US History From 1865 to the Present .Reflection (Term Paper Sample)

US HISTORY FROM 1865 TO THE PRESENT: REFLECTION Name of Student Subject Date US HISTORY FROM 1865 TO THE PRESENT: REFLECTION Introduction American history since 1865 has been marked by periods of racial segregation, legal discrimination, violence against minorities, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, Cold War, civil rights movements, labor unions, women, voting, treatment under the law among others. With the passage of the major events Americans have seen many improvements in their quality of life. With the aid of this course, my views on most perceived America's history have changed significantly. The course made me rethink America's history and current issues. From day one, we started discussing people who were discriminated against due to race or gender, the aspects of war and economic depression, I have gained significant knowledge regarding American roots. We talked about the great leaders who paved the way for civil rights advancements and changes. There were points where I did not agree with some people's thoughts or opinions but after all, is said and done, it became evident that we need to look at things from different perspectives other than just our personal bias and deeply reflect on what we can do better to create change. This paper will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the course concerning United States history since 1865.[Banks, Nina, and Warren C. Whatley. "A Nation of Laws, and Race Laws." Journal of Economic Literature 60, no. 2 (2022): 427-53.] Discussion The course gave a broad overview of American history from 1865 onwards, focusing on the major political, economic, social, and cultural events of the time. It was fascinating to learn about how these different aspects of American life interacted with each other, and how they shaped the country into what it is today. From the political aspect, it was compelling to read about how Reconstruction after the Civil War helped shape our present-day voting system. We were introduced to Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential figures in recent American history, and learned about how he fought against racism and segregation laws. We also learned that while Roosevelt's New Deal program helped end the Great Depression, there were still many people left out of his programs who needed assistance. Franklin D. Roosevelt is considered one of the most important presidents in US history because he led us out of economic depression and created Social Security for all Americans. Other topics included John F Kennedy's presidency, Lyndon B Johnson's Great Society, and the Watergate scandal under Nixon. It was interesting to absorb some of the more unknown facts, such as that during World War II, African Americans fought alongside white soldiers and were not segregated in combat units. After reading more about women's rights in America, I learned that it was not until 1920 that women finally got the right to vote. Another topic covered was the civil rights movement, including Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery. With Rosa Parks' example, we learned about how she acted as an agent of change and refused to accept discrimination even though she was risking her safety. Another topic discussed is gay marriage and its legalization over the past decade or so. It has only been recently that gays have been able to get married, but now it seems like more people support gay marriage than oppose it. One of the reasons for this is that homosexuality is becoming less stigmatized and it is starting to become more socially acceptable.[Clayton, Dewey M., Sharon E. Moore, and Sharon D. Jones-Eversley. "A Historical Analysis of Racism Within the US Presidency: Implications for African Americans and the Political Process." Journal of African American Studies 25, no. 3 (2021): 383-401.] From the economic perspective, it was engaging to grasp the Gilded Age and how wealthy industrialists exploited workers and kept wages low. It was captivating to study the Federal Reserve System, how it came to be, and what purpose it serves in today's economy. I learned that the Great Recession was the worst economic downturn since the great depression and that this recession happened as a result of Wall Street's irresponsibility. From the social perspective, it was engaging to comprehend how immigration from Mexico and the Western Hemisphere changed the demographic of America. We learned about how the majority of immigrants at the turn of the century were from Europe, but as a result of increased trade with Latin America and Asia, immigrants have been coming from these regions. It was also fascinating to learn about how various groups have been discriminated against in America, such as women and people of color.[Fraser, Steve. "Bottomless Superficialities, Aristocracies of Wealth." Salmagundi 204/205 (2019): 28-202.] [Hollifield, James F., and Neil Foley, eds. Understanding Global Migration. Stanford University Press, 2022.] Based on cultural events, it was compulsive to learn about how Americans reacted to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. We learned that in response to the threat of fascism, America attempted to remake itself as a nation that would never again tolerate oppression. It was also captivating to learn about how musicians like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen expressed their views on what it means to be American. I learned that America's relationship with the rest of the world is constantly changing, and it is compelling to see how U.S. involvement in wars has impacted this. We learned about Vietnam and how people had different views on whether to send troops to fight in the war. I learned that America became a dominant military power, a superpower, after World War II and during the Cold War. With its victory over Japan and Germany, America seemed invincible. However, as other nations began to assert themselves militarily, the belief that U.S. dominance would last forever waned. This was made most evident when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, setting off a panic among many Americans who feared Soviet scientific superiority and technological dominance. Such worries intensified following the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the U.S.' disastrous involvement in Vietnam. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union grew to a point where both countries had stockpiles of nuclear weapons aimed at one another, as they engaged in a strategic competition that threatened to lead to nuclear annihilation. I learned that this was called the Cold War because, unlike previous international conflicts, it was not fought on battlefields but rather across ideological lines. The United States emerged from this era victorious and global in reach. But the economic and social policies that contributed to America's success also led to a widening gap between rich and poor, a disparity in opportunities for different racial and ethnic groups, and an unprecedented degree of individualism. These trends have persisted, as has America's status as a global leader.[Conniff, Brian. "Everyday People: Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, and the Gospel Tradition." The Biannual Online-Journal of Springsteen Studies 4 (2021): 9-49.] [Hall, George J., and Thomas J. Sargent. "Three world wars: Fiscal–monetary consequences." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119, no. 18 (2022): e2200349119.] I learned that the United States has a long and complicated history, full of ups and downs. I knew some of the basics before taking this class, but this class gave me a much deeper understanding of everything that has happened since 1865. I now have a better grasp on why things happened the way they did, and how different events were connected. For instance, the civil rights movement started because African Americans wanted to fight against their oppression, but when they tried fighting back there was violence. There were many reasons for violence at this time including racial tensions and poverty. The war in Vietnam also contributed to violence because people thought it was going too far so there were protests against it, which often turned violent. Martin Luther King Jr. was involved in the nonviolent part of the civil rights movement, while Malcolm X advocated violence as a means to get justice for black people. King's nonviolent methods were more successful because he had many supporters who believed in his non-violent approach to ending racism and inequality, which helped reduce some of the anger towards white people and led to fewer violent confrontations between protesters and police officers. Black people were not the only ones advocating for equality though. White women, especially those living in northern states where slavery was not legal, were increasingly concerned about the inequalities faced by all women. Women pushed for suffrage and fought against discriminatory legislation that prohibited them from voting or holding public office. All of these efforts culminated in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting suffrage to all US citizens regardless of sex or race. When women won the right to vote, it became clear that their voices and opinions needed to be heard for democracy to function. So, the next important piece of legislation was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This Act provided for federal oversight of elections in certain districts and forbid voter discrimination on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. It was very controversial at the time and is still debated today. One of the most important lessons I learned from this course is that it is essential to have a strong foundation in history because it helps us understand our present and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. We need to look at our history as a whole, not just one event, to understand how our society works.[Mazumder, Soumyajit. "The persistent effect of US civil ri...