Author Archives: Jing

Posts: 6 (archived below)
Comments: 12

FDR’s First Inaugural Address

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Jing

 

This address is arranged at the beginning of my movie. It is FDR’s first inaugural address on March 4th, 1933. At the time, the US was still under Great Depression. He said “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”  FDR is the greatest president in the US history. Only one president elected for four times. He overcame Great Depression and led the US and the Allies defeat Nazi German and Japan in World War II.

            
“Home on the Range” (on the left) is arranged at the end of movie. It’s FDR’s favorite song. “Anchors Aweigh” (on the right) is arranged in Play 4 when FDR was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the US. It’s the fight song of the US Naval Academy.

Posted in 1932-1940, Final Exam Component, Political history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on FDR’s First Inaugural Address

Jazz Age 1920 to 1929

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Jing

This song is from YouTube. It was introduced in the first recording of The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which is generally considered as one of the bands who had their first Jazz recording in 1917. Their recordings sparked the Jazz Age of the United States.

The Jazz Age describes the period after the end of World War I, through the roaring Twenties, ending with the onset of the Great Depression. Jazz was first performed in New Orleans dating from the early 1910s. In 1920s Following World War I, African Americans in search of better employment opportunities moved to the northern part of the United States. With them, they brought their Jazz culture to big cities like New York and Chicago. During this period of time, Jazz was popular music performance in bars, dancing halls and night clubs. Jazz was also changed men’s and women’s fashion style as well.

Posted in 1916-1920, 1920-1932, Cultural History, June 28 assignment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jazz Age 1920 to 1929

McCarthyism

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Jing

The extreme opposition to communism shown by U.S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and his supporters in the 1940s and 1950s. It’s the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, esp. of pro-Communist activity, in many instances unsupported by proof or based on slight, doubtful, or irrelevant evidence. It’s also the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, esp. in order to restrict dissent or political criticism.

The examples include the speeches, investigations, and hearings of Senator McCarthy himself; the Hollywood blacklist, associated with hearings conducted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities; and the various anti-communist activities of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover. McCarthyism was a widespread social and cultural phenomenon that affected all levels of society and was the source of a great deal of debate and conflict in the U.S. (“Wikipedia”)

The image is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism

Posted in 1945-1953, 1953-1960, June 21 assignment, Midterm Exam Review, Social History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on McCarthyism

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on public bus in Montgomery, Alabama

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Jing

On December 1, 1955 African American Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. She was arrested by police and charged violating the part of the Montgomery City code that dealt with segregation law, even though she had not technically violated the law. Rosa was later bailed out of jail by Edgar Nixon, president of NAACP. 

After her arrest, Montgomery blacks announced boycott of the buses. The boycott was led by the president of Montgomery Improvement Association, young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Under his leadership, the Montgomery bus boycott had lasted 381 days. The Supreme Court ruled in November 1956 that segregation on transportation was unconstitutional.

The Rosa Parks incident sparks African American’s quest for freedom and equality. It is not only a single history event. Through her arrest, the Montgomery blacks under the leading of NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. united other southern states’ blacks to protest segregation policy. The success from the Supreme court’s ruling gives MLK a new way to fight for desegregation, that is non-violence movement. MLK distinguishes himself in this boycott. More blacks follow him and it begins MLK’s rise to battle for the civil rights.

This image is from http://www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html

Posted in 1953-1960, June 15 assignment, Social History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rodney King Beating (March 3, 1991)

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Jing

This footage is from YouTube. It showes that African-American King is lying on the ground surrounded by police officers, who are repeatedly striking him with their batons.

The original creator named George Holiday videotaped it from a distance. His footage caused a media sensation and raised tensions between the black community and the Los Angeles Police Department. It offered a strong evidence of police brutality over King.

The four police officers were acquitted for the beating. The police brutality and court ruling showed the existence of racial discrimination and social inequality. The result triggered the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and it was also expanded in other locations in the U.S. Two police officers were found guilty and the other two were acquitted after the riots.

Posted in 1989-2000, June 8 assignment, Social History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ping Pong Diplomacy

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Jing

This picture is found from website of http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/27/content_553570.htm Two players, America’s Errol Resek and China’s Xu Shaofa, take part in a training session on the 1971 tour of Beijing. (“Chinadaily”)

The original creator of the image snapshot friendly exchange of table tennis (ping pong) skills between two players. In fact, it was not a simply table tennis exchange. In 1971-1972, Chinese and U.S. table tennis teams exchanged visits to each other, which is praised as “ping-pong diplomacy” in the history of Sino-US relations. The visits had opened up the door of friendly civilian exchange between two countries since 1949. It helped end the Cold War between Beijing and Washington. The tour paved the way for Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing in 1972.

Posted in 1969-1988, Cultural History, June 7 assignment, Political history, Social History | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment