An Ideal Society Transfixed, I watch, as the reporter recounts in great length, the occurrence of grim social events. Shocked and saddened by the daily broadcast of bleak narratives; I began to question the present state of societal affairs. What is amiss to cause such tremendous dysfunction within our environment? First, we must ask ourselves, what is environmental dysfunction? The environment, defined as the circumstances, conditions, or objects that surround us, represents the society in which we live (“Environment”). Sociological dysfunction is described as an effect of a social practice or behavior pattern that undermines the stability of a social system (“dysfunction”). So, how do we trigger social and cultural progression, or cause …show more content…
On the contrary, a great society has improved education and curriculum to equip its citizens with the skills to make technological advancements. A great society believes that preparation is a necessity for future endeavors. Children begin grade school level learning at home as a toddler. All schools programs are designed to provide the most comprehensive learning experience to develop the student’s mental and physical capabilities and talents. To promote further development, afterschool programs for art, dance, and tutoring are available in every community. Ongoing education is encouraged. Career-driven individuals have the options to attend college, workshops or training sessions that are free of charge. A great society uses educational tools to build self-esteem, confidence and increase the opportunity for higher achievement and greater economic …show more content…
However, in the current state of society, income is disproportionate among social classes and the upper class consists of only 1% of the population. I can only surmise, from these facts that the well-known aphorism, “Rich keep getting richer, and the poor just keep getting poorer” provides an accurate depiction of today’s economic condition. Evidently, low to mid class workers are barely able to eke a meager living; they have become intolerant to unfair business practices and begun to speak out. Similarly, President Andrew Jackson understood the need for social changes in fiscal distribution, as stated during his Veto Message Regarding the Bank of the United States: ……every man is entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society—the farmers, mechanics, and laborers—who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government (Stephanopoulos and Waldman
One of the Jacksonian Democrats’ attempts to reduce the influence of the rich was by vetoing the charter to the Bank of the United States. Jackson stated his reasons in Document B mainly as a precaution of...
Being educated can help people earn their living and be more responsible. Nowadays, education level is one of the most important requirements and comparative advantage for searching a job. The people who finish higher education, they would have more opportunity. Just like the author Wes’s father, “he finally had the chance to host his own public affairs show. And he’d hired a new writing assistant. Her name was Joy.”(12) After graduate from Bard College, his father gained more opportunities to realize his dream, being on television. Studying in college, we can learn the professional skill and know more about the
Jackson was a strong opponent of the unequal and aristocrat dominated economic structure of most of America. He was very against the Bank of America because he believed it to have a monopoly on banking and felt that it was owned and run unjustly by wealthy aristocrats who were not always Americans (B). It must also be noted however, that while the Bank of America was undoubtedly corrupt (Nicholas Biddle is known to have given sums of money to close friends, and was also known to regularly bribe newspapers and similar media.) it also did what it was supposed to do very well. It provided money and credit to many of the lower classes that Jackson defended, and also was the source of much economic growth. As a result of this veto Jackson established pet banks in many Western areas to try to appease his main group of supporters and build up the rivalry between the agrarian South and West and the industrial North (C). Many immigrants found that one of the first things they discovered upon entering America was a sense of economic equality and lack of poverty, which are exactly the things Jackson was working towards (D). The case Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge decided that a charter given a person or group to do a service does not allow that group to have complete rights over this service. This decision supports the Jacksonian Democracy ideas that the rights of the community are more important than the rights of business (H).
