Introduction
There was deep concern on whether or not, government system and economies exist to serve the American populace. Alexander Hamilton is a politician who represents the ancient days of American political life, the days in which individualism dominated the country. Individualism made many American citizens remain in poverty. Later, industrial revolution aroused that led to the advancement in machinery and modern industrial plants. The government role was merely to provide conditions within which people could live peacefully. For the dreams to be realized, it required use of potentials and ambitions to overcome problems of financing and engineering skills associated with the new development.
Colonization brought various benefits despite having affected people negatively. For example, when colonization was occurring in India, schools were established. Substantial Development of infrastructure such as roads and rails were brought by colonialists. Major tourist attraction centers were built by slaves and such places are spread all over the country. Such places act as a major source of income to the country.
Document 24.3
The new deal experiments illustrate an alarming problem where the economy is controlled by few individuals or selected corporations. The problem that exists in the modern world is not scarcity of resources but poor distribution of wealth among the citizens. If a country can distribute its wealth equally, then it is possible to minimize poverty rates. Everyone can own property, but a challenge has risen where few a few dominate the economy. Therefore, government need to endorse taxation scheme to make sure that wealth is equally distributed in the country’s economy. According to the author, the government should assist the development of economic constitutional. This will result to equal distribution of resources and thus raising the living standards of the populace.
In reference to document 24-3, there were many inadequacies of the new deal as it did not do enough to protect Americans from misery. Some citizens own more than they require while others cannot afford the necessities. Hoover, in his speech, demonstrated a passion for a society whereby wealth is diffused to all citizens (Michael, p. 181). For fairness in the society, citizens need to elect a leader who will not fall into the trap of corruption. Such people only enrich themselves without caring about the lives of the citizens.
Document 2-5
After the Great Depression in 1929, businesses failed in the years that followed leaving millions of Americans without jobs. Farmers were unable to pay their debts and some lost their firms. Angry and dissatisfied with the state of economy; Americans elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the pioneer of the programs and initiatives which were collectively referred to as the New Deal. The New Deal economic initiatives were implemented in America between 1933 and 1936. Together with the United States congress, Roosevelt passed the New Deal programs in the first term of his Presidency. Roosevelt programs brought numerous changes in American’s economy. The New Deal changed the political alignment and made the Democratic Party very popular. The Democratic Party was able to hold seven of the nine Presidential terms from the year 1933 to 1969 due to this popularity. Most of the Republicans, on the other hand, opposed the New Deal arguing that it was an enemy of business, growth, and development.
Minnie Hardin, on her letter to Eleanor Roosevelt, states that “We cannot help those who will not try to help themselves and if they do try, a square deal is all they need…” (Michael, p. 183). Hardin believed that there was no need for New Deal programs to help people living in her community. Conservative Herbert Hoover also believed that the New Deal did not exemplify the American promise but rather undermined it. Hoover and Harding give a detailed objection of the consequences of the New Deal (Michael, p. 181).
Works Cited
Michael, Johnson. Reading the American Past: Selected Historical Documents: Volume II: From 1865. 4thed. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.