Most Significant Groups in US History

[samr]

My Criteria:
I don't quite know who I'm picking yet, but I have developed a criteria to rank my top ten.
-The group must be profoundly influential. No mountain men or Shakers allowed. Influential means having a lasting or altering effect on American History.
-The group must also be important. They must contribute to today's life, or if they are long dead, they must have a lasting effect, like the Constitution is used today to define our govenment.
-Groups who strive or strove towards a goal must be considered. For example, the Whigs collectively wanted to prevent Democrats from being too powerful.
-The group must have at least one representative leader, even if it is someone like a union leader.
I think this is enough criteria to make the search way easier.

[williama]

Last Informational Post

After the Brown v. Board Education , the court directed that all states should integrate their schools under their interpretation of the Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. The school board of Little Rock, Arkansas complied with these new rulings, but the governor and legislature of Arkansas passed state laws and constitutional amendments to still keep the state’s schools integrated.
The governor of Arkansas, Orval Fausbus counteracted Little Rock integration of schools by sending the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine African-American students from entering Little Rock’s Central High School, a group known as “The Little Rock Nine.” Although, a local federal court instructed the school board to hang on to its guns, and enforce the newly established law enabling integration, but the Arkansas state government kept on pursuing. This intimidation rally came to a close when President Dwight Eisenhower had stepped in and put an injunction on the actions of the Arkansas state government and sent federal National Guard troops to protect “The Little Rock Nine” from those among the dangerous Anti-integration atmosphere present in Arkansas. The answer to the integration question in Arkansas was delayed for two and a half years, but the NAACP called out the unconstitutionality of blacks not being able to enroll in white schools during that period of delay.
In light of the valuable point made by the NAACP the Supreme Court than decided to review this case, and came to the conclusion that African-Americans should not be deprived of their constitutional liberties and rights, just to instill peace and order in Arkansas and all around the US. So, African-American students were allowed into the high school, and a new court order was established. A court order that made the Nullifiers group significant, where the Supreme Court ruled that Arkansas had no right to make laws that undermine administered law, and in this case such laws originated from the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. These Arkansas nullifiers reiterated the principle of states and state governments adhering to federal law and federal Supreme Court decisions. It’s ironic, because nullifiers were trying to fight against state adherence to federal law.
Also, Nullifiers had indirectly helped desegregate schools previously segregated in the U.S. The nullifiers in Arkansas were the first to challenge the integration law and furthermore with their failure to keep segregation, eliminated the presence of future challengers, and proved that integration is here to stay.

[matth]

I'm going to take some time in this informational post to talk about the specific policies of the Democrats a little bit more. For roughly a little over half a century, Democrats have generally adhered to ideas that are considered to be liberal. In line with this thinking, Democrats do advocate governmental intervention in the economy. Generally, this is done in order to fight poverty or to guard against possible social injustice. Recent examples of this can be seen in Democrats' spending on healthcare and controlling the national budget deficit. Of course, the classic example of this came in the form of the New Deal, which attempted to stimulate the economy and relieve impoverished Americans during the Great Depression. Democrats, under the liberal mode of thinking, are also mostly opposed to an unregulated, free-market economy in which corporations would wield strong influence. Examples of this in the past can be seen in Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson's fervent opposition to a National Bank and in T. Roosevelt and Will Taft's excessive "trust-busting". Democrats also have been historically strong supporters of groups like farmers and labor unions, as can be seen in William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech and the meteoric rise of the Populists. A number of splits have occurred over the years in the Democratic Party, producing such groups as the Northern Democrats, the Free soilers, the Southern Democrats, the Copperheads, the War Democrats, the Dixiecrats, the Bourbon Democrats, the Progressives, and the Populists. However, a number of these splits happened only for militaristic and geographic reasons, and do not take much away from the Democrats' powerful influence as a whole. The ridiculous significance of the Democrats is evident when seen through the uniting ideas that have, for the most part, spanned the Dems' existence.

[matth]

Just to expand on a previous post by Melissa F. about musicians and politics, I can say that the song "Happy Days are Here Again" has become a sort of unofficial song for the Democratic Party. Copyrighted in 1929 by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics), the song was recorded by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, with Lou Levin(vocals) in November of that year. The song ties in directly with the onset of the Great Depression and has lyrics that try to get Americans in an joyous and hopeful mood:
Happy days are here again,
The skies above are clear again,
So let's sing a song of cheer again,
Happy days are here again.
In an attempt to achieve a sense of optimism and happiness throughout the country, FDR used this song extensively during his '32 Presidential campaign and at the Party's Convention that year. We all know that turned out pretty well for him. The song stuck with the Democrats, and, over the decades to follow, became a sort of nostalgic favorite for Democrats and their supporters. So, I would have to agree with Melissa that musicians and politicians do tie in together.

