The slogan of poster 11: “Help us to help the boys” targeted at Catholics, telling them to donate to National Catholic Council to support the Catholic soldiers. Poster 12 revealed the Jewish symbol with a soldier standing in front of a pile of skeletons and calling out for help. Similar to poster 11, this also called Jewish to come together to assist Jewish soldiers in the U.S. military by donating to the Jewish Welfare Board.

Poster 13 depicted an African American soldier dressed in a nice uniform holding his sweetheart’s hand. In the background, an army was marching with an American flag. It was designed to get African American to sign up for the armed services. In the bottom of the poster wrote: “colored man is no slacker”. Enlisting in the army is considered to be a masculine activity as protectors of the home front. The poster was trying to get African American to think that joining the army would gain them some respect and prove that they deserve full civil rights.

Poster 11 through 13 aimed specifically at Catholic, Jewish and African American because these groups were subjects of discrimination, violence and have been treated terribly in the 1880s. American citizens were very anti-immigrant; however, as they entered the war, they would need all the support they could get to win this battle. In order to make this happen, the government needed to include all American regardless of race and gender and made them feel equally important in the war effort. These posters were successful in creating a sense of nationalism, harmony, and solidarity among the diverse American population. However, at the same time, these posters created false hope for immigrants or American with foreign descents that they would be treated equally if they proved their loyalty to the nation and enlisted in the war. Little that they know, they would still be segregated and discriminated after the war ended.

The use of propaganda was very effective in arousing patriotism and inspiring all Americans to contribute to fighting the war. To persuade civilians behind the war effort, the government aimed at their heart and their brain, emotionally and logically, to manipulate them to see in certain perspectives. For these propagandas to be effective, there must be a sense of urgency, the enemy has to be dehumanized and civilians needed to feel important, be empowered and inspired to sign up for the military (p.130).

President Wilson’s intent of uniting a heterogeneous nation to prepare for the war with the help of the Committee on Public Information was a victory. However, along with the positive influences, negative consequences followed. The propaganda created a mass hysteria with horrible results. The extreme, inaccurate portrayal of the enemies endangered many Americans and led them to become subjects of abuse and violence. It spread fear and suspicion in people. If one criticized the war efforts, did not report suspicious behavior, or buy war bonds, they would be persecuted and put in prison (p.154 and p.155). Using propagandas to mobilize civilians was necessary for fighting the war, but propagandas exploited stereotypes, dehumanized people, used lies and half-truths to convince the crowd (p.125). There’s no denying that the Committee was successful in creating a wave of patriotism and uniting pluralistic public opinion of America behind the war effort, but perhaps the mobilization has been carried too far resulting in serious negative impacts.

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Did you know that without rent control many low, and mid-class families would be homeless? We need these rent control laws in order to keep rent prices in control so that it is not too high or too low. Rent control is a price control regulated by the government for housing. According to Policy Genuis “Many historians believe Julius Caesar enacted a law stating a landlord could not charge more than the ancient Roman equivalent of $100 per year for a home in Rome. This came after a Roman senator appealed to the courts claiming his landlord tried to double his rent and he could no longer pay it.” Rent Control started in 1920 In New York and Washington D.C. Today there is rent control in Maryland, California, Washington D.C and New York. There was a severe shortage of housing after World War 1. The rate of the cities vacancy was dropping below one percent. This resulted in rent strikes because of the high rent prices. In big, busy and at times, overpopulated cities such as New York City, affordable rent can be extremely hard to find for a plethora of reasons. So much so that in many places, rent ceilings have been implemented in order to combat ultimately unaffordable rent in crowded cities.

Construction of new buildings was a standstill because of the war. They had other priorities such as lack of materials, manpower, and cost. Also, during this time population was growing. To solve this problem, the New York Legislature passes a rent control program that would help to lower the cost, and limit the power that landlords have. A landlord is someone who runs a building and rents it to tenants. You for example would be a tenant, paying a monthly fee to live in that building. This limit decreases things such as eviction. Below I will explain the importance of rent control, break down the perks of these laws; and how it positively and negatively affects the economic system.

According to “New York City Rent Guidelines Board” areas that are rent controlled have about 28,000 units. A large majority of the people who live in rent controlled areas are the elderly and low-class population. The pricing of these apartments are usually less than 2,600 a month. Many low or middle-income New York City residents can barely afford to live where they work. According to the Huffington Post, “There are 2.5 million New Yorkers, of which 1.6 million are of low or middle income, in grave danger of losing their ability to afford to house in New York.”

This shows that rent is too high if a majority of middle and low-income residents cannot afford it. Also, there is not a lot of low rent apartments, which means that only the quick and the lucky can get low rent apartments. There is a high demand for low rent apartments but not enough to supply. Demand and supply is a concept used in economics as a backbone of the market economy. Stated by Investopedia, “Demand is an economic principle referring to a consumer's desire, and willingness to pay a price for a specific good or service. Holding all other factors constant, an increase in the price of a good or service will decrease demand, and vice versa.” Supply is the amount of goods provided. According to investopedia, “Supply is a fundamental economic concept that describes the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to consumers. Supply can relate to the amount available at a specific price or the amount available across a range of prices if displayed on a graph.

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The significance of Alsace-Lorraine to World War 1, is as you can see, a huge factor. The fact that France was always determined to recapture the territory, it set a state of mind for revenge and fueled a sense of nationalism in the French citizens. In contrast to their rival, The French gave Alsace-Lorraine a much more central role in their propaganda efforts, 'French officials wanted to make sure to generate support for one of the key French aims of the was the eventual return of Alsace-Lorraine to France,' (World War I and Propaganda). This more positive attitude toward the Alsatians worked well with their message of promising to deliver freedom, equality and community, as opposed to German's aim of disregard, outcast and forceful Germanization. Such propaganda on France's end worked quite well, as the region of Alsace had long-standing ties to France.

What ensued following these events, will be known as the straw that broke the camel's back. In 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II went to Tangier Morocco under the pretense of declaring support of the sultan wanting to liberate the Moroccan people and to promote their independence. This only made matters worse with Germany's relationship with France and Britain, later on becoming known as the First Moroccan Crisis. Back in April 1904, there was an alliance formed between long-standing imperialist rivals Britain and France regarding expansion in North Africa. The terms set forth by the settlement was that Britain could have Egypt while France was free to expand into Morocco. Germany was subsequently excluded from these decisions and angered that their own influence and power in the world was being challenged. Although it was Germany's attempt to drive a wedge between Britain and France, it only strengthened their bond and reinforced the power balance of the rival blocs. Completely dismissing the efforts of Bismarck to diffuse the strain between nations, Germany increasingly isolated itself from its allies. Not more than 3 years after the Second Moroccan Crisis in 1911, would all of these factors lead to the outbreak of World War I.

