American History

The realization of fairness and justice in the American community has been a long struggle since the nation gained its independence in the late 18th century. Segregation based on race, color, beliefs, political orientation, and nationality of origin were among the common practices in the mid 1900s even long after independence and ratification of the American constitution. There are many people whose influence during the 1950s remains outstanding up to date. One of these is the key players during the case trail, conviction, and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. According to the available information on the case, the execution of the couple was significantly driven by the influence of the espionage practice propagandas which were widely spread by Senator Joseph McCarthy. This essay is an explanation of the influence of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and the role of Roy Cohn (chief counsel) and Senator Joseph McCarthy during and after the case.

The arrest, prosecution, conviction, and later execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg in 1953 for espionage brought into question the effectiveness of the American criminal justice system during the 1950s. According to available information, the claims connecting Ethel and Julius Rosenberg with espionage spy activities to the Soviet Union remained to be an issue of controversy among the Americans. It is rightly claimed that the speeded conviction of the couple were a direct result of the economic and supremacy rivalry between the soviet union and the American nation due to the cold war. The case brought into light the need for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system to reflect the underlying provisions of the American constitution.  It is claimed that although Julius Rosenbergs involvement in the purported spy activities have not been fully qualified, most of his well identified associates like David Greenglass and Morton Sobell never received such harsh sentence.
The charges brought against Ethel Rosenberg were evidently a fabrication by the key players in the case to force Julius Rosenberg into admitting and naming his associates. The fact that she assisted in the spying activities were indeed confirmed illogical clearly from the case testimony that was given by the wife of David Greenglass. Despite this, later interviews with both David Greenglass and Morton Sobell have clearly proved her innocence in the whole incidence. David Greenglass particularly confirmed that his wife is the one who assisted Julius with the atomic bomb sketches but not Ethel. Another commonly claimed reason for the conviction of the couple is their affiliation to the communist party of the time. Therefore, the case of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg was influential in the 1950s as it signified the impact of the cold war on the liberty and equality of the American citizens before the law. The couple was denied their constitutional right to a fair and just trail simply because of their association with communism which was perceived as an enemy of the American nation. However, their execution no doubt set a new phase for the streamlining of the political and criminal justice conducts in our nation.

Roy Cohn (chief counsel) and Senator Joseph McCarthy were a source of bad social influence in the American community during the 1950s. Senator Joseph McCarthy was widely known for his fight against communism in the community. However, in his endeavors, McCarthy engaged in propagandas about espionage activities being conducted by members of the communist party. The popularity of McCarthy in the 1950s is closely attributed to his condemnation of the government for respecting the right of expression for its citizens who were in support of a communism form of government. The conviction of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg marked a strong step in his war against communism as he used this to intensify his witch-hand and threatening of communist members. This had the implication that McCarthy was out to mitigate the respect of the right to expression and free association of some minorities in the American community. Since his main target was the communist advocates, he is no doubt a negative influence who promoted segregation practices in the American community during the 1950s.

On the other side, Roy Cohn was a driving force to the conviction of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Being the chief counsel, Roy is believed to have had influenced the appointment of Saypol and Judge Irving Kaufman into the case. Information from his autobiography indicates that Roy was the driving force behind the unfair conviction of the Rosenbergs. In the biography, he claims that he personally recommended the death penalty verdict to Judge Kaufman. Such claims signify Roy as an example of the misconduct in the criminal justice system during the 1950s. He personally examined David Greenglass on the case and had enough information that Ethel charges were just but a fabrication. Therefore, the espionage case of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg was influence in portraying the anti-civil rights practices that were eminent in the 1950s. although Roy Cohn and McCarthy gained popularity from the conviction, the innocence of the couple remain a negative blow to the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in executing justices to all regardless of their political affiliation.

Government involvement in issues concerning the economic well-being of a country is very important. For a reason or the other, the involvement is usually meant to protect the economy and the citizens from the effects of unregulated markets. Unregulated markets bring about different effects to the economy such that in the long run, the countrys economy might be affected negatively or positively. The most likely event is that an economy will take a serious beating if the key sectors are not regulated. For instance, the prices of some commodities need to be regulated by the government so that the consumers are not exploited. Other ways through which the economy can be regulated is through the introduction of tariffs and taxes on goods that are imported.

The US government, in the post Industrial Revolution era, decided not to involve itself in the affairs of its economic markets. This was due to the fact that the private sector had shown a competitive edge and could as such be let to run their businesses without government control. This initiative was meant to make it easier for new businesses to flourish without the interference of government. The government processes had in that time been very bureaucratic to an extent that registration of businesses was a very tedious process. The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century saw fierce competition between the players in the private sector. This not only increased the incidences of business malpractices but it also led to a situation where unfair competition was common-place. As a matter of urgency, the government had to act in time. The early twentieth century brought with it bad tidings as The Great depression set in shortly after the 1920s. These are some of the reasons why the government had to intervene.

First and foremost, the firms that had been established in the 1800s had created monopolies that seemed to control the prices to their advantages. This affected the average citizens who could not afford the frequent price rises and unsteady compensation packages offered at their work places. This led to the establishment of anti-trust laws in 1890 to curtail the activities of these monopolies (Legal Information Institute 1) (Anti-trust 1). These laws reduced the unfair competition practices that eventually led to prices of important goods rising exponentially. The main reason behind this was so as to ensure that the US citizens were not exploited due to reasons that were beyond their control. The control of prices of goods was however limited to a certain extent as it mainly covered sections that the government thought would have the most significant impact on the economy. This significantly reduced the monopolies malpractices that were counterproductive to goals aimed at economic growth.  
The Great Depression of the late 1920s had managed to cripple most financial institutions that were considered to have good financial standing. The effects to the small establishments were devastating. Business Malpractices such as insider trading in the stock market needed regulation as they were detrimental to the economy. The election into office in of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 led to a number of measures that the government considered key in alleviating the effects of the depression. Most of these measures were not within the government policy but Roosevelts campaign pledges. However, after considerations, they were incorporated into government policy so as to make them more effective and well funded. Most of them included policies that ensured the citizens who were above a particular age had jobs (Rosenberg 1) (The Great Depression 1). This led to a better living standard for the citizens and an improved workforce necessary for economic growth. This brings into the picture the introduction of social welfare into the US. It has been argued though that social welfare had begun sometime earlier before the depression (Trattner 1) (The Federal Government and Social Welfare in Early Nineteenth-Century America 34). Social welfare was meant to reduce the effects of the depression to the unemployed. It came in many forms. For instance, the government could offer some of the citizens affected jobs that could sustain them for a certain period. It could offer vouchers for food and healthcare to the unemployed and elderly people. Housing was also provided mostly to the sick and the elderly. All these services were aimed at reducing the stresses of daily spending so that the government could at least earn the services of a motivated workforce in sectors such as agriculture.

In conclusion, more often than not, monopolies usually tend to come up with ways through which they can earn super-profits. To a large extent, the plight of consumers is usually ignored as the price fluctuations are left to affect them. Many governments would thus enforce laws so as to minimize this kind of exploitation. The US government had to abolish the laissez faire policy so as to tackle issues that would be detrimental to the economy if no intervention was carried out. This led to the reduction of business malpractices in the late nineteenth century going into the early twentieth century. As a matter of fact, the government introduced rules that not only regulated the exploitation but also made the competition amongst the industry players fairer. For instance, the regulations and price tariffs introduced in the rail-road sector reduced the exploitation of both new entrants and consumers of this important service. Social welfare, on the other hand, had to be made a reality after the effects of The Great Depression. Government involvement only made sure that it was well organized and better-funded. By and large, the rules introduced by the government drastically reduced the effects of all the unregulated markets and the depression. It therefore became a basic tool in regulation of the economy.

During the Civil Rights Movement, blacks and their allies wanted three primary objectives integrated public schools, breakup of public accommodations such as buses and trains, water fountains and restrooms, restaurants, the privileged to hike to street unmolested and perhaps the most significant, voting rights. The undemanding justice personified in these requests had waited on the margins of political life since the 1870s disloyalty of black Reconstruction by officials and their masters. Not that advocate of black freedom was sluggish in the short-term, but some victories and defeats, mainly in the fight against killing and permissible frame-ups, these requests remained contentious and were basically unimportant.

The Civil Rights Movement was significant for the United States to be able to declare itself as a free and great nation where all citizens have equal civil rights during the Cold War. The experimentation made during the period known as separate but equal confirmed to be a disappointment to every black Americans. They wanted to obtain equal rights that should be given to all American citizens including African-American, in effect an individual had to have same access to all the privileges given by the government. However, this was not obtained until new set of leaders appeared from both the political body and the church. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. up to President Lyndon B. Johnson who proclaimed and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, and many other unsung heroes that led the way to stand firm and fight against the injustice they have encountered in the United States.

The Rise of the Civil Rights Movement
When two members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Rosa Pars and D. Nixon, glowed what soon became a large-scale boycott of buses and white-owned businesses in Montgomery, Alabama. This is for the reason that a white bus driver arrested Parks when she declined to follow rules that obliged blacks to shift to the back of buses when no vacant seats where available for whites. In effect, the Montgomery movement inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to head a civil rights organization. Thus, by 1957, King had built his Southern Leadership Conference (SCLC) to take on the resistance of the African-American civil rights. Moreover, two major progresses in 1957 encouraged the advocates to join the civil rights movements. The first one is the passage of a Civil Rights Act, which should be passed and approved by Congress since Reconstruction. However, it built a Civil Rights Division inside the Department of Justice as well as Civil Rights Commission that was allowed to examine racial difficulties and give solutions. The second one was President Dwight D. Eisenhowers proclamation to hurl federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas in order to set up order and implement a symbol of desegregation plan by acknowledging nine black scholars to the citys all-white Central High School.

