US History- First Semester Summary Activity

Grant Armstrong

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Mrs. Lawson

First Semester Summary Speech

In United States History class this semester, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the resilience of people in hard times. Whether through the oppression of slavery before the Civil and segregation during Reconstruction, or the fight of Native Americans to keep their culture and homelands during Western Expansion, Americans were constantly fighting adversity. The American dream of hope and triumph was created by these figures of the past, and today, I can look at the obstacles in my life and conquer them.  Just as workers in the Age of the City fought against the corruption of immerging business ideals, I can push through the challenges in my life and succeed. Although these heroes of the past are long gone, their legacy is timeless and their lesson remains: greatness is achievable.

However, I was unpleasantly surprised to learn about the hatred and brutality that was shown towards blacks after the Civil War. The history of the United States was arguably at its worst during Reconstruction. Despite hundreds of thousands of soldiers dying to eventually achieve victory, the ideas that helped start the war would plague the country for decades. Groups such as the KKK actively and violently sought ways to intimidate and scare blacks. Jim Crow laws enforced segregation, and African-Americans were treated as unequal. Racism is the scar of our nations past, as I learned.

Ten years form now, I will likely remember the power of movies in the class room. Simply by exercising the skill of empathy, valuable information can be learned from a historically accurate film. I really enjoyed watching Glory and 12 Years a Slave. Although these films did not match the events of history completely, they provided information in a memorable format. I will surely remember the ideology taught by Glory and 12 Years a Slave for years to come.

During the emergence of industrial supremacy in the nineteenth century, native-born Americans struggled to be accepting of immigrants from across the globe. This remains a problem today. Just as immigrants from Europe and Asia were condemned and hated in the past, immigration to the United States today is occasionally looked down upon. Although some may support immigration, there are still opinions that it should cease and even be reversed. Immigrants in modern day society are stereotyped and judged as inadequate, just as in the Age of the City. Even if immigrants have nothing to hide, Americans may suspect the worst. Some Americans today hold the opinion that immigrants cause crime, take jobs, or even illegally enter the United States even though it is not always true. Hopefully this issue disappears in the years to come.

I would name the period of United States History from 1865 to 1920 the “Great Advancement”. On all levels, economic, social, and geographic, the United States advanced in the world. Reconstruction marked the end of the war and the first step towards equality. The settlement of the west made hundreds of thousands of square miles usable, and the Industrial Revolution brought America cities, groundbreaking technologies, and its modern corporation that produced the wealthiest men in history. Child labor and working conditions dramatically changed due to the efforts of worker’s unions and protestors. Despite the many difficulties and obstacles that troubled America during these years, the United States advanced to become a world superpower and a place of progress. 

Thinking About Success

Luck, Opportunity, Skill, Hard work

1. Hard work
2. Skill
3. Opportunity
4. Luck

Hard work is arguably the most important quality for economic success, far more than skill. An unskilled person who works tirelessly is completely able to surpass a skilled person who does very little. Personal skill means nothing if it is not put into action. Opportunity is ranked in the third position because without skill or hard work, opportunities for economic success will never arise or never go far. If a businessman wishes to be successful, he first has to be hard working and skilled before he can properly take advantage of his opportunities. Luck is listed lastly for obvious reasons. Luck is completely arbitrary and impossible to control. Someone may think they are "lucky", but fail time and time again or consider themselves "unlucky" and win the lottery. It is a mindset, rather than some situation changing variable. The existence of luck can even be argued. Every person on this planet makes conscious decisions for some reason or another, so why wouldn't everything happen for a reason?

After reading an article on H&M's approach to Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Digest's article on the top 10 Supply Chain Innovation, I learned that the business world is largely shaped by new technologies. Successful businesses excel both in marketing and efficiently delivering their products.
IT departments play a massive role in the success of a supply chain, and the internal connection between all business assets is crucial. Formulas that calculate sales potential in new areas and computers that keep track of inventory in real time have reshaped the corporate world. H&M's IT infrastructure allows corporate managers to have access to every step of the manufacturing process, leading to more effective management.
    In order for a business to succeed in the modern world, it must intelligently and quickly understand consumers' needs and provide convenient ways to shop. H&M is excellent at responding to new fashion trends, owing its success to its supply chain. With a network of 30 production offices all located near their individual supplies, H&M can quickly produce new products.
The FedEx Tracking system, the Ford assembly line, and the steel ocean shipping container are all examples of innovations that reshaped the consumption process int he past. Steel containers and tracking systems ensured customer satisfaction, while the Ford assembly line started a breakthrough in fast and cheap automobile production. A business may excel in marketing or customer service, but having well managed logistic is just as important, if not more so.

