Different Periods of American History Overview, Essay Example

Introduction

Today, America is referred as a global superpower featuring the economy booms, new era of consumerism and revolutionary technological growth. Multiple interstate highways link the country like a transcontinental railroad right before a century and the country is a pioneer which has transformed the whole virgin territory to higher than a million acres of land every year for building the new suburbs. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the various significant fundamental movements of America and evaluate and discuss the frontier and latest West as the sites of modern cultural changes and collision. The paper describes how the people from different religions and nationalities have merged or crashed together by focusing on to the various crisis or frictions which rather resulted from various unrest or riots and also the fusions which led to the birth of whole new social and ethical culture.

Collision of people in the riot in Los Angeles 1992

Smith (1992) in his play ‘Twilight: Los Angeles’ is one of the highly effective one woman plays which depict the devastating human impact which created during the riots in Los Angeles which left the whole city with a higher level of tension.

Riots initiated by Black American are believed to have taken root from the weak sentence given to Korean-American shop owner Soon Ja Du for shooting Latasha Harlins, a black teen. According to publications like Time and Newsweek, these riots were due to racial antagonism resulting from the black people’s belief that Korean-American business owners were earning money from them but are rejecting black applicants. These perceptions were exaggerated when Du was sentenced only for five years’ probation with no jail time despite the manslaughter jury conviction (Leguin 67).

The nation-wide recession is another reason being considered for the rise of the riots? The recession resulted with high unemployment in the South Central Los Angeles area, and this adds to the already heavy problems of high poverty rates. The economic decline in the South Central District is being linked with the waning living conditions of the residents; this is according to the articles you can read from New York Times and Los Angeles Times. These issues only increase the resentments felt by the residents and triggered the rising riots (Rodriguez and Gomez-Pena).

According to Rodriguez and Gomez-Pena (2002) in his essay states that ” During the period of L.A riots in 1992, injustice, riots, destruction, looting and killing have become the integral part of the news on radio and television.” The progressing economic disparity in the Los Angeles area was explained by Mike Davis, a social commentator, as the reason that led to the riots, which in turn were caused by business restructuring and public deregulation wherein the city residents are the most affected. Such occurrences trigger the general frustration in the population making them feel terribly powerless to do anything to escape from the poverty they are experiencing, with the Du sentencing ultimately turning the general anger into violent collective public reaction. When the issues were analyzed by Davis and other writers, they came to the conclusion that the tensions between Black-American and Korean-Americans have something to do not only with the economic competition but also with the misunderstanding in cultures as well as the anger over the fatal shooting of Harlins (Tirman 52).

According to Bill Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, “violence resulted from the breakdown of economic opportunities and social institutions in the inner city”. This clearly indicates the two major political parties not being able to properly address some urban issues, particularly the Republican Administration for being responsible for over a decade of urban decay due to corruption. The King verdicts could not be retaliated with the use of savage actions of unruly vandals. People resorted to looting because they do not have the same values, and their children are growing up in a society unfamiliar from most; they live without much of anything like family, neighborhood, church, and sufficient without support.

More detailed evaluation of the unrest was presented by a Special Committee of the California Legislature in a study they called ‘To Rebuild is Not Enough’. This research was done extensively by the Committee and ended up in a conclusion that the conditions of poverty in the inner-city, lack of education, segregation, lack of employment opportunities, disparate consumer service and police brutality are the reasons for the unrest resulting to the riots (Rodriguez and Gomez-Pena).

The changes in the American economy as well as the progressing cultural diversity in Los Angeles are also seen as factors that caused urban dissatisfaction, which finally ended in the riots that spread through the street right after the King verdicts. The City Crisis is another official paper done by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners which also came to the same conclusion that the growing urban discontent led up to the growing unrest within the city.

Cultural clash

Cultural clash happens when two set of people who have been strangers are forced into the same existence. Traditionally, Europeans see other people as savages while Native Americans see strangers are some sort of gods. The arrival of the Europeans was prophesized by the Native Americans while the Europeans visualized and hoped to discover the perfect lands. To further explain this, Christopher Columbus thought that the Guanahani people were both physically and culturally exposed. This is of course not true, because these people also had their culture long before they were discovered. Because of this however, the encounters between Europeans and Native Americans were usually frighteningly vicious.