As capitalist-fueled imperialism and the rise of industrialism produced a new wave of colonization that lead to competition for resources, it eventually divided the world into rival powers. Granted, there were many other factors that played into the outbreak of war, the main long-term causations were undoubtedly social nationalism, expansionism, and alliance disputes. World war I was a war that shocked the world to its core and changed the nature of major European powers for many years to come. 

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In this research paper I will be informing you about African Americans in the military and how blacks in the military has changed over the years, and the different roles they have played in wars globally. I will start my research paper with 15 black military heroes through the years, I will give you information on each hero and what they did in the war they fought in. I will also give different examples and how they connect. Black soldiers in the US Military During the civil War, I will give you information on Fredrick Douglass and how the issues of the emancipation and military service intertwined of the civil war. African Americans in World War 1 and what African Americans did globally during that war time. The Tuskegee airman will also be in my research paper, the 54th Massachusetts infantry, and the Buffalo Soldiers.

Through the years there have been military hero's, Black Military Heroes have played big roles in US Military for decades, black in military were born to be leaders they have the ability to lead are great military. Crispus Attucks, the former slave was the first casualty of the American Revolutionary War when he was killed during the Boston Massacre. First black Minute Man Lemuel Hayes, he served as a minuteman during the American Revolutionary War, fighting at the April 1775 Battle of Lexington. He was an indentured servant who enlisted in the war after earning his freedom. The First Field Officer in the U.S Army, Maj, Martin Robison Delany; he was the first African-American field officer in the U.S army. He led the 52nd U.S colored troops regiment and became the first line officer in U.S Army history. He was accepted at Harvard Medical, but was kicked out. A Top Ranked black female Officer, Harriet M. Waddy, she was one of the highest ranked black officers in the women's army corps, in world war II. She said that joining the “segregated military” and accepting a situation which does not represent an ideal democracy” was not” a retreat for, our fight but our contribution to its realization. General Roscoe Robinson Jr became the first African-American four-star General in the US Army, he was a west point graduate.

There were three African American military divisions, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airman. Who are the 54th Massachusetts Infantry? One of the first black units to join the union forces in the Civil War. The company was largely composed of freed black slaves from northern states. The Battle at Wagner, during the battle, the unit captured a small section of the battery. The unit leader Col. Robert Gould Shaw was fatally wounded in the battle. Sgt William H. Carney risked his life to take the flag and lead his troops. He was severely wounded by two bullets during the battle but survived to become the first African American to be presented the Medal of Honor. The buffalo soldiers after the civil war, six segregated black regiments to serve in the peace-time army under white officers. They were stationed in the southwest and the Great Plains, where it was their responsibility to build forts and maintain order. They earned their nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” because of their dark skin. Participating in the battle of San Juan Hill, served under General, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. The Tuskegee Airman by the beginning of the World War II, African Americans were increased pressure on the

government to make conditions more equal in 1941. In May 1943, the first group of Tuskegee Airman was sent to North Africa to join the allied forces. They were led by Capt. Benjamin Davis Jr, became the first African American Air Force general.

U.S Military during the Civil War, on July 17, 1862, congress passed the Militia Act Freeing slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army, two days later slavery was abolished. by the end of the civil war, 179,000 black men served as soldiers in the U.S army and another 19,000 served in the navy, 40,000 blacks died over the course of the war, 30,000 of infection or disease. Black soldiers served as artillery and infantry and performed all non-combat jobs. Black women who could not join the Army, served as nurses, spies and scouts. Black were paid 10$ per month but 3$ was deducted for clothing. In June 1864 Congress granted equal pay to the U.S. Colored Troops. Black soldiers received the same rations and supplies and medical care. President Lincoln issued general order 233, on Confederate prisoners of war for any mistreatment of black troops.

A History of black Military Advancement from Integration through Vietnam, historically black colleges ROTC programs produced more than 75 percent of African American officers through the Vietnam Era. Year 1967-1968 when blacks were dying in Vietnam at nearly twice the rate of their population. On June 1917 the first black officers training camp was opened at Fort Des Moines in Iowa. During most blacks were on the front line, most blacks volunteered for the army to get away from home or they were drafted. African Americans played a huge role in the Vietnam War, changed the army, they were well trained, in 1964 blacks represented less than 9 percent of all Armed Forces. Although the percentage of black officers doubled between 1964 and 1967, 25 percent of blacks were killed in action being on the front line.

Between Slavery and Freedom Virginia Blacks in the American revolution , the American Revolution was social and economic. In states such a Virginia focused on enslaved people, the war awakened white fears. Most black soldiers were scattered through the continental army in infantry regiments. Several all black units were command by white officers, enslaved blacks. In 1775 Virginias governor, Lord Dunmore established an all-black Ethiopian Regiment was created composed of runaway slaves, by promising them freedom he kept 800 slaves to escape from slave masters, whenever they could enslave blacks, continued to join him until he was defeated and was forced to leave Virginia in 1776. Most blacks fought on the patriot side, there were 900 black patriots, counting the Army and the Navy. Most black fought in the army to get away from slavery, they were put mostly on the frontline of the battle field

African American in war time line 1812-1815 War of 1812, black soldiers served as integrated regiment. Many black soldiers served with courage, both land and sea, 1814 free man of color was developed, the battle of New Orleans, free black soldiers constructed forts around the city to stop the invasion of the British invasion. Many of the soldiers in the free man of color units were refugees from Haiti and Santa Domingo. 50 blacks were killed during the battle, but the free man helped secure the battle. 1914-1938, on December 27, 1917 the 369th infantry regiment became the first all-black U.S. combat unit to shipped overseas during world war I. Because there was no official combat role at this time for America’s black Soldiers, Gen. John J. Pershing responded to France’s request for troops by assigning the 369th and the 93rd Division’s other regiment to the French army. On Jan. 13, 1941, the U.S. Army established the 78th Tank Battalion, the first black armor unit. The tankers reported to Fort Knox, Ky., to begin armored warfare training in March 1941. The 78th was on May 8, 1941, as the 758th Tank Battalion. 1950-1953 Korean war Black Soldiers now served in all combat service elements and were involved in all major combat operations, including the advance of United Nations Forces to the Chinese border.

