Category: American history

Read the reading in the files, then answer the questions in the files in paragraph format and defend your answers with additional research. Further instructions are in the files and the rubric.

What did Southerner states attempt to achieve through enacting and enforcing Black Codes (such as in Mississippi)? What rights were recognized? What rights, in your view, are denied?
What does Frederick Douglas mean when he uses the term “composite nation”? How does Douglas relate the issue of Chinese immigration and naturalization to American society’s treatment of Native Americans and Black Americans?
How does Elliot defend the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Bill? From Elliot’s perspective, would the Black Codes be considered legal under the U.S. Constitution?
The discussion should be about 1-2 paragraphs in length. The discussion should answer the question in language that takes a strong position and makes your answer to the question abundantly clear. Avoid writing a response that offers only a general discussion of the topic. Rather, write in such a way that makes clear you are trying to prove a point—to convince somebody of your perspective.
–Students will also respond to at least two classmates’ posts. Your response to a classmate’s post should be about a paragraph long and of substance. Be cordial in your response to a classmate’s post. 
–Because this discussion is less formal than the essays and allows students to express their “opinions” without the accompanying “academic research,” students do not need to reference sources. Still, the discussion should be informed by the readings associated with Module 1 on the Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the American West. 
Textbook Chapter 15-16
https://www.americanyawp.com/
please reply following peers
1.
Some things that Southern States attempted to achieve through enacting and enforcing Black Codes was to keep African Americans from having the same rights as white citizens. They aimed to maintain the white supremacy that has been practiced for decades prior. Even though black citizens were gaining more rights during this era, these black codes restricted those rights so that it is almost as if the rights were never even granted to them. The black codes even controlled black citizens as if they were back into slavery. They achieved this by applying strict labor contracts and giving them almost no way to attain their own property; they were not allowed to serve on a jury or testify against white citizens. All these codes combined gave African Americans very little room for improvement and they struggled greatly to move forward. 
Some rights that at the very least were recognized for African Americans is their right to legally marry and own property. Although they can do these things by law, there were many odds against them so very few could even practice these rights. They were discriminated against in every way possible including economically. In my view, I would say that the rights blacks were denied goes far beyond what we know from the laws in place. They lacked basic human rights and although slavery was abolished, almost nothing had been changed. There was so much progress to be made and such limited opportunities to move forward.
2.
Black Codes as illustrated in Chapter 15 – Reconstruction of ‘American Yawp’, were enacted in the Southern states such as Mississippi, to control African American actions and to constrict their new post emancipation freedoms such as their social and economic wellbeing, even when slavery had been abolished. The Black Codes gave African Americans some flexibility as seen with the rights to marry, create contracts and own property, all rights that were denied during slavery. In addition to these, the Black Codes also gave African Americans the right to be employed (as servants) under exploited settings which underscored the state of welfare for African Americans and their promised freedoms. I believe that the Black Codes were an attempt of the Southerner States to prevent further progress in emancipation and to guarantee labor that was needed for the economic comfort of landowners and white democrats. In comparison Black Codes restricted and denied many common rights for African Americans. One main example was the “Vagrancy Law”, which required all freedmen to have employment papers with them at all times, if these individuals could not demonstrate employment when questioned they would consequently be arrested and fined. This ‘Vagrant’ law went on to the extremes as well, being that if the freedman was not able to pay their fine they would be forced into unpaid labor to a employer willing to pay the tax. Another instance in which the Southern states took the rights of African Americans to restore their antebellum state is the right to serve on juries which excluded African Americans from being able to partake in congress and legal systems, overall denying the right of full citizenship, another fundamental right. 
In summary, the Black Codes were known to halt the process of the emancipation proclamation created by Lincoln, so that the Democratic antebellum state could be restored once again and to reinforce the racial and economic structure. With these actions, African Americas’ civil liberties and opportunities for freedom and equality were stopped. Even though the Black Codes acklowdged some basic rights such as marriage and property, it denied the fundamental rights of citizens of the United Stated of America. 

