History 679
Dr. Lair A Legend is Born: Using the American Revolution to Promote Nationalism After the Vietnam War.
“Flags waving in the summer breeze. A man dressed as Uncle Sam leading a trade along Main Street. Patriotic music that makes your feet want to tap. Red, white and blue fireworks exploding in the sky at night. All of these things make us think of the Fourth of July, just as Santa Claus makes us think of Christmas and painted eggs make us think of Easter.”
War is not something easy to explain. When a child asks “Why is there war?” there is no simple response. Most elementary age school children are not equipped with the critical thinking, reasoning, and coping skills required to understand the circumstances surrounding warfare. The technique of equating myths with reality, was surely supposed to help Young Americans come to terms with the violence that started their country, but instead shaped a memory that is more myth than fact. The start of the American Revolution is celebrated as an achievement in which a repressed people gained freedom and liberty. England is often portrayed as the aggressor and the Continental Army an
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When ARBC testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Charters, Holidays and Celebrations, they presented the high hopes for the bicentennial celebrations by stating: Promise to improve the chances of all people for good health and pursuit of abundant life in a restore and renewed natural environment; Enable people to discover themselves and take pride in their history and heritage; Lead toward breaking down the artificially contrived social barriers which prevent people from meeting as equals; Promote give-and-take and mutual learning among peoples and societies— both on the domestic scene and
The Fourth of July is a holiday that typically involves joyous events such as barbeques, family gatherings, and quality picnics. Additionally, it is a time that can draw those who have drifted apart closer once again. However, in the 19th century as the racial and social divide deepened, the effectiveness of this national holiday came into question. Although the Fourth of July was supposed to pull the nation closer, it actually inclined some to question their place in America. This was supposed to be a unification holiday that made the country stronger. Instead, the national holiday carved a deep divide between the various groups that made up the population at that time. Furthermore, in the 19th century the Fourth of July established division between groups, cultivated questions about America’s progress as a whole, and ingrained national confusion about the purpose of this holiday.
Another theme of the text is "fear". Fear of loss of liberty in their homeland drove many colonists to begin thinking in Revolutionary terms, as previously mentioned. There was also fear on the English-side of an American rebellion. Fear is what drove England to force a standing British Army on the Americans. These fears would not subside and would eventually lead to war as neither side would back down.
Today most people think of the Fourth of July as a holiday to celebrate freedom. However, in
The Vietnam war exposed a generation of Americans to the fallacy of American exceptionalism by exposing the magnitude of grievances the Government was willing to commit at the expense of Human lives. “For nine years victory wavered [in the Trojan War]” (Hamilton 261), for nearly twenty years media claims of American victory in Vietnam remained unfounded .”[Trojan] Men sickened and died so [often] that funeral pyres were burning continuously (Hamilton 261) as did their modern American counterparts.Both wars ended in part to the deviation of its constituents, anti-war movements eventually influenced Government as did the secretive actions of the few (the Trojan Horse) constrain further conflict. As, the current President continues to augment the U.S., seemingly in preparation for conflict, it is imperative that we remember from experience that swift revolutionary civil disobedience rather than reactionary civil obedience after grievances have been committed will ensure that the lives of Millions do not become
The American Revolution, when 13 American colonies waged war against the most powerful country in the world, Great Britain, for their independence. Soldiers who fought in the war and risked their lives to gain the freedom we have today, is just one of the many prime examples of prevailing hardships in battle. George Washington proved to be exemplary just like many others heroic patriots, like Henry Knox and Nathaniel Greene, when triumphing over the British soldiers with what little strength they had and defeating them. Their victory was more than enough proof on why they deserved independence. David McCullough’s 1776, describes and educates us about events which happened before the war and foreshadows up to the revolution. We learn about the hardships thrown at George Washington and the Continental army whose intentions switched from equal rights to complete emancipation. Battles throughout the Revolutionary War, like the Battle of Bunker Hill, are well known, but McCullough shows the reader how the Continental army continues to strive on even when victory is not in their favor.
