American History Essays (Examples)

American History Assessment the United

Unemployment

b. Deflation

c. High railroad rates

d. Rising interest rates

14. Which issue led to the organization of the Populist Party?

a. The desire to lift the burden of debt from farmers and other workers

b. The collapse of the Second Bank of the United States

c. An increase in immigration

d. Limited availability of land in the West for use by new farmers

15. Which factor contributed most to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

a. Lack of mining jobs

b. Economic war in Asia

c. Overcrowded neighborhoods

d. Rise of nativism

16. What was the impact of westward expansion on American Indians during the Jacksonian era?

a. Most American Indians were forced to move to Canada

b. Most American Indians were assimilated into U.S. society

c. Most American Indians were relocated to lands west of the Mississippi River

d. Most American Indians were able to negotiate to keep their land.

17. Which statement best explains the increase in sectionalism between 1820 and 1850?

a. Westward expansion created a heated debate over the nation's policy concerning American Indians.

b. Westward expansion caused a recurring debate over the expansion of slavery into new territories

c. Western…… [Read More]

American History the Objective of

It was a give and take society of inherent fairness and justice as each individual stood forth to do their part in the interest of all concerned....for the sake of America. While freedom should have meant for one and all, it is unfortunate, but as well expected in the human condition that the standards and beliefs of the Founding Fathers as to freedom failed to consider independence and its' meaning in reality to women in the country, to black slaves and poor white farmers, and the Native American individual. Yet, the standard of belief held by the Founding Fathers was superior than the standard held in England, at least to some extent.

Consider the statement of Thomas Jefferson (1790):

Every man, and every body of men on earth, possess the right of self-government."

Surely this statement did not intend to leave out the independence of the black slaves, poor white farmers, Native American, or the women in the country at the time. Consider independence and its meaning to the black slave of that time in history. Independence meant that the bad or mediocre home of the master was suddenly no longer home and in fact independence meant no where to…… [Read More]

American History Final Exam Stages of the

American History Final Exam

Stages of the American Empire

Starting in the colonial period and continuing up through the Manifest Destiny phase of the American Empire in the 19th Century, the main goal of imperialism was to obtain land for white farmers and slaveholders. This type of expansionism existed long before modern capitalism or the urban, industrial economy, which did not require colonies and territory so much as markets, cheap labor and raw materials. It was also a highly racist type of policy that led to the destruction of Native Americans and the enslavement of blacks, as well as brutal counterinsurgency campaigns in overseas colonies like the Philippines and Haiti. Northeastern capitalists in the United States, dating back to the nascent period in the late-18th Century, were not particularly enthusiastic for this type of territorial expansion to the West or the growth of the agrarian sector of the economy. The party of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk, which represented the South planters and white small farmers, was always the main driving force behind manifest destiny, including the Mexican War and the early filibustering expeditions to Latin America. After the Civil War, with the rise of giant industrial…… [Read More]

American History Sam Adams Franklin

These five natives and their tribes are significant because they all fought against the white settlers in one way or another; even though there were times when they attempted to make peace with them. Eventually, they all lost land and lives to the whites, and today they represent the resiliency of the Native Americans, and the ruthlessness of the colonists who overran the natives and took their lands, their livelihoods, and their people as if they did not matter at all. They show a dark side of American history that many people would like to overlook, but cannot.

Indentured Servants. Shay's Revolt. Bacon's Revolt

Salem. Alien & Sedition Act

All of these items have to do with another part of American history that a lot of people overlook. Indentured servants were a long-standing tradition that helped form the new colonies, and they were essentially slaves that had to work to pay back debt or society. It was a terrible practice, but one that was common in the early colonies. Shay's Rebellion took place after the Revolutionary War, and was a response to high taxes and debt in the country. Bacon's Rebellion was the first recorded rebellion in the new colonies,…… [Read More]

American History the Book American Past and

American History

The book, American Past and Present, which recounts U.S. history up to 1877, begins with nine pages (xxv-xxxiii) of very succinct summary material, taking 50 years at a time and offering, at a glance, American history from post Ice Age to 1995. This is good information to digest prior to reading through the book itself, as it offers a glimpse and taste of what is to come, and important points to look for and focus upon.

As one should expect, the peoples (Native Americans) who lived on the continent prior to the arrival of the Europeans are described in some specific detail. Also of interest to readers of this U.S. history book is the fact that (page 7) "Ethnocentric Europeans tried repeatedly to 'civilize' the Indians" by insisting they dress like the colonists, that they go to colonists' schools and "accept Christianity." In hindsight, the fact that the colonists thought they could "civilize" natives by forcing Christianity on them -- teaching them that they will go to "hell" unless they accept the fact that they have sinned, and repent for their sins -- seems outrageously arrogant in 2005. On page 7 a Huron Indian is quoted as saying,…… [Read More]

American History New Orleans the

Reading this piece is particularly interesting, as it is a direct account of the events during that day in 1773. The article describes very clearly the images that could be seen during the "tea party" and its after effects. It is particularly funny to read about things like people trying to take some of the tea for themselves, and then being very "roughly handled." In terms of today's general newspaper articles, the tone of the piece is also interesting. It appears to be both humorous and factual about the event, describing the events surrounding the tea party, as well as the "party" itself. It describes the tea staining the water so clearly that the reader can almost see the remains of the tea and chests, as well as the color of the water for miles around the coast. I really enjoyed reading this, because of the direct descriptions of the events, and as a result of the tone used in the article.

Week 9: Olaudah Equiano on Slavery

This reading struck me on several levels. Most importantly, I am deeply touched by the emotional content of the description of the young boy's capture. I can only imagine what it must…… [Read More]

American History Prior to the

Thus, the latest influxes of immigrants from Europe prior to the war may have been the worst off. The Revolution shifted the social realities for all indentured servants in the colonies, and only less so for Blacks.

