Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[Matthew R. Giorgio]

Good Morning,

At this point in the Summer you all should begin reading "The Black
Revolution" from our supplemental text titled "From Slavery to
Freedom" by Franklin & Moss. This is the second reading in your
packet. As you read consider the following:

Beginning in 1619 the first Slave Ship entered North America. African
slavery in the Americas had officially started. As a result of the
successful slave revolt in Haiti new and harsher laws were enacted to
keep slaves in a position of EXTREME servitude and degradation. These
were called Slave Codes and they attempted to strip slaves of any
social or intellectual life. After we became a nation organized under
the Constitution there was a split between those who were in favor of
slavery and those that wished to see the institution abolished. This
stratification eventually led to the Civil War in 1860 with the
election of Abraham Lincoln and the secession of South Carolina. Free
Blacks and southern Slaves fought hard on both sides during that war
after which the Civil Rights Amendments were passed (13th - abolish
slavery; 14th - grants citizenship and equal protection under the
laws; 15th - grants Blacks the right to vote). But despite these laws
African Americans were hardly free.

Racism and prejudice continued. Blacks continued to fight for their
freedoms sometimes arguing internally about the best path to do so.
Even after 100 years from the date of the Civil War Blacks remained
second-class citizens. The chapter you are about to read explains some
of the tactics Blacks used to solve the problems they faced as US
citizens. Please keep in mind that what you read takes place during
the Cold War - thus in the same time as our problems with the Soviet
Union.

Therefore, please consider the following question:

After World War II all the countries of the world now knew of the
atrocities of Hitler and Nazi Germany (The Holocaust killed 6 million
Jews). The citizens of the world were also becoming aware of other
genocides in Turkey and in the Soviet Union under their leader Josef
Stalin. The United States tried to paint the Cold War as a war between
Good and Evil. Other countries would have to take sides - you are
either with us (good) or against us (evil). Both the US and the Soviet
Union created alliances in this manner. We had created NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the Soviets had the Warsaw Pact. But
as we tried to paint this dichotomy how seriously could other nation's
take it knowing what was going on in our own country?

In other words, could the US really consider itself a World Power/
World Leader during the Cold War if they could not even secure the
most basic freedoms (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) to
its own citizens (in this case African Americans)?

Please respond to the question above with evidence from the chapter.
Consider all the obstacles and all the progress that was made by
Blacks. Please post your answer on or before July 3rd (two weeks from
now).

If you know of someone who wants to be in the class and has not posted
to our last discussion chances are I have mistyped their email. Please
have them call or email me ASAP. Thanks and I cannot wait to read
these connections you make. Remember the HABITS OF MIND Perspective
Evidence Relavance Connection and Supposition.

Laters - Giorgio

[Sarah ^^]

         I believe the United States could consider itself a world power during the Cold War.  The United States did have problems of it's own. Horrible segregation went on after the Emancipation Proclamation.  However, the U.S was trying to fix the segregation and discrimination problems.  Ensuing civil rights bills included one in 1957 (pg 524), the government upgraded the bill in 1960 (pg 528), and after much fighting African Americans got yet another civil rights bill passed in 1964 (pg 538).  Still unsatisfied, another bill was passed in 1965 (pg 542). It goes without saying, African Americans suffering from oppression, had a long hard struggle fighting against segregation. Some tactics used included sit-ins (pg526), riots (pg 547), demonstrations (pg 536), and the election of presidents that supported the movement such as Kennedy (pg 530) and Lyndon B. Johnson (pg 538). In a sense, America was cleaning up her backyard while fighting a moral battle in the front yard with Russia.
      Now Russia was a different story, it had just been through the terror of Stalin, which included the genocide of millions of people. Stalin viewed people as mere instruments for serving mother Russia. According to enotes.com, 28 million soviet citizens were incarcerated in camps, which were filthy, brutal, and inhumane. Many of the Russian citizens were charged on false charges of conspiracy.  The death rate in these camps was very high. According to distributedrepublic.net, Stalin killed 43 million people in total.
      While it is a fact that America was guilty of slavery followed by segregation and oppression, America's problems at home paled in comparison to the unthinkable Russian genocide of 43 million people under Stalin. Because America was busy at home as well as abroad, I therefore, believe that the U.S could consider itself a moral world leader in the time of the Cold War.

