Patrick Peters
History 300
Professor Gullett(and others)
February 15, 2012
The Labor Movement, Women and Progressivism
In the early 1900’s a new political movement arouse in this country called progressivism. Progressivism brought together several diverse groups who had opinions on the issues of the day. 2 of the most prominent were women and the working class. Together that brought about significant change in areas such as work place safety and pay, to community health standards. However of the two groups, the women, were the most important for 2 reasons.
First throughout most of the progressive era they were unable to vote and as such really had no political power. Next the issues the women’s groups fought for cut across most social classes and benefited the entire city, whereas the workers generally had an agenda that narrowly focused to their working conditions and pay.
The 2 case studies by Maureen Flannigan and Shelton Stormquist generally bear this out. The workers of Cleveland did have one advantage, strength in numbers. Once the Cleveland Cental Labor Union unified the labor movement in the 1890’s1, they started to show their muscle. In 1899 the Streetcar Union struck over objectionable work rules.2 That same year the workers in Cleveland came out in force for an INDEPENDENT candidate for Governor. These two events showed the power they had. The local Democratic Party seeing what was going on “moved to decisively recapture its lost constituency.”3 Since their agenda was narrowly based they were able to do so. In the end the workers movement got the reforms they wanted, but as a political class they were absorbed back into the Democratic Party.
To contrast the labor class, the women of Chicago had a broader mission: “…promoting the welfare of the city….”4 The examples cited by the Professor Flannagan include changing and upgrading city sanitation and improving city education. These are issues that appealed to the city as a whole. In addition the women were able to achieve results despite the disadvantage of grappling with the power brokers of the city who in some cases happen to be their husbands.5 While the women of Chicago got the vote for city elections in 1913 many women around the country did not get the vote until 1920. These factors made their achievements much more important.
There is no doubt that the achievements of women and the labor class in the progressive era were important, however studying the 2 representative examples given show that the work of the women had a far broader impact on society as a whole and the advancements they made were quite remarkable given the obstacles that stood in their way.
Bibliography
1) Stromquist, Shelton. The Crucible of Class:Cleveland Politics and the Orginis of Municipal
Reform in the Progressive Era. Journal of Urban History 1997 23:123. as referenced on
http://juh.sagepub.com/content/23/2/192.citation N.D. Electronic. 15 February 2012.
Pg. 197.
2) ibid pg. 200.
3) ibid pg. 209.
4) Flanagan, Maureen. Gender and Urban Political Reform: The City Club and the Woman’s City Club
of Chicago in the Progressive Era. The American Historical Review, Vol. 95. No. 4, October
1990. as referenced on http://www.jstor.org/pss/2163477. N.D. Electronic. 15 February
2012.Pg. 1032.
5) ibid pg. 1035.
6) Suffrage. Encyclepedia of Chicago. Chicago: Chicago Historical Society. 2005. as cited on
http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1217.html N.D. 15 February 2012.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Political Cartoons
Patrick Peters
History 300
Professor Simpson(and others)
February 10, 2012
This cartoon came out in 1864 before the Presidential election. It depicts Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States of America(USA) and candidate of the National Union Party for President, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America(CSA) and in the middle is George McClellan. McClellan was a former commander of the Union Army, who was dismissed by Lincoln and then became the Democratic candidate for President in 1864.
At the time we had been in the middle of a Civil War for 3 years. There was a sizeable faction in the country that thought we should let the rebellious states back into the union with the same status they had when they left. The Democratic Party came for that cause in 1864. If fact it’s platform stated that “…at the earliest practicable moment, peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal Union of the States.”2 McClellan in his acceptance speech to the Democratic Party even went further: “…that when any one State is willing to return to the Union is should be received at once with a full guarantee of all its constitutional rights.”3
As the cartoon suggests, at the time, the CSA still wanted to remain separated. Lincoln on the other hand had changed position. At the start of the war he wanted restoration of the union. It was only later on that he came to the conclusion that only with the elimination of slavery could the rebel states be admitted back into the USA. That is what his was position was when this cartoon was published.
The author of the cartoon obviously felt the same way as McClellan did. Notice the map, it is torn but not completely, so the author thought that while damage was done it was not irreparable. Also notice how McClellan is grabbing Lincoln and Davis trying to pull them and the Union back together. One thing that I find quite interesting is that McClellan is portrayed in his military uniform, being on a peace platform I would have thought the suit of a statesman would have been more approiate.
In the end McClellan, his party and their position did not have enough to strength to win the election. He lost 55-45 in the popular vote and 212-21 in the electoral college.4
Bibliography
1) The True Issue or ‘That’s What’s the Matter’” Harpers Weekly. 1864. As cited on
(http://elections.harpweek.com/1864/cartoon-1864-Medium.asp?UniqueID=38&Year=1864). 10 February 2012.
