Free Response Questions
October 1, 2013
Compare the cultures that could be found in the New World prior to the Europeans. Why were some groups more advanced than others throughout the same region?
October 3, 2013
Compare the experience of the French, Spanish, and English in colonizing the New World. What common perception of the region did they share? Discuss the differences in their relationship with Native Americans.
October 8, 2013
Why did England colonize the New World later than the rest of Europe? What political and religious conditions had created a century of conflict in England? What factors finally pushed the English west, across the ocean?
October 10, 2013
Describe the social, economic, and political changes which occurred in Europe and led to the exploration and colonization of the New World.
October 15, 2013
Describe the process by which early Portuguese traders acquired slaves in West Africa.
October 17, 2013
Explain how the economies and social structures of New England, the Chesapeake, and the middle colonies differed from one another.
October 22, 2013
Compare and contrast the English colonies of the Chesapeake with their counterparts at Massachusetts Bay. What were their similarities and their differences?
October 24, 2013
Describe the Puritans. What were their beliefs? Why did they leave England for Massachusetts Bay? What did they hope to accomplish in the New World? How did the dynamics of their faith affect their New World existence?
October 29 2013
In what ways was Pennsylvania unique in colonial America? What role did religion play in explaining that uniqueness?
October 31, 2013
Assess the transformation the American colonies underwent between 1650 and 1720. Did all of the colonies experience the same changes? How did they differ?
November 5, 2013
Discuss, in some detail, the origin and key characteristics of slavery in British North America during the 17th century.
November 7, 2013
What was mercantilism and how did it shape the economic and political relationship between England and its colonies?
November 12, 2013
Compare and contrast social and economic life in 17th century New England with that of the Chesapeake colonies.
November 14, 2013
Describe the Great Awakening and the impact it had on colonial America.
November 19, 2013
Discuss the powers of colonial governors and assemblies. Give their strengths and weaknesses. Which were more powerful and why?
November 21, 2013
Discuss the origins of the Seven Years’ War and what effect the conflict had on the American colonies.
November 26, 2013
Describe the meaning of the term “middle ground” as it referred to Native Americans in the 18th century.
November 30, 2013
Imagine that you are a farmer in Massachusetts when war breaks out. Explain your reasons for supporting the Revolution.
November 30, 2013
Compare British and American strategies for fighting the American Revolutionary War.
November 30, 2013
What was the relationship between England’s internal political problems and the loss of its colonial empire in America?
November 30, 2013
Describe the American perception of the idea of parliamentary sovereignty.
November 30, 2013
Discuss anti-slavery sentiment in America during the Revolution and the years immediately following the Revolution. Was the opposition to slavery limited to northern states?
November 30, 2013
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of the Confederation government. Was it doomed to failure? Why?
November 30, 2013
Imagine you are either Federalist or Antifederalist. Argue for (or against) ratification of the Constitution. Include economic status, geographic region, and political ideals in your argument. [Outline both points of view, then state which you would argue and why]
November 30, 2013
What role did the issue of slavery play in the Constitutional Convention? How was the issue dealt with in the final version of the Constitution?
December 3, 2013
As an ordinary United States citizen in the 1790s, what would you have to fear in the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts?
December 5, 2013
Why did the Federalist Party lose popularity and influence in the late 1790s?
December 10, 2013
Compare the foreign policies of Washington and Adams. Could better polices have been devised?
December 12, 2013
In the 1790s, why did the revolutionary political leaders become more divided over the course of the new nation?
December 17, 2013
Describe the major regional identities that began to appear in the United States in the early 1800s.
December 19, 2013
Once in office, how did Jefferson carry out his political beliefs? Explain your answer.
December 28, 2013
Describe the major issues that eventually led the United States to declare war on Great Britain in 1812.
December 28, 2013
Was it inevitable for the United States to be drawn into war with Great Britain?
December 28, 2013
What evidence was there that public polices between the War of 1812 and the Age of Jackson supported and enhanced nationalism? Include examples from all three branches of government.
December 28, 2013
Describe the evolution of American policies and actions toward Native Americans between 1816 and 1830. Could the trans-Appalachian interior have been settled in any other fashion by American settlers? Why or why not?
December 28, 2013
Discuss how the major decisions of the Supreme Court under John Marshall’s leadership enhanced the growth of nationalism and a strong federal government. Include examples of specific cases from the period.
December 28, 2013
In what ways did American cultural developments in the 1820s and 1830s reflect the democratic impulse of the period?
December 28, 2013
In what ways did the elections of 1828 and 1840 firmly establish the two-party system in American politics?
