American History

AMERICAN HISTORY QUESTIONS 1

Part One : The Great Depression was caused by long-existing problems with the American economy . There were weaknesses within the American banking system , including a lack of insurance for consumers ' accounts and too-lenient lending policies in 1927-28 . Also , the stock market was poorly regulated , allowing speculators to manipulate and artificially inflate stock prices . The economy also had other weak points for example , the agricultural sector had been suffering for years before 1929 , with prices steadily falling and farm unemployment high even before the Crash (LaFeber 164-65

Ordinary

Americans coped mainly by economizing - cutting back on non-essentials and luxuries , combining families and pooling their earnings , and refraining from making expensive purchases (like new cars or appliances . Unemployment reached a peak of nearly 25 , and those who did not lose their jobs did suffer cuts in wages and hours . Many lost confidence in Hoover 's administration , despite Hoover 's efforts to solve the crisis

Part Two : Franklin Roosevelt was no socialist while campaigning , he said that the business of government was not to interfere but to assist in the development of industry (LaFeber 178 . He aimed to reform American capitalism in to save it , by using big government and some semi-socialist programs in to relieve unemployment restore citizens ' purchasing power , and thus create demand so that manufacturers could restore the supply . However , he also believed in the government 's obligation to help citizens attain a decent standard of living

The major New Deal programs generally created work for the unemployed by improving the American infrastructure and environment . The best-known program , the Works Progress Administration (WPA , built thousands of roads , bridges , airports , parks , and other public facilities , and it included a cultural program that produced plays public art , and written works . The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC was responsible for fire fighting , forest maintenance , and flood control , the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA ) built dams and brought electricity to much of the rural South , and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA ) subsidized farmers ' production curbs (which helped farm owners but hurt sharecroppers and farm laborers . The most enduring , though was Social Security , which gave pensions to the elderly and disabled

Part Three : After World War II began in 1939 , Roosevelt prepared for possible American involvement by increasing defense spending and reviving the draft . Foreign policy became Roosevelt 's chief priority though isolationism was prevalent and Roosevelt was under pressure to keep the United States neutral . However , he increased defense spending (especially for the Navy and Army Air Forces , helped China and later Britain (with Lend-Lease , and dispatched armed ships to escort convoys bound for Europe . He also imposed embargoes on metal and oil sales to Japan , one of the events that precipitated Pearl Harbor

Part Four : The statement is not without truth , since Stalin already harbored plenty of anti-Western sentiments . Also , the Soviets suffered over half of the fighting against Germany until mid-1943 . Though the United States gave the Soviets 11 billion in aid (LaFeber 288 , it also broke promises to...