American History Homework Seven Answers - Student 34

JonathanL 11/2/08 American History Homework week #7

1. 1) The term “Gilded Age” was a period in American History from 1867-1897 coined by Mark Twain as a means of depicting a time when on the outside all seemed well but on the inside corruption was prevalent.

Correct.

1. 2) Home schooling did create enormous wealth for Thomas Edison because it went along nicely with his natural curiosity, which allowed him to flourish. However, would Thomas Edison have been kept in school had he not been a “delinquent?”

Good, but the question asked about creating wealth (for society), not merely for Edison. Be sure to read and understand the questions to make sure your answer fits the question. Also, though this is a minor quibble, I don't think the quoted term "delinquent" is precise to describe why he left school. (Minus 1).

1. 3) The frontier made Americans much more cavalier, thinking anything was possible; they did not have televisions then, so I am sure that stories regarding the frontiers were fabricated, which led to the need to explore and conquer.

Excellent.

1. 4) The United States is the only country in the modern era to have virtually no limitations on inventing. By that I mean America is truly fertile ground in that there is plenty of space in between each plant which allows for adequate growth without interruption.

There's plenty of space in other countries too, and I doubt there are "limitations on inventing" in other countries. So I think there is more to it than this. See Model Answers. (Minus 1).

1. 5) I think they are very influential. Usually if you remember the cartoon it had some impact, such as the cartoon depicting the Chinese immigrants struggles, and the Barack Obama cartoon in class last week regarding Obama changing his opinions, or at least that is what I thought it meant.

Excellent.

1. 6) I tried to think of someone else just to stray from the norm, but Alexander Graham Bell had to earn this award, as the telephone had then, and still has today the greatest impact out of any invention in the world.

Superb.

1. 7) The cartoonist does not agree with the whole theory of the gold rush, as he depicts Uncle Sam sinking into to “Quicksand Gold.” In the cartoon Uncle Sam’s head is looking up at the prosperity sign on the sun in the horizon, but clearly fails, or even disregards the danger of the quicksand, which is followed by a mountain of silver, both the gold and silver being impossible to reach. This cartoonist is anti westward expansion.

No, that's not it. But great try! See Model Answers. (Minus 2).

H1) I agree that the “Democrat” Grover Cleveland was a conservative, mainly by his opposition to the size of the government, and his opposition to government spending.

Excellent.

H4) No I do not support Unions, as they generally morph into uncontrollable machines, such as the American Railway Union, headed by Eugene V. Debs, the most aggressive leader of the labor movement. Debs was thrown in prison for his leading of a strike against the Pullman railroad cars in 1894 over wages. And to this day Michigan is so depressed, strongly as a result of unions.

Terrific.

H5) He was wrong, as the gold standard is, and should be the only standard for backing currency, otherwise the dollar plummets in value, as has happened in our nation’s history. That said his speech was remarkable, even to read, as you can almost visualize the emotion which he spoke with. Emotion in speeches allows you to “win” to a point regardless of if you are actually right or wrong; people like when speakers are passionate about whatever they speak on.�

Superb. Very good analysis!

Good effort, with some insightful answers. Score: 66/70.--Aschlafly 23:03, 7 November 2008 (EST)