American Identity In The 20th Century
Throughout the course of the semester, the American identity has been influenced over three hundred years of the existence from colonist to the 20th century ideologists in order to improve the way of life in America. From the colonial period, one individual helped formulate the American perspective and help provide cause for the future Bill of Rights. During the tough period of slavery in the South, the United States was spilt whether slavery should be abolished. The President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a major individual who protested against slavery and did everything in his authority in order to prevent slavery to continue. As America evolved into the 20th century, and major influx of immigrants were coming and helping the country to grow economically as well as culturally. Another President that helped bring America together as well as continue to grow its identity was Franklin D. Roosevelt. These three individuals have left a major footprint in the country’s history as well as political and social culture.
As America was beginning their colonial period and starting to establish their own personal identity. Many individuals were political changers …show more content…
as well as help guide America to its current path of ethics and regulations. John Winthrop was an English-born and arrived in Massachusetts. In the colony of Massachusetts, Boston was major importing and business town, however, there was no major central form of government as well as regulations. John Winthrop noticed that culture that was present in the European countries concerning the religious barrier between the Protestants and Catholics. Since the Protestant Reformation, Europe has been spilt the two branches of the Christian faith, which has transferred in the colony of Massachusetts.
As John Winthrop became the Governor of the colony of Massachusetts, he wrote the Model of Christian Charity. In the document that he wrote to his fellow colonists, he stated, “Thirdly, the end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord; the comfort and increase of the body of Christ.” As this document was directed to both sectors of Christianity, he tried to combine the general ideology of the two beliefs and fuse them in order to get along with each other, because of God’s presence in our lives. He also continues to describe that the colonists should become more Christ-like, because in the Gospels, Jesus is shown to be peaceful to majority of his interactions with different types of individuals, thus it should be the same for colonists.
Overall Massachusetts was a Puritan colony, however there were Catholic families living in the colony which caused a lot of tension as well as problems due to discrimination. Therefore, in the Winthrop Papers, it states that despite religion differences, Catholic and Protestants, thus being in the colony is a place of refuge. John Winthrop wanted everyone despite religion in order to live in peace, because he wanted to create the colony of Massachusetts free of the problems facing in England and throughout the European world.
An individual in the 19th century that has displayed American Identity would be President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln help build America as well as not being afraid to protect the slave community who were desperately suffering in the Southern part of the Country. President Lincoln strengthened the American Identity in order to fight for the civil rights of individuals, who do not have a majority say in the time period. Many political individuals in the 1800s were wanting to help the slaves and being able for them to be emancipated, however many of them were senators and even though they had a strong voice, convincing the President of the United States as well as the rest of the House of Representatives is difficult.
Even though the American Identity was tarnished due to the Civil War, however it is necessary fighting the Confederates during the Civil War, in order to protect the human rights of the everyone living in the United States despite race and skin color. In the Bill of Rights as well as the Declaration of Independence it discusses how people should be free and not being restrained by another human. President Lincoln had the urge to help the most people as possible in all means, even if it is going to war with the southern part of the country. Merrill Peterson a historian in the list of opinion biographies about Lincoln stating, “Lincoln…was a humanist; an American humanist. Truly Lincoln has the background of a true American and what it means to be an American just by reading his speeches and understanding this actions. President Lincoln wanted everyone in the country to have equal right despite religion, race and color.
Finally, during the beginning of the 20th century, America has been rapidly changing due to the large immigration from many different nationalities that wanted to come to the United States to start a new life as well as being able to begin anything they desired.
As America started to become a labor working economy and factories were constantly operating producing goods that would be shipped throughout the country, the financial economy had fallen drastically and being able to bounce back was very difficult. The great financial drop also known as the Great Depression, impacted everyone in the United States, whether be poor or rich. As banks close and could not be able to provide its own customers the money they had in the bank accounts, the economy of the United States had fallen the worst in
history.