Violence on National Television
In the early months of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. prepared protests and demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama. The local chief of police, Eugene Connor, told his men to shoot discharge water against the demonstrators and set free ferocious dogs on the resisters. However, a television network captured the string scenes on the demonstrations, several shots of them showing attacks and arrests of black children, and transmitted the images to shocked national viewers. As a result, many Northerners became attentive of the troubles of many African-Americans in the South. Thus, as much as any sole event in the account of the modern civil rights movement, the brutality showed by the whites in Birmingham obliged the American citizens to consider grave federal act promoting or violating civil rights. Thus, in June 1963, after the governor of Alabama, George Wallace, prove of struggle to desegregation of the state university, President John F. Kennedy attend to a national television viewers to pass for a federal civil rights law, which would primarily forbid racial segregation in community accommodations.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy
When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, his civil rights bill appeared hindered on Capitol Hill. However, the successor of the good president, Lyndon Johnson of Texas, demonstrated to be masterful strategist and a bestowed champion of a strong and eloquent bill. In June 1968, he marked into a law, a list that not only included job unfairness title but also certified construction of a new organization, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Although, school segregation continued to be persistent until the early 1970s, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a milestone assessment by any standard, concluding segregation in a mass of public accommodations.

Conclusions
School desegregation, Freedom Riders and non violent protest were just a few of the civil rights battles. The movement inched along, one lunch counter at a time. One sports team at a time. One school, one store and one town were obtained because of the Civil Rights Movement. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the effort for freedom and equal rights for African-American. The civil rights movement helped African American move into positions of power. For example, in 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. Recently, African-Americans Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice have served as U.S. secretary on state. In 2008, Barack Obama was the first African-American elected as the president of the United States of America.

From the beginning of the Union, there was a strong imperative to extend US territory across the whole of the North American continent, later described as manifest destiny. Subsequently, this would be seen as early American imperialism, raising the question whether US expansion was really any different from how other nations extended their territories. An examination of how the US expanded, initially within the American continent, then overseas, shows that manifest destiny was little more than a pseudonym for imperial expansion. Yet the notion was rooted in a deeply held conviction that the US was different from other nations, formed by values of human dignity, worth, freedom and democracy. It would not trample on other peoples freedoms or become involved in foreign entanglements. When and if it intervened in other nations affairs, its intent would be benign. An examination of US expansion and foreign interventions shows a different story. So, too, does an examination of national origins, which was less unified, noble and moral than the standard version portrays. On the other hand, the existence of the notion of manifest destiny meant that some people could and can hold the US to account against its own highest ideals. Without this notion, as the worlds most powerful nation, US action in the world could be even more negative than that of other nations, rather than, in all probability, neither better nor worse than that of other powerful states.

Origin of the Notion
Andrew Jackson referred to America as manifestly called by the Almighty to a destiny which Greece and Rome, in the days of their pride, might have envied.  America had a special, God-given mission, supposedly to spread democracy and freedom. Americas manifest destiny was to overspread the continent allotted by Providence. John OSullivan coined the specific term in 1839 to express the idea that extending the Republic across the continent constructed a Temple  dedicated to the Worship of the Most High and established Peace and good will amongst men (cited by Thornton).  In fact, although not used as a term until the Spanish-Mexican War, a notion that the US was special and different dates from the founding fathers. They wanted to distance the new republic from Europes squabbles and conflicts. Many had fled religious persecution in Europe, so did not want their new state to repeat Europes mistakes. Washington and others, including Jefferson, spoke of avoiding foreign entanglements.  However, expansion within the continent was thought acceptable, since it did not involve any foreign states.

Some saw the War of 1812 as an opportunity to annex Canada. This was not a foreign entanglement because it involved securing the USs own borders. It led to Britain recognizing the US diplomatically. Following this war, most Americans took it as axiomatic that they would not interfere in other nations affairs as long as they did not interfere in the US.  This was formalized in the Monroe Doctrine of 1832, which limited European and American ventures to their respective hemispheres.  The popular policy of expanding US territory westward, however, was not regarded as involving foreign entanglements although treaties made with Indian nations recognized their sovereignty. These nations were seen as within the USs sphere of influence, rather than outside. Expansion west was not regarded as imperialism other nations were imperialist. Other nations lacked the USs high moral commitment to human dignity, freedom and democracy. Other nations acquired territory for self-interest. Expansion across the continent was in the name of freedom and democracy, not to subject other people to exploitation and rule by a foreign king.

Expansion as Imperialism
This was never officially called imperialism but it can be argued that it shared many characteristics of imperial expansion. Imperialism takes territory away from people who posses it, almost always without their consent. Imperial powers may impose their will on other states, or intervene in other ways to exert influence, even if they do not exercise complete sovereignty. Beginning with expansion across the continent, imperial episodes include the Louisiana Purchase (1803), the annexation of Texas (1845) and of territory between there and California, admitted as a state in 1850. Before the annexation of Texas, President Polk spoke of how expansion west had become unstoppable, who can arrest the torrent that will pour onward to the West he asked, The road to California will be open to us he continued Who will stay the march of our western people  When Texas, California and Hawaii were acquired, references to manifest destiny were prolific. There was also a myth that US expansion was qualitatively different from how other nations gained territory. Supposedly the US did so without conquest.  Acquiring Texas, however, involved a war with Mexico, a foreign state. Hawaii was a sovereign Kingdom. No one consulted the residents of Louisiana when France sold and the USA bought that territory. Indigenous people, too, were rarely consulted. When treaties were made, they were often broken. In 1847-8, after the Mexican-American war over Texas, some expansionists wanted to take all Mexico, to give the US even more of the Pacific coast.

Other Manifestations of Imperial Power
Was sending Commodore Perry to open up trade with Japan (1854) an imperial act, or another expression of manifest destiny The US believed it had the right to trade with Japan, even though Japan preferred remain isolation. Instead of respecting Japans wishes, a treaty was imposed by what was called gun-boat-diplomacy. The Commodore landed marines to secure a coaling concession from the ruler of Naha on Okinawa at gunpoint and also demonstrated in the Bonin islands  to secure commerce.  In China and elsewhere, the US acquired trading concessions and other privileges that actually compromised the sovereignty of the state. Chinese believed that foreign powers were running their country and that their destiny was out of their hands. Zinn identifies a series of US actions overseas that look very much like foreign intervention from self-interest with little of no benign intent. For example, in 1852-53, US marines were present at Buenos Aires during a revolution in Brazil to protect American interests. They were also sent to Nicaragua (1853) to protect American lives and interests during a political disturbance. The following year, the American Minister to Montevido suffered an insult and marines were sent to avenge this, destroying a town.  The list of actions overseas to protect US interests or to secure commercial treaties continues. It is difficult to identify how these actions were beneficial to the countries where intervention occurred.

This set the stage for future US actions, especially in the Cold War. For example, the 1953 coup in Iran, when a democratically elected Prime Minister was overthrown, accused of communist sympathy. In his place, a tyrant was restored to power because he was pro-Western.  Instead of spreading democracy and helping people gain freedom, the US has often allied itself with repressive regimes, either because they supply oil or opposed communism.

American Imperialism, Manifest Destiny and the Spanish-American War
The notion took root that Americas hemisphere did not end at the Pacific but continued across the seas.  When Hawaii was annexed in 1898, President Mckinley described this as an expression of Americas manifest destiny.  The famous American writer, Whit Waltman was a strong supporter of the notion that American had a special mission in the world, writing

In a few years the dominion-heart of America will be far inland, toward the West. Our future national capital may not be where the present one is. It is possible, nay likely, that in less than fifty years, it will migrate a thousand or two miles stretching  west and north , including Canada and regions  toward the Pacific, (destined to the mastership of that sea and its countless  islands)

The Spanish-American War of April to August 1898 towards the very end of the nineteenth century sparked debate about whether the USs acquisition of overseas territory differed from what was commonly called imperialism but was another expression of manifest destiny. Supporters claimed that the USs aim was not to acquire an empire or to exploit and oppress other people but to help them gain freedom. This, of course, was the same argument that had justified expansion west. Now that the original thirteen colonies had expanded across the Continental USA, supposedly spreading freedom and democracy, her mission in the world was to continue this task globally. As a result of the Spanish-American war, America did gain overseas territory.

The Treaty of Paris (December 10, 1898) ceded Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the US and gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba to keep the peace and to protect democracy. Annexation of the Philippines attracted the most controversy, partly due to its size but also because the Filipinos themselves thought that independence would follow liberation from Spain. They immediately elected their own President. A was followed against the occupying American troops. From early 1899 until 1913, a conflict waged in the islands as US troops battled Filipino nationalists, called insurgents for control of the islands Supporters of annexation not only thought this wholly consistent with Americas manifest destiny but they saw no reason why the US should ever surrender control. For millions of Americas, this was not what manifest destiny meant. America was meant to be nobler, better than this.
Supporting permanent annexation, Senator Alfred J Beveridge declared that the Philippines were ours forever.  As territory belonging to the US the Constitution regarded this as permanent.  We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee under God, of the civilization of the world  God  has marked us out as His chosen people henceforth to lead in the regeneration of the world, he continued.  Others argued that even though America was governing other peoples territory she only intended to do so until they were ready to rule themselves, which they were not yet able to do. This is the same notion that informed the League of Nations system of Mandates after World War I. Thus, American expansion across the world was not to selfishly dominate others but to extend the principles and spirit of the Constitution, an expression of her manifest destiny. Founders of the American Anti-Imperialism League disagreed.  Mark Twain was Vice-President 1898 until his death (1905).  The League roundly condemned annexation not so much because they denied that America might have a role to spread democracy but because they feared that America intended to keep the territory and to this start an empire. The League stated

We hold that the policy known as imperialism is hostile to liberty  an evil from which it has been our glory to be free. We regret that it is necessary in the land of  HYPERLINK httpwww.newworldencyclopedia.orgentryGeorge_Washington o George Washington Washington and  HYPERLINK httpwww.newworldencyclopedia.orgentryAbraham_Lincoln o Abraham Lincoln Lincoln to reaffirm that all men of whatever race or color are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We maintain that governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed. We insist that the subjugation of any people is criminal aggression and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of our government.

