and Course Outline- United States History II

Course Outline- United States History II

 

For use with The Americans,

 

Unit 4 1876-1917- Migration and Industrialization

                Chapter 13 1876-1900- The West

1.        Native Americans (380-387)

HW#1- Considering these events: the Homestead Act, the Sand Creek Massacre,Custer’s Last Stand, the Dawes Act, and the Battle of Wounded Knee, write a paragraph answering this question- Was the destruction of Native American culture and life due to a clash of fundamental beliefs or white greed? Support your position with specific facts.

Extra-Credit- Briefly research the experiences of Native Americans today on one of the following themes: schooling, medical care, employment and occupatiional opportunities.

               

2.        Cattle Industry (388-393)

HW #2-  A) What developments led to the growth of the cattle industry?

                B) Read Home on the Range, and write a Help Wanted Ad from the Western Union Beef Co, which will be placed in local newspapers.  Your looking to hire some Cowboys.  Explain what the company does, describe the job (be sure to mention and explain the Roundup and Long Drive), and give a description of the qualities of the ideal applicant.

 

Extra Credit Assignment- Only for selected students, but everyone is welcome to check out some cool cowboy songs!

                Go to Cowboy Songs and choose one song to download on to a CD.  Write a Report (1 page) analyzing how it reflects cowboy life.  Prepare to present your findings to the class.

    

3.        HW # 3 Populism (401-405)

 

                Homework A) Read section- Imagine that you are creating a campaign poster for William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election of 1896.  You do not have to do it on a large piece of cardboard paper (but you are welcome to do it, and I’ll give you extra-credit (2 points on next test)- except those who already got extra-credit on the next test), you may “imagine” that it is poster size and write down the information on a piece of regular loose-leaf.  

                In your poster, bring out, or allude to, these issues:  the Free Silver issue, farmers being taken advantage of by eastern industrialists (Bankers, Railroad Tycoons, etc.), the Cross of Gold Speech.

 

B) First, some basic info that I would like you to be familiar with from Section 3 (which we are skipping); please briefly define these things:

Homesteaders-p397, John Deere and Cyrus McCormick-p399, the Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890-p399, the Hatch Act of 1887-p399, Bonanza Farms-p400

Read pages 401-405 and answer these questions: 1. What causes gave rise to the Populist party?, 2. Why were the Populist's considered to be "too radical" in their time?, 3. Explain how bimetallism and the free coinage of silver aid farmers?, 4. Why did Populism ultimately fail?

 

 

Chapter 14 Industrialization

H.W. # 4- Technological Advances (410-413)

A.      Which inventions or development described in this section had the greatest impact on society?  Give reasons to justify your choice.

B.         Think about how different daily life is today from life at the beginning of the 20th century.   Overall, has technology been a blessing a curse for humans?  What are the benefits and what are the drawbacks?  Would you rather have lived in pre-industrial America or today?  Explain your answer. Check out Brooklyn Bridge site- http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbridge.html

 

 

C.       The Railroad (416-420)

H.W. #5 Read 416-420. Answer these questions: 1. How did the railroad change American's concept of space and time?, 2. How did the railraods promote trade and interdependence? 3. How did the railroads lead to abuses a)in government and b) towards farmers?, 4. What were Granger laws?, 5. Why did Congress pass the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887 and why was it a failure?

extra- credit: go to Search for Railroad Songs, then type in "railroad songs"

 

D.      Captains of Industry and Social Darwinism (421-425)

H.W. # 6- Worth three homeworks!- Write a position paper of no more than two pages and no less than one page answering this question: Were the tycoons of the late 19th century captains of industry or robber barons? Case study: Carnegie or Rockefeller. Your paper should include these four criteria when evaluating said business leader: examples of business techniques used, examples of financial successes, examples of business ethics (conduct and values), examples of concern for humanity (philanthropy)  Students will be chosen at random to read their papers at a mock congressional hearing and answer questions from their peers.

