MID-YEAR+INFO

Mid-Year Review



Trevena Paragraph

Thesis: Although the role of the federal government was less involved with lassies-faire ideals, the role had become more involved with the creation of a safety net and fixing social problems.

The role of the Federal Government was less involved. The laissez-faire style of involvement was very poplar during the 1920s, when business were thriving. There were the Robber Barons and the Captains of industry ruled every business. One Robber Baron being John D. Rockefeller who owned majority of the oil companies in America. This demonstrates the Federal Government was less involved because the government did nothing in attempt to stop Rockefeller from dominating the oil industry. Calvin Coolidge come up with the idea of Trickle Down Economics, which was the idea that having no government involvement in the economy, then the wealth of business would trickle down through the ranks, so everyone would be wealthy. This proves the role was less involved because this idea was giving away that government had gone to lassies-faire. Without having the government controlling the economy, then no one would be able to have wealth because the money would not "trickle down" a Coolidge had thought. Which leads to Herbert Hoover and his address to the public that the Great Depression was almost over. Also how he did not want the government to give direct aid to the public. This probes the laissez-faire ideals were the role of the government because Hoover thought that if he didn't help the economy or the people with direct aid, then the depression would clear up on its own. Which helps to prove that the government wanted to stay completely hands off in anyway they could during the period of 1877 to 1940.

Russell Paragraph <3 ;)

Thesis: Although laissez-faire policies showed how the government has become less involved with the affairs of the people, overall the government has become more involved with affairs of the people in order to fix problems within society and to create a safety net in economics.

The government became more involved with the affairs of the people because it needed to fix problems within the society. First off, prohibition helped to stop people from drinking alcohol, which would create better health for everyone's bodies. This shows that the government was looking out for people by limiting alcohol consumption. Also, immigration became a significant issue in the United States. The population was overcrowded so the US restricted the number of annual immigrants through the Immigration Act Act of 1924. This proves that the US government wanted to preserve American ideals and think off Americans first, while still accepting others. Lastly, women's rights were an issue to be addressed in America. Through the 19th Amendment, woman were given suffrage and more equality in society. This suggests that the government got more involved to promote equality in America. Overall, the government solved many issues in society by getting into the affairs of society.

Hassett Paragraph

Thesis: Although from 1877-1940 the federal government was not very involved through its laissez-faire policies, it was very involved through its regualtion of businesses and establishment of reform.

The U.S. government and establishing reform shows that they were very much involved. First off the new deal program was a group of deals that helped transform the U.S. economy into one that was out of the depression. These deals show that the government was trying to do everything possible in order to save the already crashed economy. Another way the government established reform was through the lend-lease deal. This established reform because the U.S. stated that it would not be involved in war, but the lend lease deal made it possible for the U.S. to make a lot of money. Although many people were angered by this, it showed the power of the U.S. government. Lastly the establishment of prohibition with the 18th amendment shows the government establishing reform. Prohibition showed the U.S. establishing reform as the government felt that alcohol was becoming too much for the U.S. to handle so the government stepped in and ended to sales, production, and consumption of alcohol. The establishment of reform shows the extreme involvement of the U.S. government.

May Paragraph

Thesis: Although the Federal Government tends to stay out of the people's business during times of economic prosperity, they become very much involved during times of fear and economic crisis.

The government may try to stay out of the people's lives during good times, but during times of economic crisis, the government is completely involved. The greatest example of this is the Great Depression. During this time, there was very little separation of business and government. FDR passed many different acts in his New Deal trying to help the people, such as the PWA and the CCC which provided government founded jobs for the people. However, he also passed things that protected the people from themselves such as the SEC and Glass-Steagall. The SEC protected against fraud in the stock market while Glass-Steagall separated investment and commercial banks so that the people could not get themselves in this much trouble again. Another example is the AAA which helped out farmers with government money. This perfectly shows the contrast between government involvement and the strength of the economy. When the economy was good, Coolidge would not help out struggling farmers but when it was bad, FDR was quick to pay them money. The government's involvement is all about how well the people are doing because they are too scared to do anything that would mess up the economy or not improve a struggling economy.