For this assignment, please provide a three-to-four-page length essay along with APA-style citations that addresses the following question: Please compare the civil rights experiences of different Latinx communities or other social groups in the United States. Also discuss how the experiences of these communities might align or differ from the experiences of one another.
In your essay, be sure to:
• Describe and discuss commonalities and differences in
struggles.
• Discuss the outcomes in education, employment, and other forms of societal change that Latinx groups
fighting for civil right had in common with other groups in the United States. In what ways were they successful in unifying around a common agenda for social change?
• Discuss the significance and challenges of alliance building and give specific examples.
• Discuss the outcomes in education, employment, and other forms of societal change that Latinx groups fighting for civil right had in common with other groups in the United States. In what ways were they successful in unifying around a common agenda for social change?
• Discuss the significance and challenges of alliance building and give specific examples.
• Refer to and cite relevant course readings in your essay. (For anyone making this assignment specific to the intersections between the Young Lords and Black Panthers, you can require that student essays discuss Radicals in Black and Brown: Palante, People’s Power, and Common Cause in the Black Panthers and the Young Lords Organization and reference other relevant readings.)

In President Obama’s “Third Annual Back to School Speech,”
he argues that since young
people are the future leaders of the world, they
need to prepare themselves to lead.
1) Assess how well President Obama supports his
argument.
2) Provide examples of reasons and evidence from the speech to
support your assessment. 
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/09/28/president-obama-s-third-annual-back-school-speech#transcript

6 page essay on the history of american rock music and how rock music developed in the 60s. 
requirments: 
Cite at least six (6) sources from academically credible sites, such as
databases from the library. Do not use Wikipedia or blogs.  Other
source requirements:
◦ At least two sources must be primary sources.  Must complete at least two note cards for each source
◦ Must complete annotations for at least one academic source 
Format must conform to MLA style, including for parenthetical in-
text citations and the works  cited page. Must include headers with
page number and your last name.
• Must contain the following organizational elements:
◦ introduction and thesis statement
◦ topic sentences for each body paragraph
◦ conclusion paragraph
◦ formal academic language with clear sentence structure.
RUBRIC: GUIDE:
Hook introduces topic, grabs reader’s attention, is creative
Thoroughly and accurately addresses historical context: who, what, when, why, where, how of topic (time, place, context)
Transition statement clearly connects background info and thesis
Thesis statement is clear, analytical, with well-developed contentions that strongly support paper structure in an organized way.
Follows a transition statement in the introduction and is located at the end of the introduction. 
All strongly assert a contention supporting the thesis; is the first sentence of each body paragraph.
Clearly written
Essay uses relevant information and facts to effectively defend the thesis.
Analysis demonstrates a thorough understanding of evidence
Explains significance of evidence in your own words.
Meets or exceeds the number of sources required.
Meets or exceeds the number of note cards required per source. 
Each note card contains the three required elements.

You must have at least TEN (10) sources for your paper. SIX (6) of those sources
must be books. As is often the case with many topics, you probably will find more
than 10 sources. If you do, use as many sources as you choose. The maximum
number of internet sources that you can use is FOUR (4). An internet source
would not be online docs in pdfs, or ebooks. This professor (as do others) assumes
that students will consult on-line encyclopedias, such as Encyclopedia Britannica and
Wikipedia.
1 These sources will not be counted as part of the bibliography for this
project, but you must list them if you consult them. You also must cite them in
footnotes or endnotes if you use information from them in your essay. These sources
are good starts in your research.
Title Page I.  
Introduction
II.
Biographical background
III. 
Evaluations, speculations, and opinions
IV.
Conclusion
(Endnotes page – if not using foot notes)
Bibliography/Works Consulted

ESSAY QUESTIONS (ANSWER ONE):
Did Eugene Sledge change over the course of the book?  What experiences did he have that most seriously affected him?  Why is it important for us to have first-person accounts of war?  In other words, what can this book tell us about the impact of war on soldiers? 
Some historians have claimed that World War II was a race war and that the war in the Pacific was especially brutal because of racist views held by the combatants.  Does Sledge’s experience support this view?  Why or why not?

