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Michael Mitiska

Sidor – 7

1 April 2012

1920’s & 1980’s Comparison Essay

The 1920’s and 1980’s were influential decades in our country’s history and created many important groups and people that shaped our country for the years to come. These people created a company of joined an existing company that had a goal to reach something huge. They were out to acknowledge people’s rights, change things so they were right, fill the people’s desire for something, or create the sense that you were more important if you did things differently. The great man criteria are guidelines in determining how influential topics in history are in perspective to other topics. The criteria range from a great man to social determinism and it also includes grading on how long/wide spread the accomplishments, legacy, influence, and impact of daily life was. Some of the most important topics in the 1920’s that will be graded on this scale are the creation of CBS, the American Olympics Association, and the opening of Sears. Some of these 1920’s topics were prelude ideas to some of the many 1980’s topics including Ted Turner and CNN, the invention of the personal computer and the cult of celebrity. With the goal of changing the status quo, these groups went out to convince people to join them and how well they did and how long it lasted will be looked at further in the following paragraphs by the great man criteria.

All of the 1920’s topics studied had their own impact on Americans because we were just coming out of WWI and something needed to be done to try and get the economy back on track and give the people something else to do and think about. This is exactly what the people/associations gave the people. Mostly everything that came out of this decade had its share of accomplishments to go along with everything else it impacted. The Columbia Broadcasting System or CBS is now known for its TV station but when it first came out it was through the radio that the people could hear the news and at the height of CBS’s radio popularity they “ had 49 stations in 42 cities across the country” (CBS Timeline). This is a huge accomplishment considering that CBS has been the largest and most successful chain of radio stations in radio history. Another group that set their footing in the 1920’s was Sears. They began “offering credit for people who couldn't simply buy an item right off the bat” (Taylor’s 1920 wiki). This was a huge step for our economy because people were able to buy more expensive items and more items in general because they weren’t required to carry cash to every store they went to. The Final Organization that I will talk about that emerged from the 1920’s was the creation of the AOA or American Olympics Association. The “USOC [was] the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.” (Hyman). Without this group to over watch these games, many of the athletes we look back to today might not have had their time to shine. All the people or associations of the 1920’s had their own accomplishments that affected their own sector of American life.

These same topics also had, or most of them had, a long enduring legacy. The creator of CBS, William S. Paley, “add[ed] separate news sections, recruit[ed] talent that would have never been found other wise, and pioneer[ed] the national unity of culture, advertisement, and politics that are still here today” (Becca’s 1920 Wiki). The legacy of everything that was created by Paley still lives on today. Sears also had a long legacy and “continued its’ success up until it was outsold by Wal-Mart which became a multi-national business” (Taylor’s 1920 wiki). Although Sears was out sold by Wal-Mart, to be beaten by the best is never that bad and sears is still here today. The final topic is the AOA and they have gone through many changes including many name changes but are known today “to be called United States Olympic Committee” (Jacob’s 1920 Wiki), who still watch the Olympic Games. All of these 1920’s topics are still around today and stand strong so therefore they have a long lasting legacy.

The people and groups that came out of the 1920’s influenced many of the things to later come out including many in the 1980’s. CBS “changed radio and television, effecting people with news and entertainment” (Becca’s 1920 Wiki). The radio was affected immediately because that was the way of receiving news and the radio was a prelude to the TV. Sears didn’t benefit everyone the same as CBS did, but it did allow “for the lower and middle class to afford the basic necessities they needed to get on in their lives” (Taylor’s 1920 wiki). The final 1920’s topic that had an influence over America was the AOA although it only affected people interested in the Olympics or other competitive games. With the AOA “allow[ed] athletes to reach their full potential” (Jacob’s 1920 Wiki). The flowing things influenced the American society from the whole of the people down to a specific group.

