20th Century America

The Progressive Era

Early 20th Century America in the United States was marked by the Progressive Era. This era was marked by social activism as well as reforms in the political system of the country. Measures such as antitrust laws, and the promotion of women’s suffrage and labor rights, tackled the modern problems that the country faced.

Alcoholic beverages were briefly banned in the country during the period of Prohibition. New institutions and systems such as the Federal Reserve System were introduced during the Progressive Era. In general, the Progressive Era was a time when scientific methods, modern solutions, and new policies marked American politics, society, and economy.

Prohibition in the United States

Prohibition was an important and significant period in the United States during the 20th century. It was marked by a complete ban on the consumption, transportation, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages. The ban was imposed in 1920 through the 18th Amendment. Prohibition gave birth to a number of criminal gangs who participated in bootlegging and used the funds for various criminal activities.

During the Prohibition era, consumption of alcohol as well as liver problems fell by nearly 50%. However, demands for uplifting the ban gained momentum and the federal government repealed the ban in 1933.

Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a movement that sought rights for the marginalized sections of American society. The movement in particular championed the rights of African-Americans. It saw a number of nationally recognized leaders during the 20th century, such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Although it didn’t gain momentum during the first half of the century, the movement rapidly grew in the second half.

Several organizations joined the movement and were instrumental in rallying public support for ensuring the voting rights and other common privileges of the African-American population.

United States in World War I

During World War I, the United States initially decided to stay neutral. This changed when German forces attacked Britain’s passenger ships, resulting in the deaths of many American passengers on board. The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917. In 1918, U.S. soldiers played an important role in countering the German offensive and contributing to the final assault against Germany.

At home, the war effort mobilized the entire American nation. It spurred economic growth, boosted patriotic sentiment, and unified the country behind President Woodrow Wilson. It also launched the United States into a truly global conflict for the first time.

United States in World War II

World War II started in 1939. The United States decided to stay neutral during the first two years of the war. In 1941, Japan launched an attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor. This led the United States to enter the war on the side of the Allied forces. Once it had entered the war, the role of the United States proved decisive. The military and economic might of the United States slowly turned the tide of the war against Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. By the end of the war, the United States had invented and used the first Atomic Bomb, leading to the capitulation of Japan.

Status as a Superpower – 20th Century America

During the 20th century, the United States emerged as a major global power. This was reflected in the role of the United States during World War I but became more prominent during World War II. Following the end of World War II, the United States became one of only two major global powers, the other being the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the United States became the sole superpower in the world, effectively becoming the leader of the world.

Cold War

Soon after the end of World War II, two main powers emerged on the global landscape – the Soviet Union and the United States. While both were allies in their war against Germany during World War II, they immediately became rivals after the end of World War II. Both had critical ideological differences – the Soviet Union was grounded in socialism while the United States championed liberal democracy.

These differences led to a Cold War between the two nations. The Cold War began in 1946. It was a state of competition between the two states. Without directly fighting each other, they formed allies, funded and supported proxy wars, and did all they could to damage each other’s standing. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 in 20th Century America.

20th-Century-American-Arms-Race

Nuclear Arms Race

In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities – Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These were the first nuclear weapons ever used. Soon afterward, a race for developing nuclear arms began between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries, and their allies, sought to develop more and more sophisticated nuclear arms in order to win this race. Soon after the Cold War began, France, China, and Britain also developed their own nuclear weapons.

The Marshall Plan

During World War II, European nations suffered heavily in terms of the number of people killed. In order to help the countries stand back on their own feet, the United States devised the Marshall Plan. According to this plan, the United States disbursed nearly $12 billion to the European nations in order to help them rebuild their economies. The biggest recipient of this sum was the United Kingdom followed by France. The aid was also meant to unify Western Europe into a bloc and prevent the spread of communism in the region.

The Space Race – 20th Century America

The Space Race refers to a rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States in their attempts to explore and navigate space. Both sides rapidly developed their space programs to this end. Russia was the first to launch an artificial satellite into Earth’s orbit in 1957. It was famously called Sputnik. The United States was able to gain precedence by landing the first man on the Moon in 1969.

Sweet Land of Liberty – America in the 20th Century

Twentieth-Century America: A Brief History 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

Learn about 20th Century America in the Roaring Twenties at Wikipedia