Samenvatting Readings History of the USA - Walter Licht
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Course
History of the United States of America
Institution
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
Successful in the first session! (14/20) Summary of the lectures in the History of the United States of America course by professor Walter Licht (KUL)
Includes a comprehensive summary of all readings, showing which texts belong to which chapter in the handbook/lessons.
Summary in English (si...
Readings: History of the United States of America
Professor Walter Licht
1. Introduction and Back to the Future
W. Fitzhugh Brundage, “I've studied the history of Confederate memorials. Here's what to do
about them,” VOX, Aug 18, 2017
The article discusses the history of Confederate monuments in the US and suggests a course of action
for dealing with them.
Origins of Confederate Monuments: Confederate monuments were not spontaneously erected (=
opgericht) but were strategically placed by white Southerners with political motives.
o Most monuments were funded and erected by private groups like the United Daughters of
the Confederacy (UDC) without undergoing standard public approval processes.
Lack of Democratic Oversight: African Americans and other dissenting (= afwijkend) voices had little
opportunity to oppose the monuments, as they were often installed without public input.
o Over the past decade, some Southern legislatures have passed laws preventing the removal
or alteration of historical monuments without state legislature approval.
Timeline of Monument Proliferation (= Snelle toename): The surge (= toename) in Confederate
monuments did not happen immediately after the Civil War but coincided (= gelijktijdig plaatsvinden)
with the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the "reconciliation" between North and South.
o This period marked a deliberate effort to construct a narrative that suppressed historical
complexities and promoted white supremacy. (= Bewuste inspanning om een verhaal te
construeren dat historische complexiteiten onderdrukte en witte suprematie bevorderde)
Explicit Ties to White Supremacy: Some dedication speeches for Confederate monuments explicitly
linked their commemoration to the defense of white supremacy; Confederate memorials celebrated
the slave South and white power, contributing to the suppression of alternative historical narratives.
Suggestions for Moving Forward: The author suggests acknowledging the South's transition to a
pluralist society and involving inclusive public debate to shape the commemorative landscape.
o Repealing (= intrekken) laws constraining monument removal and fostering democratic
procedures is recommended.
o Rejects the idea that removing or relocating Confederate monuments constitutes historical
erasure, arguing for preserving them in museums for historical interpretation.
o Proposes careful documentation of monuments before removal for preservation in archives,
museums, or disposal.
Concerns About Adding Monuments: Expresses skepticism about calls to add monuments as an
alternative to removal, citing the logistical challenges and significant funding required.
o Questions whether proponents of Confederate monuments would support funding new
monuments honoring those who opposed the Confederacy.
Preservation in Museums: Suggests preserving Confederate monuments with aesthetic significance
in museums where they can be properly interpreted by curators and docents.
o Differentiates between artistically valuable monuments and mass-produced sculptures,
suggesting the latter could be consigned to the "trash heap of history."
The article ultimately encourages a thoughtful and democratic approach to address the controversial
legacy of Confederate monuments in the United States.
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,2. The Late Nineteenth Century: Civil War Legacies and Great Socioeconomic
Transformations
Walter Licht, ‘Explosions’, in Licht, Industrializing America: The Nineteenth
Century
Labor Unrest and Farm Protests in the Late 19th Century
(Arbeidsonrust en Boerenprotesten)
Explosive Start: July 1877 Railroad Workers' Strike (= staking) in Martinsburg
On July 16, 1877, railroad workers in Martinsburg, West Virginia, refuse to handle train traffic due to
announced wage cuts (= loonsverlaging). This leads to national labor unrest and violent confrontations
in cities such as Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Chicago
Flare-up (= opflakkering) of Unrest: Late 19th Century Various Conflicts between Capital and Labor
The late 19th century witnesses severe (= ernstige) labor unrest in US, with notable events such as the
railroad strikes of 1877, the Haymarket incidents of 1886, and the Homestead and Pullman strikes of
the 1890s. Despite setbacks (= tegenslagen), labor unrest remains a fundamental feature (= kenmerk)
of American life
Unions (= vakbonden) in Action Evolution of Unions and Leadership
Unions play a crucial role in labor unrest. Following the establishment of the National Labor Union
(NLU) in 1866 and the rise of the Knights of Labor, Samuel Gompers' American Federation of Labor
(AFL) emerges as a successful and strategic union organization
Economic Conditions and Unrest Contrasts in the Economic Landscape
th
The late 19 -century economy is characterized by disparities, with growing inequality in wealth and
income. Despite industrial progress, the US experiences depressions and recessions. Workers,
especially in factories, demand better working conditions amid (= te midden van) economic
uncertainty
Farm Protests and Regulation The Role of Farmers in Social Reforms Farm
Protests, such as those by the Patrons of Husbandry (Grange), lead to the regulation of railroads with
the Interstate Commerce Commission Act of 1887. Farmer alliances, like the People's Party, seek
reforms but lose momentum after 1897
Lasting Influence and Challenges n Political Legacies of Workers and Farmers
The movements of workers and farmers have a lasting impact on American politics for decades.