As the President of the United States during the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was his major duty to help the individuals who were suffering within the cities, trying to maintain a long exhausting job, while hoping to provide a meal for their families. However, as the United States had entered an economic turndown and soon entered another world war. The United States did not want to participate in the Second World War, due to the financial setback it is currently experiencing as well as not having a large military. As the attacks happened on Pearl Harbor, it was inevitable that the United States needed to enter this World War and go against those who committed these attacks. The United States economy was not in the best position entering the war, however, President Roosevelt had thought strategically in order to prevent the United States’ economy to decrease further. President Roosevelt had enlisted the draft where individuals who were eligible to enlist were a part of the military. Most of America was turned into a military country, where men and women were working in order to serve their country to the best of their ability. The American Identity of hard working individuals in order to support their country was founded and originated by President Roosevelt. During the President’s annual State of the Union Address, President Roosevelt reminded Americans throughout the United States as well as in the Senate and House, the Four Freedoms we have as Americans. He states, “The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.” Surely, the United States has this freedom as the first Constitutional Amendment, however, many countries even to this day do not have the equal free right of freedom of speech. President Roosevelt continues to list the other three, however the first freedom is surely one of many ideas that makes America so beautiful. While describing each influential individual story and how they represent the American identity. Each have many similar qualities, for example they all have been a part of the government, whether it may be state or federal. Another similarity that they are all share the ability to be free in some manner that comprises of the American way of life and being able promote freedom without any constraints in life. John Winthrop’s document and President Lincoln’s actions as the Commander in Chief of the United States are very similar when protecting the minority sectors of the community, as well as persuading people to be understanding. Both President Lincoln and Roosevelt both make a major point about freedom and how the American culture strives on its freedom and being able to provide citizens with the ability to practice religion and speech. However, each individual needs to be different as well as the tone of the content that is being addressed to the public is distinguished. John Winthrop’s document allows people to mediate as well as being forceful in order to help direct people’s thoughts and action to the good, while being followers of Christ. President Lincoln was a strong humanist and wanted to abolish slavery and it was shown that when he was giving speeches at Gettysburg and throughout the country, he was forceful and did not want this culture to continue on. Lastly, President Roosevelt during the times of World War II, he wanted to motivate people as well as giving the American citizens hope in order to have a strong moral between the frontlines as well as those who are helping the soldiers fighting in an indirect way. Each individual had a different time period as well as a different congregation that they were addressing to, therefore due to their similarities and differences they were wanting to preserve and grow the American Identity.
As America was beginning their colonial period and starting to establish their own personal identity. Many individuals were political changers …show more content…
as well as help guide America to its current path of ethics and regulations. John Winthrop was an English-born and arrived in Massachusetts. In the colony of Massachusetts, Boston was major importing and business town, however, there was no major central form of government as well as regulations. John Winthrop noticed that culture that was present in the European countries concerning the religious barrier between the Protestants and Catholics. Since the Protestant Reformation, Europe has been spilt the two branches of the Christian faith, which has transferred in the colony of Massachusetts.
As John Winthrop became the Governor of the colony of Massachusetts, he wrote the Model of Christian Charity. In the document that he wrote to his fellow colonists, he stated, “Thirdly, the end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord; the comfort and increase of the body of Christ.” As this document was directed to both sectors of Christianity, he tried to combine the general ideology of the two beliefs and fuse them in order to get along with each other, because of God’s presence in our lives. He also continues to describe that the colonists should become more Christ-like, because in the Gospels, Jesus is shown to be peaceful to majority of his interactions with different types of individuals, thus it should be the same for colonists.
Overall Massachusetts was a Puritan colony, however there were Catholic families living in the colony which caused a lot of tension as well as problems due to discrimination. Therefore, in the Winthrop Papers, it states that despite religion differences, Catholic and Protestants, thus being in the colony is a place of refuge. John Winthrop wanted everyone despite religion in order to live in peace, because he wanted to create the colony of Massachusetts free of the problems facing in England and throughout the European world.
