http://studentmail.ndnu.edu/exchange/qnguyen@student.ndnu.edu/Sent%20Items/us%20history-2.EML/Crater%20Lake%20ppt.pptx/C58EA28C-18C0-4a97-9AF2-036E93DDAFB3/Crater%20Lake%20ppt.pptx?attach=1

Perceptions on the U.S.

            Regarding foreigners’ perceptions on the United States, I have decided to interview my cousin from Vietnam. She is in her late 20s and has just recently immigrated to America. I started off by asking her how she felt about America’s government. She told me that America’s government was so much better than the one in Vietnam. The government officials have a sturdier control on their nation and, overall, have better laws to protect its citizens. In Vietnam, there is no president and the communist government tries to establish similar control, but lacks authority and equality. There is no set Constitution or amendments that help structure the country. The laws can easily be changed, as well as the way the government runs. The government officials are easily bribed in Vietnam and tend to make decisions that do no benefit the majority; in other words, they do not aim for the common good. When an individual feels that he is wronged in any way, he can present his case in court and obtain his justice with the help of the laws. On the other hand, the laws in Vietnam can easily be bought with money.  Also, one of the many reasons why she likes America is that education can easily be obtained. Public education allows children to have the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop critical thinking skills that contribute to their future. The students in Vietnam have to pay for their education, which is very limited compared to the knowledge here in America. A second reason why she likes America is because of the healthcare. Since there is no healthcare in Vietnam, people who spend a night at a hospital must pay out of their own pocket. In addition, the care and attention patients receive is nowhere near the dedication that doctors and nurses give to patients in the U.S.

            Ultimately, the main problem is the Communist rule in Vietnam. Communism has a strong control on Vietnam and is limiting the expansion of its people and its country. People over there have a very positive perspective on America because they see that it is a country of opportunities and freedom. My cousin admires the government of the United States and is in awe at the freedom that Americans have to express themselves and their rights that are protected by the laws.

Chapter 29

            I thought Chapter 29 is such a fascinating chapter to read because it illustrates a new, evolving society that is more similar to the one we are living in today. This was during the time when the younger generation dared to challenge themselves and question what was right or wrong. People started to speak up for themselves and wanted to “control the decisions that affected their lives” (Boyer, 713). So why did younger people during this particular period decide to speak up? I personally think it was because of the increasing number of students who wanted to pursue higher education. Education allowed them to gain knowledge about the culture and society, which initiated the process of questioning and experimenting. Instead of being told what to do like their ancestors, these college students were equipped to think for themselves.

            Another interesting topic of this chapter was Nixon’s disgraceful past. What Nixon did was surprising because I don’t remember learning much about Nixon and actions. I just could not believe that Nixon would be that desperate to develop a series of “dirty tricks,” which included the creation of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) and wiretapping telephones at the Democratic National Committee. Someone like him was supposed to represent wisdom, justice, leadership, pride, and confidence. Yet his greed and desperation got the best of him. What made it worse was his decision to resign before the Supreme Court could impeach him. His resignation revealed that he was nothing more than a coward because he could not own up to his actions and accept the punishment.

Gay Rights Movement

           The picture on the bottom depicts one of the many non-violent marches for gay rights. People are gathered at Washington D.C. to let their voices be heard and to fight for equal rights. The LGBT (Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender) organizations are known to be active worldwide and have been around for a long time, fighting for equality. This gay rights movement has many similarities to the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Like the African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement, the LGBT group of people has to continuously face massive discrimination and hatred every day. They, too, have experienced name calling, beating, taunting, and even killing. Although the gay movement is one of the most controversial topics that have been around for awhile, it has recently been brought under the spotlight due to the gradual legalization of gay marriages. I chose to talk about the topic of gay rights because it is more personal to me since my best friend is gay. Having someone so close to me go through the challenges of being gay helps me understand their perspective and witness how difficult it is for them to go through life being labeled.

 





 

 

               I also came across a very inspiring video that contributes to the gay rights movement. It contains various clips of people coming out to their friends and family, as well as those who celebrate their way of life and being proud of it. It’s very heartwarming to see the courage they possess and the changes that our society is going through. It is a wonderful thing to say that as Americans, we are beginning to accept others despite their race, culture, and gender.

