The style, or as is famously known by its Dutch reference, “De Stijl” came about as a result of the chaos and destruction that was caused by the first world war. The horror that was seen from the war inspired artists to remake society and De Stijl emerged as a way of portraying art in a manner that spoke of spiritual and social redemption. Artist who took up the De Stijl style used rectangles, straight lines and squares and combined these geometric forms with primary colors to create a visual language through their work. In the quest to find a universal ground initiated by the degradation of the loss of significance for an individual one, De Stijl art was able to reveal to the viewer, the laws that governed the harmony that existed in the world around us (Elena, Natalie & Silka, 2016).
Be it in architecture or painting, De Stijl art demonstrates both abstraction and simplicity. It incorporates the use of only rectangular forms and vertical and horizontal lines combined with the colors red blue and yellow which are the acknowledged formal vocabulary (Zonag, 2016). Only the three colors are used in De Stijl designs when outlining specific elements while the surfaces are painted in black, grey or white. By use of opposition, the art is able to attain an aesthetic balance while still managing to avoid symmetry in the design. Each element in the art is allowed to exist independently without obstructing or being obstructed by other elements especially because the horizontal and vertical lines and the crossing joints are constructed in a way that their layers do not intersect. This is evident in the Red and Blue Chair and the Rietveld Schroder House which is the only building that can be said to be fully realized in relevance to the De Stijl principles (Elena, Natalie & Silka, 2016).
References
Elena M, Natalie P and Silka P, (2016) “De Stijl: The modern plastic art movement” Widewalls
Zonag A, (2016) “De Stijl: Abstraction in architecture” retrieved from, http://www.academia.edu/5187702/De_Stijl_-_Abstraction_in_Architecture
Slavery is a principle law that allows human beings to be classified as property. This means that they can be sold, owned and bought accordingly and they have no right to withdraw unilaterally from any form of agreement. An enslaved person works within the regulated customs and laws that are in a particular time or place[1]. Slavery is considered unlawful because it violates human rights. They are forced to work without their consent and they have no powers to terminate any agreement. Slavery goes a long way as it involves human trafficking and forces marriages to the extreme “it was a brutal vice and a crime that disgraced humanity”[2].
African-American such as the Negros were considered to be slaves. This is evident from the way the children were treated since birth. Their children were considered as lunatic “a negro child was not governed as a child but rather a criminal”[3]. The Negros were considered improvident and they were not accumulated in their youthful ages[4]. They were considered as an “insufferable burden to the community”[5]. This goes against human rights as the society had the option to prevent this and stop slavery. They were considered inferior because of their race by the white people. This made the Negros live a very poor life as they were subject to unfair and outwitted competition. The whites considered that the Negros were mad and they were supposed to be treated as slaves to make money for the whites.
The force of driving slavery out in America was strong. This was for the better of the nation and the human as a whole. There were trying to abolish the way the Negros were treated. This included cruelty, anger, neglect and punishment that came along. There was the abuse of power on the Negros as they were considered as “submissive knee-benders”[6]. They were denied the comforts and the necessity of life. This scare the Negros and their urge to run away increase with gradually. This had to be stopped because there were abuses both physically and emotionally and they were never heard or listened to. They were supposed to submit without questioning[7]. The Negros came together and they were ready to run away. The gains the slave masters got started to decline and due to this, there was a need to stop slavery.
The emancipated slaves had the right to remain on the American soil. This is because of the injustices they were subjected to[8]. They had the right to choose whether to go back to their native country or remain on the American soil. At any one point, the slaves should not have to be considered as a burden to the economy because initially they were generating income for their masters who in return translate growth to the economy. These slaves were forcefully ejected from their country and they were separated from their families. This means that evicting them again from the American soil will pose a great threat to humanity due to the cruelty. They are supposed to be treated kindly, be well fed and clothed.
A civilized society is seen by men as a place where practices such as slavery are considered illegal and they are not practiced[9]. Every human despite the race or religion is entitled to freedom and they are not discriminated because of where they are from. This means that they are society such as the anti-slavery organization that promulgates the enslavement of humans to the American people. There is liberty and one can pursue happiness as strive freely without oppressing other. A civilized society is where one can live a better and a desirable life with rights, truth, and justice.
The abolitionists of slavery made great remarks as to why it should be abolished “they should enjoy either intellectual or physical pleasure and release them from physical suffering”[10]. It was in purity and great earnestness of zeal to free slavery[11]. They considered slavery as evil where humans were rejected and oppressed. Carnal weapons were used on them and they were treated in a very inhuman way, the abolitionists considered. They were to be delivered from the bondage through God who seemed to pull only the strongholds. They had poor standard of living, their children had no access to basic education and they were treated as criminals[12]. Their life was a pity as they work hard and for long hours with cruel masters who never cared of their pleas “worked at reduced wages, thrown out of employment, were greatly damaged and distressed and ready to starve”[13].
Both slavery proponents and abolitionists had a different view of slaves and what they should be subject to, how they should be treated and what should be done to them in case they disobeyed their masters. In my own opinion slavery is inhuman and should not have been allowed to take place[14]. The human slaves were subjected to suffering which they never chose for themselves. They were seen as property which should not be the case with any human despite the race or religion. Racial prejudice is evident and is reflected by both slavery proponents and abolitionists as they cataloged the symptoms and the manifestation of slavery due to characteristics in the human slaves. This included fear, intolerance, segregation, separation, hatred and discrimination.
Conclusion
Slavery poses more harm than good to humans. This is because they are considered as property, bonded labor, subjected to forced labor, forced marriages and also increases rates of dependence. Every human is entitled to freedom and rights that enable them to make a decision without being influenced. Human slavery is not only an outdated practice as also a great threat to humanity.
