Nationalist Movements in modern-day Hawaii and Puerto Rico

This week we are exploring the reasons that the US government sought colonial rule over regions of the Caribbean and South Pacific at the turn of the 20th century. The legitimacy of US authority over commonwealths like Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa and even the statehood of Hawaii remain controversial issues in modern society. This week's blog asks that you read some articles on contemporary nationalist movements and analyze the call for independence that is becoming a strong political movement among indigenous people in these areas.

Directions:
Actively read the following articles on independence movements in Hawaii and Puerto RicoA)Hawaiihttp://www.hawaii-nation.org/rebuilding-kingdom.html

B) Puerto Ricohttp://www.alternet.org/rights/75196/?page=entire
Summarize the articles and explain the reasons why Puerto Rican and Hawaiian nationalists feel their homelands should be granted full independence by the US government.

In your opinion, would autonomy and self-rule benefit the people of Hawaii and Puerto Rico or exacerbate poverty and other problems that exist in these areas today? Explain using support from the article, your knowledge of history and any outside sources that you may use to further research this assignment. If you read other sources, be sure to cite the URL or newssource in your post.

minimum 250 words, please comment on the post of one of your peers.Due Monday 3/9 before class.

Helpful study guide and SAFMED terms: 

http://www.scribid.com/doc/AP-US-HISTORY-Ultimate-Study-Guide

(you can't print or copy and paste the page but I think it's a really useful link)

Robber Barons and Rebels: Seminar Prep

1. Actively read chapter 11 of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, "Robber Barons and Rebels". The chapter is available for view and print at : http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnbaron11.html

2. Post two of your own discussion questions

3. Respond to at least one of the questions below (200 word minimum)

A) Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the widening gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from humble beginnings (i.e. Edison, Carnegie and Morgan) to become self-made millionaires. Evaluate Zinn’s notion that “the government of the United States was behaving almost exactly as Karl Marx described a capitalist state: pretending neutrality to maintain order, but serving the interests of the rich.” What impact did this approach have on American society as a whole?

B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.

C) By 1886,” the Supreme Court had accepted the argument that corporations were "persons" and their money was property protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” To what extent should businesses be entitled to the same rights and privileges as American citizens?

D) Monopoly and trust-busting were two political issues that reflected a great schism between the American industrial working class and wealthy elite. Zinn notes that many political policies which initially aimed to protect the common American were corrupted by misinterpretations in the US Supreme Court.

E) As corporate wealth expanded in the early 20th century, so did the causes of philanthropy and public works charities. In your opinion did the trend of corporate philanthropy (charity) advance or distort democratic process? Explain.

F) As the labor force became greater in members and discontent, so did the American Labor Movement. Consider the gains and losses made by strikers and unions in the period of 1890-1910. Was this movement a success or failure of the American working class? Explain.

G) Union activists (including Eugene B. Debbs) and members were often indicted for socialist beliefs and organizing against the government. Does promoting union values make one a socialist by definition? Is being a socialist particularly anti-American? Explain your answer.

H) According to Zinn, “ on top of the serious failures to unite blacks and whites, city workers and country farmers, there was the lure of electoral politics-all of that combining to destroy the Populist movement. How did the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of the American workforce from 1880-1910 affect politics of the period as a whole? Provide specific examples to support your response.

REMEBER TO BRING YOUR NOTES AND READING WITH YOU TO ENSURE A MEANINGFUL SEMINAR ON MONDAY!

Civil war film review: optional extra credit assignment

As extra credit for this class, you may review one or more of the following films on the US Civil War:

Glory

Gettysburg

Cold Mountain

The Confederate States of America

Gods and Generals

Summarize the plot of the film in 150 words or more. Then, explain how the film relates to class and evaluate it's historical accuracy. Finally, give your opinion on wether or not this is a "must see" for students of US history. The review must be a total of at least 250 word and may be posted on a blog, submitted on paper or take another creative/ visual format (video, poster, powerpoint, etc.)

Due Monday, January 20 (Yes, I know we have off in observence of MLK day, but by then.)

Civil War Primary Source Investigation

Harper's Weekly was the most popular newspaper during the Civil War, and it featured stunning illustrations, and in depth stories on all the important people and events of the war. For this week's blog assignment, analyze and evalutate material from this important primary source following the directions below:

1. Actively read any issue from the online archive of Harpers' papers from 1861-65. (These papers are 4-6 pages long and include photographs and advertisements.) The papers are available for view at:http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/the-civil-war.htm

2. Summarize two articles and/or cartoons related to the war published in this edition (be sure to indicate the date and page of each source.) What insight do these articles provide into the issues most important to Harper's Weekly readers at this time? What are the authors and/or artists' positions on the war?

3. Conclude by discussing the impact you believe papers like Harpers' Weekly had on the war.This post is due by Friday, 1/11 at 7 a.m. 200 word minimum. Remember to respond to at least one classmates post.http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/the-civil-war.htm

Slave Narrative Journal Assignment

I know no class of my fellowmen, however just, enlightened, and humane, which can be wisely and safely trusted absolutely with the liberties of any other class. - Frederick Douglass

The institution of slavery in the Unitied States in spite of it's attachment to the ideals of democracy and liberty is perhaps one of the most perplexing, shameful and painfully enduring periods of US history. This week's blog asks that you examine analytical sources as well as first-hand accounts of the slave experience in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of life in the Antebellum south and the conditions that led to mass upheval, the US Civil War and, ultimately, the abolition of slavery.

1) Read Chapter 9 "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States at:

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnslaem10.html (or, better yet, read it in your own copy of the book!) Post a brief summary of the chapter and two comments and/or questions about the major themes presented in the text.

2) Actively read selections from two Slave Accounts from the archive on Spartacus online archive: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAslavery.htm

(Be sure that your choices are accounts of enslaved people living in the Unites States)

3) Select at least three compelling quotes to reflect on in your blog. You may free-response by saying what the quote reminds you of or makes you wonder, or draw out themes and parallels about the slave experience in the United States. Try to make allusion’s to Zinn’s key ideas in your reflections.

4) Finally, Explain why you believe so many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery? What is the purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south?

This post should be at least 400 words. Please respond to at least one other students’ post for this assignment.

Due Monday, January 5.

Because I have asked for you to read a chapter of Zinn's book, anticipate a graded seminar on the chapter when we return from break. You are encouraged to prepare notes for your reference in the seminar, which will be graded as a quiz.

Chapter 10 in your textbook may be helpful in completing the assignment. Copious notes from the chapter will be due Thursday, January 8.

Does the concept of Manifest Destiny still inform US foreign policy?

In the article "Manifest DEstiny and Mission in the 20th Century", author Paul A Janson argues that "Manifest Destiny's purpose was to dominate North America at the expense of not only Mexico but of the Native American population as well. Today, in the name of "free market" we believe it is not only our right to destroy the enemy we chose it is "our obligation." We are, after all, fighting for 'freedom'. But once again, who will be free is not clear." He likens the 19th century US conflict over Texas in the US -Mexican War with modern efforts to promote free trade and democrasy through what he views as questionable means of diplomacy.

The questions this article raised to me, while controversial, is an interesting discussion for us to entertain in our current unit on expansion and sectionalism.

Directions:

1. Read the article cited in the introduction at: http://hnn.us/articles.534.html

2. summarize the artilce and it's new insights on US-Mexican relations.

3. Answer the following question based on the article, text and our recent discussion:

Is the promotion of an American agenda (free market capitalism and democratic governments) justified or are US actions in nations like Iraq and Afghanistan examples of a new wave of Manifest Destiny?