By: Aggatha Hingst

Era Page Links

settler colonialism

Gilded age

Progressive Era

Roaring twenties.

The Depression-era

WWII Era

Cold war Era

Civil Rights Era

The recent past

The Present

Settle Colonialism 1877-1971

The historical era of Settler Colonialism was after the Civil War and this event encouraged migration toward the West. With migration came catastrophic events such as harmful ideologies (manifest destiny), assimilation (“Civilize the West”), land disputes (Homestead Act), economic changes (bison, railroad), and more. While white settlers seemed to be advancing, while Natives were left in disarray by the changes white settlers brought.

Gast, John. “American Progress.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Progress

Settler Colonialism, 1877-1893

Helen Hunt Jackson published “a Century of Dishonor” in 1881 to “expose” the United States government and white settlers on their injustices to the Native people, to the American people. Helen Hunt talks about how cruelty has found its way into every Natives life due to greed, arrogance and more. She points out a very important topic of tales that have been told about frontier life and of “Indian warfare” and how these stereotypes will go on for generations and the ideology of “civilization” will be ingrained in the average mind. She speaks of how little the government could do now to repair the damage that has been done to the Native people. With this in mind she tells readers of what things should not be done so that we can start attempting to right the wrongs. These four things that should not be done are cheating, breaking promises, robbing and refusing to uphold the Native people’s rights “of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Until these things cease to happen, we cannot possibly fully move forward.

Helen Hunt Jackson, A Century of Dishonor: A Sketch of the United States Government’s Dealings with Some of the Indian Tribes (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881), 336-342. Available online via Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/centuryofdishono00jackrich).

Settler Colonialism, 1877-1893

Helen’s article speaks directly about the idea of the frontier being “civilized” which is the idea of “Manifest Destiny” and “Civilize the west.” Both of these ideologies believe that inhabitants of the west need to assimilate to Anglo-American traditions. Helen speaks on this by talking about how tales of the frontier way of life perpetuate negative thoughts and stereotypes of Natives. She points out how these ideas can go on for generations. Helen published this in 1881 and during this time, Natives were still going through a vast number of struggles due to white settlers and the U.S government. Three of these issues were the purposeful extinction of bison to destabilize Native life, by 1880 only a few hundred bison remained in the frontier. Assimilation attempts and boarding schools were still around, the last boarding school closed in 1970. And then there is the westward expansion, which was still being encouraged, this shows because six years later comes the Dawes General Allotment Act which encourages moving west and building a life and tries to decrease land that Natives own. In Helens writing though I see more of a focus on Assimilation.

Gilded Age 1877-1900

“The protectors of our industries,” New York, 1883. (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Divison) https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/anti-corporate-cartoons-ca-1900

During the Gilded Age, we see new ideologies such as Social Darwinism, Protestant Individualism, and the American Dream. The Second Revolution at the end of the 1800s brings new advances but also new challenges. Immigration and urbanization became big and led to more working people in factories, including children, where regulations were pretty much non-existent. This led to workers fighting for their rights by organizing strikes like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. Both immigration and urbanization led to cities building tenement houses that were unregulated, overpopulated, had no ventilation, and killed both tenants and the people building them. Immigration brought on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which banned Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. The Gilded Age was also full of corruption by the rich, who wanted to stay rich. This period made the rich, richer and the poor, extremely poor.

Gilded Age 1877-1900

Jacob A. Riis wrote an excerpt in New York, in 1902 called “The Battle with the Slum.” Riis talks about the conditions of the “slums,” particularly the tenement housing that were built for the working-class people. He talks about how these tenements had no ventilation, were overcrowded, had barely any lighting, and were ridiculously unsanitary for a time when Cholera was an issue. Riis also tells readers that these tenements are built so high, so close together that it makes alleyways narrower and that this is a breeding ground for illness. Riis's purpose for writing this is so that citizens who have not experienced this are aware of what’s going on, he also was calling out men who profit from these unsafe tenements, specifically a man named Buddensiek.

Excerpt from Ch. 1: Battling Against Heavy Odd in Jacob A. Riis, “The Battle with the Slum,”

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1902 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28228/28228-h/28228-h.htm

Gilded Age 1877-1900

In Riis’s writing, we see a lot of ideologies coming into play. First is Social Darwinism, because the people who were living in these tenements were in extreme poverty, but people believed that if they couldn’t get themselves out of this situation, they didn’t have enough drive to succeed, which in short is “survival of the fittest”. This also ties into Protestant Individualism where people believed that you could get yourself out of the slums, basically a mentality of “nobodies making you stay,” when that is indeed very false. Also, people who lived in these conditions were the working class, so the “American dream,” (if you work hard, you can become rich) was another ideology people fed into without seeing that the point is, these people were working hard, and they still couldn’t afford anything. During this period, many things were still happening such as living through the Second Revolution in the late 1800s and the consequences of that, which are, urbanization (people came to the city and moved into tenement housing), immigration (which brought on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882), and behind the scenes workers were organizing to fight for their rights. In Riis’s writing, we see evidence of urbanization and immigration. Working people moving into the city moved into tenement housing and these people were usually immigrants.

