HISTORY

HISTORY 

4/5/2024

In your opinion, is it important to learn the history of a culture? Why or why not?
Considering the history that you have studied so far about the U.S., what event or event(s)
strike(s) you as quite interesting? Why? Describe your reactions and thoughts about that event.
Be specific. What values (or cultural dimensions) are reflected in this event, if any? What
changes do you believe resulted for the nation due to that event?
What do you consider from your own country’s history as particularly interesting? What catches
your attention? What values (or cultural dimensions) are reflected in this event, if any? What
changes do you believe resulted for the nation due to that event?
Do the two events that you mentioned above have anything in common?

 

In my opinion, learning a particular history is very significant for several reasons and this is because learning and understanding the history of a culture provides knowledge of the culture’s values, norms, ways of life, traditions, and beliefs. This will help in a deeper appreciation of the culture, fostering respect and empathy towards people from different cultures and beliefs and also promote cross-cultural understanding. For example, my first time learning the history of the USA was in class on Tuesday and I initially had just a little or no knowledge of the history of America but the exposure to this history has helped me gain knowledge of how America came about and how certain people such as the loving couple who had to be heroes for us to enjoy the freedom we have today and this is very emphatic and has improved on my knowledge and understanding of the American culture and cultural literacy. The picture below is the picture of the Loving couple Richard and Mildred Loving and their children.

One event in the US history that strikes me as interesting is the Civil War. The Civil War was the war between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) from 1861 to 1865 and this was primarily due to issues such as slavery, state rights, and the preservation of the union. Understanding this history for the first time in class evokes a mix of emotions and contemplations about how this war had a profound impact on society.  This is because the Civil War led to divisions, sacrifice, transformation, and death of more than 620,000 men which is more than any other war in U.S. history. Understanding all these made me feel sad and imagine how the humans were suffering and the loss of life experienced during the war. At the same time, learning about the abolitionist movement, and the efforts of African American soldiers to fight for freedom fills me with admiration for those who bravely stood against injustice and oppression.  The pictures below illustrate the sufferings of the people and some of the soldiers who stood for abolition.

One key value or cultural dimension reflected in this war is individualism and collectiveness as highlighted by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions that we have discussed in class. According to Hofstede, individualism is the belief in the significance of personal freedom, and self-reliance whilst collectiveness is the importance of group harmony and cooperation (Hofstede, 2011). The Civil War serves as a reflection of the differences between these opposing values. Because, the Southern states driven by a collectivist mindset, defended the institution of slavery as essential to their social and economic structure, and resisted federal intervention whilst the Northern states driven by individualistic values, advocated for the abolition of slavery, preservation of the union, and viewed slavery as a moral evil that contradicted the principles of equality and liberty.  This war resulted in the abolition of slavery, and the constitution was amended to free the enslaved people (13th amendment), to assure “equal protection under the law” for American citizens (14th amendment), and to grant black men the right to vote (15th Amendment).

I consider my country’s history particularly interesting in the struggle for independence. Because the struggle for independence was advocated by visionary leaders, like Kwame Nkrumah the first president of Ghana, spirited activism, and grassroots mobilization against the British colonial oppression. This event reflects values such as unity, courage, and patriotism. The independence movement led to a significant change in my country, including the ending of slavery, the establishment of Ghana as the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957, and the beginning of a new era of sovereignty and national pride in Ghana. The pictures below are the images of the first president of Ghana who fought for our independence.

While the Civil War and Ghana’s independence occurred in different years, they both showed the pursuit of freedom, assertion of the nation’s identity, and self-determination. In the Civil War, they fought for state’s rights which is similar to Ghana’s fight for independence.