A Radical Society through History

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews American history from the perspective that the society was radical and revolutionary, by focusing on the the works "The Jungle" and "Coming of Age in Mississippi." It shows how radical reform and revolutionary ideas are at the very foundation of freedom in America, and how this tradition of freedom of speech and rebellion has continued from 1865 onwards.

From the Paper:

"In 1865, the nation had just lived through a Civil War that divided the nation, families, and races. Now, America was ready to move on, but there were still issues dividing the nation, issues that would continue to foster revolution and radicalism, and bring out the best and worst in the people of the United States. After the Civil War, "Reconstruction" began in the South, and Northerners, called "carpetbaggers," swarmed in. Most of them hoped to take advantage of the South's surrender and weakness, while furthering their own moneymaking goals. The politicians and carpetbaggers were only interested in making money, and corruption flourished. All this did was create animosity in the South. he beaten southerners blamed the newly freed blacks for their troubles, and if the blacks had it bad before the Civil War, it was no better after. They still worked for meager or no wages, while living in run-down shacks on the plantations of their former owners. Only now, they had to fend for themselves, and many of them had no idea how to take care of themselves, or earn a living. Persecution of blacks has continued in the South since the Civil War, eventually leading up to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s."

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