Most Significant Groups in US History

[Andrea T.]

Info Post 3:

Earl Browder, the leader of the Communist party in 1944, had expected the wartime alliance between the Soviet Union and the United States to lead to a period of harmony after the war. In order to better integrate the communist movement into American life the party was officially dissolved in 1944 and replaced by a Communist Political Association.
President Truman's loyalty oath program, introduced in 1947, legitimized the notion of communists as subversives.
Richard Nixon and Joseph McCarthy made names for themselves almost exclusively by exposing or threatening to expose Communists within the Truman administration or later within the United States Army. Groups, such as the Americans for Democratic Action, went so far as to define themselves as "anti-communist."

The Communist party had, for better or for worse, been the base that Nixon and McCarthy launched themselves and their careers from in the years after World War II and leading into the Cold War. Without such a group that people needed to distance themselves from, there would have been no significance in what the two politicians were doing and they would most likely have stayed virtually unknown senators and congressmen.
In another light, the Communist Party had been where one of America's most prominent sexual radicals, Harry Hay, developed his political views. In the early fifties he founded the Mattachine Society, America's first gay rights group. Without the springboard the Communist Party provided him and his beliefs, Hay might not have founded the group and America as we know it today would not be the (relatively) tolerant country it is.

It is also because of the persecution of communists that the Smith Act prosecutions were halted in 1957. The court's decision in Yates v. United States, which required that the government prove that the defendant had actually taken concrete steps toward the forcible overthrow of the government, rather than merely advocating it in theory, is still in effect today. This case helped to set the standards for defining treason and conspiring to commit treason.

In short, if the Communist Party had never existed within United States borders, the country would be very different today. It would be a less tolerant, more Republican, less unionized country. The communists stood for their values throughout the tumultuous 20th century. At one point those values were in line with those of the American government, and later they were deemed not. They have stood for everything American and later stood for something all Americans could stand united against. Take away the Communist Party and you take away a distinctly American part of history.

[Rina C.]

Summary:
OKay, so I guess a lot of people's summaries are going to be very similar, but the criteria I came up with is........
The group should have lasted for a long period of time. It should have made people think differently about something. It could have been good or bad, because important does just mean good. It should have changed something. If it didn;t exist, American would have been very different. And the last reason I have for picking a group is that the person who's group it was did a very good job in persuading that it's the best group. Because if there weren't very many good reasons, I probably won't want to choose it.

[margaux]

in response to lily. anti-imperialists aren't able to justify any action of the United States. i just recently added my last two posts that might give you a better idea of what anti-imperialists have really done for this country. it's not that the anti-imperialists are capable of eliminating unjust imperialistic acts. rather, it's the influence they have held and the unspoken boundaries that they have created. i do agree with you that there have been many exceptions where the united states have gone beyond there limits. ( Philippines, Vietnam, etc). my point is that anti-imperialists have limited the amount as well as the degree of these exceptions in ways that many people might not realize.

[Andrea T.]

boggle234 said:

Andrea t: Ok, so the commies have been significant in our country's history, but just curious... do you think that any significantly "good" ideas or occurrences came from their influence?

Yes! And I now have a nifty third informational post that explains in more detail, but they promoted tolerance of EVERYONE as early as 1919, which was way ahead of what most people were thinking at that time. They allowed African Americans, gays, the poor, farmers - anyone and everyone into their party and advocated for their rights.

[Kathryn S]

Becky…would you like to be working for 11 hours a day with like nooo breaks? I didn’t think so. This just shows just a tttiiny bit of all the accomplishments of the labor unions. These unions have discovered their strengths in numbers and have used this to get the attention of their employers… although sometimes these methods may be belligerent or inappropriate. But labor unions are the basis of our standard working system today… they created the 8 hour work day and the minimum wage and some child labor laws and workplace condition regulations. Also specific labor unions like those the actors or the teachers have been quite successful in their actions although you or I might not be able to easily identify these accomplishments.

[brianw]

info post
So it’s pretty much been decided that economists were crucial to the economic integrity of the country, however their influence on our moral and social beliefs is often underestimated. Economic trends and beliefs have influenced a variety of American periods of time. For instance, during the time after the revolution, a strict belief in laissez faire economics helped decide the path we would take with civil liberties. Andrew Carnage’s “gospel of wealth” helped influence the rich to get richer, but still give back to the community (This idea was as economic as it was humanitarian, because helping the poor class helps stimulate the economy for the upper class) had a huge effect on the late 1800's. Our economic policies had clear effects on our entry in both WWI and WWII, and Keynesian economics started Roosevelt’s new deal. As you can see from these few examples, economics hasn’t been confined it’s influence to strictly fiscal matters, it’s influences have spread through all of our policies.

