The World War I Home Front

Discussion Topic

Although combat in World War I took place far away in Europe, the war had a tremendous impact on American society. In this discussion, you'll look at how the war affected the American home front.

As you answer the questions, think about the effect the war had on the following:

• Government regulation of industry
• Government regulation of information/propaganda
• Job opportunities for African Americans and women
• The nation's demographics, especially regarding European immigrants, Mexicans, and African Americans
• Government action regarding organized labor
• Restriction of civil liberties
• Racial tensions

Post at least two responses to the following questions and/or to another student's comments:

• Which of the items listed above were most affected by the war. Which were least affected? Why?
• Did World War I create new issues and prejudices regarding minority groups, or did it just bring existing tensions closer to the surface?
• Did the need to win the war justify all the government's actions?
• How did the effects of this war compare to those of the Civil War?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 25, pages 996-1003, 989-1019	Chapter 25, pages 944-950, 963-966	Chapter 25, pages 1023-1029, 1044-1047	Chapter 25, pages 1134-1142, 1158-1161

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

Understanding Imperialist Motives

Discussion Topic

What motivated the U.S. to become an imperial power in the late-nineteenth century? In this discussion, we'll analyze some of the different reasons behind America's actions overseas.

Consider the following motives for U.S. economic and geographic imperialism:

• Desire to compete with European powers
• National security (expanding the military)
• Gaining new markets for U.S. exports
• Racism/paternalism
• Desire to improve the political and economic conditions of people throughout the world
• Spreading religion

Keeping these motives in mind, post at least two responses to one or more of the questions below or to another student's comments. Use specific examples to support your answers.

• Are there any other motives you'd add to this list?
• Which motives seem most and least justifiable? Why?
• How did U.S. imperialism compare with the imperialism of European nations?
• Do any of these ideas still drive U.S. foreign policy today?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 23, pages 905-911, 919-937	Chapter 23, pages 859-865, 872-888	Chapter 23, pages 933-939, 947-965	Chapter 23, pages 1035-42, 1052-70

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

Corruption in Politics

Discussion Topic

In the late-nineteenth century, Americans began to focus on government corruption. As the press exposed more and more scandals, the public demanded reforms to the political system.

In your first posting, write about one of the following issues that concerned Gilded Age reformers:

• The power of big business over government
• Civil service
• The campaign of 1884

Write about why the issue received so much attention, and whether you think it was a major problem.

As you read other students' responses, respond to one or more of these questions in your follow-up posting(s):

• Is there more or less corruption now than there was in the Gilded Age? Does today's corruption differ from the corruption in the Gilded Age? Explain.
• Are there fewer or more political scandals today than in the Gilded Age? Do they receive more or less attention? Why?
• Did the press go too far in exposing scandals in the Gilded Age, or not far enough? Does today's press use greater or less restraint?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 22, pages 865-880	Chapter 22, pages 820-838	Chapter 22, pages 892-911	Chapter 22, pages 990-1012

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

CR vs LR

Based on what we did together in class. explain the correlation between Conservative reaction and Liberal Reform.
requirements are as follows:
Use factual data to support your belief and opinion.
You must respond to a post of someone in your class, preferrably someone you do not agree with.
ALL responses from now on will be graded using this rubric.

	5	4	3	2
content	outstanding understanding of content by referencing atleast 2 outside sources in addition to the reading	svery good understanding of content by referencing atleast 1 outside sources in addition to the readings	above average understanding of content by referencing all details from reading	average understanding of content by referencing most details from the reading
details	Has atleast 5 details supporting opinion	Has atleast 4 details supporting opinion	Has atleast 3 details supporting opinion	Has atleast 2 details supporting opinion
analysis	outstanding ability to breakdown the impact of events on other historical timeperiods	very good ability to breakdown the impact of events on other historical timeperiods	above average ability to breakdown the impact of events on other historical timeperiods	average ability to breakdown the impact of events on other historical timeperiods
organization	post is laid out in a clear and concise manner with a logical sequence of ideas	post is generally clear with a logical sequence of ideas	post is understandable with ideas a little out of sequence	post is unclear

Evaluating Approaches to Equality

Discussion Topic

In the late-nineteenth century there was disagreement over how to bring socio-economic equality to former slaves. Two African Americans emerged as the intellectual spokespeople for their community: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Examine their ideas by reading about them in your textbook and by reading excerpts from their writing.

In your first posting, respond to at least one of the following questions:

• Which do you think should have been the primary goal in trying to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans: securing voting rights, ensuring access to higher education, or establishing an economic base? Use arguments advanced by Washington or Du Bois, as well as your own, to support your points.
• Do you strongly agree or disagree with any of the arguments advanced by Du Bois or Washington? Discuss.
• Which man do you think had ideas that were most likely to be accepted in his time? Explain.

