10 things you learned about American history - Essay Example

History 10 June History Response I learned that the citizens of the US are strong in their unity. In the days of the American war of Independence it became clear that people were ready to sacrifice their lives for the welfare of the group. The war signified the desire to leave the past behind and embrace the future. The bravery of the American soldiers in the war is also evident in the fact that they were not afraid to confront mighty and powerful British Empire. 2. I learned that the US laid foundations for democracy in the modern meaning of the term.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence can be seen as the birth of the American nation. The document had the traits of democratic principles the country would be based on. Signing of the Declaration marked the end of the war and signaled the desire of the former colony to build its own state. The declaration was a new phenomenon for its times and marked the end of the era of empires.3. I learned different groups within the same society can have different views on the rights. In this view the history of Mexican-American War is significant because resulted in the acquisition of new territories and marked the nation’s potential for expansion.

However, the war was very divisive both in Congress and the society. The war brought the problem of sectionalism to the surface. What is more, the debates in the Congress bore the seeds of growing tensions between northern and southern states concerning their different views on slavery.4. I learned that from the start the concept of equality was important for the USA. The Civil War became the major conflict caused, among other factors, by the different views on the principles underlying the structure of the society, namely the belief that all men were born equal.

The Civil War was the largest military conflict in the history of the country at the time. It was the first occasion when hostilities started because the nation itself was divided and not as a result of the aggression from the outside. For me the Civil War is significant because it led to the abolishment of slavery and the establishment of the society we know today.5. I learned that in the modern world, there is no such thing as local war. In this view, World War II demonstrated that countries could no longer be isolated.

Even though military aggression of Germany and Japan did not pose immediate threat to the US territory, the bombing of Pearl Harbor proved that Nazism endangered all the humanity and concerned every nation. The decision of the US to join the war marked the willingness of the people to join forces with other countries against the first global aggressor. I learned that without the US contribution the World War II would have lasted much longer and human losses would have been more numerous. 6. I learned that the accumulation of weapon, namely nuclear weapon, threatens world order.

Thus, the Cuban Crisis showed to what extent the systems of the USA and the USSR were focused on producing weapons. It was the landmark point of the struggle between the two superpowers for world supremacy and dominance. The crisis demonstrated how dangerous it was to link the nuclear weapon with the country’s goals. 7. I learned that politics is a complex interplay of interests of different powerful and wealthy groups. In this view, the assassination of John F. Kennedy shocked the nation because it showed the vulnerability of the political system.

The mystery surrounding the assassination signified that politics had become closely connected with the economic interests of syndicates and moguls. Kennedy’s death triggered reevaluation of the president’s home and foreign policy. What is more, citizens started to think about the degree to which corruption had penetrated the political sphere. 8. I learned that the achievements of the USA are valuable for all mankind. In this view, landing on the Moon marked the supremacy of the US scientific development.

It took other nations decades to parallel or replicate such a breakthrough. Landing on the Moon became significant for the whole human race and boosted space research in different parts of the world. 9. I learned that totalitarian regimes had no potential to survive in the modern world. It is evident in the end of the Cold War that marked the final point in tensions and rivalry between two large states with different regimes: the USSR and the USA. The event proved the supremacy of democratic values and the flaws of government-controlled economy.

The fact that the USSR embraced the necessity to change the regime marked an important point in the struggle of the nations against totalitarianism. 10. I learned that the concept of race has always been important for the nation. Yet, in the 18th century there were not clearly defined and solidified. I had to analyze primary and secondary sources to understand how the country reached the point when the inhabitants were no longer seen as equal because of their race. In this view, Martin Luther King’s speech proved to be the focal point when the country started to realize the extent of the problem so the changes would be under way.