Living Essays about Progressivism

Working with Raquel, Faiza, and Abby. We combined the topics of Prohibition, Soft Drinks, and Mother Jones to create an introduction and a conclusion about the Progressive Era.

Introduction:

During the Progressive Era, the public cared about the well being of the society. The public wanted to move forward in different areas such as health and personal safety to improve the human body. Most of their views included ideas of prohibition, protests, and finding a replacement for hard liquor.

Conclusion:

Prohibition, protests, and a replacement for hard liquor were ideas that the public focused on during the Progressive Era, often calling for government action, so that they could better the health and security of what goes into, and happens to people.Prohibition forced people to drink healthier drinks and have a healthier lifestyle, which led to boom in healthier people. Soft drinks and Coca-Cola especially helped improve the innovations toward marketing, advertising, and the entertainment of Americans, and Americans made major advancements during this time. Mary Jones was known as a mother to children and “boys” she led in strikes, she devoted her life to the health and safety of everyone she led on independent strikes.Overall, these ideas for a better society had a positive effect and improved the human mind and body during the Progressive Era.

Coca-Cola and How it's Related to Progressivism

        Coca-Cola has been around and will continue to be around until the end of time. When Coca-Cola came to the booming town of Atlanta, Georgia, a new era dawned in America, the era of progressivism. The name, Coca-Cola derives from the word Coke, meaning cocaine, and kola (or cola) meaning the cola nut from which caffeine is extracted ("Coca-Cola, a Drug Drink" Jeffersonian).  According to America's Historical Newspaper, Coca-Cola was a wake up call for Americans, both good and bad. Many uptight journalists and businessmen thought that Coke was a horrible mistake and would corrupt American youth physically and mentally, while others thought the drink was an "agreeable tonic" or "a common cure for headaches and minor ailments" ("An Innocent Beverage" Times-Picayune). Coca-Cola was extremely controversial and served as a point of marketing, advertising, and entertainment that thrived because of the progressive era and it completely changed the game of economics and the year round lifestyles of families living in the 1890s-1920s.

       Marketing geniuses are the main reason Coca-Cola became such a symbol for Americans. Coke was seen as an amenity and was made all the rage because of the use of advertising.  Above, Santa Claus is seen enjoying a Coke by his Christmas tree and working hard under the watchful eye of a resting deer, everybody loved the images of Santa and it became a widely accepted drink because people thought, if Santa can drink Coke, then why can't I? The ads for Coca-Cola only included positives, claiming that it was "healthful," "innocent," and "cheap" ("Soda Water Profit Huge; Cost of Fountain Big" Plain Dealer). Coca-Cola began as a cure for common illnesses, as it was made by a chemist in a lab, and so it was believed that it was a healthy thing to drink. People marketed the drink all year round, using Santa Claus in the winter months, and beach scenes and advertisements in the summer. Cream sodas, Coke floats, and ice cream parlors took up the marketing for the soft drink in the summer and were able to form entire businesses around the drink because of the successful marketing campaigns. Below are some of the clever advertisements that were used to make Coca-Cola popular, not to mention appealing to Americans because it was seen as a medical need, not just as a drink.

        Other scientists, chemists, and pharmacists, however, didn't share the same innocent idea about Coca-Cola, many progressive adults and storeowners thought that Coke would corrupt the brains of the youth, because it was thought to contain amounts of cocaine and caffeine. Both of these allegations were true when tested, but Coca-Cola fought back by removing the cocaine from the drink and saying that the amounts of caffeine in the drink were no more than a normal glass of coffee or tea. The controversy caused because of the scientific research on Coke only made the drink more popular among Americans because it was still seen as new and fresh. Progressivism is shown by the fights that older Americans put up about the drink, because they didn't want a new and possibly impure drink. Journalists claimed that, "caffeine is posion, and should be banned" ("Dr. Kebler ... Declares it Has Poison" State). Plenty of angry businessmen had strenuous tests done concerning the drugs used in the drink because they didn't believe that the drink could make it in their society. Some people wanted to stick to the normal everyday tea and coffee, but without Coca-Cola, there would have never been the invention of Sprite, soda fountains, or a successful rise in marketing. People used gigantic headlines and long, jumbled doctors notes to try and convince others to stay away from Coke, claiming it contained, "opium and cocaine," and "it's influences are more lasting and damaging than whiskey" ("Worst Enemy to the Human Family..." Daily Herald). The progressives tried to completely shun Coca-Cola, but the marketing and advertising of the well-known company in Georgia was well knit and structured, so it did not fail. The progressive era proved to be an obstacle that the Coca-Cola company thrived and overcame, because of the fantastic marketing, the message in the bottle, literally, and the idea of a new drink that could cure all things.

