Final Exam Essay by Thea Sargent
Table of Contents
Part One: Exposition
Part Two: Rising Action
Part Three: Climax
Part Four: Falling Action
Part Five: Resolution
Cast of Characters
Protagonist: America, the working man
Antagonist: War, racism, social injustice
Love Interest: Money
Sidekick: France and Britain
Part One
What is America? America is a dream. An unfathomable notion of riches, freedom, and excitement. A story with twists and turns keeping readers on their toes until the end. Each story, stripped down, has an exposition, rising action, a climax, falling action, and a resolution. And the storyline builds around a protagonist fighting an antagonist for his love interest with the help of a sidekick. The story of America starts off as any novel does…
1865. The cities destroyed beyond recognition. President Lincoln enforces the ten percent plan, but is he allowed to control Reconstruction. After thousands of deaths during the Civil War, our country trembles at the thought of just one more death. Only ten percent of the population in a Southern State must sign and the North welcomes them back to the Union. After the Battle of Gettysburg, one of bloodiest battles in American history, the President gave a remarkable speech. The 16th President alludes to the Constitution because “all men are created equal” (Lincoln). This neutral phrasing shows that he takes no sides. Lincoln believes the nation will be whole again; therefore, “all men are created equal” whether Confederate, Union, slave, or bystander (Lincoln). During the latter half of this breathtaking speech, Lincoln expresses his gratitude for the sacrifice of those “who gave their lives” so that our “nation might live” (Lincoln). Blood shed for a greater cause is never lives lost. Lives mourned, but not lost. Lincoln closes out with a reminder that we live under a government “of the people, for the people, by the people” even though sorrow was ramped during these times (Lincoln). Through thick and thin, for better or worse, for war or peace, this nation “shall not perish from this earth” (Lincoln). In December, President Lincoln made history for the second time by abolishing slavery in the thirteenth amendment. This amendment set off a wave of former northern abolitionist towards the south. They intended to help southern freedmen and these northerners call themselves “The Freedmen’s Bureau.” All is right with America.
BANG!
The shot heard around the world, the death of President Lincoln, Brooks Brothers suit and all, pierced the hearts of Americans. Tears-streaked faces. Tears of sadness. Tears of fear for the new President. President Johnson’s Plan offered amnesty to confederate states, named provisional governors, and wrote new constitutions. During this unsteady time, Black Codes developed, and sharecropping became a way of indirect slavery. A way to keep money in white hands. Money. Greenbacks filled the eyes of any working man passing on the street, but gold filled the pockets of any rich man riding beside him.
In July of 1868, three years after the beginning of Reconstruction, congress ratified the 14th amendment. This amendment secured the rights of freed people, including the right to vote. Suddenly havoc broke out in the upper rooms of America, President Johnson was impeached in February of 1868. Ulysses S. Grant ran under the Republican party until victory in that same year. He served for a full two terms, eight years.
During Grants time the nation evolved. In 1870, congress passed the 15th amendment allowing any man of any color to vote. Five years later he passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875. A clan rose willing to kill anyone to prove white supremacy. Fear overtook the eyes of anyone in this clan’s path. With Grants power he subdued the clan for the better of America. Soon, however, the 1879 Presidential election came full force with Hayes and Wheeler running for the Republican party. Hayes won against Democrats Tilden and Hendricks with the help of the Compromise of 1877.
A craze swept the land, her name: The Wild West, where tensions were high, freedom was bountiful, and outlaws were like celebrities. Native Americans fought for their land against buffalo hunters, railroad tycoons, and the government. Cattlemen waged war on sheep herders while ranchers bickered with farmers. Ethnic minorities battled for a place in America against nativists. Lawlessness was at its finest out there in the west. Out there, rebels first became heroes, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Killing in the name of money. Jesse James and his gang stole 25, 000, 000 dollars, which is roughly equal to 575, 000, 000 dollars today. Jesse James took the number one spot as the most notorious outlaw in history. A whole genre of movies sprouted from the lives of lawless rebels like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, and Butch Cassidy. Even though the West nourished rebellious spirits, it symbolized the frontier of opportunity. New agricultural technologies were invented such as the prairie fan, steel plow, and barbed wire. Another invention: the beginning of what we know as… The Circus. Buffalo Bill and the Wild West Show and Sitting Bull toured the country putting on shows of shooting, horse riding, rodeo events, and entertaining the crowds with exhilaration and danger.
