...George Washington once said, “Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.” George Washington lived by this quote, especially when he became president. When he became the first president of the new country, the United States of America, he knew that he would be an example for all the future presidents, so he needed to be a respectable example, because he knew it would be a powerful influence on the history of our country. As a result of George Washington being the first president, being one of the founding fathers of the United States, and setting a prodigious example for future presidents, George Washington is a famous man. Some people, however, think George Washington should not have a prestigious place in history because...
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...and did not have the basic and fundamental rights that should be given to all people. However, in the face of this social injustice, one woman decided it was time to take a stand. Abigail Smith was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts November 1, 1744. She would later become Abigail Adams and follow Martha Washington as the next First Lady of the United States and was one of the first proponents of feminism. Abigail Adams had the greatest impact on American history because she used her influential position of First Lady of the United States to openly express her beliefs in the importance of women’s rights and, as a result, she set a model for all women to come. Abigail Adams was a feminist living in Colonial America. Despite living in a time when women had no rights, she believed in the advocacy of women’s rights in all areas of life to ensure political, social and economic equality to men. Abigail had no formal education, yet she learned to read and write, and was educated in philosophy, theology, Shakespeare, the classics, ancient history, and government law. While she strongly believed in marriage, Abigail felt women should be involved in the marriage and not just follow what their husbands said, and was one of the first supporters of marriage as a team. She believed that women could be the strength behind their families and...
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...they raised a son. Before and during the Revolutionary War in 1775, James Madison had many accomplishments. Though there are no specific dates, he served on the Orange County Committee of Safety, and then in 1776 went on to serve in the Virginia Convention, and was there to help frame the Virginia Constitution. This deemed Virginia as an independent state. He was chosen to represent Virginia in the Continental Congress in 1780 to 1783 and also in 1786 to 1788. While he was in the Continental Congress for the second, he was also serving in the Virginia House of Delegates for the second time since 1776. He made himself well-known, for after the war, he was apart of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. James Madison made an impact in history. During the Constitutional Convention, he was chosen as the chief recorder of information or a person who takes important notes. He did not speak much, but he wrote down every delegate’s opinions. Before the convention, James Madison had written the Virginia Plan. While Madison took his notes, this plan was the main idea in the debate for the Constitution. Madison strongly wanted the Constitution to be ratified. He got together with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, together, they wrote a series of essays to promote the Constitution. These were known as the Federalist Papers. After the Constitution was ratified, James Madison earned the name “Father of the Constitution” for all of his hard work. After the Constitutional Convention, James...
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...Polk presidency changed the course of our history by a lot,the reason for do saying so is because he was able to expand the us territory greatly. He had been able to complete the annexation of Texas, worked up a treaty for both Great Britain and Mexico and more importantly he had obtained what was left of the western territory giving us land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This is a pretty big deal because without this expansion, the United States would’ve steadily began to change from what we know it as today. If we hadn’t annexed Texas when we did other southern states would’ve started to think why couldn’t they become independent as well, and we would have had numerous wars battling over which states would become their own country. Also If we hadn’t took the western land as time...
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...Native American Music: A Root of Contemporary Music Yet Explored What is Native American Music? As our class brainstormed ideas for research, I already knew what topic I wanted to explore. Having been a musician, closely involved with music my entire life, I directed my focus toward Native American music. Before I began to develop any sort of directed, narrowed research questions, I asked myself first, “What is Native American music?” Regarding various definitions of the so-called “genre,” I discovered that Native American music shouldn’t be typified into any genre or defined style of music. It was the perspective toward music that was unique to Native peoples, and this perspective is key in understanding the Native American influence on later creations of music. Definition and Philosophy Native peoples tend to view their music in a distinctly different way from Euro-Americans. To Natives, music is thought; music appeared to be particularly inclusive into Native Americans’ way of life, and is unique in its origin, meaning, and efficacy. To ask “what is Native American music?” would be a question foreign to Native Americans, especially during the time that Native American music was first discovered. One aspect of music specific to indigenous peoples is its place in daily life. In fact, “its place in human affairs are much more significant to Indians than its mode of construction or technical character.” (Native American Music, 1980, p. 12) Unlike the Euro-American perspective...
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...Turner, the Thesis, and Tracking history: Frederick Jackson Turner’s journey to the thesis and his contribution to the way we study history today History Today 290 Megan Houck Professor Le Bar May 7, 2014 Over 120 years ago, Frederick Jackson Turner spoke in Chicago about his theory of the American West. This Statement made a bold case that the closing of the westward expansion was the end to a glorious and influential chapter in the history of the nation. Throughout the decades there is one thing for certain, the Frontier thesis has just as much impact today as when produced. It may be studied today for its purposefulness as well as its theories, but his work ultimately inspires one to open their mind for critique, discussion, and praise. He believed that westering American individuality helped assure our democracy. Turner has many influences during his career like his father, teachers, students, and other historians. He continued to be an avid student as well, always reading and educating himself. The center of his thesis was to state that the American character, including such traits as equality and acquisitiveness, and the “American character” derived from the frontier experience. His historical value was in understanding America’s inner workings. Looking at all aspects of the American life, their past, where their future was heading, their economic, political, and social belongings. It was this forward thinking that elevated Turner’s status in his...