December 28, 2013
Is it correct to describe the 1830s as the Age of Democracy? Explain.
January 2, 2014
Why weren’t there more slave revolts and rebellions in the 200 year history of the South? In what other ways did slaves demonstrate their opposition to the system?
January 9, 2014
Evaluate the impact of slavery on the economic and social systems of the South.
January 14, 2014
How did the South’s reliance on a slave labor system restrict its ability to diversify its economy?
January 16, 2014
Discuss how the American social reform movement evolved out of the Second Great Awakening.
January 21, 2014
Why did social reformers view alcohol as the greatest threat to public morality in the United States?
January 23, 2014
In what ways could American women of the first half of the 19th century be said to have benefited from changes that resulted from the social reform movement?
January 28, 2014
Compare the United States’ foreign policy toward Mexico and Great Britain in the 1830s and 1840s. How do you account for the similarities and differences in America’s actions toward these countries?
January 30, 2014
What were the most important factors in pushing or pulling great waves of immigrants to the United States between 1820 and 1850?
February 4, 2014
Describe the factors that created dynamic, economic growth in the United States in the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.
February 6, 2014
What incidents and events increased southern fears concerning growing northern hostility toward the southern way of life? How correct was the South in these fears?
February 11, 2014
Why did the traditional two-party system fail in the 1850s? What role did third-party movements play in heightening sectional tensions during this period?
February 13, 2014
Evaluate the causes of the sectional crisis of the 1850s. Could anything have been done to resolve the issues of the period? Explain.
February 18, 2014
Describe the effects of the war on the “home front” of the North and the South. Did one side benefit more than the other? Explain.
February 20, 2014
When the war started in 1861, both sides were confident that the conflict would be short. What conditions made the Civil War a prolonged, bloody conflict instead of the brief “skirmish” all had anticipated?
February 25, 2014
Analyze the events that occurred from Lincoln’s election to the attack on Fort Sumter. Could the war have been averted during those crucial months?
February 27, 2014
How did freed slaves react to their new status after the Civil War? What did most African Americans soon realize about the reality of their freedom?
March 4, 2014
How successful was the North in changing southern society during Reconstruction? Who benefitted the most from these plans and who benefitted the least?
March 6, 2014
Compare and contrast the executive and congressional plans for reconstructing the Union. What was their objective? Which plan was better for the nation? Why?
March 11, 2014
What impact did the frontier have on American attitudes, behavior, and institutions? Is the “frontier thesis” of Frederick Jackson Turner viable?
March 13, 2014
If you were a Sioux chief relocated to a reservation in Oklahoma in 1900, what would you tell your grandchildren about your life and that of your people before the white man came? Once the white man arrived on the Great Plains, what happened to your way of life?
March 18, 2014
Contrast life on the western frontier for the miner, cattleman, and farmer. What social and economic factors contributed to the lifestyle developed by each group?
March 20, 2014
Could American industrial growth have occurred without the industrial giants of the period? Explain.
March 25, 2014
You are steel worker in Pennsylvania. What reasons would you have for joining a union? Describe your hopes and aspirations for yourself and your family.
March 27, 2014
How did the railroad industry pioneer the economic developments of the late 19th century?
April 1, 2014
What was the purpose of the Settlement House movement? Evaluate its objectives and methods.
April 3, 2014
How did the changing American residential patterns of the late 19th century reflect the larger changes of American society?
April 8, 2014
Compare the role of the political machines and the social reformers in dealing with the new urban environment of the late 19th century. Which group was more successful?
April 10, 2014
Beyond the immediate cause of the depression of 1893, why did it create a crisis for American society?
April 15, 2014
Did American farmers have any alternative to the political system for solutions to their problems in the late 19th century?
April 19, 2014
You are writing your congressional representative a letter regarding the annexation of the Philippines. Explain why you believe he or she should vote either for or against this decision. [Give both sides]
April 19, 2014
Why was the Spanish-American War “a splendid little war” for the United States? What effect did it have on American society?
April 19, 2014
What were the characteristics of the “new immigrant” between 1900 and 1920? How did this wave of immigration differ from early ones?
April 19, 2014
In what ways did popular entertainment change during the Progressive period?
April 19, 2014
Discuss in some detail major features of Woodrow Wilson’s progressive reform program between 1913 and 1920.
April 19, 2014
By examining his actions as president, discuss Theodore Roosevelt’s reputation as a “trust buster.” Was that reputation deserved or underserved?
April 19, 2014
Discuss the fight over the question of ratifying the Treaty of Versailles. How did the fight reflect the key issue confronting American foreign policymakers at the end of World War I?
