Hanna (U.S. History)

70's/80's interview

Essential Question: What impact did Vietnam, Watergate, and Ronald Reagan have on Americans?

For this project, I interviewed a family friend Josh McCall. He was born at the tail end of the Boomer era. The interview really put to life what we have been studying in class, and how the events of Vietnam, Watergate and Regan truly did affect the entire nation and sent the people into an era of unrest. When I asked the first question, Josh immediately responded with Vietnam, Watergate and Regan as political events that shaped the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Although he was young during these times, he had older siblings that he learned from.
Josh agreed strongly with the statement of the ‘70’s as a “nation in turmoil”, and the ‘80’s as a time of “conservative resurgence”. He conveyed the “likeability” factor of Regan and how he was viewed as a positive figure in the office. He was a refreshing president because he began to instill hope into the lives of Americans and urged Americans to come out of their slum and re-group as an influential world power. Although he was a likeable president, he did have his issues.
Josh clearly portrayed the civil unrest of the American political system. The events of Vietnam, Watergate and Regan introduced the vulnerability of the government. Josh thought that part of the vulnerability of the government was due to the lack of technological advances at that point in history. He believes that if we had the technology and Internet access that we have today, the impact of Vietnam, Watergate and Regan would have been lessened. Technology would have been a useful tool for discovering more about Vietnam, uncovering the Watergate scandal quicker, and finding out Regan’s secret plans dealing with freedom fighters and Iran. As Josh grew older and Regan was elected president his conservative mindset was evident and was portrayed of his time in office. Beginning in the ‘70’s Americans were forced into an era of questioning. Was America truly the world power that we claimed to be? It was frightening to a lot of civilians because their government was experiencing an era of uncertainty.

research paper research

Question: what does contemporary commentary reveal about the women’s place in society in the 1920’s?

Thesis: Contemporary commentary portrays the 1920’s as an era of transformation for the women geared towards freedom of expression and improvements in their economic status’s.

http://www.costumegallery.com/1940.htm

a really good website that shows different time periods and what type of fashion was the trend, and what occurances from society could have influenced the way women and men dressed.
-like in the 1940's- swing music influeced the way ppl dressed. and that decade was influnenced by WWII.

http://www.vintageblues.com/history1.htm
lots of different time periods.
ex:1910-1920 fashion
-corset- not "in" anymore. ww1 influenced the hobbles skirt
- prohibition and womens sufferage movement changed society..which changed fashion.

great war- hems began to inch up because not that much fabric available.

http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/womensfashion.html

- elizabethan styles- women dressed to show their status.
- small waist, ruffles= high class, puffy sleeves.

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C11FA385F0C7B8EDDAB0894DA484D81

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/fashiontime1.html
- timeline of women's fashion. and influential events around those times

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/history/7141-0/
- womens fashion=guarantee of procreation

books:

1.) Kallen, Stuart. The Roaring Twenties. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2002.
2.) Torroicelli, Robert. In Our Own Words. New York: Kodansha International, 1999.
3.) Perrett, Geoffrey. America in the Twenties. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982.
4.) Mordden, Ethan. That Jazz. New York: G.P. Putman's Sons, 1978.
5.) Schneider, Dorothy. American Woman in the Progressive Era. New York: Facts on File, 1993.
6.) Herald, Jacqueline. Fashions of a Decade: The 1920's. Oxford: Facts on File, 1991.
7.) Huber, Joan. Changing Women in a Changing Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973.

primary sources:
-source 7 (from books above)- a speech by Margaret Sanger prmoting birth control for women as an "ethical necessity for humanity".
- Derks, Scott. "1920-1929". Working Americans 1880-1999. Millerton: Grey House pkpijfijPublishing, 2001.
- radio talks on women in the working industry in 1923.
- includes three photographs of working women

