The 20th century brought many changes, and several events shaped society as we know it today. With the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War, America faced numerous internal and external threats, which endangered the American way of life and forced the country to reshape its vision to overcome challenges. events that seemed, at the time, to be a reality. the lowest points. The Great Depression didn't happen overnight, but for some it must have felt that way. However, when the stock market crashed on October 24, 1929, most may have had the impression that the fall was rather rapid and rather unpredictable. In truth, the events leading up to the Great Depression may have foreshadowed a downfall in the economy. This was not America's first Great Depression; in fact, there was another in 1819. Under the leadership of President Van Buren, the government chose to take a laissez-faire stance on the subject, only helping land debtors in terms of money, this which set a precedent for doing this every time there was an economic crisis in America. However, in 1929, President Hoover chose to take a different approach, coined by Anderson during "Hoover's New Deal" or simply "The New Deal." This required heavy government intrusion, with an increase in prices and wage rates. This “New Deal” was ultimately a failure. During the Depression years, many people searched for answers and longed for better times. The 1930s brought back many visions of tradition and popular culture. Many intellectuals, seeking to look back to ancient times, the Southern Agrarians, a group of eleven Southern scholars, sought to return society to an agrarian way of life. Another group known as the New Humanists also wanted to return to the old way of living... middle of paper... Americans believed it was a patriotic obligation to stock up on products made in the United States and stimulate the market. economy. As a result, the United States became the primary economic leader, as it still is today. In the 1980s, President Regan cut taxes and federal tax revenues increased significantly. Much of the money was spent on military purposes, being sent to U.S. allies and the Strategic Defense Initiative. In response, the Soviets also spent their money on their army and went bankrupt in the process. America shaped itself to fit the situation that the people needed. And these events shaped the nation into the proud country it is today. The Great Depression taught America to have hope; World War II taught it to unite and the Cold War taught it to be tough. These three things have brought us into the new millennium with new technologies, new threats and a new way of life..