The US governed the Philippines until the end of World War II. This was a shorter period than Britain ruled India or the Dutch Indonesia. However, the USs record of setting up enduring and strong democratic foundations was no better in the Philippines than the records of other imperial nations elsewhere. After their departure, Filipinos endured years of dictatorship (1965-86) under Ferdinand Marcos. On the other hand, after US intervention in Japan following World War II, a sound democratic system was established and the US withdrew much more quickly. The question remains, did the US intervene internationally at the end of the nineteenth century and afterward to promote freedom and spread democracy, or to promote her own economic and strategic interests Debate about whether US overseas involvement is somehow exceptional, different from that of imperialist powers or motivated by similar interests continues to this day. Is manifest destiny a national conceit Or, does the US really hold itself to higher moral standards than other nations

Is Manifest Destiny a National Conceit
This examination of US action in the world and of expansion across the American Continent suggests that peoples rights were often trampled. Many Native Americans lost land in the expansion process many were moved from ancestral land to other locations. The notion of manifest destiny can be seen as a conceit. It expressed a romantic, idealized concept of American history. In this view, America was different. She began with the high sentiment of the Declaration of Independence, led by high-minded, moral, gifted, exceptional men. They rose up against British oppression. They won the revolutionary war, establishing a Union that would never oppress anyone. Everyones dignity and worth would be respected. This version of US history speaks of a nation bound together by common ideals, by shared commitments and interests. Zinn describes this history as a giant web of nationhood pretending to a common interest.  This is the history in which government wants people to believe. He claims that from the beginning, the reality was different. When the Pilgrims came to New England they were coming not to vacant land but to territory inhabited by Indians. However, in their view, the Indians had not subdued the land so had only a natural and not a civil right to own the land. The land was declared legally a vacuum which could therefore be claimed. No respect here for peoples universal rights, freedoms and dignity.

Zinn says that people should not accept the memory of states as their own. The history of the US presented as the history of a family is that of solidarity, common interests, high ideals and heroic acts. The founding fathers are taken to represent the nation as a whole and are portrayed as almost beyond criticism. The real history of the nations, he says, is one of conquest, violence, hunger and exploitation. McDonald has de-mythologized the story of how the US was founded. The Revolutionary War was not fought with a single goal, he says. Some had a single state in mind to replace the 13 colonies. All did want to end British colonial rule but many fought to free their own states different colonies  supported the revolution in pursuit of different goals, all local and few-high minded.  Zinn remarks how memory of the founding fathers exalts their status they may have had occasional conflicts and quarrels but are represented as standing for a single national interest.  Zinn and McDonald challenge this memory, describing the fathers as a cantankerous lot who fought one another, in unseemly fashion, for power and wealth.  This contradicts the single nation under God view of US history, of which the notion of manifest destiny is very much a product.

The first attempt to create a Constitution, the Articles of Confederation (1777), failed due to lack of a common goal. Some wanted the states to be stronger, the central government weak. The central government was set up without power to raise taxes or an army. What followed was a period when the future of the Union was at stake. Delegates to Congress were sent by state legislatures, not directly elected by the people. Congress had so little power that states saw little need to send their delegates. Congress could hardly function in these circumstances and at times laced a quorum. During 1785, there were never more than seven states represented.   States taxed goods from other states. There was no common currency. Some states thought their interests lay in independence, not in membership of the Union. This is somewhat different from the story of single-minded devotion to the common interest.

The second attempt at creating a Constitution (1787) is also glossed over in the single nation under God version of US history. The same rival interests clashed at the 1887 Constitutional Convention that had clashed since the Revolutionary War. Some wanted strong states (anti-federalists). Some (federalists) wanted strong central government. Even the accepted version of events speaks of compromise between these two sides, usually praising the Convention for managing to more or less satisfy both parties. A good argument can be made for this in some areas, such as the right of the federal government to raise an army while the states retained the right to maintain militia. However, the most contentious issue of all was slavery. On this, the accepted version takes the view that agreement was not possible because the South (slave-owning states) would have seceded were slavery abolished. The Northern states had already taken steps to phase slavery out. In this view, the founding fathers could not have done anything about slavery even though they understood that it conflicted with the ideological assumptions of the Revolution without causing conflict.  Detailed analysis of the Conventions proceedings shows that when abolition was tabled and discussed, it could have succeeded. Nash denies that the threat of Southern secession was genuine or that the Northern states would have been all that concerned, despite the single nation under God ideal that dominates historical memory.  In fact, women, slaves, Native Americans and others, left out of the one-nation, had to struggle for inclusion against much opposition over many years.

Conclusion
There is actually no reason why the US should not have a special mission to spread democracy. If US interventions overseas promote peace and good will, extends freedom and democracy, the original idea behind the concept of manifest destiny, the US can properly claim to act differently from states that only ever act to further self-interest. Manifest Destiny can be a standard America uses to judge and evaluate its international interventions as well as how it treats its own people, regardless of race and gender. When slaves were finally freed and women enfranchised, the US lived up to its ideals of freedom and equality. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the question is whether the US is really spreading freedom and democracy, or acting in pure self-interest.

In Bernard Lewis essay, Clash of Civilizations, the main thesis is what the article says is true.  As the title suggests, there is indeed an ongoing clash of two civilizations or cultures, particularly Western and Islamic.  However, as a point of clarification, this conflict was instigated not by Islamic society in general, but by those sitting on the extreme of their beliefs such as Osama bin Laden who declared war against the west because they saw it as a threat not only to their faith, but also to their way of  life and have called upon the faithful to take up arms and defend Islam from evil forces represented by the west, particularly the United States.   These extremists are called Islamists.

This group in particular, as stated before is anti-democratic and seeks to establish a government grounded on the teachings of the Quran, their sacred scripture.  They seek to use Islam a political movement to mobilize people to their cause to gain political authority through any means necessary, legitimate, through elections, or otherwise through revolution and once in power, enforce their agenda based on Islamic teachings upon society.  Bin Laden would evoke historical allusions where the Muslim world has suffered more than 80 years of what he called  humiliation and disgrace  at the hands of western nations, particularly the United States in most recent times.  Lewis further states
 In the early centuries of the Muslim era, the Islamic community was one state under one ruler.  Even after that community split up into many states, the ideal of a single Islamic polity existed. The states were almost all dynastic with shirting frontiers there are histories of dynasties, of cities and primarily, of the Islamic state and community (417).  

Islamists oppose democracy because of its intimate association with western culture.  This began way back when the Young Turks led by Mustafa Kemal overthrew the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.  What made this even a  precedent  for the Islamists was that the Sultan was also recognized a Caliph as anyone who carried the title could trace their lineage to the Prophet Mohammed himself.  Kemal s secularist policies were not Islamic but of western influence.  The secularization of Turkey for the Islamists appear to set a  dangerous  precedent as far as the continued existence of Islamic culture is concerned.   What Islamists want is to restore the old ways   the Caliphate which they believed helped Islamic culture flourish through the 7th centuries and beyond following the death of Mohammed.
Islamists tend to regard democracy and capitalism not only foreign but something exclusive to western civilization.  From a religious standpoint, they see western ideals as a product of Judaeo-Christian influence.  This is why when they entertain the thoughts of modernizing or embracing democracy, they tend to equate this with westernization.  And with westernization, this would mean putting their culture in danger of being  polluted  or  corrupted  if not eradicated completely (Huntington,  if not, Civilizations, what ).  This is the reason why fundamentalism or extremism resorts to terrorism.  Their faith impels them to defend their culture against the  evil  influence of democracy and capitalism. With this kind of image, non-Muslims will think Islam is not tolerant to change or progress, that western ideas are incompatible to the teachings of the Quran.

Huntington further states this will go on as the world is  shrinking.    This stands to benefit the west since they no longer had any rival since the Cold War in the Soviet Union and communism.  The only thing now is that the loss of an ideological rival brought in a cultural rival which saw them as a threat (Huntington,  Clash of Civilizations ). The challenge on the part of the west is to demonstrate that they do not pose a threat to other cultures by being sensitive to it, and democracy and western ideas can be compatible with Islam. President George W. Bush took the right step in clarifying they are going after the terrorists responsible for the 911 attacks, not attacking Islam in general.  They need to counter Bin Ladens argument that the west is threatening Islam.  In this war on terrorism, they must prove Bin Laden is wrong.  Afghanistan and Iraq should serve as the test bed to prove their resolve.  If the west can succeed here, then they will have won the battle between civilizations.  Once again, as a point of clarification, they want to pursue peaceful coexistence with Islamic cultures and only want to defeat the extremists who wants to see them destroyed.

Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem renaissance is considered to be one of the most important periods in the history of African Americans literature. It marks the period between the early 1920s and the late 1930s when the African Americans demonstrated their capabilities in the literature art. The literature in the Harlem renaissance has been rated as one of the greatest attempts to define the identity of women in the American society. The period saw the rise of African American writers both men and women in literature who demonstrated that the African Americans have equally literacy capabilities as their white counterparts (Hatch, 2002).

The Harlem renaissance has been closely linked to the African American modernism. However, relating authenticity of literacy work by the African Americans or modernism and the African American writers has been a big mistake. This is because of the assumption that the terns refers to African Americans. The term modernity can be understood as the tendency of thinking and doing things in the modern way. However, the term has been used inappropriately in relation to the authenticity of the literature work by African Americans. The development that took place in the African American literature work during the Harlem renaissance is clear evidence that this assumption is a big mistake. This is because the authenticity of literacy work is not determined by race. The birth of the African American literature in the early 19th century fitted well in the traditions of the American society. Many people see this as the real modernism where the art and literature reflects nationalism. The Harlem renaissance therefore made American literature new by eliminating the European influence of the 19th century and introduced nationalism and modernity in American literature. In many ways, the events of the Harlem renaissance contributed to the birth of the African American literature and art modernism.

