Essay Instructions: United States History
Amy Bell
Written Exercise #2
“Comprehension does not mean denying the outrageous, deducing the unprecedented from precedence, or explaining phenomena by such analogies and generalities that the impact of reality and the shock of experience are no longer felt. It means, rather, examining and bearing consciously the burden which our century has placed on us ??" neither denying its existence nor submitting meekly to its weight.” ~ Hannah Arendt
Who, exactly, were the Progressives? One historian writes that they “offered an impressive array of reform proposals.” Why did they do so? What was our country like during the Gilded Age? What, exactly, were these proposals and what benefit did they bring to “life in these United States?” To what extent was the nation altered by their proposals? Please explain why the U.S. did (or did not) become a “kinder, gentler nation” as a result of the Progressive movement. Finally, how do some historians assess the Progressives? What examples from the Progressive Era and from today can you provide to support or refute their arguments?
“History is fiction, except for the parts that I like, Which are, of course, true.” ~ Jim Corder
Directions
Books we are using:
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, Kathy Emery and Ellen Reeves
Both are available online. We've read about slavery, Christopher Columbus, Native Americans
Your response to the question must be typed??"twelve point font, double-spaced. In writing your answer, please do not exceed five pages.
In your response, try to mainly use only your assigned text(s), the instructor’s handouts, or class notes taken from discussions. You may use additional library or internet scholarly sources.
Your generalizations must be supported by direct citations from the text, class notes, or instructor’s handouts.
Citations should be made in MLA format. For class notes or presentations, you might use: (Discussion Board 1) or (class notes) or (Zinn 23).
Note: You must cite parenthetically throughout your narrative. Please follow this format. There should be many citations throughout your response taken from the sources noted above because assumptions and interpretations must be bolstered by citations.
The strength of your response is dependent largely upon your citation of the assigned sources.
Do not include a bibliography.
You may consult with your classmates in formulating an answer to this question. However, you must write your own, unique, independent answer to this question.
“One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. we must not remember that Daniel webster got drunk but only remember that he was a splendid constitutional lawyer. we must forget that george wahington was a slave owner…and simply remember the things we regard as creditable and inspiring. The difficulty, of course, with this philosophy is that history loses its value as an incentive and example; it paints perfect men and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth.” ~W.E.B. DuBois (Black reconstruction)
Ultimately, I want you to take everything you've read and use them as your sources to write this paper. You do need to cite throughout your papers from your readings.
You may use outside scholarly sources for this paper.
Good Luck!