[matth]

Will A.- What other significant nullifiers were critical to South Carolina's threat of secession from the United States and desire to reject the tariff placed upon them? Besides Calhoun, who are some of the others who helped organize, carry out, participate in, etc. the Crisis over nullification?

[williama]

Matt H

Other significant leaders were Senator Robert Y. Hayne, who defended nullification, during the famous Webster-Hayne debate; South Carolina Governor James Jr. Hamilton sets up a session in South Carolina‘s legislature to bring up the issue of nullification after the 1832 presidential elections; Senator Preston, and Robert Barnwell Rhett, dubbed as the “Father of Secession.”

[Grace F.]

GRACE'S SUMMARY:

In my opinion, this has been the best simulation ever, and has been so much fun to do! I’ve learned so much about these 78 different groups, and narrowing down to and picking a top ten is going to be really difficult. There are groups that have had very strong influences, but quickly die away, and there are others who are less noticeable but have continually been significant throughout history. The question is what makes something more significant than another. While I haven’t quite figured it all out yet, I now I have a criteria to help me decide. And of course, the most important thing to keep in mind is that A GROUP DOESN’T HAVE TO HAVE HAD A POSITIVE INFLUENCE TO HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT, like the Nazis or the Mob.

So anyway, this is my criteria:
1)The group should have had a profound influence, meaning that either they have continued to be influential throughout history, or their early actions alone continually influence us.
2)They should have been able to affect multiple aspects of society and government alike. The group’s efforts should have been geared towards a distinct population as well.
3)Without the group the nation should been distinctly different or altered in some way. Its actions should be at least somewhat responsible for a major historical event.
4)The group should have prominent leaders or extended organizations that made a significant impact themselves. These leaders and organizations should be able to be considered household names.

Hopefully this is going to make writing an out paper and actually ranking the groups much easier. **And keep in mind that TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES fit all this criteria**

[Tali Cayemitte]

To Helen C
You have provided a lot of info on the differences between the influential art movements in US history and what differentiated all of them but im still not really clear on how these had, if any, a profound impact on the course of American History. Your argument is that " Schools of Art can help spread an idea" but that itself is open to interpretation so i was wondering if you could elaborate. Do you have any examples where art directly affected something...anything in American Hsitory?

[williama]

My criteria in picking the top ten significant groups in the US for my out paper includes,

the group having prominent leaders in which could be synonymously identified with that group.
the groups that I pick cannot be obscure groups in American History who did not in anyway mold the present US today.

the groups contributing to the existence of the US as we know it, like European Explorers (pre-colonial) obviously, and Reconstuctionists allowing the South to rejoin the Union after their defeat in the Civil War; Iroquois Confederacy, who aided the New England States in their fight against the French, whose main objective was to expand in America. Also, revolutionaries and framers of the constitution would fit into these criteria.

The groups should have done important things that put the US in a progressive state of moving forward and making life more comfortable for both the mass population as well as the minorities present in the US. Such groups would include scientists, inventors, Supreme Court Justices, Feminists, Temperance Societies, Abolitionists, Suffragists, Segregationists expansionists and Muckrakers

The Significance of the group in their particular time period must transcend to the significance to today.

No groups that negatively affected US progression, in terms of honoring the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and other American principles and ideals will be allowed into my top ten. Such groups, include robber barons, federalists (to some degree), loyalists and Confederates.

My out paper will generally follow this outline in the picking of the top 10 significant groups in US history, though a few of my groups are not going to completely fit into this criteria, for the most part the groups will basically possess most of these qualities.

