Introduction
The modern US history course focuses on the events from the 1920s. It examines how American society has evolved and the lessons it holds for contemporary society. It illustrates the trajectory of both the civil rights and feminist movements, as well as the socioeconomic and political changes. The four crucial lessons learned in the course are the post-war boom, the rise of the civil rights movement to end discrimination, feminism in the USA, and the dynamics of politics through the Watergate scandal. Each of the four things learned during the course has significant lessons in modern life and is vital for forming beliefs, perspectives, and ways of thinking.
The Post-War Boom
Following World War II, American society experienced rapid economic growth. As consumerism increased, the government diverted its expenditure from war to economic development. Consequently, more industries were developed, and the workers and the middle class received better wages.
The rapid growth in these sectors has significantly impacted citizens’ lives. However, it had negative impacts, such as the segregation between factory owners and the working class, who worked under harsh conditions. The implications of capitalism led to the formation of a more affluent class of people, while factory workers languished in poverty (Wright and Locke 1523).
The post-war boom had two essential lessons for the current government: the importance of stability and industrial regulation to improve the quality of life. America thrived after the war ended, meaning that wars led to unnecessary expenditure, leaving countries impoverished. Furthermore, industrial regulation is crucial, particularly for countries pursuing capitalist economic development.
The Rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA
During the economic boom, segregation was witnessed in the corporate domain. As the white workers were given loans to advance their residential areas into suburbs, the blacks were red-lined and, therefore, unable to access the loans. In the 1950s, racial discrimination and disfranchisement were common in the USA, and blacks were segregated.
Iconic leaders such as Martin Luther King Junior discovered that lamenting without taking action would not change the situation. Consequently, they started the civil rights movement by starting protests. The blacks came out in large numbers to force the American government to ratify laws to end racial discrimination in the country. The civil rights fighters succeeded as the US government abolished all forms of institutional racism and accepted people to thrive regardless of their racial or ethnic extraction.
The primary lesson learned from the event is that the impoverished’s struggle led to freedom. The initial assumption was that the government decided to end racial discrimination. The course, however, underscored that the compulsion from the blacks made the government end discrimination.
Leading Causes of Feminism in the USA
After the men returned from the Second World War, the American labor force changed, and the women had to stay at home, while the men took their place in the industries. Consequently, the women were forced to conform to the patriarchal principles of staying home to care for their families. Before taking the cause, the initial assumption was that feminism was significant due to the rise of women’s empowerment.
However, the course materials clarified that the second wave of feminism resulted from American women’s zeal to reclaim their place in the economic prism. Since they had previously worked in firms while their husbands were fighting in the Second World War, women were accustomed to making economic contributions. They needed to start being confined to the kitchen and taking care of homemaking. The struggle for feminism, therefore, led to the second wave of feminism in the 1960s, where women sought to enroll in technical courses in school to join the workforce in the country (Wright and Locke 1123). Women wanted to reclaim their positions in the industries.
Political Dynamics and the Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal is one of the most significant events in American history, revealing the complexities of political dynamics. It occurred during the presidency of Richard Nixon, which ultimately led to his resignation in 1974. The events occurred during Nixon’s bid for a second term. The members of his reelection committee tapped the communication of the democratic committee through wiretapping in the office located at the Watergate complex.
Gordon Liddy is an FBI agent convicted of the conspiracy to have the president reelected into office. The event suggests that conspiracies often mar elections, and candidates must be prepared to protect their information (Wright and Locke 1311). The dynamics of political democracy involve the protection of information, and the involved political parties must ensure that their information is well-protected. The primary lesson from the Watergate scandal is that people must always practice the highest levels of ethics regardless of their societal position.
Conclusion
A modern US history course offers essential insights into past events and how they can be leveraged to improve life in the present discourse. The course encompasses the events that have transpired in the USA from 1920 to the present and explores a wide range of activities that shape human culture. Of all the events in modern US history, the Watergate scandal, the civil rights movement, the rise of feminism, and the post-war boom share the most significant lessons for humanity.
Work Cited
Wright, Ben, and Joseph L. Locke. The American Yawp: A Massively Collaborative Open US History Textbook, Vol. 2: To 2012. Stanford University Press, 2019.