Historical Inquiry & Perspectives

On “Black Monday”, October 28, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a drop of nearly 13 percent. What followed was the rapid and devastating collapse of the stock market on Wall Street. This would start perhaps one of the most challenging economic eras in modern history, referred to as the “Great Depression”. This decades-long period of American history still reaches into the back of the nation's consciousness. As much of the “Greatest Generation” has unfortunately begu

Introduction: At the turn of the century, the United States was beginning to emerge as an industrial superpower. Immigration, industrialization, technological advancements, vast reserves of natural resources, and capital allowed the country to reach new heights. The nation reached westward and was connected by a vast network of railroads and a slowly growing road system. The automobile had been developed in the late 1800’s and had gone through many different variations, impro

Introduction In a postbellum world, the United States looked to heal the wounds of the Civil War socially and politically through reunification, but also through economic development. The South’s agrarian lifestyle and structure were wrecked at the end of 1865, as well as its enslaved labor force for its plantation economy, which was now granted freedom. The “New South” would be created in this aftermath, and it would be led by the might of northern industry and capital. Ind