Studying modern American history helps examine historical, contemporary, and geopolitical, cultural, and industrial figures and occurrences that had an influence on the United States. Having a solid comprehension of American heritage is helpful in comprehending the development of the nation and what it signifies to be an American. Understanding history can provide people with a bigger context on recent issues as well as on how societies can advance, in addition to bringing forth insight into crucial details and persons.
The KKK march that transpired on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., tops the list of unexpected happenings. The New York Times ran the headline, “Sight Astonishes Capital: Robed, but Unmasked Hosts in White Move Along Avenue,” on August 8, 1925 (Corbett et al., 2022). The darkest era in American history for racial inequality was represented by this incident, which lasted from around 1890 to 1940. More white Americans developed racism during this time compared to any other time period in American history, including slave ownership.
The confirmation of FDR’s democratic presidential candidacy comes second. Roosevelt made a pledge that his New Deal would rebalance the authority between the populace and the financial monarchists around 1936 when the country was in the midst of the Great Depression (Corbett et al., 2022). The most exceptional momentary on any account uttered by an American president. As a result, working-class Americans surged to the Democratic Party, helping to create a political alliance that would rule the country for years to come in addition to an overwhelming victory.
Thirdly, the Vietnamese War and the American way of living were affected by the global media’s reportage of the Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức scorching himself to death at a protest in Saigon in 1936 (Corbett et al., 2022). It immediately inspired revulsion and a policy review, which later culminated in more American forces on the field and in the sky as well as more press attention that let Americans experience the war firsthand. Because the administration claimed that Americans were prevailing in combat when the news demonstrated that they were losing, it led to a thus far-lasting mistrust of the government.
Reference
Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Waskiewicz, S., & Vickery, P. (2022). U.S. History. Sweetwater Press, Web.