Watershed Moments in the History of USA - Essay Example

WATERSHED MOMENTS IN US HISTORY There are some moments that change the very shape and direction of a country. There are a large number of moments in history. The history of the US has been marked by a large number of such events that have changed the perception of the USA (United States of America). These moments are not just important from the point of view of the country in question but are also important because of the exalted status that the country holds among the other nations. After thorough consideration, three of the following events have been chosen which are truly remarkable Great depression Great depression stands as one of the defining moments in the history of the United States of America.

This is one of those moments that redefined the status of the country as one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the world. It also brought into existence, a large number of fiscal and monetary policies that have been a guiding light for the other economies. During the period of 1920s, there was a period of great turbulence as the growth among the various sectors was uneven. The period was marked by a fall in farm prices, whereas industrial profits grew. There was an inflated stock market, which led to the Great depression of 1929.

Unemployment increased from three percent in the year of 1929, to almost twenty-five percent by 1925. The production fell by one-third. These led to large-scale reforms in the American economy in the form of a lot of new path-breaking laws (the social security Act, Works progress Administration Act, The emergency Banking Act, and the Economy Act) (Bordo et al, 1998). World War II World War II was one of the most defining moments in the history of the United States. Categorically, America had always tried to stay away from the war and had tendered its ideological support to the allies.

The main contribution of the US to the war was resources, men, money, and ammunition. That actually triggered the rise in the GDP. The growth was almost more than forty percent. There was also a cataclysmic shift from low efficiency, low profile jobs to jobs that require a lot more intellectual capital. But, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, America directly got involved in the war. It also led to the development of nuclear weapons as a part of the project Manhattan. This was also the beginning of the US as an atomic superpower.

ATTACK ON WORLD TRADE CENTRE Attack on the world trade center changed the perspective of the US towards international terrorism. This led to the American attack on Afghanistan and Iraq. This led to the creation of the Homeland Department of Security. Billions of dollars were spent in the war efforts as well as on the vigilante efforts in the nations. Over twenty thousand soldiers were killed from the time the war started. This has also led to the recent death of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. This complete endeavor has changed the geopolitical landscape of the world (Bruce, 2005).