Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man was a very good movie which gave a very realistic view of what it was like during the Great Depression. It helped me to understand what it would have been like to be living in those times. It is about a boxer, James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe). He is forced to give up boxing after breaking his hand, and therefore not performing well. However Braddock could not support his wife and three kids, due to the unemployment rates of the Depression. He has to resort to Government checks in order to get by. Eventually, Braddock turns to a friend for help. His friend manages to get him back into boxing, and Braddock fights his way back to the top of the pack. As he gets more and more well known, his opponents become more of a match for him. In the end he fights the World Champion, and comes out victorious. I really enjoyed this movie. It was both exciting and insightful.
Describe the social changes that came about in the 1920s. What political and economic factors caused these changes?
During the 1920's there was a huge economic and social change that swept over America. After the war, a feeling of independence and freedom was brought to the US. The country was rich with excitement as more and more new social conventions began happening. The economy was booming, and one of the main reasons for this was Henry Ford's automobile industry. Ford was also responsible for the creation of the assembly line which created a mass production of products. Advertisement strongly encouraged mass consumption. The demands for products was huge, as social status was dependent upon material items. During this time, women's rights were brought forward and they had the right to vote. During this time consumerism was huge, and everybody wanted to spend money.
In your opinion, what were the main causes for the stock market crash in 1929? What did it feel like when you were making money in the stock market game? How did it feel when the stock market crashed
One of the main reasons for the stock market crash in 1929, was the decline in the agriculture industry. Last class, we played a game that stimulated the stock market before the crash. We traded oil, iron, fish, wheat, and coal. Knowing that wheat and fish would be the first to go, I assumed I would make the most money by obtaining as much oil, coal and iron as I could. I sold all of my wheat and most of my fish, and invested a lot in the other three. Before the crash, I was doing really well. I had enough money to pay back the bank, and I had made a huge profit. However, I did not foresee that after the crash, it would be wheat and fish that would bring in the most income. So, after the crash I lost all of my money and was over 40 000 dollars in debt to the bank. I really enjoyed the feeling of winning, and even though it wasn't real money, it was very satisfactory. After I lost everything I was upset. This game gave me a greater insight as to what the stock market crash one Black Tuesday would have been like.
What steps did Franklin Roosevelt take to try and involve the U.S. government in the Great Depression? Did these work?
Franklin D. Roosevelt took many steps in trying to involve the government during the Great Depression. Although Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal didn't eliminate unemployment throughout America or poverty for that matter, it is important to have a wider view on Roosevelt's leadership than simply these economic statistics. Franklin took many positive steps towards the recovery of America throughout these brutal years. At the start of his presidency, he announced his 100 day campaign, where he drafted and instilled several new policies. He created more government intervention plans in 100 days, then most presidents would create in 4 years. Furthermore, Roosevelt created a number of alphabet agencies. These were set in stone to leverage the outrageous numbers of unemployed citizens surrounding the country. An example of an alphabet agency is the CCC. This was a relief agency created for young men from the ages of 18-23 which provided manual labour jobs related to conservation or development of natural resources. In essence, the fact that Roosevelt was applying positive knowledge to the country was enough for American citizens to feel the hope that they needed.