Please give a definition for 2 of these and use the following terms/phrases throughout your responses to each question.

  • (Mandatory): Please give a definition for 2 of these and use the following terms/phrases throughout your responses to each question.
    • Ideology
    • “In terms of”
    • Fundamental
    • Infer or “ one could make inferences”
    • Lack or lacking
    • “Lends itself well”
    • Relevant or irrelevant
    • Contrary
    • Context
    • Pragmatism or “being pragmatic” or “to be pragmatic”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like you to answer 2 of the following questions using this kind of response. Explaining not only what happened, but also:

  • Why,
  • Explaining the context that may have assisted or hindered progress/events from happening,
  • Defining the long term effects, the relevance to today (for example; the14th amendment’s use in Supreme Court Ruling on Same Sex Marriage or how Social Security continues to affect the lives of individuals today).

 

*Note: Please remember this is not a reflection, but a critical analysis of the historical content*

 

EACH RESPONSE MUST BE ATLEAST HALF A PAGE.

 

 

 

  1. Precedents in any context, government, private/public organizations, and in even in social interaction are important to note. They are the first step in a new or different direction. Many times they influence others to follow suite, ultimately setting a trend. If we are speaking of a new type of fashion design, they are perhaps not necessarily noteworthy. Yet, if they referring to Obergefell v. Hodges (the Supreme Court Case ruling on same sex marriage), they affect society overall. Precedents such as this case set a liberal trend, which opens the door for other progressive liberal rulings to be arrived at more easily. Please describe how Reconstruction policies altered the prior concept of “Federalism” (the federal government/state relationship) and specific achievements of Reconstruction that set a precedent for the new progressive understanding of that ever evolving relationship between the Federal Government, the States, and the individual. Please be specific and give examples.

 

  1. NONE

 

  1. NONE

 

  1. The Populist movement is an excellent example of how mass movements can arise to be the voice of the people, “the People’s Party”. Please explain their cause, their platform (what they hope to accomplish….some that do come to fruition by the way), and finally why the Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan (supported by Populists) advocated freely coining silver to accompany the gold standard (bimetallism). Why is there a resistance to this proposal? Finally, with the Republican candidate McKinley’s presidential win, what two policies were implemented that were favorable to wealthy businessmen?

 

  1. Nativism is a word that is relevant in today’s society and there is no doubt that race is still an issue in America. With terrorism being a consistent topic in the news today, the question of who how to control our borders without discrimination is a difficult task. This leads many to adopt an anti-immigrant stance for various reasons (ex: the Syrian Refugees Crisis of 2015). Please explain what Nativism is, to whom it was applied in the late 19th/early 20th century, and briefly compare this issue to a topic of today. Secondly, race is an inescapable topic in American due to both our history and the multicultural society we live in today. If you would, please explain the impact of Plessy vs. Ferguson, including the precedent it sets for the first half of the 20th

 

  1. The Progressive Era points to the fact that, at times, it takes unfortunate events/circumstances (ex: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire) in order for change to occur. Perhaps more importantly, for those issues to come to light there is a need to stir the public’s emotions and ultimately the policy maker’s as well. Let us remember the role emotions have on human behavior. Individuals have incredible influence on the world in which they live, in other words you have the ability to have an impact. This being something I hope you do take away from this class, as seen through so many activists throughout history. These include women’s rights advocates, “Muckrakers” such as Lewis Hine’s work for example, and many others. A lack of success or only partial success in one’s movement does not always equal failure, many times the message sent is enough to be a catalyst for future change. For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement of today (which has taken an inexcusable turn towards violence, which should be abandoned at all costs and regardless of any need for change) begins a dialogue that perhaps at the very least creates awareness. Regardless of where your political affiliations lie, the point is to see the power of being an active advocate in a cause for which one believes. Please describe how events as well as individuals exerted influence during the Progressive Era, using multiple examples of the success and failure in regards to their work.

 

  1. Several aspects arise during the early 20th century that will have long terms effects on society overall. These include laws, but perhaps even more significant is the fundamental change in societal norms. Please explain the rise of consumerism, as one could argue that both then and now freedom is equated not with political activism as in the previous centuries, but the ability to buy! In addition, it is well known that Henry Ford implemented the assembly line, however in terms of a consumer society, please describe another concept implemented and named after Ford that has had more overarching results. Next, please explain the use of the Anti-trust Laws during the Roosevelt and Taft Administrations that illustrated a short-term shift in government and big business relations. Finally, although an overly simple question, yet having a substantial bearing on your life today as every contemporary president candidate addresses it, explain what amendment is ratified in 1913. Potentially more important, why there was support for it? Hint: (Prior to this, with the exception of the Civil War, most of the Federal Government’s revenue comes from tariffs on alcohol, tobacco, etc.)…….. “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”- Benjamin Franklin

 

  1. The United States is country that embodies the ideals that so many have looked to for guidance in creating their own republics and constitutions. It is a country that without a doubt offers incredible opportunity throughout its history. Despite these assertions, it is not without flaws. Ethnocentrism is a pitfall to which no American should succumb. An inability “to look in the mirror”, if you will, taking note of our shortcomings when they are occurring, rather than studying them in a textbook leaves us at a disadvantage as a country. Please explain how U.S. intervention was justified in Latin America to gain access to build the Panama Canal. Secondly, during World War I, America effectively uses propaganda (Committee on Public Information CPI) in explaining the need for our participation in the war, despite the irony in this as freedoms regressed at home. While some freedoms will soon be gained, (1920, the 19th amendment grants women the right to vote) please explain the oppression happening on the Homefront during the Great War. (Edward Snowden is the perfect modern day comparison). Your focus should be specifically on government policies making those anti-war protestors and movements a crime and also include the anti-immigrant ideology that promoted the Americanization of multiple ethnic groups.

