Colin Woodard is one of the writers interested in American history and its impacts on today’s situations. In 2011, Woodard wrote the book ‘American Nations: a history of the eleven rival regional cultures of North America.’ The text aims to analyze regionalism and how the eleven boundaries’ experiences have shaped North America. The author claims that each territory has its history, which has led to conflicts in developing an identity where the impacts of the differences are there till today. Every state has retained its ideologies and identities evident in the United States Congress and the presidential elections (Woodard 2011 p.4). The scholar also discusses Revolution, insisting that though the nation experienced changes as one, each region had its encounters. As a result, different reactions were there; for example, Yankeedom accepted Revolution while the rich in the Deep South rejected it with the fear that it could end slavery. Woodard adds that only Yankeedom collaborated with the changes as other nations feared that their identities would be lost. Therefore, Woodard claims that the United States is divided today because it was not together from the beginning. One of the reasons given by the scholar to show that the United States was not united from the beginning is regions’ existence. The parts had unique mindsets and goals, showing that unity of the nation was not prioritized. Yankeedom is one of the areas discussed, made up of New England and the upper mid-East. It was developed by Calvinists, whose aim was to establish a settlement on a hill in the new globe. Citizens in this region were keen on education as they believed that their future depended on it.
Woodard also talks about the Deep South, made up of the Dixie area known as a mystical land. It was first settled by the Caribbean colonies slaves, to revolve their societies and be united. In doing this, the people were ruled by one party, one religion, and identified.
Themselves with one race. The population lives opposite of the Yankee Dom, where personal behavior is assessed other than economic progress.
. As noted above, each region has had its founders and traditions, which impacts national conflicts. The scholar claims that Yankee Dom and the Deep South have had total control of coalitions for two hundred years, where correcting this is impossible. The Northern Alliance comprises the Yankee Dom, Netherlands, and the left Coast, while the Southern portion has the Deep South, Greater Appalachian, Tidewater, and the Far West. On the other hand, Midlands and the El Norte have no side due to political swings. In the final chapter in the book, Woodard claims that the possibility of the United States being united is at risk.
According to Woodard, the system in the United States should be changed. Considering that it is a developed nation, most other countries view it as an example in developing. On the other hand, unity is one aspect that the scholar believes to be critical in progress. When this is ensured, access to education is made smooth, healthcare improved, and security, among other benefits.
The book insists that most of the nation’s issues are due to the disunity that has been since history, and thus changes are needed. For example, the gap between whites and African Americans is deepening regarding social, economic aspects. The black people do not access education like the rest, denying them the chance to learn the skills and knowledge needed in employment; housing in areas occupied by the blacks is unreliable, among other places. The inequality has led to crime rates increasing as the black’s revenge for the discrimination and poverty as they lack chances for economic progress. Woodard insists that the above issues would be resolved by either balancing power in the nation or where proper control on federal governments is done.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the American Nation text, Woodard communicates that the United States is divided today because conflicts have been there since the beginning. As covered in the paper, the nation has eleven developed and settled regions by different people who had varying aims. The people who settled in these regions have upheld the aspects implemented initially, indicating that the citizens believe in different things. While some prioritize, education others focus is on ethnicity, trade, and politics, among others. The impacts are felt today, where people settle according to the winning people in elections other than to ensure interaction between cultures. The scholar suggests that making changes is necessary for the nation’s future generations and the countries considering the United States as the role model.
References
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