Paper 3 Rough Draft

“Cohesion” was a popular conception in 1930s America, as noted in “Culture of the 30s” by Warren Susman. Herbert Hoover used the idea of “Unity” as a platform off of which to promote his proposals. Hoover advanced his pitch with his speech “Challenge to Liberty,” which infused the idea of “Togetherness” with classical, laissez-faire liberalism. There are a number of examples of how popular, primary visual materials of the time can be interpreted as being in accordance with and support of Hoover’s stance on the proper American Way of Life. Such materials include Jacob Lawrence’s “The Migration Series” paintings and the film Gold Diggers of 1933.

In his essay, Susman emphasizes that cohesion is necessary so that Americans can restore both the spirit and the economy of the U.S. (Proceed to cite examples)

Herbert Hoover incorporates the popular notion of cohesion into his election platform in an effort to promote his classical, laissez-faire liberalism. Here are a few quotes that I can choose from to support the claim I make in my thesis paragraph and this topic sentence of this paragraph.

“A whole people with the ballot in their hands possess the most conclusive and
unlimited power ever entrusted to humanity. If that power is exercised rightly,
then America will prosper morally, spiritually, and in its daily
occupations.”
“[This] campaign is more than a contest between two men. It is
more than a contest between two parties. It is a contest between two
philosophies of government”
“It poisons political equality, free speech, free
press, and equality of opportunity. It is the road not to more liberty but to
less liberty. True liberalism is found not in striving to spread bureaucracy,
but in striving to set bounds to it. True liberalism seeks all legitimate
freedom first in the confident belief that without such freedom the pursuit of
other blessings is in vain.”
“Freedom does not die from frontal attack. It
dies because men in power no longer believe in a system based upon
Liberty.”
“I am proud to have carried the banner of free men to the last hour
of the term my countrymen entrusted it to me. It matters nothing in the history
of a race what happens to those who in their time have carried the banner of
free men. What matters is that the battle shall go on.”
“We propose to turn
the whole direction of this country toward liberty, not away from it.”
“But
there are things far more important to a nation than material welfare. It is
possible to have a prosperous country under a dictatorship. It is not possible
to have a free country. No great question will ever be settled in dollars and
cents. Great questions must be settled on moral grounds and the tests of what
makes free men. What is the nation profited if it shall gain the whole world and
lose its own soul?”
“We must have government that builds stamina into
communities and men. That makes men instead of mendicants. We must stop this
softening of thrift, self-reliance and self-respect through dependence on
government. We must stop telling youth that the country is going to the devil
and they haven't a chance. We must stop this dissipating the initiative and
aspirations of our people. We must revive the courage of men and women and their
faith in American liberty. We must recover these spiritual heritages of
America.”
“Men must be free to worship, to think, to hold opinions, to speak
without fear. They must be free to challenge wrong and oppression with surety of
justice. Freedom conceives that the mind and spirit of man can be free only if
he be free to pattern his own life, to develop his own talents, free to earn, to
spend, to save, to acquire property as the security of his old age and his
family.”
“Whatever the outcome of this election that issue is set. We shall
battle it out until the soul of America is saved.”

Essentially, I will be arguing that Hoover argues that the American people must stick together as they fight for their freedoms. The New Deal represents oppression, loss of political and economic power in the hands of the people. However, Hoover promises to uphold the Constitution. He assures his audience that if they just stick together, fight for what’s right with America, then everything will end up going well because things just work themselves out that way.

Jacob Lawrence’s “The Great Migration” Series embodies the principles of Hoover. The famous painting of the bustling station, which depicts African-Americans travelling from the South the North, is a good example. The signs “Chicago,” “New York,” and “St. Louis” are visible. The people wear bold colored clothing because their decision to get up and move is bold. Their facial expressions show focus and a sense of purpose. These characteristics coincide with Hoover’s mantra because they’re pursuing economic freedom, they’re doing this together, and they’re focused about it. The crowdedness suggests a sense of togetherness. Another good example would be the paiting which shoes the African-American family on a train looking out the window. The piece definitely evokes a sense of togetherness, a sense of hope, a sense of freedom. This is done because one of them is pointing out of the window, which can be interpreted as excitement on hi sor her part. The clothes seem regal which suggest a sense of independence and financial stability. The family seems emotionally close. One of the figures is smiling at another. Looking out of the window and examining industry at work really fits into the narrative that Hoover explains in his speech because it evokes a sense of economic virility and independence.

This paragraph will discuss how various scenes in Gold Digger embody Hoover’s platform, including the musical number, “We’re in the Money.”

I haven’t had the time to fill in the previous paragraph or come up with a conclusion, this paper is definitely still a work in progress.