down payment, and then paying off the balance monthly with interest added. Now that consumers had such a wide selection of goods and services, companies began to used strategic advertising methods. I was evident that there was a wide social movement within American society that entailed self-improvement and personal pleasure. There for new advertising companies emerged that used psychology and a foundation in order to attract consumers. Luxuries like perfume, cosmetics, fashion, games, and toys all geared their adds to housewives, children, and working men, assuring that these goods would reinforce their social status and satisfaction.
Attitudes towards sex and marriage took a noticeable shift as well. The new modern couple were more like partners as opposed to unequal. They participated in all sorts of fun activities together as though they were discovering the pleasures of life together. Many younger middle class women became more open towards sexuality, wearing short dress, smoking, using lipstick, and dancing provocatively.
As communication and entertainment systems became a part of the American social culture, popular celebrities began to emerge. The level of fame and recognition that people like Babe Ruth or Charles Chaplin achieved was paramount, never before has Americans been so obsessed with these icons; in order to meet the demands tabloids and entertainment news stories blossomed. This marked the beginning of a new mass popular culture that not only defined America, but placed us in the world's spotlight.
The 1920's did bring an increase in the overall quality of wealth for the new middle and upper class but unfortunately, most of the unskilled working class suffered despite of economic growth. As new machines and technologies replaced unskilled workers their wages were down, placing them at a great disadvantage. In 1921 the Supreme Court banned striking and picketing by employees, which further discouraged union membership causing them to fall to about 10% of America's workforce.
Working class women were also affected as job opportunities favored their male counterparts. In addition to having to work in harsh industries such as meatpacking, they were often segregated and paid much less than men. However white-collar work did attract many women as the demand for secretaries, bank tellers, department store clerks, and accountants increased. If she possessed any of these skills she had an upper hand in finding a good job, especially white women. The passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, allowed them to influence the political environment. In 1921 the Sheppard-Towner Act was passed that allocated federal funds to prenatal and child health care clinics nationwide, which would support the working mothers of America. Also in 1920, the National American Woman Sufferage Association changed to the League of Women Voters that encourage women to fun for office, educated women about issues, and provided assistance to the poor. Although this made great progress, it did not acknowledge or help African American women in achieving equality.
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