Changes

This is the final lecture of the course, and takes us through the [[9/11]] terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

This is the final lecture of the course, and takes us through the [[9/11]] terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

What is the most important event in America in the current decade 2001-2010?  The terrorist attack of 9/11?  President Bush's elections?  Two new Justices on the Supreme Court?  The election of President Obama?  Or this class?  Do not think that history is something that involves only other people.  You shape history too.

 

What is the most important event in America in the current decade 2000-2010?  The terrorist attack of 9/11?  President Bush’s elections?  Change at the Supreme Court?  Or this class?  Do not think that history is something that involves only other people.  You shape history too.

Consider the history of the United States to be like a child who grows into an adult.  At what age would you expect a baseball player to hit his first home run?  At what age would you expect a country to be old enough to have a prolonged Civil War?  At what age would you expect a country to be able to lead the world?  Put things in perspective and realize that we had to be 180 years old before we could write a Constitution, and over 300 years old before we could become the most powerful nation in the world.  But once our country grew old enough, our enemies began to grow from within (e.g., infiltration by anarchists, communists and, more recently, terrorists).

Consider the history of the United States to be like a child who grows into an adult.  At what age would you expect a baseball player to hit his first home run?  At what age would you expect a country to be old enough to have a prolonged Civil War?  At what age would you expect a country to be able to lead the world?  Put things in perspective and realize that we had to be 180 years old before we could write a Constitution, and over 300 years old before we could become the most powerful nation in the world.  But once our country grew old enough, our enemies began to grow from within (e.g., infiltration by anarchists, communists and, more recently, terrorists).

We have seen several important figures who were Quakers:  William Penn, Susan Anthony (who favored women’s right to vote), Whittaker Chambers and Richard Nixon.  What was the Quaker religion really about?  It was Protestant against Protestantism.  Every Quaker is his own pastor; every Quaker is his own church using the Bible and his “inner light.”  This led to a fierce independence in the character of Quakers, including a pacifism (opposition to war) by the Quakers in the eastern United States.

We have seen several important figures who were Quakers:  William Penn, Susan Anthony (who favored women’s right to vote), Whittaker Chambers and Richard Nixon.  What was the Quaker religion really about?  It was Protestant against Protestantism.  Every Quaker is his own pastor; every Quaker is his own church using the Bible and his “inner light.”  This led to a fierce independence in the character of Quakers, including a pacifism (opposition to war) by the Quakers in the eastern United States.

What “drives” or “leads” or “causes” history?  Do politicians lead or follow?  Do writers of books lead or follow?  What’s the real cause of history?

What "drives" or "leads" or "causes" history?  Do politicians lead or follow?  Do writers of books lead or follow?  What's the real cause of history?

Many would say “culture” is what drives history.  In other words, what is considered “cool” to people.  What is considered to be fun, enjoyable, fashionable, acceptable, etc.  The movies we watch, the books we read, the activities we pursue, the styles, the festivals, the communication, etc.

Many would say "culture" is what drives history.  In other words, what is considered "cool" to people.  What is considered to be fun, enjoyable, fashionable, acceptable, etc.  The movies we watch, the books we read, the activities we pursue, the styles, the festivals, the communication, etc.

== Review ==

== Review ==

In the 1960s, these hard-to-categorize events occurred:

In the 1960s, these hard-to-categorize events occurred:

In class we then debated this topic:  Should Ford have pardoned Nixon?

In class we then debated this topic:  Should Ford have pardoned Nixon?

== Clarence Thomas ==

== Clarence Thomas ==

[[Category:American History lectures]]

[[Category:American History lectures]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 13}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 13}}