Social Groups in American History Essay Example for Free

Social Groups in American History Essay After WWII women, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Whites all set out to establish a set of desires and wants we call the American Dream. Not just to have money and be successful but to ensure that all men are equal, to have the freedom to do what we want and practice our beliefs, and to fight for policies in government that benefit the good of our people. Throughout the American history, we have been through many challenging times in which these freedoms and desires have been tested. Nevertheless, through it all, these situations have made us stronger as a united nation and taught us what it really means to be American. During the war women were encouraged to take jobs that men would do for the first time in history. To some it was a surprise but to many it was a sign of the times. â€Å"By 1942 a poll showed that only 13% of Americans disagreed with women in the workforce† (Brinkly, pg.751) Many of them also joined and became war nurses in which they helped many of the men recuperate. Many women were extremely well at making war time products and took the place of men. During the war women foresaw many diverse opportunities and advancements in their lives. â€Å"Even though there were many laws restricting women from working they still managed to come through for our country.† (Gorn, pg.140) For once women were not just considered as a reproducer but as a producer itself. After the war the men had returned home and measures to push women back to how it used to be began. â€Å"In 1945, 3/4 of the women surveyed by the Womens Bureau of the Department of Labor wished that they could continue working which showed their interests in the skills they obtained.† (Brinkley, pg.752) Women were determined to push forward a claim their spot in society. This pushed for a new movement of better educated and stronger women. When African American soldiers returned they found a nation that still did not give them full rights, this caused a movement for the expansion of civil rights which had been born. Most black soldiers who had left their farm jobs in the South decided not to come back home at all. Instead, they moved to cities, looking for employment that was related to what they had learned in the army. The civil rights movement was a time when blacks that were oppressed for several years, rose up against the odds to achieve their freedom. This movement stimulated a growth in the black migration to cities. â€Å"On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks changed America forever when she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus.† (Brinkley, pg.881) When Rosa Parks was asked to give up her seat to a white woman, she refused because she was annoyed with the treatment that African Americans received. She was later thrown in jail for disregarding the law. This led to an uprising and many protest against the judge’s action. Through unity, education and courage the African Americans claimed their independence. After WWII America it self became less influenced in religion. â€Å"In the 1960s, many social critics had predicted the virtual extinction o religious influences in American life.† (Brinkley, pg. 892) Religion during this time took a change rather then it being extinct more and more people began to turn to Christianity. From the 70s till the early 90s religious effort grew rapidly. When families that were in poverty began to rise up this led them into the growing middle class. America stated to see more time devoted to religious practices. This marked a new beginning in American history. As apart of the growing middle class more families stated having extra income to support a growing family. America itself during this time became known as the baby boomer generation. â€Å"At the peak of the baby boom, during the 1950s, the nation population grew by 20 percent.† (Brinkley, pg.790) The baby boom generation was the result in the rapidly growing economy in which a family’s income was rapidly increasing. Also housing prices and the new GI bill made it easier for citizens to progress. All over the U.S. white Americans were living the American Dream. During the early 1960s and 70s many citizens did not agree to why the U.S. was at war with Vietnam. Many men had no desire to be apart of the war. â€Å"The Selective Service System, which was used to carry out the draft, had aspirations of directing soldiers into areas where they were most needed during wartime.† (Brinkley, pg.870) The draft made it possible for government to supply the war with enough troops to protect our country. Many people took advantage of the draft system’s postponement policies to avoid going away to war. Others refused to go or basically did not register. There were also people who left the country to escape the draft. Draft cards were burned publicly, schools walked out in protest of the war, and even special music events were used to stop the war. With all this negative actions against the war, it was very hard for the soldiers to fight a war when their country did not support them for putting their lifes on the line. During the 60s Hippies were mostly defiant young people who sought for change in U.S. life style. Hippies experimented with many innovative ideas for the 60s. The Hippie movement began in San Francisco in the 1960’s. It was a different way to live life. â€Å"Closely related to the New Left was a new youth culture openly scornful of the values and conventions of middle class society.† (Brinkley, pg.856) The Hippie movement was a rebellious uprising which displayed efforts against war. Many Americans did not agree with the Hippy way of life because of there beliefs of free sex, drugs, their image and their music. Migrant workers went through a lot of struggles. During the 60s for one person this struggle was enough to fight for. Cesar E. Chavez founded and led the first successful farm worker’s union in U.S. history. â€Å"Caesar Chavez began with grape pickers in the town of Delano In 1965 and quickly gained converts in California’s enormous factory fields† (Gorn pg.297) In September 1965, Cesar’s NFWA, with more than 1200 members, joined in AFL-CIO sponsored union in a strike towards the major Delano area table and wine grape producers. Cesar led a successful five-year strike-boycott to the millions of supporters to the UFW, United Farm Workers.† He put together a nationwide support association of unions, church groups, students, minorities and consumers.† (Brinkley, pg.861). The two organizations merged in 1966 to form the UFW, and it became affiliated with the AFL-CIO. By 1970, the boycott influenced most grape growers to sign contract with UFW. Through out history we have seen many great examples and great role models that have changed America’s society greatly. African American, Hispanic, or even gender issues have all took a new approach and gained it independence buy fighting for freedom and prosperity. The American Dream has always been a set goal for Americans and as long as we are democratic society we will fight for our rights and aim towards a better way of living. Works Cited Brinkley, Alan. American History, a Survey, Volume Two, Twelfth Edition. Gorn, Elliot J. Constructing the American Past: A Source Book of a People’s History, Volume Two, Sixth Edition.

