The US has a rich history having gone through life-changing events, decisions, policies, and occurrences, which have together worked to establish this western nation into what it is today. Many consider this nation an epitome of social, political, and economic success owing to the relationship that exists between individual American citizens and the government. While one might think that modern Americans have it easy when it comes to relating to the government, this has not been the case. The past three centuries have primarily contributed to the improvement of this relationship, which has continually been shaken by phenomenal historical events. Some of the phenomena historical events in this context include industrialization, The Women’s Suffrage Movement The Depression, New Deal, The Cold War, The Civil Rights Movement, The War in Vietnam, and Watergate. These events have either improved or worsened the relationship between citizens and the government, depending on their impact. An analysis of these events helps to determine the nature of the relationship that has existed between the two entities over the two centuries.
Focus on Impacts of Key Historical Events on the Relationship between American Citizens and the Government
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The US had undergone numerous historical changes over the last few centuries that have had either a positive impact on the relationship between the citizens and the government. Industrialization, which was rampant in the 1870s with the establishment of industrialization, changed the American landscape for good as people shifted from traditional agricultural economies. With industrialization came urbanization and urbanization migration as people moved into newly established urban centers to seek industrial employment. The dream for better lives in the cities was dashed as the new crop of entrepreneurs was profit-oriented and thus paid the workers poorly. For instance, workers worked 84 hours per week at 14 cents an hour, which totaled to about $611.52 a year against a poverty line of $500. Aside from that, the workers had no insurance, sick leave, pensions, retirement benefits or pay increases. This era led to a strained relationship with the government, as it made it easier for immigrants to get into the US industrial sector. An influx of workers meant that there was competition for the available jobs, which brought down wages which in turn led to deplorable living conditions. The steel mills did not allow for workers union, which meant that there was no one to fight for fair labor practices, and the government did not help either.
The relationship between government and women has not always been cordial owing to the propagation of discriminative gender stereotypes that disfavor them. By 1870, women were not eligible to vote for their favorite candidates, and their fate was left in the hands of their male counterparts. The only way for the women to be considered as legible voters was to pioneer and advance the Women’s suffrage movement, which women supported while the men condemned. The existing laws were biased since women were eligible to own property and pay property taxes but were not allowed to choose their political representatives. The women of the time felt that the government was not justified to deny them a fundamental right that could shape their entire lives for the better. By 1915, women were rubbing the government the wrong way as they pressured Congress to amend laws to allow women to vote. Finally, in 1919 Congress passed the 19th amendment that allowed women to vote although the women paid for it by being part of World War I. The passing of this amendment improved the relationship between women and the government their interest having been met.
The New Deal, a creation of Franklin D. Roosevelt marked yet another twist in the relationship between the Americans and the government. Franklin had raised the hope of Americans during his presidential campaigns, and the Americans hope that he would live up to those promises. The US was dealing with the devastating effects of the Great Depression at the time, which had left most Americans devastated and hopeless. Franklin offered hope to the Americans by creating various state and federal programs aimed at reducing the challenges. The most notable of these programs include Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Works Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and school lunches. The programs created employment for many Americans, making it appear as an ingenious way to restore faith in the government. FDR went ahead to introduce “Fireside Chats on the radio as a way of speaking directly with the Americans. At this point, people viewed the government as the solution to their challenges and the relationship was good at this point.
Americans were ready to settle down and live normal lives with World War II and Great Depression behind, but this was not to be. The Cold war threatened the good relationship between the people and the government as the latter had to make critical decisions regarding the war. Now more than ever Americans lived in fear due to the availability of jet engines, weapons of mass destruction, long-distance bombers, and intercontinental ballistic missiles. These weapons meant that life, as the Americans knew it then could be destroyed in an instant. The government, as if in self-preparation for the war renamed the Department of War into the Department of Defense and founded Central Intelligence Agency. The US shifted its attention to enhancing national security in as much as there were clear winners in World War II. This pursuit put American lives on the line as it meant the probability of another war in the form of the Cold War with the USSR. At this point, the relationship between citizens and the government became tense since they viewed the government instead of the USSR as a real enemy of peace.
The events in the 20th century, most specifically the world wars contributed to a greater feeling of equality for all Americans. African Americans had committed themselves to ensure that America had emerged victorious in these wars, and this warranted equal and fair treatment. However, they were in for a rude shock as segregation continued to thrive without hope for a recluse. Despite numerous calls and legislation to end racial segregation, it persisted. The Americans found themselves adopting a new philosophy “separate but equal” in relation to racial accommodations. The African-Americans felt cheated and mistreated by the very government that was supposed to improve their lives. They then resorted to revolt, civil disobedience as in the case of Rosa Parks and resistance to push for fair treatment, thus giving rise to the Civil Rights Movement. The authorities responded with the same energy through arrests, stabbing, bombing, chaining, dog attacks, acid, and tear gas. At this point, the people had a strained relationship with the government, which could not heed to their noble cause.
The relationship between the individual Americans and the government got a new definition by America’s role in the Vietnam War. The decade had begun well with the election of JFK Kennedy, and it had symbolized a new era for America only for him to be assassinated three months later. This event must have led to numerous questions about the reliability of the government in protecting citizens if it could not protect a president. Lyndon B Johnson (LBJ) took over the presidency and brought back hope owing to his rigorous campaign dubbed “Great Society Program”. LBJ hoped to end poverty and racism, and he succeeded to a certain degree, considering that poverty reduced to 12% from 25% in 10 years. The Americans must have been happy to have such promising outcomes and warmed to the government. This relationship did not last as the US decided to take part in the Vietnamese war to support France’s claim on the country. LBJ was not about to send ground troops to the war and instead used US superior weapons to fight an air war and dropped an excess of bombs. This strategy backfired an LBJ was forced to send ground troops creating room for an increase in war casualties. These actions did not augur well with the soldiers’ families and the American citizens who felt that the government was sacrificing its own. It had no business being in the war in the first place, and it was spending so much money, time, and human resources on an irrelevant war.
The American faith in the government was shaken yet again in the Watergate Scandal that involved the then sitting President Richard Nixon. Politicians are naturally supposed to uphold the Constitution to protect the central tenets therein but not Nixon. Nixon administration forewent the Constitution by trying to cover up the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters break-in by five men. Investigating authorities connected the cash that was found with the five men to Nixon. Nixon is said to have tried to manipulate democracy by finding ways of rigging the election, as he was not sure he would be reelected for a second term. His actions did not augur well, with individual Americans as he purported that the government could bend the rules. For the Americans, the government ought to protect their interests rather than promote its interests. The decision to impeach Nixon improved this relationship as the government seemed keen on redeeming itself and sent the right message to its citizens.