[Kathryn S]

Evan, see my response to becky. It is really the long lasting influences that continue to be important even in today’s world.
And just look… the wobblies are still around and going strong!

[margaux]

In response to Gabe
- your point is valid, but you are the one simply glossing over the facts because those movements that you are speaking of are the anti-imperialist sentiment that run throughout America today. this sentiment consists of a general consensus that refuses for the US to get bogged down in any war or over-sea expedition because that stagnation would only due the US economic, political and social harm. Those dangerous consequences are exactly what the anti-imperialists are fighting against, and therefore, their role in mustering anti-Iraq support can be seen through its overall support of the people. Anti-imperialists are the driving force behind the anti-war feeling because when the people start to oppose the war it is like an abrogation of their serenity at home, which is what the anti-imperialists are trying to preserve.

[Andrea T.]

dashibbyboy said:

Andrea-
I understand the fact that communists were significant in that they caused a great deal of chaos and scared everyone, but how is today's America affected by what happened during the Red Scare?

With the downfall of the Smith Act in 1957 in Yates v. United States (a decision that still applies today), more specific measures were taken to determine what exactly defines a subversive or treasonous action or group. This decision is extremely relevant today, particularly in dealing with potential terrorists (what defines a terrorist?) within our borders.
This is just one example from a specific time period when the communism scare was at the peak of its frenzy, but since the party existed long before and after the Red Scare, many other ideas and people have come out of it that have affected today's America, as well, as outlined in the second and third informational posts on pages 54 and 55.

[Ayesha M.]

Summary
-the range of influence caused by the group
-who were the people involved
-remains of the group today
-how the group started (e.g.: for what reason, who started it, why)
-the success of the group in reaching its goals
-motives taken by the group
-major events caused by the group or related to the group
-indirect effects of the group

[Tali Cayemitte]

To Matt F

Nice to see that you handled this debate with maturity!!!

Good luck on your out paper!!!

Peace

[Gabe S.]

mrosem44 said:

6343 said:

In this last post I wish to talk about modernism's effect on other movements.
As it might seem, the modernist movement was more of a concept that reflects a period of time starting in late 19th century through today. Because it is more of a concept, it works its way into many other groups like musicians, writers, communists, and industrialists. It even confronts religion through its promotion of science and reason, and so in all, it simply reaches into many other subjects and groups.
But it is important to understand that this is exactly what modernism is about. It is a social concept that as a result of creating a progressive attitude within a people or nation, it has stretched into every aspect of life that the people work with and deal with in life. One should not think that there were only modernists in the world in the past century, but rather that all groups that encompassed progressive measures, mainly in the 20th century, were embracing modernist ideas.
Either way, the modernists have brought the United States through one of the toughest centuries in history and have led the US to become the current supreme power in the world.

I hope I've made my group as clear as possibe. Please ask any questions you have, and I'll try my best to answer them.

Gabe,

I understand that modernism was a "social concept", but what direction would they have wanted the country to go in? what policies did they advocate if any?

To Michelle:

"Their movement, modernism, can be defined as a trend which affirms the power of human beings to make, improve and reshape their surrounding environment with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology, practical experimentation, and self-driven innovation." This is from my first post and I think it basically summarizes the direction and policies that the modernists would want the US to implement. As long as the US is reasoning out their new policies and bettering the world for the benefit of mankind, then the modernists would support be in support of the US.
As for policies of their own implemented in the past, it is hard to say. the fact that it is more of a concept means that it would influence policy rather than institute it. Considering this, it may be useful to look at certain policy like affirmative action and consider whether its progressive and liberal foundation were based in modernist thinking, or perhaps the ameircan policy of competing with the Russians at all costs during the Cold war was a modernist result because of its huge advancement in the sciences. although it may not have been in the best interest of "the people" to have this competetive "war" going on, its affects and policies during it were definately promting aspects of the modernist cause.
Overall, the modernists supported any policy dedicated to the continum of human advancement in all fields.

I hope that answers your question.