Reference
Fitzhung George 1970; "The Universal Law of Slavery," Foresman and Company, Illinois
Dr. Cartwright 1967 Diseases and Peculiarities of the Negro Race AMS Press, Inc. New York
Ruffin, Edmund. 1963 The Political Economy of Slavery. in McKitrick, Eric L.. ed. Slavery Defended: The Views of the Old South. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall/Spectrum Books.
Walker David 1995 except from the appeal Hill and Wang, New York,
Douglass Frederick 1852; What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Chicago: Lawrence Hill,
Garrison W l 1852 Declaration Of Sentiments Of The American Anti-Slavery Convection; Boston: R. F. Wallcut.
Hammond H J 1858 The Mudsill Theory Retrieved from;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h3439t.html
How Easy Rider addresses major issues of American society in the late 1960’s
Introduction
Easy Rider is an American movie of 1969 transcribed by Peter Fonda, Dennis and Terry Southern. The road movie was directed by Hopper and produced by Fonder. The movie explores the societal landscape, tensions and the issues of United States in the late 1960’s. Some of this tensions included the communal lifestyle, rise and fall of hippie movement and drug use which are all issues concerning the society. This easy will focus on how the film addresses some of this major American Society issues in the late 1960’s.
The sixties were years associated with counterculture and revolution in social standards in terms of dressing, schooling formalities, drugs, clothing and sexuality. The relaxation of social taboos relating to racism and sexism labeled as the swinging sixties occurred during this time of the sixties. The butterfingered American protagonist in the Vietnam War irritated student demonstrators around the world. The anti-Vietnam war movement was one of the great definitions of politics of violence in the United States.
Feminism was one of the major issues in America in the 1960’s the movie explores how women in America rejected the prevailing assumption that the sole burden of supporting a family including the wife was the role of a man. The assumption that a woman was entitled to a man’s support upon marriage and that home and family were the women’s world and responsibility was highly rejected. Women wanted to share responsibilities equally with their husbands which they considered as true partnership between sexes. In the interest of their dignity women decided to protest and endeavor to change their false image that was prevalent in the face of the media.
Civil rights movement was another key component of the superior counterculture movement addressed in the movie. It involved nonviolent demonstrations to ensure that equal rights guaranteed in the constitution apply to all citizens. Most of this rights were denied to African-Americans but were successfully addressed after several non-violent demonstrations. For freedom of speech the movement originated from the campus students who were later joined by other young rebellious people contributing to the free speech movement.
Drugs was also another issue of counterculture in the American society in the late 1960’s.There are two freewheeling men (Wyatt) Fonda nicknamed as “Captain America” and Hopper (Billy) who are set out for cocaine smuggling from Mexico to Los Angeles. The two sell their haul to a man in a Rolls-Royce named Mac Mashourian and in return receive a large sum of money. They carry the money as it was, sated in a plastic tube and use it to purchase high-handled motorcycles. They also use the money to fund their trip eastwards towards New Orleans, Louisiana for a festival. The movie shows how this smuggling goes with these young long-haired men and how they themselves use the drugs.
The Vietnam War and the extended national division between cohorts and rivals of the warfare, were debatably the most vital factors underwriting to the increase of the greater counterculture measure. The movie shows how opposition to the war set off on the College campus of the United States which grew to include other demographic groups with exemption of upper and middle classes resulting to the suggestion of uneven number of working-class and lesser registrants. Ample of the counterculture composition stimulated an essence of anti-establishmentarianism and non-conformism. The war was opposed by most people in the country after a big trek to the United States in the New York City and a great objection at the Pentagon were commenced.
Conclusion
This movie was certainly one most successful productions with a low budget. The movie shows the culture of the American people was affected both politically and socially. It shows the great tale that surrounds the search for freedom in the United States and clearly reflect of the popular and historical culture of the time. Easy rider was a formalized involvement and a movie that was often watched by the young generation of late 1960’s.
References
Hayles, R., & Birnie, L. (2014). Easy rider: My life on a bike.
Scanlan, J. (2015). Easy riders, rolling stones: On the road in America, from Delta blues to '70s rock.
Gothic cathedral was the best evidence of quality Christian art that existed in the Middle ages. The Gothic architecture was first designed at saint-Denis in 1140 after which a full revolution of the cathedral design took place. Gothic art was an improvement of the previous style called the Romanesque architecture. The art consisted of thin walls large stained glass windows which flooded the interior with sufficient light. The ceiling was also modified and beautified to bring a unique interior visual experience. The artwork was great and to some extent it was appealing to the eye. However, I don’t like it because of its heavy masonry ceiling which indeed exerted a lot of pressure against the thin walls of the building. This reduced the stability of the structure which led to collapsing of the structure. The problem was however solved by the Gothic designers.
The Gothic architecture and designed was to fit the Biblical art which means all the improvements made for the congregation. The thin walls were for the purpose of increasing the interior space and the high tall was made the outlook to be awesome. The Gothic was highly decorated using column statues of saints. Holy families were also represented in the statues which were meant to represent various Biblical themes.
The designed was done by the medieval masons who were highly skilled in designing churches and cathedrals. The mason master charged the whole process by supervising the less skilled workers. The team was able to skillfully use of flying buttress which made it possible to design the tall structure. They designed it in different phases which all followed a successful improvement.
What was the Harlem Renaissance and why was it important?
Introduction
Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement of African American movement that was based in Harlem. The movement spanned in the 1920s and 1930s and during this time it was called “New Negro movement’’ (Glasrud & Smallwood, 2007). The movement was called after the compilation in 1925 by Alain Locke. The movement was focused in the community of Harlem in the New York City as a result of black writers who could speak French from the Caribbean and African colonies. These black writers survived in Paris and they were also subjected by Harlem Renaissance (Glasrud & Smallwood, 2007).
Early during the 20th century, Harlem had grown to a home of the Negro middle class. During 1910 various African-American realtors and members of a church group bought large blocks in the fifth avenue. This was a great achievement that made more African Americans to arrive for the First World War. As a result of the war, there was a migration of laborers all the way from Europe virtually ceased. Due to the war, there was a massive demand in the industrial sector for unskilled labor. This movement resulted in a massive migration that got thousands of African American to towns like Cleveland, New York and Chicago (Glasrud & Smallwood, 2007).
