1. Elaborate in the significance of the Declaration of Independence
Why was it significant then and why is it significant now? – It made it significant back then the same reasons it makes it significant now. The Declaration of Independence represents our ideology of liberty and how we broke free from oppressive powers. It represents our democracy, freedom and equality. The Declaration of Independence relies highly on basic human rights and how all Americans should have the privilege to have them. In 1819, Thomas Jefferson stated, “The Declaration of Independence…[is the] declaratory charter of our rights, and the rights of men.”
What does it tell us about America? – Freedom and Liberty are what this nation was built on so if America was to ever lose that, it would not and should not be considered America anymore because America has never not stood for freedom and liberty.
Were the colonists justified in writing the Declaration and engaging in the Revolutionary War? – Yes because of how they were being oppressed and taken advantage of by the British Empire. The taxation without representation was too heavy when they weren’t getting enough support from the British.
Which of the 6 early presidents had the “greatest” cost for his convictions? Justify. – Abraham Lincoln because he was against slavery in a very slave-dependent time in America which caused many people to be against him. However, he stood for what he believed in and did not let the peoples’ anger to shake him and he ultimately ended slavery in the US in the Civil War.
Vocab: 5 Ideals
- Opportunity: The promise that people should have the chance to attain their hopes and dreams.
- Liberty – The freedom to think or act without being limited by unnecessary force.
- Rights – Basic conditions guaranteed to each person.
- Equality – The condition of being equal with one another.
- Representation – The belief that citizens’ opinions should be represented in government.
2. Was/Is industrialization good for America?
Is “robber barons” or “captains of industry” the most appropriate title for industrialists at the turn of the century?
Should the government’s role be to regulate the economy, or do you support the government taking a laissez-faire approach to business?
Should the rich people be taxed more than others?
Have unions helped or hurt America?
What did the first unions want and how does that differ from today?
Vocab: Monopoly, Trust, Social Darwinism, laissez-faire, horizontal/vertical integration, philanthropist, robber barons, “captains of industry”
3. Is immigration good for America?
What was the conviction of the U.S. to allow unlimited immigration? What was the cost to “natives” when unlimited immigration began?
What was the conviction of the immigrants in coming to the U.S.? What was the cost to immigrants?
What is the difference between 1890’s immigration today? – Old immigrants were mostly Christian and Catholic, white, came from northwest Europe, and were english-speaking, while new immigrants are mostly jews and muslims, not white, are usually from south and east Europe, and are native speaking.
What are the similarities and differences in the overall experiences of the immigrants who entered through Ellis and Angel Islands?
Should we have a process to enter America or revert to an open border system? – Definitely a process to enter because immigration would get too out of hand and that would result in the crippling of the economy
Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border? – Yes because it is the most efficient way to prevent over immigration
Vocab: Push/pull factors, Chinese Exclusion Act (Enacted in May 6, 1882 by Chester Arthur and Congress, stopped nearly all Chinese immigration into the US, was lifted in 1943), working/living conditions, old/new immigrants, Dawes Act (approved on February 8, 1887, allowed the president to divide tribal land between different tribes) , Homestead Act (Enacted by Lincoln in May 20, 1862, promoted western migration and provided 160 acres of land for migrants), nativism (promotion of the native’s interests instead of the interests of immigrants)
4. What is the relationship between muckrakers and progressives?
What were some of the biggest social, political, environmental, and economic issues at the turn of the century? – Not enough conservation of nature, unfair and unsafe working conditions…
What are the best ways to deal with these issues? – Establish government regulations that require employee safety
What should the U.S. government have done/do now about these issues? – On April 28, 1971, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was founded by Richard Nixon which ensured employee safety in the workplace
Is there something wrong with America? (you may include your press conference character’s information in this question) – There will always be problems with America, the question is how many and the degree of them. As of now, however, no there is not really. The economy is growing and thriving with a GDP growth rate of upwards of 4% which is a record high. Illegal immigration is being dealt with accordingly. ICE has arrested more than 143,000 illegal immigrants, which is a record high, 92% of which have current or pending criminal records.
