What ultimately ended the Great Depression: The New Deal or war mobilization?

 

The worst economic crisis to hit the United States in its history was the Great Depression. This came about following the market crash of 1929, which resulted in a scenario where a considerable number of individuals not only lost their life savings, but there was also high unemployment. The unemployment levels were so high that they hit the double digits, with the result being that there was the promotion of a scenario of great uncertainty. It is pertinent to note that almost a fifth of the American population could not find work immediately prior to the Second World War; a sign of the highly economic realities of the period. However, it is important to consider that this problem was handled in a diversity of ways, including through the promotion of a scenario where there was the need to ensure that the economy returned to normalcy. This came about through Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s move towards greater involvement of the federal government in the economic welfare of individuals (Corry 216). His New Deal was therefore essential because it ensured that a path towards a return to economic prosperity for the nation was set. However, it was only following the beginning of the Second World War that the steps that he had taken began to bear fruit. This paper makes the argument that the end of the Great Depression was brought about because of both the New Deal and the war mobilization, which stimulated the economy.

The Great Depression can be considered one of the most significant defining moments in the history of the United States. This is because the people of the country were forced to endure some of the worst economic crises in their history. The New Deal by Roosevelt played a critical role during this period because it was designed to ensure that Americans were put back to work (Feiler 141-42). This step proved critical because it redefined the role of the federal government in the lives of individuals since most members of society came to see it as holding the answers to their economic problems. The attitude towards government was therefore changed significantly since there was the belief that it could do more to ensure that the population was secured against economic hardships. The significance of this situation can be seen through the way that there was an increase in expectations concerning how the government responded to the plight of the working class Americans. It is also noteworthy that the New Deal was also concerned with the plight of racial minorities, children, and women, which was revolutionary at the time (Weir 157). The New Deal was therefore critical when it came to the economy because its major focus was on increasing the role of government within it.

While the New Deal ensured that a basis was set up for economic recovery, it was the mobilization for the Second World War that allowed for the Depression to come to an end. This is especially the case considering that Roosevelt saw the need for the nation to be mobilized following the beginning of the war between the Allies and Axis powers in 1939 (Koistinen 443). The neutrality of the United States allowed the nation to mobilize without too much interference, with the result being that there was an increase in employment rates while at the same time ensuring that the effects of the Depression were significantly reduced. However, it is noteworthy that while the effects of the Depression were reduced by the New Deal, it finally came to an end when Roosevelt brought the United States into the war on the side of the Allies following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. This was a move that allowed for the promotion of American primacy across the world at both the military and economic levels. The United States was able to bring about full employment through the process of conscription while at the same time allowing women to join the workforce for the first time. Therefore, the social changes and reforms that were introduced in the New Deal came into effect.

The economy had already begun to take off prior to the United States joining the Second World War. This is especially the case when one considers that as the New Deal was taking hold, the economic growth in the country had already reached the double-digits (“The New Deal Worked”). This policy had essentially seen considerable success as there was the need to make sure that there was the promotion of the interests of the people over those of the government and big business. However, it is pertinent to note that there was the promotion of a scenario where the government sought to achieve a level of balance when it came to the budget as well as the attainment of the goal of bringing about social reforms to aid the population. The mobilization for the war was therefore critical in making sure that there was the attainment of this goal because it allowed for full employment while at the same time helping the economy to grow considerably. Through a combination of these processes, it became possible for the national economic output as well as the income of individuals to recover significantly. This was to such an extent that when the United States joined the Second World War, its economy had attained full recovery and had actually become one of the biggest in the world.

Thus, while on the surface, the mobilization for the Second World War brought an end to the Great Depression, it is important not to discount the New Deal. This is because the recovery of the economy from the Depression begun during the New Deal and the latter set the stage upon which effective mobilization for war was founded (Heale 63). In this way, there was the promotion of a scenario where when the war began; millions of Americans were sent to the military while the rest were employed in jobs related to defense. This ensured that there was the enhancement of economic effectiveness because the government was able to direct economic growth through its sponsorship of a diversity of sectors that were related to the mobilization. The Great Depression was therefore brought to an end to such an extent that there was the promotion of greater economic effectiveness as well as a foundation, based on the New Deal, to promote American leadership across the world when the war ended. The New Deal and the mobilization played important roles in bringing an end to the Depression that had caused so much devastation to the society since there was massive unemployment and economic uncertainty.

In conclusion, the above analysis is one that supports the argument that the end of the Great Depression was brought about because of both the New Deal and the war mobilization, which stimulated the economy. These two policies, working hand in hand, played a significant role in making sure that there was the establishment of stable conditions that not only stimulated economic growth, but also allowed for a significant reduction in unemployment, which had been one of the biggest issues during the Great Depression. The issue of economic recovery was therefore handled well between the New Deal and mobilization since there was the establishment of government involvement in the social and economic activities of society. Not only was government seeking to ensure that a safety net was established for the sake of securing the working class, but it also undertook to bring about a remedying of the economic problems that were plaguing the country following the Great Depression. Through this process, it became possible for the government to undertake programs that aided economic growth. The latter ensured that one of the most significant defining moments in the history of the United States, namely the Great Depression, was brought to an end. The latter was to such an extent that the economy had already begun to take off prior to the United States joining the Second World War. Thus, the New Deal policies and the war mobilization enabled the United States to get over the Depression and instead attain new growth that allowed it to become one of the most economically powerful countries in the world.