What went on in the United States in the 1930's?

Question

I am doing a book review on Native Son by Richard Wright I have to include events that went on then and tell how they are significant to the book.

What were some problems people went through?

Answer 1

Suggestion -- do a web search for something like "1930s timeline".

Here's a broad example of what you might get:
http://history1900s.about.com/library/time/bltime1930.htm

But frankly, I'm not sure a lot of those things will help with the specific project you have. It sounds more like you'll want things that reflect on society and life WITHIN the US at that time, including issues of poverty, prejudice, the "Red Scare" (communists in the US), etc.

Here's a (U.S.) 'cultural' timeline that does better with those sorts of things:
http://www.uam.ucsb.edu/Pages/trevey/30s-timeline.html

And this page links to a detailed timeline for each year of the decade, with events divided by category:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s2/Time/frames.htm

Answer 2

Dust bowl, great depression, isolationism, prohibition, but it was repealed in 1933, growth and popularity of gangsters like Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, etc. and the solidification of the Mafia which grew out of prohibition, the development of the FBI, but the major problem that was, was not realized until much later, failure of the banks; on the positive side FDR was elected and implemented legislation that led to the CCC and the WPA, which put people back to work, he, or his advisers, also developed long term programs that still exist like the FDIC, federal insurance of bank deposits, and Social Security, etc. At the end of the 1930s, 1939 to be exact, Europe erupted in war and FDR was a staunch friend to the Allies, providing them with ships, arms, war materiels, etc. under the guise of lend-lease, while walking a tightrope of neutrality, waiting for our entrance into the war.

Answer 3

The Great Depression and Social Security were two of the major parts of the early 30's, but we can't forget that it was during the 30's that the U.S. and the rest of the world were turning a blind eye to what Hitler and the Nazis were doing in Europe. We, and many other major world players were just appeasing Hitler by giving him what he wanted between 1933 and 1939 and hoping he wouldn't come to the table and ask for more. Also, toward the end of the decade, Roosevelt had realized his mistake and was beginning discussions about how to get the U.S. into the conflict in Europe, after which they decided to enact policies that would prompt Japan into attacking Pearl Harbor and entice American citizens to join the war.

Answer 4

There was poverty and very high unemployment. After the Stock Market crash, most people who had been wealthy lost everything and the poor suffered even more, for lack of food, housing and work.
Roosevelt's New Deal brought the needed changes, he put people to work on public projects. He was loved for his caring and progressive thinking. He was one of the greatest Presidents the United States has ever had.

Answer 5

Radio becomes the main means of mass communication, the Empire State Building was built, the Great Depression brought on Roosevelts "New Deal", along with FDIC and social security.

Answer 6

Social Security

Answer 7

The Great Depression

Answer 8

The Great Depression. It began in 1929 and ended in 1939.

Answer 9

There are many theories about how and why the depression happened. One of them is because the actual, physical amount of real, paper money was too low. People were ready to work, but there was physically, tangibly, paperly not enough to spread around.

The government simply needed to print more money. Inflation, yes, but at least it would have got things going a lot sooner.

Answer 10

Tough economic times and Bonnie and Clyde, at least until 1934 when they were ambushed in LA.