African American Women in the Military, this article is in comparison with black women with women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds and black men in the U.S. military. Developmental analysis is used to examine historical trends and to hypothesize about the future of black women on active duty. The view of the fact of African American women significant since the representation of black women has increased more than six-fold over the last 15 years. Analysis results confirm previous findings that African-American women are the military at a faster pace than other racial and ethnic female groups in the United States; they are more concentrated in the Army than other branches of the military. They are more likely to be single parent in the military and men in comparison to other groups. 

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Not to long ago women had no say so of what they wanted to do with their life. Even now as we speak some women still do not have freedom. Whether it be in their home, in politics or even in their workplace. Not many people no why this is and or was to case, but it won’t be that way for long.

Long ago when women gained the right to vote “fewer men and women were attuned to national political issues the increasingly were defined by special-interest groups and lobbies.” (Gustafson,2003). Women are very easy to underestimate because of their shape or size. However, this is here to tell you that just because men have more physical strength does not mean that women cannot be stronger or smart enough to overcome challenges. These women they look down on fought and are still fighting for their rights and how they should be treated in society.

There was an organization that was led by Emmeline Pankhurst called (wspu) women’s social and political union.in 1914 the wspu decided to support the world war 1 effort. This was surprising to many people that this women’s organization had a part in something that was greater then taking care of kids or cleaning the house before their husbands get home. The truth of the matter is that not all women still suffer from things of this sort for example Hillary Clinton had a chance in a million to run for president very recently. Although she did not make it the fact that she did it was a miracle in olden time because women would not even dream of it but only because they know they had no chance of even remotely trying to think about doing something other than house duties. (women’s rights movement,2014).

Women always had to have permission from their husbands to do things as stated “1839 – The first state (Mississippi) grants women the right to hold property in their own names – with permission from their husbands.” (mulligans.). This is just like another problem in society that we have about women working more and getting paid less than men. Now that women have the freedom to make their own choices in life, they could at least get paid what they are due. Most people feel that they’ve come so far as to make decisions for themselves, so they should be paid the same amount of payment as men according to the job tasks at hand. If anything, they should be paid more for the things they had to go through just to get to where they are now. (shah,2010).

Many people say women are to kind and can not be firm enough when it comes down too many different types of jobs such as being a doctor or lawyer. In better words they say women are too emotional to handle certain things that come with certain jobs due to their motherly tuitions. However, this is not the case it is just that men are better at hiding their emotions unlike women who are very up front with their emotions. They did a study on biases in the workplace and this was a very important one because it happens so often. The study show that women are worse at math then men. They know this because they gave them a test where they gave men candidates and women candidates math task to complete and the men did better than the women every time the task was completed. Although the women were lacking on the math task does not mean they are not good for much more to come. (jaffe,2014)

There were two major “waves of feminism” in history. the first one was growing out the anti-slavery movement and the second one was through activism for women. The list of things that women could not do is:

• not being able to get a credit card or loan out of their name

• they cannot have a legal job or government job

• take someone to trial for rape

• inherit things equal to men

• get the same amount of pay as men (johnson,2018) etc.

When people hear tis they think what if someone was raped and in need of justice, they would not get the chance to tell anyone their story of the tragedy they went through.

The only thing that most people find really odd is the fact that a woman was not considered to be a person “in the eyes of the law” in 1929.this is the most disturbing thing you could ever come by is someone not being considered a person because that makes someone fell as if they have no say so to the things they go through in life. in 1929 women had become people under the Canadian law. (molloy,2018). Women were not considered people so when they wanted to own property it had to be under their husband name until the 1922 law of property act. Even when people were called to serve on the jury women were not allowed until the sex disqualification (removal) act 1919.

Women were not allowed to open a bank account until 1975. (molloy,2018). this is a very high standard of financial discrimination. These are the reasons people should always be aware of what they have when they have it because they don’t know what to do when they lose what they have.they could not even work at the London stock exchange until the year of 1973.even when they would get abused they could not even make a court order or tell someone so they can help the wife get justice for the wrong that was done to them.that is not like this modern day and age when men and or women get justice for rape it is the total polar opposite they could not even report the rape because women were not considered to be people in the “eyes of the law.” (molloy,2018)

These are some of the many reason’s women had little to no rights. however, this is not surprising considering the fact no one thought of women or considered women to be listed as people. now people know that women were not really treated as they were supposed to be in the olden ages. when people read this, they should wonder how a woman in the olden ages must have felt. this is an old time issue that must be heard about. 

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On average, 30% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have a mental health issue once they return that needs treatment. Of those 30% however, less than half will go on to receive it. Nearly twenty-two veterans die on average each day due to suicide, accounting for one in five suicides in the country. Why is all this the case though? Why are these shocking statistics not being taken care of? To better understand the issue, and the questions that come from it, an exploration of the history, treatments, and availability must be made. The support of Veterans once they return home needs to become a top priority of the country to ensure they can re-adjust normally to civilian life post-deployment.

It has become an unfortunate reality that more Veterans die from self-inflicted harm and suicide in this day and age than in actual combat. In 2015, twenty-two personnel were killed in the line of duty. While any number is too high, when compared with the 6,115 suicides of personnel in the same year, the issue becomes clear to see. The military has been criticized for training men for war, but not de-escalating that and preparing them to return to civilian life after their service. Many come back into the “regular” world with experiences and traumatic events that prohibit them from truly being the same person ever again.

PTSD has gone through many different forms in the eyes of the public in the last one-hundred years. Known as “shell-shock” commonly in World War 1, it was seen as a sign of cowardice and lack of character. Many men who displayed the symptoms and characteristics of modern day PTSD were even put on trial due to it. Court Martials and even execution was a likely outcome for any men who displayed such traits as the “thousand-yard stare”,and an unwillingness to fight any longer due to their mental state. Moving into the second World War, the term shell-shock was banned by the military, and was replaced with “battle fatigue” and “operational exhaustion”. While the words may have changed, the thoughts and sentiments of those in power and the general public did not. It is known the famous General George Patton himself publicly stated he did not believe this was a real phenomenon. In 1983 with the Vietnam War having ended eight years prior, the United States Congress finally requested that the VA conduct a study on the prevalence of PTSD in veterans of the war. This was the first study of its kind, and brought the seriousness of the issue into the limelight, as it was found that fifteen to twenty percent of those tested showed symptoms. This discovery led the government and experts in psychology to delve further into the topic, leading to the better scientific understanding available today.

