Question 1
The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917. The United States maintained the status of neutrality, and President Woodrow Wilson attempted to be an intermediary between the warring parties. The countries of the Entente conducted mass purchases of the American raw materials for military industry, food and weapons, thus strongly promoted economic recovery of the USA. Military orders led to rapid growth of the American industry and construction of the powerful military navy. It is possible to assume that participation of the USA became some kind of preventive measure on attempts of Germany to shake stability in the western hemisphere. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany A. Zimmerman offered Mexico territories of the Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in exchange for support of actions of Germany.
The transition of Germany to the policy of unlimited submarine war against any courts which will go to ports of the Entente became a formal reason for the participation of the USA in the World War I. At first German submarine sank the British passenger ship “Falaba” than it was “Lusitania”, with American citizens on shipboard (Van Ells). Thus the reasons for the US entry into the War were: income from providing material assistance to the countries of the Entente; the desire to weaken Germany that in case of victory would become a strong competitor; the public pushed the country to the War, in connection with the death of civilians at the “Lusitania”. The USA tried to extend the influence on all American continent and to strengthen penetration into China where big activity was shown by Japan.
In January 1918, President Wilson proclaimed the “14-point” peace plan. In the sphere of foreign policy, Woodrow Wilson tried to go to active diplomatic activities aimed at the strengthening of American influence in the solving of European and regional issues. After the Allied victory over Germany, the United States together with other countries was engaged in the restructuring of the world. The USA granted the big loans to the allies. Wilson's “14-point” peace plan called for the establishment of the League of Nations, which was supposed to guarantee peace in the world, its functions now belong to the United Nations.
The United States during the post-war period had a lot of internal problems among them were: inflation, general veterans and unemployment. Tired of the problems caused by the War, Americans wanted to return to isolationism policy. Therefore, in the next elections, Americans voted not for the democrat Wilson, but for the republicans: Warren Garding (1921-1923) and Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929).
Question 2
The World War I contributed to the enrichment of the United States, as the US was among the main winners in this conflict. The deep economic and agrarian crises emerged in the US during 1920, the number of unemployed increased, and the wages were significantly reduced. Against the background of acute economic and social problems at the next election, the Republicans managed to get power. In 1921, the newly elected president Warren Harding cancelled the tax on excess profits of corporations that were imposed during the war and increased duties on imports of important industrial products to the United States. In January 1920 under the pressure of Harding's administration, the Congress adopted Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, according to which, it was forbidden to produce and sell alcohol throughout the United States. This policy provoked the emergence of organized gangs of criminals, who controlled the entire illegal business of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and prostitution. In the south of the United States, the Ku Klux Klan controlled the entire areas and got a new coil of development. The racial segregation was widespread (“Overview of the 1920s”). Therefore, it provoked the emergence of black’s resistance movements. Moreover, widespread was the corruption among law enforcement agencies, in particular, near the president's entourage, which included judges, ministers and other influential political figures. The president's entourage compromised himself, and only the sudden death in August 1923 saved him from Court and shame.
In 1922-1929, the USA secured the status of the most economically powerful country in the world. The United States has significantly increased the export of capital. The spread of a conveyor method of mass production became an important push to increase in production; it was most actively used at Henry Ford's factories. The period of economic recovery, which began in 1922 was the basis for the increase in the number of middle and small business. The middle class of society that was created during this time is a basis for economic stability and power of the USA even today.
The USA considerably increased the export of goods. The excess of exports over imports in 1921-1929 was 7.7 billion dollars. However, the decline came to such industries as shipbuilding, the building of railway equipment, textile and coal industries. The agriculture was in a protracted crisis, there were more than 2 million of unemployed. Despite the rapid economic development, the wages of the blue-collar worker was almost the same. The trade-union movement became widespread. The main aims of the American labor unions were an expansion of the civil rights and improvement of working conditions.
In the elections of 1923, Calvin Coolidge became the President of the United States. He strongly contributed to the growth of monopoly profits and reduced the taxes on corporations and large companies. The large monopolists controlled economics and politics of the United States. In 1928, Herbert Hoover with his promises to wipe out poverty and to ensure prosperous life to every American became the President of the United States.
Question 3
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the President of the United States. He began to pursue the economic policy of recovery from the crisis and further development of the national economy of the state. Roosevelt had his own vision of the reform of the existing economic order, in his decisions, he relied on the opinion of scientists and experts. Roosevelt managed to apply the best economic and political concepts of that time.
The theoretical basis of the economic policy of Franklin D. Roosevelt was the concept of J. M. Keyes about the need for state regulation of the economy and the specific instruments of state regulation. The thesis that the most important economic stimulus to stabilize the economy is the growth of aggregate demand, including government spending, was the cornerstone of all economic policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The concept of fiscal policy has been changed in conformity with this thesis. The government consciously decided to carry out deficit financing.