In the landmark case, Shelby County V. Holder (2013) , the US Supreme Court struck
down major provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act relating to the procedure of “pre-
clearance. “ Since the ruling, states like Texas, Georgia and North Carolina, can now
make changes to their voting laws, such as photo ID requirements, that do not need to be
pre-approved by the federal government. Supporters of this ruling say the pre-clearance
rules are no longer needed and besides, states need new laws to protect against voter
fraud. Opponents say that these laws are just a new form of voter suppression tactics that
hit the poor and racial minorities hardest.
Based on this, your paper must meet the following strict content, format and submission
requirements:
CONTENT REQUIREMENTS:
1. Describe the provisions (parts) of the Voting Rights Act that discuss the issue of “pre-
clearance”.
2. Compare and contrast the views of those who think the federal government should
have the power of “pre-clearance” and those who do not. Include at least three
points of comparison.
3. Using evidence from any election in 2014 or later, argue whether or not you believe
the federal government should have the power of “pre-clearance” relating to election
laws. Include at least three reasons and/orexamples to make your point.3
4. Review the Global Citizen Blog or any other source and describe how voting rights
work in another country. Include at least two characteristics.
5. List at least two things you could do in order to engage in the political process in
pursuit of your position in (3) above.
6. Cite at least three (3) reliable, quality references within the body of the paper using
the Chicago Manual of Style’s parenthetical citation style. One of the citations
MUST come from the class textbook (-10 points if this is not done). You must have
at least three parenthetical source citations in the body of the paper that exactly
match the sources properly formatted in the Works Cited Page at the end of the
paper.
A paper with no parenthetical source citations in its body will receive a grade of
0.
A paper with no Works Cited Page at the end will receive a grade of 0.
FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:
1. Typed, 2-3 pages (not counting Works Cited Page), 12-point font, double-spaced.
2. Your name, my name, POSC 2305, and the date.
3. A title is required, but a separate title page is not necessary.
4. An introduction with a thesis/statement of purpose in the first paragraph: “This paper
will…”
5. A logically organized and sequenced body followed by a clearly stated conclusion.
6. Use of the Chicago Manual of Style’sparenthetical citation format. Students must be
very careful and pay attention to details when they examine and cite internet sources.
A paper with no parenthetical source citations and/or no Works Cited Page at the end
will receive a grade of 0; no second chances will be allowed.
7. Use of footnotes or endnotes is prohibited.
8. Using encyclopedias, like Wikipedia, Ballotpedia, history.com, kids.law.com, etc. is
prohibited (-10 points).

The Music of an Era
For this writing assignment you will select at lest 3 of the songs we played
during class from Chapters 27 and 28 on the 1960s and 1970s, then briefly write
your thoughts of them, as well as, how they appeared to influence the era in question
and those beyond. Think of these songs as primary sources that offer insight
into key events and movements of the past. Use them as a window into the
thoughts and feelings of this volatile period in American history, whose
participants were fulled by the changing events and music around them.
Your complete response should consist of at least a paragraph on each
track, that discusses its lyrics and sound, the perceived meaning or message
within the period in focus (1960 -1979), the band or singer behind the work,
and how the song came to influence those listening to it, or became symbolic of
the era. What does this song show us about the era and how does it represent
some of what we’ve seen in class?
You should begin your
essay with a brief introduction that provides a bit of background information
on the topic as well as stating your thesis, while also mentioning and
outlining what specific sources you are going to use in your analysis
to respond to the question / questions being asked. Next, work
on using each source to illustrate your argument, serving as evidence to prove
your statements and assertions.  When referencing each source within your
response, be sure to also provide a basic introduction for it that analyzes its
influence within the context of our class. You will want to be sure to discuss
who the author?  Who was their audience? What was the source attempting to
accomplish, and how? (use specifics) What was going on in the nation during the
era in which the source was produced that sparked its creation and how was the
source received by those it was intended for / its opposition / those
undecided?  What influence did the source have on the events in focus? Be
sure to use key terms and supporting details from class and your readings to
really tie these speeches and addresses into the larger events of the era we’ve
focused on this unit.  Finally, what is the lasting legacy of these ideas
or arguments on American history? After addressing the topic while also
analyzing 3 to 5 of the provided sources in your content paragraphs, be sure to close your
response with a conclusion paragraph summarizing or recapping the major points
of each source and also restate your thesis statement that addresses the
question / questions being asked. 
While you
are only required to use at least 3 of the sources, be aware that all of these
sources could easily be used to provide insight and make a detailed argument on
the subject should you also choose. Be sure to make the best argument possible
knowing that many of your fellow classmates will utilize several of available
sources for this assignment and those responses using less than 5 sources
will have difficulties earning full credit. Remember you will not
necessarily just contextualize and provide background on each source, but also
use them to help analyze the controversial era in focus within that chapter and
answer the questions being asked in the paragraph above.
Your
completed response should total at least 750 to 1000 words (Although you can
certainly go longer if needed) and are due in Canvas on Monday 5/6. Formatting
for this assignment is not specific so you are welcomed to use MLA, APA, or
Chicago / Turabian, as long as basic attempts are made to cite specific
references, or at least one general citation per document used at the end of
the paragraph it is first discussed, ex: (Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a
Changin’) or (James Brown, Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m
Proud). Additional outside sources are not required and you can cite the
textbook by using the author’s last name and page number, ex: (Shi, 997). Do
not include a work cited or references page. 
Textbook:
David Shi. America: A Narrative History, Vol. 2, Brief 12th Edition, (New York: Norton & Company, 2022). ISBN 978-0393882568
Helpful Links
A Narrative History, Vol. 2, Brief 12th Edition:  EbookLinks to an external site.
Writing Assignment 2 Song List:
Sam Cooke “A Change is
Gonna Come” 1963.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPr3yvkHYsELinks to an external site.
James Brown “Say It
Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud” 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrB4uQyU0DU&t=89sLinks to an external site.
Aretha Franklin “Respect”
1967.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbs_O_iMfULinks to an external site.
Jefferson Airplane “White
Rabbit” 1967.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0Links to an external site.
Buffalo Springfield “For
What It’s Worth” 1967.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJYLinks to an external site.
Bob Dylan “The Times They
Are a-Changin’ “ 1964.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_nWlSX6UsLinks to an external site.
Bob Dylan “Like A Rolling
Stone” 1965.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Kv0vF41BcLinks to an external site.
The Beatles “Revolution”
1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGLGzRXY5BwLinks to an external site.
Creedence Clearwater
Revival “Fortunate Son” 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RUGJAWIslELinks to an external site.
Country Joe McDonald “Feel
Like I’m Fixing to Die Rag” Live at Woodstock, August 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft0vkKCadgkLinks to an external site.
Jimi Hendrix “All Along
the Watchtower” 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YoVJJmP_60Links to an external site.
Jimi Hendrix “The
Star-Spangled Banner” Live at Woodstock, August 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7qzzgGOGULinks to an external site.
Minimize Video
SSG Barry Sadler “The
Ballad of the Green Berets” 1966.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF6MNWgsXZULinks to an external site.
Minimize Video 