Civil Rights Movement

           One of the pictures I chose from the Civil Rights Movement was a picture of Dorothy Counts sitting alone as the other school children are laughing at her. From this picture, I can see the anger, humiliation, hurt, and fear as she calmly expressed a controlled countenance. I can sympathize with her because I went through a similar experience when I was younger. I came to America at the age of six and was treated like an outcast because of my inability to speak English. The language barrier made it difficult for the other kids at school to accept me; instead, they made fun of the way I look and talk because of my different culture. But Dorothy obviously had to endure a lot more, since she was one out of only four black students enrolled in all-white schools in North Carolina. Not only did she have to put up with the cruel comments and harassment of the other students, their parents also took part in this discrimination and made threatening calls to Dorothy and her family.

 

            The second picture shows an African-American woman being carried by police officers during a Civil Rights Protest. This picture was very powerful to me because it demonstrated what the African Americans were willing to go through just to make their point. During this time, non-violent protests were common. However, the response of the whites towards these protesters was usually violent and physical harm would be inflicted upon them. It makes me angry seeing how the cops carried that woman as if she wasn’t anything better than a ragged doll. Seeing how she was treated upsets me because this woman was a human being despite her skin color, and she deserved to be treated with respect just like any other American.

 

 

Chapter 28

           After reading chapter 28, what really stood out to me most was the picture on page 690. The picture was taken during the incident in Birmingham in 1963, during which Martin Luther King, Jr. launched nonviolent marches, sit-ins, and pray-ins. This act infuriated Police Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor, who gave permission for his men to attack the nonviolent demonstrators. Although the participants did not physically harm anyone, Connor and his men were armed with electric cattle prods, water hoses, and fierce dogs. The picture of the man being grabbed by the police and attacked by the police dog definitely got to me emotionally as I could sense both fear and determination on the man’s face. This picture is heartbreaking because it reminded me of the time when racism and discrimination got the best of humanity, leading to the heavy mistreatment of multiple ethnic groups, such as African Americans. I am just glad to be living in an era in which different types of ethnicities are appreciated and respected.

            I also have something to say regarding the topic on America’s participation in the endless war in Vietnam. I understand how the domino theory posed as a threat and a logical reason to fight the continuous, no-ending war. However, a part of me feels like the president’s ego and stubbornness also played a part in his reluctance to pull the troops out of Vietnam. A majority of people in the U.S. were fed up with the war because it didn’t look like it was going to end any time soon, and the massive amount of casualties were gradually piling up. But Kennedy did not want to seem like a weak president and wanted a save-face plan. After Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon Johnson was challenged by the same dilemma: whether to pull out of the war and risk the potential domination of communism or to put up a strong front and continued to the end. Like the Americans during that time, I also felt like Kennedy  or Lyndon should have put out a better attempt at ending the war earlier because the U.S. had lost thousands of lives and billions of dollars. In addition, incidents such as the My Lai Massacre brought so much shame to America and further proved how disastrous and uncoordinated the war was.

The Positive Outcomes of Immigration

            After reading Chapter 23, I couldn’t help but disagree with the strong nativism that people harbored during the earlier times of immigration. I assumed that many Americans were against the idea of letting in more immigrants because they feared the loss of the Anglo-American culture. These new aliens, whether legally or illegally, were coming into their land, taking over their jobs, and a majority of them are opposing assimilation. However, I felt that some of actions that were taken against these immigrants went a bit too far. First of all, it was ironic that these so called “Americans” were trying to defend their country when they, too, came from family members that were once immigrants. Also, no matter how negative they felt against these immigrants, killing should never have been an option. For instance, the formation of the Ku Klux Klan and the crimes they committed was such horrifying moment in American history. It makes me so upset to think about the racism and discrimination that took place all because of the selfish need to preserve the "original" American culture.

