TA: President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1961 Farewell Address.

Who is giving the speech?
President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1961 Farewell Address.
Who is the audience:
United States citizens.
Who does the speech represent:
United States citizens.
What is being said, argued, and/or requested:
President Eisenhower is issuing both a warning and a request to the American public and government leaders. He is warning Americans to be aware of the potential repercussions of a fast-developing “military industrial complex” overtaking society’s policy making, free enterprise, scientific research and other important aspects of life. Though he advocates America to continue to be militarily strong, he is very adamant about not letting free enterprise and even free will be overtaken by government defense contracts and big money, thus turning the country into a military state. He is requesting that Americans, their leaders, and members of the world community, focus on future peaceful means to settle differences and conflicts and to avoid the battlefield as another world war would undoubtedly bring an end to all the progress of civilization that has been built up over centuries. He, too, is advising balance between government intervention and the private sector when it comes to social programs and other economic problems and not to be tempted to solve problems through excessive government programs.
How is it being said, argued, and/or requested:
As a transition is being portrayed of mass production and conformity, that has never before been seen in American history, the President is giving a warning to the public and government leaders to not give into the temptation and sway of high paying military contracts. He is carefully explaining the negative impacts of giving into the allure of high paying government contracts overtaking the private sector. He is also advocating the need to practice good, balanced decision making between domestic policies and limited government interference in the economy and social programs.
What proof and/or justification is being used to legitimize the request:
References to the President’s personal experience / historical examples of the previous World Wars / technological changes that America has gone through / changes in the world as a whole particularly after the most recent events of World War II (Cold War, etc.).
What is the historical significance/relevance of this speech:
This speech is a warning to Americans as a new era of mass production and military strength has arrived after the world changing events of World War II. It is also an admonishment to both current and future government leaders at home, and in the world, to push for peaceful solutions and avoid war.
How does this document’s premise or theme fit into the historical context you are reading about in your textbook?
Just like the U.S. military has grown larger and become more powerful so has the United States. With the Cold War now in effect the world has become a more complex place to live in as two major super powers with vastly different ideologies in now poised against each other with the capability to destroy the world (nuclear weapons). President Eisenhower is warning the American public and its leaders to make careful decisions regarding both domestic and foreign policy.

CDL: Fascism: Adolf Hitler and National Socialism

This article portrays Adolf Hitler's rise to power through the Nazi political party and how he was eventually able to secure his control over all aspects of German life. With the world wide depression affecting many countries Germany was especially hit hard economically after World War I. Having to make payments back to other countries for war reparations, Germany was financially ruined and this is how the Nazi party was able to make its way into power by appealing to the discontent of German citizens. Once in power the Nazi's played on the worst fears and prejudices of the German people by causing hate and distrust of minority groups and causing an "ultra patriotic" fervor to mobilize the country into arms. However the Nazi's really gained control by taking over every aspect of government and the private sector and stealing wealth and forcing people to support the party or to literally be destroyed.

1.) While many countries in the world were leaning towards more socialist forms of government to get their economies restarted, why do you think the U.S. did not change its capitalist system?
2.) Do you think that the strict repayment plans to other countries as well as other reparations placed on Germany after WWI was the primary reason Nazi Germany was able to come to power?

To Expose a Fool, HL Mencken, 1925

Who wrote: H.L. Mencken

Audience: Mencken’s primary audience at that time was college students and educated people in general.

Represent: Mencken is portraying Bryan in almost a vagabond-like appearance, in his last days, as someone who is bitter toward the cities and the more liberal ways things are done. He is also emphasizing Bryan’s great respect and ability to identify with people who lived in rural America.

What being said: Mencken starts his essay on Bryan’s interests that are grounded in rural settings; he then gives example of Bryan’s ability to relate easier with country folks. Next, he mentions how Bryan lived a long life, perhaps too long as he went from almost becoming president to living a low and forgettable existence. Mencken discusses Bryan’s long and important political history and how he moves from the cities and into the country where he is left to continue his influence in political teachings.

How being said: Mencken writes about Bryan in a negative and somewhat stereotypical light in his essay, almost how Bryan may have feared that people from the cities may have looked down upon him and others like him living in the country.

What proof: Mencken is giving examples of Bryan’s interest in life, such as his lifelong hobby of “fly catching.” He is giving details of Bryan’s political activities and convictions. He then focuses his attention to Bryan’s final days in a “one-horse Tennessee village” where he began to make his influence felt on the citizens living in rural America.

Defense of the League of Nation, Woodrow Wilson, Sept 1919

Who wrote: President Woodrow Wilson.

Audience: President Wilson was addressing a crowd of people in Pueblo Colorado September 26, 1919, as part of a nationwide tour.

Represent: President Wilson was pleading the case of why having the League of Nations was so important to the world in order prevent future wars between mutual cooperation and arbitration between nations.

What being said: President Wilson places emphasis on how the Covenant of the League of Nations is much more than just a settlement with Germany, but a pact between nations to ensure mutual cooperation and prevent future aggression against one another. He outlines how this will be done through the League of Nations by establishing international laws that protect the rights of nations against from aggression from another. In any such dispute both parties would present documents to a council within the League that would then spend up to six months reviewing both sides claims in the dispute. Both nations would abide by whatever determination is made by the council. After explaining this process of how the League will arbitrate disputes between nations, he carefully refers to Article X to alleviate any concerns about the “territorial integrity” of nations being threatened by the League in order to emphasize how the entire purpose of the League is to protect the rights of these nations.

How being said:
President Wilson is primarily appealing to the emotions of Americans by using the example of the fallen soldiers killed in battle and how the creation of the League would be an effort to not let their sacrifice be in vain.

What proof: President Wilson carefully explains the structure of the League of Nations and how it would work as an arbitrator between nations. He also quotes Articles X and XI to give examples of how the rights of nations are protected. Finally he includes examples of powerful personal experiences such as communicating with the surviving relatives of soldiers killed in the war.

What did the Doughboys find in France?

Basically many American “doughboys” went to France with the idea that war was a noble cause as well as an ultimate adventure. However, once they became engaged in the actual application of warfare in the field reality quickly begins to hit them. The horror of combat proved to be nothing like they had ever imagined. For example, just living day to day in the trenches when there was no fighting going on was a challenge by itself as the reading mentioned that rats the size of cats would be seen everywhere. Poorly trained and inexperienced in the beginning American troops would eventually become as hardened as their allies as well as effective fighters in this “war to end all wars.”

Q. Should the two million American soldiers that made up the AEF have been deployed to Europe much sooner in order to have ended the war?

Q. Why were there tensions between French and American during the war even though the doughboys were there to help?

U.S. History 148

I am so looking forward to have good grade and good friends.