- After studying and reading about the second half of American history, a history you are now living in, I want you to make a judgement on ALL the history you have read in a very short, to the point, Reflection Paper. From the Civil War through yesterday, I would like for you to assess the success or failure of the United States. Â This is an academic, intellectual exercise in which you will synthesize and assess our history and our country. Â There is NO right or wrong answer. Â This is an opinion paper that I want to hear what YOU are thinking and why. Â Yes, it sounds like I am asking you to do the impossible, but if you cannot stretch your efforts and minds, I have not done my job. Please know that nothing is 100% one sided. Â Very few ideas or events are totally good, and very few are totally bad. Â I want you to state one side or another and support your position with examples from history. Â Please cover as much of the historical period, 1865-yesterday, as possible. Â A good essay will always give some credit to the other side, but you must load up your evidence on the position you take. Â Finally, if you are on the side of failure, then I want you to suggest some ways to fix the problems you see. Â If you are on the side of success, I want you to suggest some ways to preserve those success.
Module 1:Post Civil War America
A Basis for American Democracy
Chapter 17: Reconstructing the Union (1865-1877)
Chapter 18: The New South and the Trans-Mississippi West (1870-1896)
Chapter 19: The New Industrial Order (1870-1900)
Chapter 20: The Rise of an Urban Order (1870-1900)
Module 2:
America’s Emergence as a World Power
Chapter 21: Realignment at Home and Empire Abroad (1877-1900)
Chapter 22: The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
Chapter 23: The United States and the Collapse of the Old World Order (1901-1920)
Chapter 24: The New Era (1920-1929)
Module 3:
Depression and War
Chapter 25: The Great Depression and the New Deal (1929-1939)
Chapter 26: America’s Rise to Globalism (1927-1945)
Chapter 27: Cold War America (1945-1954)
Chapter 28: The Suburban Era (1945-1963)
Module 4:
Cold War America
Chapter 29: Civil Rights and Uncivil Liberties (1947-1969)
Chapter 30: The Vietnam Era (1963-1975)
Chapter 31: The Conservative Challenge (1976-1992)
Chapter 32: The United States in a Global Community (1989-Present)