Foundations of American Identity – Leadership, Cultural Influence, and Religious Dissent

Foundations of American Identity – Leadership, Cultural Influence, and Religious Dissent

Essay 1

The greatest American president is Franklin Roosevelt. I consider Franklin Roosevelt the greatest president in US history, given his contribution toward economic recovery during a time when the country was undergoing the Great Depression. Upon his election, Roosevelt instituted the New Deal, which constituted a raft of measures designed to offer Americans relief assistance and enhance the welfare of workers (Shi, 2022). His contribution toward restoring public confidence in the financial system cannot be overstated. For instance, the government’s decision to insure banking deposits from banks under the Federal Reserve System restored investors’ confidence in the US financial sector (Shi, 2022). Additionally, Roosevelt personalized his role, dedicating much of his time toward gaining public confidence. To that end, the president leveraged fireside chats aired across multiple radio stations to popularize his ‘New Deal’ initiatives and explain, in simple language, the implications of his new transformative policies.

Essay 2

Native Americans and African Americans greatly influenced the social structure during the colonial period. Native American communities pioneered innovative agricultural practices, like maize production, which were critical to the colonies’ survival and economic progress. Furthermore, Native American tribes frequently mediated interactions with European newcomers, influencing early diplomatic and commercial networks (Shi, 2022). Intermarriage and cultural interchange progressively eroded the barriers among Native and European communities, resulting in a distinct colonial identity separate from Britain.

African Americans, who came to the colonies predominantly via the transatlantic slave trade, were critical to the growth of the Southern plantation economy. Their work not only helped to build these colonies’ economies but also had a significant impact on social structures and cultural customs. Slavery emerged as a racial institution in America, deviating greatly from British societal standards. To that end, 90% of slaves who were transported to America through the trans-Atlantic trade went to work in rice plantations in South Carolina (Shi, 2022). Therefore, African Americans coming to the US as slaves contributed positively toward transforming America into a farming nation.

Economically, the colonies differed greatly from Great Britain because they relied on cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and cotton. These crops were predominantly successful thanks to slave labor by African Americans, which drastically altered the Southern colonies’ economic environment (Shi, 2022). The success of plantation agriculture influenced trade patterns, labor arrangements, and economic policies that differed from those of Great Britain. Furthermore, encounters with Native Americans exposed the colonists to new economic methods and resources. The fur trade, for instance, was a vital economic venture among the Northern colonies, aided by alliances and trading networks formed with Native tribes. These business endeavors boosted colonial economies while also incorporating Native American lifestyles and traditions into colonial life.

Also, interactions with Native Americans and the system of slavery affected colonial American politics. Native American alliances and conflicts shaped colonial territorial expansion and warfare. Treaties and agreements, typically negotiated with Native tribes, were critical in setting colonial settlement limits and shaping relations with European powers (Shi, 2022). In the same breath, the discourse surrounding African slaves resulted in legal and political adjustments. Laws governing slavery and establishing racial hierarchies were enacted, paving the way for the establishment of racial differences that would endure beyond the colonial period. Local assemblies and self-governing organizations emerged as solutions to the colonial environment’s specific challenges and opportunities, rather than simply reflecting British political traditions.

Essay 3

Religious dissent justified the Puritans’ expulsion of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams. The Puritans created colonies in New England to form communities of faith based on their understanding of Christianity (Douglass et al., 2016). However, the two publicly questioned the theological and doctrinal ideas of the Puritan authorities. The Puritan clergy saw Hutchinson’s ideas on grace and personal revelation as heretical, fearing that her influence would weaken society’s coherence (Shi, 2022). Similarly, Williams’ support for church-state separation, as well as his criticisms of Puritan policy, jeopardized their theological authority.

Furthermore, legal and political considerations back the Puritans’ stance. At the time, there was no idea of religious tolerance or the right of speech. The Puritans envisioned themselves as founding an ideal Christian society that would rigidly conform to their religious and social principles (Douglass et al., 2016). In this environment, opposition was frequently regarded as a danger to the entire community’s well-being, and leaders felt justified in taking action to safeguard their vision. Based on their concept of religion, therefore, the Puritans were justified in expelling Anne and Roger.

Furthermore, legal and political considerations back the Puritans’ stance. At the time, there was no idea of religious tolerance or the right of speech. The Puritans envisioned themselves as founding an ideal Christian society that would rigidly conform to their spiritual and social principles (Shi, 2022). In this environment, opposition was frequently regarded as an existential threat to the whole community’s welfare, and authorities felt justified in taking action to safeguard their vision.

References

Douglass, F., Mckivigan, J. R., Hinks, P. P., & Kaufman, H. L. (2016). Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, written by himself. Yale University Press.

Shi, D. E. (2022). America: a narrative history. W.W. Norton and Company.

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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Frederick Douglass

Foundations of American Identity

Essay 1 – Requires just 1 paragraph. Thank You. No sources required.
Who, in your opinion, was the greatest US president and why?

Essay 2- PENNSYLVANIA-SIZED ESSAY (75 points)

“Had it not been for the influence of Native-Americans and African-Americans, the English colonists in North America would have created a society by 1700 much more similar to that which they had left behind in Great Britain.”

Write an essay in which you defend, reject, or modify this statement. Be sure to consider social, political, and economic factors.

EASSY 3- Rhode Island-sized essay (25 points)

Were the Puritans justified in banishing Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams? Be sure to give examples or analogies to defend your position.

Your answers should be 3-4 pages (3-4 pages TOTAL, not 3-4 pages for each essay), typed and double-spaced. Errors of form (punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc.)

Please note- You do not need to use outside materials; the notes and the book can give you all the information you need.