[Joshua Jones]

The United States was in fact a world power, despite the lack of equilibrium with the minority races. In the way of the Cold War, the United States was vying for a position in a dominate status, equipped with incredible military strength, advancing technology, and the drive to advance past Russia, the United States was certainly equitable to being a world power. Despite these strengths though, the United States, due to its superciliousness, had yet to classify African Americans as equal, even up until the 1960's  Ebony Americans hadn't fully broken free of segregation in all senses, due to lacking rights (529). By and even before 1963 The "Minority" of Ebony Americans were contributing to the prestige of the United States, because of the history being made and all of the controversy along with it (537). Despite innumerable rallies, and fighting sects, and even presidential campaigns dealing with equality, the institution of freedom had not been granted to all people, but the United States still soared high, John F. Kennedy had been dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis, and also civil rights, showing the illustriousness of the U.S. proving that it was a world power, and simultaneously he back support for civil rights programs (538). This demonstrates that the United States was comparable to a dominant power, even though sufficient rights to "minorities" were sorely lacking. By the late 1970's Ebony Americans played a more pivotal role in the world, having a more firm grasp on civil rights, even going as much to say that "trained and educated [brown people]...are experiencing unprecedented job opportunities that are..comparable to these of whites with equivalent qualifications" (561). By this quote there is a stark contrast to the previous accounts of "White beaches..segregation...[and] discrimination [toward brown people]" (526). Despite all of the set backs of inequality, the United States was still a ubiquitous presence and claimed wide spread esteem.

-Jones 

[Kenny Davila]

Even though The United States were having problems within its country during the Cold War, I would still consider them a world power. Sadly, the U.S and it's leaders were struggling to give blacks their most basic freedoms throughout the Cold War but they were still considered a strong force and still had much respect from other countries. To me, the U.S was not only able to get respect from other countries because they were technologically advanced but were able to gain respect by being such a strong nation on the outside and on the inside. Although they were having problems with giving African Americans their basic rights, political leaders continued to attempt and fight for their rights. 

The addition of Ghana to the United Nations was seen as the "extra kick" needed to finally settle the racial equality issue (527). It showed congress and other political leaders that the African Americans in the U.S needed to equal to whites and have the same rights as they did. Even though there have been laws passed by congress that gave Negroes some rights but nobody actually followed them, thus resulting in many different movements. One famous movement was "The Sit-in Movement" that was first thought of on February 1, 1960 by four students in Greensboro, North Carolina. These four students were denied service at a lunch counter but sat there until the store closed (526). After everybody started taking notice of this "act of defiance" lunch counters everywhere started serving everybody, including African Americans. This was such a serious problem in the U.S that even women took part of attempting to get their rights. After the passing of the act of 1957 many complained about the blacks not being allowed to vote. After hearing of this, The Commission on Civil Rights instituted suits in 3 different states (528). in 1960 another law was passed that further ensured that blacks would be allowed to vote. Later on, racial equality became a bigger issue when John F. Kennedy declared that "with the stroke of a pen" he could end the discrimination. Blacks would later on help JFK win his election and once in office he quickly appointed African Americans to office (529-530). 

This was only the beginning of the "freeing" of African Americans but a lot was done. Even with all this was happening inside of the U.S, they were still strong and dominant force on the outside. They were still respected by different countries and were still feared by many and they still had control of almost everything happening inside the U.S. The U.S was a strong force during the Cold War and will still be a strong force.

- Kenny

---

From: Joshua Jones <kiddcha...@gmail.com>
To: hsa_...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:53 PM
Subject: Re: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[Sarah ^^]

   (FAILURE I SENT THE WRONG EMAIL)

      I believe the United States could consider itself a world power during the Cold War.  The United States did have problems of it's own. Horrible segregation went on after the Emancipation Proclamation.  However, the U.S was trying to fix the segregation problems.  Ensuing civil rights bills included one in 1957 (pg 524), the government upgraded the bill in 1960 (pg 528), and after much fighting African Americans  got yet another civil rights bill passed in 1964 (pg 538).  Still unsatisfied, another bill was passed in 1965, (pg 542). It goes without saying, African Americans suffering from oppression, had a long hard struggle fighting against segregation. Some tactics used included sit-ins (pg526), election of presidents that supported the movement such as Kennedy (pg 530), and Lyndon B. Johnson (pg 538), riots (pg 547), and demonstrations (pg 536). In a sense, America was cleaning out her backyard while fighting a moral battle in the front yard with Russia.
      Now Russia was a different story, it had just been through the terror of Stalin. He viewed people as mere instruments for serving mother Russia. According to enotes.com, 28 million soviet citizens were incarcerated in concentration camps, which were filthy, brutal, and inhumane. Some of the citizens were even charged on false charges of conspiracy! The death rate in these camps was very high. According to distributedrepublic.net Stalin killed 43 million people in total.
      While it is a fact that America was guilty of slavery followed by segregation. America's problems at home paled when in comparison to the unthinkable Russian genocide of 43 million people under Stalin. Therefore I believe that the U.S could consider itself a moral world leader in the time of the Cold War.

