Final: Most Significant Events

Most Significant Events

HIS 135 August 7, 2011

Most Significant Events

Final: Most Significant Events

As the world has progressed over the past 60 years, there have been many significant actions that have occurred. These events during the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were all majorly influential but all different in their origin and meaning. As the essay goes on, there is a synonymous view of the events that happened during this 40-year span of influence. 1950s- Immigrating Towards Conflict During the 50s the most significant action, in my opinion, that affected the U.S. was the Immigration and Nationality Act passed in 1952. I feel that culturally, this act affected the U.S. the most as it allowed for diversity in the states that was absent before. This act, also known as the McCarren-Walter Act, restricted immigration into the U.S. by foreign invaders; this also governs the citizenship to the U.S. as well. In the first stages of this acts passing, President Truman vetoed the act stating, Today, we are "protecting" ourselves as we were in 1924, against being flooded by immigrants from Eastern Europe. This is fantastic...We do not need to be protected against immigrants from these countrieson the contrary we want to stretch out a helping hand, to save those who have managed to flee into Western Europe, to succor those who are brave enough to escape from barbarism, to welcome and restore them against the day when their countries will, as we hope, be free again.... These are only a few examples of the absurdity, the cruelty of carrying over into this year of 1952 the isolationist limitations of our 1924 law. In no other realm of our national life are we so hampered and stultified by the dead hand of the past, as we are in this field of immigration (Net Industries, 2011). As it is shown here, Truman felt that it was an example of isolationism to keep foreigners from being able to cross into our country freely. To Truman, the act was seen as a measure to keep foreigners out period, but to the proposers of it, the act was seen as a precautionary measure towards knowing who was entering and leaving the country. Trumans veto was overturned by an immense amount at 278 to 113 from the House of Representatives and 57 to 26

Final: Most Significant Events

from the Senate. This act was a big deal during this time because segregation was still happening and the act made it to where individuals of other origins could come into the U.S. and become citizens like other Americans. Pat McCarran, also, made a statement soon after the passing of the law on the American racial makeup saying, I believe that this nation is the last hope of Western civilization and if this oasis of the world shall be overrun, perverted, contaminated or destroyed, then the last flickering light of humanity will be extinguished. I take no issue with those who would praise the contributions, which have been made to our society by people of many races, of varied creeds and colors.... However, we have in the United States today hard-core, indigestible blocs which have not become integrated into the American way of life, but which, on the contrary are its deadly enemies. Today, as never before, untold millions are storming our gates for admission and those gates are cracking under the strain. The solution of the problems of Europe and Asia will not come through a transplanting of those problems en masse to the United States.... If the enemies of this legislation succeed in riddling it to pieces, or in amending it beyond recognition, they will have contributed more to promote this nation's downfall than any other group ( White, 2008). In this statement, he is giving his opinion on how the law will benefit others. Furthermore, in recent years, the act was amended many times, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that altered the way the government treat foreigners of all types forever. But throughout the proposal and passing of this law, I think it affected the U.S. as more individuals came to the U.S. to become citizens, which changed society in making it more diverse than before. Individuals have had to adjust to this law since it was passed over 50 years ago. I feel that this stemmed from the tension with foreign individuals from WWII. In my opinion, I think that the government did not want a fight brought to the U.S. by units of foreign individuals, and as a result created this law to place a barrier against that fear.

Final: Most Significant Events

In addition, I feel that the goal of this act was accomplished after many years, and different enforcement. At the start of this passing, it was not accomplished as the law was changed so many times, to the discontent of Pat McCarran. 1960s- Civil Accomplishment Socially, I think the Civil Rights Movement is one of the major highlights of the 60s era. This movement was a response to segregation that was a major issue in the U.S. during the 50s and 60s. The start of this movement was actually in the 50s era in 1955, as Rosa Parks (an African American woman) refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. She was not the first individual who committed the defiant action; however she was the first individual to commit the action, which caused uproar. She, then, organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became the first lady of Civil Rights. More boycotts and nonviolent protests continued into the 60s where they ended as the Civil rights Act was passed in 1964. This bill/act was signed by President Clinton and nullified all the laws that pertained to discrimination, which then gave rights to the African Americans that were segregated against. I feel that this event somewhat stemmed off of the issue with foreigners of in the 50s. I feel that when issues are not dealt with, such as discontent with foreigners crossing through our country, it can escalate into anger towards a unit of people. In this case, it seems to have stemmed from the lack of enforcement of the Immigration Act. I feel that this movement accomplished what it was created for. Even though it took 13 years to accomplish, I feel that this movement changed the world for the long run and affected the African Americans the most out of everyone. 1970s- The Era of Scandal I think that the biggest event of the 1970s was the impeachment of President Nixon. He was impeached after the renowned Watergate scandal that caught him in a fury of trouble after four men broke into the Democratic headquarters, at the Watergate Complex. The men were