Klein, Christopher. History.com. January 27, 2020 https://www.history.com/news/gilded-age-corruption-corporate-wealthhttps://www.history.com/news/gilded-age-corruption-corporate-wealth

Progressive Era 1890-1920

During the Progressive Era America established itself as a powerful country, but behind the scenes people in America were fighting for basic rights. We have Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised black men and segregation laws that effected black men, women and children. We have women fighting for their right to vote and trying to take back their autonomy. We see America becoming an imperialist country by getting into wars with the Spanish and the Philippines, which leads to some Americans fighting back against this. Americans famous issues with the Mexican border began and the government got involved in regulating migration into the U.S from Mexico. Towards the end of this Era America gets involved in WWI against Germany and Austria-Hungary, which in the end would later heavily influence WWII.

Progressive Era 1890-1920

David Dorado Romo, Ringside Seat to a Revolution, An Underground Cultural History of El Paso and Juarez: 1893-1923 (Cinco Puntos Press, 2005) https://borderlandsnarratives.utep.edu/images/Readings/Ringside-to-a-Revolution.pdf

On June 17th 1916, mayor of El Paso Texas, Tom Lea sent this letter to the U.S Surgeon General Hon Rupert Blue, to tell him of his worries about the Mexicans coming into El Paso from the border. He wanted the U.S Government to quarantine Mexicans coming into El Paso to avoid a typhus epidemic. Tom Lea has a bias that the Mexican people are dirty and infested with disease, which in reality, was not true.

Progressive Era 1890-1920

Jim crow laws and segregation were still prevalent in this time, in 1896 the Plessy Vs. Ferguson case decided on “separate but equal.” Jim Crow strengthened segregation by putting up numerous barriers for black men who wanted to vote. Such as poll taxes, literacy tests and the grandfather clause. Eugentics through this time was also a popular ideology which promotes people seen as the ideal race to have more babies so that certain characteristic would prevail. Which comes from the nativist ideology because people were fearful that immigrants would take over the U.S. While there where many things happening during this time these are the ideas I see as relating to Tom Lea. He very clearly thought little of other races. The ideologies of the time seem to influence this hate of immigrants or none Anglo-Americans. If these ideas hadn’t been so popular, Tom Lea would have no reason to believe that Mexicans where any less clean than any other race.

Roaring Twenties 1920-1929

The Roaring Twenties was the start of America’s love for consumerism. We see advertisements becoming popular in mainstream America and radio jumping on the advertising train too. The New Negro Movement started in 1916-1970, Black Americans started seeing themselves in a different light and fighting for social and political equality. The era of the New Women began with the 19th Amendment which allowed women to vote. We see more women working outside of the homes, delaying starting families and beginning to get higher education. Prohibition came along with the 18th Amendment which prohibited alcohol smuggling and speakeasies. The Tulsa Race Massacre happened in 1921 when a white mod raided a Black community, murdered hundreds, and destroyed families' homes and livelihoods. The Scopes Trial happened in 1925 in Tennessee when a high school teacher wanted to teach about evolution. Last but not least in 1924 a firm border patrol was developed. All around the Roaring Twenties was a fever dream and this is why it soon came crashing down.

Roaring Twenties 1920-1929

Hiram Evans on the “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism” (1926). http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/hiram-evans-on-the-the-klans-fight-for-americanism-1926/

In March 1926 Hiram Evans tells America about the values of the Ku Klux Klan. He says the Klan slogan is “Native, white, Protestant supremacy.” The Klansman believed that any betrayal of America was treason, and that race pride should be extremely important to Americans… (white Americans), and breeding with other races is bad. With that being said, they also believe “in the greatest possible diversity and individualism within the limits of the American spirit,” if one thing is for sure, these Klansmen were skilled in irony. The Klansman believed that whites were superior EVERYWHERE, not just in America. So, these Klansmen will make sure to fight to stay alive and defeat the “Aliens,” “The Klansman believes that the whites will not become slaves, and he does not intend to die before his time….” Protestant religion is dear in a Klansmen’s heart because “without it America could never have been created and without it she cannot go forward.” I feel Hiram Evans was doing this because he wanted to get the word out about the KKK and used this as possible recruitment for “respectable Americans.”

