The Dirty Thirties Essay Research Paper Every — страница 2

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however, generate a national controversy. Charges of filth were leveled against the novel, which was banned in several regions of the country, including Buffalo, New York, East Saint Louis, Illinois, and Kern County, California (Ito 52). Many readers were offended by the language used, which was strong for its day. Even with the criticism it faced, The Grapes of Wrath inspired generations of readers as a powerful social commentary and a great classic in American literature. Just as the characters in The Grapes of Wrath were looking for better times, so was the American public during this time. Americans wanted to enjoy themselves, and many felt that Prohibition restricted their rights. Prohibition was …the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution forbidding the manufacture,

sale, import, or export of intoxicating liquors (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Many Americans disagreed strongly with this amendment and felt that it had been forced upon them against their will. This law was more damaging than beneficial to society, and its demise was welcomed with open arms. On December 5, 1933, at 5:32 P.M. EST, the so called noble experiment came to an end when the state of Utah became the thirty-sixth state to ratify the Twenty-first Amendment (Bond 319). Prohibition failed for many reasons including political and economic implications. The final ending of the law had an positive effect on the economy and society as a whole. Above all else, however, the story of the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Amendments can be seen as a triumph for democracy (Lucas 96).

American citizens have always demanded freedom from repression and Prohibition is just another example of this. One thing that has always been true is that Americans will not allow unreasonable restrictions on their choices. America was founded on the wanting of new experiences and not being held back, which helps explain the remarkable progress following the hard times of this era. Americans have always embraced new inventions and technologies as a way of making life better. The debut of television got its start during this so called dark period on May 22, 1930, at Procter s Theater where for the first time an audience saw a closed-circuit TV (Collins 17). The response was overwhelming and started a new age of technological advances. Interest in this new medium continued to grow

throughout the decade. The television made its grand opening at the New York World s Fair in 1939, where they had televisions on sale for $200 to $660, depending on the options included(Bond 482). Although the great expense placed owning a television out of the reach of many Americans, there was still a great desire to own one. Many think this was the start of materialism. On May 17, 1939, the first baseball game to be televised was a victory for Princeton over Columbia (Collins 30). Sports have always been a favorite pastime of Americans so it was fitting that the first major television airings be of games. The television allowed Americans to lift their spirits and learn more about the world around them. New knowledge and technologies continued to make life better. The invention

of nylon greatly impacted many parts of American life. William Hume Carothers was an American organic chemist that patented nylon in February of 1935 (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Nylon created big profits for business due to consumer demand for its reliable use in things such as hosiery and parachutes. It also gave manufacturers a base for developing further goods. Nylon is …characterized by strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion and chemicals, low moisture absorbency, and capacity to be permanently set by heat (The Columbia Encyclopedia). These strong qualities lead to the development of many other desirable and useful goods which helped the economy continue to grow. People s desire for new and useful items using nylon created a greater consumer demand. Nylon was a very

popular product and it is reported that four million pairs of hosiery were sold in one day, and before the year s end over 60 million pairs were sold (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Nylon became a standard product used in many basic items which continue to influence American life. As Americans gain greater knowledge and expertise, this product continues to be used in new and creative ways, such as in the space program or as medical aids. The 1930 s had many ups and downs but the American people were resilient and were able to overcome the great problems they faced. The hard times that people had made them ready for good times. A positive attitude and a belief in tomorrow helped create an environment in which new discoveries and technologies could further develop American society.