The analysis conducted by White (1992) discloses that the contradiction of two stories which however leaves the strong myth and analysis pioneers the efforts which focused on passive natural atmosphere civilization. The injustice done to native Americans cannot be denied, as proof to this, the 5 to 15 million population of native Americans in 1492 came down to 250,00 by 1900. This decrease in the Native American population was mainly due to disease, enslavement, exploitation, war and the systematic destruction of federal policies. Native American or Indians were viewed as sub-human race and they should be terminated or abolished from existence. The Indians were not legally recognized in the Americas. If the injustice given to the entire Indian race will be evaluated properly, there could be healing and remedied for the damages that the American Indians are still experiencing up to this day.

According to William Clinton (1997), “The divide of race has been America’s constant curse. And each new wave of immigrants gives new targets to old prejudices. Prejudice and contempt, cloaked in the pretense of religious or political conviction are no different. These forces have nearly destroyed our nation in the past”

As a matter of fact, since the invasion of the Europeans during the late part of the fifteenth century, Native Americans have encountered many problems resulting to multiple losses of lives, land ownership and social standing. Diseases are the major reason of loss of lives; the Europeans brought with the new diseases not known to the natives such as measles, small fox and influenza. Since the natives are not immunized against these diseases they have suffered terribly and lost many people especially the young ones. As invasion and colonization went on, Native Americans also became the victims of mass murder, enslavement or force labor, forceful relocation or extermination from their tribal lands and war. These are the factors that greatly contributed to the loss of 50 to 90 percent of the native people as the nineteenth century closed (Roban 12-45).

The Native American and the European occupation aided with the existence of some states like Virginia and Florida. The cultural dispute between the Indians and the Europeans was the start of the cultural melting pot that we live with presently. Despite the downfalls, like the spread of germs and diseases brought by the European that greatly reduced the populations of the natives by as much as 90 percent, there have been a lot of new immunities inherited by the generation that came after. Additionally, the great realms of the Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs, which had progressed through the centuries, were finished within just a few years, although new tribes were developed based on the similar customs and beliefs.

In general, the cultural dispute between the Native Americans and the Europeans had some positive effects in the success of the invasion of the Americas. In exchange for European technologies and religious teachings, the Native Americans provided their conquerors with new forms of food, art and music, which they were able to trade with other people from other parts of the world. This cultural clash also brought about the development of new religion and races. This dispute is a component for the cultural diversity in the Americas today.

The Creation of the U.S. Constitution

May 25, 1787, the cobblestone street in front of the Pennsylvania State House had a newly spread dirt covering to protect the men inside from the noise of passing carts and carriages. There were guards standing in attention at the entrances to make sure that the probing people were kept away. Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, who was the Revolution’s financier, started the proceedings with a nomination–Gen. George Washington was nominated for the Constitutional Convention presidency. There was unanimous vote. With utmost modesty, General Washington expressed his discomfiture because he believed that he lacks the qualifications to lead over such an imposing body and made advanced apologies for any mistakes which he might commit during the course of the deliberations (Rosier 12).

To most of those people assembled, particularly to James Madison, the small, boyish-looking, 36-year-old delegate from Virginia, the mere presence of the general augured well for the gathering, for the famous Washington provided the convention with a magical air of significance and authority. But the general’s decision to come to the convention had been an excruciating one. The Father of the Country had almost stayed home and missed the historical event.

General Washington, during that time was suffering from rheumatism while he was also unhappy with the death a brother, engrossed in the supervision of Mount Vernon, and was very much in doubt whether the convention would achieve much or if many men of social standing would be present. Because of these issues, the general postponed his acceptance for the convention for many months before finally consenting to attending. He was painfully torn between the risks of endangering his reputation to a convention that could be fated to failure and the probability that the people would consider his unwillingness to attend critically. In the end, the general decided to make the trip and no one is more pleases than James Madison (Elkins 12).

Forgotten founders”—the Americans Indians

The American Indians, principally those who belong to the Iroquois Confederation, supplied the founding fathers with most of the philosophies on which American democracy is founded. The interaction of significant statesmen with the Iroquois tribes and the statesmen’s involvement in quite a few agreements under the Great Law of Peace shaped a distinctive American political policy. This fresh approach of governing had its origins in the cultures of both Europeans and American Indians, which made the American government truly an exceptional combination. While most people identify the European legacy in contemporary American government, the influence of the Indians is more often than not ignored. Johansen says of America’s ties to the American Indians, that as far as the nation still carries the marks of its existence, the people of America are still all Indians, maybe not in blood, but in the views that shapes today’s’ political and social conclusions (Worsham 12-69).