            I actually look at immigration on a more positive light. Without immigration, America would not have turned out to be such a wonderfully diverse nation today. Also, many of the Americans' favorite pastimes and companies have would never have existed if it weren’t for the different ethnic groups that came here and invested their time, money, and ideas in the U.S. For example, the Italians played an important role in the musical life of this nation. Mozart was such a phenomenal, influential, and well-known musician that is still widely remembered even to this century. Also, an Italian by the name of Amadeo Pietro Giannini founded the small Bank of Italy in San Francisco, a bank that is now popularly known as the Bank of America. Another example would be the invention of movie theaters. The Greeks pioneered the massive industry of motion pictures. Alexander Pantage the developed one of the largest theater chains in the 1900s and his brothers controlled the 20^th century-Fox studios. These are only a few of the several men whose immigration and inventions had played a huge part in the development of America and its culture.

Response to Industrialization

 

[QUOTES]

(1) On women in the workplace

“The true advancement of women requires that labor should be structured in such a way that women do not have to pay for their advancement by abandoning what is specific to them and at the expense of the family, in which women as mothers have an irreplaceable role. (LE 19, p.379).          

(2)Workers and managers united in work community

“It is characteristic of work that it first and foremost unites people. In this consists its social power: the power to build a community. In the final analysis, both those who work and those who manage the means of production or who own them must in some way be united in this community” (LE 20, pp. 380-81).

(3)The right to medical care

   “19. After outlining the important role that concern for providing employment for all workers plays in safeguarding respect for the inalienable rights of man in view of his work, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at these rights, which in the final analysis are formed within the relationship between worker and direct employer. […]

   “Besides wages, various social benefits intended to ensure the life and health of workers and their families play a part here. The expenses involved in health care, especially in the case of accidents at work, demand that medical assistance should be easily available for workers and that as far as possible it should be cheap or even free of charge.” (LE 19, pp. 378-9).

 

[BLOG]

            The industrial period is well remembered as one of the most significant moments in U.S. history. The industrialization brought technological advances, increased population in cities, expanded the railroad industry, raised the number of job positions, decreased production time, and encouraged education. However, these positive outcomes did not bury the negative effects, such as horrible working and living conditions, long work hours, minimal pay, air pollution, and child labor.

Although many men had to suffer at work, women and children had to endure a lot more. Women, in particular, were hired as inexpensive and unskilled labor. They were paid half as much as the men, but put out just as much hours as them; sometimes, even more! In addition, they had to sacrifice their roles as wives and mothers. This brings me to the first quote on women in the workplace. I agree with this statement because as much as women enjoyed the freedom and power of being out of the house and having the ability to contribute to the family income, many despised the harsh hours at work, the horrible and dangerous work conditions, and the low pay for all the time they had to sacrifice for their work. Unlike men whose main job was to earn money and provide for the family, women also needed to take care of household chores and raise children on top of their work.  So similar to what the quote is stating, I do believe that women deserve a job that does not require them “abandoning what is specific to them and at the expense of the family.”

The second quote talks about the relationship that should be developed between the workers and the managers. In any type of job, people must be able to cooperate and learn how to work with one another in a civilized manner. People don’t just go to work for their own benefit; instead, each person represents a piece of the puzzle and must work with one another to complete the project. I agree with the quote because I believe that in order to build an understanding and peaceful atmosphere, workers and managers should try to see each other as respectful individuals and try to create a sense of community. That is the only way to inhibit the feeling of inequality that fuels strikes, labor violence, and the formations of labor unions.

The third quote talks about workers’ right to medical care. Although the industrialization led to so many advancements in America, a lot of the workers had to face the dangerous conditions at work. Back in the days, work places did not take cautious steps in preventing accidents from occurring. So there were many injuries and deaths resulting from the lack of care and improvements. I believe that the government made the right decision to allow workers to get medical care and “various social benefits intended to ensure the life and health of workers and their families.” By looking after their well-being, workers will feel safer and more satisfied with their jobs and, as a response, put in their best effort in whatever they do.