While everyone has heard of PTSD, what is the actual definition? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (commonly shortened to VA), “PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault”. With this definition as a basis in mind, it becomes easier to focus on how combat PTSD is formed. As stated by National Center for PTSD “Service members are at risk for death or injury. They may see others hurt or killed. They may have to kill or wound others. They are on alert around the clock. These and other factors can increase their chances of having PTSD or other mental health problems”. The looming fear of death is a constant during deployment, even including friends. This constant state of stress alone is unhealthy, but when coupled with an actual death nearby from either friend or enemy, is where the psyche starts to crumble. Symptoms vary from individual to individual, but common issues include insomnia, depression, bipolar disorder, night terrors, anxiety, and eventually substance abuse as the individual attempts to escape issues without medical treatment.

Possible solutions for PTSD symptoms are, like any treatment, not foolproof. Treatments of course include medication, such as Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft), and Venlafaxine (Effexor).These are not a solution on their own, as everyone experiences PTSD and the symptoms of it differently. Therefore there is no one pill to fix everything, and a combination of medication is most likely required. They however can mitigate some of the issues to make quality of life better, such as eliminating insomnia. A therapy treatment is also on the rise as a possible option,

Living in the South, where the majority of military enlistees originate from, it is easy to know a Veteran, most likely even a family member. Most southerners and locals in the immediate area would consider themselves patriotic, but when these people come home, what kind of support can they expect to receive? 

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Music and musical genres have evolved profoundly since the turn of the century in the 1900s. Where did the music genres stem from? By what means did these genres evolve over time? To answer these questions, this research paper will take a systematic decade by decade look into the recent past to dig up the origin of music genres and endeavor to unearth their message. An introduction to and an understanding of the background of music will expedite our appreciation of the world of music, its evolution, and its implications upon modern society today.

The first recorded citation of music in human history is chronicled in Genesis 4:21, where we meet Jubal, the patriarch of all those who handled the harp and organ. To envisage a world devoid of musical instruments is a trying task and the inventions of Jubal had an enduring impact on the world and it is quite evident to this present day. During the course of history, a variety of genres and styles of music have been invented but almost all of these can actually be traced back to the stringed and wind instruments invented by Jubal.

Moreover to copiously understand Satan’s connection to the music industry we must recede in time and advance in scripture. Satan is believed to be the most glorious angel created by God. He was endowed with wisdom and beauty; and covered with precious stones. His perfection got into his head for he was believed to have been a walking and talking instrument and he forgot that our Heavenly Father is the giver of everything. When he rebelled he was cast out of heaven and many may argue he is the father of music but God as the creator of all is the real father and founder of music.

The Great War also known as World War 1 lasted five year (1914-1918). This war was very instrumental in shaping the current music industry. It was in this era that some of the very famous music genres made their debut. The era of romanticism, symbolism, and expressionism were fast fading. Music culture of European high bourgeois came to an abrupt end following the death of some of their greatest musical geniuses whereas others seemed to lose their creative touch. Nonetheless the stage was finally set for the global takeover of the American music culture.

Right through World War 1, music was a conspicuous feature on the home fronts and the battle fields. It was a source of hope and strength. Recognizing the effects of music most homes acquired pianos while clubs like the White Cotton Club in New York gained momentum as more people sought morale boost. Originating from African American communities Jazz and Blues were the popular genres of the time due to the mix of sadness and melancholy in the Blues and the rhythms and harmonies of jazz. The musical revolution had finally began for these two genres were the wellsprings of today’s music.

The roaring twenties were finally here, the world was at peace, success and euphoria was being experienced across all social classes. Overly this was an epoch of concurrent breaks from tradition and an era of fresh ideas, attitudes, and distinct cultural vicissitudes. Music in particular underwent thrilling revolutions that perfectly characterized the cultural evolution that was taking place. These transformations in music were largely due to the new technologies such as radios, phonographs, and significant advances in recording technologies.

Jazz music was at the heart of this musical revolution. Its unique blend of Western and African music with its roots in work songs, field hollers, and blues reached out to many across the globe. Bands like King Oliver’s Creole with their hit song Dipper mouth Blues were able to get sufficient air play. Trumpet player Louis Armstrong also made his mark in history with songs like Star dust, La Vie Ein Rose, and what a wonderful world. The musical evolution was quite visible, musicians like Aaron Copland offered key changes to American music but African Americans lit up the world with their jazz tunes.

The blues were equally involved in the musical revolution of the roaring twenties. Originating from the African American Community in the deep southern states of the United States of America. Blues were first based on the accounts of the musicians’ personal predicaments and the daily racial sufferings associated with the black race. This racial profiling caused the blues to become widely known as the black community music. One of the most important blues singers of the decade was Mamie Smith who was credited with making the first recorded blues vocal performance.

Musical theatre as we know it today consists of music and lyrics that move a plot or a book. Broadway theatre dating back to 1750 experienced its boom in the 1920s when Show Boat, the first book musical was produced. The pace was set at last and in 1927 alone over 250 shows debuted on Broadway, and over 50 of them were musicals. The effects of jazz music on the Broadway musicals cannot be overlooked, coupled with the alcohol prohibition there was unity of worlds, class, and races. Change was happening and music clearly reflected this world events.

It is quite visible that this music genres were different in form and production and they each had distinct features, that affected each audience and due to this they were all received differently. Jazz was very pleasing to the ear and most people almost always got hooked as soon as they heard it. The blues on the other hand appealed to the soul with its sometimes witty or heart breaking lyrics. Broadway on the other hand brought books to life with their musical interpretation and for this reason it was mostly enjoyed by book-lovers mainly.

The 1930s, the era of the great depression, was a period of hard times in the United States. The stock market crash of 1929 had caused an economic slump all through the United States and much of the World. Then the terrible drought that struck west of the United States led to what became known as the Dust Bowl. However even during the “hard times” people needed to be entertained. For this very reason they enjoyed many forms of entertainment, particularly if they could do so on a shoestring.

Despite the hard times music performed pretty well. Some of the best musicians had their heydays in the 1930s. The harmonious sounds of Louis Armstrong and the magnificent vocal sound of Billy Holiday truly left their mark in history. At a time where most people did not have televisions, the radio was the primary source of entertainment. Tracks in the 1930s proved to be more popular than artists themselves due to the numerous covers that were performed. Hit covers were being produced at a very fast pace and the people were losing sight of the original musicians.

Broadway musicals, which were developed and made extremely profitable during the extravagant 1920s, fell to the wayside with the 1929 crash of the stock market. At an epoch where money was very scarce the great performers of that era soon found themselves tarmacking in such of employment. However as time went by technological innovations of synchronized sound were made and before long their desperate pursuit for new opportunities came to an abrupt end, as many tapped into the burgeoning world of talking motion-pictures.

