Role Play

Consider some of the important figures of U.S. History. Then, choose 5 of your friends (not enemies) in the class and assign them to an important figure.

Leave a brief description for your reasoning.

Machine Politics

"There's an honest graft, and I'm an example of how it works. I might sum up the whole thing by sayin': "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em."

Just let me explain by examples. My party's in power in the city, and it's goin' to undertake a lot of public improvements. Well, I'm tipped off, say, that they're going to lay out a new park at a certain place.

I see my opportunity and I take it. I go to that place and I buy up all the land I can in the neighborhood. Then the board of this or that makes its plan public, and there is a rush to get my land, which nobody cared particular for before.

Ain't it perfectly honest to charge a good price and make a profit on my investment and foresight? Of course, it is. Well, that's honest graft.

Or, supposin' it's a new bridge they're goin' to build. I get tipped off and I buy as much property as I can that has to be taken for approaches. I sell at my own price later on and drop some more money in the bank.

Wouldn't you? It's just like lookin' ahead in Wall Street or in the coffee or cotton market. It's honest graft, and I'm lookin' for it every day in the year. I will tell you frankly that I've got a good lot of it, too.

I'll tell you of one case. They were goin' to fix up a big park, no matter where. I got on to it, and went lookin' about for land in that neighborhood.

I could get nothin' at a bargain but a big piece of swamp, but I took it fast enough and held on to it. What turned out was just what I counted on. They couldn't make the park complete without Plunkitt's swamp, and they had to pay a good price for it. Anything dishonest in that?

Up in the watershed I made some money, too. I bought up several bits of land there some years ago and made a pretty good guess that they would be bought up for water purposes later by the city.

Somehow, I always guessed about right, and shouldn' I enjoy the profit of my foresight? It was rather amusin' when the condemnation commissioners came along and found piece after piece of the land in the name of George Plunkitt of the Fifteenth Assembly District, New York City. They wondered how I knew just what to buy. The answer is--I seen my opportunity and I took it. I haven't confined myself to land; anything that pays is in my line. "

- George Washington Plunkit


Consider machine politics in American cities. Why did they come about and for what reasons did they become extinct? Were they overall a good or bad thing?

Progressivism

Was the Progressive movement more reflective of Jeffersonian or Hamiltonian ideals? What is your reasoning for this?

Industrialization

Industrialization is a key factor and determinate of change in United States History. What are some of the things that happen as a direct and indirect result of this change for our country?

Finally, do you think it is the primary cause of change? Can you link it to the Civil War, Imperialism; Reform; etc.?

Historical Prophet

Consider some trends you remember from the year and your understanding of history. What is in store for us in the future as Americans? What direction are we headed? Will we continue in power and prominence? What is crucial for us to keep the same or change in this country?

Best and Worst

Now that we've completed the curriculum, take some time to reflect on the best and worst Presidents of our country.

List the top and worst five with a short explanation of our choice.

The Cold War

Consider the costs of the Cold War. Was there a "cheaper" way to achieve the same results? Was the war mismanaged? Or do you see it as a time when capable Presidents acted with wisdom?

1950s

The 1950s is traditionally known as a time of conformity. What do you think is the root for this tendency?

20s or 50s

If you had to live in the 20s or the 50s which decade would you choose and why?

Nationalism vs. Freedom

Read this linked article on Barack Obama and make some comments on whether you think his ideology and policies are more reflective of Roosevelt's New Nationalism or Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom

American Imperialism

Historians have looked at the imperialist era (McKinley - Wilson) in different lights.

1. This age is a blooper in foreign policy whereby America made several poor choices at a time of misled passion.

2. This is an age that continues and develops the previous eras. This is just Manifest Destiny dressed up in a new outfit.

Which do you think is more accurate?

Yellow Journalism

Does media have a strong impact on public opinion today? Do the people dominate the media or vice versa. Has this tendency changed since the days of Pulitzer and Hearst?

I Have a Dream

In light of King Day take a moment to look at some sections of Dr. King's famous speech "I have a dream...". If you've never seen it in its entirety do yourself the favor.

React to this post by perhaps assessing the extent to which you believe the dream has been both deferred (Langston Hughes) or realized in 2009.

Consider what we've covered for race relations in America and anticipate what we'll see into and beyond the 1960's.

Events

What are the top five momentous events in US History so far? Why? What would be different if they never happened or if the outcome was different?

America the Beautiful

Some say that the US has been the most blessed nation in the world. What can we account for these blessings? Are we lucky? Did we have good leaders? Was it in our control or was it destiny?

Top Presidents

What do you think are the top five presidents we have studied thus far? Who are the worst and why?