The Factors that Opened The Door for The United States to Deal with The Great Depression at The Start of World War Ii

At the end of the 1920’s America had entered a new period of disaster and tragedy. The Great Depression was the name of one of the most horrible periods of times in United States history. The next ten plus years contained an excess of poverty-stricken people with widespread destitution. With many government programs, trying to aid to the problems of the public, most of them were ineffective until the United States was provoked to join World War II. The war opened many great new doors for the United States. The most prominent being the withdrawal from the Great Depression and the development of new technology. Following the timeline of World War II, the stir of the industrial and production labor, as well as the lowering of unemployment rates, revival of the New Deal, and sharp reductions in government spending and taxes all aided to the end of the Great Depression. These factors from the very beginning to the end of World War II and beyond changed the course of history for The United States from unprosperous to thriving.

When America first entered into World War II due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it called for the development of new technology. Many men were drafted to serve in the war while women were stepping foot into the workforce in place of men. While men and women were doing their part, scientists were asked to develop new weapons to help aid the fight. Not only were women stepping into the workplace, but those of minority ethnic groups (such as African Americans or Latinos) were able to get job opportunities that were never offered to them before, according to PBS’s article on war production. This workforce, finally given jobs in the economy, helped aid the common family with their income and yet also stimulated the economy by finally having the money to put back into consumerism. Even though factory workers labored to try to put an end towards their poverty-stricken era, their main source of motivation was bringing their husbands, fathers, and sons back home. Women and other minority workers toiled to produce quality materials that could assist their menfolk overseas (PBS). People were doing better economically than they were in the most recent past, but the economy didn’t necessarily boost up until the the end of World War II. Once the war had finished, the economy continued to grow at a steady rate partly because the increase of technology within this time but additionally because industrial and production labors were a necessary part of winning the war. The many women and minority groups able to find a place in the workforce brought immeasurable value to The United States. While they helped the men overseas, they were able to bring money back home to help provide to their family. Correspondingly, the extra money they were earning they were able to feed back into consumerism. Industry grew enough to allow both genders to find their own place in the workforce at the same time once the war had ended. This extreme contrast to the last fifteen years set the backbone for the US’s future economic growth.

In 1933, four years after the stock market had officially crashed, marking the start of the Great Depression, unemployment rates had reached to 25%. Following a few years after the US had decided to join in on World War II, unemployment rates began dropping to below 5%, a major drop of 20% within the last ten years. One of the many factors causing unemployment rates to drop were the creation of many new job openings for men and women alike. Not only were men being drafted into the war, but women had to take the men’s place in the workforce to continue helping the war effort back at home. These graphs in finding also do not count those that were self employed, such as rural farmers, so therefore unemployment rates could be a less than what these graphs are showing. FDR’s original New Deal was put in place, but fell through when they had decided to join the war efforts. They pushed the program aside to try to put all aims into winning the war. These details would later be reinstated after the war had ended, continuing to help citizens with their financial needs while growing the economy further.

After the war ended FDR wanted to continue on with their original New Deal plans, now revised to further complement America, as a rising superpower, after World War II. Many of the New Deal’s efforts include programs and laws that were enacted (but are not limited to) such as WPA, the Social Security Act of 1935, and the National Labor Relations Act. The WPA helps the community by creating jobs that helped public service projects, in turn it helped communities to grow and become more successful (Weber.Edu). They attempted to provide work rather than welfare. Under the WPA, public facilities like schools and airports were built. On the other side, the Social Security Act helped bolster those who could no longer hold jobs, due to their age or their inability to work any longer. If those that could no longer hold jobs were given some extra funds, the money would be put back into consumerism and would further stimulate the economy. National Labor Relations Act allowed people to define what labor practices they believed to be unfair. It also gave workers the right to bargain through unions of their choosing and banned employers from participating in union activities. This amalgamation continued to help the american people, protecting them from large price hikes and unfair employers. Unions came to help the common man and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal plan, later encouraged by Truman, supported this.

The final factors of the fall of the Great Depression involved newly elected President Truman putting an end to sharp reductions in spending, taxes and as well as regulating businesses. In mid 1949, President Truman realized that a balanced budget would not be possible and that it was a good idea to give some businesses a tax break. In 1950, the economy’s rising action proved that this was a good decision to make. With the introduction of the Korean war, Americans were afraid of the looming possibility that this would become another costly fight. Many US officials hoped that the government would show involvement with keeping unemployment rates as well as inflation under control. Not only that, but they hoped they would stabilize wage, prices, and increase military related production. Later on the sharp reductions in government spending helped very much too. The ability to start investing domestically again led to a significant increase in the private economy. In effect, this helped once again stimulate jobs in this time period. Instead of creating munitions, now the employed were creating toasters and other new everyday technology. With no subsequent collapse of the private market and the focus on using resources for their best value within the country, the economy continued to grow then stabilize. Truman’s primary concern for America’s health was proved through these New and Fair Deal regulations which supported the American people and the businesses of the United States after World War II.

In light of the government’s rules and regulations put into place during and after World War II, one can assume the beginning and main cause of the ending of the Great Depression was the war itself and the government’s intervention and handling of that war. The Great Depression ended because of the rise of industrial and production labors, a decline of unemployment rates in the beginning of the war, the revival of the New Deal, as well as Truman’s decisions in spending, taxes, and business regulation. Because industrial and production labors were a necessary part of winning the war, many women and minority groups were able to find a place in the workforce. While they helped the men overseas, they were able to bring money back home to help provide to their family. And with the extra money they were earning they were able to feed back into consumerism. Once the war had finished, the economy continued to grow at a rapid rate partly because the increase of technology within this time the Because industrial and production labors were a necessary part of winning the war, many women and minority groups were able to find a place in the workforce. While they helped the men overseas, they were able to bring money back home to help provide to their family. And with the extra money they were earning they were able to feed back into consumerism. industry grew enough to allow both genders to find place in the workforce at the same time. Truman’s primary concern for America’s health was proved through these New and Fair Deal regulations which supported the American people and the businesses of the United States after World War II.