Music technology was also on the move in the 1930s. The new technologies were verily changing music scenes across the globe. Equally electrical amplification allowed songsters like Bing Crosby to produce robust and captivating vocal pieces that could be heard over the big bands. Thus swinging focus from dance bands to the popular musicians of the diurnal. Furthermore the aggressive marketing modus operandi promoted the exponential progression of the entertainment industry and consequently commercialized popular music.

During this gloomy period music held a special effect. Broadway and Jazz was surely speaking volumes. In a phase where an immense number of people were being displaced in the search of better living conditions whereas the polio epidemic was affecting lots .Many of the populace soon found solace in recorded music since it gave them a sense of personhood. Hence Historian William Kenney concluded “…whether consciously or not almost all citizens found in recorded music a vehicle for carrying musical memories through time and into the present.”

Sadly racism was also prevalent and black musicians were not allowed to do studio or radio work. Nonetheless Jazz music which was known as the black race genre proved to be quite resilient. While businesses were failing, dance halls were packed with people dancing the jitterbug swing music. The 1933 repeal of the alcohol prohibition, and legitimization of the speakeasies aided in the spreading of swing music and with the help of Benny Goodman black musicians finally found a place in radio.

However after Hitler’s Germany brutally invaded Poland in 1939, the United States was drawn into war, and it all extended in to the evolution of jazz.

Every decade has its unique music styles and the 1940s were no different. World War II was here, turmoil and anarchy was prevalent across the globe. Historians have termed this to have been the deadliest war in human history. All the negative energy had taken its toll on the people but in the midst of it all music proved to be a perfect escape. However the music industry had its fair share of trials and tribulations but performers of the time strived to put up a positive front and used music as a source of inspiration, not excluding the military to whom they were a source of morale.

Like everything else music in the 1940s was fixated around the war and many artists strived to mirror the pain while remaining optimistic and confident about the looming future. Breakthrough artists were also not left behind for this was the decade that Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, The Dizzy brothers and Perry Como rose to fame. This events caused a large interest and faith in American music serving as an encouragement in the audio production scene and this will forever be remembered as the single period in American History that music was recorded so vastly.

January 1st 1941 was the beginning of all the storms in the music industry. On that fateful day musicians signed under ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) were hit by the radio boycott which was as a result of the 448% increment in licence fees. With musician receiving little to none airplay for quite some time politics took over the radios. A few months later in retaliation BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) was established, and with it cheaper licence fees were made available.

August 1st 1942 was another the beginning of another revolutionary era in the music industry and James Caesar Petrillo was at the heart of it. On that day, James, who at the time was the President of the Chicago Local 10 rained havoc on union musicians when he barred them from recording music. This was a bid focused on forcing major record labels to pay union fees for radio broadcast and jukebox play of records, since many people were opting to stay indoors and therefore slowly killing live music which was the main source of income for many artists.

As time passed so did the popularity of Jazz, blues, swing, and big bands diminish. The ban which had lasted for two years was finally starting to get a solution but it had already left its mark. Seeing the magnitude of the ban, Decca records capitulated and paved way for dialogue and 14 months later RCA and Columbia followed suit. Consequently thanks to the ban the swing era had come to an end and given way to pop and country music.

By the end of the decade, several important technological changes were set in motion. At that time the Japanese invaded South East Asia and brought the entire music industry to a standstill. With record companies depending on shellac this invasion threw them off guard. A solution had to be found but it was not till 1948 that the vinyl which was derived from Plastic Resin Derivative of Petroleum was commercialized. At the end of it all it’s evident that the 40s demonstrated the ability of the industry to emerge strong even in the midst of storms.

The 1950s was a revolutionary time and the music of this decade reflected the cultural deviations while trying to hold on to the societal norms of the past. The music industry was also not left behind, new genres were innovated and the recording industry experienced a boom with many recording labels being established at the time. It is widely believed that this was the musical golden age and the United States was at the heart of it, embarking on a musical journey that changed the face of music for decades to come.

Racism dates back to the pre-war times and has been hailing us for a very long time. In the 1950s the social vice was so prevalent to a point that it creeped up on the music industry. It was in this decade that white musicians were constantly being accused of stealing music from black musicians thus further fuelling the tension between both races. Record Labels also played a major role in this rift with their denial of copyright to the black musicians. However Sam Phillips, the founder of Memphis Recording Services brought about the change that was long overdue when he incorporated the motto “We record anything, anywhere, anytime.

Elvis Presley, the star of the 50s, was a truck driver prior to his discovery in the mid-50s. It all began when he went to Sam Phillips recording studio to record a song for his mother’s birthday. Deep inside he was also hoping to get a recording deal and his first two songs “My happiness” and “That’s when your heart begins” did the magic. Suddenly he was transformed into an overnight sensation and was soon dabbed as the “King of Rock”. Nonetheless he was not clear of controversies since his gyrations were constantly censored and was considered a male sex symbol.

The first wave of youth culture began in this decade, where for the first time youngsters started to disregard whatever their elders did, dressed, or listened to. Rock and roll for the better part was blamed for the rebellion amongst the youth whom coincidentally happened to be the dominant audience. Much of the United States was generally characterized by conservatism and conformity to social norms thus causing the older generation to detest the genre which the accused of robbing the youth of their children.

The 1960s was one of the most dramatic and controversial decades in American history. Sentiments about its achievements and failures continue to be divided between those who hail it as the last time the nation made a concerted effort to realize its best ideals and those who condemn the decade as the source of much that which is wrong with contemporary America. Yet amid the passionate disagreements about the significance and legacies of the 1960s, a few dispute that music played an important role in shaping how the decade will be remembered.

This was a decade in which excitement ran rife in the music scene and not even the upheaval in society, fashion, and attitudes could dampen the mood. The British Invasion, spearheaded by The Beatles was here, rock was making its mark with several subgenres added to it, and most of all acapella music was just beginning to gain momentum. John Lennon was once quoted saying “The thing the 1960s did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn’t the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility.”

1960-1962 pretty much lacked momentum, rock music and doo wop still remained popular and artists like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and The Everly brothers enjoyed massive airplay. This truly played out as a continuation of the rock and doo wop era in addition to the dance music which was slowly gaining popularity. The teenagers of this era who were popularly known as the baby boomers had a knack for dancing and the entertainment industry was just prepared to satisfy their needs. As the British invasion fast approached television shows like the American Bystanders helped to promote this dance craze with dance styles like the twist, the swim, and the locomotion.

