Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject: Prepare for Tomorrow's Seminar 6/3
Hi guys. The question for tomorrow's seminar is "What is the place of the United States in the world, and how did it get there?" Think about everything that we've covered in this course, and try to come up with some themes, ideas, and questions. Let's make this a good thread, and see if we can find topics of interest for tomorrow. Thanks.
Rachel Sez:
Topic: "What is the US' role in the world and how did it get there?" Please prepare for tomorrow's seminar by finding textual evidence to support your ideas and by posting you thoughts and responding to others' on our forum
Last edited by edalven on Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:49 am; edited 1 time in total
i think the US for some reason (this might come out totally wrong!!) was always one step ahead of everyone else. The government and technology was always more advanced than rising nations.
I'm going to post later when i think about it more but thats what i think about off the top of my head
also the pilgrims and that whole new world beginning was what started off the US. In a way England kind of helped to develop the US.
I think that at this point in history, the US was starting to become a "superpower". The war repaired the economy and made it even more successful than it had been before by creating an entire new industry. We really started to prosper at this point. The fact that we won both wars gave the impression that we always won and were right, and both of these factors gave the US a lot more power than it had had before.
i also agree that it was pretty innovative, and seemed to be ahead of other people sometimes.
I really like that question. What made the U.S so strong? What made U.S the strongest country in the world? Now, U.S is definately at the place where they gets involved in every single big and small events. U.S originaly was a british colony, and they managed to touch the sky in only few hundred years. But i beileve there is a pattern for the America's growth. Every time they had war America grew rapidly, especially when they had war with some other nation, and their growth finally hits the zenith when the whole world was in war (World War I~II). So this means war made America strong. I like to here other people's opinions as well.
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: Sorry About the Length!
I agree with what Leah and Maddy have said. I do think that the US has had its difficulties and its strengths. I do think that the US has hadgood technology and has been somewhat of a step ahead in some senses, in others not so much. For examplke although we have certain advanced technologies the acceptance of other races and ethnicities is a rather new concept for the US and is still not perfected or entirely dealt with. Of course racism still exists. In that aspect I think we are a little slow; however I have no other country(s) to compare us to. I agree that the US has become a superpower and has been kindof looked up to, but we are rather separate rom the rest of the world. When the wars happened they happened "over there" not really here. We get involved and take a side. Because of our massive size and technology we have been able to prove to the rest of the world our strengths. So although the US may stand really "high and mighty" in many respects it should not be considered so. We have been put into so much debt and are causing wars in the middle east at this point in time.
As for when I think the US really started: normally I would say when the first people arrived here, in other words native americans. Then I would go to the europeans and eventually to the revolution and the constitution. But I still don't believe any of these were real starts to the US becoming what it is today. I think that the Progressive era/Post civil war era was the real beginning. We had just suffered separation and a civil war and then we were placed into an era where inventions started and many new things occured.We got stronger, we fell in the depression and rose up in WWII but I think that that is what we went through as a nation. Its when we started to prosper without being broken apart and with more solidity within te nation. I think the civil war really marked a turning point towards where the US really started even though the real start was much earlier. Just some food for thought.
You guys rock my socks!!! I was really late in getting the homework posted, but you just took the ball and ran with it. And you're doing a fantastic job - your posts are thoughtful, insightful and engaging. I'm really enjoying reading this thread. Keep up the excellent work!
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:22 am Post subject: Eli 6/3
WARNING. The following is very opinionated. Proceed with caution.
These days, I see America as the older brother of the world. Ignoring the fact that it is only about 250 years old and other countries have been around for thousands of years, The United States has been both the most successful and influential nation on earth. Perhaps this is because it was founded with the idea of not making the same mistakes that civilizations had made since the beginning of time. After rising up against its oppressive mother country of Britain, (and nearly tearing itself apart), America quickly became the world superpower. Combining effective government and the rugged determination of its citizens with an ecologically diverse environment, America had everything going for it.
The US grew up in the shadow of the European empires. They quarreled over the land they conquered in the age of exploration, and Britain and France duked it out to see who was best in the Great War for Empire, and the Napoleonic Wars. America was a part of both of these, and ultimately kicked Britain's @$$. While things were relatively calm in Europe, the fledgling nation of America became strongly divided by Economic and social differences between the North and the South, State Government versus the Federal Government, The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents, Growth of the Abolition Movement, and The 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln. Attempts were made to diffuse the situation, but proved counter-productive. So the Southern secession resulted in the bloodiest conflict in American history, because it was Americans killing each other. Telegraphs, Railroads, and Ulysses S. Grant won the war for the North, and ended slavery.
