How Great Depression Catalyzed Important Changes in Americans’ Perceptions

Changing Cultural Values
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Changing Cultural Values
The great depression played an important role in the lives of many people. It hugely impacted the economy, the government, and the everyday life of Americans. The great depression began in 1929 when the stock market crashed, causing many businesses to close and millions of Americans to lose their jobs. The event caused a lot of changes in the American's perspectives about their government and identity. These perspectives are evident in today's world.
The Great Depression profoundly impacted the American psyche, changing how Americans thought about themselves and their country. It had a major impact on how Americans perceived their national identity. It also led to increased American isolationism, a growing fear of communism, and the development of a new political philosophy known as liberalism. This was when Americans were forced to ask themselves difficult questions about their identity as a nation and what it meant to be American. Many people felt that the depression directly resulted from being part of a larger global economy, making them feel less secure about their place in the world. The Depression forced Americans to confront the harsh realities of life (Benmelech et al., 2019). Many people felt that they needed a new sense of purpose and direction in their lives. They were looking for ways to make sense of what had happened and how they could move forward. The scenario is evident today because America has the leading economic growth rate in the world. The economic growth is attributable to the citizen's hard work to accomplish the American dream. The American dream focuses on nationality and what it takes to be an American.
The main change the great depression caused was t...