420: Unit 2
History 420: United States, 1861-1941, Winter, 2025
Part II: Progressive Era
15. America in the World
READ: Yawp, 82-92; and 420 Docs, 118-124
To what extent do the facts, as reported in Yawp, support the “patriotic views” promoted by Schweichart and Allen? Consider the motives behind American interventions, the methods used and the impact of US involvement in world affairs. Were Americans unanimous in their foreign policy views?
Take a few minutes to prepare for our METIC. Get a blank piece of white paper, and write about the quality of Harkness/the learning environment in this class. Make two lists. What is going well. What could be improved upon. Tuck this piece of paper into a book that you bring to class every day. During class, we'll pass these around and read them anonymously and then have a discussion about them.
16. Progressive Origins and Ideals.
READ 420 Docs, 125-134 & 147-149 (Rauschenbusch & Susman)
Use the "phrases" worksheet and your notes to identify the contradictions and tensions in Progressivism. Can these be resolved? As you read the narrative, you will notice it makes several suggestions for doing further exploration. Please follow at least one of these suggestions using a library database. Consult the relevant libguide on the library website.
17. National Progressivism.
READ 420 Docs, 134-147 & 149-152 & Appendix, "Taft Opens Attack on the Third Party, 1912.
"New Nationalism vs. New Freedom: which best embodies the values of progressivism? To what extent did the progressive presidents live up to the ideals of progressivism? Is Taft a progressive or a conservative? Use primary documents to answer these questions.
18. Progressive Diplomacy
READ Yawp, 140-146 & Docs, 152-164 (in the 2023 version of Yawp, the pages are 139-145)
Is there a progressive way to conduct diplomacy? Look back at aims, methods, beliefs @ Docs, 130.
19. America in the First World War
READ Docs, 164-170 & 177-179 (bottom) & Look over appendix: World War I Posters, Ads (and for reference, Yawp, 146-154)
Did progressive aims, methods or beliefs characterize the way America waged war?
20. A Progressive World Order?
READ Docs, 170-173 & 180-193 (and for reference: Yawp, 154-159)
What does Wilson mean by a "balance of power" what does he want to replace it with? Can it work?
21. The 20s: First Modern Decade?
READ Yawp, 163-164, 167-169, 174-188 (with special attention to 181-185) & 420 Docs, 193-201
Provocation: The culture war is nothing more than enlightened modernism vs bigotry and ignorance.
22. Study session for the in-class essay.
There will be one long essay and four brief term-identification essays. The study guide is here.
23. Research Project-1 (See Guidelines.)
HOMEWORK for the project: Two things: 1. READ THE assignment thoroughly. Come to class with questions about it. 2. Choose a topic and two alternative topics that were discussed in the periodical literature of the time.
MEET IN LIBRARY during class time. By now you should have a few topics (events) in mind.
DURING class time, You will get a brief introduction to library databases, then have some time to use them to find sources on the events you are interested to see if you can find enough, then we will set up a schedule of rough draft conferences.
LINKS: On this web site, all my stuff on research can be found HERE.
PROPOSAL: Before the end of class, write your topic on the sign-up sheet I'll be passing around.
CITATIONS: If you are compiling a bibliography now as you gather sources, rather than waiting until the final draft is due, good for you!!! Please include that below the proposal. BTW, most Exeter teachers (including this one) like you to separate your sources into Primary and Secondary. Here is a link to a Citation Guide you can use as a reference. More general information on citation can be found HERE. You are responsible for making sure any automated citation software you use gets it right.
MAKE SURE you are familiar with the relevant Libguide and the various electronic databases of periodicals (newspapers and magazines) before you leave today. You can ask me or the librarians any questions you might have.
24. The exam period. That's Tuesday, Feb. 4.