Changes
/* Early 20th Century and WWI */
the light bulb, the trolley, and the moving picture. Twain the states that America was flying into the 20th century on the wings of invention and the winds of change, and that since we were facing these new changes, we needed people like Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir to lead us.
===Early 20th Century and , WWIand the Great Depression===
The next scene in the American Adventure shows Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir standing on a rock, debating the need for national parks. Muir is eventually able to impress upon the president that Roosevelt needs to stop the massive destruction of America's national parks. After Roosevelt says he agrees that they need to protect the countries resources, Muir says:
As the rock that Roosevelt and Muir are standing on, lowers into the stage, Mark Twain comments that that "Ready or not, we were soon thrust into the hectic role of a world leader and into the war to end all war". Following this proclamation, footage of World War I is shown, including a picture of Sopwith Camel, with the caption, "Another enemy airplane falls to America's gallant ace Captain Eddie Rickenbacker.” After this, the scene changes to a parade being held in honor of Charles Lindbergh. A news report is then heard, during which the newscaster tells guests that Lindbergh successfully made a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, aboard his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. As the newscast finishes, guests hear a second newsman who tells them, that on October 29, 1929 the stock market has crashed.
As the newscast finishes, a scene depicting a 1929 gas station appears on stage. Four men are shown listening to the radio. A banjo player can be heard signing Brother Can you Spare a Dime?, singing:
'''Quotation | ♫ Once I built a tower to the sun,'''<br
'''brick and rivet and vine.'''<br>
'''Once I built a tower, now it's done.'''<br>
'''Brother, can you spare a dime? ♫ '''}}
As the song finishes, the men discuss how thing seem to be getting better, before one of the explains that Franklin Delanor Roosevelt has been inaugurated.
FDR then appears to the left of the gas station, behind a presidential podium. Franklin gives a short speech, concluding with "Let me assert my firm belief, that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. As one of the men comments that America could use some prosperity, Will Rogers can be heard on the radio.
As he continues to speak, Rogers can be seen on the right side of the stage. He stands behind a studio mike and says:
{{Quotation| But ya know, it seems to me, that we was a mighty cocky nation.
We had begun to believe that the height of civilization was an automobile, a radio, and a bathtub.
Course now we're a lot smarter.
Now Congress wants to trim down the Navy, so it will fit in the bathtub too.
Ya know, it seems to me like we're the only nation in the country, that waits 'til they get into a war, before we start getting ready for it.|Will Rogers}}
As Will Rogers finishes, another Radio Announcer speaks, saying that
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and ground forces..."
