One s Own American Dream. By definition, the American dream is the concept of an. opportunity of success and prosperity, but is it the same for

Transcription

1 Heinsohn 1 Jacob Heinsohn One s Own American Dream By definition, the American dream is the concept of an opportunity of success and prosperity, but is it the same for everyone? Some might say it is achieving goals as a political party, or gaining equality and freedom. The Republican Party wanted to better the infrastructure in America, women wanted equality among men, and slaves wanted to be freed; nevertheless, each of these groups had there own form of an American dream, and they each achieved in gaining it. By the 1820 s, America had adopted a republican form of government. This was a market based economy that had a goal of making America a thriving capitalistic society. The Republican Party focused on banks and transit systems. In 1816, the republican dominated congress chartered the Second National Bank, which led to 246 chartered banks with over sixty-five billion dollars in banknotes in circulation. The bank was often very corrupt, and its banking pattern helped spark the panic of The bank was disliked by many, and when the idea 1 Henretta, America a Concise History, page 226.

2 Heinsohn 2 of the bank s recharter was brought to Andrew Jackson in 1832, he vetoed it and deemed it unconstitutional. 2 Moreover, because the country was divided by vast geological obstacles, 3 the republican government also focused on building a transit system to help increase trade. State legislatures granted hundreds of charters for turnpikes to be built, this would increase trade, but also allow monopolies to take place. 4 Canals were also built to help increase trade on water ways; this led to trade in inland regions on a vast scale. 5 The republican government completed their goals, but political reform later modified them and sparked other activists groups to reach out for their goals, including women. In Colonial America, women were expected to obey their husbands and fathers at all times, to never speak on political or religious matters, and were denied formal education. They were not allowed to own property; even something as little as a war bond had to be held by a male family member. 6 Despite these restrictions, as America gained its independence, women began 2 Sheets, Sources for America s History, Andrew Jackson, Veto Message Regarding the Bank of the United States (1832), page Sheets, Sources for America s History, HON.P.B.Porter, Speech on Internal Improvements (1810). Page Henretta, America a Concise History, page Sheets, Sources for America s History, Building the Economy ( ), page Henretta, America a Concise History, page 176.

3 Heinsohn 3 speaking out for their own independence and equality. Even though many politicians ignored women s pleas for equality, American women did not back down; they continued to petition for equal rights, especially in education. The new republican belief in educated citizens opened huge windows for many women. Some believed women should be educated in society, manners, and the government of the country. 7 Other female activists argued that men and women were equal in mental capacity, and that women were inferior to men not because of natural causes, but due to lack of training. 8 Women not only fought for education rights, but also for religious reform. Furthermore, women were also restricted from having a voice in religion. For years it was considered wrong of a women to speak on religious matters. During the second great awakening, women gained new roles in religion. Some believed that a women should live for God first and her husband second. 9 Women began taking charge in religious institutions due to their numbers and began creating organizations to help benefit neglected groups of women. Additionally, women convinced ministers to begin having mixed sex prayer meetings. Religion also opened new doors for 7 Sheets, Sources for America s History, Benjamin Rush, Thoughts Upon Female Education 1787, page Sheets, Sources for America s History, Judith Sargent Murray, On Equality of the Sexes (1790), page Sheets, Sources for America s History, Margaret Fuller, Women in the 19 th Century (1845), page 261

4 Heinsohn 4 women in the form of education; women were taught in the church and eventually began taking roles as public school teachers. As women fought for educational and religious representation, another neglected group in America was fighting for their freedom. Slavery began long before Americans thought about their independence. Africans were auctioned to the highest bidder like livestock, and enslaved into a life of manual labor and discrimination. Years of working long days in the fields of plantations led slaves to develop their American Dream of freedom. As the Revolutionary War broke out, many slaves supported the war and even fought alongside the patriots. In Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia slaves took up arms in exchange for the promise of freedom; the Virginia legislature passed the manumission act in 1782, which led to 10,000 slaves gaining their freedom. 10 In contrast, some slaves believed that King George III would be their savior; 30,000 slaves fled from their owners and made their way behind British lines, and many were relocated in Canada and English colonies in Africa. 11 As the war came to an end, the majority of slaves in America did not receive the same luxury. 10 Henretta, America a Concise History, page Henretta, America a Concise History, page 237.

5 Heinsohn 5 After the war, some slave owners in the Chesapeake area allowed their slaves to work as artisans or laborers in order to buy their freedom. 12 However, in fear of emancipation, slave owners in the Deep South constricted their grasp on their slaves; in addition, the Atlantic Slave Trade was reopened and 115,000 slaves were imported in Savannah and Charleston between 1790 and Slaves in the Deep South knew how terrible their life was; for example, many slaves considered themselves the most degraded, wretched, and abject people since the beginning of time. 14 Slaves knew that in order to achieve their dream of freedom, they had to take matters into their own hands. Many enslaved African Americans attempted to run from their plantations, but very few successfully achieved this. The slaves that could not escape the wrath of their owners faced severe punishment, such as being dragged behind a buggy all the way back to the plantation. 15 The majority of actions taken by slaves were for their dream of freedom, so when emancipation was finally enacted, slaves were extremely joyful about finally 12 Henretta, America a Concise History, page Henretta, America a Concise History, page Sheets, Sources for America s History, David Walker, Preamble to Walker s Appeal in Four Articles (1830), page Sheets, Sources for America s History, Levi Coffin, Reminiscences of Levi Coffin (1876), page 286.

6 Heinsohn 6 reaching their American Dream; additionally, a day in Louisville was even appointed to celebrate the extremely important day. 16 In short, each of these groups had their own form of an American dream, and they achieved their dream in their own ways. The Republican Party strengthened the infrastructure through means of transit, women gained religious power and education, and slaves gained their freedom. Overall, the American dream is not set in stone; it is what one truly desires that defines the American dream. 16 Sheets, Sources for America s History, Harry Smith, Fifty Years of Slavery (1891), page 353.