Mexican Revolution
The Mexican revolution in the early 20th century was an important event towards the establishment of Mexican modernity. Though the Mexican revolution was an armed revolution where illegal rebels were involved, literature played an important role in the modernism of Mexico. A group of revolutionist used the cultural representation to push their agenda forward. These group involved writers and literacy artists who used their literacy work as weapon to fight in the revolution. The main aim of this literacy representation was not only to drive the autocratic government out of office but also to eliminate the authenticity in the 19th century Mexican literature and introduce modernity.

The Mexican writers in the Mexican revolution played an important role in the modernization of the Mexico literature in the 20th century. It is not a coincidence that the Mexican revolution took place at the same time literature and art in the country was undergoing some changes and becoming modernized. This is because literature played an important role in the revolution. Cinemas and plays as well as poems and verses written during the revolution introduced nationalism themes which were not only designed for Mexican audience but also for export. This way, modernism reintroduced the uniqueness of the Mexican society and national identity.  The revolution did not only revolutionize the Mexican political leadership but also broke the traditional styles of literature which had a large impact on the culture of the Mexican societies.

The old south is a region in America that was known for slavery many years back. In the past America was divided into two regions namely the north and the south with the former having support of the Republicans led by Abraham Lincoln while the latter had the support of the confederates. It all began during the presidential campaigns of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln and his camp were opposed to the expansion of slave trade to new territories (Brown. 57-60). The people of the south however supported slave trade as they argued that it was their only source of income. Upon taking office in 1860, Abraham Lincoln declared slave trade illegal and this led to the secession of the 11 states from the United States of America to form the Confederate. This discussion looks at the institution of slavery in the southern region paying keen attention on whether this culture was exploitative, paternalistic or both and why the people of the south supported slavery.

The issue of slavery had fuelled emotions between the two regions. The situation was made worse by the court decision of 1857 when Chief Justice gave a ruling saying that the white was not in any way bound to respect the slaves as they did not have any rights at all (Dred Scott v. Sandford). The issue of slavery was related to the fact that every region wanted to acquire more territories and thus appear more powerful than the other region (Brown. 71-75).

The main reason the people of the south held to slave trade so dearly was because they felt that if slavery was to be abolished then they would lose in terms of their economy. They also feared that abolition of slave trade would see both the white race and the African American race treated equally and this is something the southerners could not stand and just watch (Jonathan. 121-124).

The culture in the old south was quite exploitative. The slaves were treated as animals and were believed not to have any rights. They were entitled to any formal education and they would work in the fields with little pay or no pay at all. It was considered a great crime for anybody to be found teaching a slave how to write or even read. Initially slaves worked in the field and could be given construction work as they were believed not to be efficient. However upon realizing that they could actually exploit them in all areas including agriculture, there was a social stratification where the rich belonged to their own class while the slaves were alienated to a class of their own (Thomas. 105-109).

Due to the prolonged existence of slavery in America, the culture slowly creped in into the African American society and it became a part of them. Even after Abraham Lincoln took power as president and abolished slavery in America it still persisted especially in the southern region where the residents argued that they could not let go off their slaves as they would lose their only source of income (Thomas. 133-134).

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that the slavery culture that was practiced was purely exploitative and that the whites used the black people at the expense of the latter. It was a culture that persisted even after America gained independence and it went on until it was declared illegal in the country.

Andrew Jackson was elected in 1829 as the seventh president of the U.S. In his presidential inauguration he made history by being the first president to invite the citizens of the United States to the White House. Due to his popularity, the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson was attended by a very large crowd. However, Jackson had spend most of his lifetime in the military where he led many troops which won a number of battles including the Seminole War which got rid of Spanish in Florida.
Nevertheless, during his reign as the US president Jackson does not deserve to be ranked among the greatest presidents of the United States of America. This is because of his disastrous policies which contributed to the great depression of 1837. In connection with this, Andrew Jackson planned to withdraw from the second bank of the United States. From this perspective, he needed the bank abolished because he claimed that the bank was directing all the states economic strength in one body. Additionally, he also argued that the bank allowed foreign interest to control the government as well as continuing to uplift the rich at expense of the poor. Apart from this, the bank also exercised excess authority over congress members and it also undermined the western and southern states.

However, after a huge struggle Jackson was able to get rid of the bank by rejecting the congress re-charter in 1832 and withdrawing all the U.S finances in 1833. First, Jackson invested the money in the production of cotton, land sales, other banks and canal production. Nonetheless, as a result of banks giving out paper banknote without a good stoke of gold and silver the states were soon caught up with a lot of debts and inflation. As if that was not enough, President Jackson gave out new orders in 1836 which required silver and gold as a form of payment for government lands.

Remarkably, this resulted to a high demand for silver and gold which banks could not afford. As matter of fact, the banks collapsed which directly contributed to the great depression of 1837. According to the Boston journal Jacksons policy, bank vetoing was never the best. In fact, the idea was termed as one of the most unrealistic in history of the United States. Moreover, the bank veto document claimed that the rich were oppressive to the poor and justification of the president to guard the humble was just but a lie. Additionally, the denial of the Supreme Court as the most appropriate tribunal to determine the law constitutionality was another whole selfish idea.

 To be specific, the document was meant to uphold the interest of the south where the president came from but not the state as a whole. In fact, the veto portrayed Jackson and his advisors as corrupt, liars and cunning with the intention of oppressing their opponents. In reality, this shows the characteristics of a poor leader. The failure of President Jackson is also shown in the banking crisis cartoon which was developed during the depression. This was whereby Jackson peered through the window as the bank president as the supporters tried to hold on the collapsed system. This is to say that president Jackson did not care the tragedy he got the country into.

From a broader perspective, President Jacksons policies were not beneficial in any way to the state. More to this point the bank veto document just consisted of selfish ideas that was meant to develop the south at expense of the rest. It was as a result of President Jacksons selfish ideas that the United States experienced the great depression of 1837 which took the state a lot of time to recover.

The American Civil War happened in the years of 1861 to 1865. During this civil war, the eleven Southern slave states formed the Confederacy and declared secession against the United States. These slave states were led by Jefferson Davis and fought hard during the war against the United States government (the Union).

What truly caused the Civil War has long been debated. Some are solid with the belief that the Civil War was fought because of the issue of slavery. There is no simple reason that could explain on why the civil war had begun. The causes of the American civil war were a complex sequence of incidents, which included slavery that was long been around even before the first shot at the war was fired. This issue of slavery is also used by several historians in justifying the federal governments attack of the South. Accordingly the federal government was fighting in order to free the slaves while the South fought back to keep them in repression. Critics claim that the Southern States fought back in order to make certain that slavery will continue. True definition of freedom, political mayhem, competing nationalisms, upholding of the Union, the societys structure and economy are all major contributing factors in the bloodiest conflict in the United States history.

When did the south lose the civil war(i.e. What factors ,ideas, concepts precipitated the southern downfall

During the American Civil War, the North or the Union had a clear economic advantage against the South. This could be considered as one of the reasons why the South lost the civil war. The resources and manpower that the North had were too much for the South to take. The troops of the South were comparatively smaller than the Norths population. Aside from that, a huge advantage over resources was on the Unions side. Souths failure to recognize this disadvantages and shortcomings led to their downfall. Furthermore, the Southerners were not as fully committed as those from the North. Most of them were half-hearted concerning the war and as soon as the South lost the desire and willpower to fight, they have already lost the battle at the point even before defeat was officially proclaimed.
Why did reconstruction fail(based on your knowledge of american history did it fail,and could it have possibly succeeded)

The North believed that a total victory is more than just ending the battle. Secession had to be rejected and the slavery in the United States should be put to a stop. The goals of the Reconstruction period were to restructure the economic, political and social conditions of the United States after the Civil War. Issues arose as the southern states were to be rebuilt and readmitted to the Union. The Reconstruction plans were ideal and most of the goals happen but soon died with the idea at the end. It was hard for the Southern states and people to co-exist and have equal rights with the Union. The Republicans who mostly comprised of the Northern states were strongly in opposition of slavery as well and hence they were indifferent to the south and simply wanted to look after the slaves that were freed. The problem was also on what side would be in control of the government.

The American Civil War was the deadliest war in the history of United States. The Victory of the North ended the slavery in the United States and the end of the Confederacy. It strengthened the role of the national government, and the economic, social, and political issues caused by the war were continuously dealt with after the chaos.

A number of historians hold that Americans will always be American-a unique identity that has been consistent even after the end of the Revolution and drafting of the Constitution. The events of 1814 and 1876 emphasized the American dream since Americans were dissatisfied by the social, political and religious order leading to the formulation of opinions and ideologies meant to change the apparent order Marcus  Burner (2009).

The American dream is an ideology of the United States of American people which stresses on prosperity, democratic ideals and independence, the right for everybody to be free to run their own show since there is envisioned a land full of opportunity for everyone. According to America Firsthand, this dream has lead to the creation of a cohesive state where people seek to better their conditions through the pursuit of a good life, prosperity and happiness Marcus  Burner (2009). This ideal is entrenched in the Declaration of independence which states that every person is created equal with certain absolute rights such as the right to life, pursuit of liberty and a good and happy life. The Statue of Liberty is a sign in the U.S that signifies liberty and freedom, the American dream and identity that envisions

The government facilitated the American dream by allowing change whereby people were given more power and autonomy and to the people and enacted laws to allow immigrants and slaves to participate in the affairs of the nation-such as voting rights as full citizens of America. Immigrants and slaves had been traditionally exempted from the American dream since they were perceived as non-American in the old constitutional order Marcus  Burner (2009).

