Kontan’s Place

Continued: “Roots of Postwar Politics”

Preface: I hate studying politics. It is absolutely the most difficult arena for me…

During and after WWII there were recognizable changes regarding the relationship of business and government. The business sector pursued a positive image to avoid blame for the depression. Business also became more monopolistic. There were also changes in the nature of demagoguery. Whoever appealed most to the anger and frustration resulting from war experienced influence and rise in the political arena. According to Wolfe, business and military were more successful at directing “this sentiment against the New deal than New Dealers were to use it to their own advantage.” Politics in the postwar era became a process of securing business confidence in order to secure voters.

Wolfe explains the emergence of a growth coalition advocating economic expansion through policies of macroeconomics, acceptable to the monopoly sector of the economy. By using surplus, this growth coalition, planned to enable the poor and minorities to take part in the reshaping of cities through domestic policies. Regarding foreign activity, they planned to economic domination with military power to maintain American influence, while incorporating the poor into the growth through aid and developmental assistance. Wolfe states, “the growth coalition should properly be characterized by its dominant belief: the idea that growth at home and expansion abroad could unify the interests of the dominant sectors of the economy with an electoral base that would keep it in power so long as growth continued.” Eisenhower is credited with embracing such growth, therefore legitimizing it.

Wolfe also addresses the changing political vocabulary in the United States. He first defines liberals as “those who believed that the government should play a positive role in correcting the abuses of capitalism by promoting a concern with equality and social justice.” In contrast, he states, “Conservatives argued that business had made America great and that therefore as few reforms as possible should be passed that would undermine its privileges.” As with most political ideas and terminology, the meaning of both liberal and conservative shifted over time. Liberals became those that pursued rapid growth, while conservatives embraced consistent and tempered growth. According to Wolfe, liberals were willing to pursue rapid growth using government and that the result of growth would be a fiscal dividend useful to expansion of welfare benefits. The same principles of domestic expansion, advocated by liberals,were applied to foreign policy with the creation of the national security council. Conservatives were also advocates of growth, but preferred it to occur through the private sector and at a slower pace, in an effort to avoid inflation. Conservatives were also cautious with imperialistic foreign policy.

Fortunately Wolfe summarizes his liberal/conservative growth coalition debate stating the necessity of compromise. He believed the liberals and conservatives were closer on policy than either group would care to admit, stating, “the debates between the parties were real, but they concerned how fast and at what cost growth should be achieved.” To achieve success both groups had to find a middle ground to appeal to voters, therefore issue debates were more concerned with the means of achieving success, not the actual success. According to Wolfe, “the consolidation of this growth-oriented pattern of politics under Eisenhower was the most important consequence of the Republican interregnum of the 1950s.”

watching, waiting

we sit watching the news and waiting to hear estimates and hope. i’ve spent some time reading forums from across the south. it is rather depressing. southern mississippi and louisianna are obviously devastated. other areas are suffering too. one of my favorite vacation spots is dauphin island, alabama. while so much better off than any of the southern mississippi or louisianna cities, DI has a lot of rebuilding ahead. sad really. people all across the gulf coast will have to start over from nothing. they will rebound though and the rest of us will again boost their economy with our visits.

The Roots of Post-War Politics: Alan Wolfe

After WWII challenges faced the US regarding government organization and relationships within the world. There was a great push to return to business, while battling communisim and embracing ideals of isolationist policy. There were even some thoughts of continuing New Deal initiatives to a natural conclusion of democratic socialism, American style. (full employment, economic planning, national health insurance, commitment to peace though the United nations)

America chose economics over politics believing if the economy was under control, social issues would follow. Economic expansion was sought at home and abroad.

tbc…..

nasty day

hurricane katrina is devastating the coasts and working her way north. so much for any plans of visiting new orleans any time soon. fortunately the french quarter looks really good, unfortunately the same can not be said for other areas.

aub is sick today, the wonderful barking of croupe started about 1 AM. had to run to store earlier for miscellaneous items and meds. spoke with several people from new orleans. so sad. i feel horrible for them having to leave their homes and not knowing what has happened, or how much damage they will go home to.

looks like a long night of storms. time to get the dogs bathed and in.

