WWI: Homefront and Mobilization for War
In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson urged Congress to declare war on Germany. The entry of America into the war directly impacted the homefront as it elicited national debate on the country’s military preparedness and justification. As a result, the government employed various tactics to convince the public that the decision was right. Propaganda campaigns and intense publicity through media outlets were used to cultivate patriotism. Wilson’s government enacted the Espionage and Sedation Acts to silence critics, protesters, and opponents of America’s idea to join the war (The American Yawp). Therefore, Woodrow’s decision to enter the war received mixed reactions from the citizens, with the majority protesting the move.
The 1920s: Culture Wars
The 1920s was an era in American history that experienced unprecedented economic and cultural change. Firstly, Americans, especially the younger generation, adopted a new culture of escaping society’s constraints. For instance, men and women alike engaged in sexual exploration, vacationing, and embracing the movie culture. Secondly, more and more young women rejected the idea of conforming to societal norms. The flappers, as they were called, pushed barriers to sexual, economic, and political freedom (The American Yawp). The young women started wearing short dresses, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes. Another cultural change was the emergence of racial pride among black people, known as the Harlem Renaissance. The new culture was manifested in art, theatre, and music, where African American writers artistically portrayed their black cultural heritage.
The Great Depression
President Hoover’s reaction to the economic crisis was to encourage volunteerism instead of providing practical solutions. He avoided direct action by not allowing the government to interfere in economic issues. The poor people, including the veterans who called themselves the Bonus Army, complained to Hoover but received little assistance from the government. On the other hand, Roosevelt favored direct action by using government machine to aid economic recovery. Roosevelt enacted the New Deal programs in two parts to alleviate the country’s financial situation. The First New Deal occurred between 1933 and 1934, focusing on recovery, relief, and reform. Among the special programs included the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), which was meant to boost food production through subsidies to reduce the cost burden on the farmers. The Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) provided direct aid to the poor through states funded programs. Lastly, The National Recovery Act (NRA) offered help to businesses and workers by regulating prices and wages. The second New Deal differed from the first one since it aimed to provide long-lasting solutions. The legacy of Roosevelt’s deal includes stimulating consumer demand and creating regulations on child labor, wages, and collective bargaining.
After WWII: Culture of Affluence and the Mid-Century
The 1950s are mostly known as the affluent society due to decreased poverty, increased family income, and availability of consumer goods. It was the period when Civil Rights Movement became more formidable. Some of its significant groups included Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which focused on fighting Jim Crow discrimination in the South. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) battled racial exclusion and segregation in education. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organized students to participate in strikes, sit-ins, and demonstrations against racial discrimination. Lastly, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organized an activist campaign and launched voter registration for black people in the South.
Vietnam
The U.S got involved in the Vietnam War due to the quest to stop the communist. Most of the war was fought during President Lyndon Johnson’s presidency, who escalated it by authorizing more bombings and attacks such as Operation Rolling Thunder. However, America got out of the fight following persistent antiwar campaigns by students, veterans, and concerned citizens. Among the events that fueled the antiwar movements was the My Lai Massacre, where the American soldiers killed innocent and unarmed people in Vietnam. The American press reported it despite the efforts of government officials to cover it up.
The 1960s, 70s, and 80s
Between the 1960s and 80s, the U.S. experienced notable cultural, political, and economic transformations. Culturally, the sexual revolution and cultural shifts became the most evident changes. Gays, lesbians, and feminists protested the rigidity of the nuclear family and gender roles. Rap and pop music associated with violent behavior also came into being. Politically, the deaths of historical figures, including J.F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, characterized the era. The rise and fall of Richard Nixon also dominated the period, with his Watergate Scandal becoming the highlight. Nixon also attempted to pursue close relations with the Soviet Union to reduce growing tensions. Economically, Americans were the hardest hit by the deindustrialization experienced by the mid-1970s.
The Rise of the New Right
The rise of the New Right emerged in the 1960s but solidified in the 1980s. Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon are usually associated with the philosophy. Although the New Right embraced libertarian economics, it observed conservative politics aligned with Christian doctrines. President Nixon laid the foundations for the succeeding presidents by adopting the New Right ideologies. However, the effects of the ideology haunted President Carter following the economic crisis that emerged. While Carter attempted to cushion Americans from tough economic times through tax reduction, inflation, unemployment, and energy crisis hampered his plans. Ronald Reagan appeared to be the solution to Americans’ challenges after insisting that the government was the problem. The silent majority, the Americans who were not politically active or outspoken, played a significant role in the leadership of Nixon, Carter, and Reagan.
Reference
Locke, J. L. & Wright, B. (2019) The American Yawp: A massively collaboratively open U.S history textbook. Stanford University Press Edition.