Major Themes
1)
The increased role of the government has led to significant changes in the Economic system of the USA. Many experts consider the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt the beginning of the social security system of the federal government. In the middle of the Great Depression, many people did not have work, many families were affected by poverty and hunger, respectively. However, a number of New Deal programs such as the Federal Office for Emergency Relief, which provided considerable financial support for state and municipal relief operations, emerged. Administration provided the fund for the population and a sufficient number of work places. (Faulkner H.U., 1951, p.304) It gave people the opportunity to receive a salary and provided for their families suitable living conditions. In the latter half of the 19-th century, in the United States a large-scale production and a large number of stable jobs were formed. In this regard, there was a huge growth in the domestic market of large cities, large concentrations of wealth, as well as the related development of social problems. The growth of corporate monopolies of goods and services in the late 19-th and early 20-th centuries raised the economic power to a new, more stable level. In the early 20-th century, there was major reform movement in the United States. At this time, the impact that the government may have to improve daily lives of Americans becomes noticeable. However, these changes were interrupted by the US involvement in the First World War. Thus, the Progressive movement was necessary to correct the economic situation of the 1930s. In the second period of the New Deal (1935-1938), the Wagner Act was passed, and the Administration Works Progress (WPA) started. It became the largest employer in the country, provided work for the population of the country and finally stabilized the situation. To protect citizens from losing their savings due to various circumstances, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was formed (FDIC). In addition, the social security system emerged. One more institution was the Commission on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which ensures the protection of investors that maintains an orderly, fair and efficient markets, and allows the formation of capital. All these new elements of the Roosevelt administration, Except WPA, still work now. Thus, the federal government has expanded significantly during the Great Depression and continues to make great efforts in helping local authorities and its citizens. Federalism is still a powerful force in America, and it continues to draw energy from the desire of the decentralization of political power on the political level. The present system helps to build relationships between the states and the government and to ensure stability in the country.
2)
During the first 50 years of the nation, diplomats believed that the United States must comply with the political isolation from the European powers in peacetime and maintain strict neutrality in times of war. Since the inception of the United States after the American Revolution to the Spanish-American War, the US foreign policy reflected a regional rather than a global trend; however, there was the idea of creating the "Empire of Liberty". Thomas Jefferson (1801-1848) imagined America as a great "Empire of Liberty", which could contribute to republicanism and stop the imperialism of the British Empire. (Tucker R. W. and Hendrickson D.C., 1992, p.28) During the American Civil War, each nation was officially neutral, and no one recognized the Confederacy. This was an important diplomatic achievement of the Lincoln’s administration. Foreign policy of Lincoln was not successful in 1861 in terms of recourse to the European public opinion. Diplomats had to explain that the United States was not committed the slavery to an end, but instead, they put forward arguments on the constitutionality of secession. However, in the years after World War II, the United States was guided mainly by deterrence, the US goal was to prevent the spread of communism beyond the countries that had already been influenced by him. It was a struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, curbing did not make sense anymore, so, the United States revised its foreign policy over the last ten years. US foreign policy has changed dramatically since the George Washington. The United States was an important participant in world politics during the 20th century, and as a result, foreign policy took a lot of time, money, and energy of the government. Many people, who form the American foreign policy today, accept the fact that the United States is a member of the world community that cannot afford to ignore the importance of the possibility of peace. USA, as the greatest world power, should be involved in world politics, but protect itself from falling into the trap. There are some key things that the United States must comply with, because some of them can be fixed no longer and it can lead to world chaos and violence. The US should maintain the overall balance of forces. This means that US military power is still very important for stability in Europe, in Asia, in areas such as the Persian Gulf. Great changes have taken place in the transition from a bipolar world to a multipolar world in these years.
3)
The culture of the United States was influenced by an ethnic and racial diversity of the people. A significant influence on it had come from such countries as Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, descendants of slaves brought from Africa, as well as Native American and Native Hawaiian. However, the culture of immigrants from England, that spread the legal system, the English language, and other cultural achievements, made a decisive contribution. Since 1960, the United States faces a counterculture, which arises from the confluence of ideas, problems, events, circumstances and technological developments, which served as the intellectual and social catalysts for the exceptionally rapid changes in this era. For those, who were born after World War II, the emergence of television as a source of information and entertainment - as well as the consumerism that encouraged television advertising, have become key factors of youth frustration and the development of new social behaviors. (Anderson, G.L., Herr, K.G., 2007, p.1068) Communes, collectives, and intentional communities regained popularity during this period. Some of these self-contained communities have led to the emergence and spread of the ideas of the international Green movement. During the 1960-ies, it evolved and expanded into a subculture of LSD and other drugs. They were popularized in the culture, music, and literature as a method of raising consciousness. In addition to these facts, the United States is one of the most religious countries in the developed world. Nine of the thirteen colonies in the state had an official state religion. However, by the time the Convention in 1787, the United States became one of the first countries in the world, which enshrined in law the principle of religious freedom that raised America's attractiveness in comparison with the religiously intolerant Europe. (Marsden G. M., 1990, p.46) The religious freedom of thought led to the fact that immigrants brought the teachings expressed in new forms, given various new branches. Exclusively American sects have appeared at the beginning of the XIX century. Mormons built a kind of theocratic state on the territory of the State of Utah, in the Great Salt Lake, which existed until the end of the century. At the turn of 19-20 centuries, new religious movements began to appear. During proliferation and contradictions of capitalism, so-called social Christianity has exposed the vices of bourgeois society and sought to restructure society on the principles of justice, while maintaining the capitalist system, appeared. In 60-ies of 20-th century, Negro priests and churches, as well as white liberal clergy, played an important role in the liberation movement of blacks. Today, more than 250 religious beliefs are professed, among which Christianity that predominates in the United States. American film, television, jazz, blues, rock and rap are the foundation of the world of popular culture. As a leading economic and military power in the world, the US largely determines the way of life of the rest of humanity. American culture has radically changed in many ways over time and under the influence of many factors and other cultures.