Only war could undermine the social structure that enabled the restrictive hierarchies to exist. The war led to forced migrations of people, the disruption of established avenues and systems of trade, and political upheavals (Fogelman 58). Fewer whites would be employed as servants following the war, even though for Blacks in the new America slavery remained a way of life. Indeed, the Revolution meant freedom and justice for some but not all. Fogelman notes that after the war slave imports temporarily increased, at the same time that indentured servitude for whites became less acceptable (61). The irony would become quintessentially American.

Similarly, Zuckerman points out the tremendous impact that the war would have on shaping social norms in the former colonies. Mundane matters like manners characterized the spirit of the Revolution. Prior to the revolutionary era, social stability depended on a strict enforcement of Old World patterns but the budding spirit of independence and freedom emerged prior to the outbreak of war. The…… [Read More]

American History - Civil War

The Role of Federalism, Foreign Tariffs and the Western Territories:

The period before the American Civil war coincided with the evolution of the modern American federal court system, particularly with respect to the nature of the relationship and the respective authority of the federal government and sovereign state courts (Murrin 2006). Landmark Supreme Court cases had begun chipping away at the rights of states to decide issues related to slavery, but equally serious were the other threats imposed by federal authority on the economic independence of the southern states.

In general, the concept of political democracy and government by the people was embraced much more in the American North than in the South. Specifically, the southern (white) population was largely uneducated poor who owned no land of their own but worked for wealthy plantation owners from whom they leased small parcels of land. The political climate of the South resembled European aristocracy much more than American democracy, in that a very small wealthy segment of the population controlled virtually every facet of state politics (Murrin 2006).

With every exercise of federal authority that usurped their autonomy and control over state affairs, resentment toward the North grew among the influential decision…… [Read More]

American in the New Millennium American History

American in the New Millennium, American History

The world is in constant change. The civilization that we experience today would have been hardly envisaged by the people living in the beginnings of the 20th century. This is largely due to economic, political, social, and technological advancements. These elements will most likely impact the way in which the world evolves in the new millennium as well. The United States is still considered to be the most important democratic pole of the world and the largest economy. The elements mentioned above are the ones that will influence the development of the United States in the future.

Despite the fact that the U.S. is the most important country in the world by most standards and the "land of all opportunities," given the economic recession, the political and economic life in the country may affect the way in which this millennium starts for the United States. A crucial aspect in this sense is related to the population and especially in terms of employment. For instance, "America, like other modern countries, has always had some surplus workers -- people ready to work but jobless for extended periods because the "job creators," private and public, have…… [Read More]

American History the Defeated South

To understand the spirit of the Reconstruction crisis, one must understand the reality of the civil war, recognize that the generation of Americans caught up in the web of Reconstruction actually lived, actually confronted a situation, today totally alien to us, where countrymen killed countrymen, where political power involved more than the simple control of administration. (Benedict, 1973, p. 1)

Americans were ill equipped to cope with the problem effectively. By 1865 most Northerners, particularly Republicans, had come to identify security for the Union with concrete, fundamental change in southern society, particularly in black & white relations. Most important, Republicans insisted upon protection for former slaves in their new freedom. Yet these same Northerners, including Republicans, displayed a remarkable reluctance to force these changes on the South through the power of the national government. At first many Republicans hoped Southerners themselves would inaugurate the necessary changes voluntarily, but it quickly became apparent that even modest change in southern society, beyond the eradication of slavery would require the national action so many Northerners wanted to avoid. But further complications arose in the person of the seventeenth president of the United States, Andrew Johnson. If the critical importance of Reconstruction for the…… [Read More]

American History American Labor History Please Attachment

American History

American Labor History!!! Please attachment, written !!! Thank !!!

Technological Changes and Its Effects on Aspects of the U.S. Society

Effects of technological changes on urbanization

Settlement patterns in the U.S. society have significantly resulted from the scope and magnitude of transportation technology. Economic activities in the U.S. economy are based where there is a sufficient transport network to meet specified needs. American metropolitan areas have experienced and ever increasing inflow of people in search of jobs and business opportunities. This has led to industrialization in regions where transport technology is profound. The basic postulate of transport technology has eliminated the difficulties in access in turn attracting people to build cities in the regions Brian J.G., 2004()

Transport technology in the automobile industry shapes the configurations of metropolitan areas with a shift in location of residential areas. Streetcars brought about the initial shift from urban cores to suburban regions. People found the need to take advantage of comfort in staying away from the congestions in cities by relocating in residential areas around the city. The relocation brought about by ease of access to the cities reshaped the region's development direction. More dispersed towns are coming up to cater…… [Read More]

American History Similarities and Differences

Like the Jamestown colony, the Plymouth colony also had dealings with the Native Americans. In order to maintain peace, however, the colonists made a treaty with the Native Americans. Upon finding a Native American who could speak English, the Plymouth colony succeeded in passing a peace treaty with the Native Americans, which, among other things, allowed the colonists and the Native Americans to make a security pact. Other than feared threat from the Native Americans, the colonists had a variety of different problems settling in the area. These included illness, finding provisions, etc.

Third and finally, the colony at Massachusetts Bay allowed faith to play an incredible role in the formation of the society's laws. John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" sets out not what actual struggles that the colonists had during the foundation of their colonies, but what kind of social contract that they would live by. Highly founded in scripture, the contract was founded on two principals -- justice and mercy. Indeed, Winthrop lists the reasons for abiding by this social contract as threefold -- to glorify God, to allow the Holy Spirit access into one's personal life, and to bring people closer together. Further, his principals…… [Read More]

American History X Our Hero

12. Sweeney is Derek's teacher all across the movie and even a substitute for the father Derek lost. The transformation suffered by Derek from a narrow-minded skinhead to a thinker and a freedom fighter is impressive. Part of Derek's new concept of life if partly due to the skinhead faction because of their teachings and of their actions in prison. A main motive for Derek's change is the fact that he discovered the demurring nature of skinheads generally.

