Nicolas Peterson
History 418 Final Exam
May 22, 2017
Change is Slow As the title suggests, change is slow. And when I say change, I mean social change. The kind of change that significantly alters the social order of entire societies, for better or for worse. The kind of change that requires patience, diligence, cultivation, organization, and a leadership willing to make great sacrifices for incremental gains. It involves a tremendous commitment. However, sometimes change happens quickly. Like, really quick. Every now and then, as we’ve seen throughout history, societies or groups mobilize in the streets for mass protests, pushing the limits of what is deemed acceptable in a civilized community. Often, the rules of politics are suspended, …show more content…
Framed from the start against Texas’ efforts to restrict access to abortion, the movie delves into the heart of the women’s liberation movement, by piecing together interviews and commentary from the many vibrant and passionate women who participated. The movie evokes the deeply ingrained traditions of sexism, racism, and homophobia that were prevalent in 1960s America. But where the movie truly succeeds (at least in my mind) is the way it highlights the sheer creativity and ingenuity of young feminist activists, who righteously fought to change societal norms regarding the role of women as being more than just a housewife, mother, or caretaker of children. These women wanted to work, go to school, and to have autonomy over their own sexual choices, which included safe and legal access to abortion, and easier access to birth control. They convinced ordinary women to consider how different their lives would be if they had been born male, and to wonder where they would be if they were allowed the freedom to pursue their own interests rather than conform to societal …show more content…
As we discussed in class after reading Julie Joy Jeffrey’s The Great Silent Army of Abolitionism, there were early indications even before the end of the Revolutionary War that slavery would eventually turn into a heavily controversial and contentious issue among the new United States. Despite being a slave owner, Thomas Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration of Independence contained objections to the British Crown’s continued involvement in the slave trade. Delegates from the South opposed the grievance, and Jefferson ultimately dropped it, and after the revolution ended the South sought assurances that their system would be left untouched for the sake of unity among the newly independent states. Over the next several decades, unstable compromises gave way to regional conflicts, such as Bleeding Kansas. Where compromise and good faith was possible on all matters ranging from centralized banking to interstate commerce, the issue of slavery was met with division and fragile arrangements. One side meant to contain its spread, while the other meant to prevent its dismantling. In Challenging Authority, Piven talks about the abolitionist campaign as a disruptive one, citing calls by radical abolitionists to bring about immediate emancipation for slaves. Over time, the movement grew, and petitions calling for an end to the barbaric institution multiplied exponentially. And when Congress decided that inaction was the best action,
History 418 Final Exam
May 22, 2017
Change is Slow As the title suggests, change is slow. And when I say change, I mean social change. The kind of change that significantly alters the social order of entire societies, for better or for worse. The kind of change that requires patience, diligence, cultivation, organization, and a leadership willing to make great sacrifices for incremental gains. It involves a tremendous commitment. However, sometimes change happens quickly. Like, really quick. Every now and then, as we’ve seen throughout history, societies or groups mobilize in the streets for mass protests, pushing the limits of what is deemed acceptable in a civilized community. Often, the rules of politics are suspended, …show more content…
Framed from the start against Texas’ efforts to restrict access to abortion, the movie delves into the heart of the women’s liberation movement, by piecing together interviews and commentary from the many vibrant and passionate women who participated. The movie evokes the deeply ingrained traditions of sexism, racism, and homophobia that were prevalent in 1960s America. But where the movie truly succeeds (at least in my mind) is the way it highlights the sheer creativity and ingenuity of young feminist activists, who righteously fought to change societal norms regarding the role of women as being more than just a housewife, mother, or caretaker of children. These women wanted to work, go to school, and to have autonomy over their own sexual choices, which included safe and legal access to abortion, and easier access to birth control. They convinced ordinary women to consider how different their lives would be if they had been born male, and to wonder where they would be if they were allowed the freedom to pursue their own interests rather than conform to societal …show more content…
As we discussed in class after reading Julie Joy Jeffrey’s The Great Silent Army of Abolitionism, there were early indications even before the end of the Revolutionary War that slavery would eventually turn into a heavily controversial and contentious issue among the new United States. Despite being a slave owner, Thomas Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration of Independence contained objections to the British Crown’s continued involvement in the slave trade. Delegates from the South opposed the grievance, and Jefferson ultimately dropped it, and after the revolution ended the South sought assurances that their system would be left untouched for the sake of unity among the newly independent states. Over the next several decades, unstable compromises gave way to regional conflicts, such as Bleeding Kansas. Where compromise and good faith was possible on all matters ranging from centralized banking to interstate commerce, the issue of slavery was met with division and fragile arrangements. One side meant to contain its spread, while the other meant to prevent its dismantling. In Challenging Authority, Piven talks about the abolitionist campaign as a disruptive one, citing calls by radical abolitionists to bring about immediate emancipation for slaves. Over time, the movement grew, and petitions calling for an end to the barbaric institution multiplied exponentially. And when Congress decided that inaction was the best action,