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University of California, Los Angeles *

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12

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History

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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2

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Essay #2 HIST 12 How are the ideas of what freedom means different and/or similar in each document? I chose to compare the documents From Majority Opinion, Justice James C. McReynolds, in Meyer v. Nebraska (1923), and From Randolph Bourne, "Trans-national America" (1916). What I found was that both documents expressed concern about the idea of Americanization and its impact on individual freedom, in particular language and cultural assimilation. However, the two documents present different perspectives on the matter. Randolph Bourne advocates for a cosmopolitan and inclusive approach to cultural diversity, while McReynolds defends individual rights, particularly the freedom to teach and learn in languages other than English. Bourne challenges the notion of the "melting pot" and envisions a society where immigrants and natives maintain their group identities while contributing to a new "trans-national" culture. “ No reverberatory effect of the great war has caused American public opinion more solicitude than the failure of the 'melting-pot.' The discovery of diverse nationalistic feelings among our great alien population has come to most people as an intense shock ." He critiques the coercive Americanization impulse that seeks to assimilate immigrants into an Anglo-Saxon tradition labeled as "American." Bourne contends that America is not defined by a distinctively American culture but rather by a federation of diverse cultures, creating a cosmopolitan tapestry where different threads coexist peacefully. In contrast, Justice McReynolds, in the majority opinion of Meyer v. Nebraska, addresses the coercive Americanization measures of World War I. The Supreme Court's decision overturned a Nebraska law that mandated all school instruction in English. McReynolds argues that restricting the teaching of languages other than English infringes upon the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. He emphasizes the importance of education and individual rights, asserting that the state's efforts to improve the quality of its citizens must respect fundamental rights, even for those who speak languages other than English. " Mere knowledge of the German language cannot reasonably be regarded as harmful. Heretofore it has been commonly looked upon as helpful and desirable." Their views on how cultural diversity should be integrated into the American identity differ. Bourne celebrates the idea of America as a "cosmopolitan federation," emphasizing the peaceful coexistence of diverse cultures without the need for assimilation. On the other hand, McReynolds acknowledges the importance of linguistic diversity but places a limit on the state's power to regulate language instruction, particularly when it infringes upon fundamental rights. Despite their differing perspectives on the cultural fabric of America, both Bourne and McReynolds unite on the importance of individual rights in the face of coercive assimilation efforts. Bourne criticizes the attempt to force Americanization on immigrants without their
consent, and McReynolds rejects the idea of inhibiting the teaching of languages other than English by methods that conflict with constitutional principles. Both articulate a shared concern for protecting individual liberties against overreaching state interventions. To conclude, it is evident that Randolph Bourne and Justice James C. McReynolds had divergent and convergent ideas on freedom in the context of Americanization. Bourne advocated for a cosmopolitan vision where diverse cultures coexist peacefully without the need for assimilation, while McReynolds emphasized the importance of protecting individual rights, particularly the freedom to teach and learn in languages other than English. Despite their differing perspectives, both authors agreed on the significance of individual liberties in the face of coercive assimilation efforts.
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