The famous painting, American Progress, is a visual representation of the disregard of traditional societies by advanced societies. The painting shows an angel stringing power lines through a bright, exaggerated area of the painting going from right to left. Following the angel are other American technological advancements such as trains and carriages, that the land previously did not have while occupied by native Americans. This side of the painting is clearly the focus and depicts the event as very positive. But towards the far left of the painting, it shifts to a much darker view. The left side shows Native Americans, along with animals and other things native to the land being driven away. The ideas of technological impact depicted in this
One of the most detailed descriptions about the American society`s progression towards civilization and expansion was the perspective of the Native Americans. As the original inhabitants of the land, the Native Americans perceived the idea of manifest destiny in a negative way because “Indians viewed the railroad differently. They watched the iron horse transport white hunters to the plains, transforming the prairies onto buffalo killing fields. They found carcasses littering and rotting along the railroad tracks, a trail of death for the buffalo- the main source of life for the Indians” (Takaki 95). Although this author does a great job describing the Native Americans oppression in his third chapter, John Gast`s painting American Progress, used visual representation to meet the text. In this painting, America is symbolized as the majestic women in white hurling the train towards the west that symbolized the industrial revolution. Gast`s artwork has put me in the shoes of the Native Americans as I saw their world being destroyed or altered by western expansion. This artwork made me realize the injustice Native Americans have endured, and those who still endure the repercussions of our “progression” today. As a student of civics, this painting influenced me to commemorate the Native Americans horrific past that helped America to progress. In sum, while the
After the War of 1812, America initially sank into a time of economic regression and the public began to lose faith in the government. The United States was in debt, British products flooded the ports, and many citizens became more concerned of their own welfare compared to the country’s. However, through years of improvement and hard work, the United States began to prove itself once again to the foreign countries. Beginning in the 1800’s, the technological developments began to greatly transformed the United States. At first, many people considered America to be a weak and undeveloped state, however, throughout the years, America slowly began to prove to the other countries that it is becoming a strong and independent state. In the end, America became an industrialized country, domestic trade became popular, and the transportation system in the country was
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. This is why the Americans held the belief that they were destined to expand across the continent. One thing that the American settlers did not acknowledge was that all progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem—the Native Americans. Within the painting, American Progress, John Gast incorporated these ideas, beliefs, and problems all onto one image. The painting, American
During 1872, a patriotic Prussian immigrant by the name of John Gast painted American Progress. In the iconic art piece, a ginormous angel floats midair as a heavenly light bows down upon her. Below her feet are westward moving European settlers that are eager for a conquest. According to Manifest Destiny, the conquest that the settlers seek is the entirety of America’s western frontier. On the far left side of American Progress are Native Americans who glance back at what they once called their own. Unfortunately for the Native Americans, the white man’s god had already declared a war against the uncivilized and the wilderness.
In the picture called the “American Progress” it showed what looked like to be an angel floating in the sky. Everyone was moving westward. The americans in this picture relationship with land were the farmers farming in the right hand corner. Also, they were traveling in trains, on horses, wagons, and people walking. They also used resources, for instance, buffalo's, food, shelter, hunting, and coal from trains. They
In his painting, he portrays the American frontier and the contrast between American and Native American society. The Eastern territory that has been touched by American peoples is portrayed as light and fertile, demonstrating America’s conception of its expansion as enlightening the native peoples, whose little remaining territory is dark and strewn with ominous clouds. The Americans leading the frontier are laying the foundation for such modern means of transportation as railroads, carriages and telegraph wires that provide stark contrast to the Native Americans, portrayed as running on the backs of seemingly untamed animals and carrying swords and spears. This imagery of technological advancements extending into the West suggests that Americans felt morally obligated not only to extend their territory from coast to coast but also to help civilize the savage and outdated ways of the native peoples. In the top right corner of the painting, from which the sunlight
From the time when the first English colonies were established in North America until now, there has been some form of armed fighting force in place to protect the interests of the United States and its colonial progenitors. During the roughly four centuries in which this fighting force has existed, it has undergone numerous changes of varying degrees of significance. Technological advances have changed the nature of both defensive and offensive warfare, political advances have changed the nature of the relationship between the civilian population and its protectors, and geostrategic shifts have changed the role of the United States military with respect to the rest of the world. The most lasting and meaningful changes have occurred
The 1800’s was a new era of technologies, bringing along inventions that changed daily lives of many American citizens. Inventions such as the steam engine, food canning, the telegraph, and ways to mine iron provided a need for mass production in the industries. With the high growth in the new technologies, American citizens needed growth as well; therefore, the new technologies within America lead to migration to the western side of the United States. The famous painter, John Gast, painted American Progress in order to tell show his perspective of manifest destiny, the migration of Americans throughout the United States. He incorporates the new technologies that America adapted to, colorization, and symbolic hope within his painting to give “manifest destiny” a positive outlook.