By the turn of the 20th century, many social and governmental reforms had changed the cultural identity, and industrialization and urbanization transformed the American landscape. In Europe, powerful nations formed a complex web of territorial alliances. Evidently, they hadn't seen enough blood and were itching for a fight. (Except for Switzerland, who remained neutral.) Tensions reached a boiling point when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Austria. Everyone freaked out and started killing each other. America watched the Great War from the sidelines, dealing arms to its ally Britain, when German U-Boats sunk the Lusitania, killing a bunch of Americans. Woodrow Wilson responded by utilizing the massive US industrial strength to build a huge military, and essentially end the bloody stalemate in Europe. Trench warfare sucked, and American airplanes and tanks won the day.
This is the first instance of America truly being a protective figure, and going out of its way to save its allies. This is what I mean when I say America is an elder brother. It watches out for the interests of its allies. So let's fast forward through the flashy lurid twenties, when everyone thought that everything was dandy, and then got totally screwed when the stock market crashed in 1929. The Great Depression was a massive problem for America, and the public was angry, hungry, poor, and homeless. Franklin Delanor Roosevelt stepped in with a magic bullet at right about the same time Adolf Hitler showed up in Germany with a similar promise. Both of them vowed to get their countries out of the massive depression. FDR immediately instituted a gazillion federal programs to jump-start the US economy, and Hitler managed to rebuild his nation on the notion that the whole thing was the Jews' fault. Both worked, for the most part, but would have failed if they hadn't had each other.
You see, Germany clearly didn't like losing, and Hitler promised to return it to its former glory. This required a war. After forming hasty alliances with Italy, Japan and Russia, Hitler's Wehrmacht trampled Poland, France, Belgium Czechoslovakia, Scandinavia...well basically all of Europe and North Africa with ease. They pioneered the combined assault known as Blitzkrieg (lightning attack), and none of the defenders could respond fast enough. The only thing left in Hitler's way was Britain. The Royal Air Force put up one hell of a fight, and shot down tons of Luftwaffe aircraft during the Blitz, and "bravely defended their isle, and never surrendered, etc." Hitler was pissed, and abandoned attacking Britain. He took out his anger by backstabbing Stalin with the biggest invasion force ever amassed on a front line. He had 3 million soldiers, and bunches of tanks and aircraft. Russia, he thought, wouldn't last long. Everything seemed to be going hunky dory for Hitler, until Japan had the nerve to attack the US on Oahu. The Pearl Harbor attack galvanized patriotism and support for a US intervention in the war. FDR's New Deal may have helped get America out of the Depression, but the War really boosted the economy. There was plenty of demand for supplies, raw materials, and personnel. Young men were drafted and Women worked as manufactures and nurses. The Marines shipped off to the Pacific theater, along with most of the Navy. The Army and Air Force were focused on liberating Europe.
Troops in the Pacific fought battle-hardened, entrenched, and fanatical foe. Bushido, the Japanese warrior code did not permit surrender. US Marines and Navy island-hopped, slowly reclaiming territory that the Japanese had seized years earlier. General Douglas MacArthur fled, and then returned to the Philippines, fulfilling his promise. Admiral Chester Nimitz, controlled an enormous fleet. Most importantly, America was able to produce and repair more Aircraft Carriers and Battleships than Japan, which turned the tide in the US's favor after battles like Midway, Saipan, and Tarawa. Although sustaining heavy losses, the Marines were able to liberate all of the Japanese-held islands. The last two, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, had the highest casualties of the war.
Back in little old Europe, USA and Britain planned the most ambitious invasion ever. They crossed the English channel and attacked Nazi-held beaches with a coalition of naval and ground forces, while paratroopers cleared the interior of Normandy so that Allied armor and artillery could get through. To make a long story short, they waged a two-pronged attack from France and from the Mediterranean. Pretty soon, Hitler's Wehrmacht had lost nearly all of the territory it had gained. Russia too, proved to be a problem. Like Napoleon before him, Hitler had gambled with nature and lost. His under-supplied troops couldn't handle a Russian winter. Dedicated Comrades bravely defended Stalingrad, and began pushing the Nazis back. An incredulous Hitler watched as his massive Third Reich began to crumble. Soon, Germany was encircled by the Allies. They found and liberated thousands of concentration and death camps that forced Jews and other ethnic minorities to work until they died, or were slaughtered. A last-ditch effort to fend off the US Army in the Ardennes forest was bloody for both sides, but the Allies proved victorious. Hitler took his own life and Russia captured Berlin days later.
Now, after saving Europe's sorry @$$ again, The new US president Harry Truman was left with a decision to make. Should he risk countless US lives in a ground invasion of Japan? Or should he attempt to scare the bejeezus out of them with his new weapon, the A-Bomb? Although controversial, the use of nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war swiftly. Nearly all of the inhabitants perished, and Emperor Hirohito was forced to surrender. The end of the war brought many things to America; great wealth, the unofficial title of strongest nation in the world, and lots and lots of kids.
