Discussion Post: US History
Part I
Read "The ‘Omaha Platform" of the People's Party (1892)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to the platform, what are the major issues facing the nation?
ii. How do the Populists propose to use the power of the government to correct these problems?
iii. What proposals in the platform eventually became a reality?
Part II
Read "James D. Phelan, ‘Why the Chinese Should Be Excluded' (1901)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to the Mayor of San Francisco, what was the state of affairs in California prior to the exclusion of immigrants from China?
ii. How does the Mayor justify extending the exclusion of immigrants from China?
iii. How does the Mayor characterize "the Chinese?"
iv. Why do you suppose the original Exclusion Act had a ten-year limit?
v. Does the language in this document resonate with contemporary attitudes toward immigrants? Why or why not?
Part III
Read "Booker T. Washington & W.E.B. DuBois on Black Progress (1895, 1903)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to Washington, how should African Americans respond to systemic racial discrimination?
ii. What does Washington mean when he says that "the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremest folly?"
iii. What does DuBois think of Washington's plan to uplift African Americans?
iv. What, according to DuBois, has been the result of following Washington's advice?
Part IV
Read "Huey P. Long, "Every Man a King" and "Share our Wealth" (1934)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. What were the most radical aspects of Long's plan?
ii. Did any of his ideas become reality?
iii. Upon whose law did Long base his ideas?
iv. What did Long predict would be the consequences if the nation failed to adopt a program such as his?
Part V
Read the "Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. Just as the American Declaration of Independence listed grievances against the King of England, what grievances does this document list against the French?
ii. How did the Japanese occupation of Vietnam complicate Vietnamese attitudes toward the French?
iii. Why do the Vietnamese anticipate a favorable reaction from the international community, in particular the United States, toward their declaration of independence?
iv. Why do you suppose the Truman Administration was not supportive of this declaration?
Part VI
Read "NSC-68 (1950)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to the document, what factors have altered the heretofore "historic distribution of power?"
ii. What major issues does the United States face at this point in the Cold War?
iii. What course(s) of action for the United States does this document recommend?
iv. How does this document represent the militarization of the policy of containment?
Part VII
Read the "National Organization for Women, ‘Statement of Purpose' (1966)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to the authors of the document-what justifications have been used to prevent women from enjoying equal opportunities and freedom of choice?
ii. What accounts for the disparity in earning power of women compared to men?
iii. What areas of the professions are most glaringly dominated by men?
iv. What is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and why is it important to women?
v. What specific recommendations does NOW present that will "enable women to enjoy true equality of opportunity and responsibility in society, without conflict with their responsibilities as mothers and homemakers?"
vi. What do the authors mean by calling for a "new image of women?"
Part VIII
Read "Bill Clinton on Free Trade and Financial Deregulation (1993-2000)" and using a minimum of 200 words (not including quotations) respond to the following questions. Make sure to reference specific passages from the document and/or textbook to support your discussion:
i. According to Clinton, what will be the benefits of NAFTA and the projected dismantling of "trade barriers?"
ii. What contradictions are apparent in his argument for embracing the global economy?
iii. What is the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act designed to do?
iv. Who advocated deregulating the derivatives market, and what do these entities represent?
v. In the longer run, did NAFTA along with the deregulation of financial markets produce the benefits that Clinton envisioned? Why or why not?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.