Tom Brokaw: The Greatest Generation Of Men And Women

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“The Greatest Generation” is a term owned by a journalist named Tom Brokaw. He describes the generation of men and women who grew up in the United States during the Great Depression and World War II as willing and committed to defend their homeland. Their efforts to overcome both of these hardships make them the greatest. The Great Depression was a heart wrenching time for the American people. It took them a whole decade and a war to recover from the losses during the Great Depression. At the beginning of the Great Depression the GDP was $103.6 billion and within the next four years it trickled down to $56.4 billion. However, when the New Deal Act was put in place, the GDP started to rise back up to $92.2 billion and finally when WWII was over, the GDP was …show more content…
The amount of money within the United States has fluctuated due to the adversities the American people had to face. During World War II almost everyone living in the United States was dedicated and working to help the war efforts day and night. The women worked at the Homefront making clothing, weapons, and providing care packages and the men were away defending their country to the best of their ability. 16.1 million people fought in World War II for the same reason, “to fight in enemy territory and to keep the home front secure and productive.” These men understood what was required of them and knew that America needed to be protected by them. Ordinary life stopped and the sense of nationalism and patriotism was felt within all the American people. Tom Brokaws definition of the “Greatest Generation” was supported in books Boys in the Boat and Unbroken in many ways. Both books were set around the time of the Great Depression and World War II and their main themes were to never give up and never forget where you are from. The main character in Boys in the Boat, Joe and the main character in Unbroken, Louie both showed extreme