[matth]

Let me begin by saying that I think that this has been a really good idea for a simulation. I like how it requires input from every student and actually forces people to make thoughtful, intelligent commments during he simulation portion of the activity. I think that a crucial aspect of a good simulation is ensuring that everyone will have to be involved in order for it to be a success.
Anyway, here are some criteria that I think would be good determining factors of whether a group is truly significant or not:
-The group must have changed something in American society that was different before they arrived on the scene.
I think that it is important for a really significant group to make a serious change in their own most important time period.
-The group must have done something to directly affect the way that we live now.
I believe that lasting influence is critically important because it alters the way we view the past, present, and future.
-The group must have had prominent individual members either fully dedicated to or ultimately defined by their respective group.
In order for a group to be significant, they must have contained remarkable individuals who were influential in their own right.
-The group's influence must extend beyond the field that they were most directly involved with.
This particular criterion may cloud things a bit, seeing as how some of the groups don't necessarily have a certain "field" they were/are associaed with. However, I still think that this is really important.
-The group must have been directly realted to or fully involved in a major "turning point" or landmark historical event in our nation's history.
America's history is told as a series of important events that changed the course of our nation. If the group can not claim to have been a part of one of these major events, I don't think that they belong on the top ten list.
That about wraps it up for the criteria. Basically, I agree with what many people have already said. I think that with a little more organization(specific posting times for certain people to promote more flowing discussion) this would be an outstanding simulation. Though this out paper will be hard to write with its loosely defined groups and subjective criteria, I think it will turn ou to be a great exercise in learning.

[michaelg]

dilon51 said:

2nd post-
Some influential imperialists who helped start the United States on its way ...

Josiah Strong, preached Manifest Destiny, as a responsibility for
Anglo-Saxons to reach out to other countries.

In 1890, Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan published The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, stressing the need for a powerful navy. With the United States Navy strengthening, it was prepared to travel and fight all over the world.

James G. Blaine was persistent in pushing for better relations with weaker Latin American countries, therefore setting up United States intervention. He oversaw the first Pan-American Conference.

President William McKinley was aggressive in annexing Hawaii, where his predecessor Grover Cleveland had faltered.

Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders quickly sprung into action when soldiers needed in Cuba, and valiantly helped bring the territory to the United States. Roosevelt would later take Panama and ultimately set up the construction of the Panama Canal.

Henry Cabot Lodge and Albert J. Beveridge were also strong supporters of imperialism. Beveridge held strong views about “White Man’s Burden” to help the lesser “savage races.”

America was very isolationist before world war two, how did the American public view the actions of these men?

[michaelg]

Sam,
This is a response to a question you asked me a long time ago about the puritans and trade. The Puritans were largely self sufficient and they did not trade with the British. However, they did trade little with the Native Americans.

You really got me there with the Puritans. Their economy was not based on trade and they did not really need to. However, i believe that my point still stands. Throughout American history, traders have been the backbone of the national economy.

[michaelg]

Mike, i have a question. What other aspect of American History have traders influenced besides the foreign policy?

Michel'le,
Traders have been the backbone of the economy since the birth of the nation. They have influenced the economy. Because we have a free market economy in a large country, traders are the ones who bring goods from one local market to another within America. This does not affect foreign policy, but it is how our economy works.

[Thalia H.]

Laura D, I agree with your theory on political machines. With today's events as far as voting goes, it's obvious that the Congress controls a lot of the decisions made, not the people.

[Thalia H.]

In reference to Ymani's theory about the Revivalists, I do agree, but also let's not forget that George Whitefield made a huge contribution to Revivalism during the First Great Awakening.

[Thalia H.]

In reference to Margaret B's theory about the Mormons--Do their beliefs transcend nationwide or just to one specific demographic?

[Thalia H.]

In reference to Caitlin's theory about economists, could you name some leading economists? In other words, if you said "economist" to me, what names should pop in my mind?

[Thalia H.]

In reference to William A's theory on how the Gold Rush was important--I agree that it was an important event in American history, but because all the gold was really in Colorado and the 49ers didn't really find anything, I seriously doubt that it had themost significance. In addition, no one's name as a leader really pops in my head when I hear "Gold Rush."

[Jason Y]

LAST POST!!

I thought this simulation was great because it forced us to discuss the significance of very different groups of people that ALL had a noteworthy impact on the U.S.

My criteria are:

-Must be influential beyond their group's focus point. (example, industrialists influenced more than the economy.)

-Must have played a role in a turning point/significant change in the U.S.

-Must have a prominent leader/representative that can be associated with all of/most of the actions of the group.

-Must have changed society in a way that effects us today.

-bonus points :-) - if there would be a large difference in life today had the group not existed.

I haven't really decided yet who I will be picking.

That's it.

[Thalia H.]

In reference to Ayesha's theory about Jingoists, is there any custom that the government might have or participate in which could prove the Jingoists' superior influence?