all unsanitary conditions. Food and Drug Safety is only one example of all the amazing progress that occurred during Teddy’s presidency. Roosevelt also listened to what the people asked for when the coal miners went on strike. They wanted a raise in salary by 20 percent and a nine hour workday. Roosevelt came to a compromise so the coal miners salary is raised by 10 percent yet they still had a nine hour work day and could not go on strike for three consecutive years (526). Teddy was a true progressive and fought hard to give civilians a greater change in their economy.Throughout history, of course not all change brings great fortune.
Sometimes it brings suffering which is known looking back at the Great Depression. The Great Depression was an economic slump that lasted approximately a decade. America, along with other countries suffered a great inflation. While it may be said otherwise, the stock market accelerated the Great Depression, it never was the root of the economy’s dejection. The stock market did result however, in Americans buying on the margin constantly. With credit available, debt soon became an issue and caused an uneven distribution in income where the rich gained while the poor remained on the bottom. Over 70% of families made less than $2,500 a year, and the depression affected civilians equally.
From immigrants to the working class, people could not afford much more than one new outfit, electric lights or even basic necessities such as the refrigerator (672). The physiological effect that the Great Depression had on men was, they became homeless and were no longer able to provide for their families when “breadwinner” roles became unavailable. Meanwhile children had lost the one thing they needed to become a successful adult: an education. The government depended on tax revenue for schools which was lost during the depression. The children’s opportunity to grow as a human being was abandoned by adults and many were either put back in factories or grew up on the streets.
Woman were affected by the depression by having to take care of their families more than ever. The pressure to keep their family running as it had been post-Great Depression was a challenge, families constantly depended on organizations such as charities and churches. The resolution to this was when FDR made an inaugural speech which impacted the country. In the speech the quote “we have nothing to fear but fear itself” became a popular quote that at the time, gave Americans a sign to show how the government would change their lives. The New Deal was one of the main efforts to pull people out of poverty and the speech was created to explain the process behind it.However the Great Depression did not end until the end of WWII and through Franklin Roosevelt’s help during his presidency.
Franklin wanted to stabilize the economy while the war established the sharp decline of living standards people suffered through during the depression. WWII set income controls and rationed goods and this lifestyle pursued because people believed it was resourceful, which it proved to be in the end.America’s economy is forever changing, as it has been the second people step foot on this land now rich not just resources but history. This country is rich in people who have done greatly to give us the lives we have today, as well as future souls and intellects who ambition for great success and will leave their mark on this country. Because some humans have a greed for wealth yet others have a greed for change, and whatever one lies at heart will determine the outcome of how that individual will affect their lives and our economy.
“We may come from different places, and have different stories, but we share common hopes and one very American dream.” — Barack Obama.Work Cited– Luther, Martin. How the other half lives.net. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
Scribner’s Books, 28 Feb. 1890. Web.
25 Jan. 2018.