Chapter 21: The Progressive Era

          It was a little bit alarming to read how in the 1903, how young girls are being kidnapped a carried across states to become prostitute. I thought kidnapping girls and making them prostitutes only happened in today’s decade. It was a big controversies about girls traveling in different countries and getting kidnapped and then being sold as prostitutes in other countries worldwide. They we able to be sold through the internet. It was very sad to read that was already happening in the 1900’s and that America was probably the first country to start this crime. In today and in this chapter women were mostly prostitutes, and it was rare and even rarer today to see or hear about a male prostitute unless that male is a transgender. Anyways, I get this idea that women were more likely to become prostitute over men due to women always being acknowledged as the man’s servant. Throughout history it was always recognized women standing beside her husband serving him instead of following her dreams, women always had to support their husband’s dreams. Although women were never acknowledged to be known as slaves because they were expected to fill this role as a wife. In all reality women were slaves during this time. Just like African- American slaves they did not have any rights or equality, and the white men created a degrading life for women and African-Americans. As defined by the dictionary a slave is a person who is legal property of someone and is forced to obey them. Women are legal property to their husbands through marriage and a marriage certificated to prove that also as a wife she must obey her husband’s order for her; this sounds a lot like a slavery to me. African-Americans were not the only slaves in America but as well as wives and prostitutes.

            A website that I highly encourage to everyone is http://www.heforshe.org/ not only in the 1900’s women were fighting for inequality. Today women are still continuing this fight. This website allows men to get involved with women inequality as well as human inequality. It is a very informative page against this fight against inequality; it shows how many men around the world have decided to stand up against inequality.

Chapter 19: Immigration, Urbanization, Everyday lives

          During the 1880's and the 1890's it was a big year for the women. It was surprising to read how everything new being experienced was meant for the women instead of men. It was unpredicted of this because women were just fighting for equality during the Civil War, but they were not granted this. It was really surprising how woman became on top more than men, because men were supposed to be the dominate one. It got me excited to read how Colleges were made for women, so they can get equality, and gain the knowledge to have women compete with men in the workforce. During that time there were powerful women figures that proved to men, women are capable to do just as much as men. Such as Jane Addams who won a Noble prize among men candidates, for her work of the settle house movement. A women who I found inspiring while reading was Frances Willard, she transformed women’s “moral virtues” into a rationale for political actions. She encourage the movement of women to set out of the Victorian lady like status and become more active and making themselves to become just as important to men.

            I found it amazing and funny for women during that time outlaw liquor. I cannot imagine how angry the men were especially during that time when the saloon was a big thing to do. I find it funny how men thought they were the dominate power, such as whatever they says goes. They would never think women are capable of doing because they think women are not as intelligent as them. Then again the women proved them wrong and outlawed their favorite substance at the time. Also the women finally stood up to their husbands and other men for their safety which is important. Although it seems like they were trying to get back at the men, but in reality they are looking out for the safety of themselves their children and their husbands. They saw and experience how liquor affected everyone in a negative matter. This just shows how compassionate and motherly women are, to be looking out for what’s best. 

Chapter 14 Emancipation Impact

The emancipation had a positive impact on the African- Americans. When reading this section I was finally happy to read that the African-Americans finally had something good happen to them, which was very pleasing to read. Even reading about the emancipation I felt like I was also feeling their emotions. It was very heartwarming to read how couples that were separated for many years were able to come together again and start their family, but then it was just as well sad to read how couples who were going to get reunited, were unable to because their love had passed away.  It was a little discouraging to me, how once they were reunited the husbands want their wives to stay at home, and the comment made by one man “I married her to wait on me”, (page 383). I found that comment really ironic because when they were once slaves they waited on their owner, and knowing the experiences they've had, why would they continue to treat their wives in that such manner. It is almost as if the wives were slaves to their husbands. The separate spheres doctrine should be able to be applied the African- American’s home, to somewhat create an equal household between the spouses.

This was exciting to me, how the fourteenth amendment was passed. Thus allowing the African-Americans to be recognized as citizens of the states instead of being only identified as a slave or by the color of their skin. I can imagine at this time it created a lot of controversy and may have put the African-American lives more in danger. This was a big step forward in creating equality. The fourteenth amendment also made a big impact on African-American history in America. It was also encouraging to read how emancipation also pushed the African-Americans to become leader, to begin to create their own communities, and within these communities they made their own institutions. Their community was well fitted for them, from churches to schools, they were finally able to express their culture.

Chapter 14 & 15 Equality

Overall I think I am fascinated with human rights and inequality. Due to being fascinated with human rights and inequality issues, moments in history where there is inequality, such as slavery, spark my interest more. To me it was really astonishing to read how serious they took slavery when the Fugitive Slave Act was enforced. Many slaves ran to the North (the non-slave states), in order to be free. They would be free for years and once the Act was enforced they would go on a man hunt for these free slaves to become slaves again. When reading this passage it really reminded me of this one episode I watched, Dog the Bounty Hunter, where they would go in searches to find a person who needs to be in jail. That is what exactly the slave catcher did. I really don’t understand how slavery would save the Union. Knowing that the North is composed of anti-slavery state I would assume they would put up a fight against the South to allow these slaves to continue to be free.

