American History

Douglas MacArthur said, Old soldiers never die they just fade away (Williams 41). This is the essence of the American identity. Each generation has come and changed the world in which we live. America is a living entity that moves and grows as time persists. It is a body that is always advancing towards innovations to make the world a better place. The Smithsonian Museum of American History epitomizes the growth America endured over the past several decades. There are many areas that focus on technological advancements, while others demonstrate how pop culture has changed over the years. The most striking exhibitions, though, are those showing America is times of distress. These exhibitions not only focus on the advancements being made, but on the heart of being American best characterized by the warrior mentality that has kept America free and advancing.

In the exhibition, The Price of Freedom Americans at War, the perils of war are shown in every facet of the exhibit. There are pieces of memorabilia that commemorate the lives of the soldiers. Even if their names might not be remembered, there is a spirit that envelops the complex to show the pride they have for our country. A brochure is available for patrons to stamp their way through the great wars in American history it also shows the number of lives lost over the years due to war. While the numbers are decreasing as our technology advances, it still reminds visitors that, even today, history is being made by the men and women fighting for our country. The exhibit spans over 18,000 square feet one of the largest in the building and covers 16 conflicts in American history, but puts emphasis on four the War of Independence, the Civil War, World War II and Vietnam (Glass). However, respect is also shown to those who fought in such wars as the French and Indian War, the Mexican War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, Korea, and recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq (Glass). The displays show the real lives of the people who fight to make our country what it is today. As individuals mark their way through history, they are sealing not just a brochure, but the pride in being here, alive, and free.

Freedom is symbolized directly in the Star Spangled Banner The Flag the Inspired the National Anthem. This 200 year old, 30 by 34 ft flag inspired the words to our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key (Smithsonian). Similar to the warrior spirit of the soldiers fighting for our freedom, the original flag is still in tack (Smithsonian). After flying high on September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimores Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag after winning a crucial victory over British forces (Smithsonian). As Key was coming in by dawn on early light on Sept 15, 1814 the words came to his mind and soon came to life as our Nations national anthem.

There are other exhibitions that also demonstrate the warrior mentality in American history. When there is conflict or war, there have been men in power that carry the burdens to their graves. In The American Presidency The Glorious Burden, there is an extremely strong emphasis on the daily lives, policies, and deaths of past Commanders in Chief. Going in order from independence to modern times, similar to The Price of Freedom display, this exhibit shows the struggle for progress America made over the years. It starts with a view of the origins of America as a nation. After rebelling against King George III, the first inclination of Americans was to avoid a centralized authority, and place most of the power in the states however, this proved to be a daunting task and soon the founding fathers realized that some form of national authority is needed as they face the realities of building a nation that faced internal disputes and international affairs (Smithsonian). However, due to the hardships they escaped from, extreme measures ensured that the same situation would not present itself in America.

The demonstration shows there is a limit to the power of the President, but that many defining moments in history are directly correlated with whoever held office. There is no greater responsibility in our nation than the Office of the Presidency (Smithsonian). Some of the duties shared through the exhibit are executive, diplomat, military leader, and consoler not including the necessity to make life-and-death decisions, propose policies that will change the course of the country, and then greet a group of elementary school children (Smithsonian). Some of the greatest chief executives thrive at balancing the numerous roles they are expected to play others stumble because they cannot master one of the many duties of the office (Smithsonian). With these victories or losses, they are remembered for all time. Some of the victories shared include President Lincoln for his role during the Civil War and Reconstruction, Presidents, including, but not limited to Grover Cleveland who served during the Industrial Revolution and those that helped us get through the Great Depression like Franklin Roosevelt (Smithsonian). The job as president  has made every man who occupied it and no matter how big he still is not big enough for the job at hand (Smithsonian).

Throughout the remaining sections of this exhibit are memorabilia that show how Americans demonstrated their opinions about former Presidents during their reign in office. In many ways the American people use these same methods to express their own opinions about presidents today for instance, political cartoons , movies, plays, records, and television programs offer varying interpretations of the lives of real presidents, or create imaginary leaders who reflect the mood of each generation (Smithsonian). Based on the political climate, Americans have often shared their views about the country in which we live because of the rights and freedoms afforded us by our ancestors.

There is a special exhibit for President Lincoln that not only shows these extraordinary facets of his life as Commander in Chief, but all the obstacles he overcame to become president. In Lincoln An Extraordinary Life, a candid view of Lincoln shows he was not formally educated and was poor (Smithsonian). Some of the quotes from Lincoln resonate even in modern society. Images of his childhood and his young adulthood are shared, making him less of a legend. Instead, they make him real and alive. He was even the victim of poor comedy as he was parodied as the backwoods candidate (Smithsonian). Nothing in life came easy for Lincoln in fact, he learned the law by borrowing books and training informally with practicing lawyers and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836 and practiced law there for 25 years (Smithsonian). Like many people of his era, Lincoln believed deeply in the value of personal initiative, inventiveness, and scientific and technological change an attitude keeping America moving during even the hardest times in our history (Smithsonian). In many ways, this spirit helped to keep America progressing forward after the tragic loss of so many during the Civil War. Lincoln believed A house divided against itself can not stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolvedI do not expect the house to fallbut I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other (Smithsonian). With a few words Lincoln sets out a policy that kept America together as one. Similar to other presidents and their policies, Lincoln knew that signing freedom to the slaves would change the face of America forever, and would forever seal his fate in history books. In 1863 he says if my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it (Smithsonian). With his whole soul, he led America to a new phase in history.

The promise of freedom Lincoln created was soon forgotten in America. Another trying time in American history is the plight of African Americans during the Civil Rights movement. Actors allow patrons to sit-in at a counter and prepare for the possible backlash during a real sit-in. However, these are real stories and lives that changed the face of America today. On February 3, 2010, a special evening ceremony is planned for Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and, posthumously, David Richmond better known as the  Greensboro Four (Edwards). In 1960, almost fifty years to this day, these four African American college freshmen sat down at the Woolworths lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., and politely asked to be served (Edwards). Little did they know they would ignite a youth-led movement to challenge injustice and racial inequality throughout the South (Edwards). They are warriors fighting for the rights all Americans should have been afforded.

Although there is just a four-stool, eight-foot portion of the Woolworths lunch counter on view at the museum, the power that these students had to fight back against injustice is admired and appreciated (Smithsonian).  Walking through this exhibit and viewing the demonstrations definitely is a bit ironic because down the hall in the exhibit about First Ladies and Presidents, pictures prove the progress that has been made during the past fifty years. History truly has come a long way, and is still changing every day. In America, the struggle leads to progress.

After walking through the Smithsonian, there are many thoughts that come to mind how inventive the American people are, how far we have come, how we a forging ahead making new history every single day, but progress is the only word that can sum up the visit. On the surface there are just exhibits commemorating the people who fought and people who died, the people who invented and the people who led. However, on a much deeper level it is a living story of how people can live in freedom due to the fighting spirit in every American.