Historical Thinking and the Founding Documents
What are the differences between primary and secondary sources?
A primary source is an original document or artifact that provides direct, first-hand evidence about an event or topic, created by someone who was present at the time, while a secondary source is an interpretation or analysis of primary sources, offering a second-hand account of information by someone who was not directly involved in the event being studied; essentially,
Who was Upton Sinclair and how did he fit into the Progressive Movement?
The Jungle directly led to significant Progressive-era reforms, including:
The Zimmerman Note, which pushed the United States to enter the war, exposed the German plan to....
Help Mexico to regain territory in the United States
Which New Deal program still in existence today provides an income for retired people?
Social Security
The United States federal government passed Neutrality Acts in 1935 and 1937. What foreign policy position did these laws reflect?
Isolationism
What are considered the Founding Documents of the United States?
Declaration of Independence
US Constitution
Bill of Rights
The Northwest Ordinance
Define the Great Migration.
The "Great Migration" refers to the large-scale movement of approximately six million African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West of the United States, primarily between the years 1916 and 1970, driven by the desire to escape racial violence, seek better economic opportunities, and access improved education, largely due to the oppressive conditions of Jim Crow laws in the South
Identify the causes of World War I
Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, and Militarism.
The assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand was the catalyst that sparked the start of war.
Which New Deal program attempted to protect Americans from the instability of banks during the Great Depression?
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Describe how WWII affected the Homefront in the US.
World War II significantly impacted the American homefront, causing major societal shifts as millions of men were drafted into the military, leading to widespread job opportunities for women in factories, widespread rationing of goods like food and gasoline, a surge in war production, mass migration to industrial centers, and a strong sense of patriotic unity across the country, with civilians actively contributing to the war effort through activities like Victory Gardens and buying war bonds; all while experiencing anxieties related to news of combat and potential casualties abroad.
Describe the factors used to determine the credibility of a source.
Check the qualifications and reputation of the author
Determine the circumstances in which the author prepared the source
Identify the perspective or bias of the author (including use of stereotypes)
Examine the accuracy and internal consistency
Check for agreement with other credible sources
What is assimilation?
Assimilation refers to the process through which individuals and groups of differing heritages acquire the basic habits, attitudes, and mode of life of an embracing culture.
How did the Spanish-American War help the US emerge as a world power?
The Spanish-American War propelled the United States onto the world stage by securing significant overseas territories like the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, effectively establishing the US as a colonial power with influence in the Pacific and Caribbean regions,.
Territorial gains, Naval power demonstration, strategic positioning, and a shift in national perception
What led to the Great Depression of the 1930s?
The stock market crash of 1929; the collapse of world trade due to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff; government policies; bank failures and panics; and the collapse of the money supply.
Which event was a consequence of the attack on Pearl Harbor?
The most significant consequence of the attack on Pearl Harbor was the United States' entry into World War II, as the attack prompted the American government to declare war against Japan, effectively pulling the country into the conflict
What were the grievances outlined in the Declaration of Independence?
Dissolving Colonial Legislatures: He dissolved representative assemblies when they opposed his policies, depriving the colonies of self-governance.
Failure to Establish Fair Judicial Processes: He obstructed the administration of justice by refusing to allow the establishment of fair courts.
Quartering Troops: He forced colonists to house British soldiers, a practice codified in the hated Quartering Act.
Imposing Taxes Without Consent: The king and Parliament taxed the colonies without representation, violating their rights.
Trade Restrictions: The king restricted colonial trade with other nations to benefit British economic interests.
How did the end of Reconstruction affect life in the South?
The end of Reconstruction in the South led to a significant decline in civil rights for African Americans, marked by the implementation of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation, widespread voter suppression, and increased violence against Black people, effectively returning much of the South to a system of white supremacy, where African Americans were systematically denied equal opportunities in society and politics.
Jim Crow laws, violence, discrimination, segregation, and limited access to education and healthcare
Why did Republicans choose NOT to sign the Treaty of Versailles?
Republicans in the U.S. Senate chose not to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 for several reasons, centered on objections to specific provisions of the treaty, particularly those involving the League of Nations. Here are the key factors: Concerns about the League of Nations and partisan politics.
Without U.S. ratification, the Treaty of Versailles took effect without American participation, and the U.S. signed separate peace treaties with Germany and its allies in 1921. The U.S. never joined the League of Nations.
Which group's activities reflect a pattern of intolerance toward immigrants in the United States during the 20th century?
Ku Klux Klan
How did the attack on Pearl Harbor cause changes in American domestic policies?
The attack on Pearl Harbor significantly shifted American domestic policy by effectively ending the isolationist movement, compelling the United States to fully enter World War II, leading to massive mobilization of the economy and workforce, widespread rationing of goods, and a surge in government control over industry to support the war effort, all while fostering a strong sense of national unity and commitment to victory.
What precedents were set by the Northwest Ordinance and later included in the U.S. Constitution?
Admission of new states
Protection of individual rights
Prohibition of slavery
Promotion of public education
Northwest Ordinance: The ordinance provided a structured system for governing territories before they achieved statehood, with appointed governors and judges during the initial phase and elected legislatures as population increased.
What impact did the Jim Crow laws have on African Americans living in the South?
Exclusion from economic opportunities
Disenfranchisement and political exclusion
Educational inequality
Social and cultural oppression
Legalized violence and intimidation
What policy is considered an extension to the Monroe Doctrine claiming the US had the right to exercise international police power?
Roosevelt Corollary - Roosevelt argued that the U.S. had a moral duty to ensure order and stability in its "sphere of influence."
The Corollary marked a significant expansion of U.S. influence in Latin America, transforming the Monroe Doctrine from a passive policy of opposition to European intervention into an active policy of American intervention.
How the efforts to combat the Great Depression led to an expanded role for the federal government?
Economic Intervention (Relief, Recovery, Reform)
Expansion of Social Welfare
Increased Regulation of the Economy
Federal Leadership in Monetary Policy
Lasting Changes in Public Expectations
Identify the Women’s Auxiliaries during WWII: Women’s Army Corps, WASP, and WAVES
The WAAC was created to support the Army by freeing up men for combat. The US government learned from the British that women were needed for the war effort.
WASP - a civilian group of female pilots who delivered aircraft from factories to military bases during World War II
“WAVES” was the US Naval Reserve Women's branch established on July 21, 1942. The branch was established to replace men stationed ashore to provide more sea duty sailors and officers.