Change in American History An Analysis
The American society, like any other society in the world, is subject to change. Sooner or later, in a faster or slower pace compared to other societies or compared to other eras when social change happened, the society will change. The proof of change is the shift in characteristics of the society, including popular sentiment of the people or masses which is a powerful factor in social characteristic and social change. The publics sentiment is always affected by a particular individual who is reacting to the status quo and is preaching and acting for change that the society in general is in approval of. This paper understands the significance of this phenomenon and focuses on discussing and analyzing how and why American society changes from different decades and different presidents, and its impact on the people and the next cycle of social change.
Discussion
American society how it evolved from the conservatism of the 1950s to the counter-culturalism of the 1960s and 70s
One of the ways in which analysis of the change in the American society can reflect the characteristics of the said change is by viewing this topic via the analysis of the eras and decades. Because the American history has been too long to be encapsulated in a few pages of a paper, it is important to determine what exact points in time in the history of the American society will be tackled particularly. For this paper, the focus is the post-World War II, America beginning at the 1950s and its conservatism all the way to the counter culture decades of the 1960s and 1970s, and why the decade was identified as such and what factors affected such characteristics of the decades and eras. Conservatism has long been felt in the American society. It was magnified during the 1950s with how the politics and culture was responding to the continued emergence of conservatism in politics and culture, like the tenets and belief in God and the ideal American socio-economic and socio-political characteristics of strength based on economics, capitalism and military, among others. While the conservatism persists today and is still influencing the country and the characteristics of the current society, the decades following the conservatism of the 1950s was the counter culture era of two decades the 1960s and the 1970s.
The transition did not mean the complete removal of the old and the replacement of something totally new. What happened was in the process of change, the new features was a product of how the people was reacting to what was already there, like how its reaction to conservatism allowed for the entry of the dominant counter culture era of the two decades. Counter culture was a reaction to and development from aspects like conservatism. For example, conservatism was one of the reasons why the role of America in the Vietnam War was pushed by those who believe that America should flex its muscles outside of its territory to fight communism at all costs. Those who did not agree to this form the arm of the counter culture era that is particularly against the Vietnam War and the involvement of America in this conflict. There are also other characteristics like the rise of the consciousness of the womens rights and other civil rights movements as well as the tackling of sexual mores and other new things that was introduced to the society. In these three decades (50s, 60s and the 70s), the rise to dominance of conservatism and counter culture strongly influenced what the society is today and how it is characterized. The effects of these two movements are still felt significantly today in the society despite the changes that it underwent after the three decades has passed.
Change in American society and the role of the president
There are also noticeable changes as part of the evolution of the American society based on the tenure of its highest ranking political leader the United States President. From Ronald Reagans era to that of Bill Clinton and to the era of George W. Bush, the analysis of the society and how it changed is noticeable in this perspective (Aberbach, Peterson, 2006, p. 399). This is not surprising at all. Political leaders, particularly the US president, have the ability and power to change the American society because of how it influences the political sphere, which in turn translates to its impact in the other cultural sphere. For example, the Reaganomics, the local and international issues Reagan has addressed, his position against communism was the key features of his era that influenced the society, and which, over the years, was changed by how the politics of other presidents like Bush and Clinton handled similar and related matters during their term. Reagans position on international affairs and communism affected the way the American society was shaped at the time. It was changed by how the American president that served after him handled the issues. For example, the new enemy as perceived by the people is no longer communism but terrorism.
What single factor, in your assessment, accounts for these shifts in popular sentiment
All in all, in the analysis of the changes in the society, either by means of characterizing it under the era of a president or by characterizing it by the decade based on its characteristics, it is noticeable that there are continuing shifts in popular sentiment which in turn is the main factor in the changes happening in the society.
That single factor is this the cycle wherein the society, in one way or another, brings to the fore an individual or a group of individuals who will contribute significantly and affect the popular consciousness of the people. This is an elite group. Often, this is not a politician because politicians and the politics are always expected of this role. Thus, this is not surprising or outstanding at all. And often, the individual from this group can be more powerful than the political leaders of the country. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government... Consequently, he who moulds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes (Wilson, 2006, p. 145).
This group can take from science, although the individual who influences popular sentiment and consciousness is never always a man of science. While scientific endeavors influence popular sentiment, it is hardly as moving and as emotional and as powerful as what the individual from this particular group can bring. Inside the society, this individual or the group of individuals appear one at a time, often acting as a catalyst for the much-needed change that can only be brought forward through the radical changing and alteration of the social status quo through the leadership and inspiration of this particular individual. As explained in the analysis of change in the American society in the previous two sections of the paper, the noticeable characteristics alluding to the change in American society is attributed to this kind of individual. Individuals like Russel Kirk and William F. Buckley Jr. were instrumental in how conservatism was shaping during the 1950s. During the counter culture era, there has been no bigger person than Martin Luther King himself although there are many equally significant individuals who lead the way for social change during that time and era.
The changes in the society can be reflected based on the analysis of the characteristics of the society per decade or based on the characteristics of the society per president. Regardless of these two factors, what remains constant is the fact that in the overall analysis of social change, social features and the public sentiment and consciousness, the investigation will always look upon a particular individual or group of people that is responsible for such impact. In the decades that came and went and under the many different US presidents that came and served, there are always selected individuals and groups of individuals that can strongly impact public sentiment and consciousness. Along the way, these individuals impact social change by triggering it and dictating the new features of the society after the change. The changes that happened over time have always left lasting marks on the society. Some aspects disappear at the introduction of new features as a result of the change, while some persist. These are strong characteristics to which the people can identify to, like the ideals of conservatism taken from the 1950s, to the attitude of the counter culture movement that was espoused as far back as the 1960s and the 1970s.
Discussion
American society how it evolved from the conservatism of the 1950s to the counter-culturalism of the 1960s and 70s
One of the ways in which analysis of the change in the American society can reflect the characteristics of the said change is by viewing this topic via the analysis of the eras and decades. Because the American history has been too long to be encapsulated in a few pages of a paper, it is important to determine what exact points in time in the history of the American society will be tackled particularly. For this paper, the focus is the post-World War II, America beginning at the 1950s and its conservatism all the way to the counter culture decades of the 1960s and 1970s, and why the decade was identified as such and what factors affected such characteristics of the decades and eras. Conservatism has long been felt in the American society. It was magnified during the 1950s with how the politics and culture was responding to the continued emergence of conservatism in politics and culture, like the tenets and belief in God and the ideal American socio-economic and socio-political characteristics of strength based on economics, capitalism and military, among others. While the conservatism persists today and is still influencing the country and the characteristics of the current society, the decades following the conservatism of the 1950s was the counter culture era of two decades the 1960s and the 1970s.
The transition did not mean the complete removal of the old and the replacement of something totally new. What happened was in the process of change, the new features was a product of how the people was reacting to what was already there, like how its reaction to conservatism allowed for the entry of the dominant counter culture era of the two decades. Counter culture was a reaction to and development from aspects like conservatism. For example, conservatism was one of the reasons why the role of America in the Vietnam War was pushed by those who believe that America should flex its muscles outside of its territory to fight communism at all costs. Those who did not agree to this form the arm of the counter culture era that is particularly against the Vietnam War and the involvement of America in this conflict. There are also other characteristics like the rise of the consciousness of the womens rights and other civil rights movements as well as the tackling of sexual mores and other new things that was introduced to the society. In these three decades (50s, 60s and the 70s), the rise to dominance of conservatism and counter culture strongly influenced what the society is today and how it is characterized. The effects of these two movements are still felt significantly today in the society despite the changes that it underwent after the three decades has passed.
Change in American society and the role of the president
There are also noticeable changes as part of the evolution of the American society based on the tenure of its highest ranking political leader the United States President. From Ronald Reagans era to that of Bill Clinton and to the era of George W. Bush, the analysis of the society and how it changed is noticeable in this perspective (Aberbach, Peterson, 2006, p. 399). This is not surprising at all. Political leaders, particularly the US president, have the ability and power to change the American society because of how it influences the political sphere, which in turn translates to its impact in the other cultural sphere. For example, the Reaganomics, the local and international issues Reagan has addressed, his position against communism was the key features of his era that influenced the society, and which, over the years, was changed by how the politics of other presidents like Bush and Clinton handled similar and related matters during their term. Reagans position on international affairs and communism affected the way the American society was shaped at the time. It was changed by how the American president that served after him handled the issues. For example, the new enemy as perceived by the people is no longer communism but terrorism.
What single factor, in your assessment, accounts for these shifts in popular sentiment
All in all, in the analysis of the changes in the society, either by means of characterizing it under the era of a president or by characterizing it by the decade based on its characteristics, it is noticeable that there are continuing shifts in popular sentiment which in turn is the main factor in the changes happening in the society.
That single factor is this the cycle wherein the society, in one way or another, brings to the fore an individual or a group of individuals who will contribute significantly and affect the popular consciousness of the people. This is an elite group. Often, this is not a politician because politicians and the politics are always expected of this role. Thus, this is not surprising or outstanding at all. And often, the individual from this group can be more powerful than the political leaders of the country. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government... Consequently, he who moulds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes (Wilson, 2006, p. 145).
This group can take from science, although the individual who influences popular sentiment and consciousness is never always a man of science. While scientific endeavors influence popular sentiment, it is hardly as moving and as emotional and as powerful as what the individual from this particular group can bring. Inside the society, this individual or the group of individuals appear one at a time, often acting as a catalyst for the much-needed change that can only be brought forward through the radical changing and alteration of the social status quo through the leadership and inspiration of this particular individual. As explained in the analysis of change in the American society in the previous two sections of the paper, the noticeable characteristics alluding to the change in American society is attributed to this kind of individual. Individuals like Russel Kirk and William F. Buckley Jr. were instrumental in how conservatism was shaping during the 1950s. During the counter culture era, there has been no bigger person than Martin Luther King himself although there are many equally significant individuals who lead the way for social change during that time and era.
The changes in the society can be reflected based on the analysis of the characteristics of the society per decade or based on the characteristics of the society per president. Regardless of these two factors, what remains constant is the fact that in the overall analysis of social change, social features and the public sentiment and consciousness, the investigation will always look upon a particular individual or group of people that is responsible for such impact. In the decades that came and went and under the many different US presidents that came and served, there are always selected individuals and groups of individuals that can strongly impact public sentiment and consciousness. Along the way, these individuals impact social change by triggering it and dictating the new features of the society after the change. The changes that happened over time have always left lasting marks on the society. Some aspects disappear at the introduction of new features as a result of the change, while some persist. These are strong characteristics to which the people can identify to, like the ideals of conservatism taken from the 1950s, to the attitude of the counter culture movement that was espoused as far back as the 1960s and the 1970s.
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