Essay On American Individualism

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The effects of World War I on America were wide-ranging covering both political and economic impacts the Great War had on the United States. From 1918 to 1932, the Republican Party proved to be the dominant political party in part because of a profound cultural alienation Americans had towards the rest of the world. This “American Individualism” also became one of the main reasons for the party’s fall in the 1932 Presidential Election. After World War I, people were tired of war, tired of Woodrow Wilson’s reforms and terrified of the spread of Bolshevism (later called Communism). Americans were ready for a return to “normalcy”, a phase coined by one of the first Republican leaders of this time, Warren G. Harding. The Republicans of this era stood for isolationism, protectionism, anti-government activism and the promotion of business interests - true capitalism.

The U.S. House election on November 5, 1918, which occurred in the middle of President Woodrow Wilson 's second term marked the beginning of the rise of the Republican Party as it was able to gain 25 seats and take over control of the House …show more content…

Roosevelt. Ultimately, it was his adherence to “American Individualism” in dealing with the Great Depression that cost the Republicans their position of strength - a value that had once made them so strong. However, looking back, the Republicans had a political stronghold on the country from 1918-1932. Following the hardships of the immediate post World War I era, the United States embarked upon one of the most prosperous decades in history. Mass production, especially of the automobile, increased mobility and fostered new industries. Unemployment plummeted as businesses grew to meet this increased demand. The Republican leaders of that time and their stance on isolationism, protectionism, anti-government activism and strong pro-business intiatives made all of this