The Cycles Of American History: Chapter Analysis

Over the past few weeks of class, we have covered the first five chapters of our textbook, written by George Brown Tindell and David Emory Shi called, “America, A Narrative History.” Each chapter told the reader a narration of the history of America, as opposed to an expository version of America’s history. Each chapter had its own main idea over a portion of history, along with many details that cover the importance of the main idea. As a reader, one may obtain a deeper appreciation for the country 's history, prior to entering the class on the first day. The most important aspect of history, besides the battles that are fought, is the different cultures that make up today’s modern America.

Even though America claims that it is a diverse country, they fail to include diverse people in US history master narratives. According to Dr. Wills, a Master Narrative dominates an overarching template that presents history. The Master Narrative has made a few alterations over the past years to who is included in the curriculum so that it shows the diversity that makes America. The issue with having a diverse curriculum is that the master narrative focuses primarily on the growth of the country, yet it often leaves out other races that contributed such as Latinos, Asians or Blacks.

Tragedy has the ability to simultaneously bring people together and push them apart. Well, such is essence when Judith Ortiz Cofer, the writer of “American History,” explores the theme of tragedy while she dwells upon the day tragedy struck the world. A numerous amount of people in her community were devastated by the unexpected death of former President John F. Kennedy, as they agreed with his stance against racial discriminations and prejudice. However, Cofer lacks the understanding of discrimination towards her culture, race, and gender. Rather than collectively facing the tragedy of JFK’s death, she is more taken by her own tragedy; being shunned by the mother of her neighborhood crush, Eugene. Recognizing that Cofer is ignorant to

1949--> Columbus unleashed 200 troops w/ 20 on horseback to terrorize the natives b/c he was upset he couldn't govern

The book “Taking Sides: Clashing Views in United States History” by Madaras, Larry and James SoRelle draws attention on controversial issues. James and Madaras wrote the book in a debate-style format, which intrigues many students, hence supporting them in enhancing their critical thinking skills. James and Madaras ensured that every issue in the book has a summary, introduction, challenge question and postscript. Therefore, the paper will focus on issue 10, which debates on whether the new deal prolonged the great depression. The great depression refers to an era in US history, which happened from 1929 to 1941 during president Franklin Delano Roosevelt era, and it made the US citizens face economic hard times. The great depression era had much overproduction, inequality in wealth distribution and over borrowing. Consequently, the president implemented the new deal with the aim of saving American citizens from the great depression. However, people had different feelings regarding the effectiveness of the new deal, which brought up the debate in the book. For example, Burton Folsom believed that the new deal was not effective because he thought that it prolonged the great depression. On the contrary, Roger Biles alleged that the new deal was effective, and it did not prolong the great depression (Madaras and James 227).

* These civilizations developed complex political systems and large networks of paved roads that unified the civilization Incas in Peru.

a. The global warming and extinction of megafaunal animals allowed agriculture to be born. From this agriculture came inequalities in the social structure due to specialized labor. For the Eastern Woodland Communities, the social inequalities from the agriculture created classes with a chief at the top. They demonstrated power by conquering other tribes in warfare. This was the first time in history when birth determined leaders and upperclassmen.

The Civil War lasted about four years. In April, from the years 1861-1865. So much blood was shed and a lot of deaths. The North known as the Union and the South known as the Confederate States were at war. People have their views and opinions on the war. Author, Michael Holt has three reasons as to what happened he suggests that 1. The breakdown to the Whig Party; 2. The realignment of voters and thirdly a shift from a nationally balanced party system where both major parties competed on fairly even terms in all parts of the nation to a sectionalized polarized one with Republicans dominant in the North and Democrats in the South (page 208). So, the biggest questions is why? Why were these two sides at war? Was the Civil War over Slavery? Two authors think they have the answers to these questions. In the book, Taking Sides: Clashing Views in U.S History, Charles B. Dew say yes slavery was the cause of the Civil War. He basically

