Homework Nine Answers - Student Seventeen

American History Homework Nine.

1. What is your view of antitrust laws- necessary, or something that makes a problem worse?

I think that antitrust laws are necessary, because it stops people from hoarding vital resources like oil.

Good point and good answer.

2. Imperialism by a charitable Christian people: a good or bad thing?

I think that it would be better to have imperialism (the influence of a large developed country over a smaller less developed one) from a Christian people then to have it from a dominating form of government such as Communism or Islam.

Often that seems to be the choice. Full credit.

3. Your thoughts on the progressive movement, please.

I think that the progressive movement was a good idea. Instead of reducing, or enlarging the government, the progressive movement would make it run more efficiently (e.g. suffrage for women, direct elections of senators, and direct democracy in passing referendum initiatives to make state laws directly).

The progressive would claim to be improving government, but in practice it would result in bigger government instead. Requiring people to wear life preservers while working on bridges that span waterways may sound like a good idea, but what about when it is very hot and the workers are highly skilled? Rarely does more rules result in better government as progressives sought, or claimed to seek.

5. The “Cross of Gold” speech: lots of meaning, or meaningless? Explain, including who gave the speech and under what circumstances.

The “Cross of Gold” speech was important and had lots of meaning. After the panic of 1893, there was less then $100 million in gold in the government's reserves. William Bryan gave his famous speech of 1896, in which he said that the government shall not hoard the American peoples gold.

Not quite what the speech was about. Bryan didn't care as much about possible hoarding of gold as he did about ending the gold-only standard, and allowing the more plentiful silver to be used as a basis for currency also. (Minus 1)

7. Who was the “Conservative Democrat”? Discuss.

Grover Cleveland was the conservative Democrat. He was elected in1892 for his integrity, his support of the gold standard, his opposition to unions, his opposition to government spending and his support of free enterprise. One year later, in 1893, there was the financial panic in which Cleveland did nothing, even though he was threatened by “Coxey's army”.

Excellent.

8. Select two of the social movements of the late 1800's and discuss.

Two social movements of the late 1800's were:

1. Woman's rights: in 1869 the National Women Suffrage Association was founded by Elizabeth C. Stanton. The NWSA was founded on the beliefs that women should have voting rights, and should be able to hold office.

2. Prohibition: the WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union) was founded in 1874 by women who wished to combat the problems that alcohol caused in families and in society. The WCTU obtained (around 1900) the prohibition of alcohol. Today's organization, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has a lot of the same concerns.

Superb again.

H1. Do you agree with how the United States finally ended the fighting in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war?

Yes, I do agree with how the United States finally ended the fighting in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. They could not have so many insurgents free to do as they wished. Besides, even if they had a sufficient jail to hold them, I doubt that they could catch all of them before they would have broken each other out.

Full credit.

H2. Write about any issue you like relating to 1880-1920.

The issue I'm writing about is WWI. World War One (despite its name) only really affected Russia, England, France, Austria, Germany, and (indirectly) America.

I feel France was affected the most. The majority of the fighting took place in France. Austria started the War in 1914. Russia, and Germany fought with them because of a mutual protection pact, and also to gain power. England, France, and America were the allies, and they fought:

a) for the liberation of France (which was over run by the axis), and,

b)to prevent the spreading of this evil.

World War I was also the first War to use airplanes as a means of offense and defense.

The most famous pilot of World War I (and perhaps of all time) was Baron Manfred von Richthofen, or, more commonly known as the “Red Baron”. Richthofen scored an astounding 80 kills in only two short years! The top scoring jet “aces” don't even have half that many! The “Baron's” death is still a mystery, but it is certain that he died on April 21, 1918. He was chasing Canadian pilot Wilfrid May when suddenly, Richthofen rolled over and crashed! On examination, history experts say that the“Red Baron's” “mount” was probably shot by a machine-gunner from the trenches.

The indirect effect that World War I had on America was that she started to produce her own military aircraft instead of depending on France and Great Britain for her planes.

WWI ended around 1919. The last battle that was fought saw Britain using two new weapons: tanks and gas.

The tanks in World War I were incredibly slow (speeds ranged from 2 mph up to 6 mph), but despite being slow, they were used with great effect.

The gassing does sound (and is) inhumane, but England was tired of fighting, they knew that if they won this battle, the War would be over.

There were approximately seven to nine hundred German survivors and one of them being none other then Adolf Hitler! This battle was a major turning point in his life.

After WWI, America, Britain, and most of the world saw peace until Hitler's rise around 1933.

Very thorough answer. Well done! Could become a model answer.

H3. Explain your view of unions, then and now.

A union in the late 1800's was a group of workers that would bind together for the good of each other (e.g. to improve wages, as well as working conditions). The “head honchos” would be so afraid that the workers would “strike” (refrain from working for them) that they would normally give in to what they requested.

Unions of today have way too much power. They are very self absorbed with only their own personal interests at heart. (e.g. the teachers union) These unions have bound together mainly because they do not want their pay to be cut no matter what the reason. Even during a financial crisis, as a means to keep others jobs from being cut.

My viewpoint of unions is this: Unions in the late 1800's= good, Unions now =bad!

Excellent! This could also become a model answer.

Johnny W.

89/90, with some terrific answers. Very well done!--Andy Schlafly 22:14, 25 April 2011 (EDT)