What is history? Thursday, September 10

The first class featured an introduction to the classic question, "What is history?"



Through some discussion, we determined that history is the study of the past and how it affects the future. So what are the implications of this statement? It suggests that those people and happenings that affect the future or have a significant impact on the nation are historically worthy of study while others are not worthy of such study.



Does that mean that, for example, the diary of an "ordinary" person is not worthy of historical study?



This depends on your perspective. Perhaps it is the diary of a young woman whose son has gone off to fight in the Civil War and the diary includes entries that discuss the events of that war which include his account of the third day Confederate assault on Gettysburg. There could be much to learn about the attitudes of everyday people towards the war. There could also be things that help us to better understand how the world was different for these people and the reality they lived in.



Therefore, evaluating what is historically significant is not always as easy as it sounds.



Knowing the purpose of your study is also critical. In this case, we are studying a nation and this has implications for the requisite parts that we divide our study into... Conventionally we divide a nation's history into two main components -- political history and social history. As well, we also have other categories -- military history and economic history, but these usually are dealt with under the framework of the political or social history. For example, a particular military action has its own story, but it is most often discussed in concert with what precipitated the military response in the first place. Or economic history might be intertwined with the social impact of a particular event, like the 1929 stock market crash.



For a more detailed analysis, read the following link --



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_history



Our study of the United States will be divided up into the aforementioned historical categories. My purpose will be to not only familiarize you with America's history, but also have you participate in the process of historical analysis and writing... More on that later.

The Closing of the Cold War

See the links below to examine the chronological events of the final phase of the conflict.

1979-1985

1985-1991

From The New World Order to 911

Following the end of the Cold War, the direction of American foreign policy comes into question. The collapse of the Soviet Union forces a new compass and foundation for the direction of the nation.

The Gulf War answers the question as to whether or not America will require a military presence in the future, but what the thesis of American policy is remains in flux.

Examine this period of time between the Gulf War and September 11. Where is America headed? Can you see the coming War on Terror? Where is the country going domestically?

Put together a short two page report on the questions raised above. Due Monday, June 8, 2009.

The Cold War - An Introduction

Examine the following events with respect to their importance as flash points during the Cold War.

• Korean War
• Cuba - Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Vietnam War
• Soviet intervention in Afghanistan

Prepare a short half page summary that includes the participants, the circumstances of the conflict and the result. Be prepared to discuss this THURSDAY, MAY 28.

From World War I to World War II - Prelude to the Cold War

Below are a series of links that guide you through from the causes of World War I through to the end of World War II.

Causes of World War I

Stock Market Crash of 1929

Background to The Great Depression

From the Depression to America's Entry to World War II

From Reconstruction to World War I - The Coming of the American Century

The end of the Civil War in 1865 marked a major watershed in American, and indeed world history. To begin, the Union would endure -- the great experiment of the nation state with a democratically elected government in Lincoln's phrase -- of the people, by the people and for the people, would go on and thrive. To be sure, state's rights would remain strong, but the superiority of the federal government would never be challenged again. It was now the United States of America, not the United States of America.

Reconstruction

Presidential Reconstruction

Radical Reconstruction

Presidential Impeachment


Secondly, the clash between the agrarian South and the industrial North had paved the way for a future that would be dominated by the rise of great cities and powerful industrial giants fuelled by a growing demand for consumer goods. Technology was seen as a way to improve one's living standard and conditions and was applied as an elixir to all the problems of the world. Blind faith in technology resulted in such catastrophes as the Titanic.

The Gilded Age

The Titans of the Gilded Age - Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan

New Attitudes About Wealth

Politics in the Gilded Age

The Rise of American Labor

The Great Upheaval

The American Federation of Labor

The Ugly Side of Cities

A New Wave of Immigrants

Literature and Art in the Gilded Age

Rapid Urbanization

The Growing Cult of Sports and Leisure

Money in Newspapers

Another outcome of the Civil War was the continued expansion of the nation across the continent. Manifest Destiny became a reality, as Southerners tried to start anew, Northerners speculated on future riches, and adventurers from both sections sought to stake their claim to the last American frontier of the west.



This newly transformed America thrust the young country headlong into the spotlight of the world a second time. However, unlike the Revolutionary War, which garnered international discussion as to whether or not a nation really could be governed on democratic principles, the period leading from Reconstruction to World War I saw America take its place for the first time as a mover and shaker of world events.

Civil War Essay Due Date

The civil war paper will be due Monday, June 1, 2009.