In 1963 and the years to come a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. The British invasion and the birth of rock subgenres were the highlights of this decade. Nonetheless darkness was widely experienced with the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22nd 1963, the escalation of the Vietnamese war between 1963 and 1969, and the massive protests between1960-1964 all greatly impacted on American culture and music began to reflect that change.

The British Invasion, the name given to the period of time in the early to mid-1960s, during which many British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in the United States and Worldwide. It all started with a bootlegged version of “I want to hold your hand” being played on a Washington Dc radio station and from then on there was no stopping the brits. Soon after the only band that comes into mind when speaking of the historic invasion broke into the American scene with their groundbreaking appearance on the ED Sullivan Show in 1964.

The Beatles dominated worldwide charts from that point in time until they broke up in 1970. The phenomenon that surrounded this group was known as Beatle mania and many up and coming acts emulated their Liverpool sound. None of the other British Bands could come close to what the Beatles achieved in those short 6 years they were a united front. This was the group with the highest number of albums in first position, the band that got at the top and remained there for the longest time, the one with the most singles at top 10, and countless other milestones. Last but not least the Beatles and their rabid fandom revolutionized how we interact with musicians and music forever.

There’s no question that rock n roll was created in the 50s but the 60s is when this genre came alive. Termed as a genre that carried itself with an air of sophistication and international flavor it managed to reach out to many. Moreover rock massively dominated the music scene and as it grew and changed many diverse subgenres emerged which were all tied to the original rock but with their own style and purpose. These subgenres also had varying levels of popularity throughout the decade and many are still popular today.

Surf rock, the most popular rock subgenre of the 60s began in Southern California as a type of dance music. It was mostly instrumental and was very popular in the early to mid-60s prior to the famous invasion by the Brits. The subject matter of this genre was quite literally surfing, however this expanded as it grew in popularity and became about girls, cars, and general teenage antics. The most influential and popular group to come out of this new wave was The Beach Boys whose vocal harmonies and well-crafted compositions were the ultimate definition of this populace rock subgenre.

The dawn of the 1970s heralded a radical change in the music scene. Popularly known as the “me decade” the 70s were a time of discovery and innovation. From new genres, upcoming artists and music technology the music industry was immersed with vibrancy. In the eyes of the masses the 1970s was truly a good era in the world of music.

There was more variety in music in the 1970s than ever before and music listeners had dozens of genres to choose from. Funk, Soul, R&B, Pop, Glam rock, and Disco all carved out their place in the music world. However the highlight of this decade was the birth of Hip-hop, a genre that was received with racial discrimination but beat the odds to become a power horse in the latter days.

Funk music, a style that was known for its danceable beats, strange costumes, outrageous personalities, and often socially conscious lyrics saw its popularity encompass the 70s with artists like James Brown, George Clinton, and Chaka Khan. In the world of funk, James Brown, the man who was celebrated as being the most hardworking man in the show business was also credited for being this genres founder due to his album “Cold sweat” which featured some of the first mainstream funk songs. Overally funk was a genre that knew no boundaries and its psychedelic sound was very instrumental in making it big.

By the early 1970s, soul music had been influenced by psychedelic rock and other genres. The social and political ferment of the times inspired artists like Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to release album length statements with hard hitting social commentaries. At one point, the five top selling records in the United States and eleven of the top 20 albums were by African American artists. Leading the way was Isaac Hayes with his smash hit from 1971, shaft.

Self-glorifying and decadent, glam rock positioned itself as a backlash against the rock mainstream of the 1960s. This style, also known as glitter rock was a musical movement that began in Britain in the early 1970s and celebrated the spectacle of the rock star and concert. Often dabbled with glitter, male musicians took the stage in women’s makeup and clothing, adopted theatrical personas and mounted glamorous musical production frequently characterized by space age futurism.

If ever a musical style defined a decade then disco was the prime definition of the 1970s. Although its popularity was relatively short lived, the genre hosted a great deal of songs and artists that people are still dancing to today and had a huge influence on the fashions decade. Van McCoy’s “The Hustle” has often been referred to as the definitive disco track and many people say it was the first disco song created. Gloria Gaynor also enjoyed disco popularity with her anthem “I will survive”. The Bees Gees also helped to define the disco genre with their hit “Jive Talkin” and their blockbuster “Stayin Alive” is often synonymous with the music era. The Village People’s YMCA and Macho Man also helped to add opportunity for this style.

Unfortunately it did not take long for the public to see disco’s silliness and commercialization eventually forcing the people to rebel against it. Its lack of attention to musical significance helped add to its downfall after only a short time. When disco fell from grace to grass it fell fast, and many radio stations held public events that were dedicated to ridding the world of disco music with symbolic albums burnings. Youths rebelled against the genre as well and it was not uncommon to see a few music fans sporting “Disco Sucks” T-shirts.

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Immigration can be a tricky situation to handle. As time has passed along, America’s opinion on immigration has changed drastically. From the time of the 1800s to the creation of Ellis and Angel Island, the laws/regulations regarding immigrants have been fluctuating ever since. On the other hand, between 1880 and 1920, everything changed. With World War 1 coming right around the corner, America’s tendency to accepting refugees started to become much more different than expected. .

From 1880 to the 1920s, there was a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization. According to History.com, more than 20 million immigrants from various European nations migrated to the U.S. Beginning in the 1890s, more than 600,000 Italian immigrants migrated to America. By the 1920s, more than 4 million entered into the U.S. This trend of immigrants migrating to America, caused a drastic influx in our population and it reached to almost 1.3 million people. At the start of the 1914s, a major outbreak occurred, that cause millions of innocent lives to be put into severe danger: World War 1. Immigrants were rejected from entering the U.S., which lead to a rapid decrease in immigration. During the 1917s, Congress issued that for every immigrant trying to enter the U.S., they had to take a literacy test.

Between this time period, the majority of the immigration took place between Ellis and Angel Island. Although the two islands served for a similar purpose; of holding immigrants, they both had different ways of handling them. Let’s begin with Angel Island. This island was and still is located in San Francisco, California. At the beginning of the 1800s, Angel Island began accepting thousands and thousands of Asian immigrants. Although this may seem like a good movie, there was another problem: immigration screening. Thousands of these Asian immigrants entering into the U.S. through Angel Island, went through this long and gruesome screening, letting only a few hundred being accepted into America. With long interrogation sessions with each individual immigrant, it felt almost impossible to move on. The Asians immigrant began their journey by being held in detention centers. These detention centers served their purpose as a type of “jail” for weeks, months, and years! And by the time they went through the screening process, there was no guarantee that they would ever be allowed to enter America.

