Throughout American history, the nation has reacted to conflicts and wartime government powers in a consistent way, for the most part; traditionally we have been slow to get into conflict, examples being The War for Independence, The Civil War, World War I, World War II.
The Revolutionary War was a result of building tensions between England and her colonies, some brought on by the efforts of those who saw England as abusing its power and overstepping its authority, and even some others who saw opportunity in separation, who were willing to risk treason. The Civil War erupted from boiling tensions between North and South that had been building for years. World War I was a combination of the reaction to the sinking of the Lusitania and a campaign on part of the U.S. Government to get the American people in favor of war in Europe. The Second World War's U.S. involvement came from the Japanese attacking an isolationist America and bringing her into the war.
Each one of these conflicts, as well as others not mentioned, saw various degrees of government invasion of privacy, which brings into question, what would those people in the past think of current government activity, about drones, the NSA controversy, and how our government has evolved in what it is today. How do you think previous generations would react to things like the Patriot Act, the T.S.A., increased airport security and restrictions, and how government powers have seemingly increased in general?
