Midterm Exam
US Since 1865
This is your mid term exam. It is a take home exam, which means that
you will complete it at home. For a take home, you are allowed (and
encouraged) to use the readings to answer the questions. For this reason,
I will expect you to fully answer each question, using examples to support
your answer. You will notice that each of these questions requires
that you construct an argument, provide analysis, and form a conclusion.
I encourage you to outline your answers so that you cover each aspect
of the question. Choose to answer three. I expect that each answer
will be no less than 3 typed double spaced pages.
Good Luck!
1. Using at least two documents from your documents reader or excerpts from
your textbook to analyze and explain how African Americans, Radical Republicans,
and southern white Democrats responded to changes in the status of African
Americans following the Civil War. What were some of the goals of each
group? How did they imagine they would accomplish their goals?
2. What were some of the implications of the Dawes Severalty Act for Native
Americans in the West? How did Native Americans respond to this Act?
Use specific examples from your text to answer these questions.
3. Compare and contrast how Henry George (p.50) and Andrew Carnegie (53)
viewed the transformation of America's economy and society. Any points
of agreement? What were the main points of disagreement?
4. How did the modern industrial and managerial revolutions of the late nineteenth
century change the world of work? How did workers respond to these
changes? Give specific examples from your texts to answer the question.
5. Frances Willard (84), Booker T. Washington (101), and W.E.B. Du
Bois all challenged the late 19th century politics of the status quo. Analyze,
compare, and contrast the ways that these leaders imagined change. What
is it that they want? How do they recommend that these changes take
place?
6. How did Americans view the rise of the city in the late 19th century?
What were some of the dangers associated with city life? In what
ways did urban culture appear to threaten the morals of American people?
Choose two examples from the documents reader to answer this question.
7. What kinds of opportunities did the Progressive era offer to women who
wanted to become involved with politics and political activism? Choose
two examples from your reader and your textbook to analyze women's political
involvement during this period.
8. Demonstrate how progressives believed in the ability of individuals to
affect positive change and the ways that this idea manifested itself in reform
efforts. How was this attitude different from the social Darwinist
perspective of the late 19th century?
9. Compare and contrast Mark Twain (168) and Albert Beveridge's (166)
views of American policy toward the Philippines.
Amy Ward
US History 1865
Midterm
Spring 2003