America Must Awake from the Nightmare of the Past to the Light of a New Day

Chuck Klosterman, in the article “Nostalgia on Repeat,” there is two sides of nostalgia, how it can be good and bad for you. Klosterman, gives examples from both sides. Memories are the past, it is ok to remember them and think about them, maybe even smile from them, just don’t live there. Looking at the past can hinder growth, if a person cannot move on from it and wants to keep reliving that part of their life. The Authors purpose is to shine light on both sides of nostalgia, it is not all bad to remember the past and even flash back to it. However, trying to relive the past is not all good either. It stunts growth and keeps a person from living their life in the now. Chuck Klosterman, writes in a casual tone for those readers that are too

America has been plagued with the “American Dream” since its citizens first started spreading out westward in search of wealth and fame. Along with this American ideal came the concept of being un-American and not standing for what was considered “true” American. With the emergence of Populists, Progressives and Radicals came a vast difference between what was thought as American. All groups claimed to be trying to make the US a better place however each differed vastly in their ideas of going about it. During the age of uncertainty between 1890 and the 1920’s a new movement called the Progressives emerged in parts of the Unites States. They emerged as part of a long tradition of reform aimed at correcting the issues of the country.

   One cannot undertake any study of the 1960s in America without hearing about the struggles for social change. From civil rights to freedom of speech, civil disobedience and nonviolent protest became a central part of the sixties culture, albeit representative of only a small portion of the population. As Mario Savio, a Free Speech Movement (FSM) leader, wrote in an essay in 1964: "The most exciting things going on in America today are movements to change America" ("Takin' it to the Streets," 115). His essay is critical of those that maintain the status quo and oppose change in America. It seems quite obvious that change has occurred as a result of the efforts

Following the First World War, the United States went in search of a, “return to normalcy,” which many agreed was exactly what it needed. However, to the dismay of many, all the United States could find was a significant amount of tension that had developed between, “Old America,” and, “New America.” All in all, this tension that arose between old and new traditions and ideas did so in the form of religion, conflicts within society, and cultural values.

There’s an old saying that goes, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present”, by Alice Morse Earle. The world has become a place taken for granted. Humans are beginning to wish they could live in the past, while others just want to skip over to the future but what ever happened to living right now? Or living in the moment? In the story, “The American Family”, by Stephanie Coontz, she discusses why so many individuals believe American families are facing worse issues now than in the past. She discusses how in the previous years, it was far worse and explains why those people are wrong to assume they are facing worse problems now. In addition, Robert Kuttner and his text, “The politics of family”, supports Coontz’ argument about the dilemmas facing the turn-of-the-century American families and gives the resolutions to those problems; such as talking out problems, women having the right to walk out of unsatisfactory marriages, and lastly, the emancipation for women.

Americas history is what defines us and who we are as a country. We were built on hard work, sacrifice, wanting to be free and independent to be who we want to. Now a-days, we seem to have fallen away from this. Everything is given to us so easily on our computer and through technology that we have no need to work hard anymore. This is the downfall in humanity because as we keep going, life will continue to get easier and we won’t want to do anything. History is our hope so that we can learn from what we did in our past and how things were done then.For starters, we can see what mistakes we did and make sure we don’t do them again. If we continue to the same thing over and over again, there’s no way for our society to improve from this. Our

Throughout the course of history, Americans have changed the ways in which they derived the powers of the government from the consent of the governed, have changed their understanding of social and political practices concerning “rights”, changed “forms” of government, which have all led to a change in Americans’ “safety and happiness”.

Simply peering into a factory during the Gilded Age of the 1800’s would cause one to witness sights that could disgust and shake them to the core, with horrific child labor and sickening food production being only a couple. This Gilded Age allowed the U.S. to view itself in a positive light, despite the fact that it’s lower class was in a despairingly bad condition. The industrial advancements that were occuring overshadowed indescribably bad health and poverty that plagued the poorer people. However, the Progressive Era of the years that followed attempted to alleviate the problems the country was facing. During this time, not only were these problems brought to light, but social reformers and other individuals who advocated for change were

America prides itself on being one of the most successful democratically governed counties. The idea of the American dream is that all citizens have equal civil liberties and a responsive government. However the effectiveness of democracy is being threatened by increasing inequality in the United States. “The dominant view holds that economic development and modernization are the key to the continued growth of democracy” (Snider and Faris 2001; United Nations, 2011). In the last decade especially the American Society has had significant moments of increasing equality. In 1960 the Civil Rights Movement changed how different races were viewed. Also in the 1960s the Women’s Right Movement push for equal rights between genders. Both of these

On July 4th, 1776, one document was ratified that would change the international and intranational relations of America unto the present day. This document was named, promptly, the Declaration of Independence. This declaration stated the ideals and customs that of which the American population would live by. With the annexation of the thoughts of liberalism and democracy, ideals such as life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and that all men are created equal were made the hallmark of the American lifestyle. The continuation of these ideals, and the improvement of society upon these ideals have been under contention of whether or not the American society has lived up to them. Although people such as Claude Mckay, being a black man, suggest that America “sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth, stealing from my breath of life”, the American ideals that of equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have continued to thrive, and direct society through the abolishment of race based society, the abolishment of sexist based society, as well as the continuation of the unalienable rights that all men and women hold so dear in America.

The ‘American way’ does not offer the commonly liked idea of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The ecosystem aches the same sad fortune. Post-World War II government delays in handling foreign policy and the Civil Rights movement are exposed as glowing government accomplishments, while Vietnam and other near-current events slip into oblivion so the story can end with uplifting, super-patriotic prophecies of ongoing American progress. The result is that history, as a subject, appears extraneous. Having a skewed view of facts has left each of us with conflicting conclusions and behaviors, one against another.

In chapter 15 we discuss the topics of new reforms and the new American Culture which takes place between 1820-1860. In this time, a wide range of new reforms came and improve the conditions in the United States. During this time, the desire social reforms were huge, both for religious and political roots. As we know, America was defined as a democracy, more than ever people took part in the government. Although many thought differently, they looked towards the promises of equality and liberty in the Declaration of Independence. They said if America was a democracy, women would be made equal, and slavery would be outlawed. By resolving these infringements, the United States shifted towards its political ideals.

The ideal concept of American society is one in which all of the citizens are treated equal in all every realm and situation. Class, race or gender does not divide the utopian America; everyone is afforded the same opportunities and chances for success. In this chimerical state Americans are able to go as far as their dreams allow and with hard work and perseverance any thing is possible. Many Americans subscribe to this pluralist view of the Country, believing that within our democratic system it is the majority who maintains control and sets policy. Unfortunately this idyllic country does not exist nor has it ever existed. America is made up of distinct social classes and the movement within those classes is for the most part,

Today we live in a world of which some have come to understand where it all came from. So many different little contributions have accumulated over the years to create “today” in the United States of America. Not one factor is more important than the next, however, some have had a larger, lasting impact today. Immigration and racial discrimination have played the most important role as to why American society has altered. In 1917 America entered World War one. By doing this America played a grave role in conquering Germany and ushering peace to Europe. However, the Great War also meant that the US would change dramatically through historical issues and changes which resulted in

Here we are, 40 years later, in the midst of social turmoil, where the values and principles such as the family unit that were once our