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History 1301
Essay 1: The Critical Period
Introduction
Given picture, "The Critical Period" is portraying the era of “Articles of Confederation” as critical for the future of the United States. A destructive scene could be looked upon in the given image that points towards the major changes that America underwent after the American Revolution. Slavery issue has also been highlighted in this picture as one of the darkest realities of this Revolution. State government took radical steps against farmers and other few groups by paving way for more democratic reforms that were not in favor of farmers at all. A portrayal of revolt is also pictured in the image as anti-slavery societies in all the northern states increased in number with time. Drifting towards anarchy, it could be said that the Treaty of Paris was accepted during this time and independence of America was recognized by the British. Farmers also demanded an increase in paper money, reduction in taxes and ending of imprisonment for debt. Main issue was with Articles of Confederation and a change in it was demanded as anarchists see it as the only solution. Especially farmers proposed some changes that they wanted to see.
Body
In the given picture, “The Critical Period” a river with little rocks could be seen. This given picture could be parted into two halves. On one hand, there is a boat carrying some soldiers, having oars in their hands. It seems like they are in a boat that has the title "Articles of Confederation" but in-depth analysis shows that these soldiers are being sent by the state government for dealing with the anarchists. While anarchist, (farmers) who are on the lower side of the river, are greater in number. They are weaker in strength and are fighting for their rights by proposing some changes in the Articles of Confederation, so that they could get some relaxation and an escape from the feeling of loss of their farms.
This picture asserts that purposely, USA army boat (that is entitled with Articles of Confederation) is being portrayed at the upper side to show government's superiority over the anarchists. This attitude of Americans sparked frustrations of Massachusetts farmers whose farms were being taken over and they lose their farms. Conflict was there between the state government and the farmers who rebelled against the government as they wanted to end farm foreclosures. This conflict and violence between the authorities and anarchists cast severe impacts of the overall American Revolution and made them realized that it (American Revolution) has lasting destructive effects on the society as well.
Conclusion
It won’t be wrong to say that sometimes government policies don’t support some groups and same was the case with the farmers who rights were snatched and they were forced to rebel against the state as they lose their farmers. They demanded some changes in the “Articles of Confederation” so that they could have little relief but in fact they were treated inhumanly by the troops being sent by the state government. So as a whole, it could be promulgated that Articles of Confederation, was the source of unrest between the state and anarchists who want the government to change it.
Essay 2: Westward Expansion/Manifest Destiny
Introduction
Second picture points towards “Westward expansion/Manifest Destiny”. Manifest Destiny was the phrase coined in 1845, which centers on the idea that it is the fate of the United States to expand its dominion for spreading both capitalism and democracy across the North American continent. This picture portrays territorial expansion by using the justification of the forced removal or departure of the Native Americans along with other groups from their homeland. Given picture presents a portrayal of the settlers of the 19th century. A movement started by the Louisiana Purchase was fueled by Gold Rush that made this territory attractive for the neighboring people and countries. Westward migration of Americans started because of the influence of Manifest Destiny as this idea motivated them for migrating to some other land. This destined ideology helped them first in the expansion but later the same ideology became the source of conflict which resulted in the Mexican American War as Americans started claiming that only Americans deserve all the American land, not the Mexicans.
Body
Given picture was painted by John Gast, who is a Brooklyn based lithographer and painter. He painted this picture in 1872 for George Crofutt. In this picture, a great ethereal, luminous and feminine kind of figure “American Progress”, can be observed. The spirit of America heads Westward along with farmers, settlers, prospectors while rest of the creature is moving away with Native Americans before her advancements. A star can be seen on her forehead and long wavy hair leads the travelers, settlers, and miners to West from East. She is holding a schoolbook as well as a wire in her right hand (Murphy et al, 2019). Darkness fades away as she ushers in a new light. Bunch of men is following her along with a variety of transportation that includes horseback, carriage, ships, steam engines, and covered wagons. Mississippi river could be seen as well flowing in the background at the right quadrant.
In the right lower corner of this picture, farmers are cultivating the land. A house is also evident in this picture that is marked by trees and a split rail fence with a boundary. A rider is being followed by three men in the central bottom portion and out of these three men one is carrying a shotgun and the other man could be seen wearing a red shirt, smoking a pipe and a miner's shovel on his shoulder (right). On the extreme right side of the image, a river is flowing beneath the peaks of snow-topped mountains with a bear and bison in the scene as well. Some Native Americans could be looked in the image as well who are looking back as they are moving with dogs towards darkness at the left. A tomahawk is being raised by a bare-chested man while the other man is carrying a bow and arrow.
