Is history created by 'the People' or the individuals? This seems like a fairly easy question to answer at first glance but you really have to think about it. An individual is a person by themselves, distinct from whatever group they are in connection with. An individual has their own opinions, deas, and actions. Every individual is in a group. Groups are formed because people with similar opinions and ideas tend to be drawn to each other. This means individuals are in groups because everyone in the group has similar thought processes. This can lead you to the belief that because of similar thought processes and ideas that history was really created by 'the People'. Now look at the question again; is history created by 'the People' or is history created by the individuals?
Well, what exactly would you call 'the people'? 'The people' is kind of like the term that was so famous in the late sixties and early seventies, 'the man'. They similarity between the two has to do with the fact that their definitions are quite broad. 'The man' pertains to those whose positions have to do with leadership. 'The People' refers to actual groups of people and civilizations. An example of 'the people' for groups could be something like Girl Scouts of America or the Nazi Political party. An example of 'the people' as the civilization would be the Egyptians or Persians. Certain groups and civilizations work within themselves to spread their beliefs and ideas to others who don't particularly have the same beliefs or ideas. This is how history can be changed by 'the people'.
Mankind would not be where it is today without more than one person. Groups of people have won wars, signed treaties, and come up with ideas. The Declaration of Independence is a major thing in history where you can pick out the individual from the group. John Hancock wrote the Declaration for the soon-to-be Americans, a group, and to make the independence happen, yet another group of people signed it.
An example in history where major changes were made by a group is World War II and the Nazi political group. The Nazi political party is also called the German Workers' Party. Individuals who were in the Nazi party or support it have united thought processes. In this case 'the people' are the Nazis, and the individuals are the persons who support the poltical party's ideas. History was changed greatly by the individual Hitler. The like ideas that they had are known today. They believed they were treated unfairly which many still believe today. Their ideas were that they were an Aryan society. Nazi ideal: in Nazi idealogy, a white person of non-Semetic descent regarded as racially superior(Encarta Dictionary), and that meant they were above all those who did not fit into that or agree with that idea. That was how the Nazis were as 'the People'. The 'individual' who strove to annihilate those who did not fit under the criteria was Hitler. Now of course one person cannot overthrow a government and single handedly kill thousands of people, but Hitler is the bigger 'individual'. This leads to the question of "what exactly is an individual?". This leads to the question of "what exactly is an individual?"
What is an 'individual'? An individual is a person, by themselves a way from a group. An individual is an entity by themselves; they have their own thoughts, ideas, and onions. Individuals can make their own decisions and do not have to coive their actions before commiting them. Behind every individual you will find a group. Since no one has the same exact views and convictions, separate individuals may have similar idealisms but they will not be the same because everyone has different life experiences. Taking another look back at the Nazi idealism we see that obstacles in life affect the individual, Hitler. It is believed that Hitler hated Jews so much because his father was one and his father was very cruel to him. Also he hated anyone that was not "Aryan" because of his experiences during the first World War. Although 'people' as groups can share experiences together individuals react to them by themselves.
Democracy is one of the best forms of government today and the idea to create and enforce democracy was aformed by an individual who created democracy was named Solon. He did not find it fair that people had to pay their debts by giving up things such as freedom. He was an indvidual whose life experiences and belifes led to him to create the history of democracy. He changed the way of government as an individual. Of course he did not enforce democracy by himself, but Solon came up with the idea and by relating his ideas to his fellow peers, he changed history.
The individuals that change history are not mild beings with big ideas. The individuals that change history are courageous people with great ideas and they are not scared to voice these notions or concepts. Most groups or civilizations have an individual leader, this leader may not always have complete power but they are what the groups look to in need. Pharaohs, Caesars, Emperors, and Presidents are the sole beings that rule such large groups of people that create history.
In history class you learn about the major groups in history, 'the people', but you pay more attention to 'the individuals' who influenced these groups. In the end it seems that history has been created by the individuals. Although civilizations such as Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Romans have basically created history such groups as these can be cut down to the single individuals that are a part of them. There is no such thing as a group without the individuals that make them up. A group is filled with people that all have the same ideas and beliefs, this definitely means that without the individuals and their beliefs there is no group. The 'individuals' are those that make up the 'people', and the 'people' are what they have created history over the centuries.

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