Changes in America after World War I
World War I (WWI) is an influential occurrence that had a great impact in the social, economic and political environment of the United States of America. However, as I was writing for one essay writing service, understanding these impacts also requires an analysis of the period preceding this war. Between 1905 and 1915, America relied on the debts they collected from the international capital markets.[1] Politically, the country adopted an isolationist foreign policy so as to conquer other countries such as Cuba and the Philippines. Socially, the country had good relations with Europe but it remained feared by other countries. These situations changed after the war. This paper analyses the social, political and economic situations in America after WWI showing that the war had both negative and positive effects in the development of America.
The high costs of the war, inflation and the lack of employment after the war hampered economic growth in America. Between the years of 1914 and 1918, America had come out of an economic recession and was experiencing a boom.[2] However, high rates of inflation increased taxes for new manufacturing firms.[3] They had to lay off numerous employees and this was a problem considering that there was high immigration and most of the soldiers were back to their homeland seeking employment. In addition o this, manufacturing firms suffered losses because of the creation of Labor Unions.[4] Employees had a right to hold industrial strikes and this hampered production in the numerous companies. The economic situation in America after the war was disheartening.
[1] John Broesamle and Anthony Arthur. Clashes of will: Great confrontations that have shaped modern America. (Chicago: Pearson, 2004), chapter 6.
[2] Ibid, chapter 6.
[3] Scott Corbett et al., U. S. History. (Washington, DC: OpenStax, 2015), chapter 25, section 25.1).
[4] Ibid, chapter 23, section 23.3
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