Having discussed the positives and negatives of American expansion into Mexico, Cuba, the Philippines and Asia, do you agree with the decisions made by the American government during this era? Support your answer with specific examples, either for or agains American expansion/imperialism and respond to 2 of your classmates statements.
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We have discussed a lot about the issue of immigration at the turn of the century, and compared it to the growing immigration question of today.
Here is what I'd like you to do: 1. Write a reaction to one of the politicians' reactions from the turn of the century. 2. Address the issues of immigration and how it relates to tax evasion, competition for labor and citizenship in modern day America. 3. Comment on one other student's response directly (something other than just "Yeah, Jimmy, I agree!") Have responses posted by Monday, February 7. Today we discussed the actions taken by Abraham Lincoln leading up to and during the Civil War, possibly looking at Abraham Lincoln in a way that you haven't before. Following the precedent set by John Adams and the Sedition Acts, Lincoln uses his "war authority" to assure compliance during the war; instituting a draft, ignoring the Supreme Court and suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus.
My question to you then is, was Lincoln justified in doing these actions? Were these actions Constitutional? Defend your answer and post a reply to one other student's response. We've been looking at what will become throughout American History, the greatest ongoing political debate. The issue of the size and power of government in America has been the critical debate among American politicians and political parties since the Constitutional Convention, and is still debated on today.
On one hand, we have the supporters of a Confederacy. Giving power to the state governments, and maintaing a loose national affiliation among the states. This will prevent any one group or person from obtaining too much power over the American government. However, those like Madison, as you're reading tonight, argue that a Confederacy will be largely ineffective. It would lead to bickering, and possibly even warring states, seperate currencies and economies, and a vulnerable America. This is the issue as it stood then, and I pose the same question to you now. Without getting into the political party lingo of the modern era, I ask, which would you prefer; a large powerful national government, or small, individualized state governments? Post an answer and reply to at least one other person's comment by 3:00 on Wednesday. |
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