Most Significant Groups in US History

[coby]

Summative post:
Like Mike my criteria is impartial to the type of impact the group left on America, either positive or negative will be judged evenly.
1. The groups that changed America the most.
2.The groups that took the largest risks in their respective time period in American history.
3. The groups that kept their goal alive by making certain that they trained a new generation to continue the work.

[Tali Cayemitte]

To Coby

I never said or even implied that suffragists were less important than feminists. I merely stated that feminists were just as important. They were involved with just as much vigor as the abolitionists were in terms of the abolition movement and the suffragists were in terms of their movement.

[Thalia H.]

Summative Post

This simulation has been very helpful to everybody and it's opened my eyes to how many different groups have played their part in American history.

Now this criteria isn't finalized, but here's an idea of what it might look like for the outpaper:


1)Does their theory/idea have “staying power”? In other words, will their beliefs transcend onto others for a while, as society changes, or is it just a fad that will end quickly?

2)Do they relate to the public or just a select group? Is it good in their favor? Was it their intention?

3)Is it original or do you feel like it’s been heard or done somewhere else before?

(This is subject to change.)


So, good luck to everybody on their outpaper! And uh..no hard feelings about no one asking any questions about my religious leaders. I'll just (ahem) take it as there is no question about who had the greatest influence, heh heh (pop your collar pimpin'.)

[vickyg]

3rd informational post:

the drive for womens suffrage was at its height after the ratification of the 15th ammendment, which granted black males the right to vote. Suffragists were enraged that the government acknowledged blacks politically but still neglected to provide women with suffrage.

In 1869, two influential suffragist groups were founded: National Woman Suffrage Association (led by Susan B. Anthony & Elizabith Cady Stanton) and the American Woman Suffrage Association (founded by Lucy Stone). Both groups vehemently advocated for women's suffrage. The NWSA adopted a more radical campaign stradegy, concentrating their efforts on getting Washington to implement a nation-wide law providng suffrage for women while the AWSA tried to get individual states to enact suffrage laws.

Finally, in the late 19th century, the territorial legislature of Wyoming implemented a permanent suffrage law allowing women to vote in 1869. They were followed by a few other states, and by 1913 nearly 12 states had suffrage laws. However, Congress continued to neglect the issue of womens suffrage until the end of World War I.

World War I proved to strengthen the suffragist platform. The contribution of women in WWI on the homefront could not be ignored by Congress. Finally in 1919 a suffrage amendment passed through Congress granting women with suffrage.

The suffragist movement prompted social revolution throughout the 20th century. Suffragists efforts allowed women to become viewed as individuals throughout the 20th century. After women obtained suffrage, subsequent administrations had to cater to their economic, social, and political needs.

[vickyg]

SUMMATIVE POST

I’m picking my top 10 based on whether:
- they exerted a considerable influence on other aspects of American society outside of their respective fields.
-they maintained an influence throughout American history (as in since America it was founded) example, the military, slaves, musicians, Supreme Court justices, etc.
-Their influence is not limited to a certain time period or era
-American history would have been radically different without their existence (example pre-colonial explorers, freemasons)
-Their actions and efforts still have an impact on contemporary society (regardless of if they had a more positive of negative impact)

Like Nnecka said, I think that the most important requirement to keep in mind in picking these groups is their effect on the general development of America. If without their influences, America would not be the country that it is known for today, then they are DEFINETLY worthy of a spot in the top 10.

good luck on your out papers!

[Matt F]

3rd information post on journalists:

Without journalists, our country as a whole, would be nowhere near where it is today. Journalists and journalism were really what made way for technology like the radio, television, and even the computer and internet. The technology boom in the twentieth century that created all of these things was due to journalists and the need to distribute information across the country. Without journalists, we would never have modernized and technology would never have been pushed so far.

[Matt F]

Michelle- Why do you think socialism never really caught the interest of the majority of American people?

[jonahsprung]

Educators # 2

First, a very brief outline of the rest of the history of American education:
By 1870, thanks in large part to the work of educational reformer Horace Mann, all states provided free public elementary school. Like jason mentioned, the Reconstructionists played a role in making education widespread and bringing it to the South during this period. In the ealy part of the 20th century, philosopher and education reformer John Dewey (not of the Dewey Decimal System) spread his ideas of progressive education, stressing things like critical reading and hands-on experience. During this time high-schools also became more prevalent.
In 1944 the G.I. Bill of Rights made it feasible for large amounts of people to go to college who previously could not pay for it. This opened up many higher-end professions to a larger economic bracket, helping democratize and de-strtify American society. In 1954, the land mark case Brown vs. Board of Ed. made segregation in schools illegal throughout the country.
This is a very basic overview of the history of American education--but why is it important?
I will tell you.
The children are the future, and throughout American history education has been a prime factor in creating the world-view and perceptions of these children. The extent of the influence that education has on children is immeasurable. Education controls the past and shapes the future. There is no single factor in all of American history that has had a greater effect on the way we live.

