United States' History (Essay Sample)

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American History of 1968
Following the end of the Second World War, the United States exemplified a genuine believer of civilian freedom, democratic space and supporter of civil rights in other countries. This revolution was more evident in America with the emergence of civil rights movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King junior advocating for the rights of the blacks. In addition, it was a new era in the American politics too as the young ambitious Robert Kennedy who but epitomized the dawn of a new honest generation for all. However, the events of 1968 in American history completely shattered a bright future in the blacks’ route to freedom and the politics in the United States (Steinhorn).
In Leonard Steinhorn chronicles at the University of America, the communication professor gives us a fond insight of that year’s events. American’s policy against communisms by the Germans that was spreading into other countries saw its involvement with South Vietnam. This was with intent of protecting the country from the communism policy from North Vietnam who had already plotted a war during the Lunar year against South Vietnam, the Tet Offensive (Steinhorn). As America got entangled in this cold war with North Vietnam, the congress back home led by McCarthy led the anti-war campaign and advocated for the withdrawal of American troops from South Vietnam drawing a heated argument among the delegates that erupted into a fight (Steinhorn).
Nevertheless, the civilians and college students supportive of McCarthy’s opinion took into the streets protesting and suffering serious beating from numerous police deployed to prevent this protest. Baffled by the events in his regime and the sense of failure to promote peace in America and other countries, President Lyndon Johnson announced that he would not ran for second term (Steinhorn). In addition, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King junior outlined the racial conflict that had engulfed most parts of America during that time. From Steinhorn’s lecture, we draw three major themes that dominated the America of 1968.
First, there were rampant racial inequalities and conflicts between the white Americans, black Americans and the Chinese. Martin Luther was a human right activist who was fighting for the rights of the blacks who were endlessly on the receiving end of the white’s oppression. The antagonizing groups formed coalitions with which to fight for their rights. The blacks formed the Coalition for Racial Equality (CORE) and the whites, the Ku Klax Klan (KKK). The KKK, enjoying their dominance the favor of governmental organization attacked, beat and killed those who opposed it and the supporters of freedom for the blacks (Upchurch 78). The chronicles of Anne Moody paints a clear picture of the struggle that existed between the KKK and CORE in the south as the antagonizing movements fought for supremacy.
Nevertheless, the first class shows how the KKK oppressed men, women and civil activists who sympathized with the blacks. In addition, the second class further explains the discrimination that existed against other inferior races in the United States besides the blacks. Inferior races like Chinese and Asians suffered from the oppression and bullies of the whites, destruction of the business and stealing of their property (Blaisdell 56).
The second theme of this lecture is America’s failure to promote global peace. From the era of imperialism, America believed it had the obligation of promoting global peace (Brinkley 34). The country stood against world war and advocated for a fair democracy in every country that fights for and protects the rights of its citizens. However, the year 1968 exposed the failure of the American government in not only promoting global peace but also protecting the rights of its citizens and promoting their cohesion. The participation of America in the Second World War and particularly the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a big statement against this spirit (Elston 83). In addition, the contribution of America in the Tet Offensive in Vietnam is another mark of failure to promoter global peace (Hallett 67). Nevertheless, the government failed to promote cohesion between the blacks and whites and Chinese, as it remained dormant against the extrajudicial acts of the KKK (Upchurch 101).
Lastly, the failure of the government to protect the rights and freedom of its citizens is evident from the documentary. First, the government warrants use of force against demonstrators (Steinhorn). Nevertheless, the government does little to protect child labour during the industrial revolution. Instead, there is rampant employment of young children in the coalmines as learnt in lesson three (Spargo 45). Nevertheless, the managerial syste...