I know I haven't been keeping up by blog quite as well as I should have been this past month because I've been sick and such, but it's a new month, and I'm completely healthy (and hopefully going to stay that way).
I think one thing that set American's apart from the rest of the world at that time was that they didn't just expect the government to solve their problems for them. "The inhabitant of the United States learns from birth that he must rely on himself to combat the ills and trials of life." (DeTocqueville, 189).
I'm not sure whether we discussed this in class or not... (It's in my notes, but it could have been my own thoughts...)
Maybe it was because the government was still forming, or because the government didn't function the same as where citizens came from, but if an American wanted something, chances were that they'd go after it themselves. I feel like this created a very individualistic society. This is probably what Putnam's "Bowling Alone" talks about.
But then again... the Second Great Awakening brought them back together again.
And this is why associations were formed - to find a solid purpose and work with others to reach a common goal.
I don't know, really. I'm just thinking out loud. Probably incoherent. But, those are just a few of my thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment