Changes In Society From American Revolution To

Modern Times Essay, Research Paper

Changes in society from the American Revolution to modern times have been caused by both public opinion and law.Public opinion changed law as such as in the first reading about the Salem Witchcraft trials. After the trial new laws were made regarding how spectral evidence would not be admitted as evidence towards the conviction of a witch, since it is heresay. Also, states never again executed people for being convicted of witchcraft. Since Americans did not desire to be part of the Great Britain empire anymore, they gained their independence and established similar, yet different laws and a constitution. In the second reading, people supported the case of Quok Walker in his suing for freedom, which gave him his freedom through the ruling of the court. Public opinion does have an effect on law, but law also has an effect on the public?s opinion. Laws made people change their opinion about issues such as witchcraft. Since there were laws against being a witch, the people thought that witches were therefore bad and used the laws to their advantage to point fingers at those of whom they were jealous, or wanted vengeance upon. As another example, contributed to the case of Quok Walker resulted in polarization of the people about the issue of slavery. Although American society has evolved considerably over the past few centuries, there are still refinements needed. Our current congress, I believe, takes too long to make simple decisions. When they do, they make too general statements about it, as so to satisfy people because the people wanted a law about something, so the congress gave them one (not necessarily making any real change.) There is a problem in society today regarding the relationship of the family. It used to be that a couple would get married and have a few kids and live somewhat happily ever after. In modern times, couples get married, have kids, get divorced (shattering the children?s lives), and the kids no longer have the trustworthy and close relationship with their parents. Education is one other area which needs “refining.” In past decades and centuries, school teachers were allowed to punish the children physically for misbehavior in the classroom. Since the whole child abuse bandwagon was boarded, corporal punishment has been abolished. Since then behavior and respect towards teachers has been on the decline in public schools. Also, in education, there have been standardized tests set up for each state. Somewhere in high school, students must take a large test, and cannot graduate without passing that test. The test grades have gone up in recent years, but only due to the “lowering of the bar,” by test creators. The tests have begun to cover less material and the Texas TAAS is actually only at eighth grade level!Our nation began to stop to emerge into the economic world around the 1940?s. However, since America is the “Melting Pot” of the world, we grow in culture every day. Militarily speaking, our nation has held steady as a major power since the Cold War. Therefore it depends what part of America you speak of when you are to decide whether our nation is still emerging.The national character of America is one of change. America doesn?t keep a standard philosophy on something all the time. It would be hard to create a character for the ever-changing America, although there would be a general formula. This would consist of a 2 party system with ever-changing radical and conservative views, a dash of a very personal presidential scandal, a growing and changing people and culture, and a massive breakthroughs in technology here and there.American society has changed drastically since the first spark of revolution in the 1700?s. Public opinion and law, and the interactions between them, have been major forces in this change.