“History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller.”

Henry Glassie, US Historian

This blog serves as an opportunity to practice and improve my writing, reflect on my practice as an educator, and engage in historical discussion.

TAYLOR’S SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT AND THE BIAS OF THE FIRST MANAGERIAL CONSULTANT

AMHI 615: Making Modern America Short Paper #1

2/21/23

As the industrial revolution took root in America, so did theories on how to improve the system, maximize profit, and increase “our national efficiency”. Naturally, this is the goal of an entrepreneurial society, to seek maximum return on their investments. In response to “labor troubles,” which loosely referred to protests and riots in the early 1900s, individuals sought systems to change the relationship between labor and ownership or management. One such system was developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, deemed “scientific management.” In Taylor’s own writings, he presented a method by which this labor problem could be alleviated and both the owner and worker placated. In reviewing The Principles of Scientific Management by Taylor, one can see that Taylor’s system, while well intentioned, was blinded by his own bias towards his line of work. 

VOTING AND DEMOCRACY: AN ELITIST CONTINUITY

AMHI 634: Voting and Elections: Short Paper #1

2/21/23

In 1776, Americans declared their independence from Great Britain and proclaimed that they could perfect a better system of government. The Founding Fathers of our country borrowed many political ideas from Britain such as a bicameral legislature. Of course, America’s governmental system was not made to copy Britain’s, but many delegates to the Constitutional Convention saw merits in Britain’s system. What they did not see merit in, was being ruled by a nation removed by an entire ocean, receiving no direct representation in Parliament, and Britain as the beneficiary of American prosperity and growth. To correct these flaws, America’s founders developed a system that would shift power from across the pond to right here at home, and protect America against the abuses it felt as a colony of Britain. Yet, in many ways this change was not necessarily to create a better system of government, moreover the intention was to change who rules and who benefits from this rule. Therefore, to protect and advance the influence and power of American elites. Since 1790, this view of American democracy and voting has stayed consistent despite changes to suffrage and its constitutional amendments. 

CITIZENSHIP: MINOR v. HAPPERSETT AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS

AMHI 615: Voting and Elections in American History

3/1/2023

Ever since the creation of the Declaration of Independence, and the words “all men are created equal” were published, contention over who is considered “all men” and who is not has led to tensions throughout American political and social history. The application of the term has been used to argue for equality of women, and against the limitation of rights to only whites. The wording of the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent Constitution of the United States of America both left open to interpretation and growth of meaning. The Founders of America did not create a system in which they believed was perfect and perfectly everlasting, and developed methods by which the Constitution could be amended and improved. This amendment process and in particular, the fight between states rights advocates on the anti-federalist side and federal power on the federalist side, resulted in the creation of the Bill of Rights. This document provided specific rights to American citizens, but did not expressly name what makes a citizen a citizen and who is not. However, what it did do was reserve certain rights to the states as individuals within the creation of the 10th Amendment. This amendment has been both a source of immense positive and negative impact throughout American history. However, the 10th Amendment has caused the particular struggle of states rejecting the tenets of the subsequent 14th Amendment, which gave citizenship and equal protection of the law to all natural born citizens. Therefore, the 10th Amendment has been the chief limiting factor in the extension of true citizenship, suffrage and equal protection of the law to women and non-whites. 

EVALUATING THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON THE SIZE OF AMERICA’S GOVERNMENT

AMHI 615: Making Modern America

3/1/2023

Since America’s inception in 1776, the United States has had a recurring discourse over the appropriate size and power of the government. Its early founding saw it take an extreme countermove away from the “tyranny” of King George II and the British Parliament, and attempt a weak, de-centralized association of states with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation. Only to recognize that the lack of a strong national government left it exposed and unable to address important issues, and thus the pendulum swung back in favor of a slightly stronger national government. Again, the discussion was not singular and one sided, but featured proponents of strong national government in the Federalists, and proponents of weak national and strong state governments in the Anti-Federalist camp. However, the debate was not yet settled and throughout the next two centuries, the United States has been torn by the debate over the appropriate size of our government, and its involvement in our daily lives. We have seen national power rise during times of crisis, such as the Civil War and the instituting of the New Deal under Roosevelt. We have also seen strong contractions to national government during the Reagan administration, and rhetoric regarding small government during the Trump administration. Throughout these discussions, rhetoric and subjectivity champion their preference for government size, and whether to expand or contract it relative to its current size. The discourse related to government size in the public, has been wholly driven along party lines and its subsequent political agenda, and not been driven by empirical data or evidence. In light of the factors influencing this debate, the United States will continue to expand and contract its government in response to the political party holding power in the legislative and executive branch, and will not settle on a scientifically established size.