perfect area for internal improvements, dams, and research facilities
Tennessee Valley authority
Summary
The TVA is the largest public power provider in the U.S. and was established in 1933 as a part of President Franklin Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression. The role of the TVA was to address numerous environmental, economic, and technological issues that plagued the U.S. during the mid-20th century. The TVA provides electricity to over 80,000 square miles and over 9 million people. When established, the TVA was federally funded, however, the TVA is currently self-sufficient in terms of funding. During the Great Depression, the goal of the TVA was to address issues by looking at the broader picture, and how each issue impacted the entire situation. In 1933, the Tennessee Valley area was in bad condition: the soil was over-worked, crop yields and farm incomes proportionately declined, and the highest-quality timber had been cut. When the TVA was established, it built dams which controlled floods, generated electricity, and improved river navigation. The result of the generation of electricity was rural electrification, which provided electricity to thousands of Americans in the area for the first time. TVA workers also taught famers how to optimize farming methods and generated jobs. During World War II, the U.S. needed aluminum for the construction of bombs. To produce the quantity needed, the TVA began a larges series of hydropower projects, which resulted in the creation of 28,0000 jobs. Due to the 1973 oil embargo, TVA electricity prices soared, thus decreasing the oil demand. As a result, the TVA canceled numerous nuclear plants. Later in the decade, the TVA resolved on being more competitive by reducing costs and increasing productivity. As a result, the 1980s saw a decade of raised power rates and stability. During the 21st century, the TVA focused on "going green." On Earth Day, 2000, the TVA introduced its first "Green Power Switch" program.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact connects to the thesis statement because it portrays the effect that the frontier (both the physical and metaphorical) has on society. The physical frontier is related to the progression of society because relatively new, un-used Western lands were used to construct large-scale facilities such as the TVA for the benefit of society. The TVA impacted American society by stimulating the economy by creating new jobs. The TVA also brought revolutionary new aspects to American life in the Tennessee Valley, such as rural electrification. This impacted society by, for the first time, allowing thousands of Americans to have access to electricity and thus the ability to use new technological innovations. Electricity also resulted in a more developed and complex South. The TVA also portrays the progression of the metaphorical frontier, more specifically, the progression and improvement of technology. On the TVA official website, they claimed that they wanted to improve energy harnessing methods.
The TVA is the largest public power provider in the U.S. and was established in 1933 as a part of President Franklin Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression. The role of the TVA was to address numerous environmental, economic, and technological issues that plagued the U.S. during the mid-20th century. The TVA provides electricity to over 80,000 square miles and over 9 million people. When established, the TVA was federally funded, however, the TVA is currently self-sufficient in terms of funding. During the Great Depression, the goal of the TVA was to address issues by looking at the broader picture, and how each issue impacted the entire situation. In 1933, the Tennessee Valley area was in bad condition: the soil was over-worked, crop yields and farm incomes proportionately declined, and the highest-quality timber had been cut. When the TVA was established, it built dams which controlled floods, generated electricity, and improved river navigation. The result of the generation of electricity was rural electrification, which provided electricity to thousands of Americans in the area for the first time. TVA workers also taught famers how to optimize farming methods and generated jobs. During World War II, the U.S. needed aluminum for the construction of bombs. To produce the quantity needed, the TVA began a larges series of hydropower projects, which resulted in the creation of 28,0000 jobs. Due to the 1973 oil embargo, TVA electricity prices soared, thus decreasing the oil demand. As a result, the TVA canceled numerous nuclear plants. Later in the decade, the TVA resolved on being more competitive by reducing costs and increasing productivity. As a result, the 1980s saw a decade of raised power rates and stability. During the 21st century, the TVA focused on "going green." On Earth Day, 2000, the TVA introduced its first "Green Power Switch" program.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact connects to the thesis statement because it portrays the effect that the frontier (both the physical and metaphorical) has on society. The physical frontier is related to the progression of society because relatively new, un-used Western lands were used to construct large-scale facilities such as the TVA for the benefit of society. The TVA impacted American society by stimulating the economy by creating new jobs. The TVA also brought revolutionary new aspects to American life in the Tennessee Valley, such as rural electrification. This impacted society by, for the first time, allowing thousands of Americans to have access to electricity and thus the ability to use new technological innovations. Electricity also resulted in a more developed and complex South. The TVA also portrays the progression of the metaphorical frontier, more specifically, the progression and improvement of technology. On the TVA official website, they claimed that they wanted to improve energy harnessing methods.