1. for a long time, American historians have interpreted the Reconstruction of the South a failure for the newly freed slaves. However, historians today are explaining the events of the Civil War and Reconstruction as nothing less than revolutionary. In the following essay explain why historians have seen this period in American history as a failure, and then explain how they can now interpret it as a success.
American historians have interpreted the reconstruction of the south as a failure for the newly freed slaves, Lack of political focus also influenced the failure. In this case, the process of eliminating the freed slaves who had gained civil liberties made them to fail to bring long term solution to the issue of racial integration in the south. After the civil war, the freed slaves worked towards effectively bringing the south in the process of reviving the economy as well as rebuild their shattered landscape. However, despite their efforts, there were several divisions in the federal government in the reconstruction process resulted into the failure to attain the goals. At the time, President Lincoln came up with a plan giving the slaves at least 10 percent in order to rejoin the union. However, following the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, a former owner of slaves came up with another plan for reconstruction. However, his plan did not survive for long as the republicans worked a plan to ensure that the southerners were not seated. On the same, the failure of political focus was also associated with the increased political prosperity in the north as the civil war continued. Therefore, the slaves in the south did not have a larger say in drawing the attention to reconstruction. Indeed, there was a contrast between the south and the south. This harbored hatred between the two regions.
The integration of the freed slaves into the society also played a great role in the unsuccessful failure in the process of reconstruction. Despite the various promises made by the freed slaves, when they were elected to the congress while others served in state and local governments, they forgot about their people. They also failed to end racial equity hence the oppression of the African Americans continued.2. Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as The Gilded Age. In the following essay explain why. Be sure to offer illustrative examples in your answer.
Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as The Gilded Age. This is because it was defined by the following factors; increased economic growth which generated a lot of wealth where Americans the elites in the economic and political classes capitalized in expanding their wealth. However, some sections of the society gained wealth at the expense of the poor who worked and survived in bleak conditions. Secondly, new products and technologies were improved especially for the middle class resulting into increased quality of life, it also made the industrial workers and farmers who did not share in the new prosperity, working for long hours even in dangerous conditions with low pay (Mark and Garraty, 2002). On the same, the gilded age was associated with Politian’s who were very corrupt and ineffective in delivering their duties and responsibilities. During the age, majority of the Americans wanted both political and social reforms but they never into a consensus on what the reforms should comprise. For example, voters’ participation was extraordinarily high and national elections were taking place and determined by the use of razor thin margins. However, political participation was high influenced by corruption.3. as America entered the 20th century, many people were optimistic, but at the same time full of anxiety. Author Laura Hillenbrand described this time as the beginning and end of imagination, all at the same time. In the following essay explain what Hillenbrand meant. Be sure to provide historical examples to support your argument.
Laura Hillenbrand described the American entry into the 20th century as the beginning and end of imagination. Previously, American has been faced by several challenges which include depression, World War II and cold war that took a very long time. This implies that that American was not to expect the 20th century to be a walk in the park. Despite the rise in technology and the growth of American economy, Americans has to stop holding too much to high expectations and live on the reality (Mark and Garraty, 2002). They had to stop imaging things and accept the reality that other states in the world were also experiencing increased growth.
Generally, economists believed that the American economy matured in the 20th century. This era also marked increased change in the freewheeling business and emergence f corporations. The entrepreneurial culture was gaining momentum in America with increased business influence with other nations. They had to move from the gilded age where some people believed that nation’s business with other states would influence the government officials and eventually control it. They had to shift their thinking from that age to the new technological age.4. When America entered the 20th Century, many people worried that advancements made during the Gilded Age had made the nation soft. In the following essay offer key examples as to how Americans, especially the Progressives, were putting muscle back into American society and foreign policy.
Towards 20th century, American has taken stringent measures in order to advance from the gilded Age that was said to have made the nation soft. Therefore, in order to put back the society and pull back the muscle back into the society and foreign policy, United States has started with long standing competition with various countries especially the Middle East. It has also initiated U.S diplomatic interventions. In this case, United States has reworked on their foreign relations with various countries in the world. This has made the U.S to have diplomatic relations with various super powers in the world (Mark and Garraty, 2002). The growing influence of U.S in the increasing competitive world has made it important for the state to come up with more inventory mechanisms that has helped the country to experience increased growth. In fact, United States has resorted to economic embargo on states such as Iraq and other countries due to their association with the weapons of mass destruction. To some extent, this has had devastating impact on the health and living conditions not only to Iraq people but also other countries. On the contrary, America has continued to dominate the world economy with the increased advancement in technology and innovations in various fields.5. Throughout the 1930s America was engulfed by a Great Depression. At the time, no polls existed to determine how the public felt about the Government, nature, religion, technology, and other factors that impacted their lives. Historians, however, have looked to other indicators of public sentiment. In the following essay, describe how the American public felt about life in the early 1930s and how those feelings changed by the end of the 1930. Be sure to show how historians have made such conclusion and why.
The public life in United States suffered because there were no pools that could help them to express their feeling about Government, nature, religion, technology, and other factors that impacted their lives. The depression was as a result of many fact ors among them the crash of the stock market. This resulted into the rise in production though the use of new technologies where the excessive demand pushed down demand resulting in the rise of prices. The price of consumer goods rose due to high inflation rate making the merchants to stop selling their products. Therefore, the public were faced with hopelessness, humiliation and desperation as they could not provide for their families (Mark and Garraty, 2002). It was a shock to many Americans. Some economists argue that the depression lasted for about four years between 1929 and 1933 and the rest of the years were marked with recovery which was very slow. Towards the end of 1930, efforts were made in order to allow America to come back from the economic depression (Mark and Garraty, 2002). Attempts to stimulate the growth of the economy such as raising tariffs to assist farmers and increased crop growing. It is also important to that the depression in America affected the entire world something that made important to come with policies to avoid such scenario from occurring again. Despite the comeback from the depression by the end of 1930, many years were taken in order for the U.S economy to come back to normal. This is because of condition such as unemployment failure of American banks among other economic effects that could not be amended within a year. In fact, several economists argue that the great depression came to an end when the World War II was beginning with increased in job opportunities in various parts of the world.6. The United States determined the outcome in two ways. Based on readings from your text, describe both ways and then explain how WWII shaped the United States for the rest of the century.
World War II played an important role in shaping United States for the rest of the century. After the World War II, there was a shift in power as the power structure from the interaction and interplay of various power bases to fit the current condition was initiated. Before the war, super powers in the world were comprised of United Kingdom, France, Japan and Germany while United States was just recovering from depression. However, United States and Soviet Union played a key role in the war brining German’s and Japanese dominion to an end. The outcome of the war was viewed into two ways; the NATO as led by united states and Soviet Union leading Warsaw Pact (Mark and Garraty, 2002). This way, the two states were ready for any convectional war. This shaped United States as they always fought about their differences in perceived political ambitions that did not contribute to their goals and aims from either side. This condition resulted into a cold war between the two states. They prepared for any attack. As a result, no side attempted to fire missile to the other as they were assured of the resultant destruction. This changed the focus of America as the two major powers were held hostage by their own government. However, the end of cold war in the end of 1980’s saw America becoming the most super power state in the world.
Reference
Mark C. and Garraty A. (2002). "The American nation: the history of the united states, since 1865 volume. McGraw: McGraw Hill.