 

  1. The 20’s are a decade of prosperity that in the mid to latter half, truly masked or covered up the numerous telltale signs (watching for the increase in decrease in demand for freight trains for example in today’s world) of the coming depression. They are nevertheless present, as we see that once WWI comes to a close and European countries begin to rebuild their economies, demand for American production decreases. (Specifically in farm crops as well as others). We also see those working in urban industrialized jobs such as manufacturing decrease by 5 percent in this decade. I would like you to tell me at least three specific examples that are catalysts for the Great Depression. Please remember, we mark the start of the Depression in 1929, however in its essence the depression begins much earlier. The analogy I would give is a cavity. A throbbing tooth did not become a cavity the day it begins to ache. It happens months or years before, that day is just the day you happened to begin feeling it and taking notice. Of course, we cannot discount the effects of the stock market crash and the run on the banks had in worsening and prolonging the economic downturn. However, I would like you to tell me what leads to 1929, throughout the early, mid, and latter 20’s? Feel free to cite anything prior to the 20’s, if you find such.

 

  1. Liberals and Conservatives are used interchangeably to describe Democrats and Republicans, respectively. If I am a Democrat I am also a liberal, if I am a Republican I am also a conservative. The modern definition of a liberal (or liberalism) is founded during FDR’s presidency with the implementation of the New Deals. This a radical departure from the status quo of what liberalism meant and government’s relationship in the individual’s everyday life. The lasting effects are in a word, dramatic. For this question, I’d like you to describe this change, explaining how FDR’s programs would be considered a redefinition of government’s role in our daily life. As well as how this was in complete opposition to the philosophy of Hoover and comparable others of the same mind set. Please also describe what I mean by the founding of modern liberalism. *We talked quite a bit about this in class*  Lastly, while discussing the Great Depression in class, I gave you a timeline of the three different stages of economic intervention and what the focus was in each stage of Roosevelt’s plans throughout the 1930’s. Please describe this.

 

  1. Supreme Court Judges serve a unique purpose, the Framers of the Constitution had the foresight to know the impact politics has on decision makers and flaws that are innate to all humans. Therefore, they installed a court that would have Justices serve life sentences, as not to be influenced or biased by popular opinion, nor by elections. Now, of course, the court evolves with the times, (good or bad), you see this happen both during the 1930s, as well as today. FDR was a pragmatist, this point can be conveyed through examining his advisor’s as well as his own plans for economic recovery and security. Inevitably, change always comes with those who challenge it, in hopes of continuing the status quo. Please list a few of FDR’s very programs that are struck down and a few that are upheld by the Supreme Court. More importantly what is the long term result of this change in opinion within the Supreme Court during the Second New Deal?

 

 

  1. I still remember watching the planes crash into the Twin Towers on live T.V. I have no doubt my feelings were much in line with many other Americans at the time. Support for military action was high and with good reason. However, a decade later we are questioning if how we approached the Middle East was necessary to the extent that we did, practical, or well planned. The role emotion plays in generating support for war is undeniable. Seen in virtually every war, at times with positive outcomes and other times with devastating results. Please describe American sentiment for war prior to Pearl Harbor (isolationism), how the attack on the naval base as well as propaganda (Four Freedoms, etc.) plays a role in drastically creating a change in American’s perception on war. Please use all of the aforementioned in a connection to human emotion. Feel free to cite other wars where comparable effects of emotion were seen and even utilized for the purpose of creating support for the war effort. (For example, Paul Revere’s Boston Massacre Portrait of the American Revolution)

 

  1. The Cold War illustrates how relatively quick new political changes can occur and the prolonged time it can take for them to disappear, if ever. For instance, despite Communism being proven ineffective for creating a good viable economy, it has disappeared in some countries, while at least elements still being retained in others. Communist China (Look up Ai WeiWei on YouTube) drives that point home. That being said, the Cold War was an ideological war, one largely based on exchanging ideas with the hope of proving to other societies that your political structure is superior. (The Kitchen Debates, etc.) Please explain what I mean by an ideological war and how the concept of containment was used in this regard. If you can find a connection to the use of ideology in our 21st century conflict in the Middle East in terms of the fight against terrorism, please feel free to cite it. Next, so many individuals response when asked about Communism is, “that it is bad”. “Communism bad…….Capitalism/Democracy good.” Yet, many have no true understanding what the fundamental concept is and structure of that political system. Please explain the theory/philosophy of both Communism and Socialism, the differences, and explain how both have been implemented in the real world (look up the Hukou System in China), ending with the outcome or effectiveness (or lack of) in those specific societies.