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.

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.

Evaluating Lincoln

Discussion Topic

Because of his legendary status, many people assume Lincoln wasn't a controversial figure in his time. However, Lincoln's contemporaries — as well as students and historians to this day — debated the merits of his decisions while in office. His interpretation of the law, his military decisions, and his policies regarding slavery especially provoked debate.

For your first posting, choose one of the following issues and then discuss these questions: Were Lincoln's actions around this issue legal? Were they justified? Does Lincoln seem like a good leader in this case?

• Lincoln's interpretation of the law, particularly the Constitution's elastic clause and the suspension of habeas corpus
• Lincoln's decisions around military strategy and his method of assigning and managing generals
• Lincoln's words and actions regarding slavery. See the links under required reading for these helpful documents:
  • The Emancipation Proclamation
  • Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

In your second posting, evaluate Lincoln as a leader.

• Do you think he was a realist or an idealist?
• Did he lack principles or act on his principles?
• Are you surprised by what you've learned about Lincoln's leadership while in office?

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 17, pages 648-699	Chapter 17, pages 607-656	Chapter 17, pages 655-710	Chapter 17, pages 723-785

If you choose to write about slavery, follow these links to some helpful documents:

Emancipation Proclamation. May 8, 2000.
Full text of the Emancipation Proclamation

Abraham Lincoln: First Inaugural Address. March 20, 2000.
Full text of Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

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.

Evaluating the 1850's

iscussion Topic

The North and South clashed repeatedly over political differences during the 1850s. The failure to resolve these differences eventually led to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Was the war the inevitable result of irreconcilable viewpoints? Or could more skillful political leaders have worked out sectional differences and avoided war?

Focus on one of the following decisions in your discussion:

• Buchanan's decision not to intervene in Kansas
• Lincoln's rejection of the Crittenden Compromise
• The Dred Scott decision
• The Compromise of 1850

In your first posting, answer at least one of these questions about the focus you've chosen:

• Do you think the sectional conflict resulting from this event was inevitable?
• Do you think more skillful political leaders could have made better decisions? If so, what decisions would have been better? Why?
• Did the leaders of the 1850s take actions that inflated the importance of events?

For your second posting, read the answers that your classmates wrote. After doing so, answer one or more of these questions:

• Do you agree or disagree with another student's response? Why?
• Could more skillful political leaders have avoided the major conflicts that led to war?
• Did the sectional conflicts of the 1850s result from poor political judgments? Or did they result from deep social, economic, and ideological differences between the North and South?

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 14, pages 702-739	Chapter 14, pages 489-523	Chapter 14, pages 530-567	Chapter 14, pages 581-621

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 Expansion Justified?

Discussion Topic

In 1845, journalist John L. O'Sullivan captured the spirit of the times when he coined the term Manifest Destiny. This term reflected the growing belief among Americans that they were destined to enlarge the nation across the entire continent.

The desire for new land to farm and ranch, new markets for American goods, and the discovery of precious metals motivated this drive to settle the West. But U.S. expansionism also displaced thousands of Indians and Mexicans already living in those territories.

In your first posting, answer these questions:

• Why did Americans migrate to the West? Why did settlers move into Texas, California, or Oregon?
• How did U.S. expansionism affect the established inhabitants of these territories?
• Do you think the U.S. acquired these territories justly?
• Was Manifest Destiny a rationalization for the greedy and aggressive acquisition of Western land? Or did it serve the best interests of the country and its citizens?

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

• Compare the U.S.'s international policy in the era of Manifest Destiny to the country's involvement in the international arena today. Do you see similarities or differences?
• Does the U.S. still practice imperialism by trying to extend its economic and political influence over other countries?

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 14, pages 603-645	Chapter 14, pages 489-523	Chapter 14, pages 530-567	Chapter 14, pages 581-621

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.