Tarik Briggs - Paper Three – The Great Depression and World War II

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Tarik Briggs Dr. Rob McCormick HIST 106 13 November 2023 Paper Three – The Great Depression and World War II The Great Depression was a period of severe economic decline that began in 1929 and ended in 1939 (“Americans”). It was triggered as a result of Black Tuesday. Black Tuesday refers to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 (History.com Editors). Black Tuesday occurred because investors panicked and sold their stocks at an extremely high volume which shocked the economy because the change was too drastic for proper adjustments to be made (History.com Editors). Due to the severity of the Great Depression, it had an extreme impact on the global economy and society as a whole. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 led to a sudden decrease in investments and consumerism which resulted in increased unemployment and poverty (“Americans”). The unemployment rate was roughly thirty percent of the entire workforce (History.com Editors). The Great Depression disproportionately impacted African Americans since they were already experiencing negative impacts as a result of discrimination and inequality (History.com Editors). Many African Americans were forced to work in low-wage jobs, and they were often the last to be hired and the first to be fired (History.com Editors). Additionally, the Great Depression had a major impact on politics in the United States. Many individuals blamed the Hoover administration for the resulting hunger associated with the Great Depression (“Americans”). However, government intervention was initialized once Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States. Roosevelt launched the New Deal

in 1933 and it consisted of programs and policies focused on mitigating the impact of the Great Depression and rebuilding the United States economy (Wall). The New Deal included programs such as the Works Progress Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the National Recovery Administration (Wall). These programs provided jobs, training, and relief to millions of Americans. Additionally, the New Deal included programs focused on finances such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insured bank deposits, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulated the stock market (Wall). The New Deal also had a massive impact on the presence of inequality in American society. The Fair Labor Standards Act established the minimum wage and overtime pay for workers, which helped to improve working conditions and reduce poverty (Wall). Soon before the end of the Great Depression, World War II began. Though World War II began in 1939, the United States stayed out of it until December of 1941. Prior to the United States entrance, they had been providing economic and military aid to the Allied powers, but it had not yet entered the war officially (“World”). During this time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the United States as the "Arsenal of Democracy.” By this, he was emphasizing the support being granted to the Allied Powers. An arsenal refers a place where supplies, particularly weapons and ammunition are housed. As the United States was supplying weapons, ammunition, and other materials to the Allied Powers, Roosevelt believed that the United States was an arsenal for the democratic countries. The United States intervened following the Japanese attack on Pearl Habor which was a United States naval base in Hawaii. This attack killed over two thousand people and injured over a thousand (“World”). Additionally, nearly twenty ships were destroyed and over thee hundred

plans (“World”). The United States declared war on Japan the day after the attack, and soon after, Germany and Italy, who were allied with Japan, declared war on the United States (“World”). World War II was waged in various places, but primarily Europe (“World”). To properly understand the wide range of battles and locations where this war was waged, it is best to explore the most pivotal moments of World War II. The Battle of Midway occurred in June of 1942 in the Pacific Ocean and the result was a United States victory over the Japanese navy (Vergun). In July of 1942, the Allied Powers invaded Sicily and in September, Italy surrendered (Vergun). In June of 1944, the Allied Powers stormed Normandy in what is now known as D-Day (Vergun). Shortly after D-Day, the Allied Powers took over control of Paris, France in August of 1944 (Vergun). In April of 1945, the United States invaded Japan (Vergun). In May of 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies which meant the only remaining Axis Power was Germany (Vergun). In August, the United States dropped two atomic bombs in Japan (Vergun). Shortly after, Japan surrendered on August 15, though it was not formal until September 2 (Vergun). The Allies were victorious in World War II due to a variety of reasons including their superiority in military, their planning, and the strength of their allies. The U.S. played a crucial role in the Allied victory, providing significant military and economic support to the war effort. Additionally, the technological advances possessed by the Allied Powers played a critical role in their win. In conclusion, the Great Depression was a declining period for the United States that had an immense impact on the global economy and society. Shortly before the conclusion of the Great Depression, World War II sparked. The United States stayed out of World War II until the attack on Pearl Harbor, at which point it entered the war and played a key role in the Allied Powers victory. The Allied Powers were victorious in World War II due to a combination of

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