                Links to help your research-

 

Assessment Criteria

 

Bio of Carnegie

 

Andrew Carnegie- PBS Special

 

Bio of Rockefeller

 

The Rockefellers- PBS

 

 

 

E.       # 7 Labor and Unions- text pgs. 426-433.

1. Why did workers organize unions in the late 19th century?

2. What factors limited the success of unions?

 

Extra-Credit: Students research the goals of a union (assigned in class) and write a 1 page report indicating if and when those goals were met. Your purpose is to help students understand the causes and effects of union activity. Each student should identify the leader or person who created the union, the main goals established by the union, and determine which goals were met and when. You should write a report for presentation to the class. Feel free to use visual aids such as time lines, charts, or photos.

 

 

Links to help your research-

The Myth of the Self-Made Man

Unionism, “Pure and Simple

The Great Debate: Gompers Versus Hillquit

“Making Common Cause”: The Knights’ Assembly Hall

 

Links: pictures of sweatshops. Keep following the arrows and click on the pictures. Sweatshop Gallery

 


# 8 Strikes turn violent- text pgs. 430-433.

Choose one of the following examples of labor unrest. Imagine you are television reporter (and that T.V. existed then), and write a mock interview with one of the characters. Make two copies so it could be acted out on the "evening news". For those doing the mock television broadcasts- Present the background of the event; what happened, including the results; and add your own commentary about the situation.

Important Links – >The Haymarket Affair

All You Could Ever Want to Know About the Haymarket Affair

Haymarket Martyr Says Goodbye

Oscar Neebe and the Haymarket Affair- I’m Sorry Not to Be Hung

 

 

The Homestead Strike

American Experience- Strike at Homestead

 Homestead Workers Declaration of Independence- 1936      

                                 Telling Secrets Out of School: Siringo on the Pinkertons

                                               

                                               

                               

                                The Pullman Strike

                                Strikers Denounce Pullman

                                                                George Pullman Answers Back

                                                                Broken Spirits- Letters

                                                                Saturday Evening Post- Irish Bartender

 

 

 

                                    


Review Sheet for Exam # 1


H.W. # 9  read The New Immigrants (438-443) and The Problems of Urbanization (446-451)

 

1.      Write at least three paragpgraphs answering this question: To what extent was the American immigrant experience at the turn of the 20th century a raw deal? Include information about the different groups of immigrants who came to America, the reasons that they came, ttheir experiences here, and the development of anti-immigrant sentiment as exemplified by Nativism, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the Gentlemen's Agreement.Ground your argument with specific and feel free to information from outside sources, including that of your own ancestors.

 

 

Interesting links:

 

 

Film of immigrants arriving to Ellis Island

 

Photos

 

Immigrant House

 

 
H.W. # 10a

 

G.       The Political Machine (452-454) and Politics in the Gilded Age (455-457)

 

Read these chapters- Then, or while you are reading, prepare to create a political cartoon during tomorrow’s class by identifying, and writing down, at least two aspects for each of these topics, which would be relevant to portray in a political cartoon.

 

1.        How the pyramid design of a political machine operates

2.        Why immigrants supported political machines

3.        How a political machine uses graft

4.        The Tweed Ring Scandal

5.        The Spoils System and corruption

6.        Why the Republicans included Chester Arthur as their vice-presidential candidate in the 1880 elections?

7.        The positive and negative effects of the Pendleton Act.

 

Due Friday, 29

 

 


H.W. # 10b
Read The Political Machine (452-454) and Politics in the Gilded Age (455-457). Download Tweed Courthouse Article, and Immigrants and Graft,and bring them into class!

Read these chapters- Take notes on the following topics: The pyramid desgn of the political machine, why immigrants supported the political machines, how a polical machine uses graft, the Tweed Ring Scandal, the Spoils system and corruption, Why the Republicans included Chester A. Arthur as their vice-presidental candidate in the 1880 election, the positive and negative effect of the Pendleton Act.

 

 


Not assigned Spring 2003 Project #1-            Okay, here is the assignment for Monday- Draw a political cartoon.  Jobs: 1) Illustrator (3 points extra credit on exam), 2) Researcher- provides info, 3) Story or Concept Designer, 4) Presenter.  Groups will receive a group grade out of 3 which will be recorded as a project grade.  I know that you had little time to prepare this- don’t worry, do the best you can with the time you have!  Ultimately, it should be a fun way to present and review the information. 

