The 2002 AP US History Document Based Question (DBQ) asked students to analyze the ways in which the United States changed from the end of the First World War to the end of the Second World War. This essay will provide a sample response to this DBQ, examining the ways in which the United States underwent significant political, economic, and social changes during this time period.
Politically, the United States underwent significant changes during the interwar period. One of the most significant changes was the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. This was a major milestone for the women's suffrage movement, which had been fighting for women's voting rights for decades.
Another significant political change was the rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, at the height of the Great Depression. He implemented a series of programs known as the New Deal, which aimed to provide relief to the millions of Americans who were suffering economically. These programs included the Social Security Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and the Agricultural Adjustment Act, among others.
Economically, the United States underwent significant changes during the interwar period. The most significant change was the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and lasted until the end of the Second World War. The Depression had a devastating impact on the American economy, with millions of people losing their jobs and businesses failing. In response to the Depression, the government implemented a number of economic policies, including the New Deal programs mentioned above.
Socially, the United States underwent significant changes during the interwar period as well. One of the most significant changes was the increasing influence of popular culture, particularly in the form of movies, radio, and other mass media. These forms of media helped to bring people together and allowed for the spread of popular culture across the country.
In conclusion, the United States underwent significant political, economic, and social changes during the interwar period, from the end of the First World War to the end of the Second World War. The passage of the 19th Amendment, the rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, the Great Depression, and the increasing influence of popular culture all contributed to these changes.