Even though the Native American never attempted to indoctrinate the British as well as the other European settlers regarding their culture or trued to lead them in the way of their lives, the have been effective cultural exchanged that occurred. Johansen pointed out that American Indian relic are still very much in existences in the modern American society, with almost half of the contemporary agriculture products of America are from the legacy provided by the Native Americans; even most of the state are carrying Indian names. Ethnocentrisms of a lot of historians in combination with the ultimate domination and suppression of American Indians in years after the American Revolution have covered up the heritage of the contributions of the American Indians to post-revolutionary American life.

According to Felix Cohen, a historian and a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin, in agriculture, sport, government, education, and in the way the Americans view the nature and their fellow men, it is believed that the Native Americans were taken battlefield conquerors captive. The proof of this is that the early American settlers have effectively engaged in Indian culture and integrated it into their institutions that would provide for its proliferation to the next generations (Bailey 12-69).

Shickallemy, Hendrick and Canassatego, were three tremendously important associates of the Iroquois Grand Council. Conrad Weiser and Sir William Johnson were the two colonials that were inextricably connected with American Indian affairs. They joined the Grand Council to relay the proceedings to notables, which include Benjamin Franklin, who consequently relayed the American Indian values and proceedings to the colonials by using his printing business.

Canassatego was the most powerful among the Iroquois and he proposed the American unification. At the 1744 treaty at Lancaster he recommended for the unity of the American colonies. Johansen discussed the proceedings involving Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, and the exacting effects of their interaction with the Iroquois which eventually shaped their political views (Yung 12-36).

The New Frontier

During the acceptance speech during the 1960 U.S Presidential elections, John F Kennedy- the liberal Democratic candidate coined the term New Frontier. The convention was held at Los Angeles memorial Coliseum. The term was intended to garner the support of Americans for his candidature. The term became a hallmark of his administration’s foreign and domestic policies.

According to (Jou 23) “In creating a symbolic framework through which to perceive and understand social and historical processes in America, a few “actual folk”—frontiersmen, pioneers, soldiers, Indian-fighters, cowboys, outlaws, banditos, and gunslingers—emerged as the key symbolic figures in a national mythology.” Jou also expressed the term of New Frontiers as the special situation the nation was facing, “on the edge of the New Frontiers” which consisted of facing unknown perils and opportunities, unfulfilled hopes as well possible threats. He also referred to possibilities the science promised on the horizon and the unsolved circumstances of war and peace. And he also referred to the questions of poverty and abundance and that of people’s prejudices and ignorance (69).

Robert D. Marcus explains this statement as an indication of Kennedy’s ambition to remove poverty and also achieve shining success in space program (Rosier 25). Kennedy’s administration raised the unemployment benefits, provided the help for the city administrations to improve the transportation systems and housing. The projects started by Eisenhower to improve road network by national highway system were expanded with release of more funds and pollution control legislations were brought for the protection of rivers and streams in the country. There was a law to raise the agricultural income of the farmers. Social security and minimum wage benefits were increased as well as several bills were brought for housing and aid was given to distressed areas. Farmers were offered antirecession benefits as well as other types of supports were introduced. Some other important expansions of schemes and their improvements were made in Social Security scheme that made retirement age for men at 62 (Jones 12).

Other expansions were in the area of hospitals, libraries and family farm aid. There was reintroduction of food stamps for the poor people and there was increased distribution of food for the weaker section. Milk and school lunch scheme was expanded. There was an integrated farm legislation brought in to effect since 1938, which created massive expansion of rural electrification, crop insurance, soil conservation and farm credit. Arms Control and Disarmament was brought into existence in 1961 with aim to plan, negotiate and execute the international disarmament and arm control regime. Thus the New Frontier brought into existence broad range of social and economic changes.

20^th Century developments

There are variety of ethnic groups existing in the West bound by Mexican Border and Pacific ocean. Hawaii has the unique distinction of being the only state in US where Asian Americans are in greater numbers than white Americans. Starting from the period of Gold Rush and other important developments such as transcontinental railroad, agriculture and high technology, there has been high rate of immigration of Asians who settled in California and surrounding coastal states in the 19^th century. These border states- California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas have large number of Hispanics and this is seen by the numerous Spanish names for the places in the region. Other states in southwestern regions like Utah, Colorado and Nevada also have significant Hispanic populations and here also there are names indicating the history of these places connected to Mexican territories. Mexican Americans are also having presence in significant numbers in Washington and Oregon states and in the state of Oklahoma.