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...influenced the culture through music. There were also several genres and artists that contributed to the influence of culture. During the 1960s, the music played a major role in shaping the culture. The music echoed the events and movements that were happening in society. Prior to 1963, the music reflected the sounds, styles and attitudes of the previous decade. Music of the 1960s magnified the rebellion and standing up to the emerging cultural changes. The music about protest relayed messages that everyone could and would to sing along to. Through the multiple events during the sixties the music and the American culture mood began to change. Current events in America also played a role in how music influenced American culture. The British Invasion, the Civil Rights Movement, and the escalation of the Vietnam War were major events that impacted the music. The British Invasion occurred when an explosion of British artists took the United States music scene by storm in the mid 1960s. Kenneth Olwig wrote an article titled, “The ‘British invasion’,” and summarizes, “The British Invaders that were listened to, were inspired by and faithfully played a great diversity of American Music, but a subtle change occurred in its context” (176). This shift led American musicians to the realization that their music had influences worldwide. Not only did the British Invasion play a role in the influence of music, but so did the Civil Rights Movement. An article about social movements and their...
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...Alexis Franciscotty 04/02/2015 SOC 2100 American History X American History X is an interesting and complex film with many eye opening events. The writers of the film lead the viewer to see where racism begins at its’ source, in an individual’s upbringing. The film tells the story of Derek Vinyard through his younger brother Danny Vinyard’s narration. The story takes place in Venice Beach, California, and shows how the brothers become swept up in the neo-Nazi gang movement. Derek is first drawn into the racist underground after their father, a firefighter who was also racist, is killed by an African-American drug dealer while trying to put out a fire in a South Central neighborhood. Derek finds his place with the neo-Nazi skinheads because they create an environment where Derek feels welcome and part of something bigger and more powerful than himself. It was then that Derek’s racism grew from feelings to actions. Derek murders two African-American Crip gang members trying to steal his truck and is sent to prison. The film follows Danny’s influence by his older brother's actions and thoughts, as well as how Derek, now enlightened by his experience in prison, tries to prevent his brother from going down the same road he did. The film is full of gore, violence, and makes the message clear that hate will only lead to more hate, but it also portrays how one person’s influence and actions direct others in the same capacity. Derek’s father’s views, in theory, are what let Derek...
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...Contrary to the popular belief of men contributing the biggest part to the American Revolution, women have made significant impact in our history as well. Unfortunately, most of our history books minimize the impact of women on our history, and when it is mentioned, it is often belittles or even romanticized through the authors eyes. Carol Berkin attempts to portray a more accurate representation of these influences in her book Revolutionary Mothers, Women in the Struggle for American Independence. Berkin discusses the Colonial white women, Native American, and African American women and how they have helped to construct and shape our history. By basing her position in this book on the various socioeconomic statuses such as the high and low classes, as well as those who supported Loyalist and Patriotic causes during this lengthy battle for Americas Independence. Overall, Berkin has constructed a piece of literature that attempts to depict the real influence of both average common folks as well as famous women have had in our history and how they were affected by the Revolutionary war. By using many different sources and numerous footnotes throughout her 120 page book , Berkin defends her stance on the roles of many women throughout history and their influences. Berkin position is backed up by using diaries from numerous women written during the days of the Revolution, memoirs, legal opinions, law books as well as news paper articles. Also to discredit any other possible...
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...What can we learn about US history from the biographical account of Benjamin Franklin’s life?? By Ravi Blank In every age there have been a few heroic souls who have been in advance of their time who have been misunderstood, maligned, persecuted and sometimes put to death…Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and their compeers were the rebels of their day…But they had the moral courage to be true to their convictions … We are going to explore the heroic soul of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin began writing his autobiography in 1771, but before he could finish writing his whole life story, he died in 1790. One challenge the book poses for us, then, is that it doesn’t cover a lot of the interesting and important stuff that happened in Franklin life, like the American Revolution or the time he spent working as a diplomat in Paris. Through his work as a writer, printer, statesman and inventor he forever established himself as one of America’s greatest figures. We see Benjamin Franklin’s influence during his lifetime, in the majority of major developments in U.S. History. His hard work and dedication to bettering himself and the lives of fellow American’s actually paved the way for Colonial America to separate itself from Great Britain and establish it’s self as a major world power. “A Man story is not told by list of his grand accomplishments, but rather by his smaller daily goods.” We see how his influence, which derived from his dilegence and dedication, helped shape...