This assignment aims to apply the historical thinking skills that you’ve learned throughout the class to a topic related to Native American history and contemporary issues. You will explore historical context, analyze key events and figures, and propose solutions or insights that could address challenges or shed light on significant aspects of Native American experiences. Please understand that this is an individual assignment and not a group assignment, as this would be too difficult to grade.
Assignment Details: Native American history and contemporary issues encompass a wide range of topics, from historical events to cultural representation and social justice. This assignment invites you to delve into a topic of interest within the broader theme of Native American history and contemporary issues.
1. Topic Selection: Choose a specific aspect within the realm of Native American history and contemporary issues that interests you. Examples (these are merely suggestions!):
– An analysis of a recent film or documentary that portrays Native American history or contemporary life (e.g., “Killers of the Flower Moon”).
– Examining media bias in the coverage of cases involving Native Americans, such as the disappearance and death of Cody Brings Plenty.
– Exploring the life and work of a contemporary Native American artist, activist, or leader, such as Dyani White Hawk, Rosy Simas or Raven Chacon.
2. Research and Analysis:
– Conduct research to understand the historical context and contemporary relevance of your chosen topic. Explore relevant events, figures, and cultural aspects that contribute to the broader understanding of Native American experiences.
– Analyze your chosen topic critically. Consider its significance, implications, and potential biases or gaps in representation.
– Utilize diverse sources of information, including primary documents, scholarly articles, media sources, and interviews with experts or individuals directly involved in the topic.
3.  Presentation Format:
– Traditional Essay: Craft a well-structured essay that presents your research findings, analysis, and insights in a coherent and engaging manner. The essay should be 5 pages, (not including cover sheet or bibliography, numbered, double-spaced, in MLA format, using 12-point Times New Roman font. Please include your sources in a bibliography
Evaluation Criteria:
Your assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
– Depth of historical analysis and understanding of the chosen topic.
– Clarity and coherence of argumentation or presentation.
– Creativity and effectiveness of the chosen presentation format in conveying your insights.
– Quality of research sources and citations, demonstrating engagement with diverse perspectives.
– Relevance and significance of insights, recommendations, or observations provided.
I will use Turnitin to grade and will refuse to grade your work if it is clearly plagirized, or ghost written through AI.
4. Content Guidelines:
– Introduction: Provide an overview of your chosen topic and its relevance to Native American history and contemporary issues.
– Historical Context: Discuss relevant historical events, cultural contexts, or social dynamics that are pertinent to your topic.
– Analysis: Critically examine key aspects of your chosen topic, considering its portrayal, impact, and implications for Native American communities.
– Insights or Recommendations: Offer insights, observations, or recommendations based on your analysis to contribute to a deeper understanding of the topic or address existing challenges or biases.