John O’Sullivan coined the term “manifest destiny” as a term meaning that the United States had divine and indisputable duty from God to spread its borders to encompass all of North America (i.e. to make itself into an ever-expanding empire). America’s success as a nation was the primary reason for his belief that we had the responsibility to show other regions and their inhabitants how to be more like us. “…The United States was selected by God for the greatest experiment in human history, the achievement of liberty, and that westward expansion was part and parcel of this destiny (Liberty 334). He apparently saw no contradiction in touting his home country’s freedom and attempting to overrule or replace others’ freedom to live how they saw fit at the same time.
Conflict arose between the North and South because Texas was going to be annexed. The North feared that this would increase the power and influence of the Southern slave states. The South, in turn, worried that the North would gain more influence by acquiring additional states or territories that shared their beliefs. California and Oregon were areas controlled by Mexico, and the concept of manifest destiny led America into the Mexican-American War. The tensions between the North and South would continue to percolate and would eventually bring about the Civil War.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Women's Movement and Reform
Temperance, care for the poor, and education, were the issues that became the basis for many “reform” movements in which women took the lead. In response to Angelina Grimke’s piece about women’s need to oppose slavery, Catherine Beecher accused Grimke of encouraging women to break out of their societal roles dictated for them by God, which included care of the household and subservience to their men. She was against other women’s ideas of fierce independence and strict equality in favor of respecting standard gender roles. “The moment that woman begins to feel the promptings of ambition, or the thirst for power … her aegis of defense is gone …” (Freedom 254). Women should be content and should seek counsel only within “the domestic and social circle” and not “out of her appropriate sphere” (Freedom 254). They should not participate in social debates and should “relinquish [their] opinion as to the evils or the benefits, the right or the wrong, of any principle or practice” (Freedom 256).
Grimke, in turn, responded that women were moral beings, and entitled to the same responsibilities and rights as men. “My doctrine then is, that whatever it is morally right for man to do, it is morally right for woman to do." (Freedom 258). She, too, used Christian beliefs to support her stance, though in a different approach than Beecher. In Christ, all beings were equal, she maintained, and it would be a “violation of human rights” (Freedom 260) for women to accept anything less.
Grimke, in turn, responded that women were moral beings, and entitled to the same responsibilities and rights as men. “My doctrine then is, that whatever it is morally right for man to do, it is morally right for woman to do." (Freedom 258). She, too, used Christian beliefs to support her stance, though in a different approach than Beecher. In Christ, all beings were equal, she maintained, and it would be a “violation of human rights” (Freedom 260) for women to accept anything less.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Slave Society
Paternalism was a propaganda-like piece of pro-slavery thinking wherein owners claimed that slaves were not just their property but beloved family members that the owners were sworn to cherish and protect. Blacks were viewed as being unable to take care of themselves and support their own families and therefore had to depend on their white masters for support and discipline, much like a father does for his sons.
This led to George Fitzhugh’s argument that slavery was not a necessary evil – nor even an evil at all – but a self-supporting and symbiotic system that was in the best interest for all parties involved. Slaves were given room and board, protection, and stability from free market hazards such as fluctuating prices and economic conditions, unemployment, and other things that faced poor white laborers. In turn, the owners received increased profits and free labor. “Slavery,” he wrote, leads to “peace, quiet, plenty and contentment” (Freedom 224). His often contradictory assertions included that all free laborers are better off being slaves, while slavery was what blacks (perpetual children, in his view) deserved, as universal liberty for their race would be “a curse” (Liberty 403).
This led to George Fitzhugh’s argument that slavery was not a necessary evil – nor even an evil at all – but a self-supporting and symbiotic system that was in the best interest for all parties involved. Slaves were given room and board, protection, and stability from free market hazards such as fluctuating prices and economic conditions, unemployment, and other things that faced poor white laborers. In turn, the owners received increased profits and free labor. “Slavery,” he wrote, leads to “peace, quiet, plenty and contentment” (Freedom 224). His often contradictory assertions included that all free laborers are better off being slaves, while slavery was what blacks (perpetual children, in his view) deserved, as universal liberty for their race would be “a curse” (Liberty 403).
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