Interwar Period

Preceding Events:
- Great Depression: Understanding this era is crucial to grasping the economic and social shifts leading to the New Deal.
- Progressive Era: The movements during this time set the stage for future changes by addressing social issues.
- World War I Impact: This conflict influenced both economic conditions and social attitudes that followed.
- The Roaring Twenties: This period saw significant economic prosperity but also sowed the seeds for eventual economic instability.

Great Depression Symbols:
- Individuals used symbols to communicate safety regarding seeking employment or food.
- Example: Signs carved on posts indicated whether or not it was safe to approach for aid, reflecting widespread paranoia during this time.

Populist Movement:
- Focused on Workers' Rights, particularly for agrarian workers.
- Key figure, William Jennings Bryan:
  - Ran for president three times as a Democratic candidate but never won.
  - Advocated for the bimetallism policy (minting silver) to expand the money supply and assist struggling farmers, combating the deflationary pressures of the time.
Influence on Political Parties:
- Populism inflected the Democratic Party, leading to more government intervention aimed at aiding workers, especially as the Republican Party returned to its conservative roots.

Progressive Movement:
- Took elements from Populism, focusing on reforms and government involvement to address social issues.
- Early 20th century saw Teddy Roosevelt endorsing progressive policies, bridging gaps between workers' rights and governmental action.