American Supremacy

“The war had overturned the world, and many American’s believed that they were now on top of it.”
Thomas Patterson: The Origins of the Postwar International System

This is the first of three essays I am looking at to evaluate the impact of WWII on America at home and abroad. This first is very well written, capturing attention with descriptive insight as well as historical foundations. Patterson examines the impact of WWII on politics around the globe and the early attempts of US leaders to guide the rebuilding process of the changing international system.

With the world in shambles, America was forced to shift from total war to peacetime production. Americans were ready to spend some of the money they had been saving during the war years. Women, who had replaced many men in factories and the general work force, were having to shift back to traditional roles as men came home from the war. (This is an intense side note here, but the article does not address so I will have to address it later as I further discuss women and industrialization in America.) Although America celebrated the end of WWII there was fear that the era of prosperity would collapse. The war, not FDR’s New Deal, brought America out of the depression. . . could it’s end send Her back? Although the rest of the world struggled with rebuilding their cities, societies, and governments, Americans were enjoying the excitement of vacations, entertainment, and industrial boom. Wages had kept up with inflation and with nothing to spend on during the war, Americans made up for it afterwards.

Abroad the US accepted the role of superpower. Patterson states, ” more than statistics establish American supremacy. World conditions did so. The United States was powerful because almost every other nation was war weakened.” The US had the opportunity to shape the rebuilding of the postwar system. The greatest concern was who would be on which side. Although devastated by the war, the Soviet Union accounted for a huge rival for American security. Patterson feels, and accurately so, that the major powers in the world exploited the opportunities presented by postwar reconstruction. Smaller nations alligned themselves with one power or another in an attempt to secure aid, independence, and security. Some nations embraced neutrality. In the eyes of the US such nations were either with America or against, believing the neutral nations were an alliance against America. Decolonization was an issue facing all major powers, none were immune. Independence was granted by the US to the Philippines, where the US continued to aid with security. A significant involvement is that of Vietnam. Both the US and Soviet Union competed for allegiance of new governments, Washington backing the French and Soviets allying with the Vietminh insurgents, as Patterson refers to them. Both sides saw the benefits of their alliance in the potential for strategic bases and new markets.

International politics were strained, with the bomb resting in the back of everyone’s mind. It’s power of immense destruction served as a deterrent as well as a means. It presented an arms race on an unseen scale. New problems arose in the post war world, new instabilities. Conflict of interests carried and hardened into a four-decade Cold War.

“Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee”

“Its amazing how the World begins to change through the eyes of a cup of coffee!!” Donna A. Favors

i really enjoy a good cup of coffee. and yes, i dont mind the caffeine kick. caramel macchiato is the favorite, but regular will do. these days it is much needed. i was a starbucks fan, just like many other coffee drinkers. but then, on a beautiful evening last march i discovered the wonders of the non-chain coffee house. ok, semi-non-chain. i discovered uptown coffee. love it there. the atmosphere is nice. it’s quiet most nights. they play jack johnson and other mellow tunes. i can take my laptop and study, or just hang out and surf. it is my refuge. i can put the kids to bed and head off to uptown to relax for a couple of hours enjoying a caramel macchiato, vanilla latte, caramel or vanilla frappe…recently i discovered they make great smoothies. perfect for the evenings i skip dinner. i feel like i’m being good and having a fruit substitute. they also have great sandwiches or salads. i’m not into sweets. i hate chocolate and only occassionally like cakes. really have to be in the mood for sweets, but they have those too. i’ve told everyone i know about uptown…hey, i want them to stay around! it’s a winner for most everyone who tries it.they tend to not be able to resist the urge to drop in when nearby. ahhh, the power of the coffee house! haha.

