Blog Three: The Great Depression, the New Deal, Worl War Two and the Cold War

Textbook Readings:
               Chapter 23 of our textbook, American Horizons, talks about the Great Depression and the New Deal. The New Deal was FDR's program to restore the economy and save the nation form the Great Depression. During his presidency, FDR dramatically expanded the role played by the federal government in managing the economy and improving human suffering. He made government more inclusive and attentive to the needs of small farmers, workers, women and African Americans. During the Great Depression, there was major unemployment. Employers couldn't afford to keep workers, which led to the huge levels of unemployment. It was nearly impossible to find a job. To fix this problem, FDR called on the states and federal government to create relief programs, unemployment insurance and old age pensions. He pledged to use federal power to ensure a more equitable distribution of income and promised "bold experimentation" in pursuit of the New Deal. While in office, FDR held fireside chats, which were fourteen minute radio addresses discussing the causes of the Great Depression and how it was going to be fixed. On Monday, March 13, after listening to the fireside chats, people began depositing cash in newly opened, federally supervised banks. FDR's first hundred days in office became famous. In this time period, he overcame Congress to pass fourteen major pieces of legislation. He stabilized the banking system, regulated the stock market, protected property owners, helped farmers and provided emergency relief to the unemployed. The Social Security Act was also passed. This act had each generation of younger workers contributing to the system that financed the retirement benefits received by older workers, and in return they would benefit in the same way when they reached age 65. Many people were against this act, however. They didn't want to pay taxes, or they denounced government involvement in worker-employee relations. A new burst of reforms emerged, known as the Second New Deal. The largest program that came out of the Second New Deal was the Works Progress Administration, which gave the unemployed meaningful labor. Life in the 1930s began to change. There were still newspapers and magazines, but radio and movies, which had sound and color, began to take over life. Means of transportation also changed. For example, people now used flying on planes as a way of transportation. Women also became involved in the New Deal, supporting women's voting rights and industrial safety. The last major New Deal reform before World War Two was the Fair Labor Standards Act. This act banned child labor, established federal minimum wage starting at 40 cents per hour, and set standard work week at 40 hours. FDR's plan for saving the nation from the Great Depression was successful, and we still see some of the programs enacted during that time being used today.
               In this chapter of American Horizons, economics, politics, culture and demography are all present. Economics is a major theme in this chapter. The nation's economy was in very bad shape due to the Great Depression. The unemployment rate was extremely high, and many people were in poverty. FDR's New Deal, his plan to save the nation, helped many of these people recover. It also helped the economy recover. This also helped FDR's political campaign. The American people believed in him so much that he was in office for a third term, the only president to have ever done so. Life in the 1930s began to change, which brings us to culture. Radio and movies became very popular, and movies had sound and color. People started flying on airplanes to travel, which was much faster. Finally, the demography of the people that were affected by the depression were middle class and poor people. The very wealthy people were still affected, but they were still wealthy. For the most part, they didn't go into poverty. The people affected by the depression were saved by FDR's New Deal.
The Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression:
               This documentary by American Experience talks about the Great Depression and the crash of 1929.The 1920s, also know as the "Roaring Twenties" was a time of prosperity, and a New Era. The people thought this time of great prosperity would last forever. They became very involved in the stock market, which people saw as a new way to make a fortune. There were a number of men who became rich off the stock market, some being Jesse Livermore, William C. Durant, Charles Mitchell and Groucho Marx. This was also the dawn of the consumer revolution, where new products were being made and people could buy on credit. The phrase "buy now pay later" became the  phrase for consumer credit. Many people involved in the stock market followed the advice of astrologers, and some even put their entire life savings into the stock market, life Groucho Marx. Most stocks were regulated by regulators, however, at this time that was legal. They would make the stock look like its doing well so people would buy it, then it crashes and people lose their money. Michael Meehan was one of the most successful Wall Street pools. Then a man named Roger Babson predicted that there would be a crash in the market, but no one believed him. The economy became dependent on buying on margin, and as a result of this everyone tried to borrow money to save their stocks. Charles Mitchell stopped the first crash of 1929 by giving $25 million of credit to cover stocks. The market was saved, but people were getting poorer and poorer and getting into debt. then on September 3, the market hit an all time high. After that the market kept going up and down. Then, on Tuesday, October 29, everyone wanted to sell their stocks, and as a result the market crashed. Everything the people had was gone, and many people were in serious debt. Some people resorted to suicide because they had nothing left, like Jesse Livermore. The crash left Mitchell $12 million in debt, but he made a remarkable comeback, and in 1936, Durant filed for bankruptcy. After the crash, no one knew the depression was coming, but deep down they knew the roaring twenties were over.
