Changes

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).

Be able to identify overall trends in our history.  One trend is ever-increasing federal power.  Another trend is inflation.  A third trend is increased democracy.  A fourth trend is increasing power in the world.  A fifth trend is the Supreme Court pushing us away from our religious roots.  In ''Engel v. Vitale'' (1962), the Supreme Court banned prayer in public schools.  Many consider this to be one of the Supreme Court’s worst decisions ever.

Be able to identify overall trends in our history.  One trend is ever-increasing federal power.  Another trend is inflation.  A third trend is increased democracy.  A fourth trend is increasing power in the world.  A fifth trend is the Supreme Court pushing us away from our religious roots.  In ''Engel v. Vitale'' (1962), the Supreme Court banned prayer in public schools.  Many consider this to be one of the Supreme Court's worst decisions ever.

Also understand history as a struggle between two sides.  It is like two wrestlers combating each other on a mat.  The wrestlers rotate on the map as each one tries to gain an advantage on the other.  Same for the two political parties: they rotate their regional support over the years.  At the time of the Civil War, the Republican Party dominated in the North and the Democratic Party dominated in the South.  Now it is the opposite.

Also understand history as a struggle between two sides.  It is like two wrestlers combating each other on a mat.  The wrestlers rotate on the map as each one tries to gain an advantage on the other.  Same for the two political parties: they rotate their regional support over the years.  At the time of the Civil War, the Republican Party dominated in the North and the Democratic Party dominated in the South.  Now it is the opposite.

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, and the communications - they may have a bigger impact on the future than anything political.

== Review ==

== Review ==