Final: Most Significant Events

linked to Nixon and he was exposed for trying to sabotage the Democrats in multiple acts. As the case progressed on, Nixon had next to no choice but to resign from office, as he was found accountable for multiple sabotage acts. Nixon, however, did not agree with the verdict and stated People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've gotI have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice (Kilpatrick). He made every effort to try and reach out for political support from both the government, and society but failed to do so. When he realized that he had lost his political support from both ends of the spectrum, he made the decision to resign. In his resignation speech, he said Sometimes I have succeeded and sometimes I have failed, but always I have taken heart from what Theodore Roosevelt once said about the man in the arena," whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is not effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deed who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievements and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly (Eidenmueller). In this speech, it is evident that Nixon does not admit to any wrong-doing and somewhat evades the question of whether or not he was involved in the cover-ups. I feel that this whole scandal was not in affiliation with prior events that occurred in the earlier decade; however I do feel that this event altered the United States view on the government. I think that, now, the U.S. finds it somewhat difficult to listen to presidents and trust in everything they say because there is always a doubt as to what really happens in the White House. I do not think that the goal of the Watergate scandal was accomplished, as they set out to diminish the Democrats chances of winning the election, and in turn were resigned from office.

Final: Most Significant Events 1980s- Change Comes in Tendrils

I feel that this decade had the biggest amount of change over any other, up to now. During this time, America was recovering from the scandal and shock of the previous Presidents mishaps. After the resignation of Nixon, President Reagan was elected and started a term of what looked to be a promising future. As he was in office, the stock market went up substantially, and more individuals were acclaimed millionaires from this. Also, he was able to boost America into launching the first space aircraft, Colombia. As the U.S. began to flourish, a lot of individuals were not fond of Reagan, as he seemed to favor that of the wealthy origin. In this, an assassination attempt was made by John Hinckley on March 30, 1981, but to no avail as Reagan survived. I feel that his reign as president did benefit the U.S., however I do not feel that his extension of leeway was equal. I think that his way of favoring others was unfair and I do not think that it was necessary on multiple accounts. I feel that his term kept an ongoing theme of recklessness, but at least Reagan did make some accomplishments for America (Washingtonpost.com). 1990s-Barrier Removal Up until the signing of the North America Free Trade Agreement, free trade was an issue, as there were barriers set in place between Mexico, Canada and the U.S. The agreement was signed in 1992, and did not take effect until 1994, but the countries were able to trade whenever and were able to cross the barriers that were set beforehand. I feel that the goal set forth by this was accomplished as it eliminated conflict between neighboring countries, and benefited the economy of each area. I feel that this agreement affected America more than any other event that happened in the 90s, as they were able to profit off of the trades that were made. The U.S. was able to build off of this agreement, and worked with the neighboring countries to better the economy. I feel

Final: Most Significant Events

that this agreement was derived from earlier pacts made in previous years for peace. I think that this agreement was smart, and eliminated unnecessary conflict between the tree countries (2008). Hypothesis In the next ten years, I foresee a change in the area of international aid, and national security. I think that our country is fortunate in the fact that we do not have the issues of war and poverty to deal with here. I think our country needs to lock down on security for our borders, as we just made a move that could bring detrimental events our way. Furthermore, I feel that in the next 10 years, our country is going to step up and make a vast amount of effort to help other countries with poverty, diseases, etc. I feel that our country does the best it can in such efforts, but will make a bigger accomplishment in the next decade.

References (2011). Watergate.info. Retrieved from http://www.watergate.info/background/

Final: Most Significant Events Brunner, B. (2000-2011). Haney. E. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html

Davidson, J. (Ed.). (2006). Nation of nations: A concise narrative of the American republic (4th ed., Vol. 2). New York: McGraw-Hill. Eidenmuller, M. (). ( n.d.). Resignation Address to the Nation [Audio podcast]. . Retrieved from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/richardnixonresignationspeech.html FAIR . (2008). Immigration Facts . Retrieved from http://www.fairus.org/site/PageNavigator/facts/research_us_laws/ Kilpatrick, C. (, November 1973). Nixon Tells Editors, "I'm Not a Crook". Washington Post , p. A01. Net Industries . (2011). Immigration- Almost Four Hundred Years of American History -Postwar Immigration Law. Retrieved from: http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2404/Immigration-Almost-Four-Hundred-YearsAmerican-History-Post-War-Immigration-Law.html Simkin, J. (1997). McCarthyism. Spartacus Educational. Retrieved from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/author.html USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. (2011). North America Free trade Agreement (NAFTA). Retrieved from http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/Policy/NAFTA/nafta.asp Washintonpost.com. (n.d.). . Retrieved from http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/nixon.htm White, M. (2008). Behind The Scenes. History 502 and Applied Media. Retrieved from http:// http://public.csusm.edu/MichelleWhite/Glossary.html