As a result of the movement, the Negro culture became more popular. Despite that, there was virulent white racism to the ethnic immigrants who continuously impacted the African American community even in the north. This led many African-American soldiers to fight back in segregated areas such as Harlem hell fighters. The nation had citizens who did not honor and respect any of their accomplishment. The war continued through race riots and other civil wars that reflected economic competition over housing and jobs in other cities including social territories (Gates &Higginbotham, 2009).
Harlem Renaissance was important in that there was a rejection of stereotypes of the minstrel show and blackface. This led to the formation of a theater where African American actors were featured. This conveyed a very important message about the human complexity, yearnings and emotions. The premieres were the first of a kind that gave them the importance in the entire history of the Negro in the American theater (Neimneh, 2014).
There was also the liberation of literature. There were liberty league and the voice that addressed the Negros and their movement. There were newspapers that focused on other political issue but for the first time in history, there was a newspaper that exclusively discussed the Negros. The paper also focused on the art and the poetry of the Negro community. This created a chance of the Negro community to be published in mainstream houses that made many other others begin publishing magazine and novels about the African-American (Gates &Higginbotham, 2009).
Music also found its way in during Harlem Renaissance. There was an emergence of a new style called the Harlem Stride Style. Through music, the difference between the poor Negro and the elite Negros was shaped down. This music enhanced the talents and creates competition that laid a strong foundation of the music genre. During the same period using the musical styles of the blacks more and more, whites were attracted. This created a merge between the white and the Negros into classical world of different music composition (Neimneh, 2014).
Conclusion
Harlem Renaissance was of the great importance of they helped to lay a strong foundation in the movement of civil rights. Moreover, there was a literary movement that inspired and led to the rise of creativity. It was important as there many benefits realized for the African American people including patronage that created a support system for the blacks and the elimination of primitive influences. This led to social ramifications in a unique critique of social consciousness.
Reference
Gates, H. L., Higginbotham, E. B., & American Council of Learned Societies. (2009). Harlem Renaissance lives from the African American national biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Glasrud, B. A., & Smallwood, J. M. (2007). The African American experience in Texas: An anthology. Lubbock (Tex.: Texas Tech University Press
NEIMNEH, S. (2014). Thematics of Interracial Violence in Selected Harlem Renaissance Novels. Papers On Language & Literature, 50(2), 152-181.
Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should Be Revised By Gwen Wilde
The pledge of allegiance was published by the Youth’s companion magazine and the original work was written by Francis Bellamy. Arguments have always come up necessitating the revision of this pledge. In 1923 in a National flag conference held in Washington DC, an argument arose that the words “my flag” could confuse some of the immigrants and this led to the proposal that let the words to be specified as “the flag of the United States” and later changed to “the flag of the United States of America.” The other reason was that the pledge did not include the words “under God” and this was included in 1942 by the United States Congress and was approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 and since then, the pledge has been containing the words “under God” (Wilde, 1). It is basing on these changes that Gwen Wilde gives reasons why the pledge should be revised.
In her view, it was inappropriate to add the words “under God” since they sound divisive. According to President Eisenhower, the adding of the words “under God” was to reaffirm the transcendence of religious faith in America and for the future and to strengthen the nation’s spiritual weapons as a country’s powerful source of peace (Wilde, 2). Therefore, according to the writer, this does not have any impact to American faith after all Americans have always been religious ever since and President’s words imply that many Americans have not believed in spiritual weapons hence arising this argument by the writer. Additionally, the writer claims that many Americans do not utter the words “under God” in good faith simply because of the differences in faith. Despite the fact that the majority of Americans have a religious affiliation, there are a number of them who do not believe in God hence creating divisibility (Wilde, 2). The writer states that this can make some members who do not believe in God keep silent while others are reciting the pledge or keep silent while other mention the word “under God and this can make the pledge unpatriotic hence creating a gap of divisiveness.
The writer argues that even the members of the Supreme Court urge people not to take the words “under God” with seriousness. The Chief Justice referred the words as to a descriptive phrase where to many Americans the phrase does not describe reality (Wilde, 3). This therefore means that the words even if mentioned, they may not add anything or have any impact to Americans. This therefore can tell how millions of people in America do not believe in God. Furthermore, the Chief Justice stated that the pledge is recommended to observe patriotism in a nation and therefore it should not have any connection with religion (Wilde, 3). The writer states that to be loyal Americans, there should be no aspect of showing hold of a particular religious belief.
The writer argues about the scenario where the words “under God” are normally compared with “in God we trust” as written on the money. According to her, the two scenarios are so different because with money, it is normally a business transaction without any affirmation being made (Wilde, 3). This case is different with reciting the pledge because the pledge is always to be taken with serious awareness not like that of handing over money. The phrase is neither tepid nor diluted but has a significant meaning when being uttered and since many Americans avoid uttering it, then it should be removed (Wilde, 4).
Work cited
Wilde Gwen, why the pledge of allegiance should be revised, Nov 17, 2010
The term cold war refers to a state of military, economic, sociological and political tension that transpired between the United States and the Soviet Union after Second World War. Historians have various dates to define the periods of cold war but it is commonly known to have taken place in 1945-1991 (Gaddis, 2005). The word cold was used because there was no significant fighting between the involved parties though regional wars known as proxy wars were going on. The first phase of this war started in the two consecutive years after the end of World War II in 1945.
This war grew out when the American officials came into an agreement to defend against the Soviet threat through containment (Gaddis, 2005). America decided on a long term, patient and firm containment of Russian tendencies of expansion. Ideological differences also caused separation between the two involved countries. When American foreign policy officials decided on spreading democracy all over, it caused a rigorous disagreement between them and the revolutionaries who had a desire to bring down capitalism (Gaddis, 2005). Additionally soviet leaders sought to restructure Europe by creating a buffer between Germany and the soviet border. Therefore the two made preparation to take various steps in order to win. As a result they submitted to work together but none of them trusted each other.