On the other hand, another place immigrants travelled to during this time period was Ellis Island, located in New York. Unlike, Angel Island, Ellis Island was a bit more of a happier place. First off, they hosted more European immigrants rather than Asian immigrants. Most importantly though, they had a minimized screening procedure. This meant that the wait time to entering the U.S. was somewhere between 20 to 24 hours. Overall, a much higher percentage of immigrants were granted permission into entering America.

In the end, immigration between the 1880s and the 1920s, was in a unique phase. With the acceptance of refugees, to the devastating impact World War 1 had to the world, immigration will always fluctuate in the mind’s of the American citizens. I feel that it represents and relates to the present day situations with immigration and how we handle it together, as a unified nation.

After the whole scenario of World War 1, a new situation was about to uprise in the U.S. Through the actions Germany as many believe, the creation of WWII began. With the Jews trying to seek refugee due to the persecution of them in Nazi Germany to the victims of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombing, America’s tendency to accepting refugees was drastically shifting. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, immigration remained relatively low following because of the numerical limitations imposed by the 1920s national origins system.

Due to the terror and destruction caused by the Nazis in Germany, the world finally began to feel the impact of refugees. This dilemma uprooted new problems for the INS(Immigration and Naturalization Service).

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The Horse Fair painting by Rosa Bonheur, dated back to 1855, were the artist predominantly focused her subject matter on animals. This period was known as realism and her work focused on the environment, ordinary life of farmer’s and how their work with animals evolved. The term realism originated from France, approximately in 1840 and artists were known to capture everyday life in varying classes of society. (Mindedge, 2019) From this period the painter captured how life was structured within society, economically, constitutionally, which sometimes produced intense impressions of everyday grueling lifestyles.

This period moved away from the ideal and moved towards the more ordinary subject, to include depiction of real people and everyday struggles.(Myers, 2008) As the French were defeated in the war against Germany in 1871, this was accountable for the slowing of industrialization at this time. Furthermore, World War 1, saw the movement of many women having to take on the roles of work, typically done by man and thus women became the main workforce at this point. (Myers,2008)

Industrialization brought about changes to social classes and their grueling working conditions, which in turn making the owners wealthy. This led to unrest with the workers, who recognized that without them, the machines would stop, and production could be affected, ultimately causing financial loss for the owners. This triggered an uprising of employees who were defeated by the driving force and ongoing Industrial Revolution.

A2) Realist artistry during this period focused their efforts on unpleasant topics such as poverty and violence. They described via artistic impression, people’s ordinary life and criticized discriminations that occurred during the Industrial Revolution era. This stressed the variances between the less well-off and social classes and the impact it had on lives. (“Rosa Bonheur”, 18th April 2020)

Women in this period were restricted from pursing education in the artistic realm, causing many at this time to turn their efforts with painting landscape, still life and less important matters. Also, they were not encouraged to stray from their expected role as wives and mothers. (“Rosa Bonheur”, 18th April 2020)

Rosa Bonheur did not follow social norms, remained unmarried, was trained by her father who believed in gender equality and supported his daughter’s vocation. Her interest with her subject caused her to frequent “masculine” arenas such as abattoirs and horse fairs to gain a wider knowledge of the animals’ emotions even at the ghastliest stages. Bonheur’s painting The Horse Fair, emphasized her love of animals. She would study them closely in varying motions and in detail. Her work captures the intensity of the wild horses. The energy of the horses and the controlling of the horse handlers, focused the viewer to understand that the “Horse is , like man, the most beautiful and most miserable of creatures, only, in the case of man, it is vice or property that makes him ugly” This summed up how the horse is compared to a slave, to man’s self-indulgent behavior. (“Rosa Bonheur”, 18th April 2020)

A3) Rosa Bonheur’s life began with predominately female company, until her interest with animals took her into the male domain. This caused her to cast aside the female role and attire and she began to dress the way of a man, which she continued for the rest of her days. Her success with art at this time encouraged other artists with increased equality in this vocation. Her rebelliousness and forthrightness and being a successful feminist, forced many to reconsider the role of women artists and opened doors for many. (“Rosa Bonheur”, 18th April 2020)

In her private life, she was openly lesbian, and this would have been deemed improper at this time. But due to her honesty, many frontiers were broken. She was her own boss and focused very much on her career. She opened the doors for many female artists alike and encouraged them to follow their dreams, even if the path did not follow the customary norms. She was undoubtedly the pinnacle of feminism of her day.

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“In Another Country,” our behaviours determine who we are as an individual. Our expressions and emotions allow people around us to perceive our character. “I was never really one of them.” The American soldier is an outsider in the country in terms of nationality and war experience. Despite their war experience, Nick is isolated in some aspect from the other soldiers and the surrounding world.

“In Another Country,” is a short story of soldiers in World War 1 who visit a hospital for rehabilitation. Walking down the streets, the soldiers were showing their medals and learnt that the narrator was an American. This made the other soldiers feel he did not experience the same struggle as them to get the badge. The soldiers no longer viewed him as an equal but as a friend against the outsider. The Major, who is a friend to the soldier, regularly came to the hospital due to his hand. Despite the visit, he did not believe in the machines. The major lost his wife after a short illness, and this left him devastated, he felt he had lost everything. After that, the Major always stared out of the window instead of focusing on his treatment. Courage, loss, trauma and discrimination are some of the themes in short. This paper will discuss the issue of discrimination citing specific quotations from the story for illustration.

The narrator, who is an American faces discrimination from the fellow soldiers and the surrounding world in terms of nationality and wartime experience. When in hospital for his rehabilitation service, he meets with other soldiers with similar experience. However, the other soldiers feel he is a foreigner but a friend to the outside enemy (Evans and Wang). This can be illustrated from his name; he is mentioned as an 'American.' Furthermore, the other soldiers believe that he got his medal for being an American, “that I had been the medals because I was an American,” he did not do as much as hem during wartime. This made them discriminate him. 'The three with the medals were like hunting-harks, and I was not a hawk”…. “They knew better, and so we drifted apart.' (Ernest, 2)

The officer prefers to spend time with the boy with no nose. He feels closer to the boy because he was wounded in the war before he could prove his bravery. He got injured on the first encounter on the front line, unlike the other officers. The other officers believe they had done more during the wartime than the American soldier and the boy. But he stayed good friends with the boy because he felt that the boy could never be accepted either.

