How the growth and development of the modern American city has shaped the individual American experience - Essay Example

?How the growth and development of the modern American has shaped the individual American experience. Institution City and State of the institution Date of submission 1.0 Introduction The American ‘city’ has experienced a number of progressives that have had a major impact on the experience of the Individual American. In particular, the growth and development of the American city has resulted from the social reformers and exceptional intellectuals that have been in the forefront in resolving various aspects relating to the American economy, politics and culture. The American city has been coupled with an industrial revolution, as well as the development of the US capitalism. These changes are believed to have been a symbol of the end of the aged order, and marking the requirement of a novel order that would be suitable for the new industrial era. The constitutional structure should be made dynamic by encouraging tools of social change. This can be supported by scientific analysis and knowledge, as well as the improvement of administrative system of a government. 2.0 ‘The simple, compact, well-join'd scheme, myself disintegrated, every one disintegrated yet part of the scheme’. Walt Whitman, ‘Crossing Brooklyn Ferry’ Whitman was a popular poetic-writer as far as relating nature and political aspects was concerned. In relation to Whitman’s (2013) statement, ‘the simple, compact, well-join'd scheme, myself disintegrated, every one disintegrated yet part of the scheme’ in a publication entitled ‘Crossing Brooklyn Ferry’, time, as well as space are perceived as important concepts that should be flexible in resolving the philosophical dilemmas. Amongst the philosophical problems that are faced by a majority of democratic nations is associated with the notion of a constitutional democracy of a given era being constrained to shape the wishes of succeeding eras. Individuals of the past era deemed the old constitutional democracy to be too ‘sacred’ to be amended. In this regard, the forefathers have been associated more with wisdom than being human beings. Attention should be paid to the capabilities of various generations despite living in different eras. However, there have been tendency of the past generation ‘voice’ being consulted for direction and help in the current democracy. A philosophical dilemma occurs when individuals related to a democratic system perceive themselves bonded to the past generation whilst at the same attempting to chart a new way (Hopper, 2013). Whitman, in his book, entitled ‘Crossing Brooklyn Ferry’, attempts to use the movement of ferry to Manhattan from Brook as a symbol on the notion of transcending time in an attempt to share sumptuous experience, as well as identity with respect to both generations- the past and future. Generally, Whitman’s poetic writing attempts to reflect on the irony of the US democracy and the continuity of the American national. 3.0 The Individual American Experiences Due To the Growth and Development of the American City Following the ending of the civil war, a large number of the US citizens shared certain beliefs regarding the function and structure of a government, as well as the government’s vital civic policies. There were a number of amendments including that of the constitution where slavery was abolished. These changes empowered the government to protect the rights of the citizens. In this regard, the revolution in America was realized not only in the Western and Northern parts of the country but also the South. The agreement that characterized the country after the Civil war was marked by values of the American founding. There are a number of differences between the approach with regards to American founding era and the new era perspectives. The dismissal of nature According to the founders, all individuals are equal, and have various absolute rights. All individuals are also expected to obey the natural decrees; however, an individual is not only regarded to have rights but also duties. The major rights as deemed by the founders are freedom and life. This includes the freedom of worship and interacting at home or workplace with anyone an individual wishes to experience an interaction. It also includes the freedom to utilize an individual’s talent and intelligence in purchasing a private property. Additionally, it was provided that rules which are found out to be reasonable in upholding a human welfare should be respected. These rules were also expected to direct politics and life of an individual (Adams, 2010). However, the new progressive approach has dismissed the founders’ reasoning claiming that it is primitive. According to the progressives, freedom is not free-given but it is achieved. As a result, liberty is perceived as not freely given by God. It is perceived as an element that is given by a state. An individual, according to the progressives, is viewed as a social construct. Progressives believe that there is a non-existence of natural laws; this is due to the fact that human persons are not a natural gift. The progressives agree that an individual receives nothing or little from the nature. As a result, anything that is of value is made by a human person. In this regard, it was claimed that rights are associated with non-standardization. Moreover, the progressives believe that individuals are normally skewed towards achievement of freedom. This discussion demonstrates that what is perceived as wrong or right is perceived differently in diverse times. As a result, the Individual American has experienced various changes about rights as stipulated by governments of different eras. The duty of the government The purpose of government is enrooted to the acknowledgement that a human person is given a very important value by nature. These include the ability of a human person to reason, and formulate moral values. In this regard, what is provided by the nature is perceived to be vital in relation to what a government may give. However, the founders also believed that civilization is crucial as far as a human welfare is concerned. The founders also believed that freedom should be protected by the government (Welty, 2013). Moreover, it also recognizes that freedom can as well be threatened by a government. Founders believe that human persons can cultivate their natural gifts (mind and body) to achieve various talents. As a result, the natural gifts are perceived as a very important valuable. From the founders believe, freedom was not a gift from a government. Both the existence of an individual and liberty are perceived to be the gifts of nature. Consequently, the government was perceived to be responsible for providing service to the citizens. This belief is opposite of the individuals providing service to the government. Generally, a government can be viewed as an institution that insists on natural laws and rights in a bid to ensure that individual’s rights are respected in a community. However, the natural rights that are respected are not associated with poverty but autocratic domination by given individuals in a society (Tanguay, 2013). This demonstrates that a government’s responsibility is to protect liberty at the national level by enforcing civic, as well as criminal laws, and at the international level via a strong state security. On the other hand, the progressives perceive the founders structure as characterized by various flaws due to the compassionate approach about nature. The progressives believe that a human person is already made by nature. The founder’s approach is claimed to be associated with defects as far as acknowledging the imperative role of a society is concerned. As a result, the founders’ government is characterized by a limitation. Progressives believe that the pursuit of freedom should be based in the limitation as provided by the nature, as well as needs. According to progressives, a government is basically tasked with the responsibility of fulfilling the human capabilities. The transformation of the duties of a government from the old times to the progressive era has had a significant impact on the experience of the individual American. The dismissal of compact and consent as the foundation of a community The founders provided that all individuals would be governed by important rules for the common good of a community. According to the founders, the political society was created by the deliberate association of persons. This denotes that a political society is a social compact. The social compact comprises of people that pledges to each individual and vice versa (Edgar, 2013). The functions of government were expected to be performed by respecting available laws. However, the laws are expected to be formulated by individuals that are elected at the local level. With respect to progressives, if a government starts in consent or not is of no essence. The main importance is associated with the reshaping of an individual to ensure optimal capabilities are experienced. The religion and God During the founding era, God was perceived in two ways. Jews and Christians believe in God as the beginner of freedom, as well as the being behind the moral laws. These moral laws are the ones that direct individuals while fulfilling various duties. These duties consequently lead individuals to attaining happiness. However, unbelievers, on the other hand, view God as a creative rule that shapes the order of various aspects. Nonbelievers, as well as Christians and Jews concur that a God of nature exists; He is believed to provide the natural rights, and also task individuals with various duties by adhering to the rules of nature. However, believers add that God of the bible is the same as the God of nature. Conversely, nonbelievers believe God of the nature is the only existing God. Progressives, additionally, described God as a human freedom that is obtained via the appropriate political institution; otherwise, God would be denied as a myth. A state is perceived as a divine notion that is present in the world. According to progressives, the main duty of a government is to perfect humanity, civilize individuals, and improve the reasoning of a human person with an intention of obtaining a universal authority as opposed to the individualistic structure. The various reasoning as to who is God in different eras has seen the individual American experience various perceptions in diverse periods. Government’s limits and dignity of the private realm The founding era is associated with protecting the private sphere. The safeguarding of the private sphere comprises of the protection of low and high appropriate homes, aspects of religion, as well as science. In addition, the necessities of a body were also highly regarded as important. The founders agreed that the need for freedom or liberty denoted that private involvements were to be allowed. The motive for the permission of private associations was not because they were perceived to be credible enough, but because they upheld the health of the community. The made sure that a society is adequately flourished. In relation to the founding era, the government was perceived as human aspect, which was associated with both strengths and weaknesses similar to that of a human nature. As a result, a government was required to be characterized by a number of limitations; primarily, because it was not meant to offer the highest aspects of life. On the other hand, given that progressives tend to perceive the natural as low while a state as divine, the private sphere was ordinarily overlooked as far as a government’s protection was concerned. According to the progressives the phenomenon of private sphere is observed as a dominion of self-centeredness and repression (Ginsberg, 1997). The aspect of private ownership was distinguished due to its features of condemnation. In a large number of circumstances, the progressives associate themselves with socialism. As far as government limitation and dignity of the private realm is concerned, there have been dissimilar historical experiences in various eras among the individual American. The national policy In relation to the founders’ reasoning, the domestic policy is concerned with the safeguarding of individuals and person’s properties against destruction or violence. This is enabled by imposing stringent criminal laws which protect individuals from theft, assassination and rape among other types of criminal activities. On the other hand, the presence of civil laws has enabled the deprived to acquire properties via selling and purchase of property and labour on a liberal market. This is achieved via deliberate legal methods that institute an acknowledged ownership (Weaver, 2013). A government is tasked with the proof of ownership in the event that a property is faced with a problem of free use. There were a number of laws that guided the sexual conduct of married individuals. The laws were formulated to ensure there was minimal aspect of divorces- this ensured of an excellent parenting. In addition, the founding era saw the promotion of moral practices of an industrious citizen by creating laws and instituting learning institutions that would facilitate values such as loyalty, impartiality, determination, thriftiness and hard-working. The government was also characterized by promoting religion with an intention of encouraging the various perceived positive virtues. Conversely, progressives’ view of domestic policies is more advanced than that of the founders. The progressive era is associated with the protection of the deprived by the government against capitalism. The protection of the underprivileged is made successful by redistributing public resources, as well as essential laws. The government is also burdened with the management of various aspects associated with production and trading, such as prices. In addition, a government is observed as a vital element as far as developing the ‘spiritual’ growth of an individual is concerned. However, the spiritual growth cannot be developed via upholding the church principles; it can be developed by conserving the environment, promoting education, as well as supporting cultures. 4.0 Conclusion The above discussion demonstrates how the growth of the American city has shaped the experience of the individual American. The growth and development of the city has been facilitated by social reformers and intellectuals in relation to politics, economy and culture. The development and growth of the city has, however, taken a considerable time. This has seen the individual American experience changes as regards domestic policies, dismissal of nature by progressives, perception about nature and God, and duty of government among others. The changes in these aspects reflect the time difference. It also sheds light on the relationship between the old era and the progressive era. References Adams, H., 2010. Democracy an American novel. Waiheke Island: Floating Press Tanguay, L., 2013. Hijacking history: American culture and the war on terror. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. Edgar, A., 2013. The Man of the Crowd. [online] Available at [accessed January 2014]. Ginsberg, A., 1997. Howl. [online] Available at < http://www.wussu.com/poems/agh.htm> [accessed January 2014]. Hopper, E., 2013. Nighthawks. [online] Available at [accessed January 2014] Weaver, A., 2013. The government of nature. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013. Welty, E., 2013. Occupying political science The occupy Wall Street movement from New York to the world. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Whitman, W., 2013. Crossing Brooklyn Ferry: Leaves of Grass. [online] Available at < http://www.whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1860/poems/122> [accessed January 2014]. Read More