With the sad, sappy stuff out of the way, I hope you have enjoyed this trip through American history, politics, and economics. As a people we have a rich history, and I hope you have gained a higher respect for that now. While names and dates may not be the most applicable to you and your life, I hope you have learned about government decisions and how those decisions have implications for us all. Use this knowledge any and every time you interact with the government. You guys are great Americans, and more importantly, great people. If there is anything I can do for you (recommendations, et cetera) let me know and I'll be happy to do it. Enjoy your summer!
Each year I like to put one final blog post up, if for no other reason than to close out the year and say thank you and let you guys know what a pleasure it is to work with such great students. I could go on about how great you guys are academically (and you are) but, this year in particular I'd just like to thank you for being wonderful people. The end of this winter and beginning of this spring was a particularly difficult time in my life, and your support through all of it meant more than you know. Whether it was signing a banner that was the first thing I saw when returning home, sending me a card letting me know you felt bad for me, or just asking how I or my family was doing, you guys helped me get through this time. I will be eternally grateful to you for that.
With the sad, sappy stuff out of the way, I hope you have enjoyed this trip through American history, politics, and economics. As a people we have a rich history, and I hope you have gained a higher respect for that now. While names and dates may not be the most applicable to you and your life, I hope you have learned about government decisions and how those decisions have implications for us all. Use this knowledge any and every time you interact with the government. You guys are great Americans, and more importantly, great people. If there is anything I can do for you (recommendations, et cetera) let me know and I'll be happy to do it. Enjoy your summer!
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Describe how both conservatives and liberals would criticize the New Deal. Include their arguments and each of the following:
Huey Long Share Our Wealth Program Court Packing Alfred Landon “The Depression is one of abundance, not scarcity. The cause of the trouble is that a small class has the wealth, while the rest have the debts.” Upton Sinclair
Evaluate Upton Sinclair’s statement. Is it true? Is it false? Explain your answer in a few persuasive paragraphs and be sure to include the following terms: Gross National Product Scarcity Margin Buying Bull Market Bear Market We have looked extensively at the poor living and working conditions of the era at the turn of the century. Poverty was rampant and days consisted of long, unsafe working hours for little pay for a large portion of American society. Many of these reformers (muckrakers, progressives, et cetera) call for government action to help people with these problems. However, Carnegie called on a different group as we read in his Gospel of Wealth. He called on the wealthy, like himself, to distribute their wealth, voluntarily, in ways that would help society.
With this in mind, I pose the question: Do you agree with the idea that Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth would be a sufficient solution and government assistance to the poor (social welfare, et cetera) would be a solution to the poverty issue (assuming that it is an issue) in the United States in 2014? We have been discussing the impact of capitalism in the United State. Initially, this system was so beneficial to the American consumer that firms began to look for ways to eliminate the competition created by capitalism (pools, vertical integration, horizontal integration, and eventually, trusts). However, one of the "problems" created by a capitalistic society is that in order to compete with others, firms will lower production costs, among which the most costly is labor. Keeping workers' wages low often results in increased poverty and lowered standard of living. Reformers began to emerge during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. One of which was a New York native named Jacob Riis, who took it upon himself to photograph the poor and down trodden, in particular immigrants, of New York. With this in mind, look over the pictures from his book, on the link below and answer the following questions:
1. Is capitalism solely to blame for these conditions? 2. Is it the job of government to intervene and help the poor here? As per usual, I'll play the devil's advocate to your responses. We have discussed the trials and tribulations of Reconstruction and seen the complications that arose during the post Civil War era. The main goal of the federal government was to deal with the multitude of problems created by the Civil War while also preventing another rebellion in the South.
Evaluate how well Reconstruction created equality for African Americans and maintaining peace in the South. Terms to keep in mind: Carpetbaggers Scalawags Tenure of Office Act Radical Republicans Wade Davis Bill Reconstruction Amendments Freedman's Bureau Ku Klux Klan Black Codes Civil 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.
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 As you know we have studied fairly thoroughly the first two administrations in the history of the American government. One major constant fighting two more Federalist presidents was the Republican/Anti-Federalist Thomas Jefferson; first as Secretary of State under President Washington and then as Vice President under President Adams. Jefferson fought the increasing power of the government, continuing to question the constitutionality of their policies and even to question the amoung of power the U.S. Constitution grants the President. However, as our third president, Jefferson begins to seemingly alter his stance on the power of the president once he is occupying the office. With the 4 events listed below, please describe whether or not each of them is constitutional.
1. The Louisiana Purchase 2. Removal of President Adams' "midnight judges" 3. Sending U.S. Navy/Marines to fight the Barbary Pirates 4. Embargo Act of 1807 Here are some links that could prove helpful: http://www.libertyclassroom.com/warpowers/ http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/embargo-1807 http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/lessons-plans/presidents/louisiana-purchase/ http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Midnight+Judges+Act In 1796, after deciding not to seek a third term as president, George Washington drafted his Farewell Address. This speech would formally end the political career of the man that many deemed the father of our country and the only person capable of leading our nation through its infancy. In his address, Washington warns of the dangers facing America, in particular, of the dangers of party politics. Washington states:
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.” My question for your discussion here is, looking from our perspective in 2013, how valid is Washington's point regarding political parties and their nature to create despots? As a side note, and well worth considering, it is to me a happy coincidence that we are at this point in our studies regarding current events. I do offer you this link to the Library of Congress' electronic version of the full text of Washington's Farewell Address. It should prove more stimulating in your discussions than it may first appear. http://www.loc.gov/home2/shutdown-message.html |
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