American History In A Global Context Essay

America has been at the centre of the history of the world as much as the history of the world has been at eh centre of the formation of the American nation. This makes it important for anyone looking at and trying to understand America make it his or her business to look at the histories of the world and that of the United States of America as one entity with different faces and phases rather than two distinct entities (Baud, 158). Many historians have implied that it is the isolation policy of the United State that helped her industrialize. However it is worth noting that America interacted with the other European nations in the earlier years of her republic. This isolation however helped develop without interference the economic, cultural, industrial and political thoughts of the nation in the intervening years between colonization and the world wars of the twentieth century. America went in to small wars with the French and Mexicans as well as the Spaniards but these wars never had a significant impact on the direction America was taking (Bender, 257). Historical context and world history American history dates back to the days of exploration by Columbus. She managed to transport in to her industries orient goods by water and whale trading became a booming business. America at the moment was at the centre of this trade. The discoveries of the nation strengthened world trade with the industries in America becoming big centers for trade (Bender, 178). Turning to the American Civil War one might be tempted to think that this was an isolated case for the American people. Deep down the revolution was a strong feeling and tide to end the reign of slavery in the world. These were the seedling of freedom planted in an attempt to end slavery. Bender says that the American Civil War is â€Å"a larger history of†¦ conflicts over nationalism and freedom and the proper balance of central and local authority. † This has more often than not repeated itself in other parts of the world at a smaller or larger scale (Bender, 218). From colonialism it was the centre for migration and voyages that marked the advances of the world powers in conquering other nations. Later America becomes the centre of slavery. As central as the tide of slavery is to the world, so is it to American history and development (Baud, 58). Later on in the following years America was at the centre of civil rights movements. It set the trends on civil and human rights for the rest of the world to copy. The modifications on child labor laws, civil rights, better working conditions and many social changes have been driven from American struggles and reformation (Bender, 105). At one point America was said to rag behind in other social issues. Baud suggests that it is the openness of the rest of the world and the American feeling to catch up with the rest of the world that have driven her to make the many and significant changes and strides n the medical and food security and health issues. The feelings and advances of the world have driven America to follow suit and to set the pace on such issues affecting her population. This has gotten the United States of America in to the ring of global influence (Baud, 79). Industrialization in America and the whole world brought with it many challenges and social issues. While the industries had to make profit, they had to look at the interest of the workers. As the labor laws activists fought for better conditions for the workers, they were responding to a global tide that. This was in all nations that had industrialized. Bender in fact says that some of the laws that exist in the American system could be traced in other countries long before the surfaced in America. Among these laws are some insurance laws, laws on child labor as well as better working conditions (Bender, 289). The integration of the immigrant races will also play a central role in shaping the history of American and consequently that of the world. A nation built on migration rising to the status of a world super power is a nation to watch even as other nations open up to immigration (Adas, 34). Further in his analysis Adas, looks at the later influences that the so called ‘ideals of the American people have shaped and influenced the world after the coming to being of the American state. While the Americans moving from Europe wanted a nation built on freedom and very strong ideals, the Germans had an almost similar idea. It may seem like years after but it is the same idea of purity and nationalism that informs the activities of the Germans later (Adas, 32). Bender is categorical on the place and the role of America as a military empire in the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. America is seen to intervene in global wars between empires. All this time she has not only been watching but preparing herself though for no war in particular. Even when America goes to war it marks her place in the history of the American nation as well as that of the world (Bender, 229). One of the most common influences America has had on the world’s political landscape is the concept of democracy. Other nations have found it comfortable to adopt the American system of political interaction. According to Bender this concept has not only influenced the political but the social systems of the world. It was hard for America to sell the concept of freedom and democracy to the other nations while slavery existed on her south. This forced her abolish slavery in order to easily sell the democracy idea. Its adoption meant freedom for many other marginalized groups of the world (Bender, 256). Conclusion One can only be splitting hairs trying to differentiate the history of America with that of the world. It is a fact undeniable to any one that America has her history grounded and similarly identical to that of the world. The many changes the world has witnessed have been influenced and at the same time they have influenced the world outlook. This is an assertion that finds home in the ideas of great scholars as discussed above and at the same time very verifiable and logical. If proper understanding of the history of America is to be achieved it has to be grounded squarely on the history of the world. Works cited 1. Adas, M, (2001) `From settler colony to global hegemony: integrating the exceptionalist narrative of the American experience into world history`, American historical review, The University of Chicago Press: Indiana. 2. Bender, T, (2006) A Nation Among Nations: Americas place in world history, introduction. (6), Hill and Wang: New York. 3. Baud, M, and W Van Schendel, (1997) `Toward a Comparative history of the borderlands` in Journal of world history, University of Hawaii Press: Hawaii