The American people endeavor to achieve the American dream in various ways as following the philosophical and ethical foundations laid by their founding fathers. Some proponents such as Martin Luther King advocated for racial equality while others such as Winthrop, in the City upon a Hill, wanted a religious paradise. Americans work hard to get money live a better and happy life such as buying a good house, a car and having their children attend good schools.

Americans are a unique people who uphold liberty and prosperity for all. The revolution and drafting of the constitution allowed those people who had hitherto been barred from chasing the American dream the opportunity to do so without any restrictions. The American dream is an ideology of people of the United States of America focused towards the betterment of their society. American First Hand highlights the challenges faced by the American people and their endeavors to change their society, government, religion among other factors which were questionable at the time.  The ideas and opinions awakened in by Americans during this colonial period to question the political, social and religious order were significant to the birth of the now famous, American dream.

The government allowed the majority to have their way by enacting laws towards this end. America should not be a segregated society based on age, creed, sex, political affiliations, religion, ethnicity, race among other divergent backgrounds but should work together to achieve the dream of having a better, human and independent nation. Democratic rights are fostered in the American identity and dream since they ultimately lead to the prosperity of America. All citizens have the hope of pursuing and achieving a better, happier life by becoming rich as is rooted in the American declaration of independence. The state of equilibrium in society envisioned by the American people is an uphill task since they are hampered by class-mostly between the middle class and the poor and racial inequalities in the contemporary American society.

The founders of America created a country a country of natural and bountiful wealth and a beacon of prosperity and liberty in the whole world through their ethical and philosophical principles that are implemented even today such as the opportunity for every child to obtain the best education and receive the reciprocal career opportunities tied to their achievements. Immigrants and slaves were perceived as non-Americans before the revolution and were therefore exempted from the American identity and dream. The revolution destroyed these barriers and made it possible for all and sundry to chase the American dream. This group has vividly been assimilated into the American society leading to the reengineering of the society to allow multicultural society where immigrants use English as the national language, be industrious and unrelenting, the protestant ethic, as well as pride in their new national identity where liberty and democracy is upheld.

A Comparative Study

Perceptions of Puritanism
In comparing and contrasting the Alan Simpsons The Puritan Tradition with Roland H. Baintons Jonathan Edwards The Great Awakening, there are many similarities between the two works. Both articles bear many differences as well. In the following paper, the two authors and their perceptions of Puritanism will be extracted and analyzed.

In The Puritan Tradition, Alan Simpson delineates the influences of Puritanism from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. He argues there is a secular component to the puritan thought of England and America and casts doubt upon the lasting effects on all socioeconomic and political factions of modern society. His arguments pose a direct opposition to Baintons view of the everlasting puritan mindset.
While Simpson argues the length of Puritan Consciousness has already run its course, Bainton asserts the influence is still lingering in todays society, specifically through the voice of Jonathan Edwards. Bainton provides evidence for the modernist approach Jonathan Edwards had in shaping his postulates and the affects of his ideals in postmodernist thought. Simpson argues the influence of Puritanism lasted till a hazy period in the nineteenth century before its cessation with the concurrent end to Victorianism.

In Jonathan Edwards The Great Awakening, Roland H Bainton discusses the puritan philosophy of the colonial era. At this time, colonies experienced a period of  revivalism, which involved great ambiguity in the minds of colonists as to what truth was and who was responsible for it. People were questioning their faiths, and  scientific discoveries began to muddle the certainty of the Churchs teachings.  When Jonathan Edwards set out to define the revivalist movement, he placed a special focus on the individualized aspect of religiosity.

Simpsons article however criticizes the supposed links scholars find between Puritanism and the philosophical atmosphere of postmodernism. A web of traced lineages can be derived for all social constructs to arrive at the desired point. The links, however, are fickle and stretched to broadened concepts which muddle the definition of Puritanism itself. Simpson criticizes scholars who espouse the belief that Puritanism is alive and running the thought processes of the worlds most affluent nations.

To demonstrate this, Simpson offers several examples, naming the statue of Oliver Cromwell and explaining the ideals he had in the seventeenth century would not exist in the modern-day society.  Another example Simpson gives involves Thomas Carlyle.  He was a Calvinist that struggled with his faith, converted but allowed pagans into his group of believers  something his Puritan  ancestors would have definitely frowned upon.

From the pulpit Edwards preached of the inevitability of sin in the lives of men, who were merely the victims of an innate tendency toward vice. Though, the colonial periods puritans is often considered close-minded and reactionary, Edwards clearly proved he was ahead of his time in terms of his modernistic views.  The existence of strict moral guidelines still exist today but are seriously compromised by the progressive movement. While condemnation and deep faith is cast aside for tolerance and science, the moralistic values of Puritanism have a definite role in todays society.

The evidence laid forth by Bainton begins by giving a brief history of the influences that crafted Edwards ideas. Beginning with an education at Yale, Edwards got a glimpse into moral depravity which he deemed monstrous impieties. There was such a terrible social unrest that he postulated the world would never be any different. He felt weary as he view a world that was beyond repair as far as sinfulness.

After Yale, Edwards adopted a more positive outlook as he joined his grandfather at the pulpit. He set out on a mission to correct the wrongs he saw in New England. Unavoidably he seemed to have the same problems as his ancestors, following in their footsteps. But he never let the powerless concept of pre-determinism stand in his way. No souls were pre-determined to turn away from conversion, and in consequence, be subject to Hell. Edwards believed Gods will allowed for men to turn away from their sinful lives, despite mans unconscious affinity for sin.

At this new turn in his thoughts, Edwards found himself inspired that New England colonists could be saved. He was governed by the laws set forth by God, and rested assured of his piety as he ardently observed all of the rules God put forth in the scriptures. Mans life should be driven by self-reflection, observance of the Sabbath and in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures. The job of the preacher was to spread the word, give a blunt sermon to spread humility in the men and women of his congregation, and stress the omnipotence of God.

The unprecedented outlook of Edwards came in the message and content of his sermons. He warned of sinfulness and condemned moral ambiguity, bring mans predilection for sin to light for many of the congregations members. He thrived in his piety, and shed light on the evils of the colonies. One major point in Edwards sermons was the callousness of men. He preached about the coldness and egoism hed seen in his years at the university.

Both sides of the debate on puritanical influence have valid, cohesive points. However, the article by Bainton is more convincing. The moral values of someone living in the seventeenth century being vastly different than the moral values espoused centuries later is dependent on a wide range of factors. New laws that govern society put pressure on individuals to act according to the laws set standard of guidelines. That doesnt necessarily mean the moralistic thought and predilections dont exist in man anymore. It simply means there are laws that enforce certain behaviors. Therefore Simpsons argument of the Puritanical influence being finished is based on the development of more laws and tougher enforcement. There are innumerable factors that change how Thomas Carlyle might have differed from his predecessors. When Simpson merely attributes the difference as a death to a set of puritan ideals fostered for more than three centuries, his outlook seems oversimplified. When a set of morals guides the fabric of socioeconomic and political interests, that set doesnt simply die off and cease to maintain some influence in those factions forever. Society is so intricate and the thoughts that influence one another are so numerous that simply declaring a movement has ended is impossible as well as appallingly simplistic.

America and the Soviet Union emerged from WW11 as the premier world powers. In the post-war period , their former relationship as allies was replaced by rivalry and open hostility.  Communism and Capitalism had opposite goals, resulting in the Cold War. The term  superpower  would be coined to characterize the military and political force of both countries. America had a monopoly on atomic weapons, but was caught off guard when the soviets detonated an A- bomb in 1949. By the early 1950s, fear of nuclear war and soviet expansion had America on high alert. In October, 1957, the soviets once again shocked the US with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik which began the intense competition between the US and the USSR to win the Space Race.

US patriotism and pride peaked when America put the first man on the moon in 1969. America saw itself as the defender of freedom and viewed the conflict with the USSR as a fight betweengood and evil. This ideology resulted in a massive military buildup by both countries and indirect support for armed conflict around the world as each tried to win people over to their political beliefs. The entry of America into the space age marked an expansion of industry and technological development. The electronic and computer devices common today are the result of the shift to hi-tech industry spurred by the Space Race. American response to the challenges of space exploration created a transformation almost as great as the Industrial Revolution. The space program has become a permanent and influential force for science and for hopes for the future. The possibility of manned flights to Mars and beyond are possible because of the pioneers of space flight that started during the Cold War. Americas permanent commitment to space flight has its roots in the Space Race.The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States was more than a military or political struggle. It was a battle of ideologies that changed America.  The fall of communism and the end of the Space Race has redirected resources to projects like the Space Shuttle and the Hubble Space Telescope. These are some of the legacies of the Cold War and the Space Race.

Civil Rights
Historically, civilization has persecuted and mistreated those that were perceived to be different by those with political and social power. America has been termed  The Great Melting Pot  for the diversity of people that have emigrated and live here. The term is accurate regarding the racial and ethnic composition of the population. However, prejudices and hatred have tainted American society. These prejudices resulted in the rise of three civil rights movements to obtain equal rights and social acceptance.The civil rights movement for blacks started in the 1950s. Racism and prejudice against African Americans has been an ugly part of American life. Rev. Martin Luther King embodied the spirit of the movement. King believed in passive, peaceful protest to win equality for blacks and was instrumental in securing many victories for civil rights. King understood that everyone in society is diminished when a few are suppressed. This led King to speak against the injustice of poverty and segregation. The Civil Rights Act was a great victory for the civil rights movement. The movement lost much momentum. after King was assassinated, but was an overall success.