               Some of the themes present in this video are economics, culture and demography. The economy of the United States became dependent on buying on margin, which caused people to get into huge debt. When the market crashed, so did the economy. Unemployment rates rose dramatically, and many people were in poverty. This caused a change in culture. People had to change the way they lived dramatically. They could only buy things the absolutely needed, and they had to search for a job every day. Everyone was effected by the crash, especially the people involved in the stock market. The people who owned stocks had to basically start over financially, because they had nothing. The stock market crash of 1929 caused many problems in the United Sates and around the world.
Grand Coulee Dam:
               The documentary by American Experience discusses the Grand Coulee Dam. The Grand Coulee Dam became known as the "dam unlike any other," and it "contained the mighty Columbia." The Columbia River is 258,000 square miles, and was the economic lifeline of a nation, providing food (salmon) and a source of trade. Grand Coulee was a big ditch before the dam was built. Billy Clap was the man who thought of the idea to build a dam at Grand Coulee. Eastern Washington had good soil, but no water. It was like a desert. The dam would "make the desert into a garden" and provide people with electricity. When the stock market crashed in 1929, FDR saw building the dam as fitting in with the "plan for promised land." Part of the dam was to be built on Indian Reservations, which made the Indian people very unhappy. When the dam was being built, there was little consideration about the changes it would bring, such as the salmon traveling upstream, rapids and the Indian land. However, the dam was built anyway. The dam was going to deliver jobs, farms and electricity. In addition to the dam, a reservoir was going to be created for power and irrigation. As many as 100,000 jobs were created to build the dam, however the workers weren't treated very well. They never got a break, and the conditions were terrible. A total of 72 men died on the project. To give the dam publicity, Woody Guthrie was hired for a documentary about the dam. He wrote the song "Roll on Columbia." Then America entered World War two. The dam helped the war effort, and President Truman said that without the Grand Coulee Dam, the war wouldn't have been won. The Grand Coulee did a number of things, good and bad. It was known as the "greatest thing built by man", it put the Columbia salmon on the endangered animals list, it helped defeat the Japanese and the Great Depression, it made the desert into a garden, destroyed Indian life, and eliminated salmon.
               In this documentary on the Grand Coulee Dam by American Experience, the themes of economics, and culture are present. FDR saw the creation of the dam as helping the economy recover from the depression. He decided to have it built, which gave thousands of people jobs. This helped the economy recover very much. The unemployment rate went down, and people were getting out of poverty. The dam also influenced culture very much. The dam provided electricity and made the desert into a garden. The dam also took away the Indian's land, and eliminated the salmon. The Indians had to change their ways of life completely because of the dam. Although the dam brought many good things, it also brought bad things for the Indians.
Textbook Readings:
               Chapter 24 of our textbook, American Horizons, discusses World War Two. There were several issues that sparked World War Two, such as nationalism, competition for colonies, and security fears. In 1935, the United States passed the Neutrality Act, which states that if war exists between foreign nations, the United States government must impose an embargo of arms sales to the warring states, and stop United States citizens from traveling on their ships. The act, however, made no distinction between "aggressor" and "victim." Then in 1936 the act was expanded. It now barred government or private loans and credits and arm sales to warring nations, and did not restrict sales of raw materials. Then the Spanish Civil war made Congress pass the third Neutrality Act. This act extended the existing ban on loans and arms sales to warring nations, and the U.S. also covered factions in civil wars, such as Spain. Britain and France practiced appeasement on Hitler and Germany, which is essentially giving him what he wanted. When he attacked Poland after saying he wouldn't, Britain and France declared war against Germany. Then on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, leading the United States to enter the war. There were many important events of World War Two, such as the Holocaust and D-Day, but there were also many important things happening on the American home front. Because of the Holocaust, the United States kept immigration restrictions from most European Jews. Also during the war, Congress ended many of the New Deal programs, such as WPA and CCC, but kept programs such as Social Security, farm price supports and minimum wage laws. Although the war was brutal and had many casualties on all sides, the American home front was experiencing good changes. The war improved life for many Americans. It ended unemployment, increased mobility, and laid a foundation for postwar economic surge. Like we saw in the Grand Coulee Dam documentary, many Americans got jobs and came out of poverty. There were also many advances in technology. Advances in RADAR and SONAR now made it easier for naval officers to detect oncoming ships and weapons.  There was also a development in antibiotic drugs, computers, jet engines and guided missiles. Intelligence was increasing very rapidly. The Manhattan Project, which was a secret project to develop the atomic bomb, was well underway. Many famous scientists worked on this project that would eventually end the war. The draft was brought back too. It required males age 18-26 to join the military, although one could be omitted based on marital status, job skills or physical condition. While the men were at war, the women volunteered too. They took on the jobs men left behind, and also created programs to assist troops, such as the United Service Organization. They also volunteered in the military flying planes in non-combat zones, becoming nurses and joining the Red Cross. There was such a stereotypical scare in the United States against the Japanese that all Japanese were placed in internment camps. They were not injured or killed, just held there in case they were spies for Japan. Later in 1948, the United States acknowledged that mistakes had been made, and Congress offered token payments to wartime internees. The last major piece of legislation of the New Deal, the GI Bill, was passed. The bill provided returning servicemen unemployment benefits, medical coverage, home mortgage guarantees, small business loans, hiring preferences for government jobs and extremely generous education benefits. After 1945, the bill was the biggest, longest running and most successful New Deal legislature. FDR won re-election for a fourth term, with Harry S. Truman as his Vice President. FDR then dies on April 12, 1945, leaving Truman as president. Truman makes the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war.  