Chapter 17

            Chapter 17 took on a more depressing view of the Transformation of the Trans-Mississippi West. It described the ruined lives of many Native tribes that had to give up their home and connection to their land because of the ambitions of white men. The federal government forced Native Americans onto reservations. Although there were a few groups who peacefully agreed to do so, many fought back. For the Plain Indians, life revolved around extended family ties and tribal cooperation. They relied on hunting and farming to feed their families. However, army commanders saw this as a chance to undermine Indian resistance. They encouraged the slaughter of buffalo in order to reduce the food source of the tribes, leaving them with no other choice but to move. I find their actions very disturbing because of the many innocent lives that were lost. It seemed unfair because the Indians were the first people who settled on those lands. They had been there for awhile, minding their own businesses, and did not plan on disturbing anyone else. But for some reason, the government found it okay to violently claim the land and pushed the Indians onto reserves. The killings even went as far as massacring women and children of peaceful bands of Indians in order to quickly clear the land or to pose as a warning for other tribes who refused to cooperate I mean, what gave them the right to do so without any shame?

            Also, I wanted to mention the picture on page 404 in the “Enduring Vision” textbook. That picture puts such a shameful image to America. Seeing the way those American men stood proudly around a pile of frozen, dead Indians was horrific. Reading the text about the Wounded Knee massacre painted a cruel picture of what the Natives had to go through, but seeing the actual picture made it so much more real. I can never understand that period in history when Americans thought their superiority justified their actions in treating other ethnic groups in such an unfair and malicious way!

Chapter 13: The West and Beyond

            What initially shocked me while reading chapter 13 was the number of immigrants between 1815 and1860. The textbook gave an incredible amount of 5 million European immigrants. I’ve always known that immigration played a huge role in the history of the United States, but to put a number to that topic really painted a picture of exactly how many people actually took part in this. What I also found was surprising was the large number of Germans and Irish. I thought that the Irish being one of the largest groups to come to America was not surprising because of the well-known Great Famine of Ireland, during which multiple harvests of potatoes were destroyed and resulted in the death of a million people due to starvation. What I did not know, however, was that Germans made up the second largest group of immigrants.

These Germans constructed the idea of residing in small groups or clans of their own ethnicity in America. Although many people thought of these clans as a negative, I was able to look at it from a more positive perspective. Being an immigrant traveling to a new country was difficult and intimidating because of the language barrier, new environment, and strange culture. But having a small community made up of people from the same ethnicity or background probably made it easier to adjust to their new home. Germans were able to find neighbors that spoke their language, practiced the same customs, and did not need any outside help because everything that was necessary for daily life was supplied within that community. Thinking about all the immigrants and their rough history made me wonder how I would react and what I would do if I were in the same situation as them, one in which I am forced to leave the comfort of my own home and immigrate to another country as an “alien.”

I was also interested in reading about the expansion towards the west. The section about the overland trails spoke of the difficulties Americans had to face during their move. These trails were routes leading westward to Oregon and California, and were followed by thousands of people. Because the path consisted of walking on Indian killing grounds, these travelers had to be on the constant lookout with weapons by their side. However, I found it ridiculous that these stories were false and that “they were more likely to shoot one another than to be shot by the usually cooperative Indians, and much more likely to be scalped by the inflated prices…” (Boyer, 299). I recall hearing about the Donner Party from my U.S. History teacher in high-school, and how gruesome their situation was that led them to resort to cannibalism. I must admit that these individuals were so courageous in their decision to follow this trail, despite not knowing anything about the route and solely relying on guidebooks that contained false information.



 



The Old South and Slavery

Chapter 12 had a lot of interesting topics that related to slavery. I have always been interested in reading about the lives of slaves and the cruelty that they had to endure. While reading this chapter, there were several things that stood out to me. The first one would have to be the section on king cotton. I knew that cotton was one of the primary cash crops, but did not know the particular reason as to why. After reading, I realized that it was because of the high demand of cotton due to the growth of British textile industry. This demand led to an increase in slaves because they enabled a planter to harvest large fields of cotton at a quicker pace. This idea of raising cash crops and owning slaves were some of the main reasons that contributed to the difference between the North and the South. While the North prospered in industry work and became more urban, the South thought that it wasn’t worth investing their time and money into, and continued to preserve the practice of growing and selling cash crops.

