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History grade 12 civil rights movement
Civil rights movement in the usa
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Gary Gerstle argues America followed a path both civic and racial nationalism throughout the 20th century in his book American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century, and that America is a melting pot of different cultures due to the accumulation of immigrants in the twentieth century. He uses Theodore Roosevelt as a support base for his arguments. Civic nationalism is the idealized understanding of America as an ethnic and cultural melting pot based on civil rights, and on the values of equality and liberty no matter the race and ethnicity of one another. Civic nationalism claims a nation can still grow stronger and better based solely on civil rights and citizenship. Racial nationalism argues otherwise. Racial nationalism was a conflicting ideal that emphasized America as the capstone of global civilization and as the home of the more superior race in the world, the Anglo-Saxon. Less superior peoples (as portrayed in this time), Africans, Asians, …show more content…
Latin Americans, and southern and eastern Europeans that were immigrating to the United States could never fully assimilate and thus never truly be American members of society. They can never really become like the average American at this time. They had to be prevented from entering, and either expelled, segregated or made subservient to the natives. Gerstle states in his introduction the importance of Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy in shaping America in the 20th century the very essence of nationalism.
The "Rooseveltian nation" and the internal contradictions it had developed, between "racial nationalism" and "civic nationalism", has had an effect on American politics and policy-making in the beginning of the 20th century up until the 1960s. He states that “Roosevelts progressivism expanded and enriched American civic nationalism” (p.15). Roosevelts Rough Riders, New Nationalism, and Progressive Party structured American nationalism of the twentieth century. Evidence that reinforces his thesis is Roosevelts Rough Rider Cavalry. The mission of this regiment was to put American men into “racial and savage warfare that the earlier generations had experienced in their struggles against the Indians” (p.16). Roosevelt states the “battles these rural warriors against the savage red man had forged them into a powerful, superior, and freedom-loving race”
(p.16). Throughout the book, Gerstle is constantly pointing out what Theodore Roosevelt would have thought about a specific situation or development. Roosevelt, being President and leader of the Progressive Party, was determined to balance civic and racial nationalism. He strongly believed that the white Anglo-Saxon race was superior and above all. He upheld civic ideals and believed America could absorb new immigrants if they assimilate through austere individualism. His alliance with Progressives was the result of the poor conditions and poverty that new immigrants faced. “Roosevelt promptly embraced Herbert Croly's idea of "New Nationalism," as his own” (p.67). New Nationalism pushed for protection from the poverty created by industrialization. It must be addressed by a stronger power that could provide regulation, order, and relief without turning to socialism. It also “allowed Roosevelt to address a glaring weakness in his earlier formulations of civic nationalism” (p.67).
ideological devices intended to deter the corruption and folly that might consume a free people, and instead promoterational and virtuous American citizens. Ronald Takaki expands upon this concept in his historical analysis, Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th-Century America, explaining that these constructs functioned specifically to separate the white man from blacks and Native Americans, who were believed to be devoid of the civility required to build a democratic nation. As patriot leaders attempted to resolve the exclusiveness of American identity to Anglo-Saxon peoples, rhetoric and reality merged to form ideology: In a land where "all men are created equal," race was
Source 1 expresses the views and values of civic nationalism and how individual's rights and freedoms of that society need to be protected. A civic nation emerges when individuals are united by shared beliefs and values and can live and abide peacefully together. Multiculturalism and a common national identity are often aspects that are found in a civic nation. The source strongly agrees with the ideals and principles of civic nationalism, as it supports the protection of everyone in the nation. The source would be critical of discrimination and intolerance towards specific groups, such as Muslims in the nation. While the source firmly states that “the rights and freedoms of all must be protected,” it also states that the actions of the individual