In changing the United States banking policy, Jackson “extends the grasp of (the chief executive) over every power of government”, and ultimately “[inflamed] the poor against the rich” (DBQ). Jackson’s attempt to transform the US banking system allowed him to extend his power. Because Jackson controlled all governmental power, he made decisions with solely a single perspective. Thus, too much power within the executive branch led to Jackson’s unrepresentative decisions. Because Jackson’s decision was unrepresentative, it led to negative consequences, evoking disagreement between the wealthy and poor. Therefore, checks and balances are necessary to ensure that one branch of government does not abuse its power, making one-sided decisions. As Jackson was electing officials, he disregarded Van Buren’s message that “Swartwout had “criminal tendencies”” and appointed Swartwout “because he had been an early supporter”. However, “Swartwout absconded with $1,222,705” (DBQ). Jackson extended his power as president by appointing Swartwout, despite Van Buren’s opposition. Because there was too much power within the executive branch, Jackson selfishly elected Swartwout to power, knowing he would support Jackson. This abuse of executive power caused money to be stolen from the government, causing negative consequences. It is possible to argue that checks and balances can needlessly delay decisions. However, it is much more important to have an effective decision, than a quick decision. In the Jacksonian Era, Andrew Jackson’s extension of power caused problematic consequences, demonstrating the importance of checks and balances in a successful
Despite the fact that America’s economy was heavily influenced by government interference and favoritism under John Quincy Adams and the American System, by 1832 Andrew Jackson, the Champion of the Common Man, jeopardized his political security in the interest of both preserving every man’s right to opportunity and upholding a nonpartisan economy. We can draw insight from Jackson’s disgust for banks, or rather for any act of government that gives a special advantage to one group over another. In Jackson’s letter to Congress justifying his Bank Veto Message, he argues, “when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages... make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society… have a right to complain of the injustices of their government.” In the preceding months, Jackson was in the midst of his presidential campaign for reelection when his opponents put political pressure on him by fast tracking the Bank Bill. Jackson, however, remained steadfast in his belief that the proposed bank was unconstitutional and thus he vetoed the bill. Not surprisingly, Jackson became the object of political slander. In his reply to Jackson’s veto, Daniel Webster complains, “[This message] raises a cry that liberty is in danger, at the very moment when it puts forth claims to powers heretofore unknown and unheard of. It effects alarm for public freedom, when nothing endangers that freedom so much as its own unparalleled pretenses.” In other words, Webster proposed that through Jackson’s overuse of the veto, he was not only holding congress hostage, but also subverting democracy. On the contrary, the establishment of Jacksonian Democracy expanded the liberties of the common
In Document 7 it says,”And when Van Buren learned that Jackson intended to appoint Samuel Swartwout to the office… Jackson refused to listen.” Jackson repeatedly refused to listen to anybody with money or power and it continued to cost him. He was to focused on heping the poor then listening or helping out anybody with money. Some could say that this was good and that people with money didn’t need to be helped but on the other hand, all people of the United States should be looked after by the president and it is his responsibility to make sure everyone is safe. Andrew Jackson does not follow through with this and because of this the wealthy are angry. In Document 5, it says,” It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich.” Jackson’s organization as president continuosly shuts down the wealthy and gives all the power to the poor people. This is not in the better judgement of the government and this should change. Every person whether they are poor or wealthy should be treated equally and Andrew Jackson should not be treating the wealthy differently because they have money. In Document 5, says,”...It wantonly attacks whole classes of the people, for the purposes of turing against them the prejudices and resentments of the other classes.” President Andrew Jackson really just started to downfall in the treatement of his own people during his presidency. The wealthy started to outrage because they were getting no chances or opportunities and they began to feel that they were not wanted. Once again this doesn’t follow the Constution and the wealthy people are not getting the full extent of their rights. Because of these actions, Andrew Jackson does not belong on the twenty dollar
The presidencies of Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson were based on similar political philosophies. Both men believed in the common man having a voice in government, and opposed too much power being given to the federal government. Both were educated men, with an extensive knowledge of the law, who believed that an agricultural based economy was the key to Americas economical growth. However, since they were both planters who owned slaves, and Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, it was obvious that their philosophy of defending the common man did not pertain to minorities. Jefferson was raised on a wealthy tobacco plantation, and Jackson, although born poor, was raised by a wealthy uncle after being orphaned at the age of fourteen. Even though they grew up in a wealthy lifestyle, they both opposed the corruption of a government that did not have the individual states needs at heart. Although there was controversy on their somewhat racist beliefs, their accomplishments during their presidencies set a precedent for a fair and democratic government that restrained the power of the wealthy and elite. (Boyer, et. al., 2008)
With each class comes a certain level in financial standing, the lower class having the lowest income and the upper class having the highest income. According to Mantsios’ “Class in America” the wealthiest one percent of the American population hold thirty-four percent of the total national wealth and while this is going on nearly thirty-seven million Americans across the nation live in unrelenting poverty (Mantsios 284-6). There is a clear difference in the way that these two groups of people live, one is extreme poverty and the other extremely
By the time Jackson came to power, the nation had been drastically changed by the Industrial Revolution. The simple, pastoral, agricultural lifestyle was being replaced by the manufacturing world, of cities and factories. Politically, the nation was in great turmoil. There was still an everlasting debate among men in power, over what should prevail, the rights of the states, or the rights of the Federal Government. If not for several personal reasons, Jackson would have been a staunch advocator of states rights. The right to vote was still a major issue, the middle class feeling robbed of power in governmental decisions, the upperclass feeling threatened by the growth of the middleclass. However, Jackson brought with him many new ideas and principles. Since he himself had very modest roots, he sympathized with the middle and lower classes. He had worked for everything he had of value in life, and he acknow...