New Social Movements, how they arose and affect us. Essay -- essays re

What factors account for the rise of new social movements and what effect have they had on contemporary society? We are all familiar with the stories of suffragettes burning their bras, and environmental enthusiasts breaking into labs and liberating rats back to the wild. But what caused women to abruptly rip of their pinnies, tell dad dinner’s in the dog and start running around without appropriate underwear? What caused contented homemakers to leave the cosy warmth of their gas fires in favour of chaining themselves to trees? And are such people an eccentric minority, or have they profoundly affected the way we live and think in the western world today? To address these questions I will begin by defining New Social Movements (or NSMs). To follow I will break down a few movements in more detail, first discussing what they stand for, and then examining how they originated and matured. In the latter section I will try to determine the scope and boundaries of their influence on contemporary society. Quite strict guidelines have emerged as to what a New Social Movement is, and the kind of characteristics a political movement must have to classify as an NSM. Dalton and Kuechler suggest: ‘A set of opinions and beliefs in a population that represents preferences for changing some elements of the social structure and/or the reward distribution of society’. However, by this definition anyone with any concern for any aspect of pollution, nuclear power, the quality of life and many other issues is a member of the social movement. Most writers agree there are more definitive ways of identifying an NSM. ‘They have ideological, organisational and tactical aspects.’ (Lovenduski and Norris, 1996) The ideological side is the most ambitious and romantic: ‘ . . . social movements are challengers which seek to change the agenda of the system in which they work. They advance ideas which, to be realised, would require fundamental and widespread change in policies and in values – change which may be partially achieved through government action and legislation, but can not be wholly achieved in this way. They raise issues which question the dominant values that constitute the political culture of their society, and hence have a ‘political’ and ‘cultural’ dimension. They aim to change people attitudes on a personal as well as public level.’ The organisational side is ... ...provided the opportunity for extreme growth and broader and deeper support networks – which led to international organisations and further networking. The shift in the government’s position regarding society and its decision in favour of their causes justified and stabilised NSMs. There is now a sway towards socialism and libertarianism as in the new millennium we demand our individual rights and equality, but whether NSMs caused this or were a manifestation of it difficult to be sure about. Most likely they are mutually supporting pillars, but it is undeniable that NSMs have had a profound effect on our society and expectations. Our culture now accepts the diversity inherent in people and has a more citizen orientated set of interests with a dedication that gives our generation today the impression it has always been the way. A far cry from the slavery and the legal inferiority of women of not so long ago. NSMs have forced a new caution regarding technological and industrial progress, and they have modified the priorities, structure, and position of government. They have liberalised our attitudes towards the family, sex, drugs, film and literature, for better or for worse.

