Analysis of the Great Depression as Presented by Mark Bernstein

HIS 3390
Term Paper 2: “Explaining the Great Depression””
Instructions
The objective of this term paper is to examine competing explanations of the Great Depression.
Sources:
Review the following readings:
Randall Parker, “An Overview of the Great Depression” (Blackboard) http://eh.net/encyclopedia/an-overview-of-the-great-depression/
Michael A. Bernstein, “The Great Depression as Historical Problem” (Blackboard) – attached
Michael A. Bernstein, “Why the Great Depression was Great” (Blackboard) – attached
Thomas Heinrich and Bob Batchelor, Kleenex, Kotex, Huggies: Kimberly Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business (Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 2005)
It is not necessary to consult additional readings; if you chose to do it anyway, make sure the readings come from a credible source.
While reviewing the above material, make sure you develop a solid understanding of the major explanations of the Great Depression, and what differentiates them from each other.
Select four explanations (one of which must be the Bernstein school of thought).
Summarize each explanation schematically in your own words. Make sure to address both the theory and the evidence used by different schools of thought, e.g.: Bernstein argues the US economy was in transition during the interwar period. Explain in your own words the essence of that transition; develop an example of a “mature industry;” develop an example of a “dynamic industry.”
Think about your argument, which will guide your analysis. What was the Great Depression? Generally, how did different schools of thought try to explain it? Which explanation do you find the most persuasive, and which the least persuasive? Why?
Develop a schematic outline of your paper using the following:

General:
Do not use quotes in the paper.
Use the Chicago Manual of Style’s citation format in footnotes and in the bibliography; see https://www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/prael/pdf/chicago.pdf
Insert page numbers.
Double-space your paper and use 12-point fonts; use preset margins.
Spell-check your paper.
Write coherent paragraphs that start with topic sentences. In subsequent sentences include references to specific events, people, and developments.
Do not write 1-sentence paragraphs.
Do not commit plagiarism; everything needs to be written in your own words. The paper will be checked by anti-plagiarism software. For further information, visit https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html