An individual in the 19th century that has displayed American Identity would be President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln help build America as well as not being afraid to protect the slave community who were desperately suffering in the Southern part of the Country. President Lincoln strengthened the American Identity in order to fight for the civil rights of individuals, who do not have a majority say in the time period. Many political individuals in the 1800s were wanting to help the slaves and being able for them to be emancipated, however many of them were senators and even though they had a strong voice, convincing the President of the United States as well as the rest of the House of Representatives is difficult.
Even though the American Identity was tarnished due to the Civil War, however it is necessary fighting the Confederates during the Civil War, in order to protect the human rights of the everyone living in the United States despite race and skin color. In the Bill of Rights as well as the Declaration of Independence it discusses how people should be free and not being restrained by another human. President Lincoln had the urge to help the most people as possible in all means, even if it is going to war with the southern part of the country. Merrill Peterson a historian in the list of opinion biographies about Lincoln stating, “Lincoln…was a humanist; an American humanist. Truly Lincoln has the background of a true American and what it means to be an American just by reading his speeches and understanding this actions. President Lincoln wanted everyone in the country to have equal right despite religion, race and color.
Finally, during the beginning of the 20th century, America has been rapidly changing due to the large immigration from many different nationalities that wanted to come to the United States to start a new life as well as being able to begin anything they desired.
As America started to become a labor working economy and factories were constantly operating producing goods that would be shipped throughout the country, the financial economy had fallen drastically and being able to bounce back was very difficult. The great financial drop also known as the Great Depression, impacted everyone in the United States, whether be poor or rich. As banks close and could not be able to provide its own customers the money they had in the bank accounts, the economy of the United States had fallen the worst in
history.
As the President of the United States during the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was his major duty to help the individuals who were suffering within the cities, trying to maintain a long exhausting job, while hoping to provide a meal for their families. However, as the United States had entered an economic turndown and soon entered another world war. The United States did not want to participate in the Second World War, due to the financial setback it is currently experiencing as well as not having a large military. As the attacks happened on Pearl Harbor, it was inevitable that the United States needed to enter this World War and go against those who committed these attacks. The United States economy was not in the best position entering the war, however, President Roosevelt had thought strategically in order to prevent the United States’ economy to decrease further. President Roosevelt had enlisted the draft where individuals who were eligible to enlist were a part of the military. Most of America was turned into a military country, where men and women were working in order to serve their country to the best of their ability. The American Identity of hard working individuals in order to support their country was founded and originated by President Roosevelt. During the President’s annual State of the Union Address, President Roosevelt reminded Americans throughout the United States as well as in the Senate and House, the Four Freedoms we have as Americans. He states, “The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.” Surely, the United States has this freedom as the first Constitutional Amendment, however, many countries even to this day do not have the equal free right of freedom of speech. President Roosevelt continues to list the other three, however the first freedom is surely one of many ideas that makes America so beautiful. While describing each influential individual story and how they represent the American identity. Each have many similar qualities, for example they all have been a part of the government, whether it may be state or federal. Another similarity that they are all share the ability to be free in some manner that comprises of the American way of life and being able promote freedom without any constraints in life. John Winthrop’s document and President Lincoln’s actions as the Commander in Chief of the United States are very similar when protecting the minority sectors of the community, as well as persuading people to be understanding. Both President Lincoln and Roosevelt both make a major point about freedom and how the American culture strives on its freedom and being able to provide citizens with the ability to practice religion and speech. However, each individual needs to be different as well as the tone of the content that is being addressed to the public is distinguished. John Winthrop’s document allows people to mediate as well as being forceful in order to help direct people’s thoughts and action to the good, while being followers of Christ. President Lincoln was a strong humanist and wanted to abolish slavery and it was shown that when he was giving speeches at Gettysburg and throughout the country, he was forceful and did not want this culture to continue on. Lastly, President Roosevelt during the times of World War II, he wanted to motivate people as well as giving the American citizens hope in order to have a strong moral between the frontlines as well as those who are helping the soldiers fighting in an indirect way. Each individual had a different time period as well as a different congregation that they were addressing to, therefore due to their similarities and differences they were wanting to preserve and grow the American Identity.