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American national politics have been shaped by bey events that have happened over the years. National politics were significantly shaped by the post-world war II social and cultural changes. The post world war II era was marked with several changes of social and cultural transformations in America. The essay examines the shaping of national politics was shaped by important cultural and social changes. It will focus on significant developments during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s decades.
In the 1950s and 60s, there was the development of civil rights movements which was created to eliminate racial discriminations against the downgraded minorities, specifically African Americans. The civil rights movement was an important social change event in American society. Civil rights movement began in 1955 and change race relations in American society. In the early 1960s, civil rights were used as a major issue in national politics. For instance, the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education supreme court case formed a landmark in conventional American life. The American supreme laws in the constitution were invoked to put to an end the racial segregation that existed during that time.
In the American national political arena minorities were denied political civil rights. Asian Americans, Indian people, African Americans minorities started to put efforts on improving their social, economic, and political life. African Americans who were initially barred from voting were given opportunities to vote by the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The act deferred voter tests such as literacy as well as sanctioned federal voter registration supervision in states where voter tests were used. As a result, barred African Americans were able to register as voters. The act approved attorney general to replace local registrars with federal examiners at instances where there was voting discrimination. The development had an immediate political effect whereby African Americans registered as new voters, as well as some local registrars, were replaced with federal examiners. Therefore, the minority groups were allowed to play a role in national politics for the first time in history. Also, the right to vote changed national politics by increasing the number of minorities who held elective positions. In the late 1960s, the African Americans entered active national politics to safeguard the voting right they had won over the decade.
Liberalism was challenged in the 1960s due to persistent ghettos, poverty and racism. It was opposed to the assumption that constitutional rights would equally protect all Americans. However, African Americans started to question the liberal political consensus in the 1960s due to persistent poverty, racism, and ghettos. They disputed the liberalism core values, the importance of coalition with whites, and nonviolence philosophy. This, together with conservative backlash conservative, weakened the liberalism political consensus.
In 1963 American enjoyed a post world war II economic success. However, many minority Americans (Latinos and African Americans) did not enjoy success. The economy was expanding, cheap energy was available, America was dominating the global marketplace, and there were government subsidies. They responded by mobilizing demanding their civil rights. As years progressed, politicians utilized the concept of civil rights in their political endeavour.
In the 1960s American national politics was shaped through the introduction of race, sexual orientation, and gender identities in the political arena. For example, Richard Nixon campaigns were based on the manifesto of uniting Americans again. During the era, there were cultural and social changes regarding gay and women liberalisation. However, there were divisions during this era. Political activism was created by the 1968 tragic events. Gay and women liberation movement took shape, and the minority groups were able to pass their claims. These groups drew their ideas from black power. The black power demanded justice, education, and basic needs (bread and housing). There was formation NOW (national women organization) to campaign for banning sex discrimination at workplaces as well as education and government financing of daycare centres. In the mid-1950s, there were some groups were advocating for gay liberation. Campaigns were conducted against employment discrimination, cultural and social life, and armed forces. A social movement was created in the 1960s to inspire both lesbians and gays to express themselves. Various changes in the public domain and policies took place, and churches started to accept gay activists. In was Chicano rebellion in 1965 when UFW (United farm workers) union were against California grape growers. An Asian American political alliance (AAPA) was formed by San Francisco state university to mobilize and express their solidarity in American society. Therefore, these developments led to the introduction of gender, sexual orientation, and race in national politics. The .developments played a vital role in the Richard Nixon presidency win because he promised to unite all Americans.
The black power was aimed at achieving African American self-determination. The movement was prominent during the 1960s and 70s. It stressed on the significance of racial pride and nurturing their collective interests through the formation of cultural and political institutions. The movement introduced national political objectives such as the prevention of racial discrimination and the establishment of a self-sufficient economy. The tension created during the period is transformed politics due to the increased need for unity in America.
Social tensions created to disapprove the Vietnamese war transformed American national politics in that presidents would not be permitted to form a military policy without approval. President Nixon had sent military on war duty in Vietnam without any approval. An anti-war movement was formed in the 1960s to question the commitment of troops. Americans had learned from world war II, and they recognized the Vietnam war had more negative effects in their economy compared to the positives. However, the war shaped American national politics through a policy of disallowing presidents to declare war without congressional approval. The war power act stipulates that no American president is capable of sending military on combat missions without congress agreement. Moreover, the war led Congress to lower the voting age to 18 years. Up to date only Americans who are aged 18 and above are allowed to participate in national elections.
In conclusion, American national politics is shaped by major cultural and social events which took place between the 1950s and 1980s. Currently, it is we are able to identify some national political goals and objectives that are borrowed from historical cultural and social events. Some of the political goals include prevention of racial discrimination, equal resource distribution, and gay, lesbianism and transgender issues. Moreover, most national political processes such as voting age of 18 were acquired from the historical developments. American politics are significantly shaped by post world war II social and cultural changes. Finally, post ward war II cultural and social events from the 1950s through 80s have inspired today’s national politics.
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