American Culture: History and Society

Exam: Short answer identifications Essay: e.g. take one of the myths and trace it through American history Readings on moodle Movies: Black Rope, Magnolia, Amistad

What is history?

Documented events in the past, record of the past. Usually gone instantaneously if not documented. Texts, archeological artificats, pictures, architecture, music (visual/performative arts): everything that men have created and has survived part of historical record. Role of historian: interpret records. *process of constant redefinement/of interpreting the past, not a discovery

Why study history?

Understand culture/past: now is shaped inevitably by what has happened before Not repeat mistakes of history How things were different/similar in the past Stories of heroism, stupidity... Fundamentally connected to the future (you may be through with the past, but the past isnt through with you

American Exceptionalism?

What, if anything, makes US History, society, unique?

Idea of Americas uniqueness, has shaped the way America sees itself in the world. American Dream; the idea of alwas being able of reinventing yourself, seek out new land, place, home. America is a country settled by people who come from somewhere else. Short history: to rise from esentially nothing, to the world super power

History of immigration: some groups more dominant than others, but always a melting polt, melange. History of violence on a national level: continues to committ to violence and the right to use it. Religion: freedom of religion (eventually), in some ways though obligation to have religion, One of the very few industrial countries that is still very religious.

The First Americans

When does American History begin? *1620: pilgrims come to Massachussetts, earlier British colonies; *1607: James Town, Virginia *Early 1500s: Spanish Colonies *1492: Columbus * Indian populations whove been there for a couple of thousand years Collision of three worlds (either completely or largely isolated from each other): Amerindian/European/African; created the New World 1507: Idea of Eurocentrism, America not yet well discovered, Not good sense of Asia either.

1. Amerindian America before European Contact

*Centrality of Amerindians to American History through mid 19th century

*Two dominant views of Amerindian and Europeans:

1. noble savages: they live in perfect harmony with nature, peaceful- and loving, pure of heart, naive and simplistic, childlike, because of that they havent been corrupted by modern civilization 2. savages: in a sense like wild animals, have tob e cleared out. What makes them savages? Primary difference: no religion. Lack written language, culture, must therefore not be sophisticated and eliminated

(Cahokia, Illinois) mount-building culture;

pueblo indians in the south west (Taos, New Mexico) Europeans arrival which pushes Indians out into West-Michigan, Minnesota, which pushes those Indians out again.

(North-East) Eastern Woodlands Indians (Marilyn, Virginia): lived in *small villages, community: highly functioned, persistent society, would plant in clearings, beans, corns, squash, hunting fish, women: gender-hierarchial, primary farmers and food-gatherers, men: hunters. Use land in best way, aggressive ways too. Dont live in perfect harmony, but dont have the capacity to wipe it out, like Europeans. Trading goods! *Trade: was meant to develop religious and spiritual values; give and take between different people; trading system very different to Europeans. *Fairly sophisticated social structure: Civil and War-leader of tribe; religious leader; civil leader was often a woman in modern tribes, status came from your mother, when Europeans came: a man has to be the leader, so they only talked to war-leader (man), couldnt imagine a female leadership in society. *Everthing had a spiritual component.

2. The Invasion of America

A. COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE: North America -> Europe: Tobacco, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoe, Avocado, Tomato, Potato... come from the New World to the Old world Europe-> North America: bananas, sugar cane, coffee bean, livestock: cattle, sheep, pig, horse; disease: malaria, influenza, smallpox etc.

B. SMALLPOX AND THE EFFECTS OF DISEASE IN NORTH AMERICA

C. MAKING OF A NEW WORLD FOR BOTH EUROPEANS AND AMERINDIANS

As Europeans arrive, transforms conception of Amerindians there at that time, disease collamidy happens, religious leaders have a crisis, ability to protect tribes has been threathened, lose some of their authority, some of Indians turn to European religion in hopes of salvation (some adopt Christianity etc.).

Europeans bring trade goods, Amerinidians become increasingly the people who acquire goods for European traders in exchange for guns, pots, etc. : depenandt on the world, capitalistic economy

D. 16th CENTURY CONTACT BETWEEN EUROPEANS AND INDIANS

Until 1700s: much more Indidans (4:1 Europe)

Squanto: A Case Study of Contact. helped pilgrims, who were starving, showed them how to fish, help corn grow, kept them alive; trying to be a go-between Europeans and other Indian tribes; spoke English, was captured and taken to England in 1610, returned in 1619: 90% of his tribe had been wiped out due to diseases, so he tried to establish himself as that go-betweener; become secure and able, need for alliance not really there anymore, continued to try to negotiate, died of Indian fever in 1623. Thanksgiving: comemorates first meeting between Pilgrim and Indians;