USA - History

In the 20's, the American economy was prospering more than any time before. In 1919, the l8th Amendment prohibited the production, sale and transport of alcoholic beverages and so the whole period became known as the Prohibition. However, on Black Friday in 1929, the stock market in New York crashed. Crisis came and soon about one quarter of all workers were unemployed.

1933 F. D. Roosevelt was elected as a new president. During the First Hundred Days he passes many laws, which had to rebuild USA economy and provide necessary social support for all citizens.

When S. W. W. broke out Roosevelt tried to keep USA out of it once again. But after he had to cut off trades with Japan and allowed Britain to borrow weapons from USA, Japan launched an air raid on Pearl Harbor. It was extremely successful and destroyed most of USN Pacific fleet. It took long time before USA were able to stop Japanese advance at The Battle of Midway and counter-attack. While they were advancing toward the Japan they joined the Britain in the operation Overlord. After the German was defeated, USA president Truman decided to use newly developed nuclear bombs against resisting Japan. Cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki were perished before Japan finally surrounded.

After S. W. W., was introduced the Marshall Plan for Europe reconstruction. It was rejected by the states where the Soviet Union gained major influence. NATO was founded and when the Soviet Union decided to join this organization, it was rejected. The Cold War between NATO and Warsaw Pact began.

United States soldiers represented a major part of the UNO forces in the Korean War (1950-1953) on the side of South Korea against the North Korean and Chinese troops.

President Eisenhower concentrated on the Middle East. John Fitzgerald Kennedy refused to withdraw from West Berlin 1961. The Cuban missile crisis in 1962 was a reaction to the installation of Soviet nuclear weapons on the island. Kennedy thought this too dangerous and responded with a naval quarantine. The threat of a nuclear holocaust was averted when Khrushchev agreed to ship the missiles back to the Soviet Union in exchange for an American promise never to attack Cuba and respect the revolutionary government led by Castro. Kennedy was assassinated 1963 in Dallas. In the Vietnam War (1961-1973) American troops fought in the South Vietnam against Vietcong partisans (supported from the Northern Vietnam). USA were unable to win this war, although they caused heavy casualties to the Vietcong. There were massive protests against the war in the USA and American Troops had to be finally withdrawn. 1975 South Vietnam lost and new united Vietnam was created.

In 1974 the famous Watergate scandal occurred and President Richard Nixon had to resign from his office. New American presidents G. R. Ford and J. Carter had to face both economical and political difficulties. Carter managed to negotiate peace between Egypt an Israel. And created the SALT-II. treaty to slow down arms race.