WR I T T E N E X E R C I S E # 2

“ C O M P R E H E N S I O N D O E S N O T M E A N D E N Y I N G T H E O U T R A G E O U S , D E D U C I N G T H E
U N P R E C E D E N T E D F R O M P R E C E D E N C E , O R E X P L A I N I N G P H E N O M E N A B Y S U C H A N A L O G I E S A N D
G E N E R A L I T I E S T H A T T H E I M PA C T O F R E A L I T Y A N D T H E S H O C K O F E X P E R I E N C E A R E N O
L O N G E R F E L T. I T M E A N S , R A T H E R , E X A M I N I N G A N D B E A R I N G C O N S C I O U S L Y T H E B U R D E N
W H I C H O U R C E N T U RY H A S P L A C E D O N U S – N E I T H E R D E N Y I N G I T S E X I S T E N C E N O R
S U B M I T T I N G M E E K L Y T O I T S W E I G H T. ”
~ H A N N A H A R E N D T

Who, exactly, were the Progressives? One historian writes that they “offered an
impressive array of reform proposals.” Why did they do so? What was our country like
during the Gilded Age? What, exactly, were these proposals and what benefit did they
bring to “life in these United States?” To what extent was the nation altered by their
proposals? Please explain why the U.S. did (or did not) become a “kinder, gentler
nation” as a result of the Progressive movement. Finally, how do some historians assess
the Progressives? What examples from the Progressive Era and from today can you
provide to support or refute their arguments?

“ H I S T O R Y I S F I C T I O N , E XC E P T F O R T H E PA R T S T H A T I L I K E , W H I C H A R E , O F C O U R S E , T R U E . ”
~ J I M C O R D E R

U N I T E D S T A T E S H I S T O R Y

A M Y B E L L

DIREC TIONS

1) Your response to the question must be typed—twelve point font, double-spaced.
In writing your answer, please do not exceed five pages.

2) In your response, try to mainly use only your assig ned text(s), the instructor’s
handouts, or class notes taken from discussions. You m ay use additional
library or internet scholarly sources.

3) Your generalizations must be supported by direct citations from the text, class
notes, or instructor’s handouts.

4) Citations should be made in MLA format. For class notes or presentations, you
might use: (Discussion Board 1) or (class notes) or (Zinn 23).

Note: You must cite parenthetically throughout your narrative. Please follow this format. There
should be many citations throughout your response taken from the sources noted above because
assumptions and interpretations must be bolstered by citations.

The strength of your response is dependent largely upon your citation of the assigned sources.

5) Do not include a bibliography.

6) You may consult with your classmates in formulating an answer to this question.
However, you must write your own, unique, independent answer to this question.

7) Date Due: Please see date on eCampus Calendar.

“ O N E I S A S T O N I S H E D I N T H E S T U D Y O F H I S T O RY A T T H E R E C U R R E N C E O F T H E I D E A T H A T
E V I L M U S T B E F O R G O T T E N , D I S T O R T E D , S K I M M E D OV E R . W E M U S T N O T R E M E M B E R T H A T
DA N I E L W E B S T E R G O T D R U N K B U T O N LY R E M E M B E R T H A T H E W A S A S P L E N D I D
C O N S T I T U T I O N A L L A W Y E R . W E M U S T F O R G E T T H A T G E O R G E W A H I N G T O N W A S A S L AV E
O W N E R … A N D S I M P L Y R E M E M B E R T H E T H I N G S W E R E G A R D A S C R E D I TA B L E A N D I N S P I R I N G .
T H E D I F F I C U L T Y, O F C O U R S E , W I T H T H I S P H I L O S O P H Y I S T H A T H I S T O RY L O S E S I T S VA L U E A S
A N I N C E N T I V E A N D E X A M P L E ; I T PA I N T S P E R F E C T M E N A N D N O B L E N A T I O N S , B U T I T D O E S
N O T T E L L T H E T R U T H . ”
~ W. E . B . D U B O I S ( B L A C K R E C O N S T R U C T I O N )

• “Comprehension does not mean denying the outrageous, deducing the unprecedented from precedence, or explaining phenomena by such analogies and generalities that the impact of reality and the shock of experience are no longer felt. It means, rather, e…
• “History is fiction, except for the parts that I like, Which are, of course, true.” ~ Jim Corder
• Directions
• “One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. we must not remember that Daniel webster got drunk but only remember that he was a splendid constitutional lawyer. we must…

Links for the Assignment 2(history 2nd)

Video 1-

Video 2-

Chapter 5 Summary-

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/lies-my-teacher-told-me/chapter-5-gone-with-the-wind

Video 3-

Article 1-

http://libcom.org/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states-howard-zinn/11-robber-barons-and-rebels

Video 4-

https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-dangerous-business-revisited/

Article 2-

http://libcom.org/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states-howard-zinn/13-the-socialist-challenge

Chapter 7 Summary-

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/lies-my-teacher-told-me/chapter-7-the-land-of-opportunity

Video 5-

Article 3-

http://libcom.org/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states-howard-zinn/12-the-empire-and-the-people

Video 6-

Article 4-

https://wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs30.htm