Summary of Chapter 3-7 of American Crucible
American Crucible by Gary Gerstle stems from the racialism and ethnicity. This was after Roosevelt led his riders to victory in a war between America and Spain he boasted a lot about Americans been strengthened by war and years later would still inspire the Americans. The objective of this paper is to analyze the book from chapter 3 to chapter seven focusing on the key points and arguments of the author.
Chapter 3
In chapter 3 Gary tries to focus on the boundaries of the nation, 1917 to 1929. Roosevelt’s dream in this chapter is coming true in a battle where they are been tested against a savage .With this he knew they had a chance to demonstrate valor in what he saw as a country trying to forge themselves into a hardened and glorious nation. During this time from 1917 a lot of anti-migrant laws were passed and this led to racial inferiority especially some of the Europeans were seen to be inferior to. In this chapter the Japanese are depicted as silent but very powerful invaders in their aim to conquer California. By 1924 what Roosevelt had fought for had come to pass pressure was brought down on the immigrants in urge for them to give up their old world cultures. All of these immigration restrictions intensify the racial nationalism between countries and America.
Gerstle weaves and comes up with a compelling story of events and also touches on ideas that played contrast in racialism or ethnicity. Gary continues and argues on civil rights in Vietnam and tries to analyze on how Reagan and Clinton attempted to resurrect nationalism. He says, "World War II's stature as the good war, a stature that would only increase with time as Americans grew resentful of Korea and Vietnam, magnified the costs of the government's decision to fight the Axis powers with a segregated military” (Gerstle 83)
Chapter 4
Looking at chapter 4 which the topic is the Roosevelt as a nation ascendant .This is after disciplinary campaigns of the 1920 which is focused in chapter three .FDR who for a long time is admired by his polder cousin greatly at last gets the chance to put TRS vision into where it belonged .In this chapter FDR implement a federal program in regulating, relief and reform but they do not bend any civil rights. The president on the other hand encouraged people to join unions which did not go well with FDR.
He states, “When the war started, they were always protective activities by the American military. With respect to the South Vietnamese troops, they were unwilling to participate in the battle (Gerstle 156).” Many Catholics and Jews were forced to hide their ethnic identity as opportunities did not arise as they wanted. Dies who was a protestant was able to organize a group which alleged communists who in one way or the other had infiltrated government, groups and organization should be targeted.
Chapter 5
Chapter five is all about the good war, race war, of 1941 to 1945.The author starts with focusing on world war two where the army was still segregated and was fought by their allies the Japanese who were angry against the Americans for trying racism .This is per chapter three when the California state had brought a motion against Japanese that they were not included in the immigrants policy. The black people living in America also start turning against it alleging that they cannot support a country that had deemed them as second class citizens. Hamilton who had fought for the black’s right continued to inspire though they feared that soon this might lose grip. The impatience among them comes to maturity in 1943 when urban race riots start, by the end of that year the Government’s effort to deeming the black did not bore fruit due to its immense need for men in the military. By 1944 most of the military men were Africans though still did not give them extra opportunities. But at the end the previous lesser groups are able to gain prestige these are like Jews, catholic and many more.
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter seven is more about civil rights, white resistance and Black Nationalism. Gary explains how in 1960s the rooseveltian nation fell apart. Civil rights revolution reaches climax in this period .This is different from the past two decades where the movement for racial equality was attached to civic nationalists to the core. With the renunciation of the black American this was a big argument that spread to the middle class and the white. Most of the white Americans including the European ethnics most of the times thought of themselves as rivals to the black people.
He states, “The manifestations of safety were a myriad of exercises that went from medication utilization to aggregate exertions at undermining the war exertion. The vast majority of these exercises were for tackling the war at hand (Gerstle 286).
Conclusion
In conclusion the lead from some white scholars and how they saw racism leads to America nationalism. With the long history of racial exclusion saw division in the country. Japan on one hand became angry for been secluded from the immigration policy where California fought for them to be secluded. This led to them been against America in the world war. American government in 1943 came to recognize the use of black Americans during the world war two due to lack of men. The author tries to argue out how they had to leave in harmony since they needed each other to survive and at end of the year the black Americans were the most in the army. Racism reached maximum in 1960 when other democrats like martin Luther came and pushed the government more. After been neglected and abused for long the Jews and Catholics got the prestige of been like any other American. Though the Europeans and Americans for a long time still saw the black people in another way and were not in good terms with them. Gerstle is seen arguing that the origin of multiculturalist is mostly a product of white scholars. Multiculturalism was used in many ways with the major one being trying to preserve social order and trying an extra mile to prevent any urban race riots and let them abandon if it would undermine the United States rule of law.(Gerstle322).
Works cited
Gerstle, Gary. American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century . New York: Princeton University Press, 2002. 472.
