Introduction
It is no secret that the Great Depression (1929-1933) was the most significant and prolonged U.S. economic recession, which developed into a global financial crisis. It was synchronous and comprehensive, affecting virtually all spheres of society, and it got its name from the emotional state in which people were. Undoubtedly, the Great Depression was a black page of American economic history. Still, it marked a transformative era and contributed to cardinal political and social changes.
Thus, the country’s gradual economic recovery is mainly credited to Franklin D. Roosevelt and his “New Deal,” the project that helped many African Americans, improving their lives and living conditions (Murphy, 2020). The Great Depression was a severe American crisis that laid the groundwork for the New Deal programs and better treatment of African Americans.
Analysis
The Great Depression in the United States is an example of one of the most global and prolonged economic downturns. Although the beginning of the crisis is known as precisely from October 29, 1929, its preconditions were created over several years (Murphy, 2020). It should be noted that the crisis was not localized in the U.S. because it began there from the stock market crash but eventually spread to regions in Europe, Canada, and many others. This trouble was called the Great Depression since residents of the affected countries were indeed depressed, involving all population groups. Almost everyone was sorrowful, but the middle and lower classes suffered the most. The heavy burden could not but affect African Americans who tried their best to get adequate assistance due to high unemployment and, consequently, mass poverty.
The crisis was mostly fought with the old methods, but there were simply no new ones, and in those conditions, it was most likely impossible to navigate and develop more effective strategies. In defense of Herbert Hoover, it must be stated that he created a new project to get out of the crisis but did not implement it (Murphy, 2020). However, it became the basis for the new program of the following U.S. president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Roosevelt developed the “New Deal,” which was an enhanced, improved version of Hoover’s “New Deal.” The course assumed reforms in all sectors of the American economy, but most importantly, it eliminated the principle of non-interference of the state. A crucial part of the “New Deal” was The Social Security Act, the establishment of a minimum wage, and the norms of the working week (Murphy, 2020). Such innovations sought to encourage the work of African Americans, provided them with affordable housing, and gave them more opportunities on par with whites. Roosevelt’s approaches, however, were not fully able to deal with discrimination and inequality, but they still laid the groundwork for struggles for justice and equal rights for everyone.
In general terms, the Great Depression strongly connects to other themes regarding African Americans and the “New Deal.” Primarily, the Great Depression served in some ways as a starting point for Roosevelt’s initiative to not only improve and maintain the country’s well-being but also to support African Americans in such challenging times (Murphy, 2020). In addition, without the Great Depression, the struggle of blacks for freedom in the United States would be less likely to begin, and African Americans’ problems could still be ignored today.
Conclusion
Summarizing the above, it should be stated that the Great Depression was the most critical period in the history of the U.S. economy, followed by significant societal transformations. There were many reasons for the Great Depression, and the collapse of the stock exchange on October 29, 1929, was one of them. The policy of Roosevelt in terms of the “New Deal” gradually eliminated the worst effects of the Great Depression. The president’s measures were successful additionally because they supported African Americans and other minorities.
Reference
Murphy, M.B. (2020). African Americans in the Great Depression and New Deal. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History, 1-25. Web.