Effects of Government Bailout of General Motors as Viewed by Two Contrasting Government Control Views

Legal Environment of Business Legal Environment of Law – Paper 1, Spring 2009 â€Å"Effects of government bailout of General Motors as viewed by two contrasting government control views† Summary This report is based on the notes I took listening to a debate I overheard from two of the presenters, Jurgis and Equality, at a business seminar I attended. The topic of the debate was the need for the government to provide more assistance to General Motors, who already received stimulus payments but due to the economic recession, is still in peril. Jurgis had the socialistic view that the more government involvement and influence the better. Jurgis believed that employers, working conditions, and the positions themselves should be regulated by the government. Equality had an opposing view of capitalism, and the need to limit the involvement of the government and let the economy work itself out. Equality felt there was enough support for the employees without need for any more mandated by the government. In conclusion I agree with many of the aspects Equality presented. General Motors was already given assistance; they need to be given the chance and motivation to try to rescue themselves. In history it’s been proven that the economy will right itself, government involvement has a tendency to make the situation worse. While attending a business seminar on the impacts of further oil shale development in the United States, I became fascinated with two contrary presenters. Jurgis promoted the thought that we need more laws and government control to protect us from ourselves. Equality had a laissez-faire view of government involvement. Equality felt that the government should have limited power and control over the people and marketplace. After the seminar I noticed Jurgis and Equality having a conversation and decided to tag along and listen to their conversation. Jurgis and Equality were discussing the government bailout of General Motors and the proposal for additional money needed; since the first extension period is almost up and the first disbursement of funds did little to help General Motors. Due to the economic recession people have stopped buying new cars and General Motors has not yet sold their December production. Jurgis argued that the government must intervene to protect employee’s jobs and welfare by instituting more laws and regulations to protect the workers as well as providing economic subsidies. Jurgis said that if General Motors should be allowed to fail then the loss of jobs will pit man against man, something Jurgis knows about. â€Å"In Russia, there were rich men who owned everything† [ (Sinclair, p. 13) ] Jurgis argues that without regulation and control with regard to the employee than the conditions he suffered through in Russia will return. I remembered from my business law class that before unions and regulation, â€Å"Workers, often women and sometimes children, worked 60 to 70 hours per week and sometimes more, standing at assembly lines in suffocating, dimly lit factories, performing monotonous yet dangerous work with heavy machine ry† [ (Samuelson, p. 403) ], we do need some form of workplace regulation. Equality disputed the need for increased government help and regulation, every man should work to achieve for himself, not the common good. Equality said that he was once told â€Å"Many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas in the past†¦ but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men must† [ (Rand, p. 73) ], this kind of mentality only suppresses the people, it doesn’t help them. He doesn’t want to return to a society that has no respect for individualism, only what benefits the whole. Equality fears that if we allow the government some control over General Motors, its workers, and operation, then eventually more and more control will be given until every aspect of life and even death is controlled. Jurgis told Equality about the working conditions and life he had lived because there was no regulation, no union to represent and bargain for the worker. Jurgis explained how his wife had gotten a job for a packer, and the woman she replaced was let go only because she was sick, not due to performance. Someone must look out for the workers, and the government has a responsibility to be this regulator. I remember from my business law book a story of miners working conditions â€Å"Temperatures in the mines were well over 100 degrees. Miners drank more than three gallons of water every day. Some suddenly collapsed†¦ Within minutes they were dead, but even before they died, their places in the mine were taken by other workers desperate for pay. † This was when unions developed to protect and fight for the workers. Equality said the people should be allowed to prosper or fail on their own, let General Motors control its own fate. For every amount of power that is given to the government, there is a corresponding loss of personal freedom and in the case of General Motors, economic success. And if the government keeps bailing out General Motors and other companies, what are we telling these companies? General Motors was already given a disbursement to aid their financial situation; if they chose to misuse this bailout then maybe they deserve to fail. Equality said that â€Å"There is nothing to take a man’s freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. This and nothing else. † [ (Rand, p. 101) ] Each man must have the ability to provide for themselves, even if it is in competition and at the cost of another man. As I listened to Jurgis and Equality debate, I remembered that under statute 9 of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 â€Å"†¦ the union will represent all the designated employees, regardless of whether a particular worker wants to be represented. † [ (Samuelson, p. 407) ]. Equality argues that each person should be responsible for him or herself and have the right to choose if, when, who, or how they should be represented. But Jurgis said that some workers may not realize that they need representation, or work in bad or illegal conditions. This is the case with child labor, laws are needed to limit child labor, and someone must also represent them. The government should not only provide the money needed to keep General Motors going, but also increase its oversight