Another section that caught my attention was the one titled “Life Under Slavery.” In this part, I got a glimpse of the daily routine of a slave. They would wake up before sunrise and continue to work even after the sun went down. Since darkness made it impossible to do fieldwork, they toted bales to the ginhouse, gathered wood for supper fires, and fed the mules. After all the tasks were completed, they didn’t even get to sleep in a comfortable room or bed. They had to sleep in log cabins or wooden planks. I know for sure that I would not be able to last one day in their position.

Towards the end of the chapter, I thought it was very creative how the slaves developed their own language, known as pidgin. Also, they developed songs and dances for recreational purposes, which left me in awe at their attempt to remain optimistic, despite having to go through so much suffering.

Chapter 9

                   For this chapter, I enjoyed reading the part that talked about how Westerners craved sociability. After all these talks about the suffering of Natives, political issues, and discrimination, it was refreshing to read about history on a more positive note. I think the description fits the stereotypical portrayal of the olden, western families. Similar to several scenes in movies, the men participated in athletic and competitive activities, while the women focused on sewing bees, carpet tackings, and goose and chicken plucking. It was quite interesting to note the difference between the social activities then and now. On a more depressing subject, Indians still could not get a break from America’s greedy needs! Despite so many revolts and battles, the Indians couldn’t make any progress due to the lack of officially trained armies and weapons. What was most upsetting was the Trail of Tears, during which 8,000 Cherokees died during and after the removal. It got to me emotionally because I feel that they deserved better because despite the color of their skin, they were ultimately, only humans just like everyone else! I realized that history definitely reveals some of the most shameful incidences in America, some of which were related to the treatments of ethnic groups such as African Americans and Native Americans. 

Chapter 7

               One of the topics that I found intriguing in chapter seven was the roles of women; white women in the Republic, to be exact. As a woman myself, I love reading about the advancements that women made in history, and learning about the process of how America viewed women from earlier times until today. Although this section specifically talked about white women, it was still progress compared to the roles they had years before. It was about time women got some independence! During this time, around the 17^th century, women were able to choose their husbands and people are starting to see the importance of marriage as a mutual decision. In addition, these ladies eventually realized that it was a better idea to have fewer kids. This freed them from the burden of having to go through several pregnancies and the difficulty of nursing too many kids. I always wondered how the ladies were able to manage eight or nine little monkeys running around the house. I'm an only child, and yet, my mom complains about how much work she has to do because of me!





Blog #3

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution led me to admire the determination and endurance of the American people. The colonists’ dream of becoming free from Britain’s rule drove them to do go through so many battles and risking handful of lives. I find it amazing how people like George Washington, Marquis Lafayette, and Friedrich Steuben all united together to fight against the British army despite their difference in background and culture. After the United States victory had been declared, the citizens were still unsure of how to run their new states and everyone was afraid that a powerful central government would result in the same madness as Britain’s control. So I wasn’t too surprised that the U.S. was unsuccessful with their establishment of the Confederation. But after some trial and error, some of the most intelligent men were able to draft the Constitution and establish the Declaration of Independence. I find these men to be quite inspirational because of their knowledge and determination. Without them, America would not be like how it is today, giving rights to all people because “all men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence). Because of this phrase, our modern society has made so many advancements, such as having the first colored president or having an optimistic view on gay marriages. Examples like these make me proud to be a citizen of the U.S.!

Common Sense Quotes

               The quotes from the Good Reads website were quite interesting. One of the quotes caught my attention because I have heard it before during my childhood. This quote was produced in the Common Sense, which read “When I was teaching children I began every day writing this on the blackboard: ‘Do to others what you would like them to do to you,’ telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule." This phrase was repeated to me during the six years I was in elementary school. My principal from that school called it the “Golden Rule” and told all his students to treat others the way you want to be treated. Since English was not my first language, I could not grasp it at first. But eventually, I found that quote to be true. People want to be treated a certain way, but tend to disregard the feelings of others and only want what is best for them. This can cause some of the most horrific occurrences in history such as the killing of ethnic groups because they were deemed unworthy, the racism and discrimination of several cultures, and bullying, which still exists to this day. I strongly believe that if people would stop and think about how others would feel as a result to the actions we take and treat them in a manner that we want to be treated, then our society would gradually improve.