On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:31 AM, Matthew R. Giorgio <matthew....@gmail.com> wrote:

--
I think Zetsu ate santa poor santa :3

[iago Barreto]

     During the Cold War the United States was one of the two world superpowers, the Soviet Union was the other world superpower. Both tried to overcome the other by acquiring allies, the U.S. created the NATO alliance or North Atlantic Treaty Organization  and the Soviets created the Warsaw pact. Both nations lured their allies by explaining that their side was the righteous good, and the other was the obvious evil. Both nations at the time had a hard trouble painting themselves as the righteous good due to internal social problems, the United States especially had a hard time with social problems due to resent demands from African Americans to have their civil rights raised to equal levels as those of Caucasian Americans and the ensuing segregationist backlash against the idea of an equal America to all (pgs. 523 and 539).
    The demand for civil rights by African Americans was at first a mere nuisance in the eyes of the government of the United States, however as Sub-Sahara nations and former African colonies, like Ghana (1957), joined the United Nations, the United States fell under increase pressure from foreign nations to give its African American citizens more civil rights then what little African American Citizens already had. (pg. 525 and 526). Although the pressure mounted on the U.S. government and in only six months a new Civil Rights Legislation was passed (pg 225), the situation for African Americans only slightly changed.

     For the average African American the new Civil Rights Legislation did little to nothing for the improvement of their lives especially in the former eleven Confederacy States where many new Civil Rights Legislation found wide spread bitter disagreement from segregationists. Resistance to follow Supreme Court orders were also wide spread and even encourage by some state officials in states like Alabama and Texas. One of the most famous cases is from, at the time. the Governor of Alabama, Governor George Wallace, refused to allow African American students to attain admission in the University of Alabama in 1963 and so President Kennedy had to send Federalized National Guardsmen to the University of Alabama to secure the admission of the African American students to the University. (pg 531 and 532).

     Although many efforts were taken to increase the Civil Rights of African Americans over the 1950s it was not really until 1964 that African Americans really received a decent legislation that really increased and protect their Civil Rights. In 1964 congress passed a new Civil Rights bill that not only increased the rights of African Americans, but also gave the Attorney General additional power to protect citizens against discrimination and segregation and the use of public facilities (pg 539). Although this new bill was a good step forward it did not end discrimination in the country and it even gave some African Americans the feeling that their leaders were being bought out by the government and made to settle for less than total equality, however these early actions did pay off int the future with the fact that today all American Citizens have the rights and opportunities as everyone else in the country, no matter their skin color or ethnicity.

   As far as the United States being taken serious as a world Superpower, since it controlled the world largest arsenal of nuclear-weapons most nations took the United States as very serious World Power, however as far as social problems the United States did have some critics from the international community,and some of the political and social changes that occurred in the United States during the 1950s to the 1990s occurred in part, because of the increase international pressure, for example the 1957 Civil Rights Legislation was heavily influence by the fact that the former African colony of Ghana joined the United Nations(pg 225). However the United States was not in such a large international predicament as previously stated social problems might be lead to believe even with the fact that the U.S. was a country with many social problems it was still a capitalist nation which means it is a nation that is in a better situation to trade than that of the Soviet Union which was a Communist nation. Also the Soviet Union had suffered from many years of social tension. During the reign of Josef Stalin as the head of the Soviet Union after the World War II, many Soviet citizens felled victims of Stalin's immense paranoia and ended up in labor camps called "Gulags," and according to a Harvard study the death toll in all the gulags put together during 1953 was about 2,468,524, and when this massacre came to light it further diminishing the popularity of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. 

In conclusion both the United States and the Soviet Union were considered to be serious World Superpowers by the International community, although they both had enormous social problems that did effect their domestic policy and their relations with other nations..

[Tran Duong]

