Continuity and change:
New inventions such as the automobile, the assembly line, the television, and the telephone improved the daily lives of Americans as well as slowly uniting society through the spreading of mass culture. The automobile encouraged the expansion of oil and steel production, increased the country’s economic growth, and aided urban culture by decreasing rural isolation. The television, a form of mass entertainment, helped create a mass culture and notoriety controlling society. Consumer expenditure, a way for individuals to complete their cognitive objectives was made possible with credit, there is an immense backlash in the 1930’s as a result of the misconception of credit and it being rather seen as “free money” or “invisible cash.” Employment, previously understood as a source of accomplishment in a specific skill, is later perceived as a path to self-achievement through amusement and pleasure. The United States changed from a traditional culture to a commercial culture that was more united as consumer goods were nationalized by mass advertisements. The role of women altered as the “flapper” was introduced in the 1920’s as a way for women to enjoy themselves and defy the conventional standards of behavior. Progress increased in the 1940’s as “Rosie the Riveter”, a cultural icon created to represent the capabilities of women during WW2, was created to encourage the women in the workforce to run the country and step in while their husbands, fathers, and sons were on the battlefield. The idea of “Americanization” increased as WW2 transformed Americanism into a campaign supported by the government with forced conformity. The continued assimilation directly led to the idea of transnational Americanism in a democratic society. The controversy over race continued as immigrants were forced to assimilate and adjust while African Americans were excluded paving the way for future segregation. The war strengthened the idea of segregation as foreigners were seen as inferior to the American culture.
Though the United States changed drastically in period seven, a few similarities to previous periods remained. Following the reconstruction efforts, the Southern states remained largely racist as state and local laws were created to inforce segregation, such as Jim Crow Laws. Plessy v Ferguson in 1896 increased the gap between whites and blacks and encouraged segregation behind the concept “separate but equal.” Controversies over race continued as African Americans were excluded and European immigrants were assimilated into American culture. Literacy tests and poll taxes became a requirement in the voting process to eliminate black suffrage without openly counteracting the fifteenth amendment. The progressive attempts excluded African Americans and their freedoms were not granted. The continuous creation of discriminatory acts against minorities in America will later result in the civil rights movement.
Synthesis Article:
Racial inequality has been a reoccurring issue throughout the United States’ history. The minority groups have all suffered racial prejudice since their entrance to America. Even today in a modern society where all Americans are granted the same rights protected by the government, racism still exists. On March 20, 2017, an African American male by the name of Timothy Caughman was stabbed to death by a white male, James Harris Jackson, on a street in Manhattan. Jackson stated that he was attempting to prevent interracial relationships from continuing to occur as he believes the white race is diminishing as a result of the increasing influence of a collective of racial groups. This discrimination is similar to that of the Progressive Era. The progressives excluded the blacks from the public leaving them isolated. Racism has unfortunately continued throughout history resulting in violence and hate crimes. Jackson goes on to say that his ideal life would be America during the 1950’s. Blacks were segregated against in the 50’s and were seen as inferior to those of the white race. Jackson says that black guys put “white girls on the wrong path,” indicating that he is blaming black males for the actions of other individuals because of their skin tone. In previous units, it is commonly seen that a white individual blames a black individual for their own mistakes instead of taking responsibility. Racism against minority groups in America has reoccurred throughout history and is still a very serious issue today.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/racist-sword-killer-hed-mulled-racial-attack-years-46403747
Primary sources:
The controversy over the rights of women continue into period seven as a result of their increasing roles in society and their defiance against the conventional standards of sexual behavior. The first image was created by Mari Jo Buhle. The husband is portrayed as the wife in this political cartoon as he is doing the jobs that a women was required to do such as taking care of the child and washing clothing. Buhle is trying to express the idea that if women obtain larger roles outside of the home, then the men will be forced to step in and the women will become in control of the family. The idea that men were being replaced was a common during this time period as it was a big change. Women’s suffrage in 1920 and the nineteenth amendment was not a popular decision amongst the public resulting in backlash. The traditional gender roles were challenged and it meant that the women would no longer be recognized as inferior but would instead be seen just as capable as a man. Big changes often result in backlash as they warrant an end to an established practice and years of tradition. Female liberation would put an end to the patriarchal society and push the boundaries to where a woman could do anything a man could do. The increased activism of feminism, from the progressive era to just before the First World War, created a unifying factor and shared motive for independent women to fight. Throughout history, women have resented their assumed domestic place in society unable to make their own judgements.
The second source is a political cartoon created in the 1940s as a source of encouragement for women during the war. It shows how far women have come since the early twentieth century. “Rosie the Riveter” was a popular icon created to show women that they are just as able as men. Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of the workforce occupied by females rose from 27 percent to about 37 percent. The cartoon was a government campaign created to recruit female workers for the munitions industry. The image was created in 1942 by the artist Norman Rockwell. About 65 percent of women made up the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943. This represented the adjournment of the gender boundaries as the opportunities for women increased; though they were temporary, it showed the immense improvement in the status of women and their capabilities paving the way for future development in women’s rights.
The increasing conflict concerning women’s suffrage resulted in these differing viewpoints. Women’s role in society began to increase after the nineteenth amendment was created. Women’s rights had an impact on all aspects of society and challenged America’s traditions. The nineteenth amendments introduced many different opinions and indirectly lead to the formation of anti-women’s rights organizations such as The National Association Opposed to Women’s Suffrage, which served as an obstacle in the advancement of society. Another reason opposing views existed was that the expansion of female rights showed Americans that fighting for equal rights was possible. Many articles were published to stop the movement from progressing but they proved to be unsuccessful.
Image of the era:
This poster was created in 1944 to encourage civilians to help defeat the Axis forces overseas by participating in Civilian Defense programs; and get rid of Jim Crow by supporting the NAACP. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a civil rights organization formed in 1909. The purpose is to improve justice for African Americans as well as ensure equality. The campaign’s hope is symbolically accumulated in this poster. It shows a hand labeled “NAACP” grasping a dead crow, “Jim Crow,” over a flaming battlefield. Jim Crow’s feet are shackled with the tattered flags of Nazi Germany and Japan. This flier shows that if you kill one, then you kill them all. It is an organized effort to kill all racism.
This poster was created in 1944 to encourage civilians to help defeat the Axis forces overseas by participating in Civilian Defense programs; and get rid of Jim Crow by supporting the NAACP. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a civil rights organization formed in 1909. The purpose is to improve justice for African Americans as well as ensure equality. The campaign’s hope is symbolically accumulated in this poster. It shows a hand labeled “NAACP” grasping a dead crow, “Jim Crow,” over a flaming battlefield. Jim Crow’s feet are shackled with the tattered flags of Nazi Germany and Japan. This flier shows that if you kill one, then you kill them all. It is an organized effort to kill all racism.