The most important way as to how the elite continues to control power is through the media. In Charles Murray’s “Coming Apart: The State of White America 1960-2010,” he speaks about how there is a new upper class made up of people in notable positions in society. This new upper class is composed of the narrow elite and the broad elite, in which the narrow elite has an effect on the culture, politics, and institutions in the nation while the broad elite only has an effect on the local level. While the elite once lived in neighborhoods that were slightly more mixed in terms blue collar and white collar success, they now live in what are considered Superzips, which are areas in which the 95th to 99th percentile of the most successful and well educated Americans live. White Americans constitute for 82% of Superzip inhabitants, compared to 8% Asian, and
Alexander Crummell, an Episcopalian priest, professor, and lecturer, set out to analyze and discuss “The Race Problem in America.” This piece was written in 1888, following the Reconstruction period after he had traveled to Europe and Africa, lecturing on American Slavery and African-American and African issues. Crummell, when not working outside of the country, resided in the North at various places in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, where many of the countries African-American intellectuals lived at the time. As a professor, lecturer, and priest, the intended audience were members of the society who were literate, Christian, and for the time period, more radically thinking. Due to his relationship with Christianity and the relationship
The United States was a recently forged nation state in the early 1800’s. Recently formed, this nation state was very fragile and relied on the loyalty of its citizens to all work collectively toward the establishment and advancement of the nation states. Many members of the nation state gave great sacrifices, often their lives, to see that the united states was a successful and democratic. However, the United States, was fundamentally a mixing pot of all foreign people (excluding marginalized Native Americans). This early 1800 's flow of new “Americans” continued as people sought new opportunities and escaped religious or political persecution and famine. One notable
Perhaps, the “Melting Pot” myth gained strength during the Industrial Revolution. With millions of immigrants entering the United States, culture was changing within the United States. Americans set a high standard for there society and everyone wanted to be accepted. There was a social requirement to live in a civil society creating together the “American Dream,” which leads to prosperity. Many immigrants moving to the United States brought with them various traditions of their culture and after moving, they repressed such beliefs and forged ahead with a new way of “American Thinking.” The rituals and traditions of such societies should have brought diversity to this nation’s culture however, these ways would soon become a part of the past. The “Melting Pot” myth heavily influences American society and people believe that everyone no matter what skin color or religious belief is created equal. This belief of the American Way of life is idyllic to say the least. Unfortunately, this myth has been thwarted due to a high level of racial supremacy within the nations past and even present. There are two particular events in national history, which will forever hinder equality: slavery of African Americans and Japanese internment camps during World War II in America. These substantial events shape our society and are only the tip of the iceberg when it
As one of the presidents during the Progressive Era, Theodore Roosevelt led the United States of America through a series of dramatic changes that interrupted the lives and ideologies that Americans during the time were more than familiarized with. Industrialization, women’s suffrage, the sexual revolution, imperialism, and “muckraking” journalism were just a few of the controversial, yet significant characteristics of this era. However, perhaps one of the largest and most vital influences during this time period came from the outside. Immigration was an issue that Roosevelt himself addressed rather perceptibly in his paper entitled “True Americanism,” which first appeared in a magazine called The Forum in April, 1894. However, it is not the idea of immigration that vexed Roosevelt; rather it was his concern and fear of the possibility that the increase in immigration of foreign people and cultures would culminate the concept of American patriotism, or “Americanism” as a whole. This paper will analyze the different elements of Roosevelt’s “True Americanism” by exploring the historical context of the document, highlighting Americanism as Roosevelt explicates it, observing the rhetoric used throughout the document, and discerning Roosevelt’s intended audience.
On August 31, 1910, former President Theodore Roosevelt visited Osawatomie, Kansas to give a speech and participate in a memorial dedication. (Hennessy, 1910). Roosevelt had declined to run for re-election to the presidency in 1908, deciding to exit politics and go on a yearlong African safari (Ellis, 2001, p. 284). Frustrated with President Taft’s actions, Roosevelt reentered political life in 1910 (Mowry, 1939). In the Osawatomie address, Roosevelt introduced his idea for a New Nationalism. Many of the speech’s components became the bedrock of the Bull Moose campaign used by the Progressive Party in the 1912 election (Spring, 1970). In the address, Roosevelt compares the struggle for economic equality to the one for abolition of slavery fought in the Civil War. He presents a plea for government and citizens to put nation before self to address economic injustice.
