Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
In other words, the United States today is as sharp as an eagle, and it is proud of the rest of the world in terms of military equipment, scientific and technological research, industrial production technology, medical and health facilities, and the level of health care.
However, what is less known is that the interior of the United States a hundred years ago was not as calm and harmonious as it was shown to people......
Civil aviation in 1918-1940
Between 1918 and 1940, the modern civil aviation industry developed from scratch.
This period has seen the gradual growth of private aviation and government support in the United States, as well as the implementation of comprehensive regulation and harmonization of the industry.
In 1925, the Kelly Act was introduced in the United States. The promulgation of this law became an important event in the history of civil aviation.
Prior to this, privately operated air mail services were severely restricted, but the Kelly Act opened the door to this area, promoting the expansion and development of private airlines in air mail.
Another noteworthy policy change occurred in 1927.
At that time, in order to support the development of civil aviation, the United States introduced the Aviation Business Act, which provided long-term financial assistance to the air transport industry.
These measures have stimulated more capital investment in this emerging sector, which has allowed the civil aviation market to expand rapidly.
However, as the market booms, some problems come with it.
For example, the air transport market presents a chaotic situation due to the lack of industry standards and regulatory bodies.
Thus, in 1938, the U.S. federal government established the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA), which was responsible for regulating air transportation.
The emergence of this administrative agency marks that the civil aviation industry has entered a new stage of standardization and order.
Industry up to 1920
The United States, as one of the most powerful economies in the world today, has not achieved prosperity overnight, but has gradually formed through the baptism of time and the precipitation of history.
Since 1869, when the first railroad was laid on the land of the United States specifically designed for wheel-rail transportation, railroad technology has matured and supported economic development.
By 1885, four major routes across the American continent had been opened, further opening up communication channels between regions, improving the efficiency of material transportation, and promoting social progress.
This innovation in transportation mode has undoubtedly opened a new chapter in the process of industrialization.
Second, the prosperity of the energy industry is also an important sign of the progress of American modernization.
In 1870, the Standard Oil Company of Ohio was founded, and in the decades that followed, the company rose rapidly to become a global oil giant and led to the rapid development of the American oil refining industry.
In addition, with the widespread use of coal ovens and steam boilers, the energy structure of the United States has gradually changed, and coal has become the main fuel to replace wood.
Manufacturing is another trump card in the process of industrialization in the United States.
In 1873, the Bethlehem Iron and Steel Company officially started operations and gradually broke through the bottleneck of the production process of flexible cast iron, resulting in a surge in steel production and enhanced industrial manufacturing capacity.
Edison's electric light factory was also mass-produced in 1880, an important invention that changed the way people were lit and contributed to the rise of the electrical revolution.
As for the information media industry, with the invention of the telephone in 1876 by Alexander Bell as a mechanical communication device, and the first use of a movie projector to show films to the public in 1896, these greatly enriched the lives of the public and cultivated the demand for cultural and entertainment products.
Telephone calls and movies are like opening a door to a new world, making people's communication more convenient and smooth, and also inspiring people's infinite imagination and pursuit of the future.
In 1912, more than a million vehicles were registered.
This data shows that the upgrading of means of transportation has promoted the rapid growth of the national economy, and also indicates that a new era has arrived.
Since then, the U.S. economy has entered a golden age and has become the "master" of the global economy.
Tennessee Valley Authority in 1933
In the long history of the United States, 1933 is undoubtedly one of the most epoch-making nodes.
At the height of the crisis of the 19th century, the U.S. economy was in a deep recession.
In the face of widespread unemployment and poverty, the Great Depression swept through society like a huge storm.
At the same time, we still have many abundant and valuable natural resources, but they have not yet been developed and utilized as they should be.
Against this backdrop, in 1933, Roosevelt, with his foresight and strategic vision, dedicated himself to saving the day from this stormy catastrophe by creating a historic institution known today as the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The United States in 1914-1945
In the past, the United States served as a haven for Europe's oppressed and ownerless, fleeing in search of new opportunities and hopes.
However, in 1921 and 1924, the U.S. government changed dramatically by passing two Quota Laws that imposed draconian restrictions on immigration.
It's no secret that immigrants have always been an important part of American society.
Although the implementation of these laws has undoubtedly deprived some European migrants of motivation to move on, we should still see a positive impact.
First, these two bills have weakened the status of the United States as a distribution center for refugees from all over the world; second, they have brought about a more stable and harmonious social environment for the United States; and finally, these laws have also promoted mutual understanding and integration among all ethnic groups in the country, creating a beautiful scene of multicultural coexistence.
The war between the United States and Europe in 1939-1941
As we all know, in early September 1939, Germany brazenly invaded Poland, which caused strong dissatisfaction between Britain and France, and immediately issued a statement declaring war on Germany.