American citizens today are so obsessed with being the future that they forget to live in the present. Wendell Berry, a writer that appreciates simplicity, asserts that Modern America has put education, the economy, and technology over religion, family bonding, happiness, and health. He disapprove the use of electronics because he feels that it does not significantly outclass the usage of a pen and a paper. While electronics did make life simplistic, Berry is correct in disapprove technology in that it alters one’s priorities, causes us to lose our abilities to concentrate, and causes citizens to miss out on the real world around them because it makes humans unable to fully live their life independently.
The United States has utilized innovations and technological advancements to solidify its position as a global superpower. One of the greatest accomplishments the United States can claim is to have put a man on the moon in 1969. In describing the impact of the moon landing, historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. notes, “The one thing for which this century will be remembered 500 years from now was: This was the century when we began the exploration of space” (Launius, 2006). In the 47 years since the moon landing, no other nation has been able to land on the moon marking this as a lasting legacy to American perseverance in the exploration of space. The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 also showcased American resolve and engineering superiority. Providing maritime access between the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Canal stands today as one of seven wonders of the modern world.
“The Roaring Twenties were the period of that Great American Prosperity which was built on shaky foundations. - J. Paul Getty
Engineering was newly introduced to the United States in the late 1700s. The jobs were minimal and fully educated men were few and far between. America had a shaky start in the engineering field, but the profession quickly picked up speed. From 2009 to 2013, engineering degrees grew twice as fast as other disciplines (Bidwell, “The number of STEM degrees earned in the last 5 years grew exceptionally”). Everything from the most basic principles of engineering and the minutiae of an engineer’s daily routine, to complexities such as payment and respect for the profession have changed drastically since the 1800s due to more people becoming open to the ideas of innovation and diversity in such an integral field. Engineers are the life-blood of
Almost 50 years ago, Richard Nixon gave an address to the nation on Labor Day. In his speech he stated that one of the core values of the United States is industriousness. He said that “work ethic is ingrained in the American character.” (Nixon). Similarly, in an article entitled A World Without Work, Derek Thompson says that “industriousness has served as America’s unofficial religion since its founding” (Thompson). However, recently, the work ethic in the United States is facing an obstacle: technology. Technology has been taking over jobs very gradually over the course of human history. From the cotton gin to the factory to the computer, American jobs have been replaced by machines. But with the rise of new technology and the invention of
Time and progression are usually concepts that are found to work in unison, and this connection is profoundly present in the development of technology. Human advancements in the creation of life altering machinery has taken leaps and bounds in terms of how it has altered society, yet one has to consider the effects these developments have on already existing methods of a functioning civilization. One example of this phenomenon is the expansion of journalism from a closely knit field providing the news to an entirely open platform, via the internet, offering anyone the chance to spread information with previously unheard of haste. Attempting to impede the ever extending hand of change is an impossible task; however, it leads to an interesting argument about the impact of information sharing—particularly concerning journalism—now that there is such a readily available line of communication that can reach near anywhere in the world. As knowledge now resides a few button clicks away it brings about speculation considering integrity of the author and information that are presented, both of which seem to have been further diminished by the vast range of who can offer news in this modern digital age.
In the past few decades, there has been a huge revolution in an internet and communication technologies. Technology has brought so many changes in today's society. People interact, exchange information, and socialize in a whole new way that was not even possible thirty years ago. According to a Forbes article, "iPhone X and Apple Watch: How Apple's Vision Will Further Innovate Digital Commerce" by Michelle Evans, the new iPhone's features will improve the quality of people's lives by the most advanced security function. Recently, Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, has launched a new iPhone on their 10th year anniversary, since it launched its first iPhone, as called iPhone "X". Undoubtedly, modern technology has become crucial aspects of our life. Although it has led to complications, it is actually reasonable to say that modern technology has very much improved the quality of people's lives.