2) 1864 Platform. Democratic Party. 1864. As cited on The American Presidency Project. (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29578#axzz1m0U8Iz00). N.d. 10 February 2012. As found Democratic Party Platforms:"Democratic Party Platform of 1864," August 29, 1864.
3) McClellan, George. Letter Accepting the Democratic Presidential Nomination. 8 September 1864. Orange, NJ: George McClellan. As cited on (http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-
generals/mcclellan/mclellan-1864-democratic-nomination.htm). N.D. 10 February 2012.
4) Electoral College of 1864. US Archives. As found on (http://www.archives.gov/federal-
register/electoral-college/votes/1853_1869.html#1864) N.D. 10 February 2012.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
My View on the Human Rights
Patrick Peters
History 300
Professor Wright(and others)
February 5, 2012
The Rights of Humans
Civil Rights, Political Rights, Social Rights, whatever you call then they have dominated intellectual discussion for centuries. In his essay, TH Marshall spoke of the 3 major eras in rights thinking: “in the 18th century we started to see civil rights, in the 19th century we started to see political rights and in the 20th and 21st century we have started to see the concept of social rights”1.
Marshall is correct in 2 out of 3 of his arguments. We have our civil and political rights. They were obtained through war and protest, granted through the passage of legislation or the boldness of an individual judge. While all these rights come with responsibilities and limits they are generally accepted in today’s society. Civil rights did arrive in the late 18th century. It was here where our rights are defined. Then in the 19th century political rights ensured that civil rights were expanded to include everyone, women, minorities etc.
That leaves social rights. Here I most emphatically disagree with Mr. Marshall. Marshall advocates for just about equal everything. Education, Healthcare and redistribution of wealth are the examples cited2. Sounds good but don’t be fooled. Using Marshall’s ideas, government would be there to determine how much you can use your rights. Leading us back to a top down totalitarian form of government, which was what we trying to get away from. Civil and Political Rights work on the primis of a people first government working from the bottom up. Finally, one of Marshall’s arguments is the redistribution of wealth. Isn’t this the taking of property, yet one of our rights it to have property?3
Social rights to me consists of one question: equal opportunities or equal outcomes. Mr. Marshall is proposing equal outcomes. Everyone should be the same in everything. This sounds good in theory, but in practice it would be a disaster. The only way to ensure this practice is for the government to regulate everything about human life. I am reminded of the Kurt Vonnegut story Harrison Bergron. The story starts as follows: “The year was 2081 and everybody was fully equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal in every way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anyone else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.”4 This is an extreme example I know, but it illustrates the absurdity of the position Mr. Marshall espouses. It also runs counter to the very notion of human rights. With equal outcomes you have a government ensuring that you can only use your rights, but only so far. My understanding of rights is we can use them as we wish, within limits, free of government interference.
I advocate the idea of equal opportunities. The government is there to guarantee your equal opportunity to use your rights as you wish within certain accepted limits and is there to arbitrate when a complaint is made that someone infringed upon your rights.
Bibliography
1) Marshall, T. H., & Bottomore, T. B. Citizenship and social class. London; Concord, Mass.: Pluto
Press. 1992. As cited in Wright, J.K. ASU Lecture Notes Unit 4 Module 4 Blog Topic. Arizona State University. 2011. (http://ecollege.asu.edu/re/DotNextLaunch.asp?courseid=6281034&userid=11422172&sessionid=d69b891d0d&tabid=Z+D41S4P3fBNGo2nChSF31VKG1fEaBB0GVWsIS1L7FAhtJzfbssiHkxiu/xBqevJ&sessionFirstAuthStore=true&macid=j3+A5224d+dDdSxX66sECnFTAEhrSrGg5AMlXPIJeSGIbeKHjYRq3Jw+0vMXlEPe19uml1kGtyb9brCIO1SGLO+5upW8BpL6jTMs3YMuv1VX4HZe8nrSVk8a2oHGiPtUkRn5GP8g3I0VVx4iOj53JWViODgWGw7bx8vQwqyiSQop+mznCSS4jBPHmVp89Px2Gqj82v5KmQiWXH/QnFlFyts5GRetXrm6OJazakHg2gY=). Electronic. 5 February 2012.
2) ibid
3) La Constitution Francaise, Presentee au Roi par l’Assemblee Nationale. 3 September 1791. Paris: Del’imprimerie de Baudoin. 1791. As cited in Hunt, Lynn. Ed. The French Revolution and Human Rights A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 1996. Pg. 78.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Case for Equiano being born in Africa
Patrick Peters
Professor Barnes(and others)
History 300
January 29, 2012
A Case for the Birth of Olaudah Equiano in Africa
In recent years there has been an abundance of discussion about the birthplace of Olaudah Equiano(Equiano). There are good arguments on both sides of the debate. The documentary evidence of Professor Vincent Caretta as presented on the website edited by Brycchan Carey is excellent, but each side’s arguments are essentially the same with only a few words changed. The most compelling argument accuses him of plagiarizing the narrative of life in Africa and the middle passage.1 However as the same website points out he did reference those works so deception is unlikely, much more likely is he was using the other works to help fill in the memory of a young child.2
However one point is undisputed by both sides. By the time Equiano wrote his book he had become a devoutly religious man. Absent any indication that his religious conviction was not genuine, it is very unlikely he would deliberately lie at that time in his life.