From 1870 to 1890 railroad tycoons-built empires. Top tier colleges like Stanford and Vanderbilt exist because of railroad tycoons. Thanks to Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla America lived in the light for the first time. Light bulbs, the phonograph, and motion pictures were all the result of rapid industrialization during a time of golden promises. The Gilded Age. The Wright brothers inspired a whirlwind of industrialization on December 7th, 1903. They flew the first plane which later would become the most rapidly evolved invention of all time. Finally, Henry Ford is to thank for the trademark of American culture. Ford Motor Company. He designed the Model T as the car for every man. Ford cared about the cheapness of his car because he was loyal. He worked hard to become an established business owner; therefore, he understands the working man. Understanding may be present but the lust for money was too. Henry Ford created the assembly line allowing him to produce cars at a much higher rate than ever before.
All in all, reconstruction opened the doors to racial injustices, poverty, and tension. The Wild West brought out the dark side in everyone making the most innocent people fall in love with the rebellious outlaws. The Gilded Age glossed over America in shiny gold film, money fell from the sky as industries boomed and so did the population of cheap labor…
Part Two
Struggles. Day to day Americans, everyone, experiences struggle. But with a booming economy, immigrants flooded in by the thousands to the land of opportunity. Some followed freedom. Some followed safety, but one thing offered both of those and more. Most immigrants followed love. Their love for money. While immigrants flushed in, labor became cheaper, and factories became dangerous. Child labor bloomed because of their small sizes. Girls’ hands could fit in between machines to fix things and boys could fit in small tunnels in mines.
One, warm March Day in 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught fire, burning the tenth floor. The doors were locked, and a single elevator failed to save all the women trapped. These desperate girls jumped to their deaths instead of surrendering to the burning flames. Due to this incident, labor unions sprouted. Terence Powderly formed the Knights of Labor to abolish child labor, cement eight-hour workdays, increase the circulation of greenbacks, have safety codes in the workplace, etc. This showed the alliance people have to each other. People stand up for others when no one else does. Americans make the best sidekicks for other Americans. Looking at our world today, we have safer, more reliable jobs because of this alliance. The American Federation of Labor formed in 1886 to sophisticate the ideals of the Knights. They created a more organized, peaceful organization.
Immigrants are different and humans are fearful of different. In the beginning, citizens saw these people as enemies, villains, antagonists. America breeds competition, but as the country evolved, Germans, Italians, Russians, Chinese, and Irish men became allies with their Japanese, Polish, and American neighbors.
Even though immigrations fall into villain or sidekick, imperialism wades in the gray area. From Hawaii to Alaska. From Cuba to the Philippines to Puerto Rico. The American sphere of influence stretched past the horizon. Perhaps the antagonist of the American Story isn’t war or racism, but manifest destiny. The people in these small nations didn’t gain the freedom promised under the star-spangled banner. A need to conquer, to push forward, an undertow of greed, of power consumed the American government.
Part Three
The allure of shiny gold and lushes land led to the Spanish American War, the conquering of Hawaii in 1849, Alaska in 1867, the Philippines in 1846, and Puerto Rico in 1898. More land and more people equaled more money and more labor but does the blind love of money cloud the moral judgment of Americans. Is money worth morals? Is love worth money? Is it worth it? Is she worth it?