13. The movie evolves as Derek's character advances from one phase to another by becoming an ordinary citizen worrying for the good sake of his family. As he gets out of prison, Derek uses his fame to reach Cameron and to explain that he's out of the faction and that he's taking Danny with him. Even with Danny out of Cameron's plan and his improved life, Derek cannot escape the nightmare.

Danny goes to school to give Sweeney a paper on Derek's life instead of a previous paper on My Kampf by Adolf Hitler, he meets a gang of blacks from the local school in the bathroom. Having had a previous divergence with one of the boys, Danny gets…… [Read More]

American History X A Portrait

235) by organizing them into groups throughout the film, the movie helped dispel stereotypes by showing the multiculturally diverse struggling with the same problems in the same area.

Although they lived in the same are and struggled with many of the same social problems, the film certainly allowed viewers to see the communication barriers that developed between members of different races. This is especially important for the counselor who wishes to work with the multiculturally diverse. The primary communication barrier was erected between blacks and whites. First, viewers can see this in the school between two educated members of these races. Mr. Murry, Danny's history teacher and a white Jew, confronts African-American principal Dr. Sweeney about the Mein Kampf paper that Danny has written. Mr. Murry is highly offended by the attitudes in the paper, while Dr. Sweeney wants to give Danny another chance. The two have difficulty coming to understand or empathize with the other's decision. Furthermore, communication barriers between blacks and whites are noticed in the teenage environment. A group of black boys beat up a white boy and mumble something about cheating. Danny blows smoke in one of the black boys' faces and insults him, only to…… [Read More]

American History and US Politics

American History

Role of the United States in Europe After WWII

This essay attempts to present the role of the United States of America in the reconstruction of post World War II Europe. This report also attempts to provide information regarding the covert Cold War, the formation of NATO, and the ample economic trade opportunities sought by the Americans.

After the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach, it did not take much longer for the allied forces to topple the rest of Hitler's army. The blitzkrieg was over and the world was ready to begin to disassociate the German people from Adolf Hitler's boisterous speeches, the holocaust, the charge on Moscow by the Panzers, and Rommil's quest for oil reserves in the deserts of Africa. Everyone wanted to believe that the German nation had simply been manipulated by a madman. But by the time Hitler fell, the damage had already been done.

In 1945, post World War II Europe was in both structural and economical shambles. The shell shocked Europeans had to contend with the fact that both urban and rural societal damage was extensive. Additional side effects of the war included escalating double digit inflation, a complete breakdown of…… [Read More]

American History Europe Was at

His allegations have been considered to be true because of the fact that Americans had already been alarmed by the quick spread of Communism. Most of those accused by McCarthy to have been loyal to the Communist Party had been shortly dismissed from their jobs. Also, McCarthy became very popular as a result of his frequent speeches which were intended to shed more light concerning people favoring communism.

The era in which Americans were leading a national anti-communist crusade started to be known as "McCarthyism." In spite of his fame, McCarthy ended up to be one of the most hated U.S. senators.

"McCarthy's support came from people who had been shocked by revelations that former State Department official Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy, by the arrest of Soviet spy Klaus Fuchs, and by communist takeover of China in 1950." (Mccain)

Even if some anti-communists in the U.S. had had extremist beliefs, the whole nation had been devoted to fighting a large proportions war against communism.

The years following WW2 have been a very controversial period in human history. On the one hand, people were glad that the war had ended and that peace now roamed in the world. On…… [Read More]

American History Since 1877 Until

Based on Thumim's work, it is possible to suggest that the reason John Fitzgerald Kennedy won the White House had little to do with his wealth, his brains, the party's backing, his WWII heroism or even his obviously intelligent wife. In view of Thumim's claims, it is possible to conclude that a nation of devalued women -- 'put down' on television sitcoms for more than a decade -- were looking for a knight in shining armor to, if not save them, at least be charming to them while keeping them under lock and key. Certainly, that would have to be counted as a stunning impact of television on American politics. If this is only partly true, then one would have to conclude that television helped sunder the political sensibilities of voters in the United States along gender lines.

It should be noted, too, that broadcast personnel were virtually all men. Even Barbara Walters, in her early career in the early 1960s, was only allowed to do 'puff' pieces about things of interest mainly to men; as late as 1975, her assignments included undercover work at a Playboy nightclub.

Thumim notes that coverage of the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince…… [Read More]

American History Mccarthyism Is a Term That

American History

McCarthyism

McCarthyism is a term that originated in the early 1950s during America's campaign against the spread of Communism in Asia and other parts of the world. Technically defined, McCarthyism is "the political practice of publicizing accusations of disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence" and "the use of methods of investigation and accusation regarded as unfair, in order to suppress opposition." These definitions of and the term itself originated through the person of Senator Joseph McCarthy, who became popular because of his accusations that Communism has infiltrated the American government, giving rise to the "Red Scare," reflecting the country's aversion and disapproval over Communist beliefs and methods (which has been popularly subsisted to by the Chinese and Russians).

The Baby Boom

The Baby Boom was the event in which American population had exploded during the post-World War II era. The Baby Boom had brought out an increase in America's population from 1946-1964, resulting to a population of 76 million, solely belonging to the Baby Boom generation. The Baby Boom has created a large impact not only in the country's population statistics, but also through economic developments. The Baby Boom had triggered American consumerism and led to…… [Read More]

American History on the 20th of October

American History

On the 20th of October, 1776, the address to the brigade by Jones spoke of many topics of concern. First of all, Jones mentioned that it was their god's wish for them to assemble and fight against the enemies of the righteous folks at the region of Northern Lake George, especially Fort Ticonderoga. These enemies were the British who were believed to be on their way to attack. In the address, it was mentioned that if the people would not gather and defend the area, the citizens of the area would eventually be enslaved and put under circumstances that would not be acceptable. In order to prevent such a situation, the troops were gathered for defense so that eventually, the American people would attain salvation. They were to defend their homeland even though the enemies had no reason to put them in such a situation to begin with. Thus, the gathering of people was willed by god and it was a sign that they had the support of their lord.