A number of events during and after the Second World War aggravated tensions between the USA and the USSR. The Soviet-German pact was among them and it caused subsequent invasions during the first two years of the war. There was also a perception about a delay of amphibious invasion of German-occupied Europe (Gaddis, 2005). There were also disagreements during war time conferences concerning the fate of Eastern Europe. Lastly, the creation of satellite states in the Eastern community by the Soviets exacerbated tension between the USA and the USSR.
German played a significant role as far as the cold war is concerned because the two major countries had varying plans for Germany hence they could not agree with Germany’s political, economic and military policies causing significant opposition which resulted into cold war (Gaddis, 2005). Germany’s political future was different from that of USA and USSR and the two countries had opposing ideas on this stimulating the cold war.
The cold war alliance consisted of NATO and Warsaw pact which intensified divisions among democratic and socialist nations. During the cold war, European nations aligned with other nations for protection against future aggression since they expected of secret attacks to happen from either resurgent Nazism or guerilla resistance (Gaddis, 2005). Therefore, Britain and France signed Dunkirk treaty, a bipartisan military in 1947. These alliances were different from those in pre World War II periods.
The policies of the Soviet Union began changing in around 1980 because of a number of factors. The Soviet Union faced a stagnation that made it to decline hence calling for new policies. Western engagement with the USSR also contributed to the change of policies by the Soviet society (Gaddis, 2005). Gorbachev proposed a restructure of the economy and he aimed to promote liberalization of the political landscape and to introduce elements of capitalism in the economy hence changing the entire soviet policies.
Reforms by Gorbachev contributed to the end of the cold war in the late 1980’s. Citizens started demanding for freedom and move to capitalism (Gaddis, 2005). By holding a meeting at Malta, Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan negotiated to reduce on intermediate range nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union leaders organized a coup in the late 1989 where Gorbachev was taken captive but was luckily rescued by Boris Yeltsin. The coming down of Berlin wall was the final end of cold war.
The European Union was formed in 1950s with an aim to oversee political and economic cooperation among European nations. This has been strengthened in the 1990s where a single market has been created with four freedoms to allow movement of goods, services, money and people (Etulain, 2002).
Immigration into Europe has become a challenge to European society. One of which includes the political chaos in the Middle East. It is also difficult to absorb migrants due to cultural and religious differences (Etulain, 2002). It has also resulted into economic downturn in the European nations.
Some of the issues affecting the west today include over standardization of education. Western societies also reclaim the broken institution of marriage and it is now believed to be obsolete (Etulain, 2002).
References
Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A new history. New York: Penguin Press.
Etulain, R. W. (2002). Writing western history: Essays on major western historians. USA: University of Nevada Press.
The Americans since 1893 were determined to bring changes in their empire through the expansion of the American frontier. The Americans relations between the Europeans culture and the indigenous wilderness played a significant role in forming the American makeup though at that time the boarder had not existed in America. Later it when the Americans focused into acquiring a boarder through the creation of an American empire. This was clearly portrayed in the quest for theatre reform of the Spanish war which outlined the eagerness that the Americans had in having their own freedom as a state with their own leadership while the alternative technique to acquire their freedom was through grabbing of land from Europe (OpenStax College 641). As they were in the reconstruction period, they used up most of their resources. In their plan for western expansion were to send missionaries into other nations for conquest (OpenStax College 642). At the end line of the century US had acquired not only the American frontier but also it opened their eyes beyond their boarders hence enabling them to transform. This paper therefore will base its discussion on the various transformations that took place in America and the significance of these transformations to the formation of the present US.
One of the transformations that occurred to the Americans was in the sector of business, social concerns and religion. The more the Americans struggled to acquire boundaries for their state the state also changed its functionality with the emergence of industrialization in the 1870s. As industrialization stood its foundation the Americans interest on economic gain resulted them into wanting to have more of the expansion in the foreign policy. This drove them into “forging new and stronger ties oversees, the United States would gain access to international markets for export as well as better deals on the raw materials needed domestically” (OpenStax College 644). Religious and progressive US reformers also took part in transforming the American empire. This is because they got involved in the interest of business thus attracting most of the democrats as well as Christians so as to help their state to expand. Most of the Christians became missionaries and travelled abroad with a different aim than to spread the world as “ by 1870s the missionaries abroad spent as much time advocating for the American version of a modernized civilization as they did teaching the bible” (OpenStax College 644). This clearly shows the strong foundation that the Americans founded worldwide using religion and business as the strongest influences towards them expanding. The Americans offered scholarships and raced based brainpower where they as well showed constant faithfulness to the populations that were regarded as less evolved. They did it for a noble rationale and this enhanced the Americans to be able to cope with harsh conditions and increased their good intentions to help others. This has clearly shown that the Americans are good people and their enthusiasm in all that they do has made many nations to emulate them.
The other most important U.S. transformation was bringing the World War I to a close. Under the leadership of Wilson, the war the American soldiers involved themselves and 4took the advantage of German’s exhaustion. Germany had driven the war by winning various battles but still they were not ready to stop. It is during 1917 when United State declared war against Germany. The other nations such as the Great Britain and France had worn out and so the U.S. army had to face the powerful Germany alone. The going was not easy at all considering that Germany had won all the battles of the eastern front. 2000 soldiers U.S soldiers were killed as other casualties were suffered (OpenStax College 686).
One of the remarkable matching of the soldiers was in September 1918 when all of the American soldiers gathered in full force in the Argonne Forest. The lines of the Germany were broken and a request of peace negotiations from was send to the Germans. Peace signals were sent and the fight progressively seized. Though the U.S soldiers suffered with 117, 000 of them being killed, they were able to bring to an end the World War I (OpenStax College 686).