[meghanav]

Summative Post
Well there are over a thousand posts i think that is enough to write an outpaper
I am not sure what my top ten groups will be but i think the criteria for choosing them will be something like...
The extent to which they have impacted the country and the way they have impacted the country...economically, politically socially etc
like everyone has said already impact can be both positive and negative
They have to have influenced the country as a whole not just one specific group
If their influences are still present today

And like Rina said, if the person that had that group did a good job arguing in favor of their group

[evanj]

Informational Post #3: Some kids have been posting on this thread, and sort of disregarding the question. It's really important to remember what the word "significant" means: it doesn't necessarily mean most efficiant, or "best," whatever that even means, it just entails visibility. What group in American history is most visible? What affects every aspect of life? Even the stuff i'm typing right now on my Apple-made, mass produced computer (albeit foreign-based, but i'm taking some license here, and i'm sure you get the picture. It's like the "Germans bombed Pearl Harbor" scene in Animal House.) may not have been possible without Hamilton's vision or the capitalistic plan that democracy so encourages. Thinking about situations in other countries, it's impossible to recognize how amazingly lucky we are to be Americans, and a MONUMENTOUS amount of said luck was due to the people who set up the framework of the way this country is run. I know I've mentioned this, but I can't get over how little has changed. Besides social stuff, like women's rights and civil rights (which are due to the natural progression of society and wouldn't have flown back then, even if this group had desired them), the 3-headed governmental system and the governmental processes remain largely the same. That is utterly remarkable, in my opinion.

[jonahsprung]

Jonah Sprung's Summative Post

I thought this simulation was a good way to use technology, but in the future it would benefit from a better organization system.
The criteria I will use when choosing groups for my out paper is:
-How much tangible impact did the group make? This means things that are as measuable as possible, not abstractions.
-Can I imagine how US History would be different without this group? Would it be different?
-Did the group have a lasting impact, or was it confined to its time period?
-Is there still evidence of the group in the thoughts and culture of Americans today?
-Did the group really have an impact, or was it a single individual in the group?
-Was the influence of the group confined to one region of the country, or was it spread throughout? was it confined to one class or race? Did it affect politicians and not everyday people, or visa versa?

I have not decided what my final ten will be but I am thinking it will include at least Civil Rights Leaders, Educators, and Supreme Court Judges.

[Andrea T.]

Summary Post

I will use the following criteria in judging the impact of the groups:
-The group must have been the cause of some sort of change during its time.
-It must have affected the people of the United States, not just government relations.
-It (or a member of it) must have an impact on the country today, good or bad.
-If the group does not still exist, it should have sparked the formation of other groups or been the basis off of which other ideas were formed that DO exist today.
-Finally, if the group had been removed from American history, the country should be expected to be radically different today.

[Kathryn S]

Margs, i def agree with you that the anti-imperialists were pretty important. Their influence is certainly felt in today's world with your examples of the stock market blip and Iraq. Also, if you really look at it..... kind of...anti-imperialists were still trying to carry on the independence that led America out of mercantillism to their own economic success

[margaux]

Summative post

Based on what i have learned from the bulletin board i have come to a few conclusions on what the term "significant" really means to me. My out paper will be based on requirements that i feel are necessary in order for a group to be actually considered significant.

- is the group's influence long-term? does it have a lasting impression on this country?
-is the group fundamental to the formation of the united states that we know today?
-does this group influence all types of people? (all economic classes? all ethnicities? all religions? etc.)
- has the group changed or change the way of life in America?

these are just a few questions that came into my mind. hope this helps. good luck guys

[Alex G.]

boggle234 said:

Alex G, you said "Athletes are on the forefront of cultural reforms"... but aren't you forgetting all of the lesser known people that were totally WAAYYY ahead of the game (haha) before more visible personas, like the athletes, took these same cultural bounds?...like color and gender lines etc

Absolutely not. I have by no means forgotten about these other individuals, however, all I am saying is that these athletes are on the forefront of reforms. I did not say that they were the sole reason for change, nor did I say that they were the only ones on the forefront, only that they were on the forefront.

[evanj]

Summative post:
Honestly? I wasn't a fan of this simulation. To me, it was really difficult to follow 55 pages and 1000 posts of stuff, and i'm not judging the people who have like 300 posts and practially live on this thread, but that's an unfair commitment to make. It's also just too easy to screw over; i would've really liked to get into this simulation and learn more about the subjects involved, but it's just too damn difficult. I like the idea of "most significant group" a lot, but i think a different venue would be more appropriate, although i'm having a lot of trouble thinking of one. This whole mammoth thread thing is bizarre, and almost seems more competitive than this course usually is, which is ridiculous, but i'm not idealistic enough to think that people weren't posting so much on this thing for their own enrichment rather than proving to the rest of the kids that they know something about American history (which, after this amount of time in this course, i should hope we all do). All in all, an interesting experiment.
As far as my outpaper is concerned, I'm going to write a lot of it based on visability. What can still be seen in today's world? What aspects of life would be tremendously different? At the same time, it's important to consider time period as well. How did the group help to pull the time period along to the next phase of development? What did this group mean to society back then? Like a lot of other people, I haven't the faintest idea of the ten groups i'm picking, although mine will certainly be one of them. This has been interesting.