With their population spread in reservation areas in mountain and desert states, the native Americans are present in significant numbers in the West. Large chunks of Black Americans are found concentrated in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Colorado Springs. The northernmost state of US, Alaska- is a vast land where few people inhabit the immense stretch of this land; many of these are natives who are residing in national parks and as wildlife refuges. The location of Hawaii makes it an important gateway to US from Asia and as a destination for tourism (Elkins 69).

Pacific Coast states consist of wide areas where you find many towns, forest lands and farms- all of which are served by big port cities. These have been developed as global centers for technology driven industries and media. Los Angeles, the second largest city in USA, is well known for Hollywood film industry and the nearby area was home to aerospace industry during the Second World War. However, Boeing, located in Washington state dominates the aerospace industry. Growth of Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area comprising Silicon Valley and the famed high tech center of USA have made California the most populous state in USA. Rise of Being industries and Microsoft as well as agriculture based industries have resulted in rapid growth of Washington and Oregon. The states which have large tracts of mountains and deserts are sparsely populated but are recently getting urbanized due to the development of mining and ranches. These have evolved into individualistic cultures and are working to have balance among development, urbanization and environment (Jones 89).

According to Brown (2000) “What good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive Republic, studded with cities, towns, and prosperous farms, embellished with all the improvements which art can devise or industry execute, . . . and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization, and religion” (69).

The year 1890 saw the end of the frontiers with advent of automobiles which made it possible for an average American visit the West. US Route 66 was promoted by Western businessmen to facilitate tourism and industry in the West. In 1950s, Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Western Heritage Center were built by representatives of western states with aim to showcase the western culture and welcome people from East. More travelers from East were arriving with building of transcontinental highway in latter half of 20^th century. There were reports of oil booms in Texas and Oklahoma which rivaled in lawlessness with the earlier mining camps and of the Dust Bowl that forced people further to the west. The movies were turning to be chief source of entertainment replacing the dime novel. In later period, Hollywood in Los Angeles was center of mass media like radio and television.

California is not only the most populous city but is a great economy ranking 10^th in the world. Settlement boom in the late 19^th century and 20^th century made created two areas- the Greater Los Angeles, Southern California and the San Francisco bay Area in North California area, which are among the largest metropolitan areas in the country and also are among top 25 largest urban regions in the world. Denver, Phoenix and Seattle are three other metropolitan cities having more than a million residents. Las Vegas, Salt Lake and Portland metropolitan areas are known for showing the fastest growth in the region.

Even with the segregation, there have been issues like police brutality and racial profiling, because of racial shift and illegal immigration. These have resulted in racially triggered riots such as Los Angeles riots in 1992 and Watt riots in 1965. Still, the west has known for its open mindedness and for being one of the racially progressive regions in the USA.

Los Angeles is home to large number of Mexicans, next only to Mexico and San Francisco is home to largest Chinese community and has gay population as well. Long Beach has large Black community while Oakland has considerable population of African Americans. About 62.4% of the people living in the state of Utah are Mormons. Cities of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, and Spokane, Washington comprise of native American tribes as well as natives from Hawaii and Alaska presents a picture of great diversity of races. Overall, despite the series of ups and downs in social, political and cultural domain, today America has emerged out to be one of the developed countries in the world by accomplishing the remarkable economic and political growth.

Part 2 – Review Evaluation

Atlas, ed., How They See Us: Meditations on America – B

It is well known yet less talked fact that pre-Copernican universe still exists in America. The book has brought 17 different writers on a single platform with different view point but a single motto of discovering oneself in the mode of celebrating the US virtues. James Atlas is showing the world why America is ‘The America’.

Blaisdell, ed., Great Speeches by Native Americans -B

Bob Blaisdell has done a remarkable task by compiling all the great 82 speeches by Native Americans. It shows the culture, historical events, geographical distances and a lot. A well-researched and selective speeches of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, Tecumseh and many other faces of America features in the book

Carroll, ed. Letters of a Nation -A

Andrew Collins has done a justice by publishing a unique collection of over 200 timeless letters. It depicts the American history of the past 350 years. Letters of Presidents, soldiers, revolutionaries, slaves, religious leaders and other artists got the place in the extraordinary book. Emotions, feelings, anger, state of affair, and all the emotions of American history are rightfully framed in the marvel piece. 