I would like to learn more about modern Supply Chain Management. I am still curious about the how a supply chain becomes successful.

Supply Chain Management Visual

Dear Father,

It is difficult adjusting to life in the city. Life here is completely different than on our farm. Every day I hear so many different languages and see so many strange things, and I sometimes get lost in the chaos. Not only do I have to get used to a new country and culture, but I have to get used to city life as well. Walking through the streets and neighborhoods on a normal day I see people from all across Europe and Asia. People speak in Russian, German, Chinese, and Danish. There are places where newspapers are sold and plays are performed in our native language. Foods of mixed cuisines are sold in shops and on the streets. I am encouraged to speak English everyday, and the new culture excites me.

From the few moths I've been here, I had noticed how diverse America is. Everyday I see hundreds of young, new faces, and I want to embrace being here. I want to be an American. I wish I could say I missed home, but I love America too much. I am proud to say I am an American. Other immigrants feel the way I do. I hear reports and see arguments between other Europeans who have conflicting ideas and cultures, but mostly we are all bound together by our common experience.

At work in the factory, I am treated differently. People seem to hate me, saying that I don't belong and that I should leave. Native born Americans take an elitist pride in the fact that they we born in the country. There are movements to restrict further immigration. Chinese immigration was banned by the government and people are scanned for literacy tests. Standards and rules are often unfairly applied to me because I immigrated. I miss you, but know that I am enjoying my new life.

Love,
your Son

Early Skyscrapers- Wikipedia

In 1862, Congress enacted the Pacific Railroad Act, tasking the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad companies with the daunting task of constructing a railroad that would span across the continental United States. However, underlying this accomplishment, a brilliant scam was developed that defined history and left the reputation of Congress tarnished.

In the late 1800s, Americans were optimistic about the future and eager for opportunities of success. It was a time of growth, wealth, and prospect as American History writes: “The process of westward expansion had […] renewed American ideas […] and had, therefore, shaped not just the west, but the nation as a whole.” The revolutionary business of railroads was still relatively new to the public by the time of the Transcontinental Railroad, and Thomas Durant, a board member on the Union Pacific, used society’s ignorance to launch his scheme.

Although Union Pacific received land and funding from the government to complete the Transcontinental Railroad, financial difficulty was still present. Congress contractually disallowed the Union Pacific from selling it stocks at underpar rates, yet investors refused to buy at full value until the project was completed. Investing in Railroads was considered very risky, and, oftentimes, companies found it difficult to profit and receive the necessary funding for their business. The majority of railroad funding went towards construction, and owners were not usually paid until its completion. Union Pacific lacked the requisite means to continue long-term construction, and failure looked very possible. In response to their obstacle, the board of the Union Pacific created a company called the Crédit Mobilier to earn profits by selling stocks and bonds.

The new company acted as a middleman, taking stock from the Union Pacific at face value and selling it to investors at lower rates. In order to make up for this problematic loss, Durant exaggerated the construction fees and overcharged the government. The Stark County Democrat described the situation: “The directors of the road were forbidden by law from […] holding other interests of profit. They could not become beneficiaries of their trust [but] they soon found a way to do it.” The process allowed Durant and his insiders to flourish. Approximately $16.5 million was made in profits, and by the time of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion in mid 1869, Union Pacific stock value had risen 750%. The scandal guaranteed the criminals profits free from the risks of the arising west, and writers at the Stark County Democrat reflect: “They swindled the United States, the bondholders and the stockholders for the benefit of their own close corporation.”