Abortion, school prayer, gay rights, gun politics and many more are all a part of the list of controversies that divide our country. A culture war is a conflict between groups with different ideals, beliefs, and issues. James Davison Hunter’s book, Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, shows that these issues “are not isolated from one another but are part of a fabric of conflict which constitutes nothing short of a struggle over the meaning of America. Unlike the religious and cultural conflict that historically divided the nation, the contemporary culture war is fought along new and, in many ways, unfamiliar lines” (Hunter). Hunter argued that two definable polarities existed in the major issues of the war. The new shift in cultural acceptance of the times has changed the culture war. Many Americans argue that “there is a religious war going on in this country, a cultural war as critical to the kind of nation we shall be as the Cold War itself, for this war is for the soul of America” (Fiorina). However, some argue that the culture war is only based on small differences between the Democrats and Republicans. The issue at hand is how divided the American public is today and how much time is focused on this polarization. This division is not just a small difference in parties, but more a difference in moral and religious issues.
The twentieth century was a time of tremendous change that commenced with WWI and the Great Depression. While WWI brought countless deaths, the Great Depression affected both urban and rural Americans. Yet, underlying these devastating events was the abuse of black Americans. Both whites and blacks had to cope with the major occurrences of the time, but blacks also faced strife from whites themselves. During the early part of the twentieth century, white Americans Russell Baker and Mildred Armstrong Kalish gained kindred attributes from their families, especially in comparison to that of Richard Wright, a black American. The key differences between the experience of whites and blacks can be found within the mentality of the family, the extent to which they were influenced by their families in their respective lives, and the shielding from the outside world, or lack thereof, by their families. Through the compelling narrations of these three authors, readers can glimpse into this racially divided world from the perspective of individuals who actually lived through it.
Many people look back on the events of the Salem witch trials and laugh at the absurdity of the allegations. It seems crazy that society could be fooled into believing in things like witches and deal with the events in such an extreme manner. It is a common belief that witch hunts are things of the past. Many people would agree that they no longer exist today; however Arthur Miller, author of the play, "The Crucible", points out that society has not come very far from the days of the Salem witch trials. In his play, he used the Salem witch trials to represent the McCarthy Era because he saw that the nation was facing the same events that Salem went through back in the late 1600 's. Arthur Miller wrote "The Crucible" in an attempt to create
Martin Carnoy wanted to achieve one of the most difficult, emotional, and political topics in America’s history. Faded Dreams: The Politics and Economics of Race in America addresses the subject of economic inequalities among minorities. For the past century, material goods have posed as the symbol of success and worth in our nation’s society. Carnoy argues that efforts to improve technology have changed over the past century, but the social problems in our nation continue. Carnoy agrees improvements have been made in the lives of minorities in America, but they have fallen short or have been dismantled. He focuses on three reasons: “individuals responsibility,” “persuasive racism,” and “economic restructuring.”
Ethnicity has long been a cultural separator and gap closer for many generations. From the civil rights and black movements of the past and currently today, to the American Indians reservations and concentration camps of Japanese Americans during World War II. The American people and government are consistently fighting back and forth to try and right some sort of wrong that each party is consistently doing. George M. Fredrickson’s essay, Models of American Relations: A Historical Perspective (Fredrickson), talks about and explains how ethnic groups have been defining themselves for years or how the governments that they live under have been defining them as well. Ethnic groups have been defined and re-defined many different times throughout
Discuss race with reference to - In the Heart of the Country. - In accordance with the Oxford Dictionary ‘race’ is defined as being ‘each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.[1]’ Hence race became an important factor in postcolonial fiction because race was after all the most obvious indicator in all colonial situations. ‘While in the Eurocentric world, skin-colour carries an automatic cultural content, it nevertheless masks ‘true’ identity. The frustrated desire to make skin colour identify (which is racism) was a linchpin of colonial authority, sustaining the cohesiveness of the ruling group. ’[2]
The birth of an American nation began with the establishment of various colonies along the east approximately next to the abundant Atlantic Ocean. The colonies can be divided into 4 units. The colonies that settled in the New World were New England, Chesapeake, Middle Colonies, and the Carolinas. The European immigrants thought themselves as being the first inhabitants of the new nation, but were faced with a reality that Native Americans were already settled in the land. What was to come was years of hardship and war.