there are other good places too. strangebrew is a fav when i attend class. the guys at uptown helped train the strangebrew crew. that’s why i say semi-chain. they buy from the same roaster and have a similar set up at both places. only strangebrew offers a pina colada smoothie that is great for really hot days. (i’m a pina colada fan too.) there’s a coldstone creamery next door that is great, and i cant wait to take my kids sometime, but again…that whole sweets thing for me.

and last favorite coffee place…cow and bean on dauphin island. i was so happy to be on the island this past spring break and find the cow and bean open! the guy who owns it is a NUT! but cool place. best caramel machiato here too. dude knows his biz!

all three favs have net access and good coffee. no doubt strange brew and uptown will make it. i just hope cow and bean can hang on in the off season…come on snowbirds! keep him in biz!!!

Isaac: The Transformation of Virginia

Rhys Isaac evaluates the cultural changes taking place in Virginia during the years 1740-1790. Isaac proposes to define the meaning that 18^th Century inhabitants attached to their environment. In doing so he applies a “landscape” view to society in an effort to examine the way of life in Chesapeake during the time period. In this landscape view concept the society is shaping the environment in such a way that coincides with ideas of well being and adaptation. The marks society leave behind on the land they occupied gives insight into their lives, distribution of wealth, and access to resources. He addresses the role of authority portrayed by religious institutions and the challenge to such a role by the hierarchal organization of society. The men at the top with wealth and power, the gentry, challenged the supposed authority of such institutions. Isaac divides the work into three sections, addressing first the traditional ways of life then the various movements and events taking place in Virginia. In conclusion he evaluates the changes that took place within society.

The community organization is explained in such a way that demonstrates the Virginia community landscape. One means of wealth demonstration by the gentry is in the construction and design of their homes. The main house is the central focus of a gentry’s home, but is usually supported by symmetrical subordinating structures on each side. Gentry wealth was tied to their land with credit, instead of money, used as a means of exchange. Credit was freely extended to those with high social standing. The lesser individuals of society lived in humbler dwellings of one or one and a half stories with little more than two rooms, usually away from main waterways. Little attention is granted to slave quarters in the main body of the work. Isaac will revisit slave organization at the end suggesting their living organization hints at an existing social system within their clustered quarters.

Isaac describes the social experiences of Virginians as sharing close communities of interlocking families, yet these families may have members who have settled westward. It was necessary to move due to the value of extensive land holding for tobacco production. The continued division of such holdings, among various heirs in a family, depleted individual growing power. Although religion was considered a major part of community life, Isaac points out this too was a social necessity. The act of attending church was a social show of status, expressing gentry dominance rather than one’s devout nature. Piety was reserved for the old and infirm. Attempting to portray the power of the gentry within the church Isaac explains parson qualifications, simplifying it to one who could carry both his religion and liquor as a gentleman should.

Addressing relations of church and community there was an apparent power struggle between church leadership and community leaders. Various parsons were accused of living lives of scandal, lacking moral fortitude, leading to their dismissal and community leadership suggesting increased salaries to attract better parsons. Conflict continues as Isaac describes various religious movements taking place. The gentry felt their authority threatened by the more formal and orderly congregational community evangelicals offered to the less fortunate experiencing the harsh realities of day to day life. The traditional life established by the gentry was filled with pride and gaiety, contributing to the frustrations of those falling on the lesser end of the social spectrum. Such religious movements sparked debate, confrontation, and frustration.

Isaac portrays the landscape view of society rather well in section one, yet abandons it in section two, only to address it further in conclusion. The agrarian society remained while the influence of gentry and religion continued to conflict. The parish church disappeared, being replaced by reorganized “evangelical meetinghouses” dotting the community landscape. Although a breakdown of hierarchal society organization seems to be indicated, it is not necessarily the case. Gentlemen still existed, and even somewhat assimilated into the changing religious patterns. There continued to be those less fortunate and those more pious. The physical landscape changed as cities grew and society adapted to changing values and expectations.