of the company making sure that the employees are taken care of. Jurgis told Equality that there are people that are above the law like the man that made his wife Ona bend to his wishes at the threat of her family. When Jurgis found out about this and confronted and assaulted the man, Jurgis was the one that was hauled off and given an unfair trial. Jurgis had to spend 30 days in jail, and his family paid the price. As far as Jurgis is concerned this type of power and wealth needs to be controlled by the government to make sure that every man has value and a say in his life. There are so many workers for General Motors that the government must help it keep going to keep these workers employed, safe, and able to live. Equality told Jurgis of a similar, but opposing story from his life. From birth he was told what he was, how he would live and even die. You were assigned an occupation, there was no occupational protection provided; you did as the government told you until you were no longer valuable to society. When you were deemed worthless you reported to house of the dying to live out the few remaining moments of your life. â€Å"We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen. † [ (Rand, p. 20) ] This was the only prayer aloud. Jurgis argued that we need a society and government based on socialism, that it’s the responsibility of the majority to look after its people. By giving General Motors the aid they require in return for some control over the company, its operations, and employees, we would move toward socialism. Jurgis felt that he owed his life to socialism, and that it was the answer to any problem he faced or had endured. Equality on the other hand continued to argue that the government needed to be controlled and that society needed to be based on capitalism. As power was given to the government little by little, its overall control over society grew until it was the controller. Equality argues this point with bailout and help of General Motors. By giving aid the government in turn acquires power over the company, its share holders, and employees themselves. In conclusion I agree that extended help in the form of funds may not be the best way to help General Motors. Since this aid comes with strings attached, the government does indeed move to the socialist schema. As described in the video on the American form of government [ (http://www. imp. com/thegovernment/, 2008) ] the state of government is always moving to a monarchy or oligarchy. Any move away from a system based on a republic ideology always ends with an oligarchy. But this is a continuing cycle, as seen in a rudimentary way in Anthem. General Motors has already had some assistance, now it should be left alone. There are enough current laws and government involvements to make s ure that the employees are at the least, treated fairly. Though some may end up temporarily unemployed ore are pushed to find a different type of work, these people will make it. Should General Motors fail, another company will step into its shoes and fill the void. There is too much need for their products for them to simply disappear. Bibliography http://www. wimp. com/thegovernment/. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. wimp. com/thegovernment/: http://www. wimp. com/thegovernment/ Rand, A. (1995). Anthem. New York, NY: SIGNET. Samuelson, B. (2008). Legal Environment, Third Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Sinclair, U. (2004). The Jungle. New York, NY: Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Edgar Allan Poes Influence on Literature - 1191 Words

Edgar Allan Poe’s influence on American literature was nothing short of great; not only was he the creator of the detective story and the horror thriller, but he also influenced many great writers, among those William Faulkner and Fyodor Dostoevsky. While Poe is best known for his horror thrillers, being the creator of that particular genre, he has also fashioned two other literary genres, like the detective and the science fiction genre. Throughout his life, Poe read, reviewed, and critiqued many books for various magazines and papers. Poe did not hesitate to attack what he deemed inferior. â€Å"Is purely too imbecile to merit an extended critique,† he once wrote of a novel. Because of his readiness to attack what he believed to be unworthy,†¦show more content†¦His first attempt was Hans Pfall, a story in which a man travels to the moon on a revolutionized balloon. Poe included actual facts into his story, mixing it with entirely false scientific â€Å"fact s† to make the story believable (Meltzer 64). Poe’s innovations would later expand the modern science fiction genre. His vivid imagination veered off from scientific facts to create believable details to incorporate into his stories. These details anticipated later discoveries in both geography and astronomy (64). Science fiction writers like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne learned a great deal from Poe, which they integrated into their own writings. The belief that Poe began the science fiction genre may also be attributed to Poe’s complicated piece of writing which explained his own view of the universe. Eureka: A Prose Poem was published in March of 1848, and in it, Poe introduced his theory, a mixture of science, theology, and intuition. Poe theorized that: â€Å"God existed before matter. God created the first atoms. They scattered to create the universe. They are all trying to join back together, but when they do, they will be scattered again.† Poeâ€℠¢s theory caused an upset in society, as it was not Christian; however, others believed it to be brilliant, as it showed both insight and clear thought (Binns 100). Poe’s influence has not limited itself on just literature. Alfred Hitchcock, director of classic suspense films like Vertigo and Psycho has statedShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Raven And The Fall Of The House Of Usher 896 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is an extremely well known American writer and is famous for his horrific and mysterious works such as, â€Å"The Raven† and â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher.† Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts in an era that seems to have many dark and ominous writers and pieces of literature originating from that time period. 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