In this time period of expansion and new beginnings, Durant found away to steal a piece of the success for himself and his colleagues. To historians of the time period, Durant’s motives thougts make sense, yet his actions are unforgivable. Rather than worrying about financially detrimental Indian attacks, stalls, and uneducated, reckless workers, Durant scammed his success against the odds. The scheme quickly turned into a political scandal as Congressman Oakes Ames of Massachusetts became involved. Being a member of the House Pacific Railroad Committee, Ames had a financial interest in Iowa railroads, and he wanted the Transcontinental Railroad to involve his interests. Congressman Ames reached out to the Crédit Mobilier, and they agreed. In return, Ames would sell stock to other influential Congressmen at rates far below market value in a means of covering up the criminal workings. Ames’ offer was appealing, and many state members bought into the scheme. According to PBS historians, he “distributed stock to two senators and nine representatives […] Some eventually returned the gift […] [as] all recipients held influence over railroad legislation”. Ames was quoted saying he wanted to sell the stocks and bonds “where they would do the most good to us”. The politicians granted Crédit Mobilier its funding and often overlooked the actual expenses. They were bribed, in a way, to keep quiet. The agreement assured Crédit Mobilier fabulous profits and allowed Congressmen to make money off of an essentially rigged stock.

During the election season of 1872, the New York Sun exposed the Crédit Mobilier scandal and Speaker of the House, Jaimes G. Blaine, established a Congressional Committee to investigate. Many politicians denied involvement, and in an attempt to avoid prosecution, Oakes Ames stated: “We want[ed] more friends in Congress, and if a man will look into the law, he can not help being convinced that we should not be interfered with”. Despite efforts to deceive the Committee, Oakes Ames was removed form Congress along with other members who accepted the stock. Furthermore, the scandal left outgoing Vice President Schuyler Colfax with a reputation for being corrupt and placed James A. Garfield’s political career in jeopardy.

Like many in question, Garfield denied involvement. The Crédit Mobilier crisis was difficult to correct due to the great deal of people involved and the lack of solid evidence. The media led most of the public rage and accusations with frequent articles and political cartoons, yet singling out the actual criminals proved difficult for the Congressional Committee. The Stark County Democrat described the dilemma Congress faced: “The Crédit Mobilier affair is complicated by the most unfortunate contradictions of the testimony which the committee did not undertake to unravel […] Garfield perjured himself in his testimony [as] a man of truth and veracity.” In response to accusations during his election campaign, Garfield responded: “I never received or agreed to receive any stock of the Crédit Mobilier […] nor any profits arising from them”. Garfield eventually avoided serious punishment, yet the remainder of his career was surrounded in controversy.

Through the ideals of western expansion, a scheme boomed. The Crédit Mobilier scandal left the United States government more aware and sensitive to corruption, and exposed the venerability of the stock market. More importantly, its effect on Congress would far outlive the people involved. What started from a simple idea of success would plague the government for years to come and ruin the reputations and integrity of the convicted politicians.

Congressmen, accused of owning Credit Mobilier stock and being involved in the scandal, (right) face the judgement and disgrace of the capitol (left) in this political cartoon. New York Times- Credit Mobilier Scandal

Thomas Durant, a board member of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, created the Credit Mobilier company to scam millions of dollars from the government. Wikipedia- Thomas C. Durant

Congressman Oakes Ames distributed Credit Mobiler stock to members of the House and Senate, causing the scandal to have severe political implications. Wikipedia- Oakes Ames

This political cartoon shows Uncle Sam shaming Durant, Ames, and all of the congressmen involved in the scandal. Mstartzman- Credit Mobilier Scandal 

A train makes its way across a railroad in the 1800s. Seemingly an innocent business of transportation, the railroad construction of Union Pacific had underlying criminal activity. NPR- How Trains 'Railroaded' The American Economy

Sources:

1.Encyclopedia Britannica- Credit Mobilier Scandal

2. PBS- Credit Mobilier Scandal and Politics

3. History- Transcontinental Railroad Background and Risks

4. History- Credit Mobilier Scandal Background

5. Library of Congress Primary Source- Stark County Democrat Newspaper

6. New York Times- Credit Mobilier Explanation and Politics

7. American History: A Survey- Western Expansion and National Feelings

8. History Study Center- Railroad Construction Risks “The Railroad in America” by Douglas Edwards

From the films Glory (1989) and Twelve Years a Slave (2013), the history of slavery is brilliantly taught through real events that shaped the course of history and surpired the world. Rather than teaching the distorted and glamorized lessons of earlier films such as Gone With the Wind and glorifying the Old South, Glory and 12 Years a Slave, paint the real, gritty pictures of American slavery in a critical way. Fictional movies such as these can supply the basis from which analytical skills can be developed, as real events and attitudes are depicted through out each.