Roaring Twenties 1920-1929

Hiram Evans is full of popular ideologies from his time. Hiram tells readers that the Ku Klux Klan are of devout protestant fate (religious fundamentalism). Hiram believes that the white race is superior and that the Ku Klux Klan will protect the white race from the “Aliens” (Nativism). Hiram believed that white people breeding with other races has been proven to be bad and that interbreeding has only “improved men” (Eugenics).

During 1926, when Hiram wrote this, we had The New Negro Movement which started in 1916-1970, I bet this ruffled some of Hiram’s feathers. The Tulsa Race Massacre that happened in 1921, where a white mob destroyed and murdered people in a Black community. Then we had the Scoped Trial in 1925 because a high school teacher named John Scopes taught about evolution. Much more was taking place during this time but relating to Hiram, these are the most prevalent. In Hiram’s paper we mostly see ideologies being portrayed, not certain events. Although we can guess than he disproved of the New Negro Movement and was very much aware of it, and aware of the Tulsa Race Massacre. These events could have been in his mind while writing a paper about how the Ku Klux Klan is just trying to save America from at that point, everything.

The Depression Era 1930-1939

The Depression Era 1930-1939 was a devastating time for the American people, but from it, we see a shift in the way we view the role of our government. President Herbert Hoover was an advocate of the popular ideology of Laissez-faire. This was the idea that Americans through hard work could get through hard times without the assistance of the federal government. Soon the American people realized this approach wasn't working and they needed a new leader. In the 1932 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt won and implemented the ideology of Social Welfare. This is the idea that the government should assist with economic hardships. FDR put in place New Deals (1933-1935) that put people to work and gave America the Social Security Act, National Labor Relations Act, and the Works Progress Administration. We see the Dust Bowl of the 1930s causing a huge migration, which caused a series of issues. Then we have the horrid Mexican Repatriation that still has lasting effects on Mexican Americans and immigrants today. Jim Crow was still going on through the Depression and songs like “Stange Fruit” by Billie Holiday and the creation of “Green Books” amplified the reality of this issue. We also see during this time that crime and violence have switched in the American mind. Robbers and criminals who were previously seen as evil were now seen as “sticking it to the man.”

The Depression Era 1930-1939

Lester Hunter, “I’d Rather Not Be on Relief” (1938)

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/23-the-great-depression/lester-hunter-id-rather-not-be-on-relief-1938/

In 1938, Lester Hunt sang a song that encompassed a lot of Americans' realities during this time. Families barely had enough money to feed their family, to stay housed or clothed. While this is only a short excerpt of the song, deeper in we see Lester talk about working on farms for low pay and farmers saying: “You gypsy workers Can live on a buck a day.” This infers that Lester comes from a traveling community possibly. But living off a dollar a day during the Depression times was not rare, but it was a horrible reality. At the end of the song he says: “I've Joined the C.I.O.” The C.I.O. is the Congress of Industrial Unions that was founded in 1935 for workers' rights and higher wages.

The Depression Era 1930-1939

During this time economic ideologies became very popular such as social welfare, which is the idea that the federal government should help its citizens during economic hardships. Another popular economic ideology was Laissez-faire. This is the idea that the federal government should not intervene and should let the local governments ease issues of economic hardships. Of course, the ideologies we have seen through past eras have not disappeared such as nativism, and racism and we even see that eugenics was used during the Depression as being seen as “killing weaklings.” In this source, we see some nativism as I pointed out before. The farmer says: “You gypsy workers Can live on a buck a day.” The farmer is implying that a gypsy worker should be able to live off such little means. I didn’t point out classism before, but it is likely some people during the Depression were better off than the others and Lester points this out by saying: “We go around all dressed in rags While the rest of the world goes neat.” A huge historical event that impacted Lester was the Dust Bowl in the 1930s which is why he left for California, like so many other people at that time. FDR’s second New Deal in 1935 came along with the Social Security Act, National Labor Relations Act, and Works Progress Administration. We see a reference to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) firsthand in Lester’s song: “I’d rather not be on the rolls of relief, Or work on the W.P.A.”

WWII Era 1939-1945

WWII turned the U.S. around after the Depression Era. Americans got to work on helping the front lines from home and this helped the war effort and economy. During the war we had men fighting for the U.S but there were also many things going on back home. After Pearl Harbor FDR on February 19th, 1942 signed for the relocation of people with Japanese ancestry into “relocation centers,” but we know them as internment camps. Families had to live in poor conditions, packed together with no privacy, all on the suspicion of being “spies.” Rationing became a huge thing and “victory gardens” were extremely popular. The Bracero Program allowed people from Mexico to come and work on farms while the men were away fighting, but the conditions these men lived in were unfair. Then we have the Atomic Bomb being created and tested and then later used. And the Zoot Suits Riots. These were acts of racial violence disguised by the distian of certain clothing.

