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Module 2: American Renaissance - Coggle Diagram
Module 2: American Renaissance
John R. Feagin,
The White Racial Frame
, 2009
European Colonization
Eurocentric Perspective: European Colonizers positioned themselves as socially and mentally higher, 'others' as physically and culturally inferior
They saw their Destiny to build 'a new World'.
After land and labor theft across the Atlantic basin, they tried to rationalise, explain and structure, why virtuous and "good" Christians could create such a bloody and violent system of human exploitation and subordination.
colonialism
and
imperialism
are rationalised by proto-racial thinking.
"British North America" = mainly the territory of the 13 original colonies on the Eastern seaboard (1775)
The British Province of Quebec
American Revolutionary War
Historical consciousness > American
Great Awakening
Tensions > Britain
Military history
Villain in revolutionary Literature: George III, King of Great Britain (1760)
Sugar Act(1764) Colonies challenged paying taxes without having representatives in politics..
Boston Tea Party(1773): Revolutionary Venture as Mass Movement, protest against taxation and British stands towards their own colonies
1776: Declaration of Independence
publication: Thomas Paine, Common Sense (January)
After American Revolutionary War
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, The Federalist (1788)
Northwest Ordinance (1787/89) and Louisiana Purchase (1803) ->
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
(esp. 1830s to 1860s)
destiny, divine task
openness/vastness
expansion
John L. Sullivan (1845)
George Caleb Bingham: Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers (1851)
Monroe Doctrine: 1823
1815-1860
Many Immigrants
Scottish
Dutch
Norwegian
Germans
Irish
18th Century
400.000 transported over the Atlantic and became enslaved
1861, out of 9 million people 3.5-4 million were slaves
The American Enlightenment and American Revolutionary Writing
self-determination
rightfulness of popular rebellion against tyrrany
(natural) goodness
possibility of improvement
inalienable rights (> J. Locke)
freedom, free speech, political rights
divine harmony of natural world > harmony & balance > government
progress -> perfection
six texts and the process of nation building
The American Revolution
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
(1776)
Formulates the Major Points of the Declaration of Independence
"
The Declaration of Independence
"(1776)
cultural and emotional appeal, not legally binding
Colonies as free and independent states, invokes natural rights liberty and pursuit of happiness
John Trumbull, "The Signing of the Declaration of Independence" (1787-1820) Location: US Capitol
Chicago Sun Times: (2019) at least 34 of the 47 signers of the declaration were slaveholders.
The establishment of the Political system
Constitution
(1787)
The Federalist Papers
(1788)
early interpretations of the American republic
J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur,
Letters from an American Farmer
(1782)
American ideas and ideologies, individualism, ideology of the Melting Pot
Thomas Jefferson,
Notes on the State of Virginia
Expresses patriotic sentiments and conviction
23 individual queries
Constitution (1787)
Openness
Brevity
Founders
White men of European background
40 % were or have been slave holders
bankers, lawyers, economic connections to the slavery system
We the people did not include those who were enslaved
7 sections protected radicalised enslavement
Enslaved person only 3/5 of a white person
Gives congress authority to suppress slave ensurections
The Federalist Papers (1788)
Are 85 essays that support the constitution and its ratification, foundational statement of American political philosophy
Benjamin Franklin (1706)- The representative American?
different roles > universalist
late Puritanism > (American Enlightenment > emergence of the U.S.
Self-made man
slave owner > abolitionist
writings
Poor Richard's Almanack
Philadelphia 1733-1758
The Way to Wealth
preface to the 25th (1758) Poor Richard's Almanack
earlier: "Poor Richard Improved"/ "Father Abraham's Speech"
Persona: Father Abraham
<> sermon
"One today is worth two tomorrows
"have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today."
"Handle the glove without mittens; remember that the cat in gloves catches no mice"
"little strokes fell great oaks"
Ideology of
individual progress
commercial success
civic virtues e.g. "frugality," "industry," "prudence," "circumspection"
personal vices prevent success: "idleness," "pride," "folly," "sloth," "debts"
-> self-made man
"work ethic" (see: Max Weber,
The Protestant
The Autobiography: "
the bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection" (p. 591)
individualism, success, upward mobility, perfectibility
individual life <> collective history (representative, prototypical)
didactic (conduct book)
list/ chart/ schedule:
self-improvement
self-made man
the bold project of arriving at moral perfection
Represents America
the writing process was influenced by the Revolution
didactic purpose
Letter to his son William
conduct books ( Verhaltensbücher)
use your time wisely
Schedule and Chart for self-control
The Ladder of Fortune