American History Homework Six Answers - Student Seven

DeborahB.

1. Was the main goal of the newly elected President Lincoln to end slavery, or save the Union? Abraham Lincoln admitted that his main goal was actually not to save slavery but to save the Union. He even agreed to save slavery as a way to preserve the Union. His original goals were definitely not moral. But it is clear that he still loathed slavery, and the Civil War ended with the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves.

Correct.

2. Explain the purposes of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. They made slavery illegal and protected the rights of African Americans. Before these Amendments, the Constitution mentioned nothing about slavery.

Not entirely precise and detailed. The original Constitution did address slavery in a compromised way, and you might add more detail about the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th and 15th). (Minus 1).

3. Who was your favorite military figure from the Civil War, and why? My favorite military figure was Ulysses S. Grant. He is my favorite because it was his persevering character that drove the Union troops to victory after victory over the Confederates, and it was Ulysses S. Grant that, in the end, forced the surrender of Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9th.

Something I found extremely interesting that I actually did not know were the terms of agreement for the surrender: the Southern officers were allowed to keep their guns, and the soldiers, their horses. This is just a beautiful example of the great respect and value the men had in those days, something that is sadly not seem so much in the world we live in today.

Excellent!

4. How would you have handled Reconstruction differently? Honestly, I think it was handled just fine, and I would not have handled it any differently then it was!

Good, but you might explain why. (Minus 1)

5. Abraham Lincoln was homeschooled. Do you see any characteristics in him that might have reflected his homeschooling, such as his independent thinking? Absolutely! When someone is taken out of the little box of thinking called public school, or was lucky enough to never be in it, and put into the home, there is immense freedom in the thoughts and beliefs the person is allowed to practice. In the public school, it is almost impossible (not only because the teachers and people in charge may look down on you, but also because it is probably extremely intimidating for a lot of kids) to speak up against something.

Take, for example, evolution taught in science class. The lie of evolution is being taught year after year, starting at an extremely young age and going through highschool, and then even into college. Unless the child is extremely grounded in faith and moral beliefs, they are ultimately going to end up believing in evolution because that is what they were taught their entire life. And they probably never have the opportunity to speak up against evolution, and, when they do, are probably looked down upon. Homeschoolers, on the other hand, can have the freedom (like Abraham Lincoln had) of thinking whatever thoughts they wanted and being able to speak them without the fear of a disapproving, belittling teacher.

Superb answer! Will probably use as a model.

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!!" The cartoon is portraying Abraham Lincoln having a nightmare about not being re-elected for President and being kicked out of the Whitehouse by McClellan, Lincoln himself portrayed in a ridiculous outfit that people said he wore to the inauguration, and Columbia herself, the image of the United States. The whole cartoon is poking fun that Abraham Lincoln took his dreams very seriously. The cartoon itself is showing Abraham’s fear that the States did not want him anymore, thought of him as a joke, and instead wanted McClellan’s peace is the answer of everything attitude.

Terrific analysis. Right on target. Also could be used as a model.

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." During the 1860s, immigration controversy was at its peak. Chinese immigrants were trying to cross into California, and a lot of union laborers objected to this because the immigrants would work more industriously for a lot less pay. But in 1868, the Burlingame Treaty was signed between the United States and Chin which permitted unrestricted immigration to the U.S. by the Chinese. The men in the background of the cartoon represent the union laborers, despising the Chinese immigrant. The man sitting against the wall with exhaustion etched on his face represents the many Chinese immigrations, exhausted from the hard travelling. And lastly, the beautiful woman, Columbia, represents the treaty and the safety of the U.S., telling the union laborers to lay off the immigrant, because he was safe now in the United States!

Excellent.

Terrific answers! Score: 68/70.--Aschlafly 18:53, 24 October 2008 (EDT)