Question 1)
Based on this week’s readings, was the Progressive Era an overall collective movement towards reform, or a collection of causes with little that united them? Please provide specific examples to support your conclusion. Answer 1) Although the Progressive Era was certainly host to groups, parties, and individuals that comprised a full or nearly full collection of Progressive ideals, Peter G. Filene's An Obituary for "The Progressive Movement" demonstrated the relative autonomy of each progressive issue from another. All of these issues were alike in their push for some form of change, regulation, or reform in the face of a rapidly industrializing and changing nation. Each of these issues however, was primarily an issue of importance to only a selective group of citizens, with many other progressives either not concerned or simply not in support of the issues of their fellow reformists. In the case of Theodore Roosevelt, arguably one of the most recognizable faces of progressivism, he felt as though he and his fellow progressives were being "hampered" by their colleagues that were by his definition, not truly progressives. Roosevelt specifically called out rural citizens who supported breaking up large businesses rather than restricting them through constraints implemented by the government. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 also revealed major divides amongst progressives showing a clear fault between social and political progressives. The struggle for women's suffrage is a key crack in progressive unity, as many took issue with the expansion of female rights in conflict with their colleagues, hence the late implementation of these reforms. The temperance movement and the later resulting prohibition of alcohol were also extremely controversial amongst many progressives, primarily only receiving significant support from women and heavily religious sects. The examples of a lack of a coherent and united message from progressives are plenty, and although they ultimately were all similar in the underlying impetus of their reform, the multiple plans of adapting to change were fiercely different between such a heterogeneous group of citizens. Question 2) What were some specific successes of the reformers of the Progressive Movement? What were some specific failures? Answer 2) Progressives, after a long struggle finally achieved an expansion of women's rights under the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, granting suffrage to females. Progressives also managed to expand restrictions on monopolies and lessen corrupt relationships between the government and businesses. The expansion of labor rights were also significant, including protection from neglectful child labor practices. Although the temperance movement was ultimately successful in the late prohibition of alcohol through the ratification of the 18th amendment in 1920, it would prove to be an utter failure, creating great controversy and bringing rise to major organized crime. The 18th amendment would ultimately be repealed through the ratification of the 21st amendment. The Progressive Era also did little to address the rights and issues of minority groups such as African Americans who continued to see mounting segregation. Question 3) In the US today, the debate continues about the modernity and humaneness of the death penalty. Most of the world, including almost all industrialized democracies, have fully abolished or do not practice it (click here to see map). Over time, a number of US states have also abolished or are working to abolish the death penalty (click here to see map). Oddly enough, many US states abolished the death penalty in the mid to late 1800s, but later reinstated it. What specific reasons do the authors of “Abolition and Reinstatement of Capital Punishment During the Progressive Era & Early 20th Century” give for the reinstatement of the death penalty in many states in the early 1900s, even though it had previously been abolished? Answer 3) Between the years 1897 and 1917 ten states abolished the death penalty until most reinstated it in the 1930s. The reinstatement of capital punishment came on the tail of the emergence of radical political sects, notably communists, as well as the growing influence and fear of foreigners and minorities following the end of the First World War. In 1907 Governor Hoch of Kansas wrote following the repeal of the death sentence in his state that he would have rather resigned than see the continuation of the practice, arguing that it was relic of "barbarism". This represents the clear moral argument of an era known for its forward thinking. Many supporters of abolition also pointed to the obvious risk of human error in the conviction of those on trial, leading to the killing of innocent men by the state. In many cases juries could have a seeded bias against certain defendants due to their ethnic, cultural, or political qualities. Many of the calls for abolition came at the hand of trials in which this was clear. Notably in 1920, Sacco and Venzetti were executed, despite little compelling evidence due in large part to their Italian heritage and roots in anarchism. Growing lynchings of minorities, through which murder was common became a major issue. Many states felt as though they had sacrificed their power over violent punishment, presenting the idea to some citizens that the only means of true punishment was by the hands of the populus, unfortunately culminating into these acts of public violence without trial. In an attempt to preserve the right to a trial and stop this violence many states resumed the practice of capital punishment. The growth of mass organized crime and its increased violence (due in large part to prohibition) also pushed many citizens to sponsor the reinstatement of the death penalty.