This was a great transformation which restored peace in the whole world. The other development was able to be carried forward since they could not be done when the war was in progress. They transformation is also significant because most nations such as the great Britain and France had given up the rescue of the United States brought hope by restoring peace. The transformation also stopped the killing of innocent people and also compensation of the loss was done through the peace treaties like Versailles. The transformation also was able to raise the name of the United States as a powerful country which contributed to it as being a super power country.
The other major transformation was bringing colonization of the European counterparts to an end. This occurred when the construction of Panama Canal was underway. Under the leadership of Roosevelt, a transformation of what was referred to as Roosevelt Corollary was started. A message of ending the colonization was sent to all parts of the world and more of it in the western hemisphere. The Roosevelt Corollary move was conducted by getting into various countries and monitoring their internal affairs. Military forces would work accordingly against any countries that would be found colonizing their fellows.
Roosevelt was very strict with the corollary work. He started to establish protectorates over Cuba and Panama which would help the United States to intervene in every country’s affair. The work came to success when the new Good Neighbor Policy was introduced to bring oneness between the western countries and the United States of America.
This transformation was very significant because it marked the end of colonization in most of the European countries. People became free to rule and establish their territories and developed was able to commence. Throughout the history, colonization was a factor that was driving back the economy but with the intervention of the United States various countries got their freedom back. This is a transformation that is every significant in the history of the United States and the world at large and so it’s worth recognition. There are other great transformation but these are the most significant in the history of the world (OpenStax College 658).
In conclusion, America is one of the best nations who have showed total partnership among the citizens into acquiring their frontier. It is through this determination that they vowed to be good stewards in their actions towards gaining their freedom and expansion. Their shared vision even during the wars that have occurred worldwide has enabled them to conquer and remain constantly victorious amongst other nations. Socially, the Americans have established good relations with people all around the globe and religiously most have been using the American Christian religion.
In the history of Americans society the nation has culturally become so diverse with the coming of different ethnic groups. The ethnic identities of those who immigrated in the American soil are still based on their historical background that is their initial origin land than that of the American land. With this kind of group division there exist conflict amongst the Americans and the immigrants. This therefore led to most of these immigrants have formed alliances which enhance them to protect their own privileges for the entire minority group as they demand for protection of the groups interest for satisfaction.
In my reading I have learnt that culture is significant and it explains the present way of doing things for any person and in my opinion it is worth fighting for one’s freedom of way of doing things. It is thus important to fight for what is right as culture is important for the present generation and the generations to come. Shared vision and interest in any fight enhances cohesion and greater success of any group. For instance the formation of the San Francisco State Strike in Us where the strike achieved in ensuring that the culture and the history of the minor ethnic groups would not just fade away but rather would be taught even to those that are born today and in days to come. The formation of the American Indian Movement and the Indian Child Welfare Act enabled the spread and the suppression of thoughts, spirits as well as the lifestyles of the indigenous group. While the NAGPRA group in their action to protect the tribe from the ruthless dig up of the dead has curbed the ruthless activity upon their tribe members. This has allowed the children of these tribes to have a chance to learn their tribe history and culture.
Annie Mae Aquash story involves so many coil and turns as the causal effect for her death is unknown as some say she died as a result of too much exposure to cold weather while others argue that a bullet was put in her head (DeMont 2001). I think that the FBI were involved in her death as in their statement to the deceased family they stated that she died due to high exposure to cold while there was a bullet hole behind her head so they were trying to cover up their actions.
Reference
DeMont, J. (2001). DEATH OF A WARRIOR. Maclean's, 114(17), 26.
In the history of Americans society the nation has culturally become so diverse with the coming of different ethnic groups. The San Francisco State Strike in Us where the strike achieved in ensuring that the culture and the history of the minor ethnic groups would not just fade away but rather would be taught even to those that are born today and in days to come. This has taught me that fighting and remaining true to one’s tribal values shows how patriotic one is to his culture.
NAGPRA
The NAGPRA group in their action to protect the tribe from the ruthless dig up of the dead curbed the ruthless activity upon their tribe members. This has taught me that the Formation of alliances is important as it enhances people to protect their own privileges especially the entire minority group as they demand for protection of the groups’ interest for satisfaction.
American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement has enabled the spread and the suppression of thoughts, spirits as well as the lifestyles of the indigenous group. In my reading I have learnt that culture is significant and it explains the present way of doing things for any person and in my opinion it is worth fighting for one’s freedom of way of doing things. It is thus important to fight for what is right as culture is important for the present generation and the generations to come.
Indian Child Welfare Act
The formation of the Indian Child Welfare Act has taught me that Shared vision and interest in any fight enhances cohesion and greater success of any group. As all the Indians volunteered to adapt children of their tribe showed a shared vision for the continuity of their culture. This has allowed the children of these tribes to have a chance to learn their tribe history and culture.
Claims of the FBI and AIM regarding the Reign of Terror and the murder of Annie Mae Aquash
Annie Mae Aquash story involves so many coil and turns as the causal effect for her death is unknown as some say she died as a result of too much exposure to cold weather while others argue that a bullet was put in her head (DeMont 2001). I think that the FBI were involved in her death as in their statement to the deceased family they stated that she died due to high exposure to cold while there was a bullet hole behind her head so they were trying to cover up their actions. Though the actual killer might have come from the AIM alliance, the FBI had stated that she was their informant which might have infuriated one of the AIM members driving them to killing her. So I think the FBI killed her indirectly by sending rumors that she was their informant.
Reference
DeMont, J. (2001). DEATH OF A WARRIOR. Maclean's, 114(17), 26.
The term cold war refers to a state of military, economic, sociological and political tension that transpired between the United States and the Soviet Union after Second World War. Historians have various dates to define the periods of cold war but it is commonly known to have taken place in 1945-1991 (Gaddis, 2005). The word cold was used because there was no significant fighting between the involved parties though regional wars known as proxy wars were going on. The first phase of this war started in the two consecutive years after the end of World War II in 1945.