a day in the life of a hobo during the great depression

Woke up this mornin’ sweatin’ through my best shirt my ma just washed yesterday- one of the hottest July mornings I can remember. Just the other night I told her I was thinking about leaving home, it was gettin’ too hard to put food on every plate. I am the oldest out of us five, fifteen years at that. I thought if I left, my parents would have it easier. Many boys have left home this year, being 1931, and I never thought I would be leaving my family- but I must do it for the little ones. Of course my ma burst into tears to see me walk out of the house, stepping onto the endless dirt roads of Kansas seeing nothing but waves of wheat and crops piled high in dust, but she knew it was for the best. My pa gave me a sturdy slap on the back and told me to “ try to make it out there, because if you come back- there might not be much here for you. I believe in you, son.” He reached deep into the small, green, money jar we keep in the cabinet in the kitchen and cleaned it out. He placed $1.43 in my palm, and told me to be smart with it. Ma packed me up what she could scavenge around the house; five sugar cubes, a canteen little Joanne filled in the stream, mayonnaise spread between two molded pieces of bread, and two bread rolls. Pa gave me his old briefcase to carry as a suitcase. And o’ course I brought along my banjo that grandpa gave me years ago; I actually know a few decent tunes on it. Not sure how long that food or money will hold me for, but I guess I’ll find out soon.
Because of the Dust Bowl my lungs grow tighter with every step, dust constantly hovering in the air making shapes in front of my face. I was headed for the nearest train station, not sure where I was going. I hear I might be able to find some work out in California, so maybe I’ll head out that way. I reached a train station at dusk, and saw the outlines of bodies sleeping on benches, concrete, and grass. My legs burned from walking, so I dropped with my back against a trashcan and closed my eyes. I guess this is normal for a hobo. The temperature had finally dropped, and the warm breeze ruffled my trousers. I didn’t stop to eat all day, yet the canteen of water has been licked clean. My stomach is churning in hopes of something to digest. I pulled out the mayonnaise sandwich, which appeared to be one of the most appetizing meals I had ever seen. I don’t know if a mayonnaise sandwich on molded bread could ever look so good. I ate it like a jackrabbit. I read a poster on the brick building advertising the CCC (Civilian Conservation Core) that seems to be a great thing to be getting involved in, to be employed by the government, and help out the environment. But I probably won’t get around to it.
The risin’ sun startles me, and I squint my eyes to see many of my fellow sleepers dispersed. “If you know what’s good, you had better not let those bulls see you laying around here like that” an older man tells me. He has gray hair and seems to have been riding the rails for a long time, so I take his advice. I hear those bulls can be tough on rail riders; I hope I don’t ever have a rough encounter with one like the ones I hear about. That’s what scares me the most about ridin’ these rails, those darn bulls. I gather up the few belongings that I possess and start walking. To my right a few boys about my age are gathered around what looks to be a mulligan stew- I’m hungry so I join them. I toss two sugar cubes in the hot water and watch them dissolve into the stew. I am curious of the other ingredients in the stew, but I refrain from asking when I see the tip of a shoelace, and leaves floatin’ to the top. Without thinking I fill up my canteen and drink that stew like it is my mother’s homemade potato and cheese soup. One of the boys has a radio- so we listen to Roosevelt’s fireside chat, and drink mulligan stew. The boy closest to the station hears a train approachin’. We pass by shacks made of tin, cardboard, any form of recycled garbage- a hooverville. The pain on the people’s faces portray the negative aspects of the great depression and what it can do to people’s lives. I quickly gather my things and rush to the last freight car. No bulls in sight, I creep on- and ride the rail. I travel alone, not wanting to get attached to fellow hobo, in fear of being separated, becoming lonely, not that I ain’t already.

KKK

THE KKK- my research

The Klu Klux Klan was the name of an organized group of people rallying around the supremicy of the whites in American Society.
-1st incarnation- 1866 to restrict reconstruction of the hierarchy of the people through violent measures.
- organization destroyed in early 1870’s by president Ulysses S. Grant who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1871 (or the Klu Klix Klan Act)
- second group w. same name name founded in 1915 inspired by the film
The birth of a Nation -(D.W. Griffith) a mythology was released putting the first KKK into a good light.
-and the trial and lynching of accused murderer Leo Frank- a jewish man accused of murder and rape of a young white girl named Mary Phagan, he was lynched.
-second KKK focused more on anti-immigration and anti-semitic agenda.
- actually paid thosands of men throughout the country to organize local chapters promoting white supremecy.
- millions joined and in the 1920’s the KKK was at its point of highest impact on the nation.
-15% of nation’s population for people that could be apart of the KKK had connections with the organization.- 4 million members.
- some things that the second KKK advocated for- racism, anti-catholocism, anti- communism, nativisn, anti-semitism, lynchings and other violent measures.
- popularity of organizztion lessened during great depression, and people began to drop out during WW2 when some of the members were supporting the Nazis.
- new members paid initiation fee and bought KKK costumes.
-2nd KKK gained more stability and spread from South to midwest to northern states ,and a bit into Canada.
-1925- KKK was very powerful in state politics.
- decline- collapsed because of David Stephenson scandall (one of the reasons).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

-resisting reconstruction.

