Chumash uprising 1824 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chumash uprising 1824 - Research Paper Example This binary between the colonial and the colonized cultures was, understandably, something that the native communities found very hard to digest. The Chumash Uprising of 1824 was one such revolt that made it clear to the Spanish colonizers that a mindless devaluation of indigenous cultures and traditions would not be tolerated. There was little that these cultures could do in these situations in terms of their military might; however, they were able to mount cultural challenges through the preservation of their own cultures. This is what the Chumash did as well. Despite reverses as far as the military aspect of their revolt was concerned, they preserved their culture in certain ways through a following of their own religions and modes of production. However, one needs to explore why the Chumash felt the need to revolt in the first place. This was definitely because of the Spanish attempts to efface their culture and the indigenous modes of being. This led to tension that then bubbled over in the form of the Chumash uprising of 1824. This was then something that can be looked at as an assertion of an indigenous identity and the symbols and signs that are attached to it. The Spanish attempt to spread Catholicism was also a potent cause for the uprising. Indigenous cultures all around the world had religions of its own. The Chumash were no different as far as this aspect was concerned. They had their own religions and ways of living. This was what the Spanish colonizers chose to challenge as part of their mission. This was part of an impulse where they believed that they had a good knowledge of the Chumash society and their culture. This knowledge is what they used for the purpose of exercising their control over the Chumash society. Edward Said, in his seminal work on postcolonial societies and the phenomenon of colonialism, says that this notion of knowledge was then converted into power by the colonizers (Said 2000, 12). However, their imperfect knowledge led t o slippages in the exercise of their power and laid open room for revolts and uprisings such as the one that was carried out by the Chumash. The interstices of colonial narratives need to be looked into for a better understanding of such issues. They would help one understand the points at which the colonizer’s power was subverted and challenged. This would then lead to a better understanding even of postcolonial societies in general as a reconstruction of history is necessary for a better understanding of these societies. Another aspect of the colonization was the fact that the colonizers always encouraged only the nobility of the native country (Jackson and Castillo 1995, 36–37). If there was any possibility for the commoners to be a part of the colonial administration, there may have been a possibility that the natives would have cooperated with the colonial administration. However, this was not so in the case of the Chumash. The colonial administration often collab orated with the native nobility so as to oppress the commoners. This resulted in whatever support may have been possible for the colonizers to not emerge. This is not to point out any positive effect that colonialism may have had, but only to highlight how there was a nexus between the colonizer and the upper echelons of the colonized society. This then led to greater

Describe Wilson's Moral Diplomacy policies Research Paper

Describe Wilson's Moral Diplomacy policies - Research Paper Example Thus, Wilson’s moral diplomacy policies were essential as they encouraged people to develop reliable and desirable international relations, especially between the United State and other democratic nations. According to the text, Experience History, Volume 2: To 1877, strong international relations and affairs are the origin of development and economic growth in nations, and this is observed from the developments in the United States. The moral diplomacy policies fostered by Wilson were essentially rooted on the economic power with the understanding that democracy was, and is still the most salient aspect of a stable and growing country. Moral democracy was encouraged in the nation as it endorsed democracy and peace in the respective nation and other nations that had similar moral beliefs with U.S (James, Brian, Christine, Mark & Michael, 149-476). Reflecting on the argument of Wilson, (James, Brian, Christine, Mark & Michael, 149-476) the execution of the policies majored at c ondemning imperialism, as this aided the nation in improving its relations with other nations. In addition, the economic growth of the nation would be rapid as U.S was ready to support other nations who had democratic governments and had positive impacts to the economy and developments in U.S among other democratic nations. ... According to the text, implementation of the moral policies in the United State improved the international affairs among other democrats in the sense that the social, political and economic sectors of the respective nations were improved leading to standardized living styles in the nations (James, Brian, Christine, Mark & Michael, 149-476). The president used the fact that United State is a leading participant in the world economy to convince, and force other nations to submit to his moral diplomacy to improve the nation’s economic relations with other countries. Considering the article, The National Experience: A History of the United States (Pt. 1 & 2), the authors tried to define moral diplomacy as a tool that president Wilson attempted to use to win the social, political and economic support from other nations that were democratic. The writer shows how the President hoped to manipulate, and control other nations through economic pressures, and he achieved this by the effor ts he made in denying other nations that were, not to his idea economic support. According to the president, â€Å"The force if America is the force of moral principle†, and this was the phrase that he used to win support from other nations, thus raising the economic relations of his nation, U.S (John, William, Edmund, Arthur & Kenneth, 289-892). The moral diplomacy, according to the authors had several benefits and demerits to United State and other participating nations. For instance, American’s economic interests in other democratic nations are raised in the sense that, since U.S is a key player in the world economy, other nations depend on her for their economic development and this consequently raises the economic interests she has with other countries.