American History Homework Six Answers - Student 32

Ruth L 10/16/2008 American History Andrew Schlafly

1\. Was the main goal of the newly elected President Lincoln to end slavery, or save the Union?

The main goal of President Lincoln was to save the Union, not to end slavery. While Lincoln was against slavery, he felt that if he could keep the Union together, slavery would eventually end by itself.

Correct!

2\. Explain the purposes of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.

The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. The 14th Amendment (1) gave all people who were either born in the United States or naturalized, citizenship. This citizenship, among many things, gave them protection from unlawful actions by the government. (2) Worked out how people could get elected and the rights of voters. (3) Denied access to public office for criminals (this rule can be overruled by Congress). (4) Worked out how national debt was to be handled. The 15th Amendment gave all male citizens the right to vote.

Excellent.

3\. Who was your favorite military figure from the Civil War, and why?

My favorite military figure from the Civil War was General Robert Lee, not only because of his military genius, but because of his loyalty. President Lincoln offered Lee command over the entire Northern army, and even though Lee wanted to take it, he felt that had to remain loyal to his state: Virginia, and fight for the South.

Superb.

4\. How would you have handled Reconstruction differently?

I would have focused more on bringing industry to the South. While Reconstruction did help rebuild the South, it did not prepare it for the change that would come with the Industrial Revolution. To this day, the North has far more industry than the South.

Excellent!

5\. Abraham Lincoln was homeschooled. Do you see any characteristics in him that might have reflected his homeschooling, such as his independent thinking?

Being homeschooled taught Abraham Lincoln to take initiative. He did not always have someone telling him what and when to study, so he had to motivate himself. This was reflected later in his life when he became a lawyer with very little official schooling. However, one of the downsides to him being homeschooled was that he was not very good at public speaking. He only had one really good speech (the Gettysburg Address) in his entire presidency. Perhaps if he had been public schooled, he would have had more practice with public speaking when he was young which would have helped him as an adult.

Interesting! Will use as a model answer!

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!!"

In this cartoon, Columbia (representing America) is holding the head of a black man, there is a Southern general and Lincoln is running away in a Scotsman’s cap and cape. The point of this cartoon is that Lincoln just wants to get away from all the conflicts of the Civil War. He is disguised a Scotsman’s cap and cape because once, when Lincoln had to go through Southern territory, he was afraid for his life. So he disguised himself, just like he is disguised in this picture.

Not quite. While would a southern general be entering the White House gracefully? The general is a Union general, and it is McClellan running for president in 1864. But your answer is terrific otherwise. (Minus 1).

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."

This cartoon illustrates the conflict over whether or not to allow Chinese immigrants into America. While the business owners liked the Chinese because they would work for extremely low wages the American workers did not like them because they took so many jobs. This cartoon shows Columbia protecting a Chinese man from a white mob that looks ready to lynch him. She is saying, “Hands off, gentlemen. America means fair play for all men.” What this means is that America was going to all people into America, regardless of what the American workers wanted.

Good, but phrase it as the cartoonist's point of view: "What this means is that the cartoonist thinks that American should ...." Also, I think you left out a key word in your last sentence, as in "America was going to LET all people into America." (No points deducted).

Excellent work. Score: 69/70.--Aschlafly 20:26, 25 October 2008 (EDT)