 

                               

 


# 11 Segregation and Discriminaton- Read pgs. 473-477, answer question #3. Wonderful link: http://americanradioworks.org/features/remembering/


 

      # 12 Progressivism- Read pgs. 494-500, answer questions 2&4

I.        


L.     #13 Read Science and Urban Life, pgs. 462-466, Education and Culture pgs.467-472, the Dawn of Mass Culture pgs. 478-485 by Friday. Read Roosevelt’s Square Deal (505-511)and answer these questions for Monday

 

                1.  What does the author mean when he refers to the "Modern Presidency" ?

                2.  List and explain the most important elements of Teddy Roosevelt's "Square Deal"?

Cool Links: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ncdhtml/eaahome.html

 

                                                http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bbhtml/bbhome.html

 

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vshome.html

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/oahtml/oahome.html

 

 

                       

 


H.W. # 14- Progressivism Under Taft, Read pgs. 512-515

Take notes and know about: the Payne-Aldrich tariff, the Ballinger conservationist controversy, the formation of the Bull Moose Party, why Taft lost the election of 1912


H.W. # 15- Progressivism Under Wilson, Read pgs. 516-518, 520-521

Do you think you would have supported Wilson's domestic agenda if you had been alive during his administration?


H.W. # 16- Women Gain The Right To Vote, Read pgs. 235-239, 501-504, 518-520

1. What happened at the Seneca Falls convention in 1848?

2. How did the 14th and 15th amendments impact the women's movement?

3. Why did women finally gain the right to vote in 1920?


Chapter 18- The Rise of the American Empire

 

HW #17- Read pages 526-534. Do questions 2 & 4. :.  


HW #18 The Spread of American Imperialism- Read pages 535-547 and. 1. Create a timeline of the key events relating to U.S. relations with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. 2. In your opinion, should the United States have become involved in the affairs of Colombia, Nicaragua, and Mexico during the early 1900's? Support your answer with details .  


HW #19 Debate- Was US imperialism at the turn justified?- Text chapter 18, pgs. 526-547 and in-class hand-outs. Debators- Prepare 1.5 minute opening statement, 1.5 minute closing statement. Roles: Pro- Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Captain Alfred T. Mahan, Teddy Roosevelt. Con- Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Queen Liluokalani. Everybody else write a one page persuasive essay taking and defending a position on the subject. Have questions in mind to ask the debators on both teams. Events to keep in mind: The U.S. take over of Hawaii, The Spanish American War, the acquisition of the Phillipines, The Treaty of Paris of 1898, U.S. intervention in Puerto Rico and the Foraker Act, Cuba and the Platt Amendment, the Phillippine-American War, China and the Open Door Policy,T.R. and the Panama Canal, the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, Taft and Nicaragua, Wilson and U.S. intervention in Mexican affairs..  


Questions for exam # 2

1. The American betrayal of African-Americans during the 2nd half of the 19th century was unfortunate, but inevitable. Support or refute this statement. Be sure to discuss the Compromise of 1877, and cite specific examples of how the national and local governments, together with fellow citizens, restricted the civil rights and liberties of African-Americans.

2. Progressive reforms changed modern America for the better. Prove or refute this statement citing specific examples of social, economic, and political reforms and describing their impact on the American people.

3. American imperialism at the turn of the 20th century was a betrayal of American principles. Prove or refute this statement using specific examples of American imperialism in Latin America and Asia to support your argument.


Chapter 19- The First World War

            HW # 20- Read pages 544-561

1. Wilson won the election of 1916 with the slogan, "He kept us out of War"; one year later the US entered the war on the side of the Allies. Explain why.


            HW # 21- Read pages 562-576

1 In your opinion, did the U.S government use fair methods in selecting people to serve in the military? Explain

2. Why do you think civil liberties were so easily violated by the people and government of the United States during the First World War? Explain your answer.


            HW # 22- Read pages 577-580

1 If you had been a member of the United States Senate in 1919, would you have supported or opposed ratification of the Treaty of Versailles?

2. What do you think were the most important reasons that Wilson failed to persuade the United States to join the League of Nations?


 Unit 6- 1920-1940

                Chapter 20-The Roaring Twenties

 

                                    HW #23 The Politics of the 1920's- Read pgs. 590-605 

1 Do you think Americans were justified in their fear of radicals and foreigners in the decade following World War I? Explain your answer.