The President established National Industrial Recovery for the implementation of this policy, the agency was headed by a council of top economists and industrialists. First, Roosevelt ended the banking panic. All banks were closed for a short time, and soon re-opened under a watchful eye of the government. The President signed “Executive Order 6102” which forbade accumulation of gold coins, gold ingots and gold certificates for the American citizens. Moreover, Roosevelt introduced the state control over the stock market (Walker & Brechin, 6). At the insistence of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Congress passed the National Industrial Recovery Act, the “codes of fair competition” reduced unemployment, regulated wages and working conditions (Whittaker, 6). The trade unions got the right to negotiate with employers and conclude collective labor agreements. The system of loans for the construction and repair of housing, roads, and bridges has helped to create new jobs and to reduce unemployment. Works Progress Administration provided financial assistance to authors, artists, and musicians who were in trouble. In 1935 the Constitutional Court found actions as the violation of the US Constitution, later the court acknowledged that these measures were dictated by the crisis. The president showed the nation that the Constitution is not something static, it should be a tool for the progress of American democracy.
Roosevelt's policy was crucial not only for America but also for Europe, where the threat of totalitarianism and a new war was growing faster and faster. He proved that the main capital of the government is the trust which can be achieved only be effective and comprehensible actions. Americans said that Franklin Roosevelt made for the country more than Jesus Christ could make. The President, who was confined to a wheelchair, said that it is good because it allows him to devote all his time to his country. The crisis of 1937-1938 showed the futility of hopes for an immediate “improvement” of the capitalist economy, but no doubt the “New Deal”, influenced the acceleration of the country's recovery from the global economic crisis. Roosevelt was always ready to take full responsibility. Even Truman administration felt the positive effects of “New Deal” of the Roosevelt.
Question 4
The XX century has significantly changed the role of women in society and caused radical transformation of their social and legal status. The world community has recognized the need for equal rights for men and women.
The Progressives were the main allies of the feminists. They also tried to achieve a more humane government, the celebration of true democracy, and to eliminate the most flagrant injustices against women. Feminists and progressives participated in the struggle for the opening of new clinics and kindergartens, argued for the control of foodstuffs. Feminists were interested in things that could improve the lives of women and children. The coalition of progressives and feminists united on the basis of their main demand – female suffrage for American women. With the participation of progressives, feminists were trying to convince public opinion of the correctness of their ideas (“The Women’s Rights”).
The World War I forced women to engage in the most severe and hard work and to take the responsibility for the things that didn't concern them before. After the war, women returned to their living rooms or in the kitchens, but they could not forget the benefits that job gave them nor the position that they occupied in society. Women have learned to think and to fight for their rights even if their husbands don't support them. The 20 years of the twentieth century and the previous events contributed to the rapid development of emancipation. Women were involved in the social production, and this policy has proven the idea of male and female equality. Suffragettes tried to make changes in the law and to make their voice heard by the government and society. They participated in a mass demonstration, wrote petitions, and appeals to the parties and politicians. All these actions were aimed at raising public awareness, policy changes and reforms. Women from the middle class were mainly involved in the activities of such organizations. The Socialists also advocated for women's rights. And finally, in 1919 XIX Amendment to the Constitution was adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The competition between women and men has escalated during the Great Depression. Women were forced out from their working places by men and got only the job which men did not take. The change of the status of the woman was connected with profound changes in the American society. After all, deprivations of women rights throughout the history of the USA, the rights acquired by them in the 20th century became a triumph of the long-term fight of feminists and suffragettes.
QUESTION 1
Participation of the USA troops in gaining the great victory.
https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart7.html
QUESTION 2
One of the highest unemployment level in the history of the USA.
http://totallyhistory.com/us-history/
QUESTION 3
President was trying to explain American citizens the aim of his reforms.
https://yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com/tag/roosevelt/
QUESTION 4
http://the-role-of-women-in-world-war-1.weebly.com/the-role-of-women-in-world-war-one.html
Women were engage in the most severe and hard work during the World War I.
Works Cited
“Milestones: 1914–1920”. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States
“Overview of the 1920s”. Digital History, University of Houston. Web. Accessed 16 Mar
2016 at <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=13>
“The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920”. Office of the Historian, U.S. House of
Representatives. (n.d.). Web. Accessed 16 Mar 2016 at <http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/Womens-Rights/>
Van Ells, Mark. “America and World War I”. Interlink Publishing, 2015. Web. Accessed 16
Mar 2016 at <https://books.google.com/books?id=fKm4BgAAQBAJ&hl=uk&source=gbs_navlinks_s>
Walker, Richard A. & Gray Brechin. “The Living New Deal: The Unsung Benefits of the
New Deal for the United States and California.” Institute for Research on Labor and
Employment. Working Paper No. 220-10. 2010. Web. Accessed 16 Mar 2016 at <http://irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/220-10.pdf>
Whittaker, William G. “Child Labor in America: History, Policy and Legislative Issues”.
Nova Publishers, 2004. Web. Accessed 16 Mar 2016 at <https://books.google.com/books?id=nuogo0UlDEUC&hl=uk&source=gbs_navlinks_s>