As you read and respond to other students' responses, you may wish to address these two questions:

• Which one of these arguments seems more popular among Black and White Americans today?
• Why do you think these two intellectual leaders came to such different conclusions?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 19, pages 748-783	Chapter 19, pages 769-778	Chapter 19, pages 850-857	Chapter 19, pages 839-884

To better understand the ideas of these two men, you might want to read segments of the following documents online:

Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. 1903. 

Washington, Booker T. Up from Slavery. 1901. 

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

Was Reconstruction Successful

Discussion Topic

President Lincoln's conciliatory Reconstruction plan aimed to heal the rift between the North and the South wrought by the Civil War. However, Reconstruction didn't proceed as Lincoln intended. Do you think Reconstruction was successful at reunifying the nation and addressing the conflicts that led to war?

In this discussion, you'll evaluate Reconstruction and consider the lingering effects of the Civil War.

For two of the areas listed below, post a response to the question, "In what ways did Reconstruction succeed and/or fail in this area?"

• Rebuilding the Southern economy
• Improving the economic status of former slaves
• Political reunification of North and South
• Restoring Southern loyalty to the Union
• Punishing former rebels
• Establishing civil liberties for African Americans, both in law and in practice
• Establishing political rights for African Americans, both in law and in practice

After you read other students' responses, think about the region of the country where you live. In your second posting, write about any lingering effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction you see in your state or region. Be sure to address one or more of the following questions:

• Are there still noticeable effects of the war in your state or region? If so, what are they? Are they economic, political, or social?
• If you don't live in a region that was directly involved in the war, can you observe lingering effects of the war and the period of Reconstruction in American society and politics today?
• Do you think different Reconstruction policies would have moderated these lingering effects?
• What is the legacy of Reconstruction for American society?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the pages on Reconstruction in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 18, pages 702-739	Chapter 18, pages 659-697	Chapter 18, pages 713-756	Chapter 18, pages 789-834

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

Business Leaders

Discussion Topic

Businessmen Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and John D. Rockefeller led the rapid industrialization of the U.S. economy in the late-nineteenth century, and each amassed great personal fortunes in the process. For example, Morgan's U.S. Steel Corporation was the first billion-dollar industry, valued at $1.4 billion in 1901.

In stark contrast, the average worker during this era labored in less than ideal conditions for meager wages. At the turn of the century, the average hourly wage was 21.6 cents, and the average annual earnings were just $490. Most worked about 60 hours a week on average. Steelworkers commonly worked 12-hour shifts, often 7 days a week.

Enter this discussion at least twice, and address some of the following questions:

• What do you think of the "survival of the fittest" business practices of early business leaders? Do you think these practices were ethical? Were they necessary or unavoidable?
• Did the success of men like Carnegie, Morgan, and Rockefeller benefit the country as a whole, or were benefits limited to certain groups of people?
• Clearly there were social, economic, and political consequences of the business practices of these late-nineteenth century industrialists. Is there a balance between the negative and the positive effects of their actions? Or does one outweigh the other?
• Some people call these businessmen "robber barons;" others think of them as important leaders and entrepreneurs. Which position do you agree with? Why?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages on nineteenth century entrepreneurs, workers and working conditions in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 20, pages 796-821	Chapter 20, pages 753-777	Chapter 20, pages 812-840	Chapter 20, pages 898-926

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.

Was Reconstruction Successful

Discussion Topic

President Lincoln's conciliatory Reconstruction plan aimed to heal the rift between the North and the South wrought by the Civil War. However, Reconstruction didn't proceed as Lincoln intended. Do you think Reconstruction was successful at reunifying the nation and addressing the conflicts that led to war?

In this discussion, you'll evaluate Reconstruction and consider the lingering effects of the Civil War.

For two of the areas listed below, post a response to the question, "In what ways did Reconstruction succeed and/or fail in this area?"

• Rebuilding the Southern economy
• Improving the economic status of former slaves
• Political reunification of North and South
• Restoring Southern loyalty to the Union
• Punishing former rebels
• Establishing civil liberties for African Americans, both in law and in practice
• Establishing political rights for African Americans, both in law and in practice

After you read other students' responses, think about the region of the country where you live. In your second posting, write about any lingering effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction you see in your state or region. Be sure to address one or more of the following questions:

• Are there still noticeable effects of the war in your state or region? If so, what are they? Are they economic, political, or social?
• If you don't live in a region that was directly involved in the war, can you observe lingering effects of the war and the period of Reconstruction in American society and politics today?
• Do you think different Reconstruction policies would have moderated these lingering effects?
• What is the legacy of Reconstruction for American society?

Required Reading

Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the pages on Reconstruction in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:

8th Edition	7th Edition	6th Edition	5th Edition
Chapter 18, pages 702-739	Chapter 18, pages 659-697	Chapter 18, pages 713-756	Chapter 18, pages 789-834

Scoring

This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.