American History Homework Eleven Answers - Student Two

StevenM.

1\. History is valuable for learning how the world works. Certain people want some things, others want the opposite things, the conflicts and compromises that occur are very interesting. Government is a great tool but nobody really knows how to use it correctly. The individual facts are helpful, but the general lessons are critical in transactions with other people. There's not really a subject in school: "How to live with your fellow Man", but an insightful student of history may pick up on some of those aspects.

Superb insights, and terrific use of bolding!

2\. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour makes it, to say the least, very difficult to argue that we should not have enter World War II, whether or not any Americans knew of the attack beforehand. Going to war sooner, would obviously have been better for the allies, but it would also have angered most Americans. I imagine if FDR had lead us to war with the rest of Europe, before Japan attacked, Wendell Willkie had won in the 1940 election. That probably would not have turned out so bad, actually. The only problem might have been that the war in Europe would have ended wa-aay before the atomic bomb was ready, so the Pacific war could have been bloodier than otherwise. Overall, I think hindsight shows us that the best that could have possibley occured in World War II, considering the circumstances, happened in order to make the United States a superpower afterward, according to God's big-picture plan.

Terrific!

3\. I liked it best back in the good ol' days. Before 1850, when immigration was practically unrestricted, the American spirit seemes to have churned with life. Some say that immigrants flooding the job market, but if they become citizens they will (hopefully) pay taxes, (hopefully) go to school, and (hopefully) create new jobs, causing the country to thrive. I think immigration ultimately helps the country, and the more you hinder people from coming in, the more illegal immigrants there will be.

Then again, simply because these policies worked back then doesn't mean they'll work now. Is this my favorite appproach to immigration, or perhaps just the best period for immigrants in U.S. history?

Superb point: just because something worked long ago does not mean it might work that way again. Things are different now; more entitlement programs, for example, and less assimilation. Good analysis.

4\. "Keep Cool with Coolidge." That was the campaign slogan he used. I like everything about the Cooldige administration. He made choices confidently and desicively, and good, conservative choices at that. "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17:28)

Terrific. Will use as a model answer!

5\. During the Great Depression, private enterprise did not have much of a chance to create more jobs. I would want people to be able to get back on their feet right as soon as possible. On the other hand, I feel the New Deal was government intervention overkill. Cut taxes first, especially on the lower and middle-class, then subsidize farmers in the Dust Bowl: they needed the most help.

I liked the ideas of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Federal Emergency relife Act. These programs gave workers an opportunity to make a living, and were also good for the government.

Good answer that touches several issues and expresses an opinion.

6\. Yes, we definitely should have dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. While some sorces believe that Japan was going to surrender anyway, whether or not we had bombed them, I don't think they would have. We see in Okinawa the Japanese never backed down and they certainly weren't going to give up their own homes, no matter what they said.

Right.

7\. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt received Dictatorial Powers (or power like a dictator) from the House and Senate. The power Teddy Roosevelt gained was small indeed compared to what Congress gave FDR to wield during the Great Depression: that infamous idea of a New Deal.

Excellent.

H1. The president has gained more power throughout U.S. history.

Are you sure about that? Provide a reason for your position. (Minus 1).

H2.

Terrific answers, Steven. Your work is constantly improving. Score: 79/80. Well done!