               This chapter of American Horizons contains themes of economics and culture. During the war on the home front, there were many changes occurring. Women were volunteering in the war effort by joining branches of the military, such as flying planes in non war zones and becoming nurses, which had never been done before. There were also many advances in technology which would change American life forever. Some examples are new medicines, RADAR and SONAR, computers, jet engines and guided missiles. These improvements not only helped the war effort, but also at home. People would start to use computers in their everyday lives, and used medicine to cure their sicknesses. The war also helped the economy recover from the depression. It ended unemployment and brought people out of poverty. Since people were no longer in poverty, it was much easier for them to move up in class and become successful. Although there were many deaths and casualties on both sides of the war, it improved life for many Americans.
Casablanca La Marseillaise, Superman: Japoteurs and Superman: Secret Agent:
               In each of the videos, Casablanca La Marseillaise, Superman: Japoteurs by Famous Studio and Superman: Secret Agent by Famous Studios, there is a strong sense of propaganda. In Casablanca, refugees from Nazi Germany begin singing their national anthem. Then the military starts singing their song louder, but the refugees sing even louder and get very emotional. All of the refugees are singing, overpowering the military.
               This scene from Casablanca has aspects of culture in it. It is propaganda against Nazi Germany, displaying how the people will overcome Hitler and his Nazis. Although the people are saddened by the events of the war, they are string and will overcome it.
               In the episode Japoteurs of Superman, the United States created the world's largest bombing plane. Clark Kent and Lois Lane go to see the plane, but when it is time to go, Lois Lane doesn't get off the plane. She stays to experience the first flight. However, the Japanese hijack the plane. Lois Lane calls for help, and the Japanese drop a bomb so the other planes cant get to them. Superman arrives and fights the Japanese. He saves the giant bomber, captures the Japanese and saves Lois Lane.
               This episode contains the theme of culture, and a lot of American propaganda. The United States is displayed as the strong hero who will save the day, and no one can overpower them. The U.S. is strong, and will take down the Japanese and save its people, according to the propaganda. This shows how confident and patriotic the American people were in their country to win the war.
               In the episode Secret Agent of Superman, a women, who is a secret agent, has a files of names on a group of men and their plan for destruction. This group of men are the Nazis, and the secret agent has to deliver the files to Washington D.C. As she tries to reach D.C., the men try and stop her. Superman comes and stops the men and brings the secret agent to D.C.
               This episode also contains the theme of culture and American propaganda. Superman saves the day again by defeating the Nazis. This episode shows how the United States was going to succeed in stopping the Nazis in World War Two. America is a strong nation that will fight for what they believe in, and stop what they know is wrong. This episode shows how the United states cannot be stopped and they will defeat the Nazis.
Textbook Reading:
               Chapter 25 of our textbook, American Horizons, discusses the Cold War. President Harry S. Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War Two. He had to decide between a full scale invasion of Japan with many casualties, both Japanese and American, or to drop the atomic bomb with casualties of Japanese civilians and military. Truman's decision to drop the bomb, along with other wartime decisions, led to 3 generations of competition with the communist Soviets that became known as the Cold War.
