Understanding U.S. History Since 1945: Key Events & Leaders

1 , Martin Luther King Jr. "Martin Luther King Jr and the Montgomery Bus Boycott," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 259-263, page 260 2 Harry S. Truman, "The Truman Doctrine," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 211-214, page 212 3 "Brochure on the Equal Rights Amendment," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 298-300, page 298 Analytical Essay 3 The history of the United States since 1945 has had many important events that shaped the United States along the way. The many political movements and changes made during this time are what made it so important to the growth of America. Even though both the leaders and the citizens each had their own impact on the history, I believe that the path history took was essentially created by the political leaders during this time, m aking history from the “top - down” better for understanding the United States’ history. In the 1950’s, the civil rights struggle began to expand. The civil rights movement started with the need for equality and freedom for African Americans. Their aim was to end the legalized racial discrimination and segregation inflicted upon them by the Jim Crow laws. This is an example of how the leaders shaped this part of history. If it were n’t for the laws set in place by the government causing the segregation and discrimination of African Americans, this fight for equality would have never started, which would not have led to one of the most important movements in U.S. history. Martin Luther King states, “ Just the other day...one of the finest citizens in Montgomery...was taken from a bus and carried to jail and arrested because she refused to get up and give her seat to a white person. ” 1 When he said this, he was referencing to

1 , Martin Luther King Jr. "Martin Luther King Jr and the Montgomery Bus Boycott," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 259-263, page 260 2 Harry S. Truman, "The Truman Doctrine," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 211-214, page 212 3 "Brochure on the Equal Rights Amendment," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 298-300, page 298 one of the most famous civil rights activists, Rosa Parks. This quote shows just how horribly the government’s laws affected the African American community, as she was arrested for something so petty as not giving up her seat on a bus. This was just a start of the Civil Rights movement, and this would not have happened if it weren’ t for the government and its ridiculous laws used to limit the lives of African American citizens. Another example of how the “top - down approach” is better for understanding is seen within Richard Nixon ’s presidency. In 1968, Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States. While in office, President Nixon worked to construct a stable world order, mending relationships with the Soviet Union and China, instead of trying to create abstract ideals of democracy. In the Truman Doctrine, it says “The foreign policy and the national security of this country are involved.” 2 Even though this was not stated by President Nixon, I believe it shows just why he made the choices that he did during his time in office, to protect the nation’s foreign policy and national security. In 1970, Nixon started a bombing campaign in Cambodia, since they were thought to be providing sanctuary for North Vietnamese troops. He then followed this up with a ground invasion. This instigated another anti-war movement among the American public. These anti-war protests that took place resulted in the infamous Kent State University shooting, where four unarmed protestors were shot and killed by the National Guard, and nine

1 , Martin Luther King Jr. "Martin Luther King Jr and the Montgomery Bus Boycott," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 259-263, page 260 2 Harry S. Truman, "The Truman Doctrine," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 211-214, page 212 3 "Brochure on the Equal Rights Amendment," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 298-300, page 298 others wounded. This, yet again, proves how the leaders cause uproar among the common people, resulting in extraordinary moments in history. The “top - down” approach of history can also be seen with the women’s rights movement. Women fought for equality and rights for decades, which is evident with the ratification of the 19 th amendment, which in 1920 finally gave women the right to vote. Women continued to fight for their rights well into the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, they achieved many accomplishments, which included Congress passing the Equal Pay Act of 1963, making it illegal to pay women less than men for the same work. The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan, and they worked to call on federal government to enforce equal opportunity provisions and other things along those lines. In the Brochure on the Equal Rights Amendment , it states “Under the U.S. Constitution corporations are considered legal persons, but women are not.” 3 This alone shows how much women suffered and just how hard they had to fight against their own nation to be seen as equals. Women were tired of being treated as if they were not simply human beings, and this treatment is what spurred their movement, and ultimately giving them the equality that they searched for. These three examples show just how much the top-down approach of learning history is immensely better for understanding. It shows the root of the problems, and how it branched into

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1 , Martin Luther King Jr. "Martin Luther King Jr and the Montgomery Bus Boycott," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 259-263, page 260 2 Harry S. Truman, "The Truman Doctrine," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 211-214, page 212 3 "Brochure on the Equal Rights Amendment," in Eric Foner, ed. Voices of Freedom, Vol. 2, 6th Edition (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 298-300, page 298 the significant moments we learn about today. Though the citizens were the ones who took the initiative to create some of the greatest movements in history, they would have never started if it weren’t for the obstacles they faced by the hands of their leaders.

Analytical Essay 3

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