Jones highlighted two keys reasons as to why the Continental Army should defend the country folks from British invasion. To start with, he explained that the British planned…… [Read More]

American History What Was the

And women were actually recruited for this specific kind of work, which seems a new approach to female presence in the workplace. However, the way Baker describes it, with "agents" scouring the country "to decoy girls away from their homes with the promise of high wages" (the word "decoy" suggests deception and deviousness), makes it seem undignified and sinister. These factories seem to be enslaving women, not empowering women, although Baker notes that rough as the work is, women are given a chance to "toil" in order to support an "aged mother or orphaned brother and sister."

THREE: Would Baker have encouraged other women to work at Lowell? Probably she would not recommend this place of employment because it represented "…a miserable, selfish spirit of competition" which Baker hoped would be "…thrust from us and consigned to eternal oblivion." It was a "hardscrabble" existence for women so who would recommend it, especially because "harsh words" are spoken to the workers and the mind is not being "clothed and fed."

FOUR: Was the Lowell experience giving women a new role in American society, or where they just "poorly paid girls" hoping for advancement in a man's working world? Baker makes the…… [Read More]

American History X An Exercise

Vinyard's allegiance to the swastika is an allegiance to an idea that the America of today is perhaps not as equal, peaceful or harmonious as the average American would like to believe. The image is a shattering of the idea that the past was terrible, but the present is better. Rather, Vinyard's right hand pressed against his swastika-inscribed heart both repels and evokes revulsion. Iconic photographs stir a sense of nationalism and pride "they also illustrate the ways that visual communication can underwrite polity by providing resources for thought and feeling that are necessary for constituting people as citizens and motivating identification with and participation in specific forms of collective life" (Hariman & Lucaites, 2002). An iconic photograph can invoke a sense of inspiration and a commitment to collective ideals, and a sense of history, perhaps bloody and unjust a one time, but now reformed, improved and all together better. While it's true as Wrange points out, "Man's conscious declarations of thought are embodied in a mosaic of documents, in constitutions and laws, literature and song, scientific treatises and folklore, in lectures, sermons and speeches" (1947), iconic photographs are also forms of collective declarations of thought. Just as Neil Armstrong…… [Read More]

American History The Aftermath of the World

American History:

The aftermath of the World War II from 1945 to 1965 was a period of intense change in the United States that changed socially, politically, and economically. This period was characterized by the rebuilding of various aspects in the country since the war was destructive on political, social, and economic fronts. Socially, there was the need to return to normalcy in the United States as the dislocations that resulted in the war were put aside for some time. As many men and women returned from the war and women returned home, a new generation began in the country. Since the United States was the only industrial power that was undestroyed during the war, the country experienced extraordinary economic growth after the war. America's economy was greatly stimulated by the war as new industrial complexes were developed across the country with the decisive end of depression ("Effects of World War II," n.d.). On the political front, the resolution of World War II and strong opposition to the Soviet Union forced America to embrace the democratic concept of the good.

20th Century American History:

During the period when President Truman authorized the use of atomic bombs against Japan in August…… [Read More]

American History War of 1812

There was another group of Americans who felt that all of America, including British Canada, should have been conquered during the Revolutionary War and then ceded to the Americans, so they felt the War of 1812, which began with Americans attempting to conquer Canada, should not have had to take place at all.

Finally, New England residents openly opposed the war, and did not support anything connected with it. They would not offer funds for the war, and they would not allow their militia to fight in the war. They were angry about the economy, but they were also angry because they felt they had been mislead by the government, and the war was really being fought to gain territory in Canada, which they did not agree with. Ultimately, the war ended in 1814, but much of American did not support or condone the…… [Read More]

American History Slave Revolts Although

Alexander Hamilton carried on an affair with the wife of "a notorious political schemer," Maria Reynolds. Andrew Jackson married Rachel Jackson before her divorce from Lewis Robards was finalized and therefore was accused of marrying a married woman. Jackson's opponent in 1828, John Quincy Adams, was in turn accused of "corrupt bargaining" during his term. Jackson also championed Margaret O'Neill Timberlake, who married his secretary of war, John Eaton. "Peggy O'Neill" was considered a woman of "questionable virtue," and as a result Martin Van Buren became Jackson's successor in the presidency. After the death of Jackson and Eaton, Peggy married a 19-year-old dance teacher (which raised eyebrows, as she was 59), who embezzled her money and ran off to Europe with her 17-year-old granddaughter.

Other scandals concerned Richard Mentor Johnson, who ran for vice president in 1836 with Martin Van Buren. He supposedly shot Tecumseh during the War of 1812, which was considered positive, but he married a mulatto, Julia Chinn, which was a negative. Despite this, Van Buren and Johnson were elected to office. John Tyler, who became president upon the death of Harrison, soon began "dating" when his paralyzed wife died during his term, courting the beautiful Julia…… [Read More]

American History the Underside of Affluence the

American History

The underside of affluence

The period is in the early years of the twentieth century. America is now experiencing economic and political expansion as it became the model of an imperial superpower for all nations, both in the Western and Eastern regions. Economic growth spurred as a result of the industrial revolution, while political structures strengthened due to the numerous successful conquests of the Americans to colonize nations in the Asian and southern American regions.