The American Revolution started for numerous motives, some of them were; political changes, declaration of freedom and equal rights. In the British colonies, prior to 1750 provided the basis for a course to America becoming an independent nation under its own control with its own government. Eventually, the relationship between the colonists and the British brought in consequences the Revolutionary War. America political thought came from the Enlightenment, American Revolution, and American Industrialism.
Throughout America’s history, few things have left the nation in such controversial turmoil as the Vietnam War. With an American death toll of almost 60,000 troops, the Vietnam War has gone down in infamy as one of the most tremendous struggles Americans have faced both overseas and on the home front. Because of the tumultuous controversies caused by the war, Americans split into two social factions – those against the war and those who supported it. During the years of 1961-1975 - the era in which the war had its greatest effect on Americans - the population of citizens from 18-35 years old and the Presidency were both affected irreversibly.
The revolutionary wars were the violent means to which tactics used, was used as “a form of warfare [that is] uniquely adapted to undermine the efforts of new and poor countries to maintain the freedom that they have finally achieved”. President Kennedy spoke those words in 1962, the height of the Vietnam War, and reaffirms the will of the people to that of the American people during its Revolutionary War; the will for independence prevailed during trying times of offensive and defensive phases of war.
The American Revolution is typically looked at as a conservative movement, but it seems most of the actions taken were very radical. They were fighting to defend their rights, governed and natural. The American Revolution was as radical as any other revolution, in a special 18th century way, and this seems to hold true while looking at the new waves of thinking. It involves the Whigs and Tories, and while they are at opposite sides of the spectrum, they consecutively agreed to not address and higher-law principles so they would not have to rework their entire system.. The Revolution worked against this, and the parties chose to pretend it was not a serious movement and act, as they believed it would not take any effect. More people got involved and all aspects of life began to be questioned and revolutionized. The Revolution seems to be radical in a more definitive way as it caused segregation of beliefs, the Declaration of independence, and
Nationalism is similar to the form of government to the U.S. My topic is nationalism this topic
The Declaration of Independence, a key to American beliefs, had been around for one hundred years, at this time. With this in turn, the celebration of being a free country and having civil rights was ringing about. Freedmen, former
The American Revolution By Lorelei Treloar Paragraph 1: Thesis statement, contents of essay, summary Paragraph 2: Intro, George’s leadership skills, geography, closing Paragraph 3: Intro, Foreign assistance, colonists spirits and attitudes, closing Paragraph 4: Summarize, restate the main point, profit
Nationalism is how one feels toward their nation. Therefore nationalism determines how strong a nation is, by the unity of the people. America was very young as a nation in the early to mid 1800s and was not meeting the standards of the people. Changes needed to be made. Nationalism was changed in America with many great reform movements taking place which warped America to what it is today. Education reform, Industrial revolution, and transportation alongside technological advancements played a large roll in nationalism.
If the accepted definition of Symbolic interactionism is ?a school of thought in sociology that explains social behavior in terms of how people interact with each other via symbols? (Chegg.com) then celebrating the 4th of July Holiday can be rightfully described as the quintessential example of symbolic interaction. On that day, 160 million will enjoy a cookout and 115 million will attend an organized fireworks display and $649 million will be spent by
In 1942, eight months into World War II, Eleanor Roosevelt an entry on July 4th, 1942 about the state that the country was in on Independence Day. The theme revolved around how the United States was still fighting for their freedom. She spoke of how there would be very few fireworks and celebrations in the country this year. Her hopes were that the future generations would realize that the decorated graves throughout the country would be a reminder that the freedom we have will have to be maintained in the current and future times. The way she wrote about the groundwork the forefathers laid in building a nation on new soil indicated an uplifting tone. She saw this day as an opportunity to communicate that we must continue on the road of