The feminist movement beginning in the 1960s wanted to reform not only the disparity in wages of females compared to those of men, but deeper social problems. The limited choices available to women fueled the movement for womens equality. Until the 1970s, a womans choice of employment was limited to teacher, nurse, or clerical worker, all of which were considered secondary to being a wife and mother. Women struggled to be accepted in professions such as medicine or the law, and were paid lower wages that men performing the same job.. Womens Liberation has raised awareness of the discrimination and slow progress has been made, but there is still a hidden bias to females in the work. The gay and lesbian community organized in the 1960s, to assert their belief that they should be able to choose the gender of their partner without interference by society or laws. They fought to repeal unjust laws banning gays from everyday activities and homosexuality being classified as an illness. s and laws have slowly changed to reflect the social acceptance of gays.  The movement as whole has been quite successful with legal recognitions of gay rights such as same-sex marriage.

These civil rights movements have all been reasonable reactions to unreasonable conditions and mistreatment. All civil rights movements are inspired by a simple desire to be treated the same regardless of differences in appearance or opinion. Each of these movements has elicited change in the face of opposition and hatred and their supporters should recognized for their bravery and sacrifices. In fighting for their rights, they are assuring the rights of everyone to be treated equally.

RECONSTRUCTION, WESTWARD EXPANSION, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
The end of the civil war. What a mess. The south will never rise again. I wonder how Texas will teach their kids about what happened. It is strange to me  how the south is still so segregated and bigoted. I guess the slave owning years  created the need to feel superior to the humans who worked for them. The expansion West has been so romanticized by movies and TV its sometimes difficult to purge that false perception and get a more accurate impression of the real history. Unfortunately, the idea that white colonialists had a destiny to fulfill by the conquest and relocation of the native population is a tragedy and crime that has left a stain on this page of history. Even though Europe and  their great universities had been established for hundreds of years, Americas colleges would soon become world class. There was no shortage of intellect or talent.

INDUSTRIALIZATION AND PROGRESSIVISM
The industrial revolution has made our lives so much easier than a century ago. The workers in the factories had few if any rights. Long work days and 6   day work weeks are hard to imagine today. The progressives that fought for better working conditions for people (and children) in the factories took a moral stand against the exploitation of  humans and they should be remembered well. Anyone fighting for social justice, especially in the 19th century, must have faced intense opposition by the wealthy industrialists. How they allowed deplorable working and living conditions in their factories and company houses is beyond me. In any age, the few people that care and give themselves to help others improve the world for everyone.

WORLD WAR I
War was a noble pursuit and activity in the centuries before the Great War. When WWI broke out it was celebrated by many Europeans and Russians. The story completely changed by the End of the war. The carnage and terror witnessed by so many made war very unpopular. This trend continues up until the present day. Americas entry into WWII set a precedent for America and the involvement in European affairs. On the home front, the call for the publics help was answered by purchasing war bonds, volunteering for military service, and working to produce munitions and other weapons of war.
JAZZ AGE, THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND NEW DEAL
I get the impression that jazz was the medium that African Americans used to express themselves to a broad audience for the first time. I can see the modern worlds roots in the 1920s and 1930s with the growth of cities, consumerism, and a quickened pace of life. The financial crisis of the stock market crash reminds me of today The Great Depression has repeated itself with the current poor economy. The New Deal of Roosevelt sought to get America moving again. This also reminds me of Obamas economic recovery plans.

THE AMERICAN CENTURY WORLD WAR II AND THE COLD WAR
As if WWII wasnt bad enough, the cold war  started soon after ward. So many resources spent on war and the prep for war. When will we learn The constant fear of nuclear war must be harmful to peoples mental state. The end of the Cold War was not the end of war

A NATION TRANSFORMED
A society in transition or at least transition of greater stress than normal. People of the 1960s realized that life was not what they saw on TV. Nothing at all like TV. A feeling of being deceived by the TV Many became disillusioned by the promise of freedom, equality, and a life free from anything bad They were in no way prepared for the cruelty of the real world. Revolution expressed itself in as many ways as there are people in the 1960s. Many seem misguided in retrospect, but maybe they were the best some could do to express themselves when they had no idea how to express themselves. Hmmm..

Being the major executor of the law and the foremost authority in maintaining peace and order in the Los Angeles area, the new Los Angeles Police Departments building is an edifice that truly represents not only their importance in the community, but more importantly, their absolute authority in exercising their sworn duty to protect the citizens.  The very structure of the building alone, added with its significance to the mission they represent would suffice in declaring the appropriateness of the LAPD Headquarters, as it signifies the utmost level of advocacy and servitude aimed at attaining a suitable social climate where everyone in their area of responsibility is assured of a fair, sensitive, responsible, and professional assistance from their police force.

Structural Meaning
It is evident that the first impression a viewer perceives upon seeing the new LAPD Headquarters is its proximity to the pedestrians.  As it is, most of the complex is set back from the sidewalksthe resulting spaces are pedestrian-friendly (Seib, 2009, p. 1).  Inadvertently or otherwise, this creates an impression to the general populace that their police force is not an elitist entity whose main concern is limited to the reputation that they exude.  Hence, through this technique, LAPD attempts to convey a message of warm yet professional reception that they are ready and able to bring about solutions to whatever situation their duty calls for them to perform.

Another striking physical character of the LAPD Headquarters is its numerous and enormous windows, that when viewed for the outside, seem to create an effect that the majority of the building is made of glass.  Thus, anyone who passes, irrespective of his race, ethnicity, socio-economic background, and religion is bolstered in his belief that LAPD is, and has always been transparent in their undertakings.  The physical reflection on the glass windows of the very city that they serve adds to this transparency, perhaps as a consequence of the image that they witness.  This is especially true when viewed at certain angles where the reflection of the City Hall is clearly revealed on the entirety of its walls clearly depicting a vision of the people that they serve.

Upon witnessing the grandeur of the new LAPD building, a sense of curiosity develops as one sees the sharp-edged roof slicing across (Seib, 2009, p. 4) the edifice.  However numerous its interpretation to the viewer may offer, the most distinct is its attempt to convey that LAPD cuts across every sector of the society, from the most modest to the most influential people that comprise its society.  It strongly suggests that monetary and societal stature will not be a deterring factor in the departments duty of assuring that every member that falls under its jurisdiction is given his equal and fair treatment with regards to the law that LAPD upholds.

A stark reminder as well as a warning to the violators of the law stands proud just outside of the doors of the LAPD Headquarters.  This is the Wall of Brass, which is a memorial to the fallen Los Angeles police officers (Seib, 2009, p. 5).  Resembling a compilation of brass paneling, each standing on top of one another to form an imposing wall, this structure conveys the strength of the organization through the reminder that many have given the ultimate sacrifice in the course of performing their duties.  The basis of this reality can also be seen at the entrance courtyard, where the badges of the officers who have fallen in the lines of their duties are being proudly displayed.  Perhaps in including these symbolical representations within the complexs area, the LAPD enlightens the people that they have a police force that is willing, and had in fact demonstrated the highest level of professional service.  More important than simply being a reminder of the fallen officers, they represent the magnitude that the officers of the LAPD possess in their advocacy of promoting peace and order in their area of responsibility.

Conclusion
It is evident that several principles can be acquired from the physical construction of the new LAPD Headquarters.  Although these are of varying significance and doctrines, a common denominator seem to exist wherein the organizations high standards of service and advocacy are clearly defined.  The citizens of the greater Los Angeles area can most certainly agree that this new edifice is able to express the real meaning of their police force as an organization that holds the highest standard of service.

The detailed explication of the physical characteristics and its intended meaning can only supplement the reality that LAPD is truly an exceptional police organization.  This had been evidenced not only in several of their achievements, but more essentially in the lives that they had sacrificed towards their mission.  The only difference is that, hitherto these sacrifices were not physically represented in their edifice, now it holds a special location that is inherent with the very structure.  Based on this reasoning alone, it is truly deserving to be labeled as the new LAPD Headquarters.        

What is an American Dilemma
After reading An American Dilemma by Gunnar Myrdal, I have found that one of the biggest
dilemmas this country faces is racism.  This two year study found that there is a huge gap
between the idea of equality and the reality it presents to the African-Americans.  What caught
my attention is the fact that the prejudice is being perpetrated more by our law enforcement
agencies and the government by not guaranteeing African American s their constitutional rights
under the 14th Amendment than by people of another ethnicity.  Slavery was abolished in 1870
yet we as a government have not grown much in our defense of our nation s motto that  All men
are created equal.   And we as a people who believe in this equality and claim to have fought for
it in the past are still denying this equality to the African-American people in so many ways.
Using obesity in children (4-10 years of age) as an example, how do your personal values control your view of it And what can you do to limit their influence on your thinking
   
My values do play a very important role in how I view things.  I believe strongly in protecting
this nation s heritage, and the biggest part of our heritage is our youth.  According to the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, obesity is responsible for over 300,000
deaths in this country each year as well as an estimated cost to society of 100 billion a year
(Facts for families, 2008, 79).  This is our heritage dying and I don t want to limit this influence
on my thinking. I cannot pretend to be an ostrich and stick my head in the sand and one day pull
it out and find the world has passed me by and no one is left.  Our values are an important guide
to what we will personally accomplish in our life.

How might the concept of inequality influence someone s motivation to find a job
I am trying to think of a positive way in which it might influence a person s motivation, but I
can only think of the negative impacts.  If you are an African-American applying for positions in
an area that is known for hiring predominately white americans, you are well aware that your
chances of finding a job successfully are not good.  If you consistently face rejection in your
pursuit of finding a job and you know that it s due to inequality, eventually you are going to lose
motivation to keep trying.  What motivation exists without hope

Uneven economic development creates concentrations of wealth.  How might this create social (not economic) problems
   
In each city you can visibly perceive if that area is affluent or not.  Our educational systems
and the educations offered are affected by how affluency in your neighborhood.  The percentage
of students that graduate is affected by this wealth.  On the flip side of this argument,
neighborhoods that lack the wealth to improve their schools, their neighborhoods, or their social
standing are compared to these affluent developments and are so often labeled as undesirables.
Instead of that wealth spreading out to them with a helping hand they are ignored.  I think that
this prejudice begets hatred, apathy, bitterness, and resentment on both sides.

