THE PROGRESSIVE ERA OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

PROGRESSIVE ERA THE GREAT DEPRESSION
DESRINE SINCLAIR
HISTORY 105
DR. TERRY HAMMONS
MAY 12, 2012

IDENTIFY 2 MAJOR HISTORICAL TURNING POINTS BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVE ERA AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
In the recent studies that I have previously experienced one of the turning points in the progressive era and the Great Depression solely rely on the habits on how the United States was brought into the Great War of World War II. I have learned from early history that World War II was a turning point for the American people we as a nation was brought together to defeat the Axis of power which is widely known as the German power house. Hitler was the benefit of this war that the United States tried so hard to avoid. In the recent information that I have put together there was evidence that many people did not want the U.S. to get involved. We as a country was facing our own economic problems the Stock Market crashes and many investors who placed solely all their savings, checks and balances in the trust of the banking systems. The failure of the baking systems placed a strong grip on the American people forcing them to profit off other means such as hoarding their possessions and even entering into the war against Hitler and his German advisories. During the ordeal there also was a mass accumulation of immigrants into the United States and many were from Ireland, did not want the United States to intervene in the War to assist the British. There were shortcomings of the reaction on how the Irish who already rooted themselves into the American economy, and stressed they did not want American to help the British because the Irish was facing their own tyranny from their homeland against the British. But with great disregard the American people pulled together to face the enemy at the front line this. The mass productions of military arsenals was in the making as you see the previous war took many preparations and all the military equipment was not on hand and the United States was not equipped for another war. So the preparations began for the U.S. to enter the War against Germany and their Axis of Evil. These days were the proving grounds of the American people and how they can pull together with little income, no food, no work, and a dwindling economy. The farmers of the economy were facing difficult times as well, as I was told the farmers were forced to distribute all their crops to the Government to feed the military. I believe it would behoove anyone to enlist into the military so you can survive or even provide income for your family. The only positive reaction for the War was the productions of more military equipment many women such as wives, daughters were taking the role as men to work on the production lines to keep our military striving forward. Even though this was a trial and tribulation phase for the American people they had to pull together and show an effective force. The economy still struggled, men and women were out of work people were starving, and the war was taking place overseas. This would influence many to give up but the determination that the economy would eventually rise from the depths to flourish would prove that the United States was the true power house. The consideration of the turning point to the Great Depression this is one of the real issues, another was the mass exodus of immigration to the United States. Even though I believe that the United States prospered from small businesses and other interjecting issues the immigration was another focal point that should be addressed for the faults and rise of power for the U.S. The immigrates who entered into the United States brought some issues with them to our great country many brought their political issues, illness’, criminal past’s, and other issues that were not addressed. This turning point placed many Americans who were native Americans did not like the outcome of many immigrants entering their homeland, I am not sure if the plague reached the shores of the United States, but there were serious cases of small pox. I would like to also add that other reasons many immigrants were debarred because of the cases of: idiots, imbeciles, feeble minded, epileptics, insane, tuberculosis, (non-contagious) professional beggars, mental, or physical defects likely to affect their ability to earn a living, accompanying aliens under sixteen years of age unaccompanied by parent, polygamist, anarchists, prostitutes, etc. These were many of the issues that placed Americans and their new neighbors who were sometimes not welcomed to the U.S. There was a section of a movie that I noticed the incoming of immigrants once they arrived on the docks in America they were given a uniform and military clothes to enlist to fight in a war that those immigrant had no recollection. This information I gathered seemed to be farfetched but there was many immigrants fighting in numerous wars for the United States the movie was “The Gangs of New York”. Immigration played a vital role for the economy it either boosted the economy or drove the issue to the ground many government officials fed off the crowd of immigrants promising a better livelihood in their sector of their governing district this was used to generate balloted numbers to gain entrance into candidacy and many immigrants were profited not knowing who or what to believe. The improvement of immigration increased with popularity that the United States was the place to relocate many Germans, Italians, and other European countrymen left their homeland to start over in the U.S. The immigration exodus also caused a stir with the political systems and generated a much harsher social class of people as you see the many immigrants were running muck in the streets causing issues to the authorities. There was another turning point World War I and the birth of communism within the realms of USSR, this war took an impact on the European countries and demolished their way of life. The European monarchies and their empires were destroyed by the strength of others. During this era there were other events that took place another progressive legislation passed during the Progressive Era and The Great Depression was the Pure Food and Drug Act, president Teddy Roosevelt conducted the process allowing the passage of the meat inspection Act of 1906. This was applied to the goods and that was being imported or exported.
The FDA Federal Drug Administration Act entrusted with the interest of testing any and all of the meats being distributed for sale, or consumption. Another piece of legislation passed during the initial phase in the U.S. history was the passing Progressive reforms and labor movement laws. The industrial revolution changed America from a rural population to an urban population. Factories were dependent on women and their children for cheap labor many families depended on the wages there children were allotted. It is hard to imagine that your daughter, niece, granddaughter, nephew, or son working at the age of six years old and worked for more than 13 hours a day. The environment the children worked in were unhealthy and hazardous conditions persisted for the small salary for cheap labor. It was custom for children to work in these conditions with their families.
During the transition era for women rights the West was always considered the hot seat for reform with new ideas. Many women were not allowed to cast their ballots for voting privileges and not allowed to speak their opinion to any economic oppression, or any debilitating functions. There was a time when some states were allowing the women rights to be observed, but there were some states that did not want to honor their decisions as voters but one state hood that insisted the rights of women voters was Wyoming. The state of Wyoming also granted the issue and hoped the Eastern states would be attracted to their area for being granted the serenity of being equal to their counterparts. There were other Western states that would follow suit to join the ventures of women rights as equals. EXPLAIN THE ROLE THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR PLAYED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN IMPERIALISM.
During the time of the Spanish American war there was an important turning point in American history. This war embarked the end of the Spanish empire in the Americas.
This was the greatest outcome of the war was that it marked the rise of the United States as a global military power structure. This war empowered America to show off their Navy which was a show of force. The Great White Fleet was illustrated as the showing of the United States Naval forces and how powerful the military structure was becoming. This also sparked a quick construction of the Panama Canal to cut the cost of fuel for ships, and to create a shorter route for civilian and military ships to maneuver quickly instead of taking long plotted courses.
ROARING TWENTIES
The twenties were among the years of booming or bust, the revulsion at the thought of war the age of Jazz and post baby boomers that would quickly push the population to 113 million. While in the 1930’s gave the federal government more confidence in the daily lives of their governing laws than ever before. It was contributed that the federal government would take control of jobs that were previously belonging to the state and governments. The Social Security Act anticipated a governing system with a pension fund to create a two percent tax for the first 3,000 of payroll wages to begin in 1937. This act also included unemployment insurance aide to the states for health and welfare programs and the Aid to dependent children program. The Great Depression channeled the different views how unions were addressed. While Teddy Roosevelt took over the office there was an establishment of laws that enabled different Acts, such as the National Labor Act of 1938 which gave their workers the right to join labor unions and bargain through union personnel to represent their cause. This Act enabled certain unions to punish unfair labor practices and organize elections when employees wanted to form unions.

References www.alibris.com John H. Melville The Great White Fleet www.topics.nytimes.com Nick Taylor A Short History of The Great Depression www.history-world.org R.A. Gueisepi The Spanish American War www.blog.readinggroupchoices.com Kate Kerrigan Ellis Island