-1924- at Klan’s peak- claimed to control 24 out of 48 state legislatures.
-in 1924 the KKK managed to block nomination of Al Smith (New York Catholic) at
the Democratic National Convention.
-David Stephenson- leader of Indiana’s Klan since 1922 and right to organize in other states.
-200,000 ppl gathered in Kokomo, Indiana in 1923.
-1925- he was tried, and convicted of sexually assauting 28 year old woman Madge Oberholtzer- who was running a state program to combat illiteracy.
- he was sentenced to life in prison.
- this led to the downfall of the KKK and lost interest and members. within a year the numbers fell from 350,000-15,000

- 2nd Klu Klux Klan founded in 1915 by William J. Simmons- an ex-minister who promoted fraternal orders.
- after Stephenson incident numbers decreaded to 30,000 by 1930.

-Klan wanted to alienate non-whites and other religious groups that didnt “fit-in”

-slavery was still legal until 1865 when it was abolished.

The KKK- 2 paragraphs summarizing research:

The Klu Klux Klan was an organization of people rallying for the supremicy of the whites in American Society. They were rallying against non-whites and other religious groups that didn’t fit in. The group began in 1866 from the first incarnation, yet was abolished in the 1870’s by president Ulysses S. Grant who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1871, also known as the Klu Klux Klan Act. The second Klu Klux Klan, the most impactful Klan, took place in the 1920’s. It was founded in 1915 by William J. Simmons who was an ex-minister who promoted fraternal orders. During this time period the KKK flourished.
1924 was the peak of the KKK. They claimed to control 24 out of the 48 state legislatures. The organization managed to block nomination of Al Smith, a New York catholic, at the Democratic National Convention. Fifteen percent of the nation’s population for people that could be apart of the KKK were somehow connected or asociated with the organization. There were about four million members. The dowfall of the KKK began rapidly in 1925 because the David Stephenson, the leader of Indiana’s Klan since 1922, was sentenced to life in prison. He was tried and convicted of sexually assaulting a 28 year old woman named Madge Oberholtzer who was running a state program to combal illiiteracy. This conveys the inapropriate manner of many of the KKK members. After this incident the KKK experienced a major downfall. Within a year the numbers fell from 350,000 to 15,000.

what is the proper role of government in American Society?

The government of American Society should protect us and be present in the economy to a certain extent. Now there is an outflux of big buisnesses overseas to produce their products for minimum wage, longer hours etc. which is benefitial for the big buisnesses, but not for the American society. Immigrants come to America to find work, and when the buisnesses are moved, they are left without jobs along with Americans working for the companies. This creates strife in our country because people are being layed off, and a less number of "easy jobs" available. Although buisnesses moving overseas does spread wealth around the world because it is providing jobs for people in other countries, it weakens our own economy.

9/11- are we safter fiver years later?

Since the day of 9/11, American life has taken a drastic change. People are more aware. That tragedy taught our country how to deal with incredible grief and sorrow. I didn't find out about it at school that day, but could sense something strange in the school atmosphere. I got home and remember watching the images of those planes flying into the buildings over and over. My fifth grade mind did not comprehend what would urge someone to commit such a horrible crime. I feel like we have before safter as a nation, especially in airports. Now it is reccomended to be at the airport two hours prior to your flight. The security checks are stricter. Yet I do still feel scared sometimes, on planes especially because you truly never know when something could go wrong.

Ragged Dick and the American Dream

top 5 virtues to attain respectablitity in the American Society to make the American Dream:

1- education: one of the main things Frank said was "you'll make a smart man if you only get a little education" (pg.55)
2- mind-set; "work in the right way" (pg. 55) driven to making it.
3- connections. if you have the right mindset, and education- a connection can be the last boost you need.
4- clothing. Frank provided Dick with a new wardrobe and emmidiatley he was accepted more than when he was in his rags.
5- family. if you grow up in a prosperous family then you have more of a chance to become prosperous yourself.

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