American History Homework Six Answers - Student Nine

1. Was the main goal of the newly elected President Lincoln to end slavery, or save the Union?

President Lincoln’s main goal was to keep the Union together.

Correct.

2. Explain the purposes of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.

All three of these amendments were passed to protect the rights of African Americans. More specifically, the 13th Amendment banned slavery, the 14th Amendment gave all races equal rights and the 15th Amendment gave all races the right to vote.

Superb.

3. Who was your favorite military figure from the Civil War, and why?

I greatly admire Stonewall Jackson. Although he was a general for the Confederacy and I do not agree with what he stood for, he was an outstanding fighter, leader and general. Moreover, I respect him for his determination. He is famous for being like a “stonewall” and never backing down.

Terrific.

4. How would you have handled Reconstruction differently?

The first president elected after Lincoln was Ulysses S. Grant (note this excludes Andrew Johnson who became president upon Lincoln’s death). Grant had been the general for the Union army. A man not so heavily involved in the war would have been better fit for the job of bringing the two sides back together.

Superb point.

5. Abraham Lincoln was homeschooled. Do you see any characteristics in him that might have reflected his homeschooling, such as his independent thinking?

Lincoln was not afraid to do what he believed was right even if it made him unpopular. During his presidency he was often thought of a failure; it was not until afterwards that people began to appreciate him. Yet he did not let this bother him. Homeschool students spend their early years at home learning their morals from their parents, while public school students spend their early years at school, where they are constantly exposed to peer pressure. Lincoln had clearly learned from his homeschool experience that doing what is right is more important than doing what is pleasing to others.

Fantastic insight. Will use as a model answer.

6. Please interpret the cartoon about the dream to the right. Its title is "Abraham's dream!--'Coming events cast their shadows before.'" Lincoln is fleeing to left while wearing a Scotsman's plaid cap and a cape. He declares, "This don't remind me of any joke!!"

This cartoon speculates on Lincoln’s fears, by portraying him as dreaming about possible future events. In the dream, Columbia (representing America) is seen holding the head of a black man, Lincoln is fleeing the White House and a man in uniform (presumably a southern general) is entering the White House.

The media often portrayed Lincoln as wearing a Scotsman’s plaid cap and cape disguise to make fun of his “timidity”. Before his first inauguration, under the threat of assassination, Lincoln rode a train in disguise. The press never let him off the hook for this, and Lincoln’s wearing the Scotsman’s cape and cap were an indirect reference to that event and the character traits that caused him to do such a thing.

Good, but explain how Lincoln feared being defeated for reelection by McClellan. (Minus 1).

7. Please interpret the cartoon with Columbia below. The caption is, "The Chinese Question." Columbia says, "Hands off, gentlemen. America means fair play for all men."

In this cartoon angry American workers are shown ready to attack a Chinese immigrant. Columbia (representing America) stands over the Chinese man protecting him. This was probably drawn in response to The Burlingame Treaty in which the US granted the Chinese the right to unrestricted immigration. The workers in the cartoon are angry because the Chinese immigrants are taking their jobs. America is shown protecting the Chinese man because that is essentially what she did through the Burlingame Treaty.

Superb, though I'm not sure the Burlingame Treaty protected the Chinese. It did welcome them into the United States.

Terrific answers! Score: 69/70. Well done!--Aschlafly 19:17, 24 October 2008 (EDT)