Career and technical education courses are intended to prepare high school students to enter the work force in a skilled trade. It equips the students with the experience and education necessary to succeed in an average skill level job while maintaining the student’s interest. In an article that focuses on an aviation CTE program, a “senior policy analyst at the Morrison Institute, said that Career and Technical Education provides another opportunity for students who struggle in high school.” The assumption is that students who struggle in high school presumably do not want another four years of education to attain a bachelor’s degree. Until recently, schools have been excessively geared towards college readiness. The dogma was elementary school, high school, college, without exception. With this “one size fits all” education system in place, a different education course had to evolve. CTE courses offer a break from the tedious grind by introducing career readiness as an alternative. In place of the four years in a college, CTE programs gives student...
Sociology cannot be clearly explained as there are many different theories and theorists; so far none of them have been defined as a correct answer. Although with all this information of theories and theorists sociology is relatively explained as agreed philosophies that delivers a reason for human society. Sociological theories are like most other theories, they are selective, and there is no quantity of theory to explain everything or define the infinite amount of information that exist or comprehend the methods of observing reality. Sociological theories vary and can be linked to each other according to various criteria. The two main perspectives of sociology are the micro sociological approach and the macro sociological approach. The micro sociological approach is based more on the persons being capable of their own independent thoughts feelings and behaviour; therefor society is built through their interactions amongst each other and the significances they attach to them. This approach is defined using Social Action Theory and Symbolic Interactionism. The Macro Sociological approach is on a much bigger scale and consists of a person being born into a current society which will then shape their behaviour. It centres on the organisations, values and the culture of that particular society and how it impacts an individual and their role in life. This approach is made clearer using Functionalism, Feminist and Conflict Theories.
A main characteristic of the Jacksonian Era was the fight for the common man. As the United States grew in size and age, the stratification of society was inevitable. In the 1820's class distinctions became major issues, greatly due to an unchanging and small upper class. This greatly detracted from the American ideal of equality when it came to economic opportunities. The upper class us...
Paul Krugman, in his article “The Death of Horatio Alger” suggests that social mobility among classes in the United States is becoming more difficult by the day. Krugman explains that the idea of the American Dream and moving from class to class was once semi easily attainable; but is now seemingly impossible. Although America is thought of as a classless society, the country has a whole is moving into a caste society run by the rich.
Education plays a large part in the socialization of children into society. Most American children spend the required 180 days each year in school from the first grade through high school. Most of a child's day through these years is devoted to activities involving school such as attending classes, doing homework, and participating in extracurricular activities. The school format is designed to teach children to be productive members of society.
Rich people assume that College is important, but it is not a one way ticket to success, and happiness. However, Middle class people believe that education is important to be successful in the future. Education for middle class student is an important tool that is applied in the modern world to succeed, as it reduces the challenges, which are faced in life. “With nearly half of the nation 's undergraduates enrolled in community colleges,…….are playing an increasingly important role in higher education.”(David Hosansky). The information gained through education allows individuals’ future life to be optimally utilized due to training of the human mind. This eventually opens doors of opportunities for individual to achieve better chance in career growth. Education has played a major role in the modern industrial world. “This is attributed to the fact prospective employees must be qualified adequately to perform various tasks effectively.”(David Hosansky) Industries entail resources that are sufficiently equipped with the modern technology to suit the needs and wants of the society. This makes education to become a norm for services in all industrial