Example research essay topic: National Labor Relations World War Ii - 858 words

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THE GREAT DEPRESSION In the advent of 1930 s, the United States of America suffered huge loss from the period of what is now known as the Great Depression. As early as October 1929, the stock market of America crashed down that led to obliteration of at least 40 percent of the paper values of common stock. As it was expected, the Great Depression came to worst. The value of stock on the New York Stock Exchange downgraded to less than a fifth compared to what it had been at its peak in 1929. Business establishments closed their doors, factories shut down, banks failed, farm income fell some 50 percent and it is estimated that one out of every four Americans during that period was unemployed. In 1933 millions of Americans were unemployed.

In most U. S. cities breadlines were a common sight. In search of food, work and shelter, hundreds of thousands roamed across the country. As an initial step to alleviate unemployment the Congress enacted a program called Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which aimed to bring assistance to young men ages 18 to 25 years old.

The CCC was operated in a semi-military scheme where jobless young men were enrolled in work camps throughout America for a wage of about 30 US dollars per month. Approximately 2 million young men participated. Among the conservation projects which these enlisted young men participated include the following: planting trees to combat soil erosion and maintain national forests; eliminating stream pollution; creating fish, game and bird sanctuaries; and conserving coal, petroleum, shale, gas, sodium and helium deposits. Relief from the government came in the form of the Civil Works Administration. The program, where jobs funded ranged from ditch digging to highway repairs to teaching, was criticized as only a make work program.

However, President Roosevelt maintained unemployment programs based on work relief more willingly than welfare. Small farmers also suffered from Great Depression. The Great Plains states were hit by severe drought that resulted to significant reduction of farm production. Throughout the 1930 s, particularly from 1935 to 1938, violent wind and dust storms wrecked the southern Great Plains which later on became known as the Dust Bowl.

Crops were devastated, cars and machinery were ruined, and people and animal were impaired. Around 800, 000 people known as the Okies left Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Migrants were not only farmers but also include professionals, retailers and other people whose professions were associated to the health of the farm communities. Consequently, majority of the migrants ended up competing to each other for seasonal jobs of picking crops at tremendously low remunerations. The government established a Soil Conservation Service that provided aid among the small farmers. The Service trained farmers of effective measures to reduce erosion.

Additionally, there were around 30, 000 kilometers of trees were planted to interrupt the winds force. The Legislature also passed a more valuable farm-relief act that authorized the State to provide payments to farmers who reduced plantings of soil-depleting crops. Under this program, approximately 6 million farmers received federal subsidies. Likewise, the law allowed the government to provide loans on surplus crops, insurance for wheat and a system of planned storage to ensure a stable food supply. The prices of basic commodities were soaring high. Thus, the purchasing power of the consumers was depleted.

And since there were only limited jobs where people engaged in during that period, most of the employers abused the situation and unfair labor practices were rampant. In 1933, the government set-up the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) that attempted to end cut-throat competition by setting codes of fair competitive practice to generate more jobs and thus more buying. To help the labor industry, the Legislature enacted the National Labor Relations Act that defined unfair labor practices, gave workers the right to bargain through unions of their own choice and prohibited employers from interfering with union activities. The statute also established the National Labor Relations Board to supervise collective bargaining, administer elections and ensure workers the right to choose the organization that should represent them in dealing with employers. There are some historians who deny that the Great Depression played a significant role in making Hitler a powerful force in Germany and which was affected by the Depression. There was a lack of an effective conservative party in the 1920 s and 1930 s and where the German Nationalist Party had already lost its electoral appeal because of the policy in spurring agrarian interests. (Depression and World War II).

What made the Great Depression the worst was bad monetary policy. It was under the Federal Reserve System when there was a banking crisis that proved to be the worst in the history of the U. S. What happened was that the Federal Reserves agreed on policies that led to the decline in the quantity of money. (Kupelian, 2008). Works Cited Depression and World War II.

Retrieved March 20, 2009 at: web Kupelian, David. Bernanke: Federal Reserve caused Great Depression WorldNetDaily Exclusive. Retrieved March 20, 2009 at: web The Depression in the United States: An Overview. Retrieved March 20, 2009 at: web

Research essay sample on National Labor Relations World War Ii