American History (the Old America and the New America) Essay

American History (the Old America and the New America) - Essay Example Author Gene Smiley (2008) writes that "despite the 1920-1921 depression and the minor interruptions in 1924 and 1927, the American economy exhibited impressive economic growth during the 1920s. The same can be said for the periods from 1992-2000, where the American economy grew only to worsen in the years after. Economic commentators in both era's have suggested that the 'seeds' to both the depression in the 1930's and the current recession in 2008 were sown in the boom periods preceding them. According to Smiley (2008), the 1920's America economic growth was very impressive. Many in the population owned cars, new household appliances, and homes. Innovations and inventions were in high rates and drove growth. Manufacturing was increasing leading to the growing rise in the productivity of labor and capital. New innovations and products created new markets and services. Company stocks experienced a boom in the markets. For example RCA, one of the 'high end' stocks of the era, experienced an appreciation in its value even though it paid no dividends: expectations were that high. Again similar to 'Old America', the period of the Internet boom of the late 1990s, led to a rapid expansion in the stock market for 'New America', especially for dot com and related companies. Schisms in 1920 American Society While America has transcended much of its infamous past, the issues of those days caused major splits in opinions between the supporters and those in opposition. The issues included conflicts of city and country, science and religion, and even issues relating to relationship with the monarchy and modernism. Schisms were the proof of America's multi-racial, multi-cultural fabric and multi-idealistic society. The 'melting pot' of nations was battling for its identity and there was a lot of resistance and disagreements. The Conflict of City and Country The so-called war [of ideas] between 'Old America' and 'New America' was in full throttle about the 1920's. Around 1919 anti-immigrant sentiments, nativism and radicalism were on the rise, mostly directed at the new arrivals from Southern and Eastern Europe. During period, urbanization trends were on the rise among native-born American population. The trends were spurred on because many Americans were now first time owners of automobiles. A drove of individuals from rural America migrated into the cities, and the cities expanded into the rural hinter lands. This shift brought issues between the city and country to the 'front burner' of debates. Yet this split between the rural and urban life was not between two exclusively opposing sides; there was an intertwining relationship. There were small towns with radicals and immigrants citizens, and a majority of people in cities still had ties to the country or were from it. At times the schisms seemed like they would 'destroy' the country. Indeed for many of the rural or city-dwellers the times were apocalyptic. There were no shortages of movements and schools of thoughts 'preaching' Freudianism, Evolutionism, and innumerable other ideas that seemed to be in concert to erase the traditional life or values of 'Old America'. It was also during this period that America initiated

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532) - Essay Example His arguments were not based on some empty theorizing or on some abstract ideas. This strategy proved efficient in making his readers to relate to the ideas in terms of their high sense of realism. The examples also enhanced the memory of the leaders as they could now convert them into other situations that related to the same ideas. It would be important to consider the fact that some of the issues that were brought about by Machiavelli derived from things and events that he had witnessed in real life. As such, his arguments were only condensed out of the political realities of the day and from facts he had deduced from historical records. Historical and contemporary examples offered his arguments some form of comparative advantage when perceived from the perspective of other competing perspectives that existed during that time. It is therefore necessary to appraise the work of Machiavelli as a derivative of historical realism. Machiavelli’s arguments could be considered in t erms of the various issues that relate to the discourse of real-politick. His arguments were diagnostic in the sense that they exposed the characteristic of leadership from the point of view of the existing monarchs in various parts of the world. Historians contend that much of Machiavelli’s arguments were based on the life and times of Cesare Borgia and King Ferdinand of Spain. Machiavelli’s insistence on his acquaintance of contemporary affairs and a continuous study of the ancient world was meant to illustrate the fact that his arguments had the backing of political realities across the historical times. It is important to consider the multiple historical and philosophical influences that weave into the thinking of Niccollo Machiavelli. For instance, his ideas were drawn out of the real-life experiences he had undergone, which he related to some of the dominant political forces that shaped the histories of the world. Reality, according to Machiavelli, is a social co nstruct. It is therefore important to consider the many issues that attend to the influences that shape and are in turn shaped by the politics of the day. As a result, Machiavelli is regarded as an honest interpreter of times and political realities particularly from a pragmatic point of view. He based his philosophy in the idea of the things that work. He sought to understand the reasons behind events and situations from the relationship between the means and the ends of such realities. As such, his insistence on knowledge of world affairs and the histories of great people was one of the illustrations of his tendency towards political realism. On this note, it becomes necessary to consider some of the influences and happenings that engaged his opinions from the perspective of experience and reality. Constraints of a Prince’s Freedom of Action Machiavelli cited virtue, righteousness, honesty, and integrity as some of the factors, which hamper a Prince’s freedom of acti on. According to Machiavelli, a Prince must adopt characters and personalities that will help retain him in power. The Prince, according to Machiavelli must engage in the habits of both a lion and a fox1. He must have the courage to fend off threats of the enemy and must have some cunning of a fox. Machiavelli recognizes the virtues of integrity and honesty as things that a Prince should only adopt for the purposes of enhancing his image, but not really to engage in them as aspects of his authentic character. Machiavelli argued that such habits