However, despite the affluence that American society had experienced during this period, a considerable half of the American population is suffering from poverty. With the rise of urbanization, many people flocked to the cities in search of a high-paying job and steady source of income as factory workers. However, the rapid incidence of migration to the cities made them crowded with people, hence, living conditions began to deteriorate, which includes the lack of sufficient space to live in, lack of food to eat, and high incidence of deaths and illnesses due to poor sanitation in the cities. Apart from these poor living conditions, poor people suffered from long hours of work in factories, yet received low pay, worked in a dangerous working environment,…… [Read More]

American History During the 1940s America Had

American History

During the 1940s, America had just experienced the onslaught of World War II. After massive fighting against the Axis power nations (Germany, Italy, and Japan), America, along with its allies in the war, was able to conclude the conflict by deciding to drop the atomic bomb in Japan. The war ended with the Axis power conceding defeat, and America went on to rehabilitate its nation after the war. The rehabilitation of America as a nation weary of possible atrocities among nations in the world is twofold. After the war, America experienced a resurgence in economic growth, primarily brought about by the development of new technologies that spurred the country's commercial market. Furthermore, the growth of new technologies and manufacturing industry in America encouraged social mobility, enabling the middle class society to increase in number, narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. Thus, the technological revolution and social mobilization became the positive effects of World War II during the 1950s. However, the downside or the negative effect of WWII is that it further intensified America's policy in abolishing attempts to curb freedom. Thus, in the 1950s, America adopted a Containment Policy that tried to stop Communism from…… [Read More]

American History -- Journal in the September

American History -- journal

In the September 2000 issue of the highly-prestigious history journal American Heritage, the main topic of discussion has to do with "Tales From the Cold War," a period in American history following World War II when the U.S. And the Soviet Union were engaged in detente and threats related to the use of nuclear weapons.

The first article, "The Day We Shot Down the U-2" by Sergei Khrushchev, the son of Premier Nikita Khrushchev, makes it clear that the U-2 incident of May 1, 1960 involving U.S. pilot Gary Powers was far more complicated than has previously been realized. Khrushchev states that "In the 1950's, years of deep freeze in the Cold War caused politician and ordinary people on both sides to be gripped by the same fear," being "whether Moscow or Washington would seize the opportunity to deal the first, and possibly the last, nuclear strike" (37-38). The U-2 spy plane, flown by Gary Powers, was America's response to the buildup of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union and the mission was primarily aimed at flying over the Soviet Union to search for "probable adversaries in order to monitor their nuclear arms" (38).

The second…… [Read More]

American History X Suggests That

Derek's racist beliefs are cemented, and became the springboard to his activism and leadership of the skinheads when his father is killed by a black man, fighting a fire in a crack house in an inner-city neighborhood. When two young African-Americans try to steal his car, Derek is determined that he, unlike his beloved father, will emerge the winner. The film makes it clear that Derek has been waiting for this to happen. Again, the film does not excuse the theft of his vehicle, but indicates that the world is filled with potential justifications for racism, and Derek is looking for such 'reasons' to engage in hateful action. Derek is both a product of his environment and his simmering male adolescent rage.

Derek sent to prison for three years. His younger brother tries to assume Derek's role by harassing immigrants and other non-whites. He also finds himself, like Derek, of being in the uncomfortable position of being taught by an articulate, charismatic, and caring African-American history teacher in high school. This individual provides the moral center of the film, and explains the reason for its title: only by gaining a sense of history and looking beyond one's immediate ethnic enclave…… [Read More]

American History X While IT's

The film brings up numerous questions such as how does an individual descend so far and so deep into a movement as riddled with hate and brutality as Neo-Nazism to the extent that they would feel justified in murdering for this "cause." The film offers several answers, some of them satisfactory and some of them not; the answers which are less acceptable can be as useful in the task of inquiry as the ones that are adequate. For example, one critic explains that Derek blamed the death of his father on a range of race-related factors and we later see how his father tutored both sons in a range of racist beliefs, but "the scene feels like tacked-on motivation…"(Egbert, 1998). Rather what the film did do well was offer another answer for why these individuals, and the character of Derek namely could take such an extreme descent in to racism: "The scariest and most convincing scenes are the ones in which we see the skinheads bonding. They're led by Derek's brilliant speechmaking and fueled by drugs, beer, tattoos, heavy metal and the need all insecure people feel to belong to a movement greater than themselves" (Egbert, 1998). The fearlessness of…… [Read More]

American History and Culture Contributes

Nevertheless, there have been many decisions over the years that have tended to weaken the intent of the Framers. In 2001, in Zelman v. Simmons Harris the Supreme Court ruled that school voucher programs did not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. The decision represented a blow to the essentially secular nature of the American state and system. By allowing public money to be given to religious schools, the Supreme Court was permitting the violation of a more than two hundred year old principle. In reaching its decision, the Supreme Court chose to accept the argument that giving money to schools was not a case of advancing religion but rather one of who should have power over education - the state or individual parents.

Personal freedom was now being re-defined as something that included the right to government assistance if the government provided assistance in similar situations. Persons seeking a religious education for their children could not be denied this use of tax funds if indeed the government was willing to pay for a non-religious form of education.

Numerous groups have advanced these arguments in one fashion or another. For many the argument comes down to a belief…… [Read More]

American History in Their Considerations

Webster appears to be in agreement with Calhoun regarding the North's part in damaging the relationship between the North and the South. According to Webster however, the main culprit in this dynamic is the rhetoric of the abolition societies. While the author acknowledges that these societies include mostly honorable and just people who believe in their cause, he also holds that their rhetoric has become unacceptably emotional and their tactics, such as spreading anti-slavery literature to the South, essentially dishonorable. According to the author, such tactics ironically lead only to strengthen the Southern cause and increase enmity and violence.

