Mr. Brown, the greatest U.S. History mentor to ever walk the Earth, is having to stop teaching USH and do other things with Williamsburg Academy. So last Wednesday, we had our final discussion with Mr. Brown. One of the questions he asked us was this. What have you learned through History? The discussion that commenced was one of the moving and motivational ones I've participated in. Cramming study guide information into my brain and trying to connect it all in preparation for my oral final, I've come across my thoughts on the lessons of history. So I thought I would share with you.
In the Founding Era (from the discovery of America to Jackson's presidency, approximately), we can learn that all men are created equal. This may seem obvious to us, but then it wasn't. The idea was revolutionary. All men, created equal? Every single man and woman is entitled to the same rights and privileges we partake in every day living in the United States? That's right. Every man. Black and White, Male and Female, Democrat and Republican. We all deserve peace and freedom.
Freedom requires order and in order to keep order, some freedoms must be taken away. At the beginning of America, we had total freedom. No limits. Creating the Constitution and the amendments, implementing laws. We took away certain freedoms to keep order. Anarchy is not our tune. Freedom and Democracy are.
From the Antebellum Era (Antebellum means before war, so from Jackson's Presidency to the 1850's in America's case), we can learn these lessons. Be humble, compromise, and repeat trial and error until you have found truth.
Don't hate, have empathy and see both sides of the argument. When Jackson removed the Indians, he lacked empathy and compassion. The trail of tears is, in my opinion, one of the most tragic incidents in American History. Why? Mostly because there was a lack of empathy.
Don't start unnecessary wars. War should be plan W, not plan A. When James Knox Polk was pursuing Manifest Destiny, he started the Mexican American war (which would take a while to go into detail, so do some research for me) to acquire more land and control most of the North American Continent. Even though we won a plethora of territory and pursued Manifest Destiny to the fullest, was that war really necessary? There's your moral question of the day. Keep peace :).
There is a thin line between compromising and avoiding problems entirely. It is human nature to skirt around problems and occasionally prod them with a stick. However, we need to face problems head on, and compromise where we need to. Some problems will never be entirely solved. But we need to compromise. But never, EVER EVER EVER, completely avoid problems. Be brave.
Lessons from the Civil War Era (pretty self-explanatory).
Progress hurts. In order to abolish slavery and progress as Americans and as a nation, we had to go to war. John Brown foretold this when he was executed for his actions as an abolitionist. Brother against Brother. Father against Son. That hurt. Yet look where we are now. Slavery is abolished. America can finally start living up to its ideal of all men are created equal. Progress hurts. Progress is worth it.
Truth is two competing extremes. The abolitionists of the Civil War Era were so passionate about their belief that slavery is an evil (and we can see that now. But not everyone could see that in 1861) that they killed. The created havoc. They lead uprisings. They terrorized Southerners for their belief that Slavery is okay. It isn't, but we have to respect. To keep slavery, to abolish. Two competing extremes. Truth is somewhere in there.
Listen to others. Going back to the abolitionists, we know that they were so bent on abolishing slavery that they turned off their humanity and abandoned their empathy. In heated problems such as this, take a step back. Try for one minute to possess empathy. To possess love. Listen to to others. Because chances are, you're not perfect either.
The Industrial Revolution (when factories start popping up in America, we enter an age of technology and innovation. We start to enter the modern age).
Wherever you are in life, you have to treat others with humanity. You cannot neglect others' humanity and feelings. You have to look outside yourself in progress, because if you are dehumanizing someone, is it true progress? The Robber Barons (big factory owners such as Andrew Carnegie) robbed people of good working conditions, safe working conditions, fair minimum wage, and initiated child labor. Though we made all these extremely radical and practical inventions such as the lightbulb, telephone, car, and airplane, we dehumanized others. We were not valuing human life. Don't make those mistakes.
Without moral guidance, "progress" can backtrack very quickly. If we are not being counseled by others, if we do not possess empathy, our "progress" will become meaningless. We forget ourselves and others. Know the right. Have empathy. We can learn from Abraham Lincoln on this. He included Southern Democrats in his cabinet. People who opposed him. Because of this, he was able to make the best decision possible for the Union.
Problems will always get solved, but if you don't take the initiative, they won't get solved in the way you like. When Theodore Roosevelt came into office, he immediately broke up the Trusts, using Trust Busts, set up regulations and safety standards. The Robber Barons didn't really like this. Even though they knew that Trusts were corrupt and wanted to change things, they didn't take the initiative. So Theodore Roosevelt did it for them. Don't complain about things you're not willing to change. Be the change you wish to see in the World. Otherwise those things will get changed. But without your two cents, it won't get done how you would like. If everyone pitches in two cents, we can make this world a extremely better place.
Give people freedom and they will change the world. When America went to war with Spain to free Cuba from Spain's rule, one of the reasons is because they wanted to establish democracy there (there were obviously other motives, but that was one of them). And so they did. Cuba was given freedom and they were able to change their own world. Give people freedom. Give people a chance. Give people hope. And they'll change the world.
At the end of the discussion, Mr. Brown asked the question, what does it mean to be an American to you? And what I learned and what I became convicted in, what I took a stance on was this. To be an American is to live passionately. Pursue your own manifest destiny. Take a stand and don't be afraid to defend it. Live the life you desire.
Mr. Brown, thank you for teaching me History. Thank you for teaching me lessons I will never forget. Lessons that I can take and apply to the real world. Because that's what a phenomenal leader is. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I really appreciate it.
Savannah Lorcher