Blog #2

The first thing I noticed from this week’s reading was that war seems to be the number one answer to every problem that arose in history. I am strongly against war because of the massive amount of deaths that result from it. Apparently, humans find it difficult to resolve dilemmas with kind words and negotiations; they resort to war to force their beliefs on others and satisfy their greed! Although his method proved effective, it was still horrendous to read about all the fighting that took place. Among all the tragedy of war, I have to agree that the establishment of mercantilism in the European country and the Navigation Acts were quite clever ideas! European’s method of becoming self-sufficient by destroying its dependence on foreign countries and selling more good abroad than buying allowed it to thrive greatly.

            The topic of slavery, once again, made it uncomfortable for me to read. It was so depressing to learn about how the slaves were mistreated, how the owners had cruel restrictions on them, and how miniscule amount of food they were given per week. It annoyed me how slave owners disregarded their health and needs and did not even consider the possibility of being a little more lenient on slaves after all the revolts or rebellions that occurred. It shocked me to see how anyone could sit still after seeing how hard the slaves were trying to gain a bit of independence and understanding for their people.

            Regarding colonial politics, I found it amusing how a government was able to last when most of the people didn’t even have a say in political matters. Only males who owned a certain amount of land or property could vote. Women, blacks, and Indians did not have a voice on how the society they lived in should be run. Those living in rural areas couldn’t even vote because elections were randomly called and most did not want to travel a long distance on dangerous roads just to find a voting place. What kind of government could help its people when many of its citizens couldn’t even express their thoughts and opinions?

            Last but not least, the topic of the Enlightenment period has always been interesting to me. I have always found it to be such a relief that people like Sir Isaac Newton or Benjamin Franklin actually embraced the idea of reasoning, science, and logic. A lot of irrational events had taken place in history because people believed in blinding theories, such as the time when so many women were burnt and killed because they were suspected of being witches without any hard evidence. Because of the discovery of science, humans were able to expand their logic and intelligence by experimenting with the world. It’s scary to think how our world would be like without the discovery of the Enlightenment!

Chapter 2 Reflection

The development of the Atlantic World contains some of the most amazing, yet shocking stories. As I was reading, what stood out most to me was how determined some of the explorers were. People such as Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Hernan Cortes, and Christopher Columbus were all intelligent, driven, and brave as they traveled far distances in order to reach new land with promising opportunities. Back in the days, there was not any map that displayed a correct outline of the world. These travelers made several mistakes in their navigation and most ended up in a place far from their planned destination. I can’t imagine myself being in their positions and set out on a journey with only a vague map, a compass, and my own knowledge. I would not know how long the trip would be, whether I would make it back alive, and who or what I might encounter. The thought of blindly plunging into a massive ocean terrifies me, even as I am only in my room reading these stories from a textbook.

            Another topic that bothered me was the number of deaths that took place during this time period. Many innocent lives were lost because of the greed that European travelers harbored. Millions of natives were killed because of war, slavery, and mainly diseases. I find it absolutely infuriating to read about how these natives were killed and how their homes and families had been destroyed because the Europeans wanted to fulfill their needs of God, gold, and glory. However, Indians were not the only group that suffered. African Americans soon played a prominent role in this nightmare. They were considered properties and used for slavery. They had to go through such dehumanizing situations such as stripping down naked to be inspected and sold.

Despite how interesting history may be, I am annoyed at the amount of stories in history that had been covered up and the various sugar-coated tales that were told to children in school. As a child, I was taught in elementary school that Christopher Columbus was an amazing leader that greatly contributed to the finding of America. According to some of my teachers, we never would have been here today without his discoveries in 1492. Although that is true, the real story is that Columbus was America’s first slave trader who ignited the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. He enslaved native people and issued grants for the labor of Indians and their land. During this time, Indians were forced to search for gold and supply food for the Spanish. I understand the human characteristic of greed for wealth and glory, but I will never be able to understand how such horrifying actions were done by humans to other humans.

 

Yay - I'm done!!