American History Homework Seven Answers - Student Twelve

JennaN

1. What was the "Gilded Age"?

The Gilded Age was the time period during the end of the 1880s. It was first referred to as The Gilded Age by the famous author Mark Twain. He called it this because on the surface everything appeared golden but underneath there was greed, evil and hardship. Robber barons were also active at this time. They were very wealthy people who attained their wealth through ruthless business practices.

Superb!

2. What do you like about Thomas Edison, and do you think homeschooling him created enormous wealth?

If Thomas Edison had been public schooled there is a good chance that the light bulb would never have been invented. If the light bulb had never been invented there would never have been such a huge amount of wealth in the world. His public school teacher saw him as a ‘problem child’. She thought he had a learning disability. Knowing that the most brilliant man in the 1800s was branded as 'disabled’ by a public school teacher sickens me. If only we could let every child who has been branded as 'disabled’ in the public school system have some individual attention. Maybe we are now missing something incredible that would have been invented if judgmental public school teachers hadn’t interfered with the minds of brilliant children.

Terrific, but I'm not sure that "individual attention" is what makes the difference. Young Thomas learned much on his own and was out working and earning money by age 15.

3. How do you think the frontier might have affected the views of Americans?

The Americans advancement into the frontier may not have been a good thing. The Americans seemed to believe that they owned everything that they set foot upon. This killed so many innocent Indians. The frontier made Americans think that they were greater than they really were.

Good point!

4. What do you think is special about the United States that has made it the world leader in inventions?

It is because America was formed almost as a huge invention. There had never been a country designed like it. A spirit of excitement and enthusiasm was present in the hearts and minds of many people who lived in the United States.

Excellent!

5. How influential do you think political cartoons really are? Give an example or two.

I believe that they are very influential. Last week, as I studied the political carton untitled “Abraham’s Dream”, I found myself thinking of the views presented in it as factual. I had to constantly remind myself that what the cartoonist was saying wasn’t necessarily true. Political cartoons express a person’s view in a way that makes it seem that his view is the only view. It has been very interesting to study political cartoons from many years ago.

Terrific answer, will use as a model!

6. Other than Thomas Edison, who do you think was the most influential person between 1877 and 1896?

Alexander Graham Bell was the most influential person in this time period. He created the greatest communication invention of all time which is the telephone.

Superb.

7. Please interpret the above cartoon, with special emphasis on explaining the images used and including a description of the point of view of the cartoonist.

This cartoon is signifying how The United States in drowning in a sea of debt because they need to switch to gold currency. It shows Uncle Sam drowning in a pit of ‘quick sand gold’ while he could be riding over mountains of silver to prosperity. The cartoonist clearly believed that gold was over rated. America needed to switch to a more reasonable currency: silver.

Very good.

Perfect score! Congratulations. 70/70.--Aschlafly 18:16, 1 November 2008 (EDT)