April 19, 2014
In general terms, did Woodrow Wilson’s foreign policy differ significantly from that of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft?
April 19, 2014
Discuss the federal government’s attitude toward business in the 1920s. Who were the leading proponents of close government-business relations?
April 22, 2014
How did women and minorities fare with respect to the apparent prosperity and climate of change that characterized the 1920s?
April 24, 2014
What was the legacy of the New Deal? In what ways did the New Deal change Americans’ attitudes toward the role of the federal government in their daily lives?
April 29, 2014
Why is Franklin D. Roosevelt considered a “great” president? How did his political philosophy affect both his New Deal policies and executive conduct?
May 1, 2014
Assess American foreign policy in the aftermath of World War I. What effect did the war have on American attitudes toward the outside world?
May 6, 2014
Is “independent internationalism” an accurate description of United States’ foreign policy between the two wars? If so, why?
May 8, 2014
What was the policy of “containment”? Who were its leading proponents, and how did they implement this policy between 1947 and 1950?
May 13, 2014
Describe U.S. foreign policy toward China between 1945 and 1960.
May 15, 2014
What were the key characteristics of American culture and society during the 1950s? Discuss each in some detail.
May 20, 2014
Describe the arguments of social critics about American suburbia and consumerism in the 1950s.
May 22, 2014
How did John F. Kennedy implement his belief that the Cold War was a test of America’s toughness and strength? Was he successful in achieving his goals?
May 27, 2014
Describe the philosophy and major decisions of the Warren Court.
May 29, 2014
Compare the foreign policy of Richard Nixon to those of Kennedy and Johnson. Why was Nixon better able to lessen tensions with the Soviet Union?
June 3, 2014
Compare the foreign policy views of Henry Kissinger with those of Zbigniew Brzezinski.
June 5, 2014
Describe the successes and failures experienced by the African American community during the 1980s and 1990s.
POSSIBLE FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS ON TESTS FOR THE 2013-2014 ACADEMIC YEAR
Analyze the home-front experiences of TWO of the following groups during the Second World War. African Americans, Japanese Americans, Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans
In what ways did the American family change between 1970 and 2000?
Choose TWO of the following organizations and explain their strategies for advancing the interests of workers. To what extent were these organizations successful in achieving their objectives? Confine your answer to the period from 1875 to 1925. Knights of Labor, American Federation of Labor, Socialist Party of America, Industrial Workers of the World
Describe the nature of England’s first colonial settlement, Jamestown, as it evolved from a floundering, haphazard enterprise to a stable community.
Analyze the social, political, and economic forces of the 1840s and early 1850s that led to the emergence of the Republican Party.
Describe the significant changes in New England society, culture, economy, and politics, as well as the influence of Puritanism in the late 1600s.
Analyze the ways in which the British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified colonials’ resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values.
How did the Anglo-American economic relationship change during the 18th century? What impact id those changes have on the colonial economy?
Describe the changing immigration patterns in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s.
Trace the development of the Anglo-American conflict. Could the relationship have been saved?
Describe the reasons why most Americans voted against President Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980.
How successful was the new Republic in implementing the goals of the Revolution?
How would you account for the failure of America’s effort in the Vietnam War?
How did the views of Hamilton and Jefferson give birth to political parties?
In the midst of the affluence and prosperity of the 1950s, considerable doubt existed about the character of American society. What were the most significant criticisms of the character and direction of American society during the 1950s?
How did the Battle of New Orleans and the Hartford Convention contribute to the demise of the Federalist Party?
How did the origins of the Cold War reflect different American and Soviet traditions, as well as their different needs and interests in Europe after World War II?
In what ways did the transportation revolution contribute to the development of a national market economy in the United States between 1810 and 1840?
Describe the American strategy for defeating Japan in World War II. How successful was that strategy? Explain your answer.
Describe the temperament and political philosophy of Andrew Jackson.
Describe the bull market of the 1920s and explain the stock market crash of 1929.
Compare the economic systems of the upper and lower South. In which region would slavery have died a “natural” death? Explain.
What factors contributed to the upsurge in fundamentalism in the United States during the 1920s? How was this manifested in the period?
What were the major goals of the expanded and improved public education system of the 1830s and 1840s?
What major factors motivated United States policy toward Latin America between 1900 and 1920?
Describe the main concepts of the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. How effected was the United States in implementing this policy in the 1840s? Did all Americans support this doctrine? Explain.
How did the progressive reform impulse manifest itself at the level of city government?