Despite challenges, contemporary concerns about political and economic order suggest that the
legacies of these movements remain relevant in the 20 th and 21st centuries
Preamble of the Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor, founded in 1869 and led by Terence V. Powderly, was a significant labor union in the
late 19th century US. It sought to unite workers across industries, advocating for an eight-hour workday,
safer conditions, the end of child labor, and fair wages (= loon). Despite facing internal and external
challenges, the Knights of Labor contributed to the broader labor movement and influenced the fight for
workers' rights in the US
The Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor, written in 1881, outlines the organization's
objectives:
1. Unify labor to counter the aggressive power of accumulated wealth and prevent the degradation
of the working masses
2
, 2. Organize all sectors of productive industry, emphasizing (= benadrukken) knowledge and moral
worth over wealth as standards of greatness
3. Ensure laborers receive a fair share of wealth, increased leisure (= vrije tijd), and societal
advantages
4. Seek government establishment of Labor Statistics bureaus to evaluate the conditions of the
working masses
5. Establish cooperative institutions for production and distribution
6. Reserve public lands for actual settlers (= kolonisten), opposing allocation to railroads or
speculators (= tegen toewijzing aan spoorwegen of speculanten)
7. Abolish laws favoring capital over labor, eliminate legal technicalities, and ensure the health and
safety of workers
8. Enact laws compelling corporations (= bedrijven) to pay employees weekly in the lawful currency
9. Grant mechanics and laborers a first lien on their work for full wages
10. Abolish the contract system in national, state, and municipal (= gemeentelijk) work
11. Prohibit the employment of children under fourteen in workshops, mines, and factories
12. Secure equal pay for equal work for both sexes
13. Advocate for an eight-hour workday to allow for social and intellectual improvement
14. Encourage governments to establish a national circulating medium directly issued to the people,
without the intervention of banking corporations, serving as legal tender for all debts (= Wettig
betaalmiddel voor alle schulden)
- The Cooperative Commonwealth: They want to have producers’ cooperatives
- ‘To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work’: So, not an idea by the feminists’ movement
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries This idea arose much earlier!
The Omaha Platform of the Populist Party
The Omaha Platform, adopted in 1892 by the People's Party (also known as the Populist Party),
serves as a comprehensive manifesto outlining the core beliefs and objectives of the Populist
movement in the US. The platform emerged from the cooperative efforts of the Farmer's Alliance in
the 1880s and was solidified during the party's founding convention on July 4, 1892
Key Points of the Omaha Platform:
1. Political and Economic Critique:
The preamble highlights the perceived moral, political, and material ruin facing the nation. It
criticizes corruption in various institutions, including the ballot-box, legislatures, and
Congress
Identifies issues such as demoralized citizens, voter intimidation, subsidized or silenced
media, concentrated wealth, and the disempowerment of urban workers
2. Financial Reforms:
Advocates for a national currency issued solely by the federal government, functioning as a
full legal tender for all debts. It opposes the involvement of banking corporations
Calls for the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at a ratio of 16 to 1
Demands an increase in the circulating medium to at least $50 per capita
Supports a graduated income tax and the limitation of state and national revenues to cover
essential government expenses
3. Transportation and Communication:
Asserts (= beweert) that transportation, including railroads, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interest of the people; Extends this principle to the telegraph and
telephone systems, advocating for government ownership to ensure public benefit
4. Land Ownership and Usage:
Affirms that the land and natural resources are the heritage (= erfgoed) of the people and
should not be monopolized for speculative purposes
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