2. How successful was Harding in fulfilling his campaign pledge of returning the country to "normalcy"? Support your opinion with specific examples.

3. Do you agree with President Coolidge's statement, "The man who builds a factory builds a temple- the man who works there worships there"? Explain your answer.


                               

HW #24 THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Read pgs.630-635 and 1. List three areas of artistic achievement during the Harlem Renaissance. For each area of achievement, write the name of two outstanding African-American artists.    2. What were some of the most important ideas, opinions, and beliefs expressed in African-American literature of the 1920's?


HW #25 THE GREAT DEPRESSSION: "THE CRASH"

Read pgs.642-649 and answer this question- 1. What are the causes of the stockmarktest crash?


HW #26 HARD TIMES

Read text pgs.650-654

Then, go to this website and print out a copy of your assigned document and answer this question: What insights does this document give about the migrant experience during the Great Depression? The documents you are reading were written by John Steinbeck as a part of series he was writing fot the San Fransico News on the Dust Bowl migration. The seven article series, The Harvest Gypsies, provided the factual basis for the Grapes of Wrath. Background to the Grapes of Wrath Documents

Photos of Dorothea Lange


Extra-Credit!!!- Musical essay about the Dust Bow. Go to http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tshome.html and burn four songs or narratives that you find particulary interesting and present them to the class. You will recieve 5 points extra credit on the next exam if you: 1) present the songs to the students, 2)try to engage the students in a discussion about them, and 3) hand in one page song analysis to me


HW #27 HOOVER'S RESPONSE And The NEW DEAL- read pgs. 655-676

Fireside Chats-Students will write and record a Roosevelt-style radio talk that explains a New Deal program. Each student in the group should research and write about one aspect of the program assigned to them- for example: its purpose, the people who benefitted from it, the drawbacks of the program, and its results. Students should then compile their reports and tape-record the talk. We will play the audio tapes (or CD's) in class. The assigment will be worth three homeworks and you will be graded on the 1) the depth that your group covered the program, and 2) creativity.

Check out the transcripts of a bunch of Roosevelt's chats at Fireside Chat


HW # 28- Position Paper (worth three homeworks!) - Was the New Deal a failure or a success?

 

Read text pgs. 689-693 and these documents: New Deal Debate



 

Unit 7- World War II

                        HW # 29- Read pgs. 698-713, 719-725

            1. What congressional measures paved the way for the United States entry into World War II?

            2.  Why did the United States enter World War II?

 


            Oral History Project

            Grading Rubric


            HW # 30- Read pgs. 730-737

                        1. List the ways that America prepared for war?

                        2. Do you think that President Roosevelt should have ordered the internment of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast?


Homework # 31 The War for Europe and North Africa, Read text pgs. 738-745.

    As you read, take notes to explain what made each event a critical moment or turning point in the war:

1. Feb 1943, End of Battle of Stalingrad, 2. May 1943, End of Operation Torch, 3. Mid 1943, Victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, 4. June 1944, D-Day, 5. August 1944, Liberation of France, 6. January 1945, End of the Battle of the Bulge, 7.May 1945, V-E Day


HW # 32 Should the United States have dropped the atomic bomb?

Write a position paper of no more than two and a half pages and no less than one page. Equals three homeworks!

Sources:

Text pgs. 749-752 and

http://search.eb.com/normandy/articles/atomic_decision.html

http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/index.html

 


H.W. # 33 The Origins of the Cold War- Read text pgs. 766-772

Decribe the Soviet and U.S. actions that contributed most to the beginning of the Cold War.

Idenify/Define: Containment, The Truman Doctrine, The Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, Nato


H.W. # 34 The Korean War - Read text pgs. 773-778

1. Explain how the United States was pulled into the war in Korea.

2. Many Americans have questioned whether fighting the Korean War- a bloody war that ended in stalemate-was worthwhile. What is your opinion?