What debate in class this semester had the most effect on you What was special about the debate that made you react to it Did your view of the issue change at all
   
My favorite debate would be about love.  It is special to me because I believe that true
brotherly love can fix anything.  My view on this issue has never changed.  Everything we do in
life is a choice and our choice affects others.  And if we choose kindness and love, that s what
we will eventually get back.  I believe strongly in the concept of  You reap what you sow  and
when we reach out to each other in love, respect, kindness, gentleness that s what we are going
to receive back.  And if every person practiced this concept it could fix anything.

Immigration connotes a movement or migration of workers into a nation of which one is not a native with the intent of settling in it. Importance of the impact of immigration on world future is explained by a couple of major reasons. First, immigration trend, in particular immigration to developed nations, has been growing since the 1800s and is expected to grow further. Consequently, its positive and negative effects will only magnify in the future, enhancing its world impact. Second, the cultural, social and economic effects of immigration are considerable for both developed and developing nations. Consequently, immigration will have the most significant impact on world future.
   
Immigration as a trend is growing and expected to rise in the foreseeable future. Immigration statistics bear testimony to the growth of immigrants in developed nations in the past. Immigration in the United States has grown from 8,358 immigrants in 1820, 448,572 in 1900, 568,149 in 1985 to 1,107,126 in 2008 (httpwww.dhs.gov). In United Kingdom, the number of immigrants was 119,000 in 1995-1996. This number rose to 590,000 in 2008 (httpwww.statistics.gov.uk). Trends for other industrial nations are similar. As regards expected future growth, lowering transportation costs, favorable immigration and emigration barriers and greater attempts to improve education and skills in poor nations will facilitate continual growth of immigration. Economists have found that workers prefer to match their education and skill levels (Easterly, 2002, p. 156). Consequently, as emphasis on education and skills rises and more and more high-skilled workers are created in developing nations, they will have an incentive to migrate to developed countries exhibiting matching skill levels (Easterly, 2002, p. 158). This trend will continue till developing nations reach an overall high level of skill and economic development which, in turn, is deterred by constant movement of skilled workforce batches to foreign nations. Accordingly, immigration in US is expected to account for 82 percent of population increase between 2005 and 2050 (Pew Research Center, 2010). Moreover, 19 percent of American population is anticipated to be immigrant by 2050 (Pew Research Center, 2010). Thus, trend of immigration will continue to rise drastically, magnifying its effects on nations.
   
The cultural, social and political impact of immigration is significant. Native citizens in a country share a common culture, language, heritage and ethnicity that unite them in their commitment to certain values and ideologies (Levin Institute, n. d.). This constitutes the basis for national identity. Immigration cuts into the heart of this culture by introducing elements who share a different language, heritage or ethnicity. This intervenes with both culture and national identity. Neither the native culture nor the immigrant culture is preserved in totality, creating problems on both fronts. The problem is even more severe for immigrant generations who are accepted by neither culture in totality. While intercultural interaction enhances tolerance among few, extremist elements and ethnic clashes ensue (Levin Institute, n. d.). Attacks on immigrants in Greece (Levin Institute, n. d.) and recent clashes against Indian immigrants in Australia bear testimony to this. Cultural homogeneity, considered vital for stability of liberal democracy, also suffers. Political divide between groups favoring immigration and those against it results. Opposition to immigration is a vital issue in elections in Britain, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden (Levin Institute, n. d.). Given the extent of globalization and the fact that significant immigrant population comes from economic giants China and India (httpwww.dhs.gov), immigration not only has the capability to cause clashes within nation but also the ability to destroy or weaken bilateral relations among present and future world powers. Given the importance of cooperation among world powers for economic stability, environmental preservation and poor nation growth, immigration clashes can wreak havoc with world future.
   
Economic effects on immigration are equally severe. Wage declines for citizens and unemployment for low-skilled native individuals are some of the detrimental economic effects of immigration. Census data revealed that wages of black workers declined by 3.6 percent and white workers by 3.8 percent between 1960 and 2000, following a 10 percent rise in immigration (National Center for Policy Analysis, 2007). Unemployment increased from 88.6 percent to 55.7 percent for high school black dropouts during the time frame (National Center for Policy Analysis, 2007). These economic drawbacks for native citizens also further agitation against immigrants and immigration. For developing nations, a loss of skilled workforce results in poorer economic development that would have been feasible on workforce retention (Easterly, 2002, p. 158). On a positive scale, presence of economies of scale and a dearth of workers, allows efficiency of production to improve with immigration. Such has been the case with nations like Canada facing a considerable shortage of manpower (Easterly, 2002, p. 157). As immigration rises, each of the aforementioned negative effect will rise more than proportionately, and positive effects will rise initially and then fall as economies of scale are consumed. Consequently, the impact of immigration will continue to increase in the world, worsening with higher rates of immigration.
   
In a nutshell, immigration constitutes the most important trend influencing future of the world due to its present extent, anticipated future growth and highly severe cultural, political and economic effects that may even prove life threatening in future.

William Carlos Williamss line No ideas  but in things comes from his poem A Sort of a Song (Williams 145).  These five words make up his manifesto of poetry, his philosophy of composition in one enjambed line.  Williamss aim is to deal with real things, not abstractions.  A look at his anthologized work shows that he has, for the most part, been faithful to this ideal.  Williams often presents the reader with an image and then comments on that image with an abstraction or a poetic gloss.  Though maybe it is not completely accurate to say he presents an image.  He tries to bring the reader the thing itself and let it stand for the idea he means to convey.

The most famous example of Williamss ability to present the reader with the thing itself is, of course, The Red Wheelbarrow.  The final three stanzas of the poem, if they can be called stanzas, capture with limpid language the wheelbarrow glazed with rain water    beside the white chickens (56).  The only abstractions or ideas in the poem are suggested by so much depends upon (56).  This vague line is famous for what it fails to say.  It leaves the poetic abstraction outside the poem.  The so much is left for the reader to ponder, and the poem and the poet are not concerned with it (56).  There could be no better example of Williamss dictum No ideas  but in things (145).  But in reading and interpreting the poem, the reader is reminded that it is easy to understand the image, to know intuitively what it means, but the meaning is more difficult.  Class discussions of the poem seem to revolve around the difficulty of pinning down what that so much is.  But what better way to convey the so-muchness of so much than to allow it to remain limitless, and not to explain it

Williamss method of enticing the reader with an image and then leaving an abstraction for the reader to ponder is also on display in Poem.  The poem is twelve short lines that capture, with perfect clarity, a cat climbing over a jamcloset and stepping into an empty flower pot (70).  As he did in The Red Wheelbarrow, Williams slows the reader down with short, enjambed lines broken up into small stanzas.  The poem reads the way the cat walks, ponderously, carefully, and easily.  And this is part of Williamss idea of bringing the thing itself, or in this case the act itself, to the reader.  And once again, the poetic abstraction is only suggested by the poem--it is outside the poem. Poem begins with the preposition as, and the reader is left to wonder who or what the preposition refers to, because that information is not in the poem.  The title of the poem seems to indicate that a poem, or the writing of a poem, occurs as the cat steps over jamcloset, but as could refer to so many things.  As he often does, Williams is asking the reader to consider the possibilities, to keep an open mind when thinking about the abstractions the things of the poem suggest.  Because the questions that his poems seem to ask lack a clear answer, they can be read again and again, and be appreciated by readers of any background.

The meaning of the poem is again pushed away in favor of the thing itself in This Is Just to Say.  If other poets are said to work at a high level of abstraction, Williams is showing how different he is in this poem. The poem ceases to be a poem at all and becomes the thing itself, the apology note. The you who was probably saving the pilfered plums for breakfast is unknown and outside the poem (74).  And in the final stanza recalling the plums that were so sweet  and so cold, the poet is asking the recipient of note to think of the thing itself, and not to worry about abstractions like who is to blame for the missing plums.

The reason for Williamss use of things in place of ideas is stated clearly in A Sort of a Song.  His aim is to reconcile  the people and the stones (145).  But perhaps Williams is guilty of using an abstraction here. This is a poetic way of saying he wants to connect the reader to the world, to bring the world unchanged into his poetry.  Williams has done this, and the world appears as it often does in his poetry mysterious, curious, and full of limitless meaning.

People screaming at the top of their lungs for the rock band that they idolize an individual buying all the books and imitating the writing style of his favorite author a young girl imitating the clothes of her fashion idol the aforementioned instances are familiar examples of people who are practicing the idea of fandom wherein they are becoming huge fans of famous personalities or things. The idea of becoming a fan is perceived by people in different ways. There are individuals who look at the idea of being a fan as simply liking something or someone in a degree that is not common to other people. On the other hand, there are also those people who negatively look at fans, as individuals who are going crazy or psychotic for something or someone to the point that they are becoming obsessed. There are even allegations that fans eventually become stalkers, who do untoward decisions and actions.

The opposing perspective of the term fan entails a more in-depth study about the topic. To be able to fully understand the meaning of being a fan, it is necessary that it is given due attention and importance. In doing so, I conducted an interview with three individuals, who have different backgrounds but is idolizing the same pop star. The pop star that I focus on is Miley Cyrus. My main motivation for looking for individuals who idolizes Miley Cyrus is due to the popularity and influence of this personality. In 2008, Miley Cyrus is included in Time Magazines 100 most influential people in the world. Due to this, I want to find out the reasons why people idolize her and its corresponding effects to their life. Moreover, by conducting the interview with three individuals who idolize Miley Cyrus, I learn more about the idea of being a fan.