A horse is drawing a travois, carrying a child and mother. Another woman could be seen in the picture also who is walking with the Native tribe as their member; bear breasted who is looking at her left shoulder. In this picture the presence of the dominating and centralized angelic being seems to be distracting and softening the reality of violence of the 19th century movement that started for winning West territory. A clear depiction has been given in which Native Americans are departing the frame as non-natives are claiming as prospectors, travelers, and settlers. People depicted in the picture seem as they are claiming their freedom and are looking for new livelihood because life seems completely new to them. It seems like people are departing in order to escape their sufferings and persecution. A lasting consequence of Westward Expansion includes trails, compromises, wars, and purchases that cast hazardous effects on various social groups.
Conclusion
Taking a look at the given picture, it could be said that it shows scenario of 19th-century movement that was influenced by Manifest Destiny. It was believed that American land would spread to far off lands and this expansion is its fate. Manifest Destiny is the ideology that becomes the main cause of conflict and war between the Mexicans and Native Americans.
Essay 3: Bleeding Kansas
Introduction
It is the picture of Bleeding Kansas or the Border War which was followed by a series of violent civil confrontations between 1845 and 1861 in the United States that emerged because of the ideological and political debate over the legality of slavery in the proposed state of Kansas. The admittance of Kansas as a slave state or Free State was the source of main conflict. Kansas-Nebraska Act passed in 1854 that made many settlers to travel to the newly populated Kansas territory and soon this land started being visited by a variety of people who used to come for different purposes i.e. in order to find new opportunities for settling on the land, political reasons and building a new life. Main conflict was between the Southern and Northern people as they (Southern) wanted to reduce the advantage of Northern that they were getting from Congress. Southern people wanted to preserve slavery but the Northern people were against the preservation of slavery as they wanted to prevent the spread of slavery at any cost. Due to the destructive attitude of Northern people against slavery, thousands of pro-slavery moved into Kansas from Missouri though they were not allowed to vote. In 1855 these men were able to elect a territorial legislature that was in favor of Northern people.
Body
Given picture is known as “Southern Chivalry” and was painted by John L. Magee in 1856. A cruel portrayal has been portrayed in it and violence seems to be at its peak. Southern people are attacking the Northern leader and other common people who were there in Senate at that time for imposing their decisions on them. In the given picture, it could be seen that Preston Brooks is attacking Charles Sumner when he was busy in making some sort of agreement. On 21 May 1856, both the groups Missourians and pro-slavery Democrats invaded Lawrence, Kansas where they created violence and set few of the newspaper offices on fire. In the image, it could be seen that Charles Sumner is holding a pen in his right hand and in left hand there could be seen a kind of book on which it seems, he was writing something when Preston attacked on him. Preston is holding a heavy cane with which he almost killed Sumner on the Senate floor and this action of Preston electrified the nation which deepened the parting of South and North communities.
Another appealing thing that could be looked upon in this picture is that Preston is hitting Sumner with his heavy cane but still there is peace on Sumner’s face. Faces portrayed in this picture are having two expressions i.e. some of the democrats are smiling as they are happy seeing Preston hitting Sumner while other democrats are having aggression on their faces and apparently it looks as they want Preston to kill Sumner at once (Mielke et al, 2019). In the portrayal, there could be seen a table as well some papers dropped down and few flew in air after the Senate was attacked by the Democrats. A pot of ink could be witnessed if the given picture is looked upon closely that drops off to the ground. This incident cast long-lasting effects and the movements were fueled which focused on the separation of Southern and Northern areas and people.
Conclusion
Taking a look at the above discussion, it could be said that in 1856, the United States was parted between two halves such as Southern and Northern. Southern wanted to spread slavery while Northern was supporting the idea that slavery must be ended as it is the exploitation of a free man. Sumner was working at his office when was attacked by Preston in the Senate. So as a whole, it won’t be wrong to say that Southern was unable to bear the growing advantage of Congress that was favoring the Northern people.
Works Cited
"The Critical Period of American History, 1783-1789." Google Books. N. p., 2019. Web. 20 Nov. 2019.
Mielke, Laura L. Provocative Eloquence: Theater, Violence, and Antislavery Speech in the Antebellum United States. University of Michigan Press, 2019.
Murphy, Andrew R. "American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. By Philip Gorski. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2017. 336 pp. $35.00 cloth.-The Politics of the Sacred in America: The Role of Civil Religion in Political Practice. By Anthony Squiers. Berlin: Springer Verlag, 2018. 181 pp. $129.00 cloth, $99.00 e-book." Politics and Religion 12.1 (2019): 195-202.
