Essay: Answer the following question for 25% of the examination grade:

1. Choose three (3) wars in which the United States participated during the period covered by this course (the Cold War may be one of your choices). Compare the standing of the U.S. in the world before or after each war. In other words, what was the position of the U.S. as a power before the war, and how did this change after the war.

Essay: Answer the following question for 25% of the examination grade:

2. Identify at least three (3) important social, cultural, or political movements since 1877 and reflect upon how each movement impacted the country. DO NOT merely summarize the movements. Your analysis must show how the country changed after each movement.

Essay: Answer the following question for 25% of the examination grade:

3. Identify three events in American history in which people were able to improve their lives. This may include gained freedoms, more economic prosperity, job opportunities, voting, or any other category. Just make sure that you are clear. DO NOT merely summarize the events. Your analysis must show how the event enabled a group of people or the whole country to improve their lives.

Directions:

FOR EACH QUESTION

You should follow the discussion forum format of providing factual support from the textbook and analysis, reflection, and opinion.

You must include the following:

One quotation from your textbook with page numbers in parenthesis to support your ideas.

Penalty of 20% for not including one quotation from the textbook with page number citations.

About 75% of your response should be analysis/reflection, much like your forum posts. Penalty of 20% for limited analysis/reflection.

A minimum of 350 words for each question response. Penalty of 20% for not reaching word minimum.

No outside sources may be used. Penalty of 20% for using outside sources.

REQUIREMENTS

Your response should be at least 350 words for each question in order to receive credit. The instructor asks your response to follow the FACT/EVIDENCE, ANALYSIS/OPINION. 1) a factual response to the question with a direct quote and proper citation, 2) analysis of the factual information with citations if needed and opinions reflecting on the topic.

Suggestion: rather than re-stating what others have said, post fresh ideas that look at the topics from a unique perspective. Feel free to include your own personal analysis or understanding of the readings. All direct quotations from the textbook and/or other source must be cited properly. Paraphrased information must be cited as well. You MUST draw from the textbook in supporting your answer.

TEXT BOOK

Corbett, P. Scott, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, and Paul Vickery, U.S. History, Houston, Open Stax, 2016.

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MODEL STUDENT RESPONSE

Question: Why was President Andrew Johnson impeached and what impact did it have?

FACT/ANALYSIS: The textbook reveals that Johnson was charged with “high crimes and misdemeanors” on “eleven counts of misconduct.” We learn this week that Johnson opposed black suffrage and vetoed the Reconstruction Act of 1867, but that Congress overrode his veto. The Reconstruction Act of 1867 divided the country into military districts and provided specific instructions on how freed blacks would be allowed to vote in elections, but prevented ex-confederate leaders from voting. Johnson also suspended Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The impeachment did not bring down the president because Congress fell short of convicting him. The book states that the “dissenting Republicans felt that removing a president for defying Congress was too damaging to the constitutional system of checks and balances.” The impeachment did open the door for Ulysses S. Grant to become the next president (1). REFLECTION/OPINION: Although the book does not specifically state what charges were brought against Johnson, it seems as though Congress wanted to punish him for his anti-suffrage views. It is clear that tensions were high during this period, and that the country was still trying to grapple with all the difficulties of the post-Civil War period. I am wondering if Congress was trying to get revenge on Johnson or whether there were actually any real crimes or misdemeanors. It’s interesting how the ex-confederates were prevented from voting, but I guess this was necessary to keep them from coming back into power. I learned from the reading that during an impeachment, the House of Representatives serves as the prosecutor and the Senate is the court. I also find it interesting that the southern states were divided into military districts, but I guess this is what they needed to do to ensure that freed blacks could vote. It is amazing how many changes took place during the country at this time. To think that people who were slaves right before the war would be voting in just a few short years is amazing.

Works Cited

1. Edwards, Rebecca; Henretta, James A; and Self, Robert O. America: A Concise History. Volume 2: since 1865. (New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), 452-453.