American History Homework Seven Answers - Student Six

BethanyS - DONE

1\. The Gilded age was the era from 1848-1855. It was called 'gilded' because everything seemed golden and perfects. There appeared to be a lot of wealth in the states. However, underneath this shiny surface was corruption, greed, trials, and many hardships.

Explanation is right, but the date is wrong. It was decades later. Also, you might have added the source of the term: Mark Twain. (Minus 2).

2\. Thomas Edison. When I hear that name, what comes to mind is an absolute genius who invented so many things for the good of America. He had drive and purpose, no matter what his task was. Proving that not every answer presents itself, Edison always looked 'on the bright side.' He once said, "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." When Thomas Edison said, "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration," he completely summed up work for writers, artists, inventors, and even actors. He knew his inventions weren't by accident and that he worked hard to make them work. Edison was homeschooled and this probably did help in his independence and knowledge. Edison was a shy boy, however, he was always curious and at age 7, often did not obey the way other students did. His teacher infuriated with his apparent lack of respect and told his mother that he was 'addled.' Without further ado, she kicked him out of the school. Edison's mother taught him at home, guiding him with a loving hand and answering all his questions to the best of her ability. Homeschooling shaped Edison's confidence. Under his mother's guidance, he learned to be confident in his own ability. Many years later, this skill would aid him when others mocked him, when he could not easily invent something. Edison's courage, determination, and devotion to his work is a beacon of light to all who have inspirations and failures. Edison's legacy lives on.

Superb!

3\. This unexplored wilderness gave ambition to many Americans. It gave them hope for a new future. I think that they may have thought of all the wealth out there - and they had a chance at getting it.

Terrific.

4\. Freedom. Americans have the freedom to think of a brilliant idea and present it to the world. This is what makes us unique. No laws are established allowing only certain people to invent something. That is why we have so many inventions.

Excellent point about how there is no law "allowing only certain people to invent something." Well done.

5\. Political Cartoons have great power over the mind. Every cartoon pushes some kind of world view. They make that world view seem really good and another one seem hilarious and just plain stupid. Think about it. If the cartoonist has made you laugh at a world view and make another look right, they have won in a way. You have just accepted a world view no matter how much you didn't want to have that world view. Cartoon stick really well in your mind. Barack Obama is shown telling a woman, "have hope!" He then tells a young college student, "have hope!" He goes on to tell an elderly man, "have hope!" In the next scene, a pregnant woman stand before Obama and the child inside the woman says, "Can't I have hope?" Barack Obama turns his back and says, "nope." I think that cartoons really do have the power to establish or alter beliefs. If you aren't well grounded by your beliefs, you may very well end up believing something in a cartoon.

Terrific.

6\. I believe that John D. Rockefeller was important. He created what is the biggest and wealthiest business in history. Rockefeller realized that oil was an item in high demand. He was smart enough to start a distributing business. Since oil is an every day necessity, people bought oil from him and with their money, he caused this business to grow larger.

Good.

7\. This cartoon depicts Uncle Sam sinking in quicksand. The quicksand represents gold, and the reason it is quicksand is because the cartoonist obviously saw gold as a hindrance and as not helping America. The quicksand can also be seen as deflation. The cartoon shows bimetallism because it shows both silver and gold. The cliff of silver, shown as much more superior because it is above the gold, is a solid path to prosperity, represented by the sun on the horizon. It represents the Gilded Age, when America was obsessed with gold. The cartoonist is against the Gilded Age and believes that gold does not lead to prosperity, rather, it leads to disaster.

Superb! You're the first student to recognize the connection between the quicksand and deflation!!! Terrific analysis that will be used as a model answer.

Well done. Score: 68/70.--Aschlafly 15:04, 31 October 2008 (EDT)