There are numerous historical, political and cultural factors which have influenced the development of United States which we are seeing in present days. Three most significant factors influenced the America in present time are the ‘Discovery of America’, ‘Declaration of Independence of the nation’ and ‘Black Nationalism’.
Talking on the political factor, the ‘Declaration of Independence of the nation’ is very prominent. The declaration was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. The Declaration of Independence is at that time was the most remarkable mark of liberty for the nation and Jefferson's most persistent monument. Jefferson has expressed splendid and unforgettable phrases by considering the convictions in American
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The Black Nationalism is defined as complex, fluid, and henceforth multidimensional. According to Robert and Shaw, 2002, in the field of economic autonomy, numerous Black Nationalists have invigorated African Americans to support and develop black-owned businesses. Besides, Black Nationalists have pursued cultural autonomy characteristically through the repossession of an African past. “Symbolic black American ties with a perceived African homeland have been a continuing feature of black political history” according to the same source. Comparing singularity and complexity of Black Nationalism, Black Nationalism has at least two fundamental dimensions which are separatist nationalism and community nationalism. Categories of age, gender and class are used to differentiate Black support for community versus Separatist Nationalism. “First, younger blacks are more open to rebellious ideas like black separatism because they have smaller number of reference points and inhibitions to discourage them. Then, the racial focus of black separatism possibly appeals more to an intense minority of black men than to a majority of black women. Analyzing the structure of Black Nationalism, there are eight variables to develop the community nationalism and separate nationalism factors. In black owned stores only blacks should shop. For governments and economy in black areas only blacks should have control and blacks should depend among themselves and not others. In politics, blacks should vote for black candidates, form their own political party, have their own separate nation besides they should form a nation within a nation” according to the same source. This reveals the dimensions of Black Nationalism which has influenced the culture in the development of United
However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained
Since the 1880?s, when European nations colonized Africa, Europe had almost complete control over the continent, but this changed during the 1950?s and 60?s. By 1958, ten African countries had gained their independence, and sixteen more joined the list in 1960 alone. Although these nations? gain of independence demonstrates the ability of blacks to overpower their white oppressors, Baldwin argues ?The word ?independence? in Africa and the word ?integration? here are almost equally meaningless; that is, Europe has not yet left Africa, and black men here are not yet free? (336). While black people had been legally free in the United States since 1863, two decades before the European colonization of Africa, they were still not truly free, almost a century later.
And so, as he inquires about the safety of America and its liberties he must take time to see how his role is crucial in americas potential downfall. In the paragraph of Query 18 Jefferson asks the question “can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?” This rhetorical question shows how the effects of groupthink and how it negatively affected the masses and allowed individuals like Jeffersons to encourage the act of slavery yet, use the idea of America and its government as a scapegoat. Additionally, by admitting that “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever:” Jefferson shows that he knows exactly what he is doing and that his actions have repercussions and that he has fell victim to Internalisation Conformity. Internalisation Conformity “when one adopts the ideas and actions of which it is composed - is intrinsically rewarding. He adopts the induced behavior because it is congruent [consistent] with his value system' (Kelman, 1958)” As readers read Query 18 they are able to see that although jefferson fears for the safety and the sanctity of his country he is unable to put a stop to slavery because of his enjoyment of being a master and his
The author, a renowned American historian, presents an exciting and dramatic narrative of the year of the birth of the nation. He interweaves the actions and decisions that saw the British lead the war against the rebellious subjects that put the survival of America at the discretion of George Washington. The author tells a human version aspect if the story with accounts of those who walked alongside George Washington in the Declaration of Independence year. This was a time when the whole reason for Americans was based on the possibility of success. The book points out that without the hope of success, the whole idea of independence would have slipped away and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence would have been nothing but words on paper.
Allen goes on to explain and support his views on black neocolonialism. He does so by illustrating his views of black power, from the original conception of the term, and the history of effort towards giving the black community political influence. Continuing from this ...
Although the Edwards excerpt sentence involved fear, emotional deception and mental deception to obtain the audiences full attention, the opening sentence of Jefferson's Declaration gives the audience a much different approach to procure the audiences focus. Jefferson's opening sentence has a mild tone of diction, for the beginning of an informative speech. The eloquent words highly imposed among the s...
Wilentz, Sean. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Thomas Jefferson." The New Republic Mar 10 1997: 32-42. ProQuest. Web. 17 Jan. 2014 .
In the making of the United States, there were many events that are important. This paper intends to highlight a few of those events including; Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Federalist Papers. Many events in America’s history helped to establish the United States as a free and independent country. The Declaration of Independence in particular explains the rights and freedoms that Americans. Each document is like a stepping stones that leads to the next and building upon the pervious document.
The concepts of Reform and Revolution are nearly polarizing by their very nature, with one seeking to modify, and the other seeking to destroy and rebuild. If an organized Black movement was to find itself in an opportunistic position -whatever that may be- with which to attempt a radical movement (in either case; reform or revolution, the resulting movement would need to be large and radical if it would hope to accomplish its goals before the opportunity for change ceases to present itself) it would only serve to befall their efforts if they found themselves in a splintered state of conflicting ideologies. But, in either case, be it reform or revolution, a reconfiguring of the thought processes behind how one looks at the nature of American politics is undoubtedly necessary in order to look into the potential for future Black liberation.
Jefferson’s use of strategies and language is ineffective in making his points and persuading readers of his arguments. Using hasty generalization, begging the question, and insulting language in his analysis is a huge flaw which lessens the credibility of his argument and offenses his readers. Jefferson should use other argumentative strategies and prevent himself from using insulting language in order to convince readers of his arguments.
Although an effort is made in connecting with the blacks, the idea behind it is not in understanding the blacks and their culture but rather is an exploitative one. It had an adverse impact on the black community by degrading their esteem and status in the community. For many years, the political process also had been influenced by the same ideas and had ignored the black population in the political process (Belk, 1990). America loves appropriating black culture — even when black people themselves, at times, don’t receive much love from America.
Lawrence, L. (2007). Black Culture and Black Consciousness: Afro-American Folk Thought from Slavery to Freedom. London: Sage Publishers.
9.) Smallwood, A. (n.d.). Black Nationalism and the Call for Black Power. African World Press. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/prba/perspectives/fall1999/asmallwood.pdf
“… Strong Black Nationalism: The political program of black solidarity and voluntary separation under conditions of equality and self-determination is a worthwhile end in itself, a constitutive and enduring component of the collective self-realization of black as people”
The focus on ethnic schema is how individuals are collectively protecting and fighting for their interest as a group, which has led to ranking such as minority groups depending on their indomitable strength over others. The new system of ethnic schema promotes ethnic identity that is imperative to ones well- being. However, the shift from race to ethnic group has been implicated with the concern on historical issues. The members of certain groups are not only concerned with their past but also their interaction with members of other ethnic group (Blu, 1979). History has been termed as an important feature that describes an ethnic group based on their shared experiences and traditions and of common heritage. However, in terms of racial classification, history is rendered irrelevant since race is a biological construct. History as asserted by on the African Americans women has been the potent feature that symbolises ethnicity structure among