My reading of the narrative paints a portrait of a man whose religion devotion deepened as he got older. The overall impression given was someone who was passively religious when younger. He would talk about religion when asked, go to church when he had the chace, ask God’s help when he was in a jam and in general live a good life. It seems that his encounter in the Arctic changed him. When he arrived back in London he resolved to “… work out my own salvation.”3 His encounter with the Rev. Mr. P--- also had a profound effect on him. The Reverend told him: “…one sin unatoned for was as sufficient to dam a soul as one leak was to sink a ship.”4 Equiano was advised to “…to read the scriptures, and hear the word preached, not to neglect fervent prayer to God, who has promised to hear the supplications of those who seek him….”5 This conversion of his faith led him to preach and try to bring closer to God a member of the Musquito Indians6, trying to convert a Spanish Catholic Priest7 and finally trying to become ordained a Priest in the Church of England so he could goto Africa to preach and convert the natives.8 These are the acts of a pious man who is trying not only to save himself but others and to promote his cause. His book was written to convince other of his beliefs. Lying to advance his cause would not be in his nature nor in the best interests of his cause, as also pointed out in the website9.
While the facts in this case promote good arguments on both sides, the undisputed fact is as he got older he became more devout showing that he was very unlikely to lie then and as such he was born in Africa.
Bibliography
1) Carey, Bryccan. Editor. Where was Olaudah Equiano Born: (And Why
Does it Matter). Bryccan Carey. http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/nativity.htm. 29 June 2010. Web. 29 January 2012.
2) Ibid
3) Allison, Robert J. editor. The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano
Written by Himself with Related Documents. 2nd Edition.Boston:
Bedford/St. Martins. 2007. Book. Pg. 166.
4) Ibid pg. 174.
5) Ibid pg. 175.
6) Ibid pgs. 177-178.
7) Ibid pg. 175.
8) Ibid pgs. 200-203.
9) Carey, Bryccan. Editor. Where was Olaudah Equiano Born: (And
Why Does it Matter). http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/nativity.htm. 29 June 2010. Web. 29 January 2012.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Religion and the voyages of Christopher Columbus
Religion played a central role in defining exploration for the Spanish monarchs. It defined when the time was right for undertaking the journey and it defined who they choose to lead the expedition.
Columbus was first brought to the court in 1487 to propose his journey. The crown at the time turned him down. They were involved in a holy war with the Muslims and they wanted to retake Granada before they did any exploration(Simcox pg. 12). However once that was done they immediately gave approval for the voyage. The commissioning papers for the voyage do not include references to religion or missionary works(Simcox pgs. 13-14). However those tasks were on Columbus’ mind as he notes in his log that the natives “…were eager to convert to Christianity.” This shows that on some level the thought was there and since the Monarchs would read the log they would see the entry. Later voyages included clerics in the company.
The next step was to approve the commander of the expedition. Being religious themselves the Monarchs would have wanted a religious man to lead. They did allowed Columbus to lead. If they did not believe he was religious they could have taken his idea and chosen another man to command. Columbus, as de las Casas said “…there can be no doubting his Catholic faith nor that he was very devout.”(1) I can also point to a letter from Columbus to the Monarchs(2). Look at the text, how often does he invoke scripture to augment what he is saying. It shows first that he is devout as de las Casas reported, but also that he knew how devout the Monarchs were and that religion played a part in the decision they made regarding his exploits.
Finally let’s look at what happened after the first voyage. Columbus landed in Portugal. The Portuguese king protested the voyage and said the Spanish had trespassed on his turf. When did the Spanish Monarchs turn to for support, the Church, in the form of the Pope, who was brought in to help settle the matter(Simcox pg. 20). This in turn led to a treaty between the 2 Monarchs, but to turn to the Pope first showed that the Monarchs wanted religious support for their mission.
_______________________
Work Cited
Symcox, Geoffrey and Sullivan, Blair. Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise
of the Indies: A brief History with Documents Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s
2005.
Documents
1) De La Casa, Bartolomé. On Columbus’s Appearance, Education and
Character. in Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the
Indies: A brief History with Documents. Symcox, Geoffrey and Sullivan Blair.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005. 46-49.
2) Columbus, Christopher. Undated Letter to Fernando and Isabel. in
Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the
Indies: A brief History with Documents. Symcox, Geoffrey and Sullivan Blair.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005. 51-54.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
introduction
My name is Patrick Peters. I am an accounting clerk in Seattle who is studying history at ASU online. This is my first semester here. I have always loved history and look forward to advancing my knowledge in the coming semesters.
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