               At the end of World War Two, the United States had a clear military and economic advantage over the Soviets. In the post colonial world, there was evidence that communism was a powerful force, and in order for the United States to succeed in the Cold War, Truman needed an appealing ideology to counter communist promises that gained popularity. The United States adopted containment as their foreign policy, and the Truman Doctrine was passed which said that the United States would fight communism wherever it might appear. Fear of communism spread all throughout the United States, which became known as the Red Scare. This Red scare led to restrictions of individual rights and systematic persecutions of diverse groups of American citizens. To take the Cold War a step further, the Soviets blockaded the city of Berlin, causing the United States to respond with the Berlin Airlift. U.S. transport planes carried food and coal into the city 24 hours a day for almost a year. The Soviets finally reopened the city on May 11, 1949. Then the U.S. received shocking news. On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union successfully tested an atomic bomb. This meant that they were catching up to the U.S. in their intelligence. China then fell to communism under the leadership of Mao Zedong, and then communist North Korea invaded South Korea which lead to the Korean War.
                      At home, the Red scare was getting worse. People, such as government employees and actors in Hollywood, were being interrogated and tried to see if they had ties to communism. Future president Ronald Reagan was even tried to see if he was a communist. Women in America were also expected to move from being "Rosie the Riveter", back to the traditional role as a housewife. There was a lot of propaganda stressing that the best way for American women to help fight communism was by being homemakers. The Cold War in America was also a time of great racism. In the summer of 1946, there were a large number of lynching of blacks in the south by whites. President Truman's most significant Civil Rights achievement was the desegregation of the military. There was also desegregation in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play in the major leagues. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and while playing he received a lot of hate form whites. However, that didn't stop him. He went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year in 1947. From the 1940s-1960s, many black southerners left the south to the north in seek of new opportunities and no racism. This, however, did not sit well with whites.
               This chapter of American Horizons contains themes of demographics, economics and culture. As black southerners were moving to the north, the demographics began to change. This caused the whites to become angry, and worried about the effect of race and cheap black labor on the character of their communities. When it came to being tried to see if you were a communist, it didn't matter who you were. You could be a very famous actor, or a very powerful politician, but if there was suspicion that you were a communist, you were being tried. There is also a theme of economics. After World War Two, the economy recovered greatly. People now had jobs and were getting out of poverty. Finally, there is the theme of culture. When the war ends, the women are expected to give up their roles as "Rosie the Riveter" and return to being the traditional housewife. It was said that that was the best way for women to fight communism. The automobile also became a very popular and demanded form of transportation. Desegregation also began to emerge. Truman desegregated the military, and Jackie Robinson desegregated Major League Baseball. Although the Cold War was a time of competition with the Soviets, it was also a time of change on the American home front.
Duck and Cover:
               During the Cold Warm after the Soviets successfully tested an atomic bomb, there was a possibility that they might use it in the United States, and the American people had to be ready. Around 1951, the Duck and Cover video came out. The video was shown in schools across America, and taught children how to prepare for an atomic bomb attack. The video begins with Bert the Turtle demonstrating ducking and covering. In schools, they practiced duck and cover for atomic bomb attacks like they practiced fire drills for a fire. Ducking and covering starts when you see a flash brighter than the sun. Sometimes you are warned of an atomic bomb attack, but other times you are not. So, when you see the flash, you duck and cover very quickly. You cover your neck and head, and stay down until the danger is over. Never duck by a window, because they glass will break and could cut you. Get against a wall and duck and cover. This video was shown in schools so children would be ready if there was an attack and there were no adults around to help them.
               In this video, there is a theme of culture. During the Cold War, many Americans were terrified of the Red scare. They had to worry about fighting communism, and now an atomic bomb. However, many Americans didn't know the full extent of the damage that can be done by the atomic bomb. Most adults could figure out that there would be a lot of damage done, which made them scared. But for the children being showed these videos, they didn't know what was going on, and they didn't really care. The adults were the ones that had to worry about this kind of thing. There was a sense of fear in America during this time, and these videos were shown to prepare adults and children for an attack.       
The House in the Middle:
                  Along with the Duck and Cover video, the video The House in the Middle came out around 1954. This video was to prepare homeowners and communities for the atomic bomb. The video contains a series of tests on houses that have different levels of cleanliness. There was a one house that was not taken care of and was neglected, another that was somewhat neglected, and then one that was very clean and taken care of. After all the tests, the clean and taken care of house, the house in the middle, was the one that withstood the bomb. The main point of this video was to keep your house and the community tidy, well painted and taken care of because if you don't, your house might be the one that is doomed in the atomic attack.
               Culture is also a theme present in this video. People were going to do everything they could to try to protect their homes and communities from the atomic bomb. Many were afraid of the effects that the bomb could have, although many didn't know the extent of the damage and devastation. They were shown the video to be as prepared as possible for the atomic bomb, and they were expected to listen to the video. 
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