Today we talked about the growing reform movement during the Antebellum period. We saw that, throughout this time, authors began to think and write on their society and how it can improve. Uncle Tom's Cabin, Leaves of Grass, and even Walden can be deemed influential books that effected American society. With that in mind, I pose the question, what books from our generation have effected American society? For me, being a social science nerd, I think one of the better examples is a book entitled Freakonomics. This book, authored by a University of Chicago economics professor and NY Times journalist, looks at statistical analysis and economic thinking in an interesting way. I know going through college in the middle of its hayday, Freakonomics was required reading in many Intro to Econ classes. What are your thoughts? Do you have book suggestions that you think have effected modern society? It doesn't have to be as nerdy as mine. It can be fiction, non-fiction... Anything.
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We have been reading and discussing the numerous actions of Andrew Jackson as a president. Within these discussions we have looked at Jackson's fight against the Bank of the United States, his Tariff of "Abominations," his displacement of the Native American population as well as his mixed feelings on patronage. Certainly there is much the United States gained from President Jackson, but there can also be considered many mistakes that were made under his administration. Jackson fought to free the American people from aristocracy and the tyranny of a government that he felt, at the time, was overreaching. However, Jackson from time to time was not above throwing his executive power around either.
So the question remains, was Andrew Jackson more positive or negative for the United States? A few links that may prove helpful if you're stuck: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjackson http://www.biography.com/people/andrew-jackson-9350991 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Cherokees-vs-Andrew-Jackson.html |
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