Every group or person will have an impact on the daily lives or people now and in the future but some are impact more people for a longer period of time. During WWI people needed a way to receive news about what was happening overseas and that is exactly what CBS did for them: It “was especially important during the war because it would reveal[ed] news faster and easier to families than before” (Becca’s 1920 Wiki). It not only affected the people in that time period but also gave news to every major event in America and foreign countries from WWI on. Sears also impacted people nationwide because it “offered it at a much lower price and quickly outsold every other business” (Taylor’s 1920 wiki). Up until it was outsold by Wal-Mart, Sears was the biggest store chain in the nation. The last of the 1920’s topics was the creation of the AOA, which was impactful to the people because “The United States Olympic Committee was necessary for Americans to participate in the Olympic games” (Jacob’s 1920 Wiki). All the above groups helped Americans then, now, and will continue to do so in the future.

Many of the creations of the 1980’s were triggered by the ideas built in the 1920’s. Ted Turner and the creation of CNN, the invention of the personal computer and the cult of celebrity impacted the lives of many. With the rise of the TV came the rise of TV shows including Ted Turner and CNN. “CNN was a very balanced news networks as well, not swaying towards being liberal or conservative” (Mitch’s 1980 Wiki), which led to the overall enjoyment of the majority of people. As the personal computer era began to boom, people wanted to see more out of the producers so they started to com[e] out with products that people didn’t even know existed” (Drew’s 1980 wiki). The TV also gave rise to the cult of celebrity because people could watch their dream actor live on the TV. These fans began to have a “widespread interest in famous individuals” (Michael W.’s 1980 wiki). Many or none of the accomplishments could have come without the genius minds to start something new or the help of other people’s minds dating back to the 1920’s.

Considering the fact that these events occurred only just over 30 years ago, they are all still a factor today however many have improved on their roots made in the 80’s.the legacy of Ted Turner is immense for the reason that “ Ted revolutionized television in the 1980’s by starting CNN as well as many other television stations in later years like TBS and TNT” (Mitch’s 1980 Wiki). Ted has been idolized for his contributions to the TV network. Personal computers in the 1980’s set the standards that computer companies would have to go big or go home and today Microsoft and Apple have clearly shown that. Both companies are still used today and new inventions are coming out all the time to surpass the older models. While the cult of celebrity hasn’t changed that much in comparison to the other things that came out in the 1980’s, it still used today because “ most of our society wants to achieve that social status, they want to be famous” (Michael W.’s 1980 wiki). Although recent, these things are still continuing to change and impact our lives every day.

Many great men and associations had their time to shine during the 1980’s. After the invention of the TV “Ted ha[d] the will power and determination to start CNN, which ultimately revolutionized cable news around the world” (Mitch’s 1980 Wiki). He started the movement of having a 24 – hour channel to relay news to the American citizens. Along with these new shows came the personal computer that also “advanced many things like communications and socializing” (Drew’s 1980 wiki). Also along with the TV came the craze to follow a celebrity and because people were following these people many fan-based items were produced which created “a lot of ways [to] help… the economy” (Michael W.’s 1980 wiki). The influences from the 1980’s have shown to be very helpful in our history.

Lastly all that has gone on in the past years and the 80’s set the tone for life in the thousands and impacted the Daily life of everyone. “ CNN’s continuous news coverage allowed it to impact society more than any other news station” (Mitch’s 1980 Wiki). They gave the people what they wanted and desired from the stations. After Apple and Microsoft invented the computer it was always who could make it for the better price but never the less “ The impact that this topic had on the twenty-first century was now most every house hold had at least one computer” (Drew’s 1980 wiki). Finally the cult of celebrity gave the people then and now someone to look up to and realize that if they tried their best and worked hard all the time, they could have all of that. These people filled the desires that the people wanted and it has impacted them and will continue to impact everyone.