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...minorities and how their influence affected the art works. There will be a Section of this paper that will take about the influence of art and how it affected the culture of 20th century. Then this paper will so contain information about how the culture of 20th century influences the arts of the 20th century. Feminist Art Movement Well the Feminist Art Movement started in 1969 because there was a group of women artists in revolution (WAR). This group decided to split off from the Art Workers’ Coalition (AWC) the reason the split from the AWC because it was Male-dominated. This group would not help the women artists. Then in 1971 the women artists had started to strike out of the Corcoran Biennial in Washington D.C. because they had excluded the women artists. The women artists started to protest against gallery owners because they would not show off their work here. Judy Chicago is the first woman that acted on and to help the Feminist Art movement. Her role was the most prominent and the earliest activists in the movement because she had established the feminist art program for women to paint freely without having the rejections from the outside world. The place of the program at is called Cal State Fresno, Judy Chicago also Created a woman house that is an Art institute that teaches women to make art. The name of this place is California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), this Institute also had a Feminist Art program. Women Influence on the Various Arts I...
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...Analyse the ways history and memory generate compelling and unexpected insights. In your response, you must make detailed reference to your prescribed text and at least one other related text. Through history, documented evidence of past events, and memory, personal recollections of the past, a representation is conveyed. The perspective of the representation of the history and memory of events ultimately shapes the responder’s understanding of the event. This is evident on the Smithsonian website of American History, ‘Bearing Witness to History’ and Richard Drew’s photograph, ‘The Falling Man’, where the responders are exposed to different language forms and features that generate compelling and unexpected insights into the events of September 11. The Smithsonian website of American History, ‘Bearing Witness to History’, allows the responders to develop compelling and unexpected insights into the events of September 11 through a perspective built on American values. The homepage of the website adopts a muted and neutral colour scheme, creating a sensitive atmosphere to memorialise those who lost their lives. The respect created for those affected suggests that even now, more than a decade later after the event, individuals are still suffering and the pain and anguish created by the event is enduring. The title of the website September 11: Bearing Witness to History’ is in present tense, which implies that the history of this specific event is an ongoing process that is...
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...American Culture Values Keith Byrd University of Phoenix Ann Fongheiser 1-25-10 American Culture Values American Culture is a combination of history, traditions, holidays, customs, religious beliefs and values. It also encompasses spirits, arts - to include visual, musical, and dance, cinema, literature and food. American Culture has been heavily influenced by the Europeans, British, and other Eastern World Civilizations. Our National holidays, sporting events, military and even our government all have been influenced by Eastern World Civilization. Our architectural designs, cars, fashion, and firearms all have Eastern influences. Calendars are a major influence on holidays and US history and religious traditions. National patriarchs, US history and Religious traditions are all a part of the reason that the United States observes holidays and traditions. National holidays like Washington’s Birthday, Independence Day and Christmas are just a few of the traditions and holidays that are influenced by Religion, National patriarchs and US history. In 1879, Washington's Birthday was declared a National holiday by an act of Congress. In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Act started to commemorate Washington's birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February, which is now know in the American Culture as "President's Day." Independence Day, also known as the fourth of July, is the day that we celebrate in commemoration of the...
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...question that has been asked at different times during by different people throughout American history. One must consider some of the events that have transpired in American history when it comes to determining whether or not America is an empire. “The expansion of the original 13 US states westward and southwards in the course of the 19th century was itself a quintessentially imperialists undertaking (Ferguson, 2003). During this period in history, people from different ethnic backgrounds were displaced, vanquished, discriminated against, and treated as if they were insignificant. This kind of behavior during this period in history demontrates the actions of a country who at this point in time used practices that can be considerd to be imperialistic in nature in an effort to expand territory. The militaristic influence of the United States is vast and extends well past US borders to other countries. The U.S. Military has successfully acquired small territories for use in military functions; the land the in these countries are used as military installations for troops that are deployed overseas. “Prior to the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Military had established around 752 different military installations located in over 130 countries” (Ferguson, 2003). Whenever a new conflict emerges with U.S. Involvement, the U.S. Military manages to acquire new bases and establish military presence. The American Military is also a leader in the realm of advanced military technology. The fiscal...
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...land of the free and home of the brave. In 2009, Barack Obama stated “I believe in American Exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism” (News Conference 2009). American Exceptionalism is an Umbrella housing everything the led to the freedom and uniqueness of national acceptance. The term “exceptionalism” stems from being exceptional and at a high level of respect, or success. Exceptionalism is our belief in the exceptional country we live in, that is America. America is seen by many around the world as the land of opportunities. There are a vast number of reasons that is became so. Every country should have “exceptionalism” by which you acknowledge and love your country for. American Exceptionalism influenced US domestic and international policies as well as US democracy via the belief that what “America does is right.” That belief is stemmed from the notion of because it is our country anything we do is right or justified. When reading into Obama’s speech on our American exceptionalism we must attain and realize his stance on supporting his country no matter what. The term stems into policies, and relations among nations. Under the umbrella of the term...
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