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American Democracy Discontents

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The theme of American Democracy and Its Discontents 1919-present represents within it many defining moments and events that changed or supported the change of The United States of America. Through my studies of this time period I found many events that I believe specifically changed how we live our lives to this day. In reviewing these events, the four events that stood out to me as the most significant were the Stock Market Crash which led to the Great Depression, the Equal Rights Amendment, World War II, specifically the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the U.S. dropping of an atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan, and Rowe vs. Wade, the legalization of abortion. One of the most critical lows in Post World War I America was when …show more content…

steel fell from $262 to $22, and General Motors from $73 to $8.” (Foner pg. 633). In fact, U.S. steels economic collapse continued. Within three years, U.S. steel went from 225,000 full-time workers to 0 workers. With banks failing and millions of Americans losing everything they had including their life savings, homes and jobs Americans were desperate for a solution. Americans were leaving the cities they once migrated to for jobs to return to more rural areas in the attempt to grow food and support their families. 33 million U.S. citizens now populated American farmlands in 1935. “Hundreds of thousands of people took to the road in search of work. Hungry men and women lined the streets of major cities. In Detroit, 4,000 children stood in bread lines each day seeking food.” (Foner pg.633). This was indicative of daily life in all the major cities in America. President Hoovers’ reluctance to provide financial aid to individuals came under great criticism. “In 1931, Hoover quoted former President Grover Cleveland from four decades earlier: “The government should not support the people….Federal aid… weakens the sturdiness of our national character.”” In 1930 President Hoover signed the Hawley-Smoot Tariff. This tariff increased taxes on all goods imported from other countries and in turn our international trade decreased due to other countries increasing the taxes on imported goods from America. With the failure of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff, our government created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Their purpose was to loan money to businesses and homeowners facing foreclosure. This also included funds for public works construction to create jobs. This was supported by President Hoover since it still respected his belief of not handing out free aid to individuals. This was the beginning of Americas’

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