I believe that almost everything that came out of the 1920’s was significant in one way or another however three really stood out to me as being a major stepping stone through American history. The three 1920 topics; CBS, AOA and Sears, all had their role in shaping our country and what we believe in here. Out of these three 1920’s groups, I have ranked them 1st 2nd and 3rd based on how influential they have been and will continue to be to us as a nation. The most important and significant of the groups that were formed in this decade in American history was the creation of CBS. CBS allowed for the people to receive news about any important event and their legacy continues today considering that they are still running today relaying news nation wide. The second most important group that was formed in this time period was the creation of Sears. With the market falling into a slump after WWI, Sears allowed for the average costumer to purchase what they wanted at a fair price and if it were expensive they would have the option to use store credit instead of straight up cash to pay for it. Although they were outsold by Wal-Mart, they invented many new ways of selling to the people and still exist today as a great store. The American Olympics Association is the third but not a bad group coming out of this time period. They mad it possible for Americans to participate in competitive sports with foreign nations. This would be ranked third our of the greats in the 1920’s because it did create the opportunity for these people to play but it was a smaller groups of people and the groups its self has not stayed as strong through the years after creation like the other 2 have. Some of these groups have had their ups and downs but they should never be looked over as a useless group of people because their accomplishments have been immensely important to society.

The 1980’s were also a time of great change and it used many of the prior knowledge and ideas to improve on life in the United States. Many significant people and groups also came out of the 1980’s like what came out of the 1920’s and I will again rank the three best: Ted Turner and CNN, Personal computers, and the cult of celebrity. Ted Turner by far had the greatest overall impact on Americans because of his achievements in the entertainment world. The shows he created and the stations that he invented, with their 24 hour news coverage and a variety of subject, hasn’t been matched by anyone else. Personal computers would come in a close second because they have been used every since the first computer came out. The makers of the computers like Steve Jobs have made a huge improvement to our society and continue to do so with every new invention that comes out of their factories. The cult f celebrity would come in 3rd because it did give the people something or someone to look up to but didn’t do that much for the society as a whole. These three people or groups helped a wide variety of sectors in America. Some more important than others but they have all led our country down paths of major accomplishments and set the footing for a strong future as a nation.

Works Cited:

Auster, Albert. "COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM." //The Museum of Broadcast// //Communications (MBC)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2012. <[] eotvsection.php?entrycode=columbiabroa>.

Becca J. “Columbia Broadcasting System, William S. Paley 1920” //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies.// Web. 15 Feb. 2012.

Drew S. "Personal Computers; Apple 2 & Microsoft." //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies.// Web. 29. March. 2011.

Jacob B. "American Olympics Association, Gertrude Ederle." 2011. // Buchholtz Sidor American Studies //. Web. 31 March 2011.

Michael W. “Cult of Celebrity, Princess Diana, John Lennon” //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies.// Web. 12 Mar 2012.

Mitch N. "CNN; Ted Turner." //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies.// Web. 29. March. 2011.

Taylor N. "Sears Roebuck, Alvah C, Roebuck appliances & retail stores." //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies.// Web. 29. March. 2011.

RUBRIC

A quality comparison essay will

•Use the __four__ criteria of Great Man Continuum to analyze the significance of three 1920’s topics and three 1980s topics. general analysis of individual criteria

•Analyze of each of the 6 topics with evidence taken from the 1920s and 1980s wikis, Supporting evidence for each topic

•Develop thoughtful and thorough conclusions on all 6 topics, yes

•Rank the three topics for each decade and explain why one topic is more influential than the other two, yes, with little supporting evidence

•Answer the essay question with a clear, well reasoned argument, sweeping claims are not always supported

•Explain why the __second__ choice fell short compared to the __first__ choice but is more just than the __third__ choice, generally attempted

•Organize ideas in extended power paragraphs, consistently done--except in the last two paragraphs

•Identify the source and establish its credibility with an appositive phrase, not always done

•Cite evidence with internal citations and in a Works Cited. Click links for exemplars. Mostly correct, truncate web address in first WC entry