A Decade of Resilience: 1930-1939
Raymond K Reyes
APUS HIST 102
The 1930’s was a trying time for the United States. The United States was a country that before 1930 was on an economic high and lived on the idea of surplus and truly believed in the idea of the Manifest Destiny and in a moment it was all taken away. The stock market crash of October 1929 had been an eye opener for the United States and for the citizens that called this country home and for this reason it showed the resilience that made this country.
From 1929 to 1939 the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn would inflect the citizens of the United States. millions of investors lost everything, The Great Depression was in full swing, steep declines
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Unlike many president’s before him he communicated with the average citizens and explained his plans or the state of affairs allowing the people of the United States to truly feel as though the mattered this in turn would contribute to the American people’s resilience and help ease the economic turmoil that faced them. During the 1930’s American was in search of heroes who they could relate to and heroes who they could believe in. Two men would in-caption the hearts of the American Citizens the first was James J. Braddock and the second Jesse Owens.
Born June 7th, 1905 James Braddock would become a Professional boxer in 1926. Less than two months after Braddock lost to Loughran for the title, the nation had plunged into an economic crises that would be called the “Great Depression". Millions of Americans would lose everything to include James
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In an amazing feat of courage and determination, Braddock would win the 15 round decision to become the new heavyweight champion. It was important to realize that the people who were suffering during this time needed to believe that we as a nation could make a comeback in a seemingly fairytale fashion James Braddock emulated this belief and would eventually earn him the nickname of The Cinderella Man. (Staff j.)
Born to a family of sharecroppers Jesse Owens emerged as a natural major track talent. Under Coach Larry Snyder, Jesse Owens would demonstrate himself to be one of the greatest athletes in the world. May of 1935 Owens had broken the world records for the 220-yard dash, 220-yard low hurdles, and the running broad jump, and equaled the world record for the 100-yard dash.
The following summer, Owens with other American athletes would travel to Germany to represent the United States at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Jesse Owens won Gold medals in the 100 meter Sprint, 200 meter sprint, and the long jump, and won his final gold medal of the Games in the 4×100-meter relay. Owens relay team had set a new world record of 39.8 seconds. With his gold medals in the track and field events Jesse struck a propaganda blow against the Nazi regime, who planned to use the Berlin Games as a showcase of supposed Aryan superiority. (Staff H. , Owens wins 4th gold medal,