America In The 1920's example essay topic

The United States of America entered something of a golden age in the 1920's. Compared to most of Europe, America has hardly suffered at all in the Great War. Although about four million men were drafted into the armed forces and an American Expeditionary Force (AEF) of over 1.2 million was sent to Europe the United States troops only had to endure a few months of war before the armistice was signed. After the war the United States rose in international power politically and economically with its main European competitors now substantially weakened. American xenophobia increased after 1918, because of the fear of becoming engaged in another costly 'foreign' war and by the 'Red Scare', the terror practiced by the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. A series of strikes and bombings in 1919-20 caused a greater fear of anarchy, which lead to harsh measures, with many innocent aliens deported and civil rights violated.

Many acquired a distrust of organized labor, which continued throughout the decade and even after that. All this contributed to the victory of Republican Warren G. Harding in the presidential elections of 1920. Harding, unlike W. Wilson, was a firm believer in isolationism. Harding's policy was one of 'normalcy', attempting to restore America to its prewar conditions, and was largely oriented toward helping business. Legislation was passed to control the unions and prevent strikes, the courts tended to support employers over employees, taxes were cut (the wealthy especially benefiting) and federal spending was also cut to reduce the national debt. American fears of another war also lead to campaigns for international disarmament and the Washington Naval Conference of 1921 produced the first effective arms limitation agreement in history.

Immigration soon returned to pre-war levels and for the first time was officially restricted due to fears that foreigners will take American jobs and that some could be radicals. The National Origins Act of 1924 set the maximum permitted number of immigrants at 164,000 annually reduced to 150,000 in July 1927. It discrimated against those from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asians altogether. Harding was extremely popular and there was a great national grief when he died in office of a cerebral embolism in 1923. However, it soon became obvious that his administration had been one of the most corrupt in history and although himself essentially honest Harding had appointed many greedy, dishonest men of limited talent to high office.

The Vice-President, Calvin Coolidge, was not considered to be one of those and he became the President. He was easily re-elected the following year. The 1920's were a decade of great prosperity for many individual Americans and for the country as a whole. However, some industries did not share the economic boom.

Agriculture and the textile and coal industries in particular were extremely depressed. Despite this, the majority of Americans were comfortably off and modern conveniences and cars were soon owned by a large percentage of families, aided by the expansion in consumer credit facilities. People had increasing time for leisure and the leisure industry became very important. Women got the right to vote and were beginning to enter the workplace in increasing numbers in an ever-increasing variety of jobs. Unfortunately, the decade also saw a rebirth of racist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, encouraged by the xenophobia that was typical for the early 1920's. The Klan soon had five million members and gained control or influence over many city and state governments.

Extreme Christian fundamentalist movements were increasing too, particularly in rural areas where common people felt threatened and alienated by a society they constantly did not understand. One of the things that define America in the 1920's was Prohibition and the huge growth in organized crime that comes with it. The Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale and transport of intoxicating liquor, came into force in 1919 and remained in force throughout the decade. Prohibition transformed the largely ethnic gangs already well established in American cities from small and medium-sized operations running gambling; protection and prostitution rackets into huge multi-million dollar operations with branches throughout the country. Thanks to Henry Ford and mass production, one could buy a ford for $290. The decade was a wonderful one for all of the arts and literature in America.

Technology grew - the country shrunk - as popularity of automobiles, radios, and movies exploded. Buying on credit or installments was an outcome of the industrial age. In the fall of 1929, the New York Stock Exchange was more active than it had ever been. Economists predicted a permanent high plateau. By October 24, 1929, Black Thursday, the stock market crashed and panic broke out.

Banks closed. The nation stayed in this depression through the end of the twenties and most of the thirties.