Early American Culture - Essay Example

? American Studies: Early American Culture Introduction The paper puts into perspective American history by discussing how the acquisition of consumer items affected the relations of power among various groups of people in the eighteenth and the nineteenth century in the North American continent. This will be achieved by analyzing some of the consumer items that were moved, as well as critiquing articles that illuminate early American culture. These consumer items will be obtained from the article by Catherine Cangany, titled “Fashioning Moccasins: Detroit, the Manufacturing Frontier, and The Empire of Consumption, 1701–1835.”1 The study’s analytical argument is that the movement of consumer items from the Northern America led to materials exchange of culture to other parts of the world. Background to the acquisition, exchange and/or use of consumer in the eighteenth and early nineteenth-century in the North American The North America continent is rich in history in the sense that it is where the earliest form of human interactions can be traced. To date, there exists rich information that proves the interactions between various groups in the North American continent in the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries.2 Trade played a central role in the interactions between various groups of people in the North America. There was an exchange of goods between the North America continent and its neighbors such as Europe, Asia, Africa, and Southern America. The trade in the earlier years of civilization in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries mean that the parties that were involved benefited economically. This influenced many countries to start mass production, hence increasing the scale of production, and therefore, spurring international trade. The Civil war in the United States of America can be traced back to the period between 1861 to 1865, with the casualties recorded exceeding 620,000. The main cause of the civil war was the social and economic differences between the south and the north. The south pursued farming while north preferred industry, a disparity that fueled civil war. 3 The other potent cause of civil war was the conflict between the rights of the state and the federal rights. The fight between the proponents and opponents of salves was also a very sensitive matter that exacerbated the situation. The Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery in states sparked vehement protests from quarters that were opposed to such provisions. Election of Abraham Lincoln was also instrumental in fueling the civil war. 4 Most people believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and favored Northern interests in contrast to southern interests. The Civil war came with dire consequences to the American population. The obvious and grave consequence was the numerous deaths that were reported, since it was estimated that up to 620000 people lost their lives. The other consequence was the division of Virginia.5 The western part of Virginia was opposed to secession and thereby successfully petitioned the government for statehood; they later became the 35 state of America. The end of the civil war marked the road to reconstruction in which the southern and the Northern states are now strongly allied to the American union. Moreover, the areas, which were destroyed during civil war, have been reconstructed. Notably, the trade between North America Continent and New world constantly experienced fluctuating trends owing to the economic growths, and development that characterized the countries where trade was being conducted. North America, in particular, had several expensive metals, such as gold and silver, which made it attractive as a trading partner. The capital markets that existed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were influenced by the supply and demand of precious metals, such as silver and gold. In fact, the supply and demand of precious metals affected the stability of prices and liquidity in the economy, as well as the monetary independence. The champions of liberalism were relentless in their quest to end the slave trade. The quest was even stronger during the 1807-1833 periods. The labor party under the able leadership of William Glastone ensured that liberalism in North America was a reality. He instituted a raft of liberal reforms that would go a long way to end slavery, which had tainted the image of the North America in the global eyes. There are several positive impacts that can be credited with the liberalization in the North America. One such apparent consequence of liberalization is the birth of the lasses-faire leadership model in both business and governance in the North America. Most of the policies that followed liberalization offered a good platform for growth of business and improved ties between the business fraternity and the government. The overall effect of such a move was increase in the economic performance of the North America’s economy as well as good governance, which embraced democracy, and participation of the masses in governance issues.6 With this kind of liberalization, the conservative ideologies that regulated business operations were scrapped, and business operated in a good environment. As a result of the liberation, the retrogressive ideologies and beliefs as well as static institutions and customary beliefs have been replaced by progressive ideologies, which are consistent with the global trends. Such a move perches Britain on the path of political, social and economic prosperity. Analysis of the consumer items that were exchanged Figure 1: the figure is from Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto Canada. It represents classic shoes that were being worn in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Figure 1 above is available in the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto Canada. The figure represents the classic shoes that were being used around the eighteenth and the nineteenth centauries. The shoes have attractive floral patterns with some shades of ivory. The shades of ivory go a long way to show that precious metals such as gold, silver, and ivory were being used for early trade in the region. This shoe is also a clear manifestation of exchange of culture that greeted the interactions that North America had with other continents, especially in the line of trading. The trade made North American and their trading partner to learn from and embrace each other’s culture. In fact, an Anglican Missionary by the name Joseph Doddridge openly admits that eventually immigrants in North America such as Germans soon began to wear the native footwear that were being used in North American. Figure 2: The figure depicts two Quebecois soldiers in full-dress uniform. They are adorned in Canadian frock coat and moccasins. Figure 2 show two soldiers from Quebec wearing full-dress uniform; the uniform comprises of Canadian Frock coat and plain and two pieces of moccasins. During this time, the frock coat was in fashion and was being worn by the majority of the people who lived in the present-day Canada and other neighboring countries. Analyzing the arguments by Cangany, White, Hamalainen, Breen, and Haulman Canagany Cangany argues that the trade that existed between the continents and the surrounding countries of Europe majorly shaped the culture of the North American Continent. 