The Twentieth Century began with what is called the progressive era, and in many ways the underlying trend toward reform and positive change has continued to be the hallmark of the century. This was also a century which featured two worldwide wars and many smaller conflicts, a Cold War that could have led to an even more terrible conflict, and many social tensions, yet overall the trend has been toward increased peace and world harmony.
Between the two World Wars, the major worldwide event was the Great Depression. This was caused in part by the First World War and would be a factor leading to World War II. The Great Depression in the 1930s was a time of world economic disorder. Had the nations of the world understood what was happening better, they might have avoided the coming war with a more sound economic policy. The Depression had different effects in different countries, but the forces unleashed produced political as well as economic dislocation and tension. The Great Depression started with the stock market crash in 1929.
President Herbert Hoover was unable to cope with the effects of the Depression and was, in any case, blamed by many for the crash itself. Hoover's inability to cope was evident when Hoover used armed force against American veterans, the Bonus Army that had marched on Washington. When the Hoover administration failed to cope with the changed circumstances, it was left to the Roosevelt administration to make massive changes in the economy and the society in order to address the issue. Roosevelt was elected in this climate and was expected to do something about the Depression. The New Deal was part of his response, and this was a major shift in thinking about how Washington could and should response to national crises and about the way government relates to the people. Even those who oppose the New Deal and its later consequences recognize that this was a significant change.
The New Deal ...