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Violence - Richard Maxwell Brown According to Richard Maxwell Brown, the West's violent element can be best analyzed through the mental attitude of westerners. Such mental qualities included The elimination of English common law, by which one must expend all possible options of escape before using violence as a means of defense in exchange for the principle of no duty to retreat, where by an individual may defend themselves using force in any situation that threatens loss of life of serious harm. This was encompassed within the Code of the West, along with a reckless and violent sense of vengeance. Brown also references the Homestead Ethic, the right to enjoy a homestead without fear of violence, in effect solidifying the right to defend the home. In contrast, the Ethic of Individual Enterprise enabled men of business to use violent measures to ensure the success and security of their business endeavors. Vigilantism was another key principle that promoted a sense of lawless promotion of justice across the West, often with a revolver acting as judge, jury, and executioner. Later Brown discusses the interactions with the Native American population in the West. In general, Brown notes that the Natives primarily attempted to positively interact with the invading whites, but mentions occasional violent raids on towns in which whites were slaughtered. More often than not though, it was whites slaughtering Amerindians. Brown overall supports the idea of a violent American West. How The West Got Wild - Stewart L. Udall Stewart L. Udall on the other hand views Western violence in a different light. In his work How the West Got Wild, Udall explains that the American West was not actually the unruly epicenter of violent bloodbaths that it has been portrayed to be. Although obvious historical exceptions exist, namely the Alamo and O.K. Corral, the picture of a region embattled by gun duels and violent bravados, according to Udall is a result of inflated media coverage and the result of extortion by more modern media such as television and hollywood films. One specific example used by the author is the infamous Dodge City, a supposed hell on earth of lawlessness and violence. Udall explains that there were few years of moderate violence that were simply blown out of proportion by media outlets, which quickly subsided following the implementation of sheriffs and other law entities, but still the violent image of Dodge City persisted as it was an easy story for newspapers. Udall links any major acts of violence as equivalents to modern day gun violence, not as something unique to the West. The Frontier Sheriff's Role in Law and Order - Larry D. Ball Larry D. Ball explains the exceptional importance of lawmen in the American West, particularly the sheriff. Ball explains that the sheriff was simply the most representative figure of government for citizens in the expansive Western territories. The position was one of great prestige in the eyes of the people as sheriffs provided the most direct government services to the people, and the most important: protection, and the enforcement of the law. Other government officials for these territories also often called on Sheriffs for assistance with representing citizens and the needs of the territories. Sheriffs often had to construct and maintain government buildings being the only available government workers in a certain locality. Sheriffs also often had to curb mass violence prominent in many areas of the West in the post Civil War period. Many ex confederates found pay through crime against the prevailing Union. Sheriffs were the local military official as far as alerting the army of major situations of instability, and calling for their assistance. Sheriffs also often had the job of collecting taxes from citizens, a painstaking role. Sheriff's also were responsible for conducting the U.S. census. Quantifying the Wild West - Robert R. Dykstra Robert Dykstra discusses the controversy over how violent the West truly was, explaining that may records and statistics prove above average violence, however he goes on to do an in detail, yet fair investigation into additional statistics that put the American West in a new light. Dykstra explains how authors such as Mark Twain drew an exaggerated violent picture of the west to appeal to urban Eastern citizens. The author then presents contrary accounts from an Army officer detailing a gunslinger travelling two hundred miles to challenge another of equal talent to a duel, strictly over pride and bravado. As also stated by Stewart Udall, Dykstra brings the accounts of the embellishment of violence in Dodge City forward as further evidence of exaggerated violence in the west. Some sources blatantly fabricated stories of murders and lawlessness in and around Dodge City. One investigation into violence in three major Colorado towns concluded a homicide rate of roughly 1.5 murders annually, far less than previous assumptions. The author counters a lack of law enforcement, noting how a murder spike in Texas resulted in a greater law enforcement presence and less tolerance for illegal activities. Dykstra also counters statistics attempted to inflate western murder rates by utilizing the FBI's system of calculating murders per population. This system used to back claims of mass violence, creates inflated numbers due to the great population differences between the late 19th century and modern times. Question 1) According to the authors this week, how violent was the West? What specific evidence do these authors use in their debates about the presence of violence on the American frontier? Richard Brown writes of the West as perceived by most Americans: a tough place, full of tough, violent men who used an understood not written justice system to enforce and maintain order, primarily through violence. Brown gives multiple examples of Western Justice carried out by the individual (see above). Stewart Udall perceives the West's violent nature as a falsehood perpetuated by various media outlets, both during the period and in more recent history. Udall focuses his argument on the relative safety of notoriously dangerous places in the American West. Question 2) According to the authors this week, how has the media incorrectly portrayed the West? Why has it been portrayed this way? Please provide specific examples from the articles in your response. Brown is the main author to analyze for this question. Brown argues that the media found benefit in portraying the West as a place of violence and anarchy, when in actuality it was no such place. Dodge City's misrepresentative title as a bloody city is his primary example. Question 3) What arguments do our authors make about law enforcement and its role in frontier law & order? Using examples from the readings, explore the various layers of frontier law enforcement. How does the role of sheriff differ from your prior thoughts about western lawmen? Larry D. Ball explains how sheriffs in the American West were far more than law enforcement officers, but rather were the embodiment of government on a local scale, fulfilling a grand list of duties and responsibilities. Sheriffs had to collect taxes, represent the needs of citizens to higher government officials, and much more. The role of sheriff was clearly far more tasking and important as a measure of local government than I had previously thought. Question 4) Were Native Americans treated fairly in the US judicial system? Using examples from this week’s readings Brown brings attention to the slaughter of Amerindians at the hands of the white man. Brown also notes while discussing the Ethic of Individual Enterprise, the involuntary seizure of native lands, even those set aside by the U.S. government. In many cases these natives were not given an opportunity by the judicial system and even if were typically shot down without serious review. |
AuthorWelcome to Liam's Blog. Liam is participating in an independent study of history this year part of which requires him to interpret historical arguments. Archives
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