4)
In the late 1800-ies, a group of Americans decided to take action to stop the decline of moral and ethical values in the United States. These so-called advanced people began one of the most comprehensive reform movements in the United States up to this day. Progressivism became so widespread that by the end of the First World War, all those, who did not share the ideas of the progressive reforms, called communists. The reforms, which remain after the Progressive Era of building codes and safety regulations, which make the plants and apartment buildings in urban areas safer for workers and urban residents, and public housing. While progressives were created by public housing buildings as settlement houses, where people can live when they had financial difficulties. There are many other reforms, progressive era, such as the referendum initiative and reforms, as well as meat inspection act. Another movement that also had a great influence on the United States was the civil rights movement. Although the civil rights movement was not as broad as the progressive movements, it is an important end result is that it has given to all the fundamental rights of African Americans, who were provided with everything in the constitution. Although African-Americans were ready to guarantee equal protection under the law (Fourteenth Amendment), the problem lay in the fact that many states have adopted codes that are severely restricted these rights. These reforms will not rid society of racism completely, but it certainly helped to raise the status of African-Americans in US society. Many of the reforms did not come only from the major reform movements, but also on the political platforms of presidential programs. (Borland B., 1997, p.216) New Deal and Great Society are great examples of this fact. Both programs have been nominated the president and led to reforms that changed America for many years. However, the reforms, as well as the presidential platform are not the only things that have shaped the United States. War played an important role in the United States from the very beginning. The First World War, Second World War, and the Cold War have all been key factors in the United States during the twentieth century. Nevertheless, the majority of laws passed during the war acted only in the period of the war itself. Thus, after the war ended, many of these laws has ceased to exist. So, despite the fact that the war had some influence on American society, this effect is not significant compared to the reform movements. Reform Movement had a major influence the development of the United States since the 1800s to the present day. Many of the laws, commissions and regulations that came out of reform movements of the twentieth century are still in force today. Thus, it means that they had an important influence on the development and formation of policy.
5)
Despite the fact that American women were granted the right to vote as early as 1920, a deep economic and social changes occurred slowly, and the pace of progress in this area has been uneven. (Salmon M., 1986, p.5) 60-ies in the US is the beginning of significant social change, including the position of women. One result of these changes was the women's movement. The achievements of the movement for civil rights and racial equality, as well as other progressive currents of the 60-ies and 70-ies, led a number of organizations and initiative groups advocate for full equality for American women. There have been calls not only for a radical revision of American social and political institutions, customs and values, but also a revolutionary change in the consciousness of both women and men, and, in particular, how women perceive themselves. Not everyone welcomed the results of these changes. There were organizations who aim to fight the so-called "rampant feminism". However, regardless of the evaluation of the changes taking place, their content was certainly very noticeable. The life of American women in 90-ies years is significantly different from their life in the 50-ies and in the more distant past. In full accordance with the principles of the rule of law political activity in America has caused the production of the new legislation that meets the needs of the period, and expanded opportunities for women in the structure of the US social and political institutions, in workplaces and labor markets. In fact, this division of responsibilities between the parents, each of them had the opportunity to use their abilities for the benefit of progress and the health of society. This is a logical division of labor has a positive effect on the relationship of family members, providing peace and stability in the family first, and eventually the whole society. We can assume that in the future women will occupy an increasingly strong position in politics and business, as well as lead an active life as homemakers. The women of the past who have fought for their rights, perhaps exactly in this way imagined the result of their struggle.
Works Cited
Anderson, G.L., Herr, K.G. Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice. SAGE Publications. pp. 1010. 2007. Web. 14 May 2016
Borland, B., ed. America Through the Eyes of its People. New York: Longman. 1997.
Faulkner, H.U. The Decline of Laissez Faire, 1897–1917. Economic. History of the United SLates, Vol. VII. 1951.
Marsden, G. M. Religion and American Culture. Orlando. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, pp.45–46. 1990. Web. 14 May 2016
Salmon, M. Women and the Law of Property in Early America. The University of North Carolina Press, p.4-6. 1986.
Tucker, R. W. and Hendrickson, D.C. Empire of Liberty: The Statecraft of Thomas Jefferson. Oxford University Press. 1992.
