us history essay

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Political Social and Economic Changes from 1941 to 1989

The United States went through many internal economic, political and social changes between 1941 and 1989. The changes that occurred during this time had just as significant effects on the United States as any other time in U.S. history. The changes that occurred did so during five time frames which included three actual wars which included World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. One war based on mistrust and ideology known as the Cold War never included any combat operations but, did have a great impact on the U.S. internally.
The period of time between 1941 and 1945 had a significant impact on the economic and social ideals in the U.S. especially having just went through the Great Depression. The American economy was kick started by the involvement of the U.S. in World War II. The American industrial complex kicked into high gear to support the war effort but the government did not want to see inflation hurt the war effort so it created the Office of Price Administration to control inflation so people would buy war bonds to finance the war effort. The other way that took a bite out of inflation was the new payroll tax that also helped the government fund the war effort. The economic impact in the Sunbelt area of the U.S. was also being felt with those states wanting more factories and military bases built there so they might share in the growing war economy. The social impact of World War II was also being fueled by the need for labor. Just as in World War I the factories need workers to build the equipment needed by the military. Women once again left the home and entered the work force that was dominated by men prior to the war but also just as important was the fact that ethnic minorities were entering the workforce. At the end of the war you saw these minorities staying in the cities the civil rights movement was accelerated and the Supreme Court forced states to allow Native Americans to vote.
From 1946 to 1952 was a curious time in America because of the end of World War II. The U.S. economy after the war was in adjustment from a war time production to a consumer based production and there were two laws passed to try and control it. The first law passed by liberals was designed to fine-tune the government tax and spending. The Employment act of 1946 was designed to fight at problem that never would exist with people having savings from war bonds and women leaving the workforce outright. The Taft-Hardy act introduced by conservatives was designed to control the unions that many middle class believed needed to be curbed. In 1946 the republicans gained control of congress helped by the economic policies of the democrats in congress. Socially African Americans were still fighting for full rights as citizens their right to vote and still faced violence in the south. There was a commission formed by the Truman administration to develop an agenda for racial justice. In a victory for all minorities the Supreme Court ruled that you could not refuse to rent or sell real estate to minorities. President Truman also ordered the “equality of treatment and opportunity” in the military and Jackie Robinson broke color barriers by being the first Black American to play major league baseball. During this time most Americans moved to the political center wanting to enjoy life. The president recognizing the feelings of many Americans moved to lead from the center. The republicans though gained control of congress for the first time since the 1920’s and President Truman won re-election in 1948.
The time between 1953 and 1989 the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States was at full speed. The economic, political, and social events that took place during this time had long lasting and important effects with-in the U.S. The Politics of this time were kicked off by President Eisenhower who was beloved and admired by both Republicans and Democrats.
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