Overall, Isaac presents an informative account of the changes and conflicts within Virginia. The landscape view is a unique description for changing societies and organization of study. It presents the assumption that those living in their environment not only influence it in a physical sense that is obvious to observers, but in a social sense that can be evaluated by those willing to observe closer and question the relationship of physical and social changes.

Morgan: American Slavery, American Freedom

In American Slavery, American Freedom Edmund S. Morgan presents the history of early Virginia, intending to also present the paradoxical relationship of slavery and freedom, and the role of each for support of the other. He contends American independence was purchased with slave labor. Slavery was not the original plan for the American colonies. Expectations were for the natives to welcome the new arrivals and adapt to the colonists proposed way of life. Much to their dismay, settlers underestimated both the climate and conditions of their new habitat, as well as the native reception.

Morgan begins with Roanoke and descriptions of grandeur for future colonial settlements in America. The described reality is not so grand. Differing agendas, natives unwilling to assimilate to the satisfaction of colonists, and little initial capital led to the story of the “Lost Colony” and what Morgan calls, “The Jamestown Fiasco.” Slavery is not part of either story in the beginning. In fact, Morgan maintains the colonists did not wish to enslave, or even force, natives to work. Even through difficult times they continued to desire a Utopian society of interracial cooperation. However, as times grew tougher, and tension higher, there was less cooperation among all participants in the colonial experience.

Although not forcing servitude upon the Indians, settlers did beg, trade, steal, and demand Indian cooperation for settlement survival. Without the native population early settlements would have been considered a dismal failure in the grand scheme of history. Some would find it an arguable point despite the passage of time and successful establishment of an independent nation. Regardless, some form of servitude is characteristic of colonial settlements, despite the early absence of slavery. Morgan describes three types of servitude: tenure, bond, and apprenticeships. To be a tenant was considered most advantageous as they were allowed to receive a portion of profit earned. Bond servants received nothing but their personal maintenance with a master receiving all profits. Lowest on the early servitude scale was the apprenticeship. Apprentices served a term of seven years to the planter paying for them and then another seven years as a tenant. Most servants were tenants. However, as tobacco became more and more profitable the nature of servitude began to shift more to bond labor. Laws were expanded to guarantee extended terms of service eventually leading to the acceptance of slave labor.

No longer wishing for the Utopian interracial society, some natives were enslaved. Later, the profitable nature of African slave labor was discovered by colonists. At first, not wishing to enslave the Africans, colonists bought them from island settlements. Over the passage of time, and increasing profit, the moral dilemma of enslaving another did not seem such a dilemma for colonists. After all, slaves were considered mere pagans and property to be utilized in the most profitable manner.

Upon this argument, Morgan successfully presents the paradox of freedom and slavery, the irony of one society’s freedom built upon the enslavement of another. However, without the benefits of slave labor it is likely that the colonists would not prevail in their struggle to break from English dependency. For such adaptation and acceptance to take place, Morgan describes the shifting prejudice that must occur to morally justify the cultural adaptation. His presentation seems at times to be judgmental of the colonists. By modern standards they do seem morally bankrupt regarding the treatment of fellow man, however their moral outlook is not the same as those of modern society, and modern society is not without its own moral bankruptcy. Morgan’s work is an interesting presentation of the history of Virginia, provoking examination of what he describes as the American paradox. He is rather slow in this provocation, not detailing servitude and slavery until well into the work.

Greene: Pursuits of Happiness

In Pursuits of Happiness, Jack Greene compares the colonies of the Chesapeake region with that of New England, as well as Old England and earlier colonial settlements. Four major goals Greene attempts to assess and reach in his work are to evaluate prevailing assumptions regarding the significance of New England colonial development to other settlements, compare experiences of settlers in various other colonial establishments, determine the emergence of American culture and outline important points, and provide a historiography for further research. Greene proposes to create awareness for the diversity of early settlements and birth of American cultural patterns based not only on one particular region, but a combination of the four broad cultural regions of Chesapeake, New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Lower South. In reaching the goals he outlines, Greene focuses on social development, examines European and African settlement patterns, and attempts to digress from generalities .