WWII Era 1939-1945

Aiko Herzig-YoshinagaInterview, March 20, 1994, Courtesy of Emiko and Chizuko Omori, via Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Your paragraph text

Emiko Omori (EO) in 1994 conducted an interview with Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga (AH) about her experiences in 1942 in a Japanese internment camp. Aiko and her family after the attack on Pearl Harbor were forced to move to a Japanese internment camp. Aiko and her family went to a camp called Manzanar in the California desert. During this time Japanese Americans and immigrants were seen as a threat to America

WWII Era 1939-1945

During war times we see new ideologies come into play such as fascism, which is a state that promotes a supreme power (authoritarian leader or dictator). Of course, on the opposite end, we have Anti-Fascism which opposes fascism and accepts different political ideologies. Another popular ideology is isolationism which is the idea that the U.S should stay out of other countries' conflicts. Obviously, in war times there were many people who wanted to stay out of war. And of course, we have the re-occurring ideologies such as racism and nativism. In this source, we don't see any of the new ideologies come up, but we do see those re-occurring ideologies of Japanese /Chinese Americans and immigrants come up. The U.S. has had a long-standing underlying racist tone with people of Asian ancestry for a while at this point, as we have seen previously with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This shows blatant racism because even Japanese Americans had to endure these camps. And Nativism because the U.S was so fearful that people of Japanese ancestry were “spies” that they put them in camps, all because they weren’t Anglo-American, and just happened to be from a country that had problems with the U.S. During the time Aiko is being interviewed on, she was in the beginning of the U.S entering the war. She even heard the news herself about Pearl Harbor. Also, the Bracero Program was happening (1942-1964). The U.S. let farmworkers from Mexico come down and work in fields while the men were away at war. The Atomic Bomb was also being made and tested (1939-1945). Riots over clothes and race were happening all over Los Angeles (Zoot Suit Riots). In this source, we only see the effects of Pearl Harbor and Aiko’s experience.

Cold War Era 1945-1989

The Cold War Era was a time of fear and uncertainty for Americans. After WWII a new fear erupted in the U.S., Communism. The “Red Scare” is a term for Communism that was tied to Senator Joesph McCarthy who was a known Communist” exposer. Communism was watched for in the media and government. Nuclear war was feared and safety precautions were implemented such as the “Duck and Cover” for school children. As world powers competed the space race began and took off. Amid this fear, rock n roll flourished during this time with famous idols like Elvis beginning his career. But with threats of war and U.S. involvement in foreign affairs, we also see people at home fighting back and speaking out for peace.

Cold War Era 1945-1989

In 1950 Joseph McCarthy talks the Cold War and the threat of Communism to America. He brings attention to the fight against communist atheists and the Christian American people. McCarthy wants citizens to know that the threat against communists isn’t coming from outside sources, it is coming from inside the U.S. government. He says that tackling this issue will be up to the American people.

Cold War Era 1945-1989

During this time people were in a war mindset. The thought of a nuclear war breaking out, being taken over by communists, or getting sent away to fight if you were a man where heavy on the average American during this time. During this time the “Red Scare” was very prominent since McCarthy was tied to the term “McCarthyism” which was a campaign to get rid of communism in the U.S. During this time spies for foreign countries were being uncovered in the United States which raised paranoia and worry. Even film companies were being persecuted or investigated for having “Communist sentiments reflected” in films. But also as McCartchy's speeches and “information” on communism became more broadcast Americans soon saw the communism threat as exaggerated. Voices started rising of people who were anti-war and pro-peace.

Civil Rights Era 1954-1975

The Civil Rights Era was a time when Americans rose up against injustice in the United States. In this era, we see historic figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. John Lewis, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and more. We see peaceful protests turned into violent riots because of police interference. But still, strong-willed people persevere against violence and verbal hate and keep fighting for equality and equity. While injustices of Black Americans were highlighted during this time we also have farmers, women, LGBTQ+, Disabled, and Native American rights being advocated for. This era is so important to American history because it shows that humanity coming together can make changes in beautiful ways when we stick together. While there are still many injustices in the U.S., this era showed that we have power when connected.