   The tragedy of World War II had killed 6 millions innocent Jews and others, because Hitler and his followers, the Nazi, wanted to terminate the Jews out of Germany for one reason of racism. Right after the Allies ended World War II, the Cold War exploded between the United States and Soviet Union. The U.S. painted the war of good (U.S.) vs. evil (Soviet Union), and considered itself as a World Power. Meanwhile within the country itself, a tragic battle for liberty and equality for African Americans was at extreme; the people would not accept the blacks as citizens and kept up with their racism toward them. Therefore I don’t think it was logic for the U.S. to call itself the good side and a World Leader when technically it was doing the exact same thing as what Hitler, the world’s EVIL dictator, had done.
  The Nazi’s act in the Holocaust was clearly against humanity, but I think slavery and segregation in America might not be any better. Even after one hundred of years of the Emancipation Proclamation, the document that free slaves in the United States, African Americans were still suffered harsh judgments from white people. They had to fight everyday for their rights and liberty of every human being even if they have to sacrifice their own lives. For example, “Fannie Lou Hamer was a “natural leader” who was active in SCLC and SNCC. Her commitment to the civil rights caused her to lose her home and job, and a severe beating while jailed for civil rights activities left her permanently disabled (pg.527)” After many bloods had shed during slavery times and civil right movements, America still could not be a country of equality and liberty for its own citizens, then is it fair for the U.S. to call itself the World Leader and accusing the Nazi for their wrong doing?
   The Cold War was mainly about the competition for technologies and military forces, therefore the nation was desperate for intelligent and skillful people. Persuading higher education for the citizens was essential for the country’s benefit; however, some people who wanted to reach higher education had been shut out by the federal government itself. “ The most dramatic and violent effort to bar an African American from public higher education was the attempt by the state of Mississippi in 1962, in defiance of a court order, to prevent the enrollment of James Meredith. (pg. 531)” With the racism and denial of further educations for Blacks, there must been a massive loss of intellectual for our nation. In the end, the United States was not yet the World Power with that foolish mistake.
  If anyone could be call as the World Power, then I think Germany under Hitler power was the true World Power, because it was once took control of almost entire Europe and many other parts in the world. However, it has one mistake and lost it all in the end. That terrible mistake was their lack of humanity. In conclusion, I think the element that would make a country the World Leader is the ability to maintain the basic rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for its people.
-TRAN D.

---

From: Matthew R. Giorgio <matthew....@gmail.com>
To: AP US History - HSA-Dallas <HSA_...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 8:31 AM
Subject: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[Andres Herrera]

The United States should still be considered a World Power/World Leader during the Cold War. During this war the United States were having difficulties inside the country. The United States were not fulfilling their word by depriving the rights for African Americans. However, African Americans did not keep quiet and fought for equality. Some political leaders soon started to help them gain their civil rights by passing Civil Rights Acts and other means. The United States may have had problems inside the nation, but they did not ignore it. Instead they worked to fix it.

In the 1940-1950’s the racial discrimination was very high. African Americans were “[dismissed] from jobs, [denied] loans, and [fore closured] mortgage” (page 534). They used these tactics as a way to wipe out any “aggressive Negroes” (page 534). They did not want the African Americans to have any sort of power and wanted them to stay as miner citizens. In 1957 and 1958 African Americans “were murdered with impunity in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and other Southern states” (page 534). They used this method to show the African Americans they are not allowed to have equal rights, and to strike fear to them for they will not fight for any. The Southern states were not ready to accept the African Americans as equal and wanted them to stay as lower class citizens. Even though, they were denied from many places and activities they did not stand by and let this go on.

African Americans wanted equality, so they started to fight for it. They “became boulder and more aggressive and began n to press for their rights with relentless vigor” (page 534). They could not take the abuse from the other people. African Americans did “sit-in movements” (page 526) and marshes. The sit in movement was an event where they sat in locations where they were not allowed to be. This movement caused a beginning of a change. Due to this movement “many lunch counters across the South began to serve blacks, and other facilities were opened.” Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led a march that began in Birmingham on April 3. This march was to “demand fair employment opportunities, desegregation of public facilities, creation of a committee to plan desegregation, and the dropping of charges against King and the 2,500 other arrested in the course of the demonstrations” (page 532).  Throughout all of this the government was helping to equalize the right for all the citizens.

Congress and the president were helping the African Americans gain their rights. By 1948, “Congress had begun to consider civil rights legislation” (page 524), and by 1957 “Congress did pass a civil rights bill after much bitter debate and much pressure from civil rights advocates” (page 524). The government realizes they have to do something to help the African Americans. This bill gave them the right to vote. President Kennedy declared that he could put an end to discrimination in federally supported housing “with a stroke of a pen” (page 529). He wanted to end racial discrimination. President Kennedy even “[appointed] blacks to important federal positions” (page 530).  The United States are trying to change for the better of citizens.

The United States might have had problems inside the nation, but they did not ignore it. The problems they faced prove they are not perfect; however, their government is prepared to control and solve these problems. This is why the United States should be considered a World Power/World Leader.

