Help in history 2 600 words Discussion board 3

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Discussion Board

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Institution

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Topic 2. The outbreak of the Great Depression which crippled the nation and in many ways brought it to the brink of collapse

Which of these three historical processes do you believe was the most important for the development of modern America as we know it today?

When teaching about American history it is crucial to note that The United States is considered a global economic powerhouse due to its various abilities. For example, the country was able to significantly raise its economic and political influence after the second world war, unlike other European powers. This new rise of the United States of America shaped the global political and economic status quo that is still felt today. When we talk about the United States of America as an economic and political powerhouse, we also have to look back past the first and second world wars. Other events such as the civil war led to a changed perception towards the rebuilding of the country. after the civil war, the country embarked on a serious campaign to rebuild its abilities and strengths through the great reconstruction. This period can be considered the initial initiation of America as a global economic and major political player. However, most of the country's current influences in the local and global sphere were heavily redefined after the first world war. In the mid-1930s, Europe and the United States of America experienced what is termed as the great depression. This was a period of significant economic collapse in most major European powers, including Britain, Germany, France, and the United States of America. These countries experienced challenging situations that affected their ability to continue harnessing production factors, leading to massive job losses and financial breakdowns. From the period of the great depression, the United States of America began to consider its future abilities in global governance seriously. By enacting critical practices such as protectionist policies, the after math of the great depression is considered one of the significant moments of reckoning in American history.

After the great depression had hit the United States of America and other European countries, there was adopted protectionist policies. According to Constitution Rights Foundation (2017), the period preceding the great depression stands out as when the country began to implement certain policies that we continue to enjoy today. These implementations were after some of the failures of the previous governments in preventing the economy from facing a period of gigantic economic fallouts and fumbles. For instance, one of the major causes of the depression in the country was the reliance and usage of standard gold. This process meant that the country's legal tender had no significant value compared with other economies. For example, when arguing on some of the major implications of the country's financial stability, it was difficult to distinguish a significant difference between America and a country say Britain. this aspect meant that when the British economy fell, the American one was also on the brink of collapse. To counter this problem, president Franklyn Roosevelt believed that liberalization of the economy was the only best way. This process meant that it was critical to protect the country's industrial capability to strengthen the dollar. Through adopting protectionist policies, the country saw a significant increase in the employment rate. This was because more industries saw the need to absorb the citizens. Secondly, the protectionist policies meant that the country would also be self-reliant and be distinguished from other European players like Britain. The protection of the American citizens ensured that industries could supply materials to other countries. for instance, it was through these policies that the country was able to rise significantly during the ensuing second world war. The United States of America played a significant role in supplying weapons and other materials to the different fronts giving the country an upper hand over its European counterparts. This upper hand is what came to shape the country's strength after the great war up to the present day.

References

Constitution Rights Foundation (2017). What caused the great depression and why did recovery take so long? https://www.crf-usa.org/images/t2t/pdf/GreatDepressionandRecovery.pdf