Vocab: Political bosses, patronage (When you give jobs to family, friends, or supporters), urbanization, Progressive (A person who was committed to improving conditions in American lives), Muckraker (A writer or journalist who would go usually undercover and discover and expose social injustices, inequalities, corruption and abuse in corporations and report it to the people), Social gospel, child labor, suffrage, NAACP (Stood for National Association for Advanced Colored People, Enacted by Du Bois in February 12, 1909, encouraged black people to “speak up”), Pure Food and Drug Act (Enacted by Theodore Roosevelt in June 30, 1906, ensured the end of mislabels on food and drugs which lowered illnesses and overdoses), 16-19th amendments (“The Progressive Amendments,” the amendments the progressives, 16-19th amendments allowed for federal gov’t to impose an income tax, required direct election for Senators by popular vote, prohibited the sale, manufacture or transportation of alcoholic beverages (repealed by the 21st amendment), and declared that women had the right to vote in state and national elections, respectively)
5. How did American expansion and WWI influence America (positively/negatively)? –
First time America has fought in a war with their allies, unlike the Spanish-American War or the War of 1812 which was fought between only 2 countries. It showed that America would not cower when threatened like the Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted or the Lusitania was sunk. America’s expansion was more negative than positive; mostly negative because locations around the world viewed the US as selfish and greedy by wanting more land and not giving enough in return. However, there was an act that was created after the joining of WWI that had an oppressive nature on the American people: Espionage Act of 1917. Implemented on June 15, 1917, the Espionage Act had a direct clashing with the 1st Amendment in the fact that it prevented any insults or abusing of the flag, Constitution, military and/or government. Doing so would result in a fine of $10,000 and 20 years in prison. Although I would never condole the disrespect of the flag, this is America, and one of the things that makes America America is freedom of speech, and this act constrained it. WWI had a positive effect on America in the fact that it resulted in a booming economy. Following WWI was a period known as the Roaring Twenties where consumerism was rising rapidly and resulted in a better economy.
What was the U.S. justification/incentive for expansion? Give example(s) – Newer form of manifest destiny (they were destined to expand), they believed they were helping other places when they came to their land, like Panama and the Panama Canal
Which of the three presidential policies (Big Stick, Dollar Diplomacy, Moral Diplomacy) was most effective? Why? Examples? – Moral Diplomacy because it was used in such a crucial time in world history (WWI) and it worked in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles.
Discuss U.S. involvement in WWI – Joined because of the Zimmerman Telegram which was intercepted in January of 1917 and the sinking of the Lusitania (58% of the 1,924 died, which included 114 Americans), justified in joining. The joining of WWI was in the best interests of the people. As President Wilson stated, “The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people,” which means that the leader, or president in this case, must do things in the best interests of the people.
Was the U.S. correct to opt out of signing the Treaty of Versailles? – Senate rejected the US signing the Treaty of Versailles; therefore, also opting out of the League of Nations in March 19, 1920. The US was not correct because the U.S. was the original creator of the Treaty of Versailles and it made the U.S. look bad that they didn’t sign their own treaty. However, Senate had some good reason to opt out, due to the fear of the corrosion and destruction of US sovereignty and the fear of the US being brought into more wars that were nonessential for the US to be brought into in the first place.
Define Just War Theory and apply it to a real world example – The Just War Theory is a war theory based off morals and ethics. If war was not ethical, it would not be considered “just.” An example would be WWII, where Germany and the Allied powers were both legal and legitimate authorities. Hitler was invading countries and the Allied Powers were trying to re-establish peace and redress wrongs suffered, both of which would be considered principles of a just war.
Vocab: Imperialism (Policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force), Nationalism (The reason WWI started because the Serbian assassins had strong senses of nationalism, which is a political ideology which promotes the interests of a particular nation, usually aimed to gain full sovereignty and/or self-governance over the group’s homeland), U.S. Neutrality (The US would state neutral in WWI, but Germany must stop sinking ships with their U-boats), Big Four (Wilson (US), Orlando (Italy), George (Britain), Clemenceau (France)), Irreconcilable (Voted “no,” didn’t want treaties that would bring international organization that may bring war), Internationalist (Voted “yes,” cooperation among nations could work for the benefit of all), Reservationist (Would vote “yes” if changes were made to a treaty, US should stay out of foreign affairs)