What is quite intriguing is that in the face of a huge global conflict, Roosevelt, then President of the United States, said:
"The country will remain neutral, but I can't ask every American to be ideologically neutral as well. ”
Only two months later, in November 1939, the United States repealed the Neutrality Act, a move that undoubtedly opened a green channel for Britain and France to purchase American military equipment.
In the face of such a complex situation, we can't help but ask, what is the role of the United States in this world war?
The intention was to give support to the allies, Great Britain and France, to have sufficient strength to resist German aggression.
On the surface, this seems to have established a good image for the United States of maintaining peace and stability, but in fact it has brought great variables to the direction of future wars.
On this basis, we might as well imagine whether the pressure on other countries in the war could have been weakened if the "Neutrality Law" had not been repealed.
Lend-lease in 1941-1945
In the long and poetic history of war, war has often been one of the inevitable challenges of humanity.
Especially during the Second World War, the major powers plunged into this unprecedented catastrophe.
At this moment, a "magnificent bridge" appeared, and it was the famous Lend-Lease Act.
On March 8, 1941, after a controversial debate, the U.S. Senate approved the law by a strong margin of 60 votes in favor and 31 votes against.
Three days later, the House of Representatives broke the deadlock with 317 votes in favor and 71 votes against.
There is no doubt that Lend-Lease was an economic support strategy adopted by the United States during World War II, primarily to assist the Allies in their fight against Nazi Germany's aggression.
As a measure of aid, the Lend-Lease Act, which Churchill described as "the noblest act in the history of any nation," was introduced by the U.S. government in 1941 and gave the president the right to provide military equipment and supplies on a lease basis to any eligible recipient.
From the moment the United States voluntarily assumed leadership responsibilities, countries such as the French Republic, the Free France, the Soviet Union, and China had the honor of being direct beneficiaries of this policy.
According to official statistics, from 1941 until the end of the war, the total value of Lend-Lease assistance provided by the United States reached a staggering $50 billion.
However, this is not a one-sided handout, but rather a foundation of mutual trust and respect.
Between 1941 and 1945, Britain and its royal colonies received a total of $31.385 billion in funding from the United States.
The pivotal week of February 19-25, 1944
The battle took place between 19 and 25 February 1944 at a critical juncture when German warplanes intervened in the Allied plans to attack the European continent.
As a result, the United States decided to launch a large-scale bombing campaign against Germany's advanced aircraft factories, aircraft assembly workshops, and other key military facilities.
In those seven days, Germany's military power in the air was completely dismantled, and the United States paid a heavy price for it, with more than 251 planes and 2,600 brave pilots killed.
This harrowing figure reflects the brutal reality and untold destruction that war has brought to humanity.
Despite this, the Allied giant bombers did their best to throw 8,000 tons of artillery fire, which undoubtedly dealt a crucial blow to Germany.
This week's pivotal battle is a landmark event for the entire history of mankind.
It demonstrated to the world the resilience and determination of the Allies in the face of enemy forces on the battlefields of Europe, and in doing so, demonstrated their dedication to victory.
The victory in this battle not only marks a major breakthrough for the allies in the European theater, but also injects new confidence and courage into the anti-fascist war of the people of the world.
The Battle of Oil in June-September 1944
Beginning on June 20, 1944, the U.S. Air Force launched a sharp and efficient saturation attack on Germany's key oil industries in order to completely crush the fuel supply of the German war machine.
This fierce battle, which lasted about three months, was later called the "Battle of Oil" and became an indelible legend in the long history of World War II.
After the Normandy landings, the Allies made a major breakthrough in the European theater, but the complete destruction of Germany's oil production capacity would play a crucial and decisive role in the final victory or defeat of the war.
Against this background, the US Air Force launched this special "oil campaign" to achieve the goal of clamping down on the production of its overall strategic resources through a three-dimensional attack on the German oil industry.
Throughout the operation, American bombers actively dropped bombs, frantically attacking German oil-producing areas and oil storage facilities. According to statistics, from June 20 to September 13, 1944, the U.S. Air Force successfully destroyed more than 77% of Germany's total oil production and storage capacity.
Such remarkable results undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the economic lifeblood of Nazi Germany, stifled the operation of the German military machine, and further accelerated the pace of its collapse.
The bombing campaign was not accidental, but the result of careful planning and rigorous arrangement.
The U.S. Air Force made full use of intelligence gathering and research results to fully grasp the specific location of Germany's oil-gathering areas, and relied on superb tactical literacy and ultra-high-precision aircraft technology to ensure that every bombing sortie could accurately hit the target.
In this "oil battle", which can be called one of the greatest battles in the history of World War II, the United States demonstrated great scientific and technological strength and military wisdom.
epilogue
In the midst of the raging torrent of the global political and economic arena, the United States has attracted the world's attention with its unique position and influence, and this has inevitably revealed the various problems and challenges facing the world today.
With the passage of time and the changes of the times, let us observe the development process of the United States through exquisite maps.
Looking at the signs on the map, the imprint of time cannot be hidden.
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