APUSH | Degler Essays Review

Were the Puritans Puritanical?

 no not really any more than anybody else was at the time

Degler argues that although the puritans have been marked in history as extremely strict and anti-art, they actually did indulge in fun in moderation, making them un-puritanical

Ex: puritans did drink: avoided drunkenness Puritans did listen to music contrary to popular opinion 

Rights of Englishmen

The creation of the democracy as we know today in American was not planned, and in fact, rather accidental as the colonies tried to find their own ways to rule 

(page: 22)

All of Us Americans

Americans have their own culture distinctive from Europe (language, art, etc.) (page:72)

Ex: “lumber” - england: unused furniture - America: raw wood

Causes Were Consequences

Although Britain enforced taxes onto the colonies after the French-Indian War, the acts of taxation had minimal economic impact on the colonists, the direct ending of the salutary neglect and the novelty of strict enforcement of Parliamentary law which the colonists believed violates their colonial American dignity was the spark for revolution and nationalism more so than taxation (page: 79)

Revolutionaries Can Be Conservative

 The American Revolution was rather conservative in its ideals, yes democracy, but no change to social order, no abolition of slavery, no “eat the rich” ideas → wanted the freedom of salutary neglect back. Degler argues between the terms “radical” and “conservative” in this one (page: 92)

Conservatives Can Be Innovators

After the American Revolution, the conservative Federalists came up with some good ideas for separation of church and state, urbanization, economic plans, etc. (page:100)

More than Sentiment

The advancement of transportation in the US was “more than sentiment”, and the US needed it to be actually linked as a country.

The Factory Comes

The factory came, saw, and conquered the US with the advancement of transportation. Transportation and Industrialization were directly linked.

Jacksonian Liberalism

Modern party structure a direct result of Jacksonian democracy appealing to the common man. Did not have to have a strict idea of what was good, just had to appeal. (page; 160) Freedom of economic opportunity.

The Peculiar Institution

Slavery was a “peculiar institution” (as said by the south) that was very intertwined in the South’s culture, even to yeoman farmers who did not have slaves themselves. It was seen as a hierarchy to have slaves, even to those who didn’t, and those without slaves  were expected to keep the order of the south. (page: 175)

All Slaves Are Black

Slavery was race based in America, meaning all slaves were black and seen as inferior and didnt like being treated that way: Degler demonstrates the ways slaves were unhappy with slavery, not in the form of violence (revolts) or runaways, in the songs and suicide - Myth of contentment with slavery (page: 182)

But All White People Are Not Free

The poor in the South were little better off than slaves, as they were financially dependent on the slave owners, and their standard of living suffered. Just because someone wasn’t black didn’t mean they had a great life (page:189 )

American Dilemma

conflict between the “all people are equal” and slavery, South completely in denial about equality in slavery, and North slowly accepting it. these cultural differences had no compromise → civil war (page: 198)

Twilight of the States

State powers were severely limited by Lincoln, whose focus was securing the Union, Their “twilight” before going dark (page: 220)

How Black Was Black Reconstruction?

 it wasn’t really that Black after all, only 2 congressmen were actually African American in this time period, white people were still seen as better off, and the social hierarchy didn’t change that much from slavery in general (Segregation was allowed in Plessy v Ferguson, poll taxes, literacy tests, sharecropping, grandfather clauses etc.) 

Myths the South thought about reconstruction;Degler debunks: North military vengeance after CW, There was ten years of reconstruction, White disenfranchisement, Black domination 

(page: 237)

People Make Cities

As the 19th century progressed, there was a continuing shift to urbanization in America and away from the farms. cities were crowded (NYC 18.52 persons per dwelling) and had little recreation “dull and un-interesting” , theft and fires (very different from the farm) (page: 340)

But Cities Also Make People

The culture of cities was very different from the culture of the farm, and migration to cities saw a different way of life. People who lived in cities had more social mobility, but were often lonelier, though they were closer at the same time. vertical and horizontal movement: up the social ladder, different occupations available. Suicide rate way higher 3.18% 1860 to 11.9% 1922. city people used to live shorter than rural people. Birth rate and family size lower It was harder to have one distinct identity in a city than a rural area. (page: 342)

The Farmer as Politician

For the most part, attempts of the Populists to solve farming was targeted at the symptoms of the problem (Railroads, prices, banks) and not the disease (overproduction) (page: 359)

Standing Jefferson on His Head

Jefferson and Jackson’s idea of limited government was flipped upside down with the Populist movement, because they were worshiping the same agrarian state yet advocating to use the government to ensure it.

from Jefferson Democrats wanted local gov, and federal reg while Populists wanted farmer focus and anti monopoly reg (oddly contradictory)   (page: 363)

New Politicians with Old Principles

In the progressive era, there were new political agendas in theory, but they stemmed from old principles of increasing democracy = initiative, referendum, recall and allowing the people to have more economic opportunities = progressive working conditions improved  (muller v oregon 1908), and monopolies, ICC, antitrust act 1914 (Stemmed from Jefferson and Jackson, but look above) (page:395)

Hunger is Not Debatable

Just as it says. The government had to take action to prevent the people from starving. Plain and simple. (Page: 412)

Revolution in Politics

The New Deal brought a revolution in politics as it drew African Americans, union workers, and women to the Democratic party while casting out support from the South. (page:426)

Revolution in Labor

there was a revolution in labor as even in a period of economic decline (the Great depression) labor unions still grew more than Taft-Hartley to restrict labor unions (1947)

Minimum wage up, more women working (page: 433)

Was it A New Deal or an Old Deal?

It was a New Deal (Degler calls it the 3rd American Revolution), but there were still some conservative aspects, according to Degler. (He’s wrong, and, in fact, contradicting himself) (page: 443)

A New Diplomacy for a New Era

US no longer isolationist with WW2 (george washington's farewell speech) , shifts to being interventionist, and defies its 150 years of history thus far. “realistic to be idealistic” (page: 493)

Challenge and Response

 The challenge? Communism. The response? Containment. (page: 531)