Cumings, Dominion from Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power-C

Bruce Cummins with his pen has tried to show the world, the dominance of American power over the Pacific and the Atlantic. The book throws light on how the two great oceans have played a role in shaping the growth of industries, politics, global rise and military power in America.

Katz., ed., Why Freedom Matters -A

Daniel R Katz authored the book “Why Freedom Matters” in concurrence with the declaration of independence. It showcases the freedom in a celebrating note with mentioning of over 100 great speeches, poems, letters and patriotic songs. It is mass collection from the people of the entire sphere of life and profession.

Limerick and White, The Frontier in American Culture -B

People have preset images of American frontier with wagon trains, log cabins and , cowboys. Richard White and Patricia Nelson Limerick have casted the incident of Columbian Exposition of 1893 and showed that even during the time of crisis, and denials, the frontier image of USA is always united.

O’Hearn, ed., Half-Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural -A

Biracial and Biculture is getting common word in daily vocabulary. The writes with the medium of this book have tried to jot down 18 different essays like connecting stories focusing of the personal experience of those who faced the real meaning of racial difference. Living in two halves world is a difficult situation.

Smith, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 -A

The book was one of the finest creations of Anna Deaver Smith focusing the riots of Los Angeles in 1992. She has beautifully portrayed the entire incident on how a judge acquitted a Hispanic LAPD office and 3 whites for beating a black motorcycle rider Rodney King. For the next 6 days, LA was witness to massive loot, murder and assault.

Part III

Study on American history has brought a wide and interesting platform which features various revolutions, historical changes, political ups and downs, ethical and cultural clashes due to diversified culture and more. Personally, I strongly believe that study on American history is not a course which can be completed within a particular period of time but rather a deep analysis of this country which has today emerged out to be the powerful countries in the world leads to a path which makes one contemplate and question various historical and political changes and decisions.

The book written by Bruce Cumings, “Domination from sea to sea” is one of the most effective readings which helped me reconstruct and analyze my stands and views on American history. The book sweeps the reader throughout the space and time recounting the American perspective of Pacific and its history with exclusive attention on California. The book by Richard White and Patrichia” The Adventures of the Frontier in the Twentieth Century,” in The Frontier in American Culture “ is another considerable reading which beautifully illustrates two main nation’s western historians offering provocative and brilliant insight into why exactly the frontier featured such a problematic and longstanding hole on country’s national thought.

The book by James Atlas “How They See Us: Meditations on America” is another reading which fill a required vacuum in which most of the Americans don’t just think on or realize the how exactly the remaining world sees them. The book features immense frustration and anger especially concerned with Bush invasion and policies after 9/11. Overall, the above mentioned books are some of the highly inspiring and provocative readings which have made me widen by spectrum of thinking even after the completion of the course.

References

Bailey, Amy Kate. “Practicing What They Preach? Lynching and Religion in the American South, 1890-1929.” American Journal of Sociology; (2011): 12-69.

Brown, John. “”Our Indian Wars Are Not Over Yet” Ten Ways to Interpret the War on Terror as a Frontier Conflict.” (2000): 10-69.

Rosier, Paul. “Serving their Country.” American Indian culture and Patiriotism in the 20th century (2009): 12-25.

Elkins, Jennifer. “Wicasa Was’aka : Restoring the Traditional Strength of American Indian Boys and Men.” American Journal of Public Health (2012): 12-69.

Jones, Diane. “The City of the Dead: The Place of Cultural Identity and Environmental Sustainability in the African-American Cemetery.” Landscape Journal; 10 (2011): 12-89.

Leguin, Ursula. “Chinese Must Go.” On the Frontier (2004): 56-90. Roban, Jonathan. “Driving Home.” 11 (2010): 12-45.

Rodriguez, Richard and Guillermo Gomez-Pena. LA Riots : decades of Revolution. Los Angeles: Chalice Press, 2002.

Stephenson, Barry. “Swaggering Savagery and the New Frontier.” Journal of Religion and popular culture (2007): 23.

Tirman, John. “The Future of the American Frontier.” American Scholar (2009): 45-90.

White, Richard. The Frontier in American Culture. Los Angeles: Weekly publishers, 1994.

Worsham, Jeff. ” Pet Sounds: Subsystems, Regimes, Policy Punctuations, and the Neglect of African American Farmers, 1935-2006.” Policy Studies Journal (2012): 12-69. Yung, Paul. “Who is my neighbour.” (1992): 12-36.