H.W. # 35 The Cold War at Home- Read text pgs. 779-784

Briefly define/explain HUAC, McCarthy Witch Hunts


H.W. # 36 Brinkmanship and the Spread of the Cold War- read text pgs. 785-789

Define/explain: 1. Brinkmanship, Warsaw Pact, Suez Canal Crises, the Eisenhower Doctrine, Sputnik, the U2 Incident


H.W. # 37 American Society and Culture During the 1950's. Group Project- Television Show and Commerical

The prosperity of the post-WWII era enabled a growing number of Americans to purchase television sets. Television, and the advertising that came with it, began to shape and reflect American mores and values. Whether it was identifying with the ideal family on "Leave It To Beaver", or rooting along with your favorite contestant on the "64,000 Question", television came to permeate the social landscape. Students are to write and perform a 7-10 minute television program that might have aired in America in the 1950's, and short commerical selling a popular product of the time. The television show, and commercial, should be firmly rooted in the politcal, economic, and social realities of the time period. Refer to the textbook chapters 27 and 26 for historical background.

You may choose any format that was popular in the 1950's. Some examples are: The Situation Comedy (I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners), the Game Show (The 64,000 Question), The Children's Program (The Mickey Mouse Club, The Howdy Doody Show), Variety Shows (The Texas Lone Star Theater), and the on scene news reporting (See It Now).

This assignment will count as three homeworks. Students are expected to responsibly and equally divide up the work among themselves. Each group will recieve a number grade which they will divide amongst themselves. For example, say a group of four students recieves the perfect score of 36; the four students will then decide how many points each student should get.

Standards for evaluation: 1. Historical Accuracy, 2. number of aspects of life in the 50's that is touched upon (students should clearly bring out at least two events or developments discussed in the text, Chapters 27 and 26., 3. Effort, and 4. Creativity.


HW # 38 Should John F. Kennedy be considered a great president? Read pgs. 830-842)

Using the information from these sections, write at least one page assessing whether John F. Kennedy should, or should not, be considered a "great" president. Support your argument with specifics.

JFK ASSASSINATION (Warning: Graphic Footage)


HW # 39 LBJ’s "Great Society", Read pgs 843-851

1. In a two column table, list four or more Great Society programs and Warren Court rulings.

2. In what ways were the 1960's an "activist" era in all three branches of the federal government? Support your answers with specific examples from the text.

Extra-Credit- Debate: The Failures of the Great Society prove that government-sponsored programs do not work.


HW # 40 The Beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement, read pgs. 856-863.

ID/Define: Plessy V. Ferguson, Thurogood Marshall, Brown v. Board of Education, the Crises in Little Rock, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rosa Parks, the SCLC, the SNCC, CORE, sit-ins.


HW #41 The Civil Rights Movement expands, Read pages 864- 877

1. What was the outcome of each of the following: freedom rides to Jackson Mississippi, demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, the formation of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, the Selma-Montgomery march?

2. Compare and contrast the civil rights strategies of Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Whose strategies do you think were more effective? Explain and support your response.


HW # 42 Vietnam, Read pages 884-916

1. How did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution lead to greater U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

2. Why did much of the America public and many in the Johnson administration support U.S. escalation in Vietnam?

3. What circumstances set the stage for President Johnson's public announcement that he would not seek another term as president?

4.What were the immediate effects and more lasting legacies of the Vietnam War within America?

Hearts and Minds Synopsis


HW # 42 Social Change in the 1960's, Read pgs. 918-937

1. How did the Native American movement of the 1960s differ in general from the civil rights struggle of African Americans and Latinos?

2. In 1976, Betty Friedan wrote, "We have lived the second American Revolution." Do you think she is overstating the historical importance of the women's movement by comparing it to the American Revolution? Why or why not?


Unit 9- Watergate

                Chapter 32-The Limits of Power

III.     Nixon (946-952)

JJJ.   Watergate (953-957)

KKK.         Ford and Carter (960-967)

 

Chapter 33- Conservatism

LLL.Buildup of the Movement (978-981)

MMM.     Reagan and Bush (982-986)

NNN.         A tale of Two Cities (987-993)

OOO.         The Gulf War (996-100)

 

 


2003 US REGENTS- JUNE 17, 9:00-12:30

PER 8-RM 403, PER 10- RM 431

STUDY!!!! ESPECIALLY FOR THE ESSAYS- THERE IS A LINK TO A US REGENTS ON THE HISTORY HOMEPAGE.