                                                                                                                                    Andres Herrera

From: Matthew R. Giorgio <matthew....@gmail.com>
To: AP US History - HSA-Dallas <HSA_...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 7:31 AM
Subject: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[Dyana Yaritza]

I believe the U.S has the right to claim itself a world power/ world leader during the cold war. Even though it had problems of its own it managed to overcome
military as well as political tentions in the cold war just fine. The U.S. was always ready to take action putting its great innovations to work against its
enemy, the USSR. Many important American citizens took action in the Black Revolution so it cannot be stated that they couldn't manage to secure the most basic
freedoms to Africna Americans. (The road to revolution, paragraph 2) When the supreme court decided on the desegregation in many schools, President Eisenhower
defended African Americans gaining them back their admission to schools.(paragraph 7 ) In 1948 President Truman proposed a Civil Rights for Negos following
Geisenhower's four-point propsal. Congress did pass a civil rights bill after debate and pressure from civil rights advocates. The U.S. also took part in punishing
those who wouldn't let Negros vote. (Paragraph 9) The U.S. Commission on civil rights was in charge of alligations of denial of the right to vote and to appraise
the laws and policies of the federal government with respect to equal protection. Also, when Negros finaly started to fight for their rights starting eith the sit-in
movement led to the organization of the SNCC,SCLC, & the NAACP by Pauli Murray, Ella Balier, & Fannie Lou Humer ( All great american leaders).(The Beginning, paragraph
6) The act of 1957 granted voting privaleges to blacks, but it was denied by senate so in 1960 congress passed another bill. John F. Kennedy, 36th president of
the (U.S.), also helped negros. He gave them job oportunities and for other lucky ones, professional jobs for their great education. He also defended them from
desegregation because he believed many were very skilled and could bring the country to success with their skills.( The illusion of equality, paragraph 1) There was
also the ratification of the 24th ammendment to the Constitution in 1964 which outlawed the requirement of the poll tax. The Civil Rights act of 1964 was the most
far-meaning and comprehensive law in suport of racial equalitu ever enacted by congress. All this shows that the U.S. actually cared enough to take care of the
problem of the Black Revolution. With all the acts passed it shows that the U.S. didn't give up on their citizens. They could have ignored the problem to worry about
things more important such as better equipment for war, but they didn't. For all these and many other helpful things the U.S. did i decided the U.s. has the right to
call itself a world leader during the Civil War.

From: Matthew R. Giorgio <matthew....@gmail.com>
To: AP US History - HSA-Dallas <HSA_...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:31 AM
Subject: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[Alan Padilla]

[Alan Padilla]

The US could not consider itself a World Leader/Power if it couldn’t secure equal right of all it citizens. It could be seen as a power but a power of delusions and lies and power to repress their own citizens and trick them into supporting such system.  The US tried to create the illusion that they were the good guys fighting to keep the whole world safe from socialist, communist ideas and nuclear power of the USSR. The United States focused it priorities on the cold war rather than the black revolution for equal rights that was being fought right in the home land. Efforts were made by some to give equal qualities of life as to the whites by some; the earliest attempt was in 1953 to 1957 to pass equal rights bills (pg 524). But none of those ever went to the senate. The black revolution had to be fought to change the mindset of many white supremacists in order to gain equal acceptance. (pg526-532) The United States couldn’t be an example of a utopia, where all the citizens are free and equal individuals because it wasn’t that. It could be argued the you don’t need to be in a utopia to be a world power but if you’re trying to make the world be on your side in a cold war you kind of have to seem like you have most of your problems solved. Even after the Civil rights Act of 1964 that “was the most far-reaching and comprehensive law in support of racial equality ever enacted by Congress” (pg539) it was still marked by strong resistance in some states. How could a “world power of good” such as the Unites States could be dedicated to the wellbeing of the citizens of the world if its own citizens couldn’t accept equal rights. The US couldn’t be considered a world power because of its own maturity was not ready to handle the power of being a world leader.

 

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:31:00 AM UTC-5, Matthew R. Giorgio wrote:

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:31:00 AM UTC-5, Matthew R. Giorgio wrote:

[Erica Vazquez]

         During the period of the Cold War, much attention in the United States was focused on the tension between the U.S. and Russia, but United States was also facing a serious domestic situation with African Americans citizens.  Years of discrimination and segregation were about to erupt into a domestic dilemma that would take years to rectify.   Although its domestic imperfections were serious, the way the country handled and eventually overcame the civil rights crisis made the United States a World Power/World Leader.  Many view the United States as a world power because of its foreign policy during the first and second world wars, and also the Cold War, but the way the United States overcame internal problems also made it a World Power.

