Recent Event Highlights: Civil War, Pre-Civil War, and 12 more...
Created by mfountain on Sep 1, 2010
Last updated: 09/27/10 at 09:46 PM
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The presidents at this time were Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. Some events of this time were the affairs with the Pentagon Papers, the Watergate Scandal, and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. At one point, a man got a hold of some papers from the Pentagon. This was classified information about the Vietnam War, but he gave it to the press anyway. A lawsuit was filed against him, but the Supreme Court overruled it, declaring that it became his choice what to do with that information once he attained it, as it was free speech at that point. The Watergate Scandal was when Nixon had hired former CIA members to keep watch on those he believed to be a threat to the secrecy of political intelligence. Things like this are an abuse of power, which is not only undemocratic, but it's the very thing America fought to get away from in the early 19th century. This scandal caused him to resign his presidency. The tearing down of the Berlin wall was a momentous occasion that made a huge step towards uniting Germany, and as the Civil War proved, one cannot have democracy if a country is divided. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. "Google gives Berlin Wall the (Big) Bird | It's Digital Marketing." It's Digital Marketing | Gary Robinson | Online Marketing Views. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The Presidents during this time were Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Linden B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. The main things happening in this decade were the Vietnam War, Youth Rebellion, and Civil Rights. Youth protested the war, as they didn't know why their friends were dying in another country. They wanted to be able to decide how their lives went, and have a say in education. Blacks were rising up and demanding equality too. This was the time of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. During this time, a draft was in effect. It forced teenagers and young men to go off and fight a war they knew nothing about. Democracy wasn't represented well in their lack of a choice. Youth also rebelled against the ways of their parents and demanded a say in decisions that impacted them, something that democracy was created to provide. Blacks were finally beginning to gain equality too. It seems that during this time, the people were beginning to demand democratic representation and equality. "hippy peace posters myspace graphics - Myspace Pictures, Images, Icons, Graphics - MyspaceAntics.com." Myspace Graphics | Graphics for Myspace - Myspace Comments, Funny Pictures, Images, Icons, Graphics - MyspaceAntics.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time were Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although this period was portrayed as a carefree happy time, this was not so. This was the time period of the Cold War, the Chinese Revolution, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and even the Space Race. Many of the events of this time involved primarily eastern countries. America would insert itself into the situation and try to control it despite what others believed or wanted. Such undemocratic action was justified usually by the U.S. not wanting Communism to spread, or not wanting Communism to gain control of nuclear power. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. "Going Nuclear How Atomic Science Powers the World Around You." How Stuff Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time were Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Propaganda during this time persuaded the people to support the war. The Sedition Act of 1918 made it illegal to speak out against the war or against its support. The Depression happened during Hoover's presidency, and he did little to help. He believed that by aiding the poor, it would breed a sense of dependency. Before WWII, there was the Holocaust and the rise of Fascism in Italy. The war itself resulted in military occupations and eventually the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The events of WWI repressed democratic freedoms such as free speech. Propaganda twisted the public's view of the war as well. The Depression caused the public to lose a lot of faith in the economy, and Hoover's response was very elitist. FDR restored the public's faith through a series of legislative acts that "saved Capitalism in eight days". The Holocaust was one of if not the most horrible abuse of power in history. The use of Jews for experimentation and torture was extremely unjust and therefore, undemocratic. The bombing of Japan wasn't democratic either. The U.S. sent the country a message by vaporizing two large cities and irradiating everything for miles around the blast zone. Many of the people killed had done nothing wrong. War is never democratic though because many cannot be represented and those that are are oppressing another people. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. " “Doctor Atomic” Bombs — Cultural Encounters." Macaulay Honors College - . N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The presidents of this time were Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. This was solely an era of reformation. From political to social, everything was changing. To name a few things, there was the regulation of labor, health and sanitation improvements, woman's suffrage, and the regulation of business practices. Unfortunately, immigrants had many restrictions, and segregation gave blacks trouble. While having gained freedoms and some rights, black people during this time still had to live in a segregated world. This lack of equality was undemocratic, but many reforms made strides to eliminate corruption in government. At this point, a democracy as defined by the people was direct control through voting. "segregation | PicsDigger." PicsDigger. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The presidents that served during this time are Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James. A Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. There were quite a few reforms during this time in the areas of economics and morals. Politics during this time worsened. Voting was divided among ethnic and cultural lines. Congress emerged in 1870 as the dominant branch of government. Parties were evenly matched and had no ideological positions. Democracy and republicanism were not being represented well during this time. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. "Where’s the Outrage? | Progressive World Review." Progressive World Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The presidents who served at this time were Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant. Immediately after the war, the south passed laws denying blacks the right to purchase or own land. Seeing that something must be done, representatives former confederate states were denied congressional seats. Other major events included the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. Although the southern representatives being denied congressional seats may seem undemocratic, it serves a good purpose. It was done to aid the reconstruction effort, to make sure things don't go back to how they were. The amendments abolished slavery, gave equal protection, and gave the right to vote, respectively. All in all, the ideals of democracy and republicanism were being supported again. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. "Black and White Handshake | Photo Editing." Web Design Library — One-stop Web Design Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The President during this time was Abraham Lincoln. Quite an important war, it gave blacks the right to vote and be free. Other major events during this time include Lincoln's 10% Plan. The Civil War was fought for democracy. It was fought for the rights of a race of people. It was fought to allow these people to people, rather than property. The 10% Plan basically said that if at least 10% of the voting body in Confederate states accepted the Constitution and the abolition of slavery, then they could once again be a part of the government. The plan was never put into action due to Lincoln's assassination. "Abraham Lincoln Picture." Washington DC Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time were Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Filmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan. The main point of contention at this point in history was slavery. The constitution states that all men are created equal, and on that basis, blacks demanded equality. Many Northerners agreed, but in the south, where slaves were a huge part of the economy, they disagreed. Southerners said that slaves were property, and could be treated as such. California was applying for admission to the union as a free state, but the south protested this, as it would unbalance the states. The Compromise of 1850 was made to correct this problem. While not only allowing California's admittance as a free state, it gave states the ability to choose their alignment via popular sovereignty. Slavery is in no way democratic, as the northerners realized. The Constitution their ancestors wrote dictated that all men were equal; it did not separate among racial lines. Black people at this time weren't being represented, and had little or no governmental voice. Soon though, all that would change. "Picture of Slaves." The Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time were James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren. During Adam's presidency, the government was very corrupt and aristocratic, as a result, the election of 1828 was very personal. Jackson won, and went about his business completely differently than Adams. His heart was with the "plain folk". He had a lot of faith in the people, and fought for those who were not already well off. During Jackson's presidency, the power of the president was increased, taking some away from the people. While at first this seems undemocratic, it was a necessary evil. It allowed an attack to be launched on monopolies so small business could thrive. Democracy to people meant having a say in what goes on in their country, and having the power to make their own choices. Jackson helped people have that. "Andrew Jackson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. During the election of 1800, the votes became deadlocked between Jefferson and his opponent, Aaron Burr. The vote was deadlocked and came down to a man named James Bayard. He ended up voting for Jefferson, who tried to put power back in the hands of the people during his term. To do this, he made decisions such as the Louisiana Purchase, to gain a massive amount of land for the union. This time was a bit of a contradiction along the lines of Democracy and Republicanism. During the election, all the power came to rest in the hands of one man, a very undemocratic event. But afterward, Jefferson was elected. He believed in less governmental involvement and aiding the people, which is quite democratic. When it came down to it, Jefferson was even willing to change his constructionist view of the Constitution. He was a president of the people. "Thomas Jefferson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
There were two presidents during this era. The first was George Washington, and the second was John Adams. Major events of this time include the XYZ Affair (president Adam's involvement overseas) and the Alien and Sedition acts. Ideals of Democracy weren't supported in this day and age. The Alien act allowed the president to expel immigrants deemed dangerous from the country, and even worse was the Sedition act, which basically prevented people from printing or saying anything blasphemous about the government. The Sedition act takes away free speech, which was supposedly an inalienable right. It was due to president Adams, that these rights were being taken. He believed in a powerful government and the balancing of power among the common people and the elite. Such beliefs are not synonymous with those of Democracy and Republicanism. "John Adams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
The Articles of Confederation, Bill of Rights, and the Constitution were the main two things during this period. The Articles were a precursor to the Constitution, and gave people more influence in government among other things. The Constitution though, outlined the some of rights of man and what his government should do for him. The Bill of Rights expanded on the aforementioned rights. Democracy as it is seen today was still in its natal stage at this point in history, and citizens were antsy to get their word in regarding the actions of the government. "Regent University -> University Library." Regent University - A Leading Global Christian University. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
This war was fought for America's freedom. The colonists were no longer living in Britain, and as a result, wanted to be their own nation, make their own laws, and live without a foreign entity watching from overseas. Britain made oppressive laws such as the Quartering Act, which forced Colonists to house British soldiers. Other heinous acts include Iron, Molasses, and Stamp Acts, which impeded the economic growth of the colonies by doing things such as putting duties on or slowing the production of these items. One of the major objections of the colonists was that they had no voice in the decisions British Parliament made. Taxation without representation as it came to be called, is not only a huge ideal upon which Democracy in America was founded, but it was also a huge reason for the war. For reasons such as the aforementioned, the war was fought. America's victory freed it's ties to Britain, and established it as a separate country. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. "Democratic Transitions » Blog Archive » The American Revolutionary War." Democratic Transitions . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
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