HST 201 Module #9
Module Nine: The Era of Good Feelings (1850CE-1859CE)
Welcome to HST 201 Module Nine! We are looking at the Era of Good Feeling in the United States.
Rule number nine of history: tear down your idols. The idea of statues is so frustrating for a historian as they create an internal war within us. I have been known to stop and read every placard on every statue in every town I go on vacation with my family. As I read about the historical importance of whatever mundane event or person is being given credit, I can hear both the collective groan of boredom and the eyes rolling back into the head of my wife and children. What can I say? I like the statues! But the sad reality is some of these statues should not exist. Historically speaking, the figures were created initially as shrines to deities. This goes all the way to when man first learned how to chisel into a rock. But then eventually, as society aged, so did people's taste. The dreaded politician or emperor or king also wanted to be immortalized for centuries. This blurred the lines of fact and reality. Gods were perfect; humans are not. The statue seems to neglect the fact that these very fallible people did very ordinary things. Very mundane things.
Next time you see a statue of Nero, remember he ALSO pooped. But the unfortunate truth is these enshrined leaders also did terrible things to others. And it seems that we as humans remove any sort of onus or responsibility for horrific actions made by men in bronzed statues. We must tear down statues (meteorically, of course, please don't catch a charge on my account). Remember that fallible people are in charge always, and just because you are on a pedestal, you should not be removed from the court of opinion. This goes for every person in a position of power, regardless if they are marbleized or not. It makes me sick to my stomach to see or read all the people who venerate politicians, mostly if they ignore all the war crimes and human rights that have been violated in the state's name. It makes you wonder: does everyone or no one deserve a statue?
In the words of Shelly from his epic poem, Ozymandias: "Look on my works ye mighty, and despair."
Welcome to HST 201 Module Nine! We are looking at the Era of Good Feeling in the United States.
Rule number nine of history: tear down your idols. The idea of statues is so frustrating for a historian as they create an internal war within us. I have been known to stop and read every placard on every statue in every town I go on vacation with my family. As I read about the historical importance of whatever mundane event or person is being given credit, I can hear both the collective groan of boredom and the eyes rolling back into the head of my wife and children. What can I say? I like the statues! But the sad reality is some of these statues should not exist. Historically speaking, the figures were created initially as shrines to deities. This goes all the way to when man first learned how to chisel into a rock. But then eventually, as society aged, so did people's taste. The dreaded politician or emperor or king also wanted to be immortalized for centuries. This blurred the lines of fact and reality. Gods were perfect; humans are not. The statue seems to neglect the fact that these very fallible people did very ordinary things. Very mundane things.
Next time you see a statue of Nero, remember he ALSO pooped. But the unfortunate truth is these enshrined leaders also did terrible things to others. And it seems that we as humans remove any sort of onus or responsibility for horrific actions made by men in bronzed statues. We must tear down statues (meteorically, of course, please don't catch a charge on my account). Remember that fallible people are in charge always, and just because you are on a pedestal, you should not be removed from the court of opinion. This goes for every person in a position of power, regardless if they are marbleized or not. It makes me sick to my stomach to see or read all the people who venerate politicians, mostly if they ignore all the war crimes and human rights that have been violated in the state's name. It makes you wonder: does everyone or no one deserve a statue?
In the words of Shelly from his epic poem, Ozymandias: "Look on my works ye mighty, and despair."
HIGHLIGHTS
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LECTURES
#038: Fugitive Slave Act, Fredrick Douglas, and Anti-Mexican Violence (31:00)
#039: Ranchos, Chinese Americans, Genocide, and Uncle Tom (33:08)
#040: Transcendentalism, Sojourner Truth, and Commodore Perry (37:17)
#041: Chinese Prostitutes, Black Whiskey, and Bleeding Kansas (34:28)
#042: Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, and Temporary Insanity (27:14)
READING
My classes utilize both Howard Zinn's Patriot's History of the United States and Larry Schweikart's Patriot's History of the United States, mostly in excerpts posted to the modules. You can access the full text of People's History or Patriot's History by clicking on the links.
#038: Fugitive Slave Act, Fredrick Douglas, and Anti-Mexican Violence (31:00)
#039: Ranchos, Chinese Americans, Genocide, and Uncle Tom (33:08)
#040: Transcendentalism, Sojourner Truth, and Commodore Perry (37:17)
#041: Chinese Prostitutes, Black Whiskey, and Bleeding Kansas (34:28)
#042: Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, and Temporary Insanity (27:14)
READING
- Carnes Chapter 7 “National Growing Pains”
- “The British View the War of 1812 Quite Differently Than Americans Do” by Amanda Foreman
My classes utilize both Howard Zinn's Patriot's History of the United States and Larry Schweikart's Patriot's History of the United States, mostly in excerpts posted to the modules. You can access the full text of People's History or Patriot's History by clicking on the links.
We Owe Allegiance To No Crown by John A. Woodside (1814)
KEY TERMS
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Fredrick Douglass
Moby Dick
Anti-Mexican Violence
Ranchos
Chinese Americans
California Genocide
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Transcendentalism
Sojourner Truth
Commodore Perry
People v. Hall
Seneca Village
Uncle Nearest
Bleeding Kansas
James Buchanan
Dred Scott
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Dan Sickles
Whitman and Dickenson
ASSIGNMENTS
Forum Discussion #10
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Fredrick Douglass
Moby Dick
Anti-Mexican Violence
Ranchos
Chinese Americans
California Genocide
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Transcendentalism
Sojourner Truth
Commodore Perry
People v. Hall
Seneca Village
Uncle Nearest
Bleeding Kansas
James Buchanan
Dred Scott
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Dan Sickles
Whitman and Dickenson
ASSIGNMENTS
- Forum Discussion #10
- QUIZ #3
Forum Discussion #10
Cracked.com is an American humor website founded in 2005 by Jack O’Brien and is currently owned by E. W. Scripps. It is descended from Cracked magazine, which dates back to 1958. Watch this short video and please answer the following question with a two-paragraph minimum:
After all the empirical evidence and sources you have looked at this week, is Andrew Jackson a president to be honored or vilified? Please cite examples to back your opinion.
Need help? Remember the Discussion Board Rubric.
DISCLAIMERS
After all the empirical evidence and sources you have looked at this week, is Andrew Jackson a president to be honored or vilified? Please cite examples to back your opinion.
Need help? Remember the Discussion Board Rubric.
DISCLAIMERS
- (This is not professional or legal advice. If it were, the article would be followed with an invoice. Do not expect to win any social media arguments by hyperlinking my articles. Chances are, we are both wrong).
- (Trigger Warning: This article or section, or pages it links to, contains antiquated language referring to people of color which may be triggering to some.)
- (Permission to reprint this blog post in whole or in part is granted, provided that the author (or authors) and www.ryanglancaster.com are appropriately cited.)