Throughout United States history, several presidents have stood out for making a big impact on shaping the foundation the nation was built on. Thomas Jefferson was elected as the nation’s third president in 1800 and served two terms (249). Andrew Jackson was elected as the nation’s seventh president in 1828 and also served two terms (349). Both presidents ultimately held the same ideals. Jackson actually considered himself a Jeffersonian Republican, although Jefferson did not particularly like Jackson (332). Jackson’s party title changed because the political party system during his election consisted of his supporters, who called themselves the Democratic Republicans, the Democrats, or the Jacksonian Democrats. The opposition called themselves the National Republicans (324). Both presidents were their party leaders. These two presidents were similar in their ability to make a big impact on American history. Jefferson and Jackson were more alike as presidents than they were different through their actions to support an agrarian republic, their desire to uphold states’ rights by shrinking the federal government, and their belief in a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

By 1600, England’s feudal system was nearing extinction, as a new family (Tudor’s) came to power and wanted support from the middleclass and the establishment of new liberties for Englishman (i.e. trial by jury and no arrest without a warrant), which resulted in a large amount of local and self initiative to prosper in the community: yet many beggars now existed, culminating in an increased need for colonial expansion both for personal prosperity and more space for the existing population.

In the secondary text Reading the American Past, chapter ten contains five different documents written in the early 1800s. This chapter is title “Republicans in Power” as it covers topics from Thomas Jefferson’s policies for Indians to exerts from a man that served in the War of 1812. Chapter 10 contains documents from Lewis and Clarks journals from their expedition in 1805. Additionally, it holds papers discussing the subject of abolishing slavery in the United States written by a slave. The next document is one that talks against Pennsylvanian law and threats to enslave free African Americans.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter- to morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning---” In the Great Gatsby, the green light signifies Jay Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future and ultimately the American Dream. The green light represents the lost dreams of Americans, unrealistic hope and the determination to achieve the American Dream. The writing from F. Scott Fitzgerald in “The Great Gatsby” allows the reader to learn the significance behind the green light, if hopes and dreams are always centered around future belief and if the belief is more satisfying than one’s desires.

Schlesinger, despising social historians, chose to challenge the ideas presented by William Appleman Williams in particular; being that Williams was extremely critical of those that Schlesinger considered “liberal heroes”. Schlesinger states in his writing, The Cycles of American History that “The Open-Door policy could hardly blame imperialism”(130, 2); where Williams makes a direct correlation between American imperialism and the Open-Door policy. In a number of Schlesinger's writings, he fails to analyze the dynamics of capitalism, as he feels that capitalism has no relationship with imperialism. Another thing Schlesinger does in his writings is propose the terms “public purpose” rather than “liberal” or “conservative”; words Williams made sure to include in his work as a revisionist. In The Cycles of American History, Schlesinger states that The purpose of democratic statecraft is, or should be, to find the means of ordered liberty in a world condemned to everlasting change” (422). To conclude, Through The Cycles of American History, Schlesinger essentially tries asserting and reinforcing his theories on American politics moving in a cyclical-like pattern; provides imp evidence through certain events relating to foreign policy and national interest. In addition, Schlesinger offers an assortment of theories on what provokes these cycles, expounding the idea of human nature impacting various populations, including; public vs. private, moral vs. self-interest vs. national policy, and lastly conservatism vs

The author, an American historian, argues that Hirohito should be charged with responsibility in war time atrocities even though in some cases he did not order the action. Not only that, he argues that from 1937 to 1945 Hirohito played an important role in decision making and he strongly agreed to attacks and kept seeking Japanese victory, which delayed the Japanese surrender and caused the atomic bombing go Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He further argues that as long as Japanese government and people recognize Hirohito 's responsibility, they will keep escaping from their war responsibility as well. Large argues that Bix focuses too much on Hirohito’s role in national policy making.

American society is known for having the highest standard of living across the globe; this is solely due to the consumerist culture that is brought forth by capitalism. Americans in the U.S. take pride in these standards and in the freedoms that this democratic nation has established. The 20th century will always be remembered in American history as a century of radical changes on the social and political fronts of the nation. Literature, too, evolved quickly from specific, compartmentalized fields which fit into categories, to works which had no set definition—nobody knew what to do with them. These changes also took place in poetry; artistic expression began to change across the arts and so did the mediums. Poets across the nation