rhruska – Historical Thinking

Dust Bowl and Capitalism

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016rhruska

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In Koppes article “Dusty Volumes”, the dust bowl is explained to be caused by both economical factors and natural reasons. It is important to understand that the Dust Bowl can not be simplified and purported to be a chance natural disaster. As ngojoseph emphasized, the majority of work on the Dust Bowl considers the event as an isolated diasater Koppes includes the work of James Malin to address the shortcomings of those works. According to Malin, “dust storms were natural phenomena pre-dating white persons’ agriculture”. Thus, the Dust Bowl is modeled by Koppes as a combination of regular geological circumstance and the cumulative effects of the population in the Great Plains.

To further stress the idea that the Dust Bowl was more then chance, economic reasons are provided. One of the main reasons, which points to a Marxist historiography, is Worster’s claim that capitalism partly caused the Dust Bowl. The work of Worster frames the lead up to the Dust Bowl as similar to a class conflict; farmers vs. ranchers. The farmers, owning the means of production, used new industrial technology to convert the plains into wheat fields. According to Worster, this human effect was the main cause of the Dust Bowl.

Titanic – More to the Myth

November 1, 2016rhruska

In this week’s reading, Biel introduces yet another important angle on a Disaster that had a lasting effect in US history. Biel explains the Titanic disaster and how memory of the event shaped its forming into a national myth. While many Americans know the titanic according to the conventional, often retold narrative; Biel describes a side of the event that is not as simple. The article shows that the disaster had a profound response from both feminists and the Afican American population.

The popular narrative of the disaster is characterized by accounts of heroism and sacrifice. On the surface, these are noble tales, but feminists and other groups interpreted these accounts much differently. The disaster caused many to reference chivalry and the duty of men. Because of the growth of the suffragette movement in 1912, feminists had gained broader support. Thus, the feminist reaction to the Titanic was an important element to the public reaction; often being drowned out by other written sources such as the press. Feminists criticized notions of chivalry in the aftermath of the sinking because it “reinforced conservative views of gender and class relations in which both women and workers were best served by accepting the authority and protection of paternalistic elites” (Biel, 307). This rejection of paternal domininace by feminists after the disaster was critical to publicizing their cause.

Another group that is not often represented in the narrative of the disaster is the African American population. An account of an African American being refused passage and thus being saved from the sinking was used to bring racial discrimination to the public eye. Biel’s article reveals conflict in society compared to the ideal myth of the Titanic. An example of the reiteration of this myth is James Cameron’s movie. I agree with terry_christi that the flaws of the movie are bothersome to those who understand the entire scope of the disaster.

Disaster and Development

October 25, 2016rhruska

Before reading Kevin Rozario’s article “What Comes Down must Go up”, I believed the outlook of viewing a natural disaster as an opportunity was a more recent invention from the late nineteenth century. Rozario argues that the perspective of looking at disasters as an opportunity for development is actually ingrained in American society. The earthquake that devastated the American colonies proves this perspective. In 1727 an earthquake caused mass damage in the New England area. While many colonists were angered by the disaster, a significant amount of people greeted the destruction with elation. Ministers considered the earthquake a blessing upon the survivors, and God chose the survivors to follow the path of righteousness. Disasters of the nineteenth century, such as the Great Chicago Fire, also were portayed as an opportunity. In the case of the fire, businessmen who had investments in the city portrayed the disaster as an opportunity for growth. Similar to this exploitation, the earthquake of 1727 was portrayed positively in the interest of evoking a religuous revival.

Rozario also associates the religious fervor ministers evoked after disasters in the colonial period with the shaping of America’s urban spaces. As ploopy1 stated, victims of a disaster can either recover as an individual or collectively rebuild. The religious meaning injected by religious leaders seemed to help bring communitites together after destruction. Thus, the rapid growth of large, American cities can be attributed to the continuous adversity from natural forces.

The Communist Manifesto

October 18, 2016October 18, 2016rhruska

In The Communitst Manifesto by Karl Marx, Marx contended that the history of Europe has been essentially about a class struggle between two classes. The two classes that he defined are the Proletariat and Bourgeois. He stated that the Proletariat are laboureres who do not have any factors of production. The Bourgeois are the owners of the means of social production and employ the wage labourers.

It is evident that Marx based his argument in past events and previous explanations of classes in history. For example, he referenced the feudal serf and lord relationship of the middle ages in multiple parts of his pamphlet. Marx claimed that the Proletariat, “seek to restore by force the vanished status of the workman of the Middle Ages” (Marx). In this excerpt Marx contended that the workmen of the Middle Ages still owned the factors of production in the form of privately owned shops. Marx acknowledged that the technology of his time caused the class struggle that he wrote of. Thus, he took into account technology as a significant factor in history. He even framed the economic system by describing the labouring classes as merely an extension of the machines. The manifesto was also a call to action for socialists.

Marx drew upon past events for his argument but he used only facts that progressed his argument. As joshuadw88 stated in his post, Marx made broad assumptions of time periods instead of relying on multiple sources. I agree that Marx can not be considered a proper historian.