         As we all know, during the Cold war, African Americans were being discriminated and left in the background. However, this did not stop them from raising their voices and fighting for their rights. Instead of silently enduring mistreatment, they made protests like the “sit-in movement, “an event that started by “four students from the Black Agricultural and Technical College [that] sat down at the lunch counter of a variety store in North Carolina until it closed”(526). This way of peaceful protest spread quickly throughout the country, and suddenly there were people “sitting in white libraries, waded at white beaches and [sleeping] in the lobbies of white hotels” (526).  This movement was not the only action taken by the African Americans; this was just the beginning of a ‘nonviolent’ revolution followed by “the freedom riders, the marches and demonstrations, and the voter registration movement” (549).  Another important event in the African Americans fight for “Freedom to the Free” was the march in “Birmingham in April3, under the leadership of Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership conference” (532).  The fact that the government did not do much to stop this kind of protests showed that African Americans might not have had all the rights, but they had the freedom to express themselves in different ways. The fact that this kind of discrimination had been going on for so long is a travesty; but the country's response to the outcry shows its willingness to recognize its wrongs and set about to make them right.  Freedom of speech, and even protesting, is a privilege that citizens from other countries, especially the citizens in Soviet Union, did not have.  In fact, still today many do not have the freedom of speech.

           Another example of the freedom and rights that African Americans had had during this time was the creation of “new associations [that] provided opportunities to discover the strength that they possessed” (524).  The government allowed the existence of the associations such as the Nation of Islam, a Black Muslim vocal and vigorous religious sect that grew under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad (524).  It proves that, even though the African Americans were the discriminated group, the United States ‘government was far from wanting to harm or eliminate such groups.  The government responded favorably to the protests and marches made by the African Americans in order to achieve their equality in the society.  While countries like the Soviet Union were "silencing" thousands of people to solve their social conflicts, the United States government was creating organizations like the “United States Commission of Civil Rights” to protect ‘all’ citizens’ equality to vote (525).   President Kennedy is an excellent example of an American willing to do the arduous work to create “a racial balance” in the United Stated.  He established the “Committed on equal employment opportunities” in order to “[eliminate] discrimination in employment in the public and private sector” (530).  After Kennedy’s assassination, in Dallas on November 22, 1963, this young president’s hard work to pass the civil right bill did not go in vain.  President Lyndon B. Johnson continued to support Kennedy’s civil right program, and “five days after he took office he told the Congress that he desired “‘the earliest possible passage of the civil right bill’” (538).   This demonstrated the government’s great interest in the equality for all its citizens.

         In conclusion, the problems that the United States was facing demonstrated that it was not a perfect country.  The government needed to fix many of the several issues they had. The fact that the government was prepared to control and solve problems within and outside the country makes the United States a World Power/World Leader.

[Valeria Santoyo]

 The United States during the Cold War could easily consider itself a World Power. A world power is defined as one that influences 

the worldwide events and its power is measured in its strength. The fact that the United States had a prosperous economic period of time,

influenced nations world wide, and was the USSR's opponent during the Cold War gives it right to consider itself a Power. Aside from the external

American conflicts, the internal, although not solved (in this case African American Civil Rights) were at the time being requested by victims of

injustice and prejudice (532). An example would be that of black students being denied the access to higher education alongside Caucasian

students, but yet in 1964 under the Civil Rights Act the executive branch required federal aided programs, projects, and school districts to 

desegregate and/or present future plans to desegregate schools (547). American leaders most notably former presidents, Truman, Kennedy

and Eisenhower helped seek the most basic freedoms and equality for African Americans. In 1957 President Eisenhower presented a bill proposal 

that moved people to seek injunctive relief in the federal courts for people whose constitutional rights had been violated (524). But overall even before 

these important dates since 1875 the Federal Government looked to bring civil rights, they elevated the civil rights section of the 

Department of Justice to the status of a division with a general over it. Along with that, the United States Commission on Civil Rights,

 was given authority to investigate denied rights to vote and denial of equal protection (526). Those issues were trying to get fixed but that

 didn't take away the fact that the United States had political and military power. Another point is that although problems concerning race did affect the nation 

severely the United States on March 8th, 1957 - six months before the new civil rights act was passed, Ghana became the first former African colony

to join the UN, an organization created by AND influenced by an American leader. Talcott Parsons observed that independence of sub-Saharan nations very much

INFLUENCED the significance of the the American race problem and provided a considerable stimulus to the movement of racial equality in the United States (526).

Yes, the United States at the time did not provide basic freedom to MOST of its citizens but neither did the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, who was SOCIALIST.

Therefore, although unfair and unequal the United States had the right to consider itself a World Power as did the USSR, because that was the whole

point of the Coldwar - the two world powers against each other.

