Great Depression

Great Depression

I have found the Great Depression is extremely interesting to me.  The fact you hear

multiple reasons why the Great Depression occurred made me curious to learn more. I have gone  

to the library and sat at Barnes and Nobles going through numerous books and novels on The

Great Depression. At the book store I came across three interesting books. The first book was

Lies my teacher told me by James Loewen, The Political Incorrect Guide to American History

and 33 Questions about American History You’re Not Supposed to Ask, both are by Thomas E.

Woods Jr. These three book captured my attention because I do question what my high school

teacher taught me. I thought about whether history was politically correct or if I could find out how

accurate The Great Depression was. I know that the Great Depression was one of the most

crucial times for the United States.  According to Woods (2007), “It was a myth that the

incredible economic stimulus of World War II that finally pulled the United States out of the

Great Depression.” (p.100)  The Great Depression is considered the worst economic depression in

United States History. There are several assumptions on why the Great Depression occurred. However, The Great Depression was caused by The Crash of The Stock Market and the Failures of the Federal

Reserve.    

     According to Strayer, (2013) “The aftermath of the war also brought substantial social and cultural changes to ordinary Europeans and Americans. Integrating millions of returning veterans into civilian life was no easy task, for they had experienced horrors almost beyond imagination. Governments sought to accommodate them, in Britain for example, with housing programs called “homes for heroes” emphasizing traditional family values. Women were urged to leave factory work and return to their homes where they would not compete for “men jobs.” French Authorities proclaimed Mother’s Day as a new holiday designed to encourage childbearing and thus replace the millions lost in the war.” (988) 

    What does this actually say for our country? Could this mean we are brain washed by not only the French government but our government as well. Should mother’s be celebrate on mother’s day because women were influenced to reproduce based on the needs of replenishing men for the war?

What about the housing programs “home for heroes”? Yes, another thing that still exists today but

how effective is it? Today, there are many soldiers that don’t get the help that they deserve because of not serving a minimum of five years. Yet they were wounded and fought for our country.  Many

Americans don’t really see the big picture of what the government expects us to fight for. As Americans we want to have faith in our country but does our country respect and give back gratitude. I don’t believe America including the political parties really understood how bad the Great Depression has effected us and how we are still paying for the losses. The Great Depression teaches us more than what we can see if we read between the lines.  The saying “History repeats itself” means…. History Repeats Itself!

Hitler

Hitler

    According to Stayer (2013), “shortly after the end of world War I, that Party under

Hitler’s leadership proclaimed a message of intense German nationalism cast in terms

of racial superiority, bitter hatred for Jews as an alien presence, passionate opposition

to communism, a determination to rescue Germany from the humiliating requirements of

the Treaty of Versailles, and a willingness to decisively tackle the country’s economic

problems.”

    Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party from 1921 to 1945 and was in office from 1934

to 1945. The Nazi’s seemed more like a cult following a person that became a leader

behind greed. Hitler showed racism, evil, and severe violence. His goal was to eliminate

all Jews from the country and develop new order by dominating Britain and France.

Germany was a country that many countries feared because of him. It is because of

Hitler that there was a World War II. Hitler was a deranged man who later committed

suicide because he wasn’t as powerful as what he appeared to be. He put his people

through tragedy for reasons that he had embedded and bestowed upon them. After his

country realized he had lost and the battle, it was time for him to pay the piper by

stepping down and possibly going back to prison. This was why he committed suicide. It

was for shame and embarrassment that really showed the country how weak he was.        

Nelson Mandela

NELSON MANDELA

   According to Strayer, “During the 1950’s, a new and younger generation of the African

National Congress (ANC) leadership, which now included Nelson Mandela, broadened

its base of support and launched nonviolent civil disobedience boycotts, strikes,

demonstrations, and the burning of the hated passes that all Africans were required to

carry. All of these actions were similar to and inspired by the tactics that Gandhi had

pioneered in South Africa and used in India twenty to thirty years earlier. The

government of South Africa responded with tremendous repression, including the

shooting, of sixty-nine unarmed demonstrators at Sharpville in 1960, the banning of the

ANC, and the imprisonment of its leadership, including Nelson Mandela.” (p.1100)

    Upon facing the death penalty Mandela states, “I have fought against white

domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the

ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and

with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if

needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”     

    Despite all that Nelson Mandela had endured, he over came the struggles not only for

himself but for his country. Africa needed a leader that was familiar and has

experienced firsthand of racism, inhumane actions, poverty, and fighting over bearing

white leaders dominating South Africa. In 1994 he became Africa’s first black president.

    Today, Mandela is remember for not only all of his strengths but for the nation’s

accomplishments. He bestowed upon the country, pride, unity, and empowerment.

Mandela provided hope for his people with new change and growth for the future. He

continued to fight for the rights of his people until he died in 2013.

A Quote by Nelson Mandela: “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”