The Dissent In Daniel J. Boorstin's The Decline Of Radicalism

Throughout history, countries have dissented and disagreed. In The Decline of Radicalism written by Daniel J. Boorstin, he stated that disagreement creates debate and dissent does not. Many events in history shows Daniel J. Boorsitin’s beliefs regarding World War I, the American Revolution, and Native American’s land stolen from Europeans. During 1990’s, many European countries wanted power around the world. World War I broke out and many European nations made alliances for war, except the United States. The United States showed dissension towards the war because it didn’t create alliances till the end of the war. Daniel described dissent as “feeling apart from others”. The United States wasn’t part of the conflict in Europe until Germany

During Columbus’s arrival to the New World, Indians were being converted and used as slaves for work. The Native Americans dissented themselves from Europeans. As Daniel stated about dissent, Native Americans felt apart from others such as Britain and Spanish colonies. Throughout North America, the “white” people continued to expand until they made it to a land now called California. Boorstin found that a “person who dissents is by definition in a minority”. Boorstin’s statements applied to the Indians because Indians have become a minority in North America due to the increase of settlements in the New World Era. Native American conflict supports Boostin’s definition of dissent. Boorstin’s ideas on disagreement versus dissent have been validated by historical events such as World War I, the American Revolution, and the Native American conflicts. Daniel J. Boorstin emphasized in The Decline of Radicalism that dissent is “to feel apart from others” and disagreement is “one who creates debate and argument”. His argument has been proven true throughout the history of the world at