MANIFEST DESTINY AND ASSIMILATION THEORY - Term Paper Example

?MANIFEST DESTINY AND ASSIMILATION THEORY Manifest destiny and assimilation theory Alex’s model of assimilation is based on the argument that the minority groups in society should strive to assimilate with the dominant group and culture. The colonized group attains the culture, ideologies, and norms of the dominant group via education and social interaction. Assimilation model is where a minority group adopts the values, norms, beliefs, and institutional systems of the domain culture, which the American culture. The Native Americans were not domain because they had to assimilate to the western civilization (Cullen, Lisle, Downs and Colombo 452). Fredrickson explains the assimilation theory proposed by Alex in the following manner. His explanations are based on ethnic relations between religions and races in the history of the US. He asserts that ethnic hierarchy is inevitable because it forms the first pillar of socialization between distinct ethnic groups. In American context, the essay is based on the view that the American race is the dominant group that holds the privileges and right not provided to other races in the society (Cullen, Lisle, Downs, and Colombo 463). Due to this, they view themselves as the superior to those races whom the rights are denied. The system of racial interaction influenced the blacks and Indian races in American society because the whites deemed themselves superior to these races. Fredrickson continues with his assimilation theory using one-way assimilation model. He argues that the only way that other races such as Indians and blacks can pay the Americans is via adapting or conforming to the American culture. This idea is evident in the manifest destiny doctrine during American expansion mission to the West. For instance, Indian children were taken to school to be taught how to talk, behave, and dress in American society. When slaves were freed, they were also required to conform to the American culture (Cullen, Lisle, Downs, and Colombo 473). Fredrickson further breaks down the assimilation theory into cultural pluralism. This theory is distinct from the one-way assimilation theory that allows the dominant culture to accept the differences that exist among cultures. Cultural pluralism requires that each culture should be respected and that the differences that exist among cultures should be legitimate in those cultures. Fredrickson discuses the theory of separatism in groups by arguing that minority groups should be autonomous, independent and completely separated from the dominant or majority group (Cullen, Lisle, Downs and Colombo 479). Cultural pluralism is the most effective theory because it gives room to people to retain their own culture or ethnic identities without conforming to cultures of other dominant groups. Fredrickson explanation offers a way forward on how social groups can come together and live in unity. These assertions are evident in the manifest destiny and Americas’ expansion to the West. Further, cultural pluralism is demonstrated in the manner in which Native Americans were treated. Americans separated from other groups and followed their own western culture. Due to this, many Americans believed that they had the responsibility of spreading democratic ideals to other parts of the world. During their expansion, the Americans excluded groups with cultural differences that were characterized with prejudice and paternalism. This reality made the Americans realized themselves, and their role in the world. The manifest destiny doctrine was the idea that established the United States of America as a nation. Manifest destiny was an idea that influenced American policy in the twentieth century (The Great Nation of Futurity 428). The concept was the motivation behind the tremendous and rapid expansion of America into the West from the East. The idea of manifest destiny was promoted in poster, newspapers, and via the media. The idea of manifest destiny was not an official government policy but it led to enactment and passage of policies such as the Homestead Act, which in turn motivated colonization of the West and acquisition of territories in Spain. More so, it played a vital part in the American thought of 1800s. On the other hand, the manifest destiny had its negative impact in that during the American expansion mission many people died especially Mexicans and Indians in order for America to own the land it has. It involved bloody war such as the Mexican-American war. Cultural pluralism illustrates the importance of maintaining a different organizational, behavioral, and cultural feature as an efficient way to deal with discrimination in society. During America’s expansion, cultural assimilation occurred in that Native Americans were forced to adapt to new ways of living. An American newspaper editor and politician John O’Sullivan was the first person to use the term manifest destiny when he was writing about the proposed annexation of Texas. He stated that the American manifest destiny was to dominate and over-spread the continent. Through this expansion, America could be recognized economically, socially and politically as a world superpower. O’Sullivan stated that America was chosen by God to play the role of expanding westward and establishing civilization. The doctrine of manifest destiny held that it was the role of America to spread democratic institutions and liberty to other parts of the world. The main underlying aspect of this American mission was a strong feeling of racial and cultural superiority. The Anglo-Saxon America stressed that they had the right to spread to the West while bringing them ideas of Protestantism and self-government (The Great Nation of Futurity 426) Cultural pluralism provides a roadmap for a unified and just society because people are in a position to build and rebuild their ethnic identities as illustrated in the manifest destiny and the America’s expansion to the West, and how the Native Americans were treated. For instance, the Native Americans were separated by Americans and via events, they were coerced to adapt to Western culture. Americans thought that it was their roles to civilize the world by spreading democratic tenets to enable Native Americans and other people of the world to rule themselves (Lubragge http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/manifest-destiny/manifest-destiny---the-philosophy-that-created-a-nation.php). However, they keep out the people with cultures different from theirs as a result, the Native Americans established their own cultural identities and realities. Assimilation can be applied in gender identity in the sense that during marriages, a woman is assimilated in her husband’s family where she is expected to live according to the values and norms of her husband’s family. In this relationship, the assimilation theory applies in the sense that the woman is required to adjust to new way of living. The woman’s world has to transform to adapt to new environment. When she is assimilated in her husband’s family, she is in a position to create her own self-evident truths and reality. As part of assimilation, the husband accepts a woman into marriage family, as a friend and a lifetime partner, therefore, a woman is expected to adapt to her husband’s lifestyle in order for the assimilation process to be complete. This is because in such a context, the husband’s lifestyle is the domain while the woman’s lifestyle is not domain. The woman comes to understand how her husband feels, what he says, and the implication of the words he says. Bibliography Cullen, Colombo, Lisle, Bonnie, Downs, Douglas and Colombo, Gary. Rereading America, 8th Edition. New York: Bedford, 2010. Lubragge, Michael. Manifest Destiny: The Philosophy that Created a Nation. n.d. Web. 11 Nov.2012. The Great Nation of Futurity. The United States Democratic Review, 6.23 (1839):426-430. Read More