Essays on American History

Rewriting American History highlights the changes that have taken place in America from the 19th century to the 20th century. It analyses information contained in various textbooks about American history and highlights how peoples’ views have changed over the years. It highlights the various changes …

1. In a nutshell, Professor Howard Zinn’s purpose for writing “A People’s History of the United States” was to offer a history of the United States (from the first settlers all the way to the mid­1970’s at the time of publishing) that did not outright …

In A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn has contentions with nationalism as an ideology. This will not be the first time he raises such a sentiment. (more…)

American History X is a film with racism as its overarching theme. Specifically, the subject of the film focuses not on the phenomenon of racism as we know it, slavery and the Malcolm X period, but on its current trends namely the neo-Nazist, white supremacist …

One will be making a wrong assumption to believe that the political parties we hear and see today just sprang and start existing in a day. These parties have come a long way and definitely have where they are coming from and where they are …

The Millerite Movement happened in the context of this nation’s Second Great Awakening: a religious revival that carried the country into reform movements. The Second Great Awakening had its start in Connecticut in the 1790s and grew to its height in the 1830s to 1840s.  …

In the scene where Dr. Sweeney visited Derek in prison to update him of Danny’s regression in school, it signified that despite their contradicting racial roots both still agreed to forward a common cause which is to secure a better future for Danny. Meanwhile, in …

Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” appears to be unique as it presents historical events from the perspectives of the poor, minorities and dispossessed. (more…)

Most historians agree that slavery was among the most decisive factors that led to the Civil War. Thus, Abraham Lincoln, writing to Alexander Stephens, the will-be vice-president of the Confederation, while agreeing not to interfere with the slavery issue, admitted that the issue of slavery …

As far as history is concerned, prior to the settling of what we now, the great United States of America, minority groups of inhabitants are the first to established their living in that continent. Their lifestyle, tradition and culture are admirable as well as unique. …

There are many ways America is moving towards security. Some people argue that it is moving towards freedom rather than security. It may be true that while we move more in the path of one. We may receive or have taken from us certain freedoms. …

The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492 led to the colonial expansion of the nations of Western Europe. These colonies were created to push trade forwards in the form of new imports, primarily raw materials as a base for trade and creations …

The emergence of the United States as an independent nation, towards the end of the 18th century, was an epochal happening in contemporary history. It led to the creation of the world’s wealthiest and mightiest power, and the subsequent development of a rich and vibrant …

Agnes de Mille once said that “the truest expression of people is in its dance and in its music.  Bodies never lie”. (Warner, p30)  And indeed, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, a most famed dancing duo epitomized the meaning of words and emotions through their …

Movies, like any creative effort, reflect the time and the place in which they are created. Both American History X and Crash clearly address the concept of the American Dream and the way that people choose to live their lives. While they share this concept, …

Immigration occurs when people from other countries enter another country to seek employment and live there permanently. The United States opened its doors to immigrants but only to a certain limit that is determined annually. Immigration has been an issue that the government is trying …

Wars often have a significant impact upon the domestic development of a nation. Every nation at one point or the other has experienced a war of some sort and this has gone a long way in shaping economic, political and social lives of citizens. United …

Manifest destiny was one of the 19th century American beliefs of the fact that USA was meant to expand across North American continent from Atlantic seaboard all the way to Pacific Ocean. Manifest destiny and advocates believed on the fact that expansion was not just …

American Temperance Union. Formed the mid-1830s, it was a successor of the American Temperance Society. It was committed to total abstinence from liquor and sparked debates about abstinence versus moderation and wine prohibition, critics say such union promoted intolerance of the worst kind (Varon 33). …

The 19th century was a period of great technological innovation, especially in the realm of theatrical lighting. Over the course of the century, stage lighting evolved through a series of improvements starting at gas light, then shifting to limelight, and, finally, landed upon electric light. …

Containment was a united states government policy uniting military, economic and diplomatic strategies to contain any further spread of communism in the world after the world war II , with the goal of thereby enhancing America’s security and influence abroad . The Soviet Union created …

Martin Luther King Junior is a giant in American History. He was a famous leader within the American Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s and helped lead the way for many improvements for African Americans as they sought to realize their human and …

Chapter 1 Introduction: Slavery is one of the most controversial themes in the history of the United States; throughout much of the past century historians have debated, sometimes quite heatedly, various interpretations of this area. For the purpose of this dissertation, the personal relationships amongst …

The World War Two (WWII) pitted two major sides, the allied forces that included Britain, United States, Soviet Union and other forces against the axis powers that included Germany, Italy, Japan and other powers. The war was ultimately brought to an unconditional end by the …

The colonial history of the United States covers the history of European settlements from the start of colonization of America until their incorporation into the United States. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major colonization programs in eastern North …

As residents or citizens of the United States of America, we enjoy certain rights that many people across the world do not have. One of those rights is freedom of speech, which is guaranteed to all of us through the United States Constitution. However, in …

There are many transformations that affected American life from 1940s-1970s various changes and developments occurred during these decades that influenced the culture of people in regards with sports, ,movies and the impact of reality TV to the people. First is in terms of sports, World …

The Presidential Election of 1912 was called one of the most important and memorable elections as well as one of the most dramatic events in American history. The election was remarkable because there were four candidates the representatives of four different parties that sought the …

Richard Nixon was born on January 9 1913 in California in a place called Yorba Linda. He was the US vice president from 1953 to 1961. He became the 37th US President in 1969 and he served until 1974. His presidency has been discussed to …

The period in American History from 1781 to 1789, when the United States was organized under the Articles of Confederation, was not characterized by a strong and effective government, but instead provided the framework upon which a more effective government could be built. The Articles …