Chapter 15 has a little section on women’s rights and war, while reading through many chapters of Enduring Vision I noticed a trend with women’s rights and war. Whenever America goes to war, women fight for the rights in these particular situations. Such as during the American Revolution, while women helped aid men during war, women began to fight for rights, and Abigail Adams made this stand against her husband John Adams. Having previous knowledge about World War II, women began to do men’s jobs and after wanted more opportunities and jobs like the men, then too women fought for their equality. To me World War II seems like a repeat, of the Civil war. Women took the jobs that men could not due because of war. When this opportunity was given to the women once again they hope for equality in politics and economics. Once again they were not granted the equality they deserve. Well reading this passage and other passages it was surprising to see how during war it is like history was being repeated for women equality. To me equality is a big issue in America and still is today, although the Declaration of Independence and Constitutions encourage equality, they both were not specific enough to say who deserve equality, they were vague. 

Federalist paper #10

Madison was incorrect in the organization of the US government under the Constitution providing adequate safeguards against the development of harmful factions. 

Fractions are known for their problems that cause democracy to fail, but removing their liberty is taking away the foundation of the United States. Fractions are recognized for causing division as well as becoming violent and powerful. When James Madison states “There are two method of removing the causes of fractions: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence” (Madison, par. 3). When liberty is removed everyone becomes the same, having the same passion, opinions, and interest, thus taking away the diversity in America. Even though this tactic may work to remove fractions, but it is not acceptable to the nation.  The United States must come under dictatorship in order to remove fraction, but remember the United States left Britain due to a dictatorship. If James Madison takes away liberty he is transforming the United States to be under a dictatorship therefore going against the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

            Madison cannot remove fractions, so the best solution to control fractions is the attempt to control the bad outcomes created from them. The main problem Madison came across was how to control fractions without depriving them of their liberty. He acknowledges “But if could not led folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life”, (Madison, par.4), liberty does not only affect fractions but it affects the major political groups, Republican and Democratic, as well. When liberty is taking away the protection of one own rights is being taken away. It has been recognized that people naturally are incline to be divisive. Therefore fractions are not the only one to cause hostility and disagreement toward people, even if fraction are removed due to divisive, there will be other sources that will cause it.

The Federalist papers

When people think of America, the first thing that comes to mind is Liberty. Liberty allows everyone in the nation to be free within society, having independent and freedom. The word liberty defines us as a nation, what America is truly about. While reading I did not agree when it was stated “here are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests”. When we are given the same opinions, passions, and interest its takes away the diversity in America. When everyone is given a same passions, and interest, it takes away individuality and uniqueness in an individual. It as well takes away the right to choose.

America was built on the idea of having freedom, and not being controlled by one authority. When our liberty is taken away, and every citizen is given one state of mind we are going back to being under one control, and getting away from what our founding fathers had created from us. Although it is easier to have a nation with only one mind set, and everyone thinking the same, but it takes the way the rights of a citizen. It takes away the meaning of what America is supposed to stand for and the promises made to the citizens. At first America was under same opinions, passions, and interest, thus starting a revolution. As a citizen of a nation we should be able to voice our opinions, and have individual interest. American is a nation serving its citizens not a nation serving a king. 

Chapter 12: The Old South and Slavery

Chapter twelve was very interesting to read just untold truth about the slaves. It was surprising to read how the African Americans were the most dominate racial group in America at that time. It was not shocking to me how they rebelled; when they rebelled they outnumbered the whites. It was a little unpredictable to read how that other slaves would inform authority about the upcoming uprising, I would think they would stand together and fight instead of endanger each other lives more.

Despite the rebellions and the uprising, reading about the African-American culture was really fascinating. I was most interested into their music and dance. Their music has truly influenced the music of today by a rhythmic beat to dance too, or singing songs about our emotions. It was said “The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by tears”, (page 287). This concept of singing a song to relieve sorrow is used today mainly by teenagers. As watched in movies as a funny scene we see a teenage getting over a break up by singing out loud a sad song and sobbing to feel better. But my point is that the African-American culture has truly influenced our culture and society of today. I think even their worship of religion has impact Christianity today, such as them shouting “Amen” and singing chants, catches and hallelujah songs. Now and day Christians mostly worship through chants and songs, and yelling Amen. It just remarkable to read how the whites have degraded the African-Americans and did not want their culture intermixing with the whites but it is ironic how much of an influence the African-American culture did have on society and even adopting some of their ways.

The whites or southerners tried to make sure that that African-American knew they did not have the same equality as the whites. The whites were so obsessed with the African-Americans they did anything in their power to keep them from being free and easy to identify. I was reading in my sociology textbook how they made a one drop law were its states, even one drop of blood of African- American would be identified as “black” despite the color of your skin. This was happening still in the 1980 when we thought as a nation, we were over racial inequality. I guess as a nation we will never get over racial inequality and our past will always affect us in some way. I think having the one drop blood law was like a way to remind you that you are African-American and will never have the same equality as us whites despite your skin color, that’s how I perceived it while reading the text. The African-American culture is very smart and fascinating, they found a cure for stomach aches, and were very skilled in many areas. Unlike the men in the 1760’s who were not as productive and found more interest in dueling, eye gouging, and biting noses.