3. What reasons does Moyers cite as to why Americans might not be interested in the study of history?Do you think he’s correct? Explain.…
“Our values are a way of giving freedom to our people.…
Crèvecoeur’s Letters from an American Farmer described America as a melting pot of Europeans. Like Crèvecoeur, many white Americans excluded blacks from their conception of the American people. Crèvecoeur’s idea that the United States was a nation of individuals that are melted into one is accurate to a certain extent. The United States, at the time, was truly diverse and filled with inhabitants of all parts of Europe. Those same individuals practiced a variety of beliefs and cultural practices that has aided in the efforts of shaped the nation into what it is today. However, when Crèvecoeur’s goes on to comment on how the Americans left behind “ancient prejudices” to receive new ones, I truly believe that his remarks are exaggerated. If the inhabitants of the United States had truly abandoned their old beliefs slavery would have been abolished as soon as the Declaration of Independence was…
6. Identify two American history themes that are highlighted in this chapter. Name the themes and explain how it is seen in this chapter. See list of themes below or on pages 17-28 of PDF: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-us-history-course-and-exam-description.pdf…
The late Howard Zinn is a much respected historian. His views are known to be bold and nonetheless controversial. In his book, “A People’s History of the United States,” Zinn touches on topics such as indentured servants, angry civilians, and the United States Constitution.…
Where to begin with the multitude of facts left out? Such hints equating material inequities with injustice abound in Zinn’s history. Zinn banks on the fact that schools produce graduates with only “a smattering of knowledge about the American past” at best—and almost no understanding about the foundations and intellectual history of our government. Other questions come up in regards to the rationale of our system of government. Zinn, in what has now become standard practice, indicts the founders for leaving out of the idea of all men being “created equal” black men, property-less men, and women. Then he preempts the reply that such exclusions have since been corrected by claiming that The problem of democracy in the post-Revolutionary society was not, however, Constitutional limitations on voting. It lay deeper, beyond the Constitution, in the division of society into rich and poor. For if some people had great wealth and great influence; if they had the land, the money, the newspapers, the church, the educational system—how could voting, however broad, cut into such power? There was still another problem: wasn’t it the nature of representative government, even when most broadly based, to be conservative, to prevent tumultuous change?20 Indeed, this sets up the basis for the rest of Zinn’s critique through over 700 tedious pages. All of Zinn’s analyses of succeeding events and developments follow from the flawed premise and the unwillingness to acknowledge the fact that his question had already been answered by the founders. Differences arise also from Zinn’s goals. Zinn is after “tumultuous change.” He seeks to overthrow the government rather than reform it. And he will display this view in his academic activities, especially when it comes to the civil rights movement. The need for “tumultuous” change will inform like-minded radicals who will keep raising the bar even as…
Explain how historians have differed on interpreting Williams and his impact on American History. 3 examples. Which position is most convincing? Why?…
Thomas Jefferson, a prime example of an original American politician, put many motions into action in regard to the creation of this new land. One of Jefferson’s greatest accomplishments is the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. This single document made way for the American Revolution to set sail and succeed. Within this piece of writing, Jefferson declared that “all men are created equal” (Jefferson 762). Though this statement, Jefferson put the image of equality and freedom in sight. He also writes of the American people as “a people who mean to be free” (Jefferson 343). These statements laid the foundation of the ideas behind the creation of this document and the reasoning behind its…
The United States continually reuses the western narrative as a uniquely white American concept. In almost every case, they mean a “white wild west” with Native Americans as a single people being the antagonist. Through these stories, the United States’ cultural values that so many of the population idealize are created and reaffirmed in these stereotypical narratives. In reality, the West was never completely white at all; rather, the West had people from all walks of life living and trying to succeed all over its region. Through three different texts, they each reaffirm the idea that the West was racially and culturally diverse, even when propaganda and other mediums advertised a “white West.”…
7. Create a table of Jackson’s Indian-related activities and their significance prior to his presidency (treaties, land speculation, etc.)…
Vivian: The Declaration of Independence says, that all men are given unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.…
To understand culture and race in America, one must look back at its foundation. America’s history is one full of racial degradation and horrific abuse justified through racism. From mass genocide of the native people of this land to abducting Africans and forcing them to be the backbone of the American economy as…
1) Describe the main arguments, reasons, and evidence that support the perspective of Historian A.…
In the 19th century the “Victorian” or “genteel” culture was brought in from England when Victoria ruled. The genteel reformers took charge to inculcate characteristics such as moral integrity, self-control, sober earnestness, industriousness. Forming an alliance with between the “high” and “middle” classes, the genteel culture took its place as the “official” culture in America. The transition of the American culture was brought on by a new generation rebelling and becoming “impatient with the intellectual and emotional restraints, stifled by the insulating comforts of genteel middle-class existence” (6). These limitations brought out many changes in Afro-American music, violent sports, and a new wave of literature breaking many of the genteel…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”…