History: Boom and Bust - The USA 1929-1940

This course covers the turbulent decade between 1929 and 1940 when America was at its lowest ebb. It considers the forces that shaped America in 1929 and what caused divisions in American society. There will be a focus on how the Depression affected ordinary Americans, the consequences of consumerism on American society, and which sections of society were hardest hit. We will focus on President Franklin Roosevelt, the man, the politician and the myth. Did he save America with his New Deal? Did the New Deal cure the Great Depression? How did Roosevelt bring back hope to America? Were there sections of American society that the New Deal did not help, and what of the opposition to the New Deal? We shall consider the role of women and Black Americans in the USA and how the Depression impacted their lives. These years resulted in the generation called 'the Greatest Generation', the men and women who went to war after 1941 and whose lives had been shaped by the decade of Depression and revival under the new deal. No previous knowledge or experience of American history is necessary. Everyone is welcome to join this fascinating course!