American History Homework Seven Answers - Student Five

NatalieD-Finished

1\. The era towards the end of the 1880’s was known as the Gilded Age. This meant that the period was glittering on the surface, seeming to be a prosperous and wealthy economy, but beneath the gold was greed, corruption, and hardship. The Gilded Age featured “robber barons,” who were people who became extremely wealthy through ruthless business practices.

Correct!

2\. My favorite thing about Thomas Edison was his amazing perseverance. He was an unbelievably hard worker, and even jobs that seemed impossible he wouldn’t give up. It took him approximately 10,000 “failed” experiments to invent the perfect set-up for the electric light bulb. When asked about it, Edison allegedly said, "I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully discovered 10,000 ways NOT to make a light bulb." I do think that homeschooling Edison did help create great wealth. Edison was not able to learn in school. Some people just can’t learn in school, and his teacher didn’t seem to be helping him much. Being homeschooled, he was able to learn what he wanted to at his own pace and difficulty. It probably taught him how to work hard, which he used later in life when creating his ingenious inventions. His homeschooled style of learning probably did help contribute to his wonderful creations that helped create much wealth in America’s economy.

Superb answer, particularly about perseverance.

3\. The frontier may have affected the views of Americans through the Indians. At the frontier, bloody battles between the Indians and the Americans resulted in the death of many Indians, also due to the relocation of many of the Indian tribes. This may have stirred some feeling of compassion toward the Indians, and the rough life they were being put through. Helen Hunt Jackson’s book “A Century of Dishonor” might have opened up the views of many Americans toward the Indians and, through them, the frontier.

Terrific insight.

4\. I think that the US has had many brilliant, hard-working, and creative men in its past, resulting in numerous wonderful inventions. Men such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison created many ingenious inventions that have greatly helped America. Also, the Free Market provides a big incentive for people to create useful inventions.

Right, especially about how the free market provides an incentive. Will use that as a model answer.

5\. Political cartoons can be very influential. Their creators show the public their view, usually very frankly and often humorously. They create an image, and that image is what the viewer see’s. Pictures often tend to stay in your head easier than words, creating more influence than a lengthy newspaper article. In perhaps the best known example of the force of the political cartoon, Thomas Nast’s images in Harper’s Weekly played an important role in the overthrow of the Tweed Ring in 1870s New York City. An exasperated Boss Tweed is recorded to have demanded of his henchmen, “Stop them damn pictures. I don’t care so much what the papers write about me. My constituents can’t read. But, damn it, they can see pictures.”

Excellent.

6\. I think that John D. Rockefeller was the most influential person between 1877 and 1896. He created first monopoly, and therefore influenced many businesses, and still does. The economic boom that followed Rockefeller's success resulted in America's 'gross domestic product' increasing, making America’s economy very prosperous.

Good.

7\. I think that the cartoonist supports bimetallism. Uncle Sam, representing America, is riding a horse. He riding through the gold quicksand. A cliff of “silver” is to his left. Down the road is Prosperity. The cartoonist probably opposes the Gold Standard, because Uncle Sam is sinking in the Gold quicksand, suggesting that trying to get to prosperity through gold wouldn’t work, and that the other route, silver, would be safer and more prosperous. Since Uncle Sam is sinking, the cartoonist is showing that the gold standard can be harmful to Americans.

Very good, but you could have added how the quicksand is like deflation under the gold standard. (Minus 1).

H1. Yes, I think that Grover Cleveland was a conservative. He opposed government spending, vetoed many bills passed by Congress that would have cost the government money. He was also frugal, as most conservatives are. He was known for his integrity and reformist activities.

Excellent.

H3. Debate: Should government break up monopolies? Yes and no. Although I think that men who work hard should be able to profit, they shouldn’t overcharge people for items by controlling entire industries. If the owner of a monopoly begins raising prices too high, I think that the government should break up the business. Having no competition is not fair because that gives you the ability to price your product as high as you want, which could be harmful to less wealthy, middle class people who need it. However, if a monopoly is helping the economy, such as Rockefeller’s oil monopoly, and isn’t causing any harm, I see no reason for the government to interfere.

Superb again.

H5. For the most part, I oppose unions. I think the idea of unions is good, creating fair wages and working hours for employees, but it never works out quite right in actual circumstances as in theory. Back in the late 1800’s, Unions were necessary and helpful. For example, the American Federation of Labor formed in 1886 limited the workday to 8 hours a day. Today, public teacher’s get ridiculous benefits from their union, American Federation of Teachers. After teaching at a school for only a few years (three I think) they have a permanent job, get a huge pension and retirement plan, and full, free health care for the rest of their lives! To me, this seems to be taking advantage of the system. Also, unions today use their power to get their political canditates in, the candidates that are favorable to the laws that are advantageous to them. Their is also a chance of corruption among modern unions, who give large sums money to their favored candidates.

Excellent, will use as a model answer.

Fantastic work. Score: 99/100. Congratulations on two model answers!--Aschlafly 10:18, 31 October 2008 (EDT)