This war grew out when the American officials came into an agreement to defend against the Soviet threat through containment (Gaddis, 2005). America decided on a long term, patient and firm containment of Russian tendencies of expansion. Ideological differences also caused separation between the two involved countries. When American foreign policy officials decided on spreading democracy all over, it caused a rigorous disagreement between them and the revolutionaries who had a desire to bring down capitalism (Gaddis, 2005). Additionally soviet leaders sought to restructure Europe by creating a buffer between Germany and the soviet border. Therefore the two made preparation to take various steps in order to win. As a result they submitted to work together but none of them trusted each other.
A number of events during and after the Second World War aggravated tensions between the USA and the USSR. The Soviet-German pact was among them and it caused subsequent invasions during the first two years of the war. There was also a perception about a delay of amphibious invasion of German-occupied Europe (Gaddis, 2005). There were also disagreements during war time conferences concerning the fate of Eastern Europe. Lastly, the creation of satellite states in the Eastern community by the Soviets exacerbated tension between the USA and the USSR.
German played a significant role as far as the cold war is concerned because the two major countries had varying plans for Germany hence they could not agree with Germany’s political, economic and military policies causing significant opposition which resulted into cold war (Gaddis, 2005). Germany’s political future was different from that of USA and USSR and the two countries had opposing ideas on this stimulating the cold war.
The cold war alliance consisted of NATO and Warsaw pact which intensified divisions among democratic and socialist nations. During the cold war, European nations aligned with other nations for protection against future aggression since they expected of secret attacks to happen from either resurgent Nazism or guerilla resistance (Gaddis, 2005). Therefore, Britain and France signed Dunkirk treaty, a bipartisan military in 1947. These alliances were different from those in pre World War II periods.
The policies of the Soviet Union began changing in around 1980 because of a number of factors. The Soviet Union faced a stagnation that made it to decline hence calling for new policies. Western engagement with the USSR also contributed to the change of policies by the Soviet society (Gaddis, 2005). Gorbachev proposed a restructure of the economy and he aimed to promote liberalization of the political landscape and to introduce elements of capitalism in the economy hence changing the entire soviet policies.
Reforms by Gorbachev contributed to the end of the cold war in the late 1980’s. Citizens started demanding for freedom and move to capitalism (Gaddis, 2005). By holding a meeting at Malta, Gorbachev and President Bush negotiated to reduce on intermediate range nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union leaders organized a coup in the late 1989 where Gorbachev was taken captive but was luckily rescued by Boris Yeltsin. The coming down of Berlin wall was the final end of cold war.
The EU emerged out of four treaties. The first treaty was to establish the European Coal and Steel Community. The other treaty was to establish the European Economic Community. The third treaty was to establish European Atomic Energy Community. Finally, it was developed on a treaty to unite the European nations and this was signed in 1992.
The European Union was formed in 1950s with an aim to oversee political and economic cooperation among European nations. This has been strengthened in the 1990s where a single market has been created with four freedoms to allow movement of goods, services, money and people (In Etulain, 2002).
Immigration into Europe has become a challenge to European society. One of which includes the political chaos in the Middle East. It is also difficult to absorb migrants due to cultural and religious differences (In Etulain, 2002). It has also resulted into economic downturn in the European nations.
Some of the issues affecting the west today include over standardization of education. Western societies also reclaim the broken institution of marriage and it is now believed to be obsolete (In Etulain, 2002).
References
Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A new history. New York: Penguin Press.
In Etulain, R. W. (2002). Writing western history: Essays on major western historians. USA: University of Nevada Press.
What, in your view, was the most important single theme of HSTX115: An Introduction to Big History? Give examples to support your view.
Introduction
An introduction to the big history gives priority to three major and important skills as well as three major concepts that the individuals are required to master. The important skills of the book include integration of several disciplines, testing and making claims and development of thought across different scales[1]. The core concepts of the book are as follows origin of stories, collective learning, and thresholds. The major theme of the book is to encourage individuals to think across different scales from the expansive of the massive universe to the tiniest atoms. Individuals are therefore necessitated to think across distinct scales in regard to distance and time. This is, therefore, crucial in helping individuals frame experience at an individual level, community, family, geologic experience and national humanity. This is therefore achieved by incorporating different disciplines as the content of the book encourages the utilization of interdisciplinary thoughts and procedures. Individuals should, therefore, integrate multiple discipline insights when drawing conclusions and analyze historical data while including physical, social and natural sciences[2].
Individuals are required to draw awareness of the wide ranges of disciplines in order to fully understand the kinds of questions that they should ask, their conclusion that they made and the evidence that they utilize in supporting their results[3]. The book, therefore, encourages individuals to develop consistent, thoughtful and rigorous procedures in testing their information and thoughts. The book, therefore, holds that the techniques are useful as they can be utilized in distinct academic discourse. The book views the universe as moment’s series complexity threshold which is the core concept of the book.
The big history focuses on giving the story of the world and the existence of the universe beginning with the stars formation, earth’s life, planets existence, modern civilization and things that may occur in the future. The book is based on understanding the complexity increase thresholds which helps in the development of its main theme which is increasing and developing the capability of thoughts. The central concept of the big story emphasizes the ever-growing complexity of the world. The book accomplishes the concept delivery by utilizing the concept of goldilocks situations. The concept is used in the description of the right conditions that happens at a precise accurate time in triggering the changes form of essential things. With a great view of the changes which can be seen through the provided scales lens the big history book provides an opportunity for understanding of the origin of begins, where they are heading as well as the complexity and the world’s fragility[4].
The origin of the big history story is similar to that of others but the story is rooted in a particular geography and culture because it aims at accounting for the things that are known but have not yet been discovered[5]. The book does this in order to grow its complexity and encourage thoughts development from distinct scales of life. Every culture is characterized with its own unique story of origin. These stories may either be anecdotes or they might be narratives that are elaborate which are essential in the provision of understanding of human’s existence mysteries.