Resolution

William Henry Seward believes that the abolishment of slavery is inevitable as the economy and humanitarian institutions grow. According to this author, the institution is simply an "accidental" institution that came into being as a result of a combination of certain factors at a certain time. As times are changing, Seward appears to believe that the institution will become obsolete to make ways for new and more humane institutions. He however also sees the possibility of violent conflict in the attempt to either hasten or slow this development. Interestingly, he projects that attempting to perpetuate slavery is more likely to…… [Read More]

American Investment Recovery Act Throughout American History

American Investment Recovery Act

Throughout American history there has been an emphasis on maintaining a balance of power between different branches of government. This is from the belief that concentrating too much authority in one area will lead to inevitable abuses in others. To prevent this, the federal government and states have always practiced these basic principles. As a result, there are varying interpretations as to the overall scope of power given to particular branch. (McNeese, 2001)

In 2009, these issues were continually being brought to forefront with the American Recovery Act and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This law was designed to provide the economy with additional amounts of stimulus to address the lingering challenges from the financial crisis. However, the process of enacting this legislation, there were increased amounts of controversy surrounding the balance of power between the President and Congress. This is because the Democrats had an overwhelming majority in Congress and they controlled the White House. This made it easier to pass legislation that could help to protect the economy from critical challenges. (Hartmann, 2010)

Yet, in the process of doing this, is when many Republicans and pro-business advocates felt that this was not necessary. The reason…… [Read More]

American History the Greatest Change

Even after the Emancipation Proclamation, the Supreme Court held that separate but equal was a legitimate stance under American law, essentially codifying human beings into different racial categories like a caste system, until Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. In short, America was a nation founded upon a paradox. It idealized freedom and personal choice, yet it also was based upon a system that did not allow a substantial percentage of the population to exercise that freedom and enjoy in their liberties.

The Civil Rights movement was so radical, because it demanded that the promise of American freedom finally be truly realized and granted to Black Americans, which America was unwilling to do, until African-Americans demanded their rights through this eloquent and articulate protest movement. Sadly, the damage of hundreds of years of slavery had taken their psychological and economic toll upon some Black Americans. One of the saddest aspects of reading Brown v. Board of Education is to read how Black children had internalized societal messages of racism to such a degree that they often preferred images of White rather than Black children. The reason for Malcolm X's vehemence against American society was not simply the prejudice and…… [Read More]

American History - Roe V

Furthermore, the Supreme Court (and the Texas district court also) relied on a judicial invention introduced in the earlier Griswold and Eisenstadt decisions: namely, the penumbra of privacy that was said to "emanate" from the Fourteenth Amendment to give rise in a fundamental right of privacy despite the fact that the notion of personal privacy is not mentioned at all in the Constitution. Certainly, the Roe decision was justified on general principles of justice, equality, fairness, and ordinary definitions of private affairs; but from a technical legal argument perspective, many commentators have suggested that it was a case of the Court fitting the Constitution to the law rather than conforming the latter to the former.

Conclusion:

Regardless of the any technical criticism in the legal analysis of the basis for the Supreme Court's decision in Roe, it remains the right and moral decision on the issue.

Certainly, room exists for improved reasoning, such as in connection with concept of fetal viability. As is the case in every other field of medicine, neonatal science has progressed dramatically in the three and a half decades since abortion was legalized in the U.S. In that regard, it is perfectly conceivable that medical science…… [Read More]

American History -- Thomas Paine Modern Examination

American History -- Thomas Paine

Modern examination of the roots that birthed this nation illuminates with steadfast clarity the manner, importance, and weight of the movements of the past. Bernard Bailyn knows this firsthand; in his analysis of Common Sense, he not only studies the historiography of Thomas Paine's revolutionary pamphlet, but by placing himself in retro-active historical context, he is able to find age-old movement in the piece to share with the political historian today. Inside the Englishman's pamphlet on logic and politics, he finds not just a call for revolution, but instead a greater amass of the smaller pleas for transition that, when united under the banner of intellectual outreach and historical debate, reaffirms the common sense Pain purported two hundred and thirty years ago.

In The Most Uncommon Pamphlet of the Revolution: Common Sense, Bailyn supports the widely held belief that Thomas Paine's pamphlet that urged America to war against England is among the most brilliant pieces of sociopolitical thought from not only that era, but all of history. While most historians weigh themselves down with the examination of Common Sense as the motivating literature for revolution, Bailyn finds new debate. To thoroughly set the stage for…… [Read More]

American History After Years of

As a result, the 1764 Currency Act was signed. The Act forbade colonies from issuing paper currency. The colonists found it extremely difficult paying their debts and taxes.

After the Currency Act had been passed, the then British Prime Minister proposed a stamp tax that obligated colonists to purchase government issued stamps for legal documents and other paper goods. When the bill was brought before the floor of the house it sailed through. The Parliament therefore had a duty to tax the colonies. The Stamp Act did not go down well with the colonies. In fact, the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a resolution that sought to deny the British Parliament the authority to tax the British colonies. Rioters visited destruction on the house of stamp distributer in Boston. There were protests all over America.

The Stamp Act acted as a common cause that united at least 13 colonies against British Parliament. The protests culminated into 9 colonies presenting their petitions to the British government with a view to deny the Parliament the authority to tax the colonies. Americans then sought to boycott British goods. This compelled the British merchants to lobby for the Act's repeal. Bowing to pressure from…… [Read More]

American History Important Changes From 1810 to

American History: Important Changes From 1810 to 1830

The period of time from 1810 to 1830 was a major time of social, economic and political change in America. The most important of these changes are those whose impact can still be seen today. Three of the most important changes were the growth of manufacturing, the focus on the individual rather than the community and the acceptance of democracy.

The growth of manufacturing changed the nature of America forever, with manufacturing becoming more important than farming for the first time. Tocqueville (XIX) reflects on the focus America put on manufacturing saying, "No people in the world have made such rapid progress in trade and manufactures as the Americans." This rapid progress led to the industrial revolution and eventually the society we have today, with capitalism and manufacturing the basis society is built upon. As Tocqueville (XIX) argues, "Democracy not only swells the number of working-men, but leads men to prefer one kind of labor to another; and while it diverts them from agriculture, it encourages their taste for commerce and manufactures." Manufacturing becomes the chosen career even for those that would truthfully prefer to remain farming. Instead of remaining with farming,…… [Read More]

American History Panama Canal the

d).