The Great Gatsby, America’s novel, explores the allures and lust of money, beauty, and innovation. Daisy Buchanan embodies everything a classic man desires, but most of all… she symbolizes money. F. Scott Fitzgerald writes her as ditsy as any filthy rich girl, as clueless as any blond, and as silly as any girl in love. Fitzgerald mentions, from the viewpoint of Nick, that Daisy’s voice lures the listener in. Capturing his attention because her “voice is full of money” (Fitzgerald). The ups and downs, the thrills of her voice chime like coins in a pocket. Throughout the novel Jay Gatsby strives to win Daisy over with New Money. However, Daisy stays with Tom because he is Old Money. Some read Gatsby as a story of a love triangle between people, but its not. It’s a power play between New Money and Old Money. The wealthy and the rich. The classy and the party. At the end of the day, money shines in the glints of eyes, sings in the melodies of voices, and dances in the rhythms of steps.
Theodore Roosevelt. Who better to embody the American protagonist than Theodore Roosevelt. He led the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War, saved football, and had a pet bear. Being in the Army didn’t suffice, Vice President Roosevelt led his personal battalion into the war. Independence. Courage. These are true American values. Football might surpass trucks in the amount Americans idolize it. Saving football means Roosevelt saved the Sunday night of hundreds of generations. Without Roosevelt America’s natural beauty might have slipped away, but he strived to preserve the natural wonders incased within our country. With a boisterous laugh, a humble heart, a courageous spirit Roosevelt inspired millions of people. His “Man in the Arena” speech shook the minds of people around the world. He advocated for the working man, the day-to-day protagonist of the American Story. “The credit” of this powerful nation is given to the working man “in the arena” (Roosevelt). The “man in the arena” is the man whose life is covered in “dust and sweat and blood” (Roosevelt). Man doesn’t kick up dust by treading carefully. The arena isn’t a safe space. Roosevelt, in this phrase, explains that our nation can be as strong as the men in the arena. America is not a nation who breeds safe, settled people. Known for striving “valiantly” Americans teach the posterity that there is “no effort without error” (Roosevelt). No “high achievement” is won without fault (Roosevelt). To achieve success, one must fail. Roosevelt explains this to his audience, telling them that if a successful person fails at least they “fail while daring greatly” (Roosevelt). In this speech Roosevelt says that the worst thing a person could be is “cold and timid” (Roosevelt). The worst thing to be is a person “who neither know[s] victory nor defeat” (Roosevelt). A powerful nation grows by cultivating achievers and victors. A powerful nation roots out the lazy, “timid souls” because those people drain the economy(Roosevelt). Instead, America strives to harvest the cream of the crop, the best of the best, and with that comes the people that have failed the worst to win the most.
1912. The year before all hell breaks loose. The election that changed the century. Taft ran for the Republicans. Roosevelt fought for his new party, the Progressive Party. Debs was nominated for the socialist party. Woodrow Wilson prevailed over everyone for the Democratic party which plays a major role in the next few years
Secrets are lethal. Britain, France, and Russia decided to form secret alliances while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy sided together. Since these were under wraps an assassination of the Austrian-Hungarian Duke Princip sparked a world war. At the start of the war Italy switched sides to the Triple Entente allowing Turkey to join in Italy’s place. Trench warfare played a major role in this war, but the United States didn’t enter the war until much later. Tugging America into the war was the sinking of the Lusitania by German U-boats. Germans hold a special place of villainy in American history; however, the Zimmerman Telegram tells two stories. First off, the telegram reads that Germany is persuading Mexico to invade the States. Britain intercepted this telegram which shows loyalty or treason. Britain could have forged this telegram to drag the States into the war. While Britain is our closest sidekick, underlying reasons could muddle that viewpoint. With America entering the war, the Draft began. World War One is the first appearance of Uncle Sam and his poster seen below.
World War One is also the first appearance of in air combat known as dog fighting. All in all, this was a war of great bloodshed and lose, but innovation and alliance. Trustworthy sidekicks like France and Britain were acquired and shady villains were developed like Germany. In a parade, during a Flu Pandemic, on November 11th, 1918, World War One ended. Nine million died for their respective countries. 116, 516 Americans died fighting a world war we couldn’t stay out of. After, Wilson gave his Fourteen Points speech outlining the process of reforming the world. He described the steps necessary to create a balance within our tattered world starting with Russia. Alliances throughout the world. Wilson discussed “international covenants” to embrace peace (Wilson). He encouraged victories countries to have “unselfish sympathy” for the losing countries (Wilson). Wilson became the most powerful man on earth during this speech. He created the League of Nations out of “intimate partner[ship]” and redrew the map of Europe (Wilson). Screaming power and throwing it at the European countries Wilson embodied the end all be all American Man.