Although costly and dangerous, these two huge wars were very beneficial to the United States, since it won and all. From then on, US foreign policy was based upon the idea that America the Superpower was obligated to help its allies across the sea, and to assist any country that was experiencing oppression. This led to things like the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan War, proxy wars fought against Communist satellite states of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. Although America and Russia never duked it out directly, it is rumored that Russians fought alongside North Korean and North Vietnamese forces. (Especially pilots.) Later, when Dictators threatened the safety of NATO allies and their own countries, the US intervened in Libya, Bosnia, Afghanistan again, and Iraq twice.
Regardless of what your political views might be, I think that America acts as an elder brother. One part guardian angel, one part protective sibling, and one part obnoxious jerk. It's a strange world, no?
The United States which had had a neutral stake in wars, finally engaged in the World War 2, and celebrated the victory with Britain and France. Since then, it became more competitive than any other powerful nation. This country must have not been afraid of anything. In fact, it overcame the great depression as well as accumulated tons of money by selling weapons to the Great Britain. Also, as a devastating atomic bomb and any other weapons show, the science as well as technology advanced with rapidity.
On the other hand, USA gets the great pressure of having a great responsibility with super power as super hero does. Above all, it has resposibility for WW2 including the devastated Japanese island because bombing Japan with atomic bomb is the biggest issue in the past and now. Also, it would get entangled with international affairs. It had to deal with other countries intelligently. It is no longer neutral about wars. and I agree with Eli that the maintanace of the sound relationship with allies newly left as the improtant duty to USA.
I think that the one of the most reason why the US became the strongest country in the world is that during the WW1 and WW2, they sold the bunch of weapons to Britian or France. By selling the weapons, they became one of the rich countries in the world.
Also, the strong democracy can be a good reason why America became strong country. because of strong democracy, people could have a right to vote someone and they could select good president or chairman without conspiracy.
America is defiantly a super power, In re gards to maddy's post, the us was not always ahead of the curve, trains for example where pioneered in britain... but what the nation did have that many others did not was its fantastic ability to adapt. ie the progressive era, but what made the us the superpower it is today is WWII. without the war the depression would have been settled differently ( if at all) and the country be fundamentally changed.
as for its place in the world, i dont fell it should be anymore than any other country. lie ben park said, with great power comes great responsibility. I dont like the past involvement in the business of other countries such as vietnam.
What is the place of the United States in the world, and how did it get there?
In the world, the United States has placed herself above all other individuals. Her advancement became possible due to the help of others (such as Native Americans and arguably the British). Not only with the help of her peers around the world, but by creating harm/ allowing harm to occur to her allies in hope that assistance will be needed.
The Pilgrims were one of the first people who could be considered apart of the United States (for sake of argument & for the fact that they lived up to their time of the American Dream; from nothing hoping for everything and fulfilling more than their wildest dreams). The Piligrims recieved help from Native Americans and once they were could provide for herself she mistreated them by denying an acceptance to their culture, taking their land, and other things. Once the Native Americans
seemed helpless they comprimised their life to gain help from America.
Even though she wouldnt be standing/ stanging the same, without the help of others, America has taken on the role as the provider even though she is the reason for much of the crime.
Examples:
WWI selling nuclear warfare
Our War on Terror: (controversal) saving people from a currupt system
Native Americans: against Chrisitanity
the list could go on
the US is a major power in the world. The atomic bombs was the ultimate show of it. Also the fact that out of everyone we came out of the war with the least damage. (Granted we did not join to later). We are a big leader in the world and many places look up to us (unlike now). after the war we led in an ethical scientific age, and we were always a big science country. Mostly because we took the German's scientists. but basically we are a heavily looked upon country for many things.
Leah said, "The fact that we won both wars gave the impression that we always won and were right, and both of these factors gave the US a lot more power than it had had before." I would agree with that to a certain extent. I think both wars gave the impression that we (the US) were on the winning side twice thus giving us more power. On the other hand, I think you should be careful when saying that it gave the impression that we were always right. Is that assuming the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a good thing? That all of our decisions were in the long run good for the US and the world? I don't think you meant it that way but just wording wise it struck me that way.
The US had good military and political strategy in addition to weapons during the war. I also believe it had to do with the rest of the world now seeing the US as a world power. It was not so much that the US was "right" which was what gave us more power. It was the new found fear of the US of what we can accomplish or rather destory, that gave us more power than ever before.
Also just touching upon economic power and the growth of american industry. The fact that both world wars took place outside of the United States, gave the United States an incredible economic advantage. Our factories weren't bombed and our cities didn't have to be rebuilt unlike other countries .
American got to be the “super power” it is today with fear. Fear creates power and control over those you scare. That’s what the U.S does with “shock and awe” tactics. With atomic warfare and the fact that we dropped the 2 bombs on Japan we scared the world with our ruthless act and gave the united states a new powerful image. They also became financially stable after WW2…
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