How did the great depression affect the maturation and development of the US Coast Guard
When the Coast Guard emerged from World War I, it struggled for an identity. When it entered the Great Depression, it struggled for funding. It was forced to stretch its men and resources over an ever-widening range of duties as more and more departments came under its control (such as the Light House service). It had a very strong role in enforcement during Prohibition, and entered the 1930’s in a very strong law enforcement position. However, as Commandant Hamlet would find out, even the best of enforcement and usefulness does not protect an agency from budget tightening . Because of the tightening of funds, the Coast Guard was forced to dock many of its ships, change its functions, all the while finding an expanding role in the protection and management of the United States’ coastline and waterways. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the specific effects upon the Coast Guard that the Great Depression had.