The construction of the canal was taken over by the Americans in 1904. The first thing that the Americans set out to do was to improve the standard of living and make sure that ill health would be a thing of the past. After remedying these problems the first American steam shovel started work on the Culebra Cut on November 11th, 1904. A year later there were 2,600 men at work in the Culebra Cut. Sidings and tracks for the removal of the dirt had been constructed and the dredging at both the Atlantic and Pacific portions of the canal had begun. It wasn't until June of 1906 that it was decided that a lock canal was what was going to be built. The lock canal would facilitate the river Chagres to form a lake. The excavation at the peak of the Culebra Cut was over 512,500 cubic meters of material in the first three months of 1907. There were 39,000 people working on it everyday. The rock had to broken up by dynamite and then hauled away. They used 100 Bucyrus steam shovels each capable of excavating approximately 920 cubic meters in an eight-hour day in order to…… [Read More]

American History the Radicalism of

" Indeed, in the "marriage bed of the beautiful Bertrande things now went well," presumably in sexual cohesion, but also, in reproduction as two daughters were born to them." key part of the Davis story was the trial, in which Arnaud was accused of being the imposter that indeed he was. This is in effect a sidebar to the story, and a sidebar to the issue of "different historians...using different types of evidence..." talk about the same things. On page 67, some 150 people had come to testify, but "forty-five people or more said that the prisoner was Arnaud...[and] about thirty to forty people said that the defendant was surely Martin Guerre." So, people who had seen history (the real Martin) had different views of whether this man on trial was him or not. Time casts shadows on the truth, just as it does on how the history of the American Revolution took place.

Finlay takes the story told by Davis to creative levels (564) when he points out that "the wife and the imposter were not being fraudulent and adulterous; rather, they were engaged in "self-fashioning," in "inventing" a marriage, in creating new "identities." These shifts in emphasis -…… [Read More]

American History Early 20th Century

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright went beyond even Ives's achievements. Sharing affection for the organic ideas of the American Renaissance before the Civil War and asserting that form and function were one, Wright developed the Prairie school of architecture. This tried to integrate the design of housing and the land it used and forced Americans to think more carefully about rapid urbanization. In terms of the impact that he had abroad Wright's work still influences architects and city planners today (Progressive Movement, 2010).

A lot happened during the reform movement all which had some effect on the way that we live today. It changed things in this country on a political, social and economic level that helped this country to progress forward and become what it is today. History provides a wonderful building block upon which we can grow and expand. It gives us the insight into what worked and what didn't. The 20th century brought about a lot of change in this country, some for the good and some for the bad, but each thing had a lesson to be learned. Our only hope is that we can build off of what happened back then to make our country a…… [Read More]

American History Although the Early

British reactions to the colonies wavered throughout the colonial era, from the policy of salutary neglect to the tightened controls of King George III. The Crown faced a dilemma: to allow the colonies to develop thriving commercial enterprises in the hopes of a trickle-down benefit for Great Britain; or to tighten the leash on the colonial governments to demand more regular tax revenues. In light of the thriving colonial economies in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland, King George III opted for the latter, imposing tariffs on the colonies. Britain's policies toward the New World colonies remained, therefore, primarily economic: the Stamp and Sugar Acts exemplify the Crown's interest not so much in the development of colonial culture as in the colonial economy.

Friction between English settlers and Native Americans also impacted the development of colonial life and of Crown policies. Infiltration into lands inhabited by the indigenous Americans led to numerous skirmishes throughout Virginia and Massachusetts Bay. The economic success of the colonies depended on the acquisition of as much territory as possible; Indian rebellions occasionally dampened colonialists' efforts but rarely succeeded in the long run. Broken promises were a major source of conflict. For instance, at Chesapeake Bay Virginian settlers…… [Read More]

American History Theodore Roosevelt's Foreign

In the construction of Panama Canal, Roosevelt's primary objective was to curtail his fears that another nation would come up with the idea of building a passageway, wherein trade between the U.S. And other countries would be detrimentally affected, blocking the U.S.'s access to trade goods from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean and back. Through the Roosevelt Corollary, the then president implemented the Monroe Doctrine, which posits that European nations shall not force Venezuela to pay its debts. Roosevelt's assertion that the U.S. shall take action should the doctrine be violated by the concerned parties. As with the Panama Canal construction, the implementation of the Roosevelt Corollary was imposed by Roosevelt for fear that a European nation shall control or overpower a Latin American nation, which may lead to increased European power, and ultimately, decrease the power and control of America over the Latin American region.… [Read More]

American History Affairs of Honor

She uses primary documents such as diaries, journals, and notes, combined with secondary sources such as biographies, historical articles, and historian's viewpoints of times and individuals in history. She combines a deep understanding of history with the ability to see beyond words to engage the feelings and inner thoughts of individuals in their written words. Normally, this reliance on "feelings" and intuition does not play largely in history, but Freeman feels it is an important aspect of her research. She writes, "Although historians typically dismiss such evidence as personal, idiosyncratic, and trivial - useful for little more than spicing up biographies and historical narratives - feelings are vital passageways to an intuitive level of thought" (Freeman 289-290). Thus, this book is different, not because of the research, but because the author attempted to personalize the research, thus personalizing the individuals for the reader.

If there is anything to criticize about this work, it is her determination to show how mismanaged the American government has always been. She maintains that the strict code of honor is one of the only threads that held the new nation together, and that bickering, shifting loyalties, and personal motives would have destroyed the New Republic…… [Read More]

American History -- 1950s Precis

The middle class as a social sector and movement in the society is a benefit because of its ability to mobilize and incite action among people, both socially and legally -- as Daniel explicated, "...explored a legal path to equal rights." The middle class was also a detriment for the civil rights cause because most of the middle class people are white Americans, an ironic situation considering that these very people fought for equal rights in their society. Because of their predominantly white American membership, the middle class impeded on the development of the civil rights movement; however, as far as social mobility is concerned, the middle class had significantly contributed to the development of a more egalitarian society in America -- at least, primarily among white Americans.

