United States history
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United States history
The study of the United States history provides students with the opportunity to not only develop an understanding of the journey that the country has had but to also interact with history itself. Throughout the course, I have learned so much about the country. While everything about US history affects life today, the two aspects that I found to have a lot of impact on my life are the American Revolution and the Civil Rights Movement. Incoming students should pay close attention to these two aspects of US history because they are the most defining of where we have come from as a people.
One particular discussion I enjoyed was Week 2 Discussion 1: The American Revolution. I understood the significance of the American Revolution, including all the events that lead to it. Were it not for the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence would not have been possible. We would never have had the ideals we have today as a nation. The Revolution was a stepping stone for the history of democracy. The acts leading up to the American Revolution violated Colonists’ rights and, in response, they fought to secure the freedom that we enjoy today. I particularly understood the implication of “no taxation without representation,” which was a way of our forefathers telling the colonialists that their time was up.
The American Revolution was important for various other reasons besides setting the nation on the road to independence. For example, it highlighted the role of courageous American leaders who spoke for the voiceless, even when doing so put them at conflict with the cruel British rulers. If I could take anything from their great zeal, it would be to be courageous in confronting social ills. As a people, we must emulate the people who fought for independence in terms of identifying and confronting the bad things that are happening in society.
Another aspect that I also enjoyed was the readings on the Civil Rights Movement. Even though the American Revolution won us independence and freedom from the British, America was still in yet another bondage that lasted for nearly 200 years since the Declaration of Independence. For many reasons, the Declaration only ended one phase of misery for America, ushering the nation to yet another period of social injustices. The Civil Rights Movement struck me for many reasons. First, it ushered in a new era in US history where, for the first time, the nation was closer to achieving true freedom. Secondly, it set the stage for contemporary society we enjoy today. It secured the rights and freedoms of the right people and vulnerable groups like women. Today, I enjoy the fruits of the Movement because thanks to it, I am assured of equal opportunity and treatment throughout the nation.
My advice to incoming students as they prepare to attend this class is that they should prepare to do a lot of personal research and reading if they want to enjoy the course. There is a lot to learn about America’s history, but they will not learn everything in class. As such, they should be sure to read more on their own. Luckily, there are a lot of reading materials that they can find the relevant information. I urge them to understand that US history is not about passing exams. Instead, they should attend the class to understand and appreciate our rich history. Getting an A depends on how willing and disciplined they will be. Extensive reading, including participating in group discussions, is key to passing the course. I did a lot of private studies while also being actively involved in group discussions, and it helped me to score a good grade.
In summary, there are many things to look out for in this class. I particularly enjoyed discussions on the American Revolution and the Civil Rights Movement. These two areas, I believe, are the most defining of America we live in today. Incoming students should be sure to do a lot of private studies to pass the course.