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The transformation of American society after WWI
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After the end of World War II, the United States went through many changes. Most of the changes were for the better, but some had an adverse effect on certain population centers. Many programs, agencies and policies were created to transform American society and government. One of the greatest transformations to American society was the mass migration of families from the inner cities to the suburbs. This was thought to make for a better quality of life and a stronger nuclear family. The migration led to the rebirth of American religion, which was associated with suburban living. Less than fifty percent of Americans belonged to specific churches before the onset of World War II, but by the middle of the 1950, this number grew to almost seventy-five percent. Families spent more time together due to the distance from other families and recreational facilities. Right after the war, many of the returning servicemen had to return to the work force and found this very difficult. Many jobs were filled with women and many did not want to give up these jobs because this meant a better lifestyle for them and their family. This brought about the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act -- the G.I. Bill of Rights". The programs were meant to not only educate and train the returning soldiers, but also help them obtain low interest mortgages and business loans. These loans were backed by the Veterans Administration and guaranteed by the government. Most of the suburbs were built as small communities with strip malls. This meant that all families had to have at least one car if not two for a second job. Families with a two-income household had it much easier than those with one. This caused an explosion of the middle ... ... middle of paper ... ...et Union. This started with the CIA’s covert operations in the Bay of Pigs invasion and ended with the Cuban Missile Crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union. Although war was avoided, a communist regime (Fidel Castro) remains in power today. Another extreme transformation of the government was to focus federal spending on agriculture and infrastructure. These changes led to subsidizing farmers and developing infrastructure programs like the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act and The National Defense Education Act (NDEA). This in turn helped create jobs and encourage farmers to either plant crops or not to plant crops. Even though farmers received subsidies from the government, so much was produced that there became a huge surplus. This led to major trading with foreign countries and transformed American society and government.
The changes in American agriculture was molded by three key factors, economic change, government policy and technology, in the period of 1865-1900.Technology helped facilitated production of good as well as their transportation. Farmers were able to produce more goods, yet they overproduced and it resulted in economic hardship for them. They could not afford to export goods through the rail roads high rates, and led to clashing with the government, for the lack of support. Such factors resulted in change of American agriculture.
... the American economy for trade rather than their own country. The shift to a national highway in Canada supported trade and the economy in giving motorists the ability to travel through Canada without having to leave like which had to be done in previous years.
A healthy postwar economy would depend on providing soldiers money and a place to live once they were home. So the US Government came up with the GI Bill witch was passed 50-0. On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the GI Bill of Rights. The law made possible the loan of billions of dollars to purchase homes for millions of veterans, and helped transform the majority of Americans from renters to homeowners. Though the bill sounded so great many in Congress and educators at Colleges and Universities had serious doubts. Some felt the GI Bill was too expensive, others feared veterans would lower standards in education. Many saw a postwar America faced with the loss of millions of jobs, creating unprecedented unemployment. A federal survey indicated that 56% of the nation's soldiers anticipated a widespread economic depression after the war.
Between 1865 and 1900 technology, economic conditions, and government policy influenced American Agriculture greater than it ever had before. Technologically, Railroads, factories, and farm equipment changed American agriculture by allowing the production of farmed goods to be increased substantially, while economic conditions caused the prices of these goods to go down and then fluctuate. Farmers hurting from the economic disarray began influencing the laws being passed to help them in their economic troubles. Because of the influence of technology, government policy, and economic conditions between the 1865 and 1900 American agriculture was affected.
There is a fine line between what American society looked like during World War II and contemporary America. The dilemma is that society has gone from patriotism and a fight for liberty to “everyone walking around with a chip on his or her shoulder” (Carr 2). This two distinct differences on America culture and society is manifested in, Howie Carr’s “Take $2000 and Call Me in the Morning” and Ronald Reagan’s speech, “The Boys of Point du Hoc”.
America’s entry into World War II had an importance to America after the war. The United States involvement in the war was long and took a toll on everyone in the war. The military of the U.S. was the deciding factor in World War II. The United States grew militarily and economically because of the war. Finally stopping the Great Depression and bringing on jobs for everyone including women, colored people and the fighters of the war.
Federal programs like social security were brought to help the elderly and also the disabled cope. Other welfare programs were initiated to help unemployed or low class citizens. Tennessee Valley Authority was a welfare program created in relation to the new deal. This new program provided navigation/flood control to the society.
The World War II era was important because it transformed American culture. While the men were fighting overseas, the women were working in factories and offices. Before the war, many women were housewives and were discouraged from getting a job. Families were separated, and many of the babies born during the war never knew their fathers. Meat, butter, milk, and cigarettes could only be purchased with coupons issued by the government, and many were responsible for growing their own vegetables. No cars were made during the war because factories devoted all their resources to making parts for tanks, planes and ships. As the demand for labor increased, many Americans had to leave their homes and move to the coastal areas where the defense plants
Religion in the 1950s was a very important aspect to many citizens living in America. The amount that religion affected the population was shown by the increase of religious groups at the time, it was stated in “The 1940s: Religion: Overview.” from American Decades, “..by 1950 more than 55 percent were members of religious groups, a figure that would increase to 69 percent by the end of the 1950s.” However, this number had not been the same throughout 20th century America. The amount of people in America that had been going to worship their religious figures during the Great Depression was a very small percentage of Americans. The number only started to increase after World War II came to a closing and brought major economic prosperity to America. This burst of church growth in America during the time
The U.S. Economy was on a slow return trajectory from the devastating effects of the Stock Market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression that followed; Hoovervilles still littered city landscapes, a relic to the Presidency of Herbert Hoover. The United States had a new President and it was under President Roosevelt and his new deal programs that unemployment would decrease from its all time high of around 21 percent to about 9 percent. Tensions overseas were growing and our relationship with the Empire of Japan was being stretched to the limit. The United States hand was forced with the surprise Pearl Harbor attack, our grandparents and even our great grandparents found themselves thrust into World War II under-equipped and behind the power curve when it came to a military arsenal.
impacted American society in many ways. WWI Impacted Shift in American Foreign Policy. Finally the differences on how the U.S. foreign policy from back then is different from now.
time you heard the siren go off you had to stop what you were doing
It is clear that the United States has changed so much throughout the years. This country has been through so much to get to where it is now. One of the many factors that has contributed to these significant changes is the World War II. During the time period post-World War II, the United States prospered and grew greatly. New technologies, landscapes, and attitudes of the people were developed.
WWII had a major effect on the United States economically. For starters, WW2 was right after the Great Depression so the citizens of the US were in the process of recovering from this crucial setback in the US economy. Ironically, WWII helped the county crawl out of this horrific depression. For example, businesses boomed because they were mass producing supplies for the war including many weapons and materials. Also...
America, like many other countries, has been in numerous wars. In the twentieth century America took part in many wars including the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. America has been affected by each of these wars, some having positive effects and some having negative effects. Although America initially didn't want to be included in the war, they were eventually forced to become involved. After World War I, America experienced changes economically and industrially, politically, and in women's rights.