Part Four
Even though the war ended the effects of it remained. Lying, stealing, and secrets caused the war; therefore, its practical that our government passed laws preventing this. The Espionage Act of 1917 prevented spying and treason. Loyalty weaves deep into the American character and lying demeans the value of our country. The Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited the writing and speaking of false accusations, assumptions, and malicious scandals. Conflict breeds conflict in the heat of loss and poverty. In 1919, coal miners, steel workers, and the Boston Police protested the unethical wages and work conditions. Proving that men worship money. They’re willing to lose their jobs to gain profit. Cheap labor made workplaces worse because American citizens refused to labor for little to nothing. Americans know worth, wealth, and self-respect, so they object to cheap wages. Bred to be powerful, strong, and rich the American protagonist bows to no one, especially not more dominant tycoons. Strikes became a predominant means of fighting back against an unfair work system.
Communism. The Red Scare consumed our nation, preparing for the rise of a new political ideology. Leading to stricter laws on speech, writing, and artwork communism swept the world in a tizzy of concepts. Soon, the world would implode again, but for now, we rested, restored, and roared into the twenty’s…
Part Five
An era of prosperity, Republican rule, and conflict. The boll weevil created an agricultural depression leading to the great urban migration. Black farmers moved off white land and into urban cities. They formed black ghettoes such as Harlem developing a distinct black culture. Bad blood between white cities and black ghettoes kept the cultures separate. This is a prime example of the villainy of racism in America.
Scandal. If the roaring twenties were anything it’s an era full of scandal. The Teapot Dome Scandal headlined the papers when bribery, dirty money, and scandal corrupted President Harding. Stealing oil meant for the military, showed the lust powerful men have for money. Once they get some, they want more. In the end, money is at the forefront the American mind. Money creates the best of times and the worst of crimes. Along with scandal came danger. The rise of the third Ku Klux Klan, who hated everyone except White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Hatred is an easy villain. Easy to persuade, easy to corrupt, easy to feel hatred. Finally, the two prominent adjectives of the roaring twenties intertwined in the Volstead Act. The eighteenth amendment passed on January seventeenth, 1920, prohibiting the consumption, creation, or ownership of alcohol. As if! The American protagonist never goes a chapter without drinking. Taking away alcohol would be like taking away power or money, Americans find illegal ways to get it. Bootlegging became a popular way to smuggle alcohol across the Canadian border into the States. Surprisingly, this process created what we know as race car driving. Cars had to be fast to evade getting caught. Speed. Americans live fast, drive fast, and retaliate faster. Prohibition backfired creating an era of excessive alcohol consumption, flashy parties, and shorter dresses. The American protagonist known for rebellion settles for nothing less than the fanciest suit, prettiest girl, and richest house.
The Story of America continues forever, never ceasing to inspire the young, ignite the rebellious, and entice the powerful. Full of twists and twirls, the American Story battles the villainy of hatred, jealousy, war, and bloodshed because no good story came from peace. The American protagonist works hard because he’s ambitious, greedy, and in love. Every good story is the story of love, but in America’s story, he loves money. Britain and France are perfect sidekicks in this quest because of the effects of World War One. America got rich because they were broken. All in all, a story isn’t black and white. Its not perfect heroes and terrible villains, but its an overlapping of those two. A powerful story blurs the lines between good and evil, morals and money, ambition, and greed. The rebellion is just starting. Join it or be forgotten. The quest is embarking. Join it or be left behind. The empire is building. Join it or be crushed like the weak dust under a powerful man’s boot. America isn’t for the weak. In the end, the strong prevail and the weak die in the shadows of power.