Differently from conventional history, the big history investigates the past happening by utilizing several scales of time from the occurrence of the big bang to civilization and modernization. Unlike the structures of conventional history which begin by exploring the typical evaluation of the introduction and modernization and examination of the records of written materials the book is based on common themes as well as pattern to help individuals in understanding the presented information fully. The big history is centered on the development of thoughts through the increasing complexity because it holds its statements on the universe and demonstrates how humans are fit within the provided context. The book, therefore, places the beings history in the larger context of the world’s history. The book provides rapid details about the historical eras such as ancient Egypt and issuance. The latest findings of the book are drawn from environmental studies, astronomy biology, and many others[6].
In the purpose of developing thoughts big history grew from the great desire to work beyond the self-contained and specialized emerging fields in the 20th century. The book tries to hold history as a general thing well examining common themes across different history scales. In order to increase the complexity as well as thoughts development, the book does not focus on written materials which are associated with limitation of the research. This characteristic, therefore, makes the book effective in triggering thoughts development via the use of complexity as it covers history data[7].
The concept of thresholds helps in the creation of transitions which is the general creation of fresh things that have not yet been discovered from what is known by human kinds. The big history holds more of interdisciplinary basis because it sees the civilization transition as a major gradual which holds many causes and impacts rather than abrupt changes from uncivilized cavemen to civilized and dynamic farmers. Since the recent past can only be understood in terms of the general 14 billion time spa itself the big history seeks to establish and retell the general story of humans in the scientific advances light by the utilization of methods such as genetic analysis and dating of radiocarbon[8]. In several instances, the book utilizes methods like mathematical modeling in the aim of exploring the interactions which exist between trends that are in long term form in sociological schemes. This has led to Clio-dynamic coining which explores the actions of every individual mix environmental as well as social forces based on one view. The big story seeks to establish the repeating patterns that existed during the 13.8 billion since the occurrence of the big bang. For instance one of its patterns is referred to as the chaos creativity catalyzes like the impact of the asteroid while moping out the relics.
In answering the question of time scales the big history is crucial in making comparisons that are based on distinct scales of time which is scales play[9]. The book accomplishes this with the purpose of developing human thoughts by noting the differences and similarities that are present between geological, cosmological scales and human. The book, therefore, holds that the general beliefs of Christians such as radical shifts in the human perspective may yield important insights into the common historical issues from the debate of nature to the history of the environment towards the essential nature of transformation. This, therefore, demonstrates how the existence of humans has been triggered to change by both natural factors as well as human made factors. This is for instance based on the natural processes which occurred more than 4 billion years ago the remains of the exploding stars led to the emerge of irons and this, therefore, would lead to the utilization of hard meta in forging hunting weapons as well as war equipment. The big history uses different disciplines to increase the understanding of human by demonstrating how things got here how to choose the things to believe in and the meaning of life with the formation of the earth[10]. Understanding and complexity is achieved as the big history provides tours of the whole group of the scientific paradigms which is crucial in allowing individuals to become literate scientifically in a speedy mode.
The big history addresses the cosmic evolution complexity in order to grow the understanding of beings. The major central theme of the big history is understanding and complexity increase. In the 14billion years as the universe appeared more complex things which seems to have occurred and humans are among the major complex of all of them. It is therefore a natural thing according to the big history and these things are bound to fascinate humans[11]. Additionally the civilized human society is characterized by complexity such that learning the origin and the existence of the universe creates complexity which can be crucial in teaching us on fresh discoveries about the world today as well as the future[12]. The big story helps in triggering human’s thoughts development by assuming that there is nothing unique about the world’s complicity or the fact that complex things are a necessity as compared to the simple things. The big history holds that complexity is effective in resulting in challenges[13].
From the changing interactions that occur between individuals, societies, and the globe individuals can be able to explore the transformation of the interactions that occurs between humans and humans as well as their surroundings. This, therefore, encourages them to develop thoughts about the types of evidence which is available to the current and the past historians and the role that history plays in shaping their understanding of the global and domestic communities that they belong to in the world today. The book basis is founding’s on the fact that there is no past evidence or investigation is required in discovering new things from what is known. The book works beyond geography, a particular theme or even a particular period as it provides the widest learning scale on the history[14]. The story, therefore, begins with universe’s origin in order to be able to fully tell the linked series stories about the general universe. The big history accomplishes things by the presentation of various interactions that occurs between beings in order to increase the complexity as well as the general understanding. This aspect is crucial in the development of thoughts as it helps individual in establishing things that have not been discovered even in those things regarding the universe that are well known[15].
Complexity can only be found where the conditions around an individual are right and the ingredients for developing the situation are right also. Therefore based on the big history the complexity of the universe can best be understood because of its complexity. Individuals are therefore the book helps individuals in trying to develop thoughts in order to fully understand why the situation is in the existing form. In order for individuals to accomplish the concept of thoughts development, there must be flowing energy. This concept, therefore, results in modernization which is created by the existence of fresh discoveries. The big history explains this by utilizing the cosmetic evolution which entails more that a single subject. This can thus be described a qualitative assertion of a single thing after the other. This is a uniform approach which utilizes a consistent concept in regard to all complex matters thus suggesting differences among the distinct systems which are not in the form of types but in the form of degrees.
The book is purposed to show that although with time knowledge and ideas accumulates increasingly regarding the existence of earth from different generation it is clear that information by human upon the other and there is still space for discovery[16]. This idea has thus been effective in demonstrating the existing opportunities in discoveries even with prior discoveries. The collective pattern of human learning follows the pattern of discoveries that are made by the big history book. For instance, the formation of new stars in the world did not just occur in a particular period of time[17]. This took several elements in combining the stars as well as in building in order to ensure that they would be able to prove that stars were capable of generating light in the space darkness. This is, therefore, similar in the learning modes of different individuals because it takes the time to prove that learning has been accomplished effectively. This is accomplished by the utilization of different elements which aims to ensure that the purpose of learning is accomplished. This concept has been effective in accomplishing the major theme of the book which aims at triggering thoughts development from different scales[18].
