The Importance of Communication and Socialization in America's History

Humans appear to desire social connection and it is important for expressing views, cultivating new ideas, and building relationships. In a time in history where the country was undergoing expansion and still building its foundation and principles, it seemed essential to socialize. Prior to cell phones and instant messaging, the best way to do this was to be close in terms of location and the next best was through writing letters, which these lasting shared connections are found throughout Ripper's and other historical pieces that provide insight on what occurred in America’s history. History during the time of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison shows the formation of traditions and roles of people with a central purpose of socializing, and it also displays the importance of community that resulted from closeness and communication. Contact and communication yielded traditions, alliances, and communities, however, it also had negative side effects.

When most picture the first lady and her duties they may picture her hosting a dinner party or event or speaking at a cause, America’s first lady Dolley Madison in 1809 helped form these traditions and roles by involving herself in the same social events and communication. These roles were described as she served as the fill-in first lady for Jefferson where she helped host parties and functions, graced the company with her charm and manners, and continued this role in a more practiced and polished form for her husband James two terms in office (Ripper, 2008). These descriptions depict the importance of socializing and the part that the first lady played and plays in establishing a social network and this role was important since politics and personal seemed to melt together during this time. This blend was described in Dolley Madison’s remaining correspondence that discusses “the personal and political” and the “fuzziness between” the two (Ripper, 2008). What allowed these political figures to come together is the physical closeness and face to face discussion that comes with parties, just as families at the dinner table get to discuss and bond is the same effect on a larger scale that being in the same location served for political functions hosted by the president and first lady. Communicating and forming this tradition of meetings and parties helped grow alliances that were and are beneficial and contributed to forming how America’s first lady should act along with the vital way political figures form a communication network.

Tecumseh further demonstrated the impact and importance of physical and mental closeness. Tecumseh was a Shawnee whose intention was to “prevent Indians from being ‘scattered as autumnal leaves before the wind’” (Ripper, 2008). The Shawnees like other native Americans of the time were spread out across the land and this exhibited how being apart and ununified leads to negative outcomes like losing their land. We also can conclude that this purpose was essential to have a real chance against the Americans who had an unwavering lust for the land the Natives occupied since he was described as “the last good chance for Native American resistance in the Great Lakes region” (Ripper, 2008).

The strong tie between communicating with the right people and politics was also very present at the time of Jackson and his first run for the presidency. The political and personal blend was very present in the election of 1824 where Andrew Jackson lost to John Quincy Adams despite having more Electoral College votes and popular votes came down to the House of Representatives who made their decision “after many deals had been made” (Ripper, 2008). The importance of discussion and ties is only further supported by this presidential outcome since the outcome was based on deals made which can be implied that this required communication and ties between Adams and people in the House of Representatives.

Communicating and socializing with the right people has been shown to be beneficial and the opportunity to communicate arose because of social closeness and letters. Keeping this considered did the views and shared communication of said views result in negative or positive results using specific evidence and explain your position whether it be from your current opinion or a common one held back during the times covered (such as from a party)?