Greene describes the dominating characteristics of both Chesapeake and New England settlements. Where Chesapeake was secular, materialistic, and competitive with a high mortality rate, New England was religious with a benign environment of kinship networks and low mortality contributing to rapid growth. New England’s patriarchal system also had strong social institutions contributing to development. Due to the agricultural foundations Chesapeake had a high demand for labor and their disproportionate population did not allow for strong social institutions, but strong individualism was prevalent. Although Greene claims those coming to Chesapeake colonies intended to model Old England, it was not possible due to the harsh environment which would not cooperate with their lofty intentions. The Chesapeake colonies adapted for not only personal gain but necessary survival. It is not realistic to compare two vastly different climates of settlement, Chesapeake and New England, and assume they will successfully model the same area of origin.

Greene negates the assumption that New England colonies were more representative of Old England. In fact, he supports the argument that Chesapeake is more representative due to the nature of settlement and settlers of Chesapeake seeking to improve their economic status and personal growth, striving for economic gain and growth, thereby making society more competitive. Also, the social ladder was not firmly established, one could easily move up and down based upon circumstances. New England colonies were more religious and conformist in their desire for personal perfection, religiously paternalistic with stronger kinship ties.

With the passage of time, the bonds of New England society seemed to deteriorate. Settlers contributed this deterioration to moral and social decline, as well as a rejection of founding goals. Reverse of Chesapeake, New England developed from community to individualism. As the population grew in New England individuals and extended families dispersed attempting to establish their own dream of success. New settlements, semi-independent and somewhat antagonistic of each other, developed. They also experienced a decline in the influence of clergy. Greene argues that it is not a decline of society as they seemed to believe, but mere change and adaptation to the passage of time. Although religion continued to dominate New England society, it did not hold the same preeminence as with original colonial settlement.

Although off to a difficult start, Chesapeake became a more cohesive colony developing an extensive social system. Greene claims a closer relationship between rural Britain and Chesapeake Bay. Important to development was the replacement of indentured servitude with black slaves. Slaves were a free labor source that did not cease after a period of time, and it was self perpetuating. Over time, slavery allowed for economic growth and stability of the region. Chesapeake experienced the growth of a small and powerful elite and the expansion of religious fervor, yet the same dream was driving colonial development, that of independent happiness and opportunity.

Greene establishes that New England was the exception and not the norm. With time, Chesapeake and the lower South struggled from political and socioeconomic strife just as the island and European colonies had. Chesapeake eventually became, at least to a degree, what New England began as. In comparison, New England ntinbecame more like the competitive and individualistic society of early Chesapeake. Rather than developing into vastly different regions, the two gradually became more alike contributing to the development of American culture. Greene’s approach is both analytical and informative, offering a logical comparison of New England and Chesapeake colonies to that of earlier colonies and Old England. However, little information is provided to determine the impact of early colonies upon the development of future American culture.

week two down

week two is over. it’s too early to be counting the days til the end of the year, i know that. the first few weeks are such an adjustment. i have one class that is high maintenance and one student in another class that is going to try me everyday. wish i could rant that out here, but can’t. lets just say security knows that i am not joking if the button is pushed. unbelievable really. it will just be a special project to see this kid improve behavior this semester.

lots to get done this weekend. i didnt think taking a class in the same semester with comps would be that bad, but now i see the amount of time before my exam date, the number of arguments to be familiar with, combined with the papers for the contemporary US course…and well…it’s intimidating. first set of comps were today. i’m curious to see how those people did, what they thought of it. i only know two people on my panel. i’m comfortable with them, a little intimidated, but comfortable. no clue who the third will be. have to get an annotated bibliogrpahy together soon for everything i have read. OMG that is a LONG list. guess i better get to more action on compchaos and stop browsing the net. actually contemporary US is the pressing issue at the moment…off to it. smiles, kontan jou!