Linking the development of the middle class sector in America inevitably brings the issue of civil rights movement into focus. It can be said that "Lost" demonstrated how the middle class was a result of the many movements that emerged as Americans, both white and black, became more aware of their rights as individuals, regardless of one's race, gender, age, socio-economic class, and social status in the society. Misguided as this social…… [Read More]

American History America's Puritan History

. . Even puritanical John Adams thought that the argument for Christ's divinity was an 'awful blasphemy' in this new enlightened age." (Wolf, 160)

And yet, Wolf goes on to discuss the manner in which religious values remain such a prominent part of the political process. In spite of the effort to which our founding fathers went to prevent such manipulation, the puritanical roots of American culture and values is now suffieiently entrenched to the point that presidential candidates must declare their faith to expect any chance of victory. To the point, Wolf recalls the manner in which recent elections, included those of Bush and Obama thereafter, have called religion into the public discourse as a way of identifying the candidates and their resonance with American culture at large. The degree to which Obama, Wolf's text denotes, would work to articulate his faith in Christ as a response to politically conjured allegations of his being Moslem, demonstrated how inextricably linked faith and politics are as a result of the devoutness in our history. (Wolf, 161)

Wolf, N. (2008). Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for…… [Read More]

American History Victory at Yorktown

If they had managed to do great damage to the French forces, the British could have cut off those French troops from helping the Americans, and the war would have gone to the British. He writes, "The failure of the British to attack, and possibly fatally wound, the French at Newport was calamitous in the long run" (Ketchum 36). Thus, the author gives the reader insight into both sides of the battle, including his own analysis of what went wrong and what went right for both sides, making it easier for the reader to understand the background and inner workings of the battle.

In addition, Ketchum clearly understands the inner workings of many of the "cast of characters" of this book. He clearly admires Washington, but he is also very familiar with many other participants, such as Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin, and many others. He introduces them clearly and effectively, and almost makes them seem to be characters in a very well plotted play. Many historic texts can be dry and scholarly, but Ketchum brings a lively writing style to this work, which makes it much more engaging for the reader. This makes it easier to read the book, and makes…… [Read More]

American History -- the Success

Ford (Evans, 2004).

By the 1920s, the affordability of Ford's products and the increasing availability of modernized paved roads and highways combined to make taking a "country drive" one of the fastest and most fashionable national pastimes in the U.S. (Nevins & Commager, 1992). The trendy new fad of driving to the still-undeveloped suburbs and many other recreational areas on weekends was fueled by the relative exclusivity of automobile transportation to the middle (and upper) class, which allowed them to escape the masses of poor at the most popular local recreation spots such as the most popular beaches and state parks (Nevins & Commager, 1992). Ironically, Ford's success in making the automobile more accessible to the middle class also resulted in the beginning of a national obsession with the automobile as much for its social connotations as for the transportation convenience it offered.… [Read More]

American History Prior 1877 Signed Start

American History prior 1877 signed . Start introduction paragraph discuss historical events / people occurances, devote approximately page topic chosen.

"Unimportant" American Events

In spite of the fact that they had a decisive influence on the American society, particular historic events are likely to be forgotten by the masses. Little people know something regarding Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" pamphlet or about the influence that it had on colonists during the War of Independence. The Three-fifths compromise made it possible for Southerners to increase their power in the U.S. through exploiting the fact that they had slaves. The Fugitive Slave Clause of 1793 was among the first legislations issued with the purpose of allowing slaveholders to get their slaves back. The War of 1812 played an essential role in shaping U.S. history, but received little attention from the public across time. The Land Act of 1820 prohibited the acquisition of public land through credits as a result of the fact that farmers were no longer able to pay off their loans. Andrew Jackson's 1829 Spoils system provided Americans with an outrageous perspective in regard to political attitudes.

I. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

From the moment when it was published by an…… [Read More]

American History From the Origins of the

American History from the Origins of the Revolution to the Close of War of 1812

In the 16th century, America, in its development as a new nation, had been colonized by the British government, and for a decade, Americans had shown little resistance against the British colonizers. However, a decade after their conquest, the British forces and government in America had met resistance from the people, and these acts of resistance were triggered by a number of events and policies that further illustrated the growing inequality and injustices of the British to the Americans. As the American Revolution became successful, and America had finally achieved independence, the War of 1812 broke out, pitting the country once again against the British forces. The War of 1812 had also encountered problems that had happened before and during the development of the said war. These conflicts and major problems are essential to the study of American history because these major problems show a relationship on how America had emerged from a colonial to a free nation, and how it further expanded and developed to become a 'superpower' nation of the world. Economic, political, and social-civic problems have been the primary themes of the…… [Read More]

American History as it Relates to the

American history as it relates to the first five Presidents of the United States. Specifically, it will discuss the impact of early leaders of America on the democratic government, and how the first five presidents impacted early American government. It will also look at the accomplishments of each president and different facts about each that contributed positively and negatively on America as it formed as a nation. The first five presidents of the United States were George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Each man influenced American history in his own unique and significant ways, with both positive and negative results. These leaders were really creating the office of President as they tried to run the country with intelligence and finesse. Their accomplishments were not always perfect, but they did the best they could with the knowledge and resources available at the time.

THE IMPACT OF EARLY LEADERS

GEORGE WASHINGTON

When the electors selected George Washington as the nation's first president in 1789, the office was far different from the presidency today. Washington's presidency began by a vote of presidential electors, not the people. He did not have an official residence; John Adams was the first…… [Read More]