7 What made North America, particularly attractive for trade is the fact that it had precious weapons such as silver and gold. Moreover, it had rich culture as manifested by their clothing and the way they conducted their businesses. White Elsewhere, White reveals that North America was also characterized by slave trade. 8 The enslaved Africans and their accomplices in Louisiana often stole, traded, or pawned a range of products from the country. In fact, the slaves were instrumental in the cultural interaction that would later shape the culture of North America and other countries such as Spain and France. The enslaved Africans circulated consumer products from Louisiana across French and Spanish empires; the goods that were in circulation were particularly rich in American culture, especially dresses and other attires. Hamalaninen Harmallen gives a critical overview of the status of affairs in North America during the eighteenth and the nineteenth century. 9 The southern plains, apart from being hinterland trade, were also thriving in the region. In fact, the Western Comanche operated a major trade center in the region between the 1740s and the 1830s. This region was a strategic trade location because of its proximity to various precious metals such as Silver and gold. North America, in particular, had several expensive metals such as gold and silver, which made it attractive as a trading partner. The capital markets that existed in the eighteenth and nineteenth century were influenced by the supply and demand of precious metals such as silver and gold. In fact, the supply and demand of precious metals affects the stability of prices, liquidity in the economy as well as monetary independence. Haulman Cangany has emphasized the social interactions and culture exchange that shaped the American culture by showing the various images of attires and clothing that were won by the Natives of America as well as immigrants who found their way into the North Americas’ soil because of trade. 10 For instance, during this time, the frock coat was in fashion judging by the fact that majority of the people who lived in the present-day Canada, and other neighboring countries wore this coat. Judging from the arguments in the articles, it is apparent that the culture of America was largely influenced by the trade that existed between the natives of America and other countries such as Spain and France. Moreover, slaves played an integral role in ensuring that the transfer of culture from North America Continent is rich in history in the sense that it is where the earliest form of human interactions can be traced. To date, there exist rich information that proves the interactions that existed between various grouped in North American Continent in the eighteenth and the nineteenth century. Slaves, also, played a significant role in shaping trade because during their movement across Europe, they carried along goods that they had acquired from other regions. Critique The paper critiques two articles; the articles are authored by Catherine Cangany and Sophie White. Catherine Canagany’s article Canagany describes the different methods of constructing moccasins, as a result of which she illustrates how this influenced culture by arguing that it resulted in a different style of shoe.11 The author further argues that the everyday moccasins were designed to be used in the terrain of eastern Northern America, which significantly adds credibility that the shows represented the culture of the people of this region. In other words, people of different cultures use items designed differently because they are designed to fit the unique features of their environment. For example, she says that the shows represented in Figure 1 are tailored “to accommodate seasonal and aesthetic preferences, including side cuffs”12 By maintaining that John Joseph (Pennsylvania rifleman) wore a pair of moccasins while fighting in the 1775 Battle of Quebec, a frontier military practice which was still followed in the mid-nineteenth century, the author supports the argument that the culture of a certain generation was transitioned to a subsequent culture – through consumption of certain commodities designs.13 Even so, the author has not provided a very credible argument to show that the use of certain commodities and designs was not merely as a result of other factors such as technology rather than culture. White Sophie Article White exemplifies the role that enslaved African played in spread of materials culture, as a result of transfer of goods around the Atlantic world, through theft. 14 The author has clearly shown goods such as palliaca handkerchiefs among other “objects” that were stolen and moved from North America colony surpassed colonial borders into other parts of the world, hence resulting into the stretch of the Northern America’s culture in other parts of the world. In essence, the author has shown how the cross colonial exchanges and cross-cultural contact led to cultural exchanges. However, the author has not clearly discussed if there an essential change of culture as a result of adoption of the goods that came from the Northern America. Conclusion Judging from the arguments in the articles, it is apparent that movement and exchange of consumer items had a great impact on the relations between the people of the Northern Africa and others in other groups in other parts of the world, such as French and Africans – in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Of greater importance is that African slaves played an integral role in transfer of culture from North America to other parts of the world, as a result of transfer of consumer items such as cloths and shoes. Bibliography Cangany, Catherine. “Fashioning Moccasins: Detroit, the Manufacturing Frontier, and the Empire of Consumption, 1701–1835.” The William and Mary Quarterly 69, (2012): 265-304 Hamalainen, Pekka. “The Western Comanche Trade Center:Rethinking The Plains Indian Trade System.” The Western Historical Quarterly 29, (1988): 485-513. Henry, Katherine. Liberalism and the Culture of Security: The Nineteenth-Century Rhetoric of Reform. New York: University of Alabama Press, 2011. White, Sophie. “Geographies of Slave Consumption: French Colonial Louisiana and a World of Goods.” Chicago Journals 45, (2011): 229-248. Hovdenak, Annel, Hamas in Transition: the Failure of Sanctions. New Jersey: Willey and Sons, 2003. Meyer, John. Causes and consequences of Civil War. Washington D. C.: CQ Press, 2011. Read More