Rough Draft of the Mini-Investigation Paper(Not has been finished)

A Plan of the investigation

My topic of the investigation is relation between the Great Depression (G.D) and voters participated. Therefore, my question would be "what effect did the Great Depression have on voters participated?" I found out that voters participation before the G.D comes and after the G.D came. I wondered about it and thought that there was something to make them interact with each other. First, I tried to seek to get sources about number of eligible voters that participated in voting from 1920 to 1944 and their numerical difference and next, the percentage of eligible voters who lose their jobs during the G.D and lastly, Comparing the power with democratic party and non-democratic party during the G.D. I could find some information about these on the internet.

B Summary of evidence

First of all, I would like to say about the number of eligible voters that participated in voting Before the G.D and After the G.D; in 1920, the percentage of voter rate was 43.5% and the rate grew up constantly and in 1940, it reached 59.2%. However, in 1944, the voters participated decreased 6.3%, it went down to 52.9%. Next, the percentage of eligible voters who lose their jobs during the G.D; after the G.D, trade levels plummeted, as well as personal income. Construction starts came to a virtual standstill in some regions. Farmers had a difficult time as commodity prices took a nose dive. Some agricultural products were down as much as 60 percent. In the United States, the percentage of the population that was out of work rose to 25 percent (15 million people) of the workforce at its highest level. Record high unemployment during the Great Depression continued until after start of the Second World War in 1939. In the United States, unemployment rates didn't drop below 10 percent until after that country entered the War in December of 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Then lastly, comparing the power of democratic party with non-democratic party during the G.D; At first, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover who were in Republican party resoundingly elected in 1920, 1924, and 1928 respectively. However, United States presidential election, 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated the representative of Republican party, Herbert Hoover by almost 20% and also Roosevelt became the only President to be re-elected three times and served for twelve years (1933-45). However, although his well-fighting, Democrats lost 71 congressional seats during the November election in 1938 and the House of Representatives was split in a similar ratio. In 1940 election, Roosevelt defeated the republican, Wendell Willkie by just 10%.

C Evaluation of sources

In order to criticize and evaluate, I picked this source among the sources I used.

http://www.shmoop.com/great-depression/statistics.html
( Number of eligible voters that participated in voting and other sources, unemployement rate during the G.D, non-democratic party )

Well, This source was very useful in many ways. It contains lots of facts which occured during the Great Depression (Unemployment During the Great Depression, Political Participation During the Great Depression ).This is origin from the study that perspectives of many changes during the G.D. by number. Its purpose is that informing people of how the subjects which have a significant meaning changed by number, so people might know that the accurate changes, corresponded to each stream of time. The point that it recorded the importants parts of changes as numeral could be a value of this source and short comments of each part, related to the source are also let us know the unknown facts. However, the range of investigations were limited. The source investigated each important part in view of oveall, not specific, so it is hard to find out something what we want deeply. It just shows us approximate situation of the time period. Also, because of undefined origin, it can't be guaranteed its correctness and professionalism.

D Analysis

We can know from the sources that the percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in general elections, from 1920's which was before the Great Depression to 1940 which was almost right end of the Great Depression, the vote percentage goes up steadily. However, in 1944, it goes down by around 7%. That means that the U.S. citizen wanted to change the gloomy economy as casting vote the candidate who is likly to terminate the Great Depression with reasonable policy. So we can say that the rate reflects mind of people that wanted to get over the hardship. However, this growing of vote participation percentage could be not big issue, considering the range of increase Because the period that the rate goes up, the eligible voter population also increased together. Finally, WW2 which revitalized the U.S. economy ended the Great Depression. Therefore, the interests about vote of people turned off automatically, and it caused the sudden-drop of vote participation in 1944.

I figured out that in order to react the U.S. market during the Great Depression, the U.S. citizen needed a competent leader who can break the depression. So they voted inevitably, but kind of in faith.

