“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”[1]
Charles Dicken’s story, A Tale of Two Cities, is the perfect analogy for the United States between 1917 and 1941. In that 24-year period, the United States entered two world wars, saw the economy expand and collapse, witnessed the destruction of farmland, and the creation of a stronger Federal government. It truly was the best of times and the worst of times.
Through it all, American citizens dealt with an ever-changing world of conflicting ideals and policies. Should the country be “dry” with the 18th Amendment or should it be repealed? Will Prohibition lead to greater crime and corruption or will it lead to great prosperity?[2] Should they keep the gold standard or abandon it thereby allowing the government “unlimited power to print money.”[3] Should we enter a European War or remain isolated? Will it matter if we stay isolated? What of the costs of a global war? Should the country have a small government presence, or should it take a more active role like FDR advocates?
The country was out of more than just jobs during the Depression. The cost of World War I was staggering. The New York Times printed an official list of the Allies cost, both human and monetary, for World War I. The United States suffered over 262,000 casualties, either dead, wounded or missing. The monetary cost was estimated to be $200,000,000,000 according to the Federal Reserve Board in 1919.[4] Imagine the devastation of losing a husband, father, brother, or other family member that was considered the breadwinner and provider for the family. This is part of the reason why there was reluctance to move forward and engage in World War II. People remembered the losses. It had only been a few decades since the ending of the last one. It took a Sunday morning bombing to wake the nation.
But what of the in between time? Twenty-four years of a rollercoaster ride with the government and the changing of presidents. Hoover’s more conservative policies of a “balanced budget and small government” yet Roosevelt’s actions were far different. He acted as if he were “mobilizing the nation for war” and “went on an aggressive spending campaign, nearly doubling government consumption and investment in one year.”[5] Imagine the utter shock that must have created within the country to go from a small and steady, yet losing, to a huge government deficit with the hopes of getting the country back on track from the throws of the Great Depression.
When Roosevelt was elected President, his first 100 days was electrifying. During that time, “commodity prices skyrocketed,”[6] and he changed the balance of the government taking on greater power so to push through his New Deal.[7] This included projects like the TVA, the creation of the Hoover Dam which not only created jobs but provided housing, and even the Lend Lease Act which provided war materials for our allies while keeping the United States out of World War II. That is, until December 7, 1941.
Historically, there is no one root cause of the Great Depression. There were many factors. There is also no one root cure that led to recovery from the Great Depression. Economically, war and a strong government spending pattern helped tremendously but it wasn’t the only reason that it ended. The problem with the Great Depression is that it wasn’t an insulated occurrence just within the borders of the United States. Several countries suffered from a recession/depression. One of the key countries was Germany. The crushing reparation payments coupled with their bankrupt economy helped lead to the rise of one man who took his country from that devastation to being a global superpower. Like Roosevelt, Hitler’s plan to end the economic depression in his country included work programs to create jobs, like building the Autobahn and producing the Volkswagen which was known as the “People’s Car.”[8]
There is one thing that many people agree upon regarding the Great Depression. It was a time of great change. During this time period, so many lives were changed, and some were lost. The government morphed into the giant that is known today. Even now, historians debate those changes in economics, politics, and policies that created the Great Depression. It is that debate that will continue to change how this period is remembered. As Bob Dylan wrote…
“Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon, for the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.”[9]
[1]Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
[2]“The debate on prohibition: a summing up: a comprehensive presentation of the arguments of the wets and drys as they have developed in the testimony at the Washington hearings.” New York Times (1923-Current File), Mar 30, 1930. 1, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F99013708%3Faccountid%3D12085.
[3] Eggertsson, Gauti B. “Great Expectations and the End of the Depression.” The American Economic Review 98, no. 4 (09, 2008): 1476-516, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F233020472%3Faccountid%3D12085.
[4]Chronology of Events in Last Year of the War, 1918.” New York Times (1857-1922), Jan 02, 1919. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F100466774%3Faccountid%3D12085.
[5] Ibid, pg.1477
[6] Ibid, pg.1477
[7] Jeffries, J. W. “THE NEW NEW DEAL: FDR AND AMERICAN LIBERALISM, 1937-1945.” Political Science Quarterly 105, no. 3 (0, 1990): 397-418, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F61189914%3Faccountid%3D12085.
[8] Mroz, Albert. “Hitler’s Car: The Volkswagen Beetle’s Crazy Role In World War II.” The National Interest. The Center for the National Interest, November 2, 2019. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/hitlers-car-volkswagen-beetles-crazy-role-world-war-ii-93286.
[9] Dylan, Bob. “The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Official Bob Dylan Site.” The Times They Are A-Changin’ | The Official Bob Dylan Site, 2018. https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/times-they-are-changin/.
Seeking History 