References
Brown, C. S. (2012). Big history: From the big bang to the present.
Christian, D. C. (2011). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Grinin, L., Korotayev, A., Rossiĭskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡ nauk., & Volgograd Center for Social Research. (2013). Evolution: Development within big history, evolutionary and world- system paradigms.
Holton, R., & Nasson, W. R. (2010). World Civilizations and History of Human Development. Ramsey: Eolss Publishers.
Macinnis, P., & National Library of Australia,. (2013). The big book of Australian history.
New Leaf Press. (2011). Big book of history. Green Forest, Ark: New Leaf Publishing Group.
Spier, F. (2015). Big history and the future of humanity.
[1] Brown, C. S. (2012). Big history: From the big bang to the present.
[2] Christian, D. C. (2011). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[3] Spier, F. (2015). Big history and the future of humanity
[4] New Leaf Press. (2011). Big book of history. Green Forest, Ark: New Leaf Publishing Group.
[5] New Leaf Press. (2011). Big book of history. Green Forest, Ark: New Leaf Publishing Group.
[6] New Leaf Press. (2011). Big book of history. Green Forest, Ark: New Leaf Publishing Group.
[7] Macinnis, P., & National Library of Australia,. (2013). The big book of Australian history.
[8] Macinnis, P., & National Library of Australia,. (2013). The big book of Australian history.
[9] Holton, R., & Nasson, W. R. (2010). World Civilizations and History of Human Development. Ramsey: Eolss Publishers.
[10] Holton, R., & Nasson, W. R. (2010). World Civilizations and History of Human Development. Ramsey: Eolss Publishers.
[11] Grinin, L., Korotayev, A., Rossiĭskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡ nauk., & Volgograd Center for Social Research. (2013). Evolution: Development within big history, evolutionary and world- system paradigms.
[12] Grinin, L., Korotayev, A., Rossiĭskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡ nauk., & Volgograd Center for Social Research. (2013). Evolution: Development within big history, evolutionary and world- system paradigms.
[13] Grinin, L., Korotayev, A., Rossiĭskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡ nauk., & Volgograd Center for Social Research. (2013). Evolution: Development within big history, evolutionary and world- system paradigms.
[14] Christian, D. C. (2011). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[15] Christian, D. C. (2011). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[16] Brown, C. S. (2012). Big history: From the big bang to the present.
[17] Brown, C. S. (2012). Big history: From the big bang to the present.
[18] Christian, D. C. (2011). Maps of time: An introduction to big history. Berkeley: University of California Press.
World War 2 commenced in 1939 when Germany attacked Poland. Having witnessed the overrun, Britain and France declared war against Germany as their response. However, declaration of the two states was weak and Germany made a launching of their second initiative by invading Denmark and Norway. France, Belgium and Netherlands were also attacked and all these nations were conquered swiftly (Weinberg, 1996). Germany made a genocide of six million European Jews among other deaths that were made which was accompanied by a massive loss of property and peace distortion. This war brought the era of nuclear weapons. It also brought the advent of cold war and the decolonization of the third world countries.
The treaty of Versailles tried to bring thing in order by trying to paralyze Germany’s strength. The treaty demanded that Germany should pay for the loss and damages that had occurred. It also put some military restrictions which were to limit the attacks of the Germans. The Germans were angry due to the fact that the Versailles treaty affected both the economy and the national pride for Germany. In response, Germany attacked Europe and the scandals continued (Weinberg, 1996).
When Hitler got hold of Germany, his aim was to dominate the whole of Europe. He felt that he had all the potential he needed to expand his territory and therefore he initiated the plan. First he started using threats of violence to the neighboring countries. Germany had also recognized the inviolability of Treaty of Locarno in 1925 and therefore Hitler repudiated the treaty they were to make with France and Belgium. This brought censure to Britain and France but they never intervened for that. Hitler’s target was to win Czechoslovakia, Austria and Poland which had been separated from Germany after the reconstruction of the European map of World War 1. He started his foreign policy which succeeded brilliantly because of his popularity (Weinberg, 1996). By 1938, all the plans had been achieved without violence. The justification of his moves was lebensraum which meant a living space. He claimed that his people needed a place to live and get food for the German people.
Hitler’s demand for more territorial space was brought to discussion with Chamberlain where they used to meet in a secret mountain. Chamberlain agreed to let go Sudetenland in exchange for Germany and this was made successfully without a gunshot when the Germany troops occupied Sudetenland. Britain had thought that this agreement would prevent the war but instead it was only a delay. Czechoslovakia was soon occupied by the Germany troops and Poland was to be the next in line. In 1940, Chamberlain resigned and Winston Churchill took over. He was known to be a bitter critic of appeasement and therefore all his actions vilified appeasement.
The ending of the war was brought by various turning points such as the battle of the U.S with Midway, inversion of France and Italy and the bomb blasts in Japan. The war came to a close when Axis power surrendered unconditionally (Weinberg, 1996).
Between 1941 and 1945, Jews who had resided in Europe were systematically murdered with the mass genocide of six million Jews being the largest. The Nazi regime comprised of every arm of German’s government and all were involved in the genocide. Jews and other religious and political groups were oppressed including the Soviet citizens, Romans homosexuals and Jehovah’s Witness and other mentally and physically challenged persons (Weinberg, 1996). The killing and oppression of the minority and ethnic groups was a command from Nazi and so individual soldiers had to obey the commands. Therefore the individual soldiers were not accountable for these crimes they had committed.
Reference
Top of Form
Weinberg, G. (1996). Germany, Hitler and World War II: Essays in modern German and world history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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