Was the conflict over the settlement of Kansas a rehearsal for the Civil War? In what ways did popular sovereignty stir up sectional tensions in the 1850s?
How did the new 20th century concepts of organization and management change the life of the American worker?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the South and the North in the Civil War. Was a northern victory inevitable? Why?
Explain why the United States developed the Open Door policy.
Discuss the impact of the Civil War on southern society. What traditions and institutions were destroyed by the conflict?
Is it correct to assume the election of 1896 was a turning point in American political history? Explain.
Discuss the nature and hardships of life on the Great Plains in the late 1800s. What developments helped to alleviate these hardships?
Which aspects of the war on terror have been controversial? Why?
Why did industrial development occur at such a rapid pace after the Civil War?
Describe Reagan’s economic policies and the trends of the economy during the 1980s.
Compare and contrast the ideas of William Graham Sumner with those of Richard Ely.
Describe U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America in the early 1960s.
Politics was a major interest in American society during the late 19th century. How successful were the political parties (Democratic and Republicans) in dealing with the major issues of the times? Was it inevitable for a third political party to be formed?
Discuss the impact of Sputnik on the United States.
Describe why the American war in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War was so costly and so controversial.
How did the Cold War bring about reforms in the United States military and intelligence establishments in the 1940s and 1950s?
How did increasing urbanization between 1900 and 1920 change American society?
What were Japan’s objectives in Asia in the 1930s? Was conflict unavoidable for the United States, given the nature of Japan’s grand design for Asia?
How did the progressive reform impulse manifest itself at the state level?
Compare and contrast the respective approaches of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to the issues and problems of the Great Depression.
Although the United States officially adopted a policy of neutrality at the beginning of World War I, there was considerable pressure on the government to alter that stance. What were the key sources of that pressure?
In what ways did the increasing popularity of the automobile contribute to economic growth and social change in the United States during the 1920s?
What reasons did the Democratic Party, despite its apparent second-place political position in the 1920s, have for looking to the future with optimism?
How did World War I affect the situation of labor, women, and minorities in the United States between 1914 and 1920?
What were the origins, stipulations, and weaknesses of the New Deal’s major recovery programs, the Agricultural Adjustment Act and the National Recovery Administration? Why did the Supreme Court declare both measures unconstitutional?
How did Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson differ in their respective approaches to the problem of regulating and controlling big business in the United States?
Assess the response of the United States to the military aggression of Japan, Germany, and Italy in the 1930s.
Describe Henry Ford’s theory of production, profit, and labor relations.
Describe President Eisenhower’s foreign policy approach toward the Soviet Union.
By 1900, the United States had created an overseas empire. Was this empire a natural culmination of its expansionist path at home? Explain, using specific examples of the type of territories that became part of this empire. Explain why these territories were important to the American government and society.
Explain the sources of the American economic boom in the 1950s.
Why was the Populist party unsuccessful in reaching beyond its narrow base of support? Include an analysis of its platform, candidates, and supporters.
Did Lyndon Johnson have any other alternative to the actions he took regarding Vietnam?
The new immigrants of the late 19thcentury faced many hardships as they sought a place in American society. To what do you account their ability to make a home in America? What internal and external resources were available to make the transition easier for them?
Explain how the Watergate scandal demonstrated the vitality of a democratic society.
Had the definition of work changed by 1900? How did workers respond to the change? Were they successful?
Discuss the significance of the 1992 election.
Describe the major military confrontations between Native Americans and whites on the post-Civil War frontier.
Identify and discuss the major foreign policy objectives of the United States between 1815 and 1824.
By the early 1870s, it was evident that northern interests in Reconstruction was waning. Why? Were the majority of northerners really dedicated to reconstructing southern society? Why were the Redeemers able to take back the South?
How did political, economic, and constitutional issues combine to lead to the death of the national bank?
What arguments did secessionists develop to justify leaving the Union? What problems did secession create for both the Buchanan and Lincoln administrations?
Describe the characteristics of the African-American culture that slaves developed in their communities. What role did family and religion play for this culture? Could slaves have survived without this culture? Explain.
Discuss the major elements of the Compromise of 1850 and how they were an attempt to balance the requirements of pro- and antislavery factions in the United States.
Discuss the different approaches tried by American reformers to deal with the problem of slavery in the United States.
Was the Mexican War inevitable? Could the United States have achieved its objectives in any other manner? How?
Compare the cultures that could be found in the New World prior to the Europeans. Why were some groups more advanced than others throughout the same region?
October 3, 2013
Compare the experience of the French, Spanish, and English in colonizing the New World. What common perception of the region did they share? Discuss the differences in their relationship with Native Americans.