[Matt F]

meghanav said:

rina said:

Last info post:
Rialroad workers are one of the most influential groups in American History because they still exist today. There are still Transcontinental Railroads, and other railroads that many people use today. Railroad workers are still fighting for better working conditions and better wages. Railroad workers were those who built the railroads, and now they work in the trains and fix the railroads. Railroads and their workers still exist today.

I don't think that the fact that railroads are still around is a strong enough argument to say that they are one of the most influential groups in America. A lot of the inventions that Buddy wrote about are still around today also.

I agree with Meghana. Also, you have to remember that railroads were once extremely important to our country and transportation, yes, but you cant really put them in that context anymore because they arent the only way of travel and are not dominant like they used to be.

[dylanj]

Summative Post
This simmulation has really opened my eyes to some groups that I never really considered significant. However when it comes down to it, only ten can make the list. In order to be one of my most significant groups in American history, groups must meet the critieria. While a group can be centered around a certain period, there affects on America must be longlasted. An example can be the Framers of the Constitution. Although they only were around for the infancy of America, the Constitution, although amended, has survived into the modern era. Also, as many people have pointed out, the word significant does not mean good. Whether the group had a good or bad effect on America, the magnitude of the effect is all that matters. Also the group must represent the American public as a whole. Its effect must reach the entire nation, not just a selective group. With so many to choose from, I am excited to pick my 10 most significant groups in American History.

[Juliet T.]

Gabe and Margaret-

Congress as a branch of government, is the most responsive to public sentiment and need. Without public participation and support, there is no United States democracy. As far as the banking acts, legislated by Congress, they helped to stabilize our banking system and therefore created an atmosphere of confidence and at the same time, immunity from foreign manipulation. This helped us to evolve and grow as a nation, strongly establishing capitalism as our economic system.
Some other acts of Congress, which had far reaching effects, were the Homestead Act, which encouraged the settlement of the West. It also established the oldest national park in the U.S. by passing the Yellowstone Act and created a precedent to further protect our natural lands for future generations. It passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prevented monopolies from overpowering private businesses and restraint on trade in interstate commerce. How about passing the 19th amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. Another example of congressional acts would be the Public Works Administration Act, which helped to create the New Deal, which helped the United States recover from the Great Depression. The Fair Labor Standards Act led to establishing set standards for the working class, including their wages, hours, and working conditions. Then there was the United Nations Participation Act, Atomic Energy Act of 1946 to govern nuclear power, the Clean Air Act, and Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensuring the right to vote for all African Americans, just to name a few.

[meghanav]

mrosem44 said:

Second Info Post (some important names):

Eugene V Debs – Socialist politician and was one of the founders of the IWW. He ran for president five times, receiving 6% of the vote in 1912. He gave an anti-war speech in 1918 which landed him in jail, where he would run for office in 1920! He was pretty much the Socialist movement…

Helen Keller – the deaf and blind girl we all know and love was a socialist and supported Debs in his many presidential campaigns.

Upton Sinclair – Member of the Socialist Party of America, muckraker who wrote the pro-socialist novel, The Jungle, that criticized the meat packing industry in Chicago and suggested Socialism as the solution to the problems the workers faced.

I know that The Jungle brought about changes in the meat packing industry, but did it help the Socialist party? I mean did more people want to join the Socialist party? When Roosevelt read the book he agreed that changes had to be made, but he disagreed with how Sinclair preached socialism.

[joannagross]

Summative Post:

The criteria that I am planning to base my rank of the top ten most significant groups will be to what extent the group:

-changed more than one facet of American society such as economy, politics, social structure etc.
-had an effect on a wide variation of Americans ie: not just south or not just whites
-effected society in a way that would cause change that lasts (How would society be different had the group not existed? Was the change they caused a determinant to American History?)
-caused progress (regardless of whether I think it positive or negative) in the nation’s growth into what it is today
-contained original ideas and/or were the forefront of battling for original ideas ie: the framers of the constitution had original ideas but the republicans are also extremely significant because they battled for these ideas and forced them to be effective)

The groups that I plan to use in my top 10 will be: Framers of the Constitution, Slaves, Military, Republicans, Democrats, Rebels, Supreme Court Justices, Civil Rights Leaders, Labor Unions, and Expansionists

[Juliet T.]

Laura B,

"Most unions did not accept blacks, further distancing them from our nation's economy."

I completely agree with this statement because the union's rejection of black membership, further alienated African Americans from a social and economic system they didn’t want to have anything to do with from the very beginning, having been brought to this country as slaves against their will.

[carolinah]

To Michelle M.
How can the Socialist be the most significant group if the Party they created doesn't exist today and wasn't popular during it's time?

[carolinah]

To Laura B.
Can you explain in more detail why the segregationist were important. I don't understand what influences they had on the counrty?

[carolinah]

Summative Post
From what I have read on the Bulletin board, many of the groups impacted American history. I will pick my top ten based on :
Their lasting influence. Did they influence other groups? How long they were around for? Was this group only effective during a certain time period or were they effective throughout history? The amount of significant events they were apart of that affected the nation? Were their ideas original?
and without this group will America be the one we know today?

