Post-WWII U.S.A.: Five Significant Historical Events - Essay Sample

Introduction

Numerous historical events that caused significant changes in the United States of America immediately after the second world war for about forty-five years. There was significant economic growth, immigration laws were eased, and labor union changes. During this period, the black Americans came together, organized, and triumphed the civil rights movement. Besides, regulations were passed that prohibited discrimination and ensured equal voting rights for all. This paper discusses five Historical events that contributed to some of these changes.

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U.S. Army–McCarthy Hearings

Wisconsin Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (1908-1957) was notoriously known for his zealous cross-examination of alleged communists. He became more infamous through the airing parliamentary hearings. McCarthy had presented his interrogations to the army security. However, the army accused him of trying to get special treatment for his former employee, who had been drafted by using inappropriate influence. The senator attempted to stress that the army lawyer Welch had communist relations. Then Welch gave the famous speech, "Have you no sense of decency." This was the start of the decline of McCarthy’s career in politics since he lost his support.

From April to June 1954, the McCarthy-Army investigations prevailed in the media. A subcommittee had been formed to find out whether the senator used inappropriate channels to get special treatment for Pvt. G. David Schine. According to McCarthy, the army tried to thwart his hearings by using intimidation and blackmail. These senatorial investigations caught national attention as it was among the first to be aired. They pinpointed his techniques, significantly crippling his support. Currently, McCarthyism refers to publicizing allegations of disloyalty without adequate proof.

Martin Luther King, Jr Assassination

Martin Luther King, Jr was gunned down in Memphis in April 1968. Although he had foreseen his death, it shocked many people. He was a spiritual leader in the Baptist church and had established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Since 1950, Luther had pioneered the civil rights movement through passionately voicing out and peaceful demonstrations. He fought against discrimination and strived to attain tangible civil rights progress for black Americans. As a result, King being shot caused fury among African Americans as well as a national mourning period. Both the whites and blacks mourned him. Equal housing regulation, which is a major legislative accomplishment, was passed as a result of his death. His death fueled the rise of many African-American activists and movements (Wallenfeldt 2020).

Watergate Scandal

In August 1974, the United States president was impeached for masking the robbery. The crime took place at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices located in Watergate Complex in 1972. The robbers that were arrested in these offices were associated with the president's reelection campaign. They were found ransacking documents and bugging telephones. Nixon aggressively masked the scandal (History.com Editors 2009). However, the Washington Post exposed his association with the scheme. He had to resign. This scandal altered American politics. The residents lost faith in authorities and are critical about their leaders.

Signing of Immigration and Nationality policy

In 1965, the immigration law was amended by congressmen that believed that open immigration laws would boost the reputation of the U.S. and give them an upper hand when competing with communist countries. This regulation opposed the racial segregation policies that existed during the Civil Rights Era. Philip Hart, one of those who sponsored this reform, stated that the Immigration law had to be more consistent with ethical values and socialist morals for them to protect their political custom.

President Lyndon Johnson approved the Immigration and Nationality Policy in 1965. This policy stimulated the increase in diversification of cultures as it allowed people to move into the U.S and to reside there permanently. The 1965 regulation was supposed to allow families to reunite, ensure unbiased lawful entry, and smoothen things up for professionals born in foreign countries. Approximately fifty-five years later, more than forty million foreign-born people residing in the U.S. Together with the children they have born in America, they make up about twenty-five percent of the United States population.

PATCO Strike

In August 1981, the United States president triumphed over the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). The labor association demanded shorter work duration and an increase in pay. This was against the 1955 policy that restricts government staff associations from striking. Instead of complying, the president asked them to resume work within two days, and those who did not were fired. The union, too, was decertified. This played a crucial part in weakening the labor associations, especially at a time that labor negotiations only focused on increasing their wages. It set the tenor for management-labor relations. Besides, this decisive act established his image as a strict authority and assisted in setting the pace for his administration (Glass 2017). Later, investigations uncovered that the sole cause of the strike was the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dictatorial management that added to their demanding job responsibilities. The employees had no other job alternatives as they had been skilled only in such type of work.

Conclusion

Conclusively, these events have resulted in major changes in the United States of America. Looking at individual events is important in understanding its significance. The events discussed led to major economic growth, easing of immigration laws, and labor union changes. Also, they brought the black Americans together, organized them, and resulted in the triumph of the civil rights movement. These regulations illegalized discrimination. These historical events made significant changes in America.

Works Cited

Glass, Andrew. “Reagan Fires 11,000 Striking Air Traffic Controllers, Aug. 5, 1981.” POLITICO, Aug. 5 2017, www.politico.com/story/2017/08/05/reagan-fires-11-000-striking-air-traffic-controllers-aug-5-1981-241252.

History.com Editors. “Watergate Scandal.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, Oct. 29 2009, www.history.com/topics/1970s/watergate.

“Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.” Immigration to the United States, immigrationtounitedstates.org/594-immigration-and-nationality-act-of-1965.html.

“Joseph McCarthy Begins Hearings Investigating U.S. Army.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, Nov. 13 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mccarthy-army-hearings-begin.

Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “Conspiracy Theories.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Apr. 15Apr. 15 2020, www.britannica.com/event/assassination-of-Martin-Luther-King-Jr/Conspiracy-theories.