Despite the other officers isolating the American soldiers, all the soldiers are discriminated against by the surrounding world. The society had animosity towards the offices, which made them feel detached from the community. “The people hated us because we were officers, and from a wine shop someone would call out, “A basso gli ufficiali” as we passed (Ernest, 2). They were detached from the civilian society through their encounter with the war. Thus they seek companionship from those who have a similar experience. Despite their efforts to return to normalcy, those who do not understand their experience still discriminate against them.

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1.) Woodrow Wilson justifies his support for American involvement in world war 1 by stating that the U.S. are not joining the war to gain any selfish beneficial like the German government was, but for peace, safety, and democracy in the world. Wilson also justifies American involvement in the war by stating that the goal of the U.S. in this war is not for revenge, or for the U.S. to set a statement physically to other nations, but to protect the world’s freedom against Germany’s autocratic government. Another way Wilson justified American involvement in world war 1 was by stating that the U.S. are not only fighting for Americans, but for the neutral and friendly nations, even the citizens of Germany. Wilson had problems with the German government, not necessarily their citizens. He didn’t have a problem with the German citizens because Wilson knew that Germany’s government did what they did, without telling their own citizens.

2.) Eugene V. Debs justifies his opposition of World War 1 by stating that wars only benefit people of power, they don’t benefit the people who actually risk and lose their lives in these wars at all. Debs states that these people and groups with power declare war with one another to benefit themselves only. These people with power declare war, not the people, but the people are the ones who risk their lives while the people with power do absolutely nothing. These regular people are brainwashed to believe it is their job to fight in the war and make the people with power content to be considered as patriotic. Debs also justifies his opposition of world war 1 by claiming that the people have no voice at all and that they never have when it comes to declaring and ending wars. Debs goal with this is to discourage the people from wanting to go to war because they don’t benefit and gain anything from it, only the people with power do.

3.) The main elements of the image that reflect the ideas from documents 1 and 2 are the gorilla, what the gorilla is holding, the title of the poster, and what the gorilla is standing on. These elements all symbol how the U.S. feel about Germany. The gorilla in the poster looks angry, it is holding a woman in one hand, and a stick on the other hand, it is also wearing a cap with militarism written on it. This symbols Germany’s military during this time because they were attacking, without warning, the merchant ships of any nation they saw near the Mediterranean. The gorilla in the poster is also standing on a surface with America written. I believe this symbols that Germany plans on doing something physical on the U.S. The title of the poster is also “Destroy the brute”, I believe this is to give Americans the idea that they must destroy Germany. I think imagery like this affected American perceptions about Germans and World War I by making them believe that Germany is a threat to them, and that the U.S. must handle them before Germany does something to the U.S.

4.) The main reasons why the U.S. intervened in World War 1 was because Germany sank several American merchant ships and because of the Zimmerman Telegram. The reason why Germany destroyed American merchant ships was because in 1915 Germany had launched submarine warfare against ships entering and leaving British Ports (Foner 743). Germany then suspended this in 1916. A year later Germany once again resumed this submarine warfare, and American ships continued to enter and leave British ports and for this reason Germany sank and destroyed these American ships. America how ever did not join the war yet; it was till British spies leaked a note between Arthur Zimmerman, a German foreign secretary, and Mexico (Foner 743). Zimmerman in this note was basically bribing Mexico to become allies with Germany in the coming War with America, in return Germany would help Mexico re-gain the territory they had lost to America. After this note was leaked, Woodrow Wilson then declared War against Germany, and the U.S. were officially involved in World War 1.

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The idea that history tends to repeat itself is a common belief held by many people in order to describe the nature of the past. Despite how humanity has evolved throughout the years, it seems people always turn back to the essence of the past. A notable example of this belief is the way people described World War 1 when it was waging, as the “war to end all wars.” Of course, the first world war would certainly not be the last war, and humanity continues to fight wars today in the present. In order to properly learn from the past, it is important for one to examine why an event happened in order to prevent it from popping up in the future again; one must analyze its causal chain. The Norton Sampler defines a causal chain as when, “... the effect of one event may become the cause of a subsequent event” (“Chapter Eleven: Cause and Effect.”). A main cause has the greatest power to produce the effect and is both necessary and sufficient, whereas a remote cause is less apparent and more removed in time. (“Chapter Eleven: Cause and Effect.”). Prior to World War 1, the Bosnian crisis of 1908 as a main and remote cause for the effect of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand exemplifies that history is a causal chain.

The Bosnian Crisis of 1908 caused lasting tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary that would eventually lead to the formation of Serbian nationalist groups, such as the Black Hand, that would conspire against the authority of Austria. The crisis was caused by the annexation of the Balkan provinces Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary. The annexation infuriated Serbia, as it had a geographical and ethnic relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina that Austria-Hungary did not have, and therefore the country believed they should have right to the two provinces. In response, Austria, with its secure ally Germany, “threatened to invade Serbia if that country persisted in its demands” (Britannica). Russia, an ally of Serbia and also a country opposed to Austria, had no choice but to accept Austria-Hungary’s annexation to avoid war. Yet Serbia and Russia would not soon forget this crisis. Serbia’s bitterness towards Austria will only grow as the years pass, and a form of nationalism that promotes separation from Austria will grow in popularity.

The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was an effect of the Bosnian crisis of 1908. When politics conflict each other, especially within two geographically related countries, problems tend to arise. Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, enforced trialism, or a triple monarchy, while Serbian ruler Nikola Pasic controlled a parliamentary democracy and a nationalist people. Trialism was a threat to Serbian nationalists who wanted Serbia to be an independent nation, as it would, “... allow Austria to annex Slavic Serbia and the crown of Serbia would be joined to the Dual Monarchy” (“The United States in the First World War.”). Back in 1901, Serbian nationalists had formed a secret organization known as the Black Hand. Under pressure to preserve Serbia’s independence, the Black Hand saw an opportunity to eliminate trialism by pulling it out by its roots. Their solution to the threat of Franz Ferdinand’s politics was simple: assassinate the heir to the throne himself while he was in Serbia to check up on troops. The lasting tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary after the Bosnian Crisis of 1908 influenced the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Had the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina not taken place, there would be no bitterness to resolve, and perhaps the two countries could have dwelled independently and peacefully.

The main and remote cause of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the Bosnian crisis of 1908. In turn, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand will be a main cause of the commencement of World War 1. History is just one infinite causal chain, winding on, one cause and effect after another. Yet the causal chain of history cannot be altered. Only the present can be changed, edited and tinkered with in hopes a tragic event from the past will not repeat itself. Through learning about the causes and effects of the past, perhaps the causes and effects that will stem from the present can be saved from the loophole that is history.

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