History in the Nineteenth Century

October 16, 2016rhruska

In Jeremy D. Popkin’s section on doing history in the nineteenth century, he shows the reader the development of the study in an infrequently understood way. Popkin shows how many aspects of history that we take for granted in the present were all conceived in the nineteenth century. One of the most interesting arguments that Popkin presents that changed my view of historical writing in the past was when he demonstrated how major events of the past changed historical thought. I never connected events of the past with the change in understanding and analyzing the past itself. The chapter also points to a new appreciation of historical scholars that only just began in the nineteenth century.

Popkin organizes his argument by providing many significant examples of events and people that shaped the study of history as we know today. I thought this was very informative because he shows how contemporary occurances affected scholars. An example that he provides that exemplifies this idea was the effects of the French revolution. He explains that the storming of the Bastille, “showed that profound historical changes could be brought about by the collective actions of ordinary individuals” (Popkin). To the modern scholar this idea is commonplace and can be applied to many events in history, but Popkin shows how a single event can bring an entirely new kind of thought. Although the study of history expanded in the ninteenth century, other aspects of writing were different then today due to social practice at the time. armando35 asserts an important notion that men more often than women participated in historical writing in the nineteenth century. I agree that this could affect perception.

One excerpt of the chapter that I found notable was about Walter Scott and his novel Ivanhoe. Critics bashed Scott’s writings because he was accused of blending fact with fiction. This reminded me of Erik Larson’s book Isaac’s storm. While he conducted extensive research on the storm, many sections of the novel are loosely based on facts.

Reliving History: Virtual Knights of the Air

October 12, 2016October 16, 2016rhruska

A couple days ago I participated in a historical event, however, the historical event is different than others. The event I participated in took place online and was an organized virtual reenactment of a First World War aerial battle. This entails participants who are divided into virtual squadrons and are assigned specific tasks. Events are very competitive and player groups face each other head-to-head. The key to success is both teamwork and skill. Virtual squadrons are named after squadrons that actually participated in World War One and there is a chain of command that is also organized historically. My squadron is named after Jasta 5 which was a famous fighter wing known as the “Greentailed-Devils”.

Virtual events such as these are part of a growing hobby known as historical flight simulation. In a way, flight simulators are a great form of living history and a lot can be learned by taking part. There are many reasons why historical flight simulators can be both enjoyable and informative. One of the reasons I enjoy the hobby is because it puts you in the shoes of a person in the past. You have to learn to navigate as they did by using the landscape. If you dive too fast, the wood and fabric planes can disintegrate. By controlling components such as the radiator and engine rpm, you learn about the difficulties in simply controlling early aircraft that pilots faced. You develop strategies and skills that pilots learned and devised in their time. Variables such as these can not be truly understood by reading alone. The competitve nature of the hobby is also exhillerating. Facing other players is an adrenaline rush that requires complete focus and quick thinking. Another reason why the hobby can be enjoyable is meeting others from around the world; many who also enjoy history. Flight simulations are a new and exciting way of experiencing history that can be appreciated by anyone willing to learn.

Here’s a solo hunting patrol over the front I recorded in which I encountered another lone player. I made the video with old film effects for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmYnM7y9xns

Pilots during World War One actually set out by themselves for the purpose of looking for a fight. The tactic I am using in the film is known as boom-and-zoom. It utilizes simple physics to stay above the opponent, thus maintaining the advantageous position. A lone patrol and the boom-and-zoom strategy can be noted in Billy Bishop’s book Winged Warfare. Billy Bishop was a Canadian fighter ace during the war.

bishop-1 bishop-2

Progressive Reform and Natural Disasters

October 4, 2016October 4, 2016rhruska

In this week’s article by Patricia Bellis Bixel, I found it interesting how Bixel tied the themes of the Progressive Era with the aftermath of a natural disaster; as in the case of the Galveston Hurricane. I also noted many similarities with the response after The Great Chicago Fire. The people of Chicago quickly rebuilt the damaged part of the city swiftly and effecitvely with great effort. Galveston was also devasted by disaster yet people were interested in restoring the city. I agree with erodriguez317 in her statement that “both of these disasters still have a positive aspect, where it shows the perseverance of the human beings”. Similar to the Chicago fire, the main people who wanted to see the city rebuilt were business men who had financial ventures in Galveston. However, the manner in which the city was rebuilt was different than Chicago. The hurricane revealed the poorly designed town in respect to hurricanes, and commitees were reformed for relief and rebuilding. The practice of forming committees for change is a common occurance during the Progressive era.

Bixel also introduces a compelling argument when she states that the decision for the rebuilding of the city was made only by wealthy white men. This reveals another theme that can be connected to the Guilded Age. On the surface, the rebuilding of the city set the standard for disaster preparedness in the United States; however there was unseen corruption in the process.