      

Third Quarter Self Evaluation

I'm very worried about my history grade. I'd like to be able to read deeper and articulate better in class, and in the history assigned questions. I feel that if I work hard and study, as well as think carefully before answering questions, I will be able to improve my grade by the end of the third quarter. I'd like to get an A in this class, and I feel as if I've come a long way since the beginning of this year, but I need to continue to work just as hard in the class to get the grade I want. The videos in class, like the Eddie Aikau documentary and the High Line, really help me understand different aspects of the history learning, and the reading questions and pocket books really help me. I feel as if I've learned to analyze a movie with a critical eye and I'd like to continue to watch movies in class. By the end of the third quarter, I'd like to have an A in this class and be able to understand a lot more of what I'm reading, because I sometimes get confused when reading the textbook.

Thinking about Progress

1. I would define progress as the difference between when you started something and when you ended it, progression is defined in the, "figurative sense as, "growth, development, advancement to higher stages"" (Dictionary)
2. The Progressive Era was between the 1890s to 1920s because it was an era of "political reform and widespread social activism" (Wiki)
3.  (US History)
    a. Remove corruption and influence from the government from bosses and political machines
    b. Include more people in the political process, democratic ways
    c. Government must solve social problems so that fairness is enforced in economic matters
    (American History)
    d. Discrimination against women be abolished
    e. Lower crime rates during the Urbanization of America
    f. Establish health and safety codes
4. All of these political reforms seem to share the common idea that humans should be valued as equal and deserve all the same amenities that "higher-class" Americans did prior to the Progressive Era. Most of the goals and reforms are based on the needs of citizens and the want of a more democratic solution to the problems. 
5.  Essential goals worth striving for/ Necessary change
            a. Discrimination against women be abolished
            b. Lower crime rates during the Urbanization of America
            c. Include more people in the political process, democratic ways
     Best Goals – not strictly necessary, but could really improve life
           a. Establish health and safety codes
           b. Remove corruption and influence from the government from bosses and political machines
     Strange Goal
           a. Government must solve social problems so that fairness is enforced in economic matters
     Not a good idea (none)

The Future

1. a. Fifty years ago: "All aircraft will be controlled by a giant radar net run on a continent-wide basis by a multiple electronic "brain".", Fish will be a main source of protein, life will be found on Mars, tooth decay, cancer, and the common cold will be cured, regeneration. Communism will vanish from the entire planet, your cell phone will be small enough to carry in your handbag, your home phone will transmit visions. Deep freezing of chicken, and other baked meats, as well as soups and milk. The Third World War between all countries. 
   b. Hundred years ago: One hundred years ago people made many predictions about what the world would be like today. Many predictions were made that digital color cameras would be existent today, which obviously became true. Other predictions such as mobile phones, pre-made meals, television, tanks, rising height of Americans, and larger fruit also became true according to this article, 100 year predictions. Other predictions say that there will be no wild animals, there will be free education for everyone, moveable houses, and police with x-ray.
2. I think the predictions made 100 years ago are wish lists, while the predictions made 50 years ago are warnings. Fifty years ago people thought there would be a third world war, and regeneration of bodies, they move away from such material predictions and focus more on the human development and the sources of life to humans, which comes off as more of a warning to humanity rather than a wish-list. While a hundred years ago, people wished for taller people, bigger fruits, and cameras that made photos in color, more materialistic wishes that were obviously granted, but they were not warnings to the human race as a whole.
3. The one hundred year ago predictions all turned out to be true, Americans are taller, consume larger fruit, and take photos in color before applying a black and white filter on the photograph. However, there has not been a Third World War, and communism is still heavily seen in the world today. The more outlandish and bizarre predictions like life on Mars and regeneration are slowly becoming reality, but I predict that they will take fifty, if not a hundred more years before they are deeply refined and plausible for everyday humans.
4. Fifty years ago, people made more predictions about the humans of today becoming more destructive, and more medical, while a hundred years ago people wished for more materialistic things such as large fruit and cell phones. There are no real patterns but more of guidelines that one hundred years ago people wished for better human life, while fifty years ago, people warned others of a more brutal human race.
5. If I were to predict the future I would say that in fifty years or less we will have talking holograms on our phones in place of skype and facetime, we will 3-D print everything, as in a 3-D printer will replace a normal printer, and we will be able to use different materials in a 3-D printer to in effect, regenerate. In one hundred years I think that cancer will be cured, we will have flying cars, and start living on Mars or other distant planets, and be able to time travel.
6.  We, as individuals have little to no control of our lives. The police and government take full responsibility and usually control of us and we have to follow rules and guidelines set by the state, country, continent, or overseas government every day. As groups, we have more control, but not nearly as much as the government, the phrase two is better than one is true in the sense that a group has more power than an individual, but untrue in the sense that a group has more control than a government, because one single group does not have more control than the government. Seeing as we have little to no control of our lives, it would only make sense that we have little to no control of the future as well, and we don't. We have the power to innovate and invent, but we as individuals cannot determine our destiny or make ourselves more powerful than the government. Individuals, groups, and the entire government has minimal control of the future, and that's why people are so petrified by the idea of the future. I personally think that nobody has control, we are all just waiting for something to happen.

How do you analyze a political cartoon?

3. Going forward, I will look at political cartoons by observing, reflecting, and then questioning them. In observation, I will use questions like, "What do I notice first? What details are in the picture? Are there any words in the picture?" After observing and using those questions I reflect on what I've seen, sort of to form a hypothesis about what I think the cartoon is about. From there I will question the cartoon if there is any more observations and reflections that I am unsure about.

In this political cartoon, President (Vice President at the time) Roosevelt traversed across the sea to Cuba, and carrying a "Big Stick." In reflecting on the cartoon, when I see the words "Big Stick" I think of a paddle or getting a spanking, which could allude to what he as an American is going to do to Cuba, Santo Domingo, and Mexico in the cartoon. My question after looking at this cartoon and observing the boats is, "What does the Debt collector stand for and the Reciever at the caboose? Is it meant to signify the collecting of Cuban tariffs?"

In this political cartoon, the effects of the Spanish American war are heavily shown. I can easily observe the racist views that the Minneapolis Journal has of the Spanish coming into America. I think this cartoon is showing that the kids in America don't think anything about the new population migrating to America no matter how different they are, however the adults of the country care. All three of the children are smiling, holding hands, and waving American flags, but the caption of the cartoon and the way the two children are portrayed really displays the racism and segregation the Spanish faced while coming to America after the Spanish American war. 

In this political cartoon, Uncle Sam is portrayed holding a very dark skinned baby. The baby is tagged as Filipino, however racistly conveyed and resembles a different race because the baby is so much darker colored than most Filipinos. After reflecting and observing this picture, it's easy to see that Uncle Sam isn't happy to be holding the baby, almost as if the baby is unwanted, which is ironic because most Americans didn't want the Filipinos to "pollute" their American lifestyles. I have no questions for this political cartoon because it is pretty self explanatory, from the faces of the two people, to the words of the tag on the Filipino baby, this political cartoon portrays early segregation as a result of the Spanish American war from its ironic and simple drawings.

Eddie Aikau Angle

1. The documentary filmmakers called this film, Hawaiian, The Legend of Eddie Aikau, because he was truly Hawaiian and embodied Hawaiian culture as a whole.

2. This films angle was that Eddie Aikau worked hard to sustain Hawaiian culture and brought honor to his ancestors through his courageous actions and his passion for family and community.

3. This documentary was an ESPN program, so it can be understood that the audience is sports based and looking for more lifestyle based views than factual. The audience could, however, still assume that the documentary was completely factual because it was an ESPN program.

4. If this film had been made by another program besides ESPN, say PBS or the History channel, the film would have been more factual and included more explanation on certain things in the Hawaiian culture such as the boat, and the origin of surfing. If the film wasn't ESPN, it would attract a different audience entirely, and would include specific reenactment and more scholarly speakers than the ESPN documentary already did.

6. Topic: Roosevelt
    Focus: Roosevelt's rise to vice presidency in 1900
    Angle:
Since I've watched the documentary on Eddie Aikau, I'm able to figure out a topic, focus, and angle on a specific subject because I know how to identify good analysis that will then further me to find out more about the topic of Roosevelt's rise to the vice presidency and why someone else under William Jennings Bryan, didn't become president. My focus will be Roosevelt specifically, and will stray away from William Jennings Bryan later in my "documentary." My angle will be that Roosevelt was a great imperialist power who was always popular among the wide majority of Americans because he was a war hero and was able to make great decisions quickly, and while William Jennings Bryan was only able to miscalculate and find discrepancies in smaller things, Theodore Roosevelt had a bigger idea for the nation.