Your final assignment will be a selection of short essays. These essays should each be roughly two-three page responses in standard font/margins, but must include direct references and quotations by at least one primary source and two secondary sources, cited in Chicago style. You must answer all three questions. This assignment is due no later than May 14th1
1. Discuss the coming of the Civil War. What role did the concept of “manifest destiny” play? Pick 10 people/issues/ideas/events and describe how they contributed to the coming of the Civil War. You must address the Mexican-American War, the Fugitive Slave Law, the Kansas-Nebraska Act (and the result, known as “Bleeding Kansas”), and John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, plus 6 more of your choosing. (Hint-there are many, many more than 10 people/issues/ideas/events to choose from. Pick the 6 you can explain the best.) Finally, describe the period between the election of 1860 to the fall of Fort Sumter. Your answer must include a primary source from Week 10’s “Views of the Mexican-American War;” and two secondary sources.
2. Discuss the period of history known as Reconstruction. How did Reconstruction change under Presidents Lincoln, Johnson and Grant? What was Congress’ role in Reconstruction? What was “Radical Reconstruction” and how radical was it? How did the former-Confederate states respond to Reconstruction? How were African-Americans affected by Reconstruction? What factors contributed to the decline of Reconstruction? Describe the “deal” that is generally seen as the end of Reconstruction. After Reconstruction, what tactics and strategies did southern states and localities use to “remake/redeem” the South/Confederacy and what was the result? Your answer must include the primary source: Last Address of Abraham Lincoln, “Lincoln on Reconstruction” (Week 14); and two secondary sources.
3. Discuss the factors and processes contributing to the American Revolution, and the creation of the Constitution. Make sure to include discussions of intellectual, military, and political factors at work in Europe and in the colonies, and their impact on the colonies. Next, address the following question: did the Americans win the war, or did the British lose? What factors contributed to the outcome of the American Revolution? Describe the limits of the Articles of Confederation, and problems occurring under it that contributed to the decision to seek a new form of government. Describe the competing plans for representation that emerged in the Constitutional Convention, then describe the compromise reached: The Constitution. What are some of the other compromises (discuss at least three) of the Constitution? How did the Constitution deal with the issue of slavery? Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? Your answer must include *each* primary source from Week 5&6: Federalist 10, Federalist 51, and George Mason’s “Objections to This Constitution of Government;” and two secondary sources.
