Contemporary America
20th Century
1896 - The Plessy v. Ferguson case established the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation in public facilities.
1901 - McKinley assassinated, Teddy Roosevelt introduces the Modern Presidency (Involved in the affairs of the people)
1906 - Roosevelt implements major reforms, including the Pure Food and Drug Act and the establishment of national parks.
1913 - The Federal Reserve Act creates a central banking system to regulate the economy and manage inflation, reshaping American monetary policy.
1919 - The 18th Amendment is ratified, initiating Prohibition and leading to significant social changes and the rise of underground speakeasies.
1920 - The 19th Amendment is ratified, granting women the right to vote and marking a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement.
1929 - The stock market crash leads to the Great Depression, a severe economic downturn that affects millions of Americans and prompts significant government intervention.
1933 - The New Deal is introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform to combat the effects of the Great Depression, fundamentally transforming the role of the federal government in economic affairs.
1939 - World War II begins, leading to increased military production in the United States and ultimately pulling the nation out of the Great Depression as factories shift to war-time production.
1945 - World War II ends, resulting in the emergence of the United States as a global superpower and the beginning of the post-war economic boom, which significantly improves the standard of living for many Americans.
WWII Impacts
More citizens died in the war than soldiers
Dresden Bombings, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Pearl Harbor, Holocaust,
Modern day leaders are a product of post WWII impacts (Putin, Trump). The geopolitical landscape shifted drastically, influencing international relations, economic policies, and societal changes that resonate in today's global politics.
The world became filled with fear after the war. Nationalism and propaganda grew stronger, influencing politics and international relations in ways that are still evident today.
Many countries entered bankruptcy after the war and had internal issues. England faced significant challenges during the post-war period, grappling with economic turmoil, a declining empire, and the need to rebuild its infrastructure, which ultimately laid the foundation for a new social contract and the establishment of the welfare state.
The United States was the arsenal of democracy. We were the only country to have atomic weapons for a period, we did not have to rebuild, and this positioned us as a superpower on the global stage. Our economic prosperity during this time facilitated the rise of consumer culture and a focus on technological innovation, shaping the contemporary American identity.
“The social and cultural legacy of World War II was the product of broad social forces that no individuals or institutions could ultimately control. But it was also the result of many visions of the postwar world among many Americans - almost all of them certain that the war validated their often sharply different, and even conflicting expectations.”
Women in War
The war challenged the role of women in America. 6 Million women joined the workforce and prompted issues with child care.
Rosie the Riveter: many women lost their wartime jobs with the return of soldiers, but Brinkley argues that “The number of females in the workforce never declined to its prewar levels, and it continued to grow throughout the 50s and beyond”
USO: United Service Organizations - Sexualizing women for the sake of army morale. Possibly laid the blueprint for the modern day sexual revolution. Think Captain America rallying the troops
African Americans after the War
The post-war period saw a significant shift as African Americans began to challenge the status quo and demand their civil rights more vigorously, leading to the rise of movements that sought to end segregation and discrimination across the nation.
The Great Migration: which took place before, during, and after WWII was where 2 million African Americans left the South seeking new opportunities
African Americans played a larger role in politics, as they were finally able to vote in Northern States. This newfound political power galvanized communities, leading to increased representation in local, state, and federal governments, as well as the emergence of influential leaders advocating for social justice and equality.
Demographics laid the groundwork for activism: NAACP, Urban League, CORE - using methods that King would embrace. James Farmer and Bayard Rustin were leaders of the group, helped King design the bus boycott.
Double V: meant that African Americans would have both a victory over the Axis and Racism. They linked the War to a new movement in America.
American Dilemma: To deny African Americans equal rights in the wake of Nazi Tyranny was a major contradiction.
Economy after WWII
American Abundance
John Keegan remembers seeing the Americans in Europe in giant tanks, this led him to believe that the American economy was bottomless.
WWII brought abundance to American society in the wake of the depression. Brinkley argues that the vast productive power of the US supplied both the US and its allies with resources. The soldiers were fighting for home.
American Dream: this legitimation of capitalism led people to embrace the notion of the American dream - economic security and material comfort.
Economy
John Maynard Keynes: His argument led to FDR to spend money in the hopes of stimulating the economy. Keynesian economics emphasized the need for government intervention during economic downturns, supporting public spending as a means to create jobs and foster growth.
GNP: Gross National Product is defines as the market value of all goods and services produced in one year by labor. and property supplied by the residents of a country. Increased from 90.5 billion to 211.9 billion
Workers: Wages kept up with inflation. Unable to spend money during the war, many people saved money
Abundance led to affluent society: People were into many pop culture things such as the world series and Broadway shows
GI Bill: led to people going to school if they served in the military during the war
Manufacturing Empire
The U.S had nothing to rebuild, manufacturing empire. Their largest issue was reconversion to automobiles from jeeps and tanks.
National Debt/Inflation: 37 billion to 269 billion.
Housing market couldn’t keep up with the baby boom
Inflation threatened the economy and at least 10 million Americans lived in poverty. Additionally, the government struggled to implement effective economic policies that could address these pressing challenges while balancing the demands of a rapidly changing society.