The History of America after 1877
This is a take-home examination, covering all the material we have read, watched, or discussed in class since the beginning of the semester. It will consist of two essay questions.
FINAL EXAM:
Your exam must be turned in on Canvas by Thursday, July 29th by 11:59pm.
Your entire exam should not exceed eight (8) double-spaced pages in length.
For the exam, students must turn in organized, polished work of not more than eight (8) pages. Students are expected to refer to the textbook and other sources that we have read for the exam; references to additional (outside) sources are welcome, but not required. BOTH ESSAYS MUST INCLUDE CITATIONS. All references to the literature must be properly cited (in whatever citation form students prefer). Your responses must reflect an understanding of the readings from the textbook and a presence at the lectures. Your responses must be based on the relevant readings, lectures, films, class discussions, and hand-outs. The goal is to demonstrate that you have read the assigned material and understand key concepts. Remember to use specific evidence and/or examples to support your arguments. You should cite your sources and include a Works Cited page in MLA or Chicago format. (Opinions without evidence, however interesting, are not sufficient.)
DO NOT use materials from the Internet without clear identification of the source. DO NOT cite texts without using inverted commas and appropriate attribution. Copying of texts from the Internet is considered plagiarism.
Be sure to have a clear argument that you defend with relevant evidence. underline your . Organize your paper with a logical structure and use clear topic sentences and transitions to help your reader understand the logic of your organization. Edit your essays thoroughly to avoid errors and to improve readability. Give each of your essays a title that reflects your argument.
Grading criteria:
Argument: 25% Does your paper have a clear, singular, specific argument that answers the question?
Evidence: 25% Do you use all of the relevant evidence to defend your argument?
Organization: 25% Does your paper have a logical structure and use clear topic sentences and transitions?
Clarity: 25% Is your prose efficient, crisp and polished, free of excessive passive voice or distracting spelling or grammatical errors?
Each essay is worth up to 50 points.
Formatting for each essay:
12-pt., Times New Roman font, double-spaced
1” margins
3-4 full, double-spaced pages
Both Part 1 and Part 2 need to be included in a single document (Word, Pdf, Txt, etc).
Questions:
Part 1:
How did the New Deal reorient Americans’ relationship to government?
How did World War II transform America’s standing in the world?
How did decolonization shape post-World War II American life?
In what ways was the Cold War similar to previous wars in the United States? In what ways did it differ? How was this war fought? Use specific examples.
What were the contradictions of the Affluent Society? And how did American life fundamentally change in the 1950s?
What communities were not helped by the new affluency of the 1950s? What led to these disparities?
Part 2:
What characterized the energy and activism of the 1960s? What happened to the idealism of the 1960s?
Discuss the Civil Rights Movement and its connection to decolonization and post-war affluency. Use specific examples.
Describe the Power Movements and their goals and tactics. How did the goals differ for different groups, and what were their tactics? Use specific examples.
How did the New Right shift political discourse in the United States? Use specific examples.
How has globalization and international economic growth changed recent American history? Discuss using specific arguments.
