Frederich Hans Jost: A Foreign Soldier's American Experience

1. According to Ellis’s preface, explain what is so phenomenal about the founding of the United States?

Life during the Civil War was not a pleasant time. There was basically utter chaos

In the 18th century, there was a huge migration of people from Europe and Germany into the new land, America. Some fled war, discrimination, some came in as slaves, and others migrated in search of a new beginning, and new opportunities. According to the letter by Elizabeth Sprigs of Maryland to her father, there was a cost of immigration. Only a few of the immigrants like Johannes Hanner, were fully free. Others traded their freedom for a specific period of time in exchange for passage to America. In her letter, Elizabeth expresses the harsh conditions that they went through to earn the passage by working as indentured servants. Johannes, on the other hand, expresses the good life he was experiencing compared with the situation in his former

There are many ways to achieve an utopian society such as; securing the children's education, health, and morale, apply the principles of justice and love to our society, institute a productive system of industry, and support spiritual progress. This excerpt summarized the utopian community that many reforms focused on. This shows that, during this time period, democratic reforms was not the main focus but social reforms were. In Imminent Dangers to the Free Institutions of the United States by Samuel F.B. Morse, it states that emigration is increasing and changing which needs the Naturalization Law to maintain and preserve a ideal society (Document D). Samuel F.B. Morse was an American inventor and painter, he strongly believed in puritan traditions. Morse's book was in support of cleansing America from any foreign influences. The Naturalization Law made it impossible for any foreigners to be able to vote. This law contradicts the democratic ideals because it was not for equality in fact it went against it. Morse's statement was meant to show that no foreign influence should be allowed. This shows that

From the earliest times, war has existed as a painful reality. Stories are passed down from generation to generation about brave men fighting epic battles in ancient civilizations. Occasionally a different type of legend emerges: the homefront hero. In Ancient Greece and Rome, elderly statesmen prevented famine and raised supplies for their distant armies in wartime. From then on through history, those left behind, from the leaders of countries tested in resolve and commitment by wars to the ordinary citizens who rise above their routines to serve their countries, are powerful forces behind victories. World War II was no exception. While the soldiers abroad were undoubtedly true heroes of the war, the parents, siblings, and children they left behind also assisted in the war effort. No one remained truly unaffected by the war. Without the labors of women, the efforts of schoolchildren, and the institution of rationing, World War II could not have been won.

The definition of what America is, and furthermore what an American is, has been eternally elusive. However, it can be reasonably said that the vision of America rests upon freedom of expression, the right to property, and self-determination. These ideas are explored in one European’s examination of American agricultural society in the late 18th century. Letters from an American Farmer by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur illustrates the gilded nature of the early vision of America; one that appears to be simplistic and based in freedom, but lies on a foundation of oppression and greed.

In the seventeenth century, religious persecution ran rampant throughout Europe. In attempt to escape the oppression, many fled to less critical countries and territories. One of the popular refuges was colonial America. Settling in the north, these religious refugees made up a majority in the New England population, endeavoring to use it to form their Ideal society. They could use the new land to implement a new civilization reflective of their beliefs.

Who would have ever thought a small amount of rice with raw fish on top of it would become so popular across the world? Sushi’s fame jumped an ocean across and became popular in the USA. Many factors contributed to its popularization and has helped make its place in the American cuisine. As time passed by, the simple creations of sushi evolved to complicated combinations and eye catching presentations today. This change was welcomed because it gave a new perspective of the dish, giving it a new face.

Throughout history society has to go through many changes that not only affect many of the people but also the areas around the transformation. The main point of Fredrick Jackson Turner’s thesis is what the real essence of America is, and how we’re all influenced by the many changes we have to go through. He believes that American history should not be focused on the extension of European enterprise. The society will have to realize that America will have to be emancipated because of the fact that we had a country with an unlimited amount of boundaries and have to come to realization that we have many closed-spaced limits. The views in the seminal essay share his thoughts on the idea of how the frontier shaped

America: “The land of the free, and the home of the brave” (Key 7-8). When our forefathers overcame the colonial reign of the British Empire, they formed the United States of America based on the premise of enlightened ideals promoting life, ownership of land, and liberty. But after the revolution, the country’s problems were far from solved. The country’s post-revolution issues sparked a Civil War, which was followed by a reconstruction. In some ways, the Civil War and Reconstruction helped the United States accomplish its original goals, but in many ways, that was not the case.

"From the first day that the United States won its independance, thoughtful Americans have attempted to define the new national identity" that decolonization invited. Becoming an independant political nation forced citizens to suddenly devise a "community and character" (Finkelman, 63) worthy of this newborn America. It was believed that, once free from Birtish fetters, a unique American character would emerge automatically. But this was not so, and it was left up to the artits, politictians, scientists, businessmen and women, and every other citizen to contrive the American identity. Those who were most accomplished at scrutinizing the American identity and what it was, were the many authors and writers of the 19th century.

Halberstam’s background epitomizes why his reporting and being critical of the war efforts and the administration was such a personal struggle. Halberstam’s paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States in the 1870’s from the Ukraine. At the time he left the Ukraine was a part of Russia and he was a Polish-Jewish immigrant to the United States. He never went back and rarely traveled outside the town in Connecticut where he settled. He had no formal education not even advancing to the high school level. He was able to make a living running a variety of stores including a small dress shop in Connecticut ( ).

A good description of the US as it was developing into a free land of diverse peoples; it took quite some time for freedom to benefit all ethnicities

In his Sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” he promotes colonization with the idea that the people of America are all selfless and charitable. Finally, there are writers who question such views of America such as Nathaniel Hawthorne in “My Kinsman, Major Molineux”. His critique of the American dream that Smith and Winthrop life by is not the same for everyone; that there is a loss of innocence and suffering in America. Hawthorne enlightens his readers to the trials that can come to a person and that the American dream is not something to admire. All three writers have their own vision of what colonization means and the opportunities that await them on American soul.

The essay is being presented on March 3rd. 2013 to Marek McKenna for G380/AMH3304 Section 01 Visions of America Since 1945