Civil Rights Era 1954-1975

In 1997- 1968 Otto Kerner and 11 other appointed persons to explain the origins of riots and how to prevent them in the future. in cities all over the country where riots had been popular. The Commission of people investigating the riots found that it was based on the separation of race and the needs of marginalized communities not being met. It is also pointed out that White society is at fault for this because they created the segregated systems, maintained them, and condoned them. The recommendations they have for treating all citizens equally and balancing the scale between marginalized communities and white citizens is: to start programs on a scale equal to the dimension of problems, aim these programs for high impact so that the gap between promise and performance is closed and to take on new initiatives and experiments that change the system of failure and agitation than encompasses the ghetto and weakens our society.

Kerner Commission, Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (1968). http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/28-the-unraveling/report-of-the-national-advisory-commission-on-civil-disorders-1968/

Civil Rights Era 1954-1975

During this time common ideologies were race and segregation. These were obviously at the heart of the civil rights movement and why Americans were doing brave advocacy work to fight for their voice in this country. New terms come in during this time which are equality and equity. Equality means that each person is given the same opportunities and resources as everyone else. Equity means that we understand each person is different and requires different resources to flourish, and these needs are met by giving people individualized resources and opportunities for their success. During 1967-1968 some schools were still segregated based on race. Only 6-7 years earlier new policies like desegregated bathrooms, lunch counters, and waiting areas became a thing. 3 to 4 years earlier the violence police inflicted on peaceful protesters in Birmingham took place. Only a couple of years before the investigation, the Watts Riot in California broke out. But in the year 1968 in the Olympics, American sprinters John Carlos, Tommie Smith, and Australian Peter Norman showed the world their Black Power salute. You can see evidence of every riot or police brutality in this source. This source tells us that violence against our citizens will never heal us. And this investigation took place because of events like Birmingham and the Watts Riots. Black Americans were fighting to be heard by a government that was supposed to be helping them, this source points that out.

The Recent Past 1980-2019

The recent past is full of topics that we've seen throughout history. We still see issues with race and immigration with police brutality and new immigration enforcement and still horrible treatment of immigrants. AIDS/HIV caused a massive scare and devastating losses in the LGBTQ community mainly but all Americans were at risk. In the 1990s we see the rise of the World Wide Web that we now rely on heavily today. In 2001 America experienced the national tragedy, 9/11. In 2008 America elected our first Black president Barack Obama. Then in 2016-2019, we see a rise in white supremacy and harmful ideologies. We also see harmful rhetoric toward immigrants due to Donald Trump running for office. We have made progress in some areas, but there is much more progress to be made.

The Recent Past 1980-2019

On July 22, 2004, the National Commission of Terrorist Attacks wrote a report about the origins of 9/11 and America's response. After 9/11, the safety of the U.S. was America's top priority. They talk about a pattern the state goes through after a crisis like 9/11, this consists of giving a lot of national energy to the issue, then later reflection and reevaluation. This includes people evaluating organizations, and their relationship with the government. The Commissions of 9/11 then looked at the threat of terrorism in general and then narrowed it down to 9/11 and al-Qaeda. They explain the extremist ideologies against America perpetuated by groups like al-Qaeda and leaders like Usama Bin Ladin who live in a Muslim state. They rightly point out that while this is true these groups are extremists! Islam is not to be feared and is not to be viewed as anything negative.

The 9/11 Commission Report, “Reflecting On A Generational Challenge” (2004). http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/30-the-recent-past/the-911-commission-report-reflecting-on-a-generational-challenge-2004/

The Recent Past 1980-2019

During this time I believe fear/ hate of Muslims rose because of the small-minded connection people made with Usama Bin Ladin and Muslims. I would say this ideology is under the term stereotyping, based on how you dress or how you look racially. Again this is still a problem today that is extremely small-minded but has had a long-lasting impact. During this time new agencies were being formed in response to the attack such as, the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE

June 2020

The Present 2020-2024

Rosita came into my life at the start of covid. She was a stray that I saw lingering outside my house and I just fell in love with her immediately. I started feeding her cans of spam and then all of a sudden I was making space for her in my basement.

She was my only priority during lockdown and gave me something to focus all my time on. Four years later she is still my biggest baby and I'm so glad she found me.

April 2024

Rositta

MY BABY

Reflection

I think this class was set up great and was really for the student's benefit. The assignments each week were super manageable and enforced learning. I was able to take information in, instead of being overwhelmed by the workload. Our weekly quizzes helped me remember the key points of each era and the project pages helped me deep dive into the era. I think both assignments are very crucial and should be kept. I didn't think anything about this class wasn’t useful. Your lectures were probably the most important as well as your use of Prezi. Prezi is very accessible and well-organized. I will be recommending this class and you as a professor!