Step 2 and 3

I wonder that I can change my question and the statements. I think my original question is kind of difficult to find some resources because it is focus on such a specific group. I want to know that I can change my question which is follwing this.

New Question - What effect did the Great Depression have on voters participation?

Step 2

- Percentage of eligible voters lose their jobs during the G.D?
- Number of eligible voters that participated in voting Before the G.D, during the G.D and After the G.D
- Comparing the power with democratic party and non-democratic party during the G.D

Step 3

- http://www.shmoop.com/great-depression/statistics.html
( Number of eligible voters that participated in voting and other sources, unemployement rate during the G.D, non-democratic party )

- http://jobs.lovetoknow.com/Unemployment_During_the_Great_Depression
( Unemployment During the G.D )

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29
( Democratic party )

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29
( Republican party )

Step 2 (wish list)

1. How the getting lower of income of colleges is relevant to the Great Depression?

2. How many students who dropped out of the college vote? If it is low, why?

3. Did the some students join Ku Klux Klan (KKK) or were some of students interested in it?

Historical Investigation Question(modified)

"Were the tens of thousands of students who dropped out of the college during the Great Depression a threat to voter participation?"

3 paragraphs "compare 3 sources" writing project

First Paragraph


In HA, it shows that there was Anti-immigraion force over a few years. It explains about the organization, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) which was against for immigration aggressively in 1920’s. The immigration proceeds, they declared, “The Klan is intolerant” and started to oppress people who are UN-American. Howard Zinn also agreed to revival of KKK. He shows the immigration quotas which was favor of Anglo-Saxons. This unfairly immigration quotas made KKK become stronger. So both of them agrees that KKK was existed and its power was getting stronger in 1920’s. In Schweikart, he agrees that KKK was there in racism and Anti-immigration in 1920’s, however, he thinks KKK was not much effective. According to his perspective, the KKK had plummeted in membership since the 1920’s. That means 1920’s was the ruin period of KKK.


Second Paragraph


In HA, liberal thought that KKK was a nemesis, so some of pacifists and social activists made an organization, is called American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to protect their rights of speech. In first year, they went fight for immigrants who were suffering from radical force. Zinn shows another liberal organization, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). However, he thinks it was helpless to support the immigrants because mob violence and race hatred were everywhere. In Schweikart, he says liberal was existed and it works in some parts, but even the liberal segregate the immigrants. They seemed that they are helping the immigrants, but they sent their children to All-White private schools.


Third Paragraph


In HA, he says that the U.S government was standing for Nativists. A number of members in KKK have political power, lawmakers were under the pressure of Nativists so that KKK could control some states; Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, and Indiana.Howard Zinn also says that U.S government set the limitation to the immigrants. That was quotas which was favor of Anglo-Saxons. They kept out black and yellow people and the quotas for other colors people also noticeably low, comparing with Anglo-Saxons. He mentioned Marcus Garvey who promoted Black pride. However, all blacks weere not in sympathy with him so it was not effective. On the other hand, Schweikart says another things which is different from the issues. He mentioned KKK once, however, after that he turns the topic to something about covert segregation by liberal force. So he just keeps silent on the issue.

Documentary (Captain Ven Spiegel's Account & The Zimmerman Telegram) - modified

Captain Ven Spiegel's Account about U-boat attack in 1916 has many similarities and differences with the Zimmerman Telegram.

The Main difference between these two documents is about cruelty. In the captain's account, the captain doesn't regret about killing the people, but the horses.

“The white steam drove the horses mad. I saw a beautiful long-tailed dapple-grey horse take a mighty leap over the berthing rails and land into a fully laden boat. At that point I could not bear the sight any longer, and I lowered the periscope and Dived deep.”- in Captain Ven Spiegel's Account...

And in the telegram, they advocated ruthless unrestricted submarine warfare so both are showing the violence and cruelty of Germany.

