Indeed. “Coincidentally”, that is when the McGuffey’s reader began to be replaced. Who here knows about John Dewey? “Train up a child in the way he should go”, has its demonic counterpart, and he has its disciples.
The article does note, under Early to mid 20th century,
Morally, much effort was expended in passing Prohibition in the United States (1920 to 1933), while during the same period the Roaring 20’s manifested a marked degree of cultural rejection of traditional moral decency.
I thought I would note in passing that about 20-25 years ago The Vermont Country Store (catalog store) sold McGuffey Readers. Today it no longer caries those, but sells "intimate solutions".
Don't get me started on the illegal gambling and prostitution that was out in the open in places like Jersey City (where my grandparents grew up) even during the depression and the 1940s.
Looks like we are on the same wavelength then.
You could expand your essay to include more civilizations. The great empires are the ones to focus on. Going backwards in time
USA
russia
british
spanish
islam(seljuks and then turks)
holy roman empire
byzantine
vikings
roman
greek
persian(first and second empire)
egyptian
babylonian
etc.
The five most recent are the most interesting to me. One could make the argument that america is only a continuation of the british empire, in it’s second form...or in other words, present day america is the beginning of the second british empire reconfigured around a new political paradigm.
The rise to prominence of the english speaking people are an interesting recent happening on the big timeline. One could go into a moral analysis of english culture and compare it to other empires and the rest of the world. There is something strikingly different about anglos as compared to all the rest of the world. I think they are somewhat a modern day version of the vikings, in character.
Arguably, the spanish empire ended when they were defeated by americans in the spanish american war. Why were spanish people displaced by anglos in north america? Why are anglos being displaced by latins nowdays? What role did morals have to play in this, if any?
BTW, I dissagree with your assertion that china lacks morals. They do not. All the oriental people have a strong sense of morals. It is different than the christian version. They value “honor”. this is a type of moral code...different from christianity, but still it is a code of conduct. it is very strong in their culture. I think it might explain the success(and failures) of the chinese over the last few thousand years. The japanese as well.
Islam also has had periods of great success. I strongly feel if you look hard you will find evidences of a strong moral code in that culture as well. certainly not like christianity. But something there, with some commendable traits nonetheless. something that, when implemented in a certain way, will foster achievement and economic growth. Otherwise, how could you possibly explain their past rise to greatness?