American Entitlement

American Progress by John Gast

During the period of the Frontier, when westward expansion was the forefront of the United States goals, a mentality grew very present across the nation. This mentality is one of entitlement, belief that the American colonists had a right to the land they were on. This ideology has existed in the world since the beginning of time, and was present in America the second the colonists first landed, but I believe once the country decided to grow its territory, the entitlement grew with it. When the government began to encourage people to move out west, they promoted the vast land that was out there and the opportunity for new jobs and homesteads. However, the government fails to acknowledge the existing Native American tribes already on said land, therefore diminishing the tribes right to that land and instead perpetuating the idea that the white Americans who were on their way deserved it instead. It is also important to make clear that while the United States government wanted people to move west, they did truly only want white Americans, and no immigrants. When people from other countries, namely Chinese immigrants out in California, came to create the same opportunities Americans from the east were there for, they were met with prejudice and resistance. Despite having the same goals, the United States did not want to share the land they felt they were entitled to. Because of this, laws were created to keep this land for only the U.S. government, such as the Page Law of 1875. The Page Law closed borders in an attempt to limit who could come into the country, targeting Chinese immigrants, all with the goal to reduce foreign labor. The people of the United States felt as though they should be the only ones permitted to the land in the west and the jobs that would come with it that they could not imagine sharing it.

    Similarly, the theme of entitlement, especially in relation to land rights in the west, is seen through the American Progress painting which promotes the ideology of “manifest destiny” during westward expansion. In the background of the painting, Native Americans can be seen running away as white settlers are moving in on carriages and trains. While the painting is meant to be a powerful representation of America's progress and power, I see the fear and pain brought upon Native Americans as they were forced from the land they had lived on for centuries before the first colonizers landed in the United States. The painting may want to depict a new beginning for the U.S., but it exemplifies the attitude of liberty over land that was not truly theirs.

While the frontier may have acted as a catalyst for the mentality of entitlement, the Second Industrial Revolution further perpetuated it. The wealth gap grew, the rich got richer and the poor became poorer. Many of those in power did not care to work towards change that would not benefit them, making conditions for the lower class — living, working, and socially — difficult and stagnant. During this time, industrialists were some of the most powerful people in the nation. One man in particular, Andrew Carnegie, controlled the steel industry and wrote an essay titled “The Gospel of Wealth” in which he argues wealth is gained through hard work and perseverance, and that inequality is inevitable. What he fails to acknowledge is how the systems set up in the United States prevent the majority of the population from achieving wealth when it is not handed to them. Carnegies point of view is of course just one side of the coin, and on the other was the majority of the population who struggled to get by while doing the work that made his company successful and him rich. This group, the working class, does not necessarily see the wealth of industrialists as deserved or fair. One example of this comes from a magazine published in 1911 titled The Masses. The magazine was considered radical and aimed towards the working class. It published many articles, stories, and political cartoons related to societal issues. The Masses Vol. 1, No. 2 features a political cartoon depicting many arms, labeled “labor” boosting a head labeled “capitalism”, with a caption on the image stating “The Godhead of America”. The arms representing labor and the head representing capitalism is extremely comparable to the relationship between the working class and industrialists. The working class, the ones doing the labor, could be credited for the success of the industries they worked in since the labor hours were long and hard. Because of their effort and work, the industrialists — whose companies drive the economy and make the U.S. a capitalist country — are lifted high. It is also of value to note the caption, specifically where it says “godhead”, which means a  greatly admired or influential person. The cartoon is depicting the head that represents capitalism as a top figure, one who is praised. But, since they arms are what is lifting the head, the cartoon is commenting on how capitalism is only praised because of the work of the people. Without the working class, the industrialists would not be rich, which greatly counteracts Carnegies perspective on deserving and earning wealth.

 

Today, the entitled mentality is still seen across the United States and in very similar ways. The rights to land, immigration, and the ever present wealth gap are just a few of the areas where the ideology is present. I believe that this will always be a theme, no matter where in the world it occurs, but I do believe the more we advance, the more people resist entitlement.

Sources:

Carnegie, Andrew. “The Gospel of Wealth,” June 1889. Gast, John. “American Progress,” 1872. “The Godhead of America.” Cartoon. The Masses 1. 2, 1911.