-VALERIA SANTOYO

> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:31:00 -0700

> Subject: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

> From: matthew....@gmail.com.
> To: HSA_...@googlegroups.com

[Hilda Quiroz]

During the Cold War the Unites States was going through “a moral crisis as a country and as a people.” Although times were harsh, American leaders “hoped for an early and peaceful extension of civil rights to all” citizens demonstrating World Power. The plight was not with the country if not the white citizens whom often opposed black people “arguing that they were not capable of becoming equal citizens” because of the color of their skin.  Longing to see and accomplish America’s forefathers dream, Presidents took action into making the Emancipation Proclamation a fact making the United States equal and united.

John F. Kennedy desired to exercise “moral leadership.” He wanted to secure the right to vote, increase employment and prevent discrimination.  In fact he “appointed blacks to important federal positions.” However civil rights advocates were not contented with Kennedy’s administration causing attacks by heated segregationists. School desegregation was a big dilemma. In one case, Kennedy had to issue deputy marshals and federalized National Guardsmen to secure James Meredith’s admission at the University of Alabama in 1962 to prevent rioting. Numerous blacks grew fond of Kennedy during his presidency and were devastated by his assassination. When Lyndon B. Johnson took over the 24^th Amendment was added to the Constitution outlawing the requirement of the poll tax. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was by far the law that mostly supported racial equality passed by Congress. Nevertheless segregation continued. They dream of creating a racial mix in schools caused many white parents to flee to “suburbs or [place] their children in private schools.”

At Gettysburg in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson said “until justice is blind, education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men’s skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact”. Kennedy added “Surely in 1963, one hundred years after emancipation, it should not be necessary for any American citizen to demonstrate in the streets for an opportunity to stop at a hotel, or eat at a lunch counter…on the same terms as any other American.” Both men recognized the problem in the American society and tried to find a solution but its white citizens were stubborn and not used to the idea of black people becoming equal. The struggle for equality for African Americans demonstrated their courage, persistent bravery, and faith in the American democracy. The determination to overcome racism and being at war at the same time demonstrates world power. Our leaders at the time tried their best to secure the basic freedoms for African Americans. However white people refused to cooperate with the decisions of their leaders creating an illusion of good vs evil.

[moises rico]

From WWII both the US and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers, most of Europe had been ravaged from war and few could claim to be as strong as they once might have been,except for the Soviet Union and US which were left relatively untouched. Although the US might have ignored the issue of true equality which had been promised since the late 1800s they had to stay vigilant on the Soviets every move, but the US was still far better off than the people in the Soviet Union since they had the KGB roaming around taking people away for the smallest reason.

Despite being locked into the Cold War, the US still attempted to make amends for the rights that had been promised under the Constitution back during Reconstruction, multiple attempts were made by the House of Representatives and by both President Truman and President Eisenhower (pg 524). Even though the right to vote had been granted since the 1800s under the Constitution, Southern states and even some Northern states had laws in place such as Jim Crow laws and the ridiculous Grandfather clause to ensure former slaves would continue to be repressed and not be treated as true equals as it should have been. However an important step had been taken in 1957 under Eisenhower to try and combat the racist laws (pg 525). It did not necessarily give what the people had hoped for but it somewhat placated the growing revolution, however people still sought an end to the segregation in public places and in general (pg 531). Multiple demonstrations were set to try and gain further support from the government many were held in southern states and also in Washington DC (pg 534,541). They received their support through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which in turn established many federal organizations such as Community Relations Service and Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). All these federal programs pursued upholding the right to vote for African Americans as it was intended (pg 539). In spite of these advancements in the Civil Rights movements there was fierce opposition from many whites including what is referred to as "white backlash" (pg 539), along with this many racists resorted to violence such as the KKK, many blacks would be found dead from being lynched, or some had been killed in a drive-by shooting (pg 540). The "Black Revolution" would take a major hit at the death of three very important supporters, JFK an advocate of the Civil Rights movement was assassinated November 22, 1963, then came Malcolm X in 1965 who was murdered and lastly Martin Luther King in 1968 who was also shot (pg 549). These were major bumps in the road to equality since they were of course important to the cause.

The US may not have been the perfect government but neither was any other and it was definitely not the Soviets. Throughout the Cold War the US and its allies had to be on edge since they were for the most wary of the spreading of Communism and of the influence the Soviet Union gained over smaller satellite states, it did not excuse the lack of reform for a majority of the first part during the Cold War.   

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From: Matthew R. Giorgio <matthew....@gmail.com>
To: AP US History - HSA-Dallas <HSA_...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:31 AM

Subject: Summer Assignment #2 - From Slavery to Freedom - The Black Revolution

[cesar garcia]

During the cold war the U.S. could’ve easily considered themselves a world power. The reason is because not only where they taking care of their problems with the Soviet Union but also had the strength to overcome its internal problems, which was the racial equality for the most part. This  problem was kind of keeping the U.S. from becoming a world power since in contradicted its  reason for existence which was to be a country that fought for FREEDOM. African American struggled for quite a long time to finally start to get the rights they deserved and were kept from them by the whites.

                The U.S. now considered a world power, because of the result of WWII, well deserved that rank. First of all they had a good president at the time that was taking care of the Cold War as well as the racial equality problems the country had internally. Kennedy had become a friend, an allay, of the African Americans in their struggle for equality  (pg 547). Kennedy, even though having other major problems, was able to help the African Americans in their fight and at the same time fighting the Cold War. The country its self was fighting two battles internally and internationally. This is a great example to the fact that the U.S. was strong enough not to fall to problems like this like other civilizations had crumbled because of the internal problems and outside pressures kind of like the Romans had but actually survived.

                        The U.S. during that time was contradicting its saying of freedom country because of how they were treating African Americans. They did not them go to public schools where whites attended (pg 526), they also didn’t let them sit or hang around in supposedly white areas (pg 526-527). Killings of the African American by groups of white supremacy (pg 540). All of these were acts of violence and injustice toward African Americans and were taking away the freedom that once a while back they didn’t have because of Great Britain. All these actions against African Americans were contradicting the core, the base of existence on the country which is freedom.

Even though the country had the war and those internal problems it still managed to overcome them.  African Americans, after a long way of hard struggle, finally saw some light. They gained more right like being able to go to the same school whites did (pg 548-560), they had gained some important political positions by the 1970s (pg 557). They had acquired some tremendous power and the U.S. was rising from its problem, slow but it was. The racial inequality being solved was making the country look stronger, its like the saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, well the U.S. was learning how to deal with problems like this thus making them way more experienced and making their government stronger.

Through all of this experiences and the way that they dealt with it under the circumstances that they were in, it showed how strong of a country they were. Overcoming this problems made them what they are now a world super power

[Alex Mendez]

The United States is still a world super power and super leader during the Cold War  even though it was not able to  secure basic, and unalienable rights that belong to every one especially those to the ones that belong to African Americans. Even though the U.S had troubles given the black american rights, is still does not change the fact that the U.S was still prosperous, wealthy, and had a large amount of the world strength, and was still able to have a large amount of influence on the world. Like The Soviet Union was a very powerful country in the entire world and was definitely super power, yet they are known for oppressing  all their citizens. So their domestic flaws although very serious, are still very minor and  does not take away from the power that have among the world, Also the american government did give the black Americans right over time,and the African Americans had many rights and still fought the government.

During the United States's reign when it was considered a world power, the black amercan was going through many difficulties, but during all these difficulties they still were able to fight, and have certain freedoms. In the 1960's protest known as the sit in movements that spread rapidly through the south, where young black and white, did peaceful types of protest(526).Now because of the oppression black people are able still able to fight for little things that still helped contribute to their way to freedom.So yes the US would still oppress their own citizens by making them commit to peaceful protest but this slight domestic problems does not change the US,status as a world leader. Also the African Americans had many other types of ways where they fought for freedom like the march of freedom (532),now all these protest may seem little but through time they were getting further in the world. The african american may have been oppressed but were still able to peacefully protest,

Also even though African Americans even though treated cruelly for a long period of time through the course of time given more and more rights, by more compassionate governmental figures such as many civil right laws passes. Many things were brought to help equality for black Americans such as the committee on equal employment opportunity, ran by Vice Pres. L.B.J.(530), or his words "Until justice is blind". This caring acts by a government official shows that they may have not have put all the effort in that they should've but effort was put towards the issue. The effort given by L.B.J can still consider the US as a world power even though the effort was small, Also a bigger effort was shown by the US president John F, Kennedy where he had little hesitation appointing blacks to federal positions(530). Kennedy's compassion act shown towards african americam shows the care that parts of the us government gave to some black people, and so the us issues with not given full rights to everyone, is at minor. So both of these fact diminish that the US is less of a super power, because they lack freedoms for every citizen, they still gave some rights but the US is still a feared super power. 

The US during the cold war was an obvious super power noticed across the world, and so they may have been unfair, and down right cruel to a certain ethnic group, this does not take away from the fact that the US is still very powerful. Also the US competitor the SU, was just as powerful, and a lot of the Russian people were oppressed, more than just a little group almost all the normal citizens were oppressed, where the US oppressed a certain ethnic group but still gave some rights to them. The US might have terrible flaws that scared people over the course of history, but although it may be insensitive they are still worthy of being called a super power.

-Alex Mendez :)