Summary of Cavicchis Book and Argument
Based on the book of Cavicchi (1998) the term fan is used as both descriptive and prescriptive when it comes to describing individuals that are regarded as fans. Cavicchi even states that,
On the whole, it the term fan is used both descriptively and prescriptively to refer to diverse individuals and groups, including fanatics, spectators, groupies, enthusiasts, celebrity stalkers, collectors, consumers, members of subcultures, and entire audiences, and, depending on the context, to refer to complex relationships involving affinity, enthusiasm, identification, desire, obsession, possession, neurosis, hysteria, consumerism, political resistance, or a combination (39).

The interest of Cavicchi with the concept of fan is rooted from the fact that Cavicchi himself is also a self-proclaimed fan. The book that he wrote entitled Tramps like us gives an in-depth research and analysis of being a fan, especially when it comes to its corresponding effects to the individual who is a fan of something or someone. Cavicchi uses Bruce Springsteen as an example for his central argument that fandom is actually a useful and meaningful behavior, which allows individuals to form their identities, establish communities, and make sense out of their lives and the society as a whole.

Cavicchi (1998) points out that the contribution of Bruce Springsteen in the world exemplifies the advantageous effects of fandom. In the past, many critics have noted that the songs of Bruce Springsteen is unique from other singers in a sense that it actually exist in world of its own with its respective characters, settings, words, and images. The world that Springsteen creates is actually very relevant to other people wherein individuals who only have little knowledge or none at all about Springsteen can still relate with his music. Springsteen emphasizes the world of highways and factories, loners and underdogs, and many others. As such, the themes of the songs of Springsteen actually embody the ideals and struggles of most ordinary Americans. Being the case, Springsteen was able to substantially influence the American pop culture and also different societal debates. Springsteen has the ability to not only speak for his fans but actually to them with directness and sincerity, which actually touches the lives of his followers.

Cavicchi uses three years of ethnographic research and his own experiences and impressions as a fan in writing his book. He provides an interdisciplinary study of the ways by which ordinary individuals who have special and sustained attachments to their idols actually were able to change and affect their lives because of fandom. Furthermore, it challenges the negative perception about the term fan, specifically the stereotypes of fans as being obsessive, delusional, and to the point of having mental problems. Cavicchi strongly emphasizes that fandom is a normal socio-cultural activity that aids in shaping the identity of individuals.

Object of Fandom
Destiny Hope Cyrus also popularly known as Miley Cyrus is an American pop singer, songwriter, and actress. Her rose to fame started when she stars in the Disney Channel as Hannah Montana. After the success of her television series, she released a soundtrack CD of the songs that she sang in the Hannah Montana Show. The popularity of the soundtrack CD in the American market, especially for teenagers enables her to create a solo music career with her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus. In her first album, Miley Cyrus was able to create her first top single entitled See You Again. The increasing popularity of Miley Cyrus paved the way for her to launch her second album called Breakout. Both the albums of Miley Cyrus top number 1 on the Billboard 200. In addition, the single of Miley Cyrus entitled Party in the U.S.A. was recognized as the highest charting and fastest selling single that reach number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100. The influence of Miley Cyrus reaches different nations, which is proven by the record-breaking sales of her albums that reach more than 15 million records.

Miley Cyrus also shines in the field of acting. Miley Cyrus first extended play was The Time of Our Lives. Miley Cyrus also performed in the concertfilm Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert. In relation to this, Miley Cyrus also starred in Bolt wherein she recorded the soundtrack for the movie, which enables her to be nominated in the Golden Globe Awards. The hit show Hannah Montana was later produced in the film with Miley Cyrus as the lead star of the movie. Moreover, the prominence of Miley Cyrus in the society is recognized by Time magazine when she is included in the 100 Most Influential People in the World and she also ranked 35 on the Celebrity 100 list of Forbes magazine for earning 25 million in 2008.  

Interviewee  1
The first interviewee is Zoe, a 16 years old girl that describes herself as an avid fan of Miley Cyrus. Zoe is a Caucasian American, who is currently studying in a public school. The interview was conducted through phone wherein the queries in the questionnaires were asked and were substantially answered by the respondent. The main interest of Zoe mostly deals with normal young adult hobbies like shopping and hanging out friends. In addition, Zoe also stated that she is very much interested in music, especially from modern pop artist. As previously mentioned, Zoe is a self-proclaimed Miley Cyrus fan. She said that she first get acquainted with the pop star through her series in the Disney Channel, Hannah Montana. Zoe immediately likes the character of Miley in the series and she also took notice of her exceptional singing abilities. Zoe said Miley has an exceptional and unique singing voice that can really attract its listeners, once I heard her voice she already mesmerized me. Zoe opted to have the complete albums of Miley Cyrus instead of just downloading it from the Internet, which she said is a way for her to actually give worth to the singing ability of her idol buy adding to her CD sales. In addition to this, Zoe is also a fan of Miley Cyrus in Facebook and she also follows her in Tweeter.

The influence of Miley Cyrus on Zoe affects her fashion sense because Zoe admitted she is actually imitating the fashion sense of Miley. I always look carefully at the outfits that she wear, as I really admire her unique fashion sense, stated Zoe. Zoe explains in the interview that she has not really done anything outrageous as a fan of Miley, the only thing that she did is make a scrapbook of her idol, which other people finds weird. Moreover, Zoe strongly believes that Miley Cyrus exemplifies the normal life of a teenager that has to go through the awkward stage of adolescence, which Zoe can relate to. Zoe expressed in the interview that Miley Cyrus affected her life by making her believe in her dreams and do more things in her life, as Zoe said, I can have the best of both worlds just like Miley.

Interviewee  2
The second interviewee is Samantha, a 13-years old teenage girl who is a die-hard fan of Miley Cyrus. She is an African-American that is studying in a public school. Samanthas interests usually involve watching television, playing computer games, and the occasional going out with her friends.  Samantha exclaimed I love Miley Cyrus so much when asked in the interview on who is her idol. She explains in the interview that she was introduced to the pop star sensation while watching Hannah Montana because her parents only allow her to watch limited channels and this include the Disney Channel. At first, she likes the comic banter between Miley Cyrus and her dad because Samantha can actually relate to it because she said that she has the same relationship with her father. Later on, Samantha is really entertained by the singing capabilities of Miley Cyrus. In relation to this, Samantha can actually relate to the lyrics of Miley Cyrus songs that talks about related issues about being a teenager. Samantha keeps a collection of different Miley Cyrus memorabilia like bags, school supplies, and others. She even said that almost all my things are Miley Cyrus inspired. In addition, Samantha also applauds the acting capability of Miley Cyrus, especially when it comes to comedy that is why she even created her own fan page for Miley. Samantha informed me in the interview that she has not done any outrageous thing as a fan of Miley Cyrus because she believes that becoming a fan does not necessarily mean doing something stupid. Moreover, Samantha points out that Miley Cyrus is an inspiration to her and also to her friends because she represents teenager everywhere who are following their dreams despite the set-backs of the teenage life.

Interviewee  3
The last interviewee is an 18 years old Asia who is actually on her way of going to college. She requested that I do not state her name in the paper, as she is afraid that someone might know that she is a fan of Miley Cyrus. The hesitation of this girl in admitting that she is a fan of Miley Cyrus comes from the fact that most of her peers perceived Miley Cyrus as a loser. As a result, this girl does not have any Miley Cyrus memorabilia and she does not join any networking site about Miley Cyrus. The main reason of this girl for idolizing Miley Cyrus is because she can relate with the life of the pop star. She states that Miley Cyrus is just a typical teenager who commits mistakes like her photo scandal and other boyfriend troubles . . . she is being real to herself and to her public. The girl idolizes Miley Cyrus because of her courage to be true to herself and to others even if she is already popular. In relation to this, she also thinks that Miley Cyrus is a strong individual that can properly handle all the criticisms that come her way. Being the case, Miley Cyrus influences this girl to also be true to herself and never give up.

Analysis
Based on the answers of the three interviewees it is quite observable that most of Miley Cyrus fans are teenage girls who are undergoing the difficult and confusing stage of adolescence. Their main reasons for idolizing Miley Cyrus are due to her singing and acting talents as well as the way she handles herself. The interviewed fans of Miley Cyrus have not done any outrageous or stupid things for their idol because of the reason that they have other outlets in order to express their enthusiasm and support for Miley Cyrus such as buying her albums, patronizing her products, and joiningcreating networking sites. However, in the situation of one girl, she cannot freely express that Miley Cyrus is her idol because of the negative perception of her friends when it comes to the pop star.

From the answers of the interviewee it is clearly proven that Miley Cyrus becomes an influential and powerful personality in the society because she represents the life of most teenagers. Miley Cyrus songs, television series, and even her life exemplify the issues and problems of an average American teenager. Miley Cyrus has substantially contributed to the American pop culture because most of her fans can actually relate with her life. Moreover, Miley Cyrus has her way of actually inspiring the lives of teenagers through her songs and the characters that she portrays, which embody a strong woman that will not give up amidst the challenges of life.      

Questionnaire
What are your interests

Are you a fan of something or someone
YES b. NO
     3) What who are you a fan of
     ___________________________________________________________________________
     4) What isare your reasons for idolizing that particular individual or becoming a fan of that              thing (movie, books, collections, etc)
   ____________________________________________________________________________
    5) Do you keep memorabilia of your idol or collection of something that you are a fan of
  _____________________________________________________________________________
    6) Did you create or join a networking site specifically for your idol or the thing you are a fan of Yes or No. Why
  _____________________________________________________________________________
    7) Have you tried imitating your idol whether in terms of dress heshe wears, manner of speaking, behavior, and others Yes or No. Why
  _____________________________________________________________________________
    8)  What is the most outrageous thing that you did as a fan
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   9) Can you relate with your idol of the thing that you are a fan of
  ____________________________________________________________________________
   10) How does your idol or the thing that you are a fan of, affect your life