Despite of the differences, the documents, both agree that unrestricted submarine warfare will lead the Britain surrender and Germany's victory. That means that they were optimistic both of them, believing that plan will succeed, not an act of desperation. In Zimmerman Telegram, as begin unrestricted submarine warfare, though they knew that if once they start the unrestricted submarine warfare then U.S get involved, In the part of persuading Mexico with instance of their relation with Japan and the fortune of Mexico’s international position, we can feel that they are pretty positive with the situation which they are placed in. And in Von Spiegel’s diary, the soldiers are enjoying their victory and not seemed like that have fear.

Documentary (Captain Ven Spiegel's Account & The Zimmerman Telegram)

Captain Ven Spiegel's Account about U-boat attack in 1916 has many similarities and differences with the Zimmerman Telegram.

The Main difference between this two documents is about cruelty. In the captain's account, the captain doesn't regret about killing the people, but the horses. And in the telegram, they advocated ruthless unrestricted submarine warfare. so both are showing the violence and cruelty of Germany.

Another point of difference is the involvement of the U.S. In the telegram, They don't want the U.S to get involved the war, so they're trying to keep the U.S in Neutral. but, in the other hand, the captain and crews did not even mention or feel afraid of the U.S that go to war with the U.S

Despite of the differences, the documents, both agree that unrestricted submarine warfare will lead the Britain surrender and Germany's victory.

The other similarity is that they were optimistic both of them, believing that plan will succeed, not a act of desperation.

This documents are written at different time and purpose. However, they tell us about the Germany's feeling toward the end of the war.

documentary (Contrast & compare Submarine Warfare, The Zimmerman Telegram and the graph)

In the graph, the U.S was selling weapons and military equipments to the allied a lot. However, they sold those things to Central force so few, comparing with the allied. Day by day, the margin was getting bigger. On that period, The Zimmerman Telegram happened.

We can speculate that the damage of America by Germany submarine warfare might affected that to turn the America’s mind toward the allied. And the Zimmerman Telegram could justify their purpose of getting into War, standing for the Allied.

Read Chapter 23.1-3

1. How did the Great War change the U.S internally?

: The Great War planted the positive thought of the U.S to the allied. As they joined the allied, the war situation changed goodly to the allied. Therefore, they became having more influence in the World.


2. How did the Great War change the way was fought, in general?

: The World wars, in a manner of speaking, the periods are zenith of weapons. As the war was developed, new weapons were required so that it improved the weapons’ qualities. Before the machine gun was invented, they used single-shot rifle. After it came out, the machine gun showed its value in the battlefield. Large cannons and improved flamethrowers changed the aspect of the war too. Basically, they just used the machine gun for defense on the field, but they stated to mount it on aircraft and warships. The strategies of each nation are also changed flexibly as developing weapons.

The New weapons made too dangerous to walk around the place which is broad and cleared. That caused to invent a trench which is a new kind of defensive war. However, the tanks terminated the stalemate in the trenches. The odorless chemical weapons which Germany used it first was terrible. It affected to enemies and friendly forces both.

Many engineers tried to invent and improved the airships and battleship so that skies and seas are also became the main stage of battlefield. Airships’ roles turned scouter into fighter aircrafts and in the seas, submarine’s advantage had stood out again.

The importance and authenticity of the Zimmerman Telegram

Before the Zimmerman's telegram was exposed, the United States had tried to remain neutral in World War I.

However, the text that "if the United States entered the war, Germany would then help Mexico regain-lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona" had estbalished in the U.S.

The telegram acted as a catalyst and that made people feel Anti-German.

The other side, the United States inside, some aruged that the U.S is going to war for economic reasons and purpose of getting into history of Europe(choosing friends).

This could be inauthenticity of the Zimmerman Telegram. That means they might used the Zimmerman Telegram just as a private justification to go to war for their benefits.

HA!'s views as to whether or not the US should have entered the Great War.

In History Alive, We can notice that it describes the situation as a chain reaction.

At first, they tried to stay out of the Wars so that being Neutral.

However, the indiscriminate attacking of Germany, though their warning, they got anger.

So, the book says, because of these interactions, America got into the Wars inevitably.