American Studies By George Lipsitz Summary

Decent Essays
In terms of questions that I feel were provoked by the reading I recall my curiosity of how other parts of the North American continent have changed as a result of a shift in political nature (Mexico and Canada). Since the countries are so close to the United States I wondered what the data from those countries in terms of immigration looked like. As far as what was missing or unanswered from the first chapter I'm hesitant to say as there is still much more to George Lipsitz book that I have yet to read. Taking into account my somewhat brief experience with American Studies up to this point I'd say that Lipsitz is not only presenting American Studies within a new frame but also America itself. My experience with his work has so far emanated

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Handlin and Bodnar highlight different facets of American immigration history from the point of departure to trans-Atlantic crossing, to arrival and the development of ethnic communities in the United States. Authors Lee, Miller, Peiss, Ribak, and Alamillo expand and reconsider the basic story presented by Handlin and Bodnar. In “Uprootedness,” Handlin presents to us that the crossing from Europe to America was “harsh and brutal.” These immigrants were torn from their communities becoming alienated in a new place.…

    • 1762 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The wind had never been so cold. The sun lazily shone over the tundra’s frozen soil, while soldiers marched through the deserted landscape. These men wore heavy coats; big, heavy, brown boots. The men were as well carrying rifles times heavier than their coats and boots put together; generals liked to humorously refer to these weapons as “peace-keeping instruments”. One could say that this was one of the largest expeditionary forces ever sent by any nation at any point in history, just by looking at the sea of faces advancing in a monotonous pace.…

    • 372 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For this assignment I have chosen to look more in depth at Immigration in the late nineteenth century until early twentieth century, and how this life changing experience was handled by different ethnic groups. In turn I will compare and contrast the essays of Victor Greene and Mark Wyman who both portray immigration in their own light. Victor Greens’s essay titled “Permanently Lost: The Trauma of Immigration” uses tools such as music and ballads to display how immigration effected certain ethnic groups and their families. While Mark Wyman’s “Coming and Going: Round - Trip to America” focuses on pamphlets given out in the workforce and more concrete evidence as to how and why immigration took place the way it did. To my mind Wyman’s use…

    • 1219 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A People’s History of The United States by Howard Zinn is a book meant to show history in a way it is not usually presented. He cuts out the sugar coating of modern textbooks and aims to show flaws in the traditional tellings of history. In the end, Howard Zinn managed to tell history in a more negative light, but he uses bias and the same techniques he criticizes. Howard Zinn goes through history in order to break down everything that happens in America from the time Columbus arrives to the Clinton Presidency. He does this in such a way to present a more “real” telling of history.…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most Americans have gone into situations with high expectations, but feeling let down if it doesn’t turn out satisfactory. On the other hand, some americans have a rough experience at first glance, but when looked back upon resulted in an exceptional experience. Within The Book of Unknown Americans by Henriquez, Arturo ventures through a dramatic course of events which causes the emergences of multiple realizations. When Arturo and his family were getting ready for the move, Arturo had decently high expectations for the move to the U.S. After being in the U.S. for a few days Arturo had a realization about how his expectation seemed completely wrong. Jumping forward, regardless of the hardships, Arturo realized that overall this experience has…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There is the old saying, “You do not know what someone else is going through, until you have walked in their shoes.” With Cristina Henriquez’s book, “The Book of Unknown Americans,” I felt I was as close to experiencing what the characters were going through without actually being in their shoes. Henriquez did a great job of adding details and twists while getting you emotionally attached to the characters. From the beginning I was drawn to the characters in “The Book of Unknown Americans.”…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sanchez George J. Sanchez is Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity, and History at the University of Southern California. The main idea is that we must weave together the insights of previous generations to begin to tell a whole story of immigration to the United States that includes everyone while taking account what pushed them to leave their nations and the factors that affected their integration into society. The reading was assigned to give us a broader view of immigration history, and to bring to light the conversation of assimilation into American society. Race and Immigration History was published in 1999. The text discusses the interconnected aspects of immigration and how the factors have dramatically changed with every new wave of immigrants.…