[Matt F]

agold21 said:

Info post 2
Throughout American history, there have been many prominent athletes, who have had great influence on American people. Some of these athletes include:

Mohammad Ali- Born Cassius Clay, however changed his name when he became a Muslim. He was crowned the sportsman of the century by Sports illustrated in 1999. He was the heavyweight champion of the world, as well as won an Olympic gold medal. Ali, since retiring, has become a great humanitarian, and was in 2005 given the presidential medal of freedom. According to the Mohammad Ali center website, "Since he retired from boxing, Ali has devoted himself to humanitarian endeavors around the globe. He is a devout Sunni Muslim, and travels the world over, lending his name and presence to hunger and poverty relief, supporting education efforts of all kinds, promoting adoption and encouraging people to respect and better understand one another. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry. Ali travels, on average, more than 200 days per year."

Babe Ruth- George Herman Ruth was born in 1895, and made his major league debut in 1914. In 1998, the sporting News called him the greatest baseball player ever. In 1936, Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, as part of the first ever class. It could be argued that Ruth popularized, or even romanticized baseball, and really is attributable for making baseball as it is today.

Jesse Owens- Born in 1913, Owens was an American track and field athlete, who's claim to fame was winning gold during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. His win is seen as a way of Blacks, as well as Americans "sticking it" to Adolf Hitler, obviously a great racist. In 1976, he too was awarded the presidential medal of freedom, and though he died 10 years earlier of cancer, he was given the congressional gold medal in 1990 by George H.W. Bush.

Jim Thorpe- Born in 1888, Thorpe was a multi-sport athlete, who won Olympic medals as well as played football and baseball professionally. Thorpe, a Native American, was originally from Oklahoma, but moved to Pennsylvania, where he excelled at many sports. In the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, he won two gold medals. Legend has it that when the king gave him his own prize, the king (Gustav V) said, "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world," to which Thorpe replied, "Thanks, King."

Babe Zaharias- A gold medal winner in the Olympics, Zaharias also excelled in many other sports. She was an All-American in Basketball, and though her real name was Mildred, acquired the name Babe after hitting five homers in a single game. In spite of this, Babe was best known as a golfer, as competed on the PGA tour, something that would not happen again for years to come.

Alex- I guess I have a similar question to Becca's, although I'll phrase it in a way that isn't as confusing. I agree with you that athletes are significant in the scheme of things. However, for this simulation, why do you believe that they are more significant than, say, imperialists or bankers or journalists, for example, who made our country into what we see it as, today?

[Nicole V.]

imyourbestbeth said:

mbrier said:

Beth- (and Buddy)
I understand your argument, but I believe your argument is flawed. The most powerful groups that affect the government are the voters, who are led by their culture to decide who to vote into office. Even if one were to disagree and deny the power of the voters for the power of politicians, the Supreme Court Justices are not the most influential group because their decisions so rarely affect the people of the country. If the cases you listed had not been decided by the Supreme Court, they would have soon been addressed by another part of the government, or maybe the media or an organization would push it through approval in the government, because all of those decisions that you credit to the Supreme Court Justices were pressing or upcoming issues of their times and could not have gone unaddressed.

Margaret-
First of all, I completely disagree with your statement that the Supreme Court's decisions rarely affect the people of the country. It is impossible that no American citizen was affected by Brown v. BOE or Plessy v. Ferguson or Roe v. Wade. These are only some of the cases that have affected the American people. And even if some people aren't directly affected by a decision made by the Supreme Court, they eventually will be because every court in the US has to rule the same way as the Supreme Court in similar cases. In fact, many Supreme Court decisions have been so controversial, like the ones mentioned above, that every American at least knows about them, let alone be affected by them.
I also disagree that the issues addressed by the Supreme Court would eventually be settled by other forms of government or the media. The fact that they were even brought to the Supreme Court means that those cases were not being solved any other way. The Supreme Court must be presented with a case and the justices only pick the ones they think have the most importance. This shows how all of the cases were brought to the Supreme Court as a last resort. For example, abortion was settled by the Supreme Court, but still gets attention from various organizations and the media and has not been settled in that respect. If there was no Supreme Court, basically nothing would ever get done because there would be a lot of back and forth arguing between the government and organizations. Also, no other source could have decided the outcome of Marbury v. Madison because that decision started judicial review which states that the Supreme Court can overrule pretty much any other part of the government.

Beth- I realize this was from a while ago, but I completely agree with you. In my opinion, many of the Supreme Court cases are too intense for any smaller group to handle. They take these cases because they are the only ones who can come to a conclusive and constitutional conclusion. Good Argument!

[Maureen H.]

Summative Post

I will be choosing my top ten groups based on whether:
- they contributed to the expansion of this country
- they were involved with the federal government
- they determined the fundamental American values
- they defend or exemplify fundamental American values
- they laid foundations for other groups or events