            With a budget of fifty to seventy million dollars, Glory successfully depicts the role of black soldiers in the American Civil War and explores the deeper emotions behind equality and freedom. Making a profit of thirty to seventy million dollars, Glory was extremely successful, teaching righteous lessons with true events from the all black 54^th regiment in the Civil War. James McPherson from New Republic states: “It is not only the first feature film to treat the role of black soldiers in the American Civil War, it is also the most powerful and historically accurate movie about that war ever made.” From watching a movie, more knowledge about the Civil War can be gained from reading textbooks alone. This activity provides an engaging and informative experience. Instead of teaching the corrupt lessons of the past, Glory teaches a memorable lesson. The movie expertly captured the same sense of equality that Abraham Lincoln wanted to enforce at the time. However many of the scenes from the movie were altered versions of the truth as McPherson says: “The filmmaker used the material of history selectively […] even forging what is sometimes called the poetic truth.” This being true, the underlying meanings of the film are accurate and allow for the critical examination of racist ideas. Even though some events of history are altered, this movie’s dramatic themes easily surpass any of its historical flaws. When asked about the film, Vincent Canby of the New York Times said: “Although Glory employs devices of fiction […] it seems to serve as a documentary.” The movie was brilliantly acted by a superior cast consisting of Mathew Broderick who “gives his most mature and controlled performance to date” and Denzel Washington who won an Oscar for his performance as best supporting actor in 1989. This movie can be expected to teach the truths about the Civil War in a deep and meaningful way. Glory truly captures the hardship of black soldiers fighting in the Civil War well, and the movie serves to illuminate this time in history. Glory furthers its success as it was highly acclaimed by critics. Glory is a film that serves to correct corrupt lessons about African Americans through the struggles and realizations of the 54^th regiment, and this film could easily develop analytical skills in a class. Just as Glory strongly exposes corruption and develops an understanding of critical skills by using real events form history, 12 Years a Slave achieves the same goals.

            From a budget of twenty million dollars, 12 Years a Slave reaches a new level of historical accuracy, but manages to contain emotional and impacting themes about slavery at the same time. Director Steve McQueen desired to explain the story of a free black man, Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped and forced into slavery from twelve painful years. McQueen says: “the book became my passion to adapt into a film.” Where Glory served to correct harsh stereotypes created by earlier film and taught by the public, 12 Years a Slave aims to show the resilience of humanity and prove that there is always hope even in the darkest of experiences. Through historical events taken from Solomon’s book, McQueen does just that. When asked what McQueen was most impressed by in the true story he responded: “He [Solomon] can hold onto his faith in humanity. […] That was hugely inspiring to me. […] I wanted to deal with an […] American who had gone through that ordeal.” David Denby of The New Yorker describes the film as “the greatest feature film ever made about American slavery.” 12 Years a Slave expertly captures the mental and physical struggle between slaves and white masters and its superb acting by every character allows for this success. 12 Years a Slave won an Oscar for Best Motion Picture and Best Writing in 2013. Using a 1968 republication of Solomon’s book, the film accurately teaches history. Film producer John Ridley was quoted saying he preferred “sticking to the facts”. Like Glory, some scenes were modified to express certain points, but the movie allows for the development of analytical skills. Each character is complex enough to be dissected, and the story is deep enough to pull truth from. Through both horrific scenes of torture to heartbreaking scenes of loss, the attitudes of American slaves before the Civil War can be taught.

            The film Glory and 12 Years a Slave both teach the truths of history and dive deeply into the adversity experienced by black people during and before the Civil War. Whether through the historically accurate story of Solomon Northup or from the 54^th regiment fighting against inequality and racism, films are able to teach history and develop analytical skills in a much deeper, more meaningful, and more engaging way than other forms of education.

Sources:

NYT “12 Years a Slave” Historical Accuracy

History vs. Hollywood “12 Years a Slave Historical Accuracy”

New Republic “Glory” Historical Accuracy and Filmmakers Intentions

 The New Yorker “12 Years a Slave” Review

IMDB “12 Years a Slave” Awards

Wikipedia “Glory” Box Office Success and Production Cost

Wikipedia “12 Years a Slave” Box Office Success and Production Cost

“12 Years a Slave” Filmmakers Intentions

NYT “Glory” Critics/Reviews/Awards