    • 1571 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Immigration comes to mind when reflecting on the readings. I guess because immigration is the main topic for this current administration. Immigrants and slaves were brought to this country by no choice of their own and have lived in America since it was stolen from the natives. They help to build this country yet there is much fear when it comes to immigrants entering this country today. Now I’m proud to be an American and I wouldn’t trade this country for anything else.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    The scarcity of resources has the potential to cause damage to modern society in the near future. Resources like food, water, and fuels help maintain society. Without proper access or enough resources to go around, society can be in for some consequences. In Jared Diamond’s essay, “The Last Americans”, he explains how the Mayan civilization collapsed due to a variety of reasons, one of which being a lack of resources. He then draws parallels to how the issue could play a role in modern society.…

    • 1503 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Miranda Richards Ms. Keck Composition 1/A2 29 November 2014 What is an American? Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, delivered an impactful speech that reminded Americans what it means to be an American. This speech was delivered during I am an American Day in New York City’s Central Park on May 18, 1941.…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Gregory Mantsios’s “Class in America” he discusses the myths and realities of class differentiation. One thing he jumps into in the beginning of his essay is that Americans don’t prefer to talk about social class. Some people have even stated that they dislike using the word ‘class’ or ‘upper-class’ due to the reason that they believe it mows down their fortune and responsibility. Even though some Americans are concentrated on class identification Mantsios writes that most people aren’t aware of their actions to avoid this subject, this may be because of the fact that “…Class identity has been stripped from popular culture” (Mantsios, 282). It is now deemed ‘un-American’ to even compare certain issues with classes.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The 100% American Enigma: Revisiting Linton’s "One Hundred Per-Cent American," In Ralph Linton’s essay "One Hundred Per-Cent American,”, the author suggests that ultimately even though Americans strive to be 100% American, they are ultimately foiled by the fact that almost every product we consider to be American is non the less derived from some other nation. Linton’s argument that ultimately no matter how hard the American people try, reaching a 100% American culture is unattainable, because of the diversity of America’s origin, the syncretism that ultimately is American culture, and lastly the interconnectedness of the world, also known as globalization. The diversity of America’s origin can account for one reason as to why being…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln,” Sean Wilentz successfully argues that the election of 1828 represented a democratic revolt of the people as the election was crucial to the development and maintenance of the second-party system. Not only is Wilentz the George Henry Davis Professor of History at Princeton University, but Wilentz is also a successful author who has won many awards including the prestigious Frederick Jackson Turner Award, the Albert J. Beveridge Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Bancroft Prize. In his analysis, Wilentz claims that the election of 1828 marked an evolution in the American political system as Andrew Jackson became a symbol of political power as he appealed to the common man. In fact, Wilentz successfully argues that Jackson’s election and presidency lead to the development and mobilization of political organizations which significantly shaped future presidential elections. Therefore, in “The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln,” Wilentz successfully proves that the election of 1828 represented a democratic revolt of the people as the election…

    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    With their witty and compelling book “Our America,” LeAlan and Lloyd show how the voices of underrepresented African Americans contribute significantly to our understanding about American racial relationship. I want to deliver their political messages to both the authorities and the general audience. By presenting double-meaning songs which could be absorbed in various depth level, my soundtrack will illuminate both the book’s main theme of reality, hope, inequality and give voices to African Americans. The themes of reality and hope appear inside the innocent narration of LeAlan and Lloyd about their lives in Ida B. Wells.…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “Be American,” Carlos Bulosan reveals the lack of choice a Filipino had at the time through the story of someone’s cousin, Consorcio, and his struggle to gain citizenship in America. Bulosan’s short story shares this idea of no choice with a political cartoon known as “What Will He Do,” which depicts President McKinley deciding whether or not to keep the Philippines or “send them to Spain” while the globe watches for his decision. Through the visual of President McKinley making a decision for the Philippines, the political cartoon “What Will He Do,” argues the Philippines are deprived of choice. “Be American” mirrors this argument by linking the Consorcio and his cousin to the idea of lack of choice.…

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays