Most Important Events during the Period 1900-1940

Most Important Events during the Period 1900-1940

The period between 1900 and 1940 was one of the most important periods in the history of the modern world, and the US in particular, and there have occurred several vital events during this period. In view of the specific case of the USA, there have been various important events during this period that influenced the growth of the nation for the following years and some of the most essential events and issues during 1900-1940 include Women's Suffrage, Economic Prosperity during 1919-29, the World War I, the Great Depression in the decade preceding World War II, the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, Anti-Trust Legislation etc (Garrett, 1978).

Three of the most indispensable events in the US history during the period between 1900 and 1940 are undoubtedly Women's Suffrage, the Great Depression, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, as these have influenced the various aspects of the life and development in the US during this period. Significantly, Women's Suffrage in the United States was a gradual achievement through the 19th Century and early 20th Century which culminated in 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution which maintained that the right of citizens of the nation to vote shall not be denied or abridged in view of sex.

The Great Depression, the severe worldwide economic depression in the decade prior to the World War II, originated in the US, caused by the stock market crash known as Black Tuesday, and it is one of the most damaging and deepest depressions in the history of modern man (McCall, 1969).

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, also called the Wages and Hours Bill, is another crucial event during the period and this established a national minimum wage and time and a half for overtime in certain jobs. "The main objective of the act was to eliminate 'labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standards of living necessary for health, efficiency and well-being of workers' The Fair Labor Standards Act also prohibited child labor in all industries engaged in producing goods in inter-state commerce. The act set the minimum age at 14 for employment outside of school hours in non-manufacturing jobs, at 16 for employment during school hours, and 18 for hazardous occupations." (Fair Labor Standards Act). Therefore, Women's Suffrage, the Great Depression, and the Fair Labor Standards Act are three of the most crucial events in the US history during the period between 1900 and 1940 and the effect of these events is evident even the contemporary years (Quincy, 1867).

The staggering unemployment of the Depression created an unfriendly environment for organized labor. It also threatened the employment and home ownership of Polish-Americans, two of the most important factors in Polonia's stable ethnic communities. “The insecurity, anger and militance that resulted,” historian Thaddeus Radzilowski observed, “marked henceforth the culture and psychology of second generation Polish Americans. Their major response was to join the ...