Video Summary
The video “1619 vs. 1776: When Was America Founded?” features debates between Professor Leslie Harris from the 1619 Project and Professor John McWhorter from the 1776 Project. The main issue is when America was truly founded.
Leslie Harris’s vs. John McWhorter’s Arguments
On the one hand, Leslie Harris states that America was founded when the first enslaved person came into the land, highlighting the incredible role of slavery in American history (Philanthropy Roundtable, 2020). On the other hand, John McWhorter’s main argument is that America was founded when the Declaration of Independence was signed, legally declaring the country’s status.
Underlying Assumptions of Each Perspective
Professor Lesli Harris’s assumption relies on the statement that slavery is an integral part of American society (Philanthropy Roundtable, 2020). Moreover, slavery was the basis of the revolution and led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence. On the contrary, Professor John McWhorter relies on official documents that demonstrate the nation’s identity and legally support its status.
Appreciating Each Perspective
From Leslie Harris’s perspective, I can appreciate her value of slavery. Moreover, I agree that slavery greatly contributed to the development of the USA. As a result, it is possible to state that the foundation of America began then. The historical impact of slavery on society is incredible, as is its role in shaping the national identity. On the contrary, I also appreciate the American Foundation’s legal background, as John McWhorter stated.
Challenging Personal Assumptions
The Declaration of Independence started the legal path of the development of the USA, formed norms, and developed a national identity. That is why this video challenges my assumptions about the foundation of America, the role of slavery, and the Declaration of Independence in it. It is essential to consider each historical aspect to answer the question of the actual date of the foundation of America. Lastly, both speakers were convincing, but their approach can be criticized because they could include the points in each other to develop the most suitable statement.
References
The Rubin Report. (2019). Grievance Studies Exposes Academia | Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay | ACADEMIA | Rubin Report [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Philanthropy Roundtable. (2020). 1619 vs. 1776: When Was America Founded? [Video]. YouTube. Web.