I also liked how Bixel showed the new progress that was being made in disaster readiness technology. The way in which the town was raised was a technological feet for its time and techniques used in the aftermath of the Galveston disaster can still be seen today. Despite this, Bixel shows the reader that many were still uneducated on disaster preparadness. I found the idea by the French artillery Colonel hilarious and a good example of weather awareness at the time.

Reaction to Catastrophe

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016rhruska

After reading the second half of Larson’s book Isaac’s Storm, I was once again surprised by the amount of destriptive writing that was present. The part of the book that drew my attention the most was the description of the aftermath of the storm and how the bodies of the dead were dealt with. In this section, Larson does not shy away from the seemingly gruesome reality of the situation. He attempts to paint a picture of the horrible aftermath in the mind of the reader. In one excerpt, Laarson describes “The scent of burning hair and flesh, the latter like burnt sugar, suffused the air” (Larson, 202). I believe Larson wanted to be as descriptive as possible in order to convince the reader of the scope of destruction, and the lasting trauma it caused the people of the town.

Another aspect I noticed was a recurring descriptions of social response during the aftermath of the storm. Once again, we can analyze the event through disaster history to deduce information on society at the time. An interesting note on social norms was made during the description of creamation. People were utterly appalled by the urgency of the task. This was interesting as creamation is practiced today and is seen as a normal practice. However, it is only normal in a ceremonial situation rather than for necessity. Larson even brings up the issue of racist undertones in the aftermath. He describes how blacks were antagonized and blamed for stealing from corpses. A similar response was seen during the Chicago fire when the poor were antagonized as bandits. I also agree with derekjahwu‘s connection with the Chicago fire. The second part of the book demonstrates how people were even unprepared for the horrifiying aftermath as Larson portrayed it. While Larson’s narrative writing is unconventional, it still demonstrates historiographical depth.

Narrative of a Storm

September 25, 2016rhruska

As I began to read Erik Larson’s book Isaac’s Sorm, I was surprised by the style of wrting. I expected the book to follow more traditinal historical writing, but it rather read like a narrative found in a popular novel. The writer utilizes techniques commonly found in novel writing; such as establishing the setting. Larson introduces the setting in a third person perspective as if the events of history were unfolding in front of the reader. He even treats the historical figures as characters in his narrative style. For example, he introduces the reader to Isaac by describing his clothing from a photograph and making inferences on his personality. In the readings of the past weeks analyzing the personality of a person from the past would be irrevelevant to the larger argument, but in Larson’s book it seems to fit perfectly.

I actually enjoy Larson’s style of writing in comparison to other historical writing. Using a narrative engages the reader and incorporates many details into a more digestible form. For others who may not be interested in history or the particular topic, they may become enticed by the story-like form that the information is presented. Personally, I would rather read military history of the type joshuadw88 referenced in his post. Despite my interests, Larson’s writing can be described as stepping into the pages of history and experiencing the event first-hand which is very appealing.

The Human Spirit and Marketing a Disaster

September 20, 2016September 20, 2016rhruska

I believe the events surrounding the interpretation of the fire by the populace of Chicago was vital in its recovery. Throughout Carl Smith’s article he details the reaction of the people following the great fire. One of the aspects of the recovery that he focuses on is the determination of those affected to quickly rebuild. The people of Chicago’s actions following the fire are the same as in any other type of disaster. A reaction of survival and opptimism is common of the human spirit. In dire situations, people are inclined to feel hopeful and instead of giving up and “shutting down”. They also find comfort in spiritual ways such as religion. These simple human reactions were glorified in the press to portray an entire populace becoming united by God and country to restore and improve a fledgling city. I consider this glorification was necessary and was knowingly fabricated in order for the nation to feel sympathetic towards relief efforts. Another aspect that was utilized by writers of the time was the metaphor of the phoenix once again used to relate to the city. It seems that writers purposefully knew about the bad name put on Chicago derived from stories of sin. They thus used the fire as a metaphor for cleansing; the city becoming a glorious Phoenix rising from the murky ashes.

Also notable of the post-fire writers is the focus on stories of heroism. This is a stark contrast to the looting and banditry described in the previous article on the fire by Bessie Bradwell Helmer. While stories are told of the chaos surrounding the events of the fire, they are used as a way to antagonize criminals. Looters and other profiters were denounced in the press to describe a new Chicago that was ready for reform. Smith even states, “stories may have suggested that Chicago was the innocent victim of a foreign conspiracy” (Smith, 151). Thus, writers also may have effectively shifted the blame in a way similar to the story of O’Leary’s cow.

Overall, the article seems to prove that the fire was an important factor in the growth of the city because it brought national attention to the city. The way the people of the city responded portrayed an image of Chicago as a symbol of “American resilience”. Despite this positive outlook, it is important to keep in mind that the fire was still a terrible event. As mvanderdussen described in his post, many people died by collapsing buildings and other horrific causes. I agree with him that one cannot be blinded by the positive and still take into account the reality of the disaster. It seems that people who read about the fire during the immediate aftermath chose to cling to the heroic “myth” of the Great fire.

Historical Thinking – Fall 2016

Author: rhruska