Americas intolerant history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Americas intolerant history - Essay Example The chapter gives the detailed deliberation of the American history and a basic impact of American ideology. The chapter clearly defines how the reformations gradually took place to give the shape to the present society. It clearly gives a panoramic view of American intolerance.The chapter has given minute details about the sufferings of women, and non-WASP communities especially of immigrants. It clearly indicates the attitude of the native Americans and their feeling of supremacy and dominance. The chapter defines how marginalized groups achieved success after years of oppression, strife and resistance. The chapter gives the view of struggle that envisaged success inspite of the fact that it was years of tolerance of these communities and now they are able to enjoy the fruits of it. The contented feeling of these communities help America to be on the road of metamorphosis for equality and togetherness and also the feeling of belongingness. The chapter provides the documented facts through history that proves the authenticity and the truth that this chapter embraces. It discuss out the social reforms, religious reforms and racial harmony that took an era to get stabilized and to get the present vision. The chapter also concludes with the most significant act of defiance against intolerance the civil right movement of the twentieth century. The chapter signifies- WASPs- initially the most significant portion of the population comprised of White Anglo- Saxon Protestants who had four main values defining ethnicity : a. The brief democracy that promoted equality, freedom and individualism b. A brief in private economic enterprise and success c. A brief in the Protestant branch to the Judeo-Christian religion d. A belief in secularism defined by rationality, progress and scientific advancement. The chapter provides the details of intolerance of WASPs for those who do not follow their regulations. The Native Americans, Mexicans and African Americans were given the bottom category in the social hierarchy, whereas, , groups with less physical distinctions received greater acceptance (Purpura, 2000). WASPs were the main stream in establishing the early economic, political, social and religious foundations of America. The non-WASPs were pressurized to conform traditional culture and learn English and abandoning opposing cultural values. The chapter implies the established laws and quota for immigration, resulted in discrimination against individuals who were least like the WASPs in appearance. The chapter also implicates the Nativism which depicts that the European Protestants established themselves as the "native core" of US they were openly hostile to the cultural influences of other immigrant groups. They also found that useful and cheap labor is provided by immigrants. They observed themselves as the true Americans. Those immigrants who did not embrace Protestantism were ostracized and reminded of their inferiority by the action of nativist mob. These mobs were fiercely protective of all cultural values that they considered to be truly American and included anti-immigrants leagues, the various manifestations of the Ku Klux Klan and political parties such as Know Nothings (Perry 2000a). The chapter presents the fact that after Revolutionary war nativism, or practice of protecting the indigenous culture through conscious effort, began to take hold. Programs and policies were developed so as to encourage non-WASPs to adopt WASP values and traditions. It also envisage that 1800s onsets the scientifically justified racial ideologies that further supported the WASP- held negative perceptions of immigrants. The chapter highlights WASPs believed themselves to be inherently superior- physically, culturally, intelligently and politically. The chapter emphasize WASP-based political movement centered on a hatred of