Directions: Answer two of the following questions. Each response should be a minimum of 750 words, both responses, should come out to about 1500 words (doubled-spaced, using normal margins, and 12-point font). In your response, you must use information from notes and the course secondary and primary source readings. Be sure to provide historical evidence to support your claims including events, historical figures, important dates, prominent works of art or literature or film, larger historical themes, or any other relevant examples that support your argument. Your grade will be determined based on your ability to demonstrate knowledge and mastery of the course readings and lecture notes. Be sure to provide citations and references, preferably Chicago Manual of Style, or another consistent method of citation. For lectures, provide (to the best of your ability) the title of the lecture or the date it was given.
Source Readings:
Primary:
Alice Stone Blackwell, Answering Objections to Women’s Suffrage (1917)
Secondary:
Final Exam Questions:
Option A: Over the twentieth century, the United States fought numerous wars, including two World Wars. These conflicts transformed both American society and nations around the world. How did the experience of war and armed conflict impact America over the twentieth century? What did those transformations look like and why were they important? In answering this question, consider not just the experience of fighting in armed conflict but also how war changed American society domestically and within the borders of the US. (You may include the Spanish-American War in answering this question, but the answer to this question should focus on the events in the twentieth century).
Option B: American politics drifts between periods of liberal and conservative governance. Identify a time period (or periods) that was liberal and time period (or periods) that was conservative. What was different about them? How do times of liberal governance differ from times of conservative governance? How have the political traditions of American liberalism and conservatism changed over the twentieth century? Who were some key figures and events that led to those periods of liberal or conservative political power?
Option C: Throughout the semester, we have looked at various social movements, organized efforts led by Americans, often involving themselves in politics, dedicated to bringing about change in American society. What have been some of those social movements that have impacted the course of modern US history? What were their aims, and were they successful in achieving their goals? In your answer, consider the issue of moderate versus radical politics and how the difference between the two is something that social movements often have to deal with in attempting to transform America.
