Transcript Major Themes in U.S. History

Major Themes in U.S.
History
Ideals and Contradictions
Focus on Big Themes & Issues
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Way of understanding history
Way of organizing our thoughts
Way of studying for the course
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Will show up in paper topics
Will show up in exams
Should show up in your contributions to
discussion and journal entries
Major American Ideals
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Freedom
Liberty
Equality
Self-determination
Democracy
Progress
On the right side of history = fundamentally
good
U.S. Ideals in Action: The Declaration
of Independence, 1776
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That
all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;…”
U.S. Ideals in Action:
The Constitution
Constitution, Preamble:
“We the People of the United States, in Order
to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide
for the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America”
U.S. Ideals in Action:
Commerce Clause
Article I, Section 8 of U.S. Constitution:
“The Congress shall have Power: To lay and
collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,
to pay the Debts and provide for the common
Defence and General Welfare of the United
States;…”
“To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,
and among the several States, and with the
Indian Tribes”
U.S. Ideals in Action: The
Elastic Clause
Article I, Section 8: “The Congress shall Have
Power:
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into Execution the
foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
vested by this Constitution…”
U.S. Ideals in Action:
Interpretations of Constitution
Main ideas or goals:
How to achieve them:
Common Ideals
Most Americans agree on common goals or ideals, but
disagree on definition or how to achieve them:
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Ideals?
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Definitions?
Who Has the Power to Ensure
Ideals Are Met?
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Use of founding documents to justify govt.
action or inaction to ensure ideals are
achieved
Conflict over meanings of same documents
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Example: diff. interpretations of the Constitution
Elastic Clause, “General Welfare” very openended
Commerce Clause also open-ended
Strict-constructionists disagree – if it isn’t explicitly
listed in the Constitution, then govt. can’t do it
So Whose Interpretations Win?
 Power
 Conflict
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Idealism
Compromise
Stalemate
Progress vs. Regress
Individuals, Movements, Society