October 8, 2013
Why did England colonize the New World later than the rest of Europe? What political and religious conditions had created a century of conflict in England? What factors finally pushed the English west, across the ocean?
October 10, 2013
Describe the social, economic, and political changes which occurred in Europe and led to the exploration and colonization of the New World.
October 15, 2013
Describe the process by which early Portuguese traders acquired slaves in West Africa.
October 17, 2013
Explain how the economies and social structures of New England, the Chesapeake, and the middle colonies differed from one another.
October 22, 2013
Compare and contrast the English colonies of the Chesapeake with their counterparts at Massachusetts Bay. What were their similarities and their differences?
October 24, 2013
Describe the Puritans. What were their beliefs? Why did they leave England for Massachusetts Bay? What did they hope to accomplish in the New World? How did the dynamics of their faith affect their New World existence?
October 29 2013
In what ways was Pennsylvania unique in colonial America? What role did religion play in explaining that uniqueness?
October 31, 2013
Assess the transformation the American colonies underwent between 1650 and 1720. Did all of the colonies experience the same changes? How did they differ?
November 5, 2013
Discuss, in some detail, the origin and key characteristics of slavery in British North America during the 17th century.
November 7, 2013
What was mercantilism and how did it shape the economic and political relationship between England and its colonies?
November 12, 2013
Compare and contrast social and economic life in 17th century New England with that of the Chesapeake colonies.
November 14, 2013
Describe the Great Awakening and the impact it had on colonial America.
November 19, 2013
Discuss the powers of colonial governors and assemblies. Give their strengths and weaknesses. Which were more powerful and why?
November 21, 2013
Discuss the origins of the Seven Years’ War and what effect the conflict had on the American colonies.
November 26, 2013
Describe the meaning of the term “middle ground” as it referred to Native Americans in the 18th century.
November 30, 2013
Imagine that you are a farmer in Massachusetts when war breaks out. Explain your reasons for supporting the Revolution.
November 30, 2013
Compare British and American strategies for fighting the American Revolutionary War.
November 30, 2013
What was the relationship between England’s internal political problems and the loss of its colonial empire in America?
November 30, 2013
Describe the American perception of the idea of parliamentary sovereignty.
November 30, 2013
Discuss anti-slavery sentiment in America during the Revolution and the years immediately following the Revolution. Was the opposition to slavery limited to northern states?
November 30, 2013
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of the Confederation government. Was it doomed to failure? Why?
November 30, 2013
Imagine you are either Federalist or Antifederalist. Argue for (or against) ratification of the Constitution. Include economic status, geographic region, and political ideals in your argument. [Outline both points of view, then state which you would argue and why]
November 30, 2013
What role did the issue of slavery play in the Constitutional Convention? How was the issue dealt with in the final version of the Constitution?
December 3, 2013
As an ordinary United States citizen in the 1790s, what would you have to fear in the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts?
December 5, 2013
Why did the Federalist Party lose popularity and influence in the late 1790s?
December 10, 2013
Compare the foreign policies of Washington and Adams. Could better polices have been devised?
December 12, 2013
In the 1790s, why did the revolutionary political leaders become more divided over the course of the new nation?
December 17, 2013
Describe the major regional identities that began to appear in the United States in the early 1800s.
December 19, 2013
Once in office, how did Jefferson carry out his political beliefs? Explain your answer.
December 28, 2013
Describe the major issues that eventually led the United States to declare war on Great Britain in 1812.
December 28, 2013
Was it inevitable for the United States to be drawn into war with Great Britain?
December 28, 2013
What evidence was there that public polices between the War of 1812 and the Age of Jackson supported and enhanced nationalism? Include examples from all three branches of government.
December 28, 2013
Describe the evolution of American policies and actions toward Native Americans between 1816 and 1830. Could the trans-Appalachian interior have been settled in any other fashion by American settlers? Why or why not?
December 28, 2013
Discuss how the major decisions of the Supreme Court under John Marshall’s leadership enhanced the growth of nationalism and a strong federal government. Include examples of specific cases from the period.
December 28, 2013
In what ways did American cultural developments in the 1820s and 1830s reflect the democratic impulse of the period?
December 28, 2013
In what ways did the elections of 1828 and 1840 firmly establish the two-party system in American politics?
December 28, 2013
Is it correct to describe the 1830s as the Age of Democracy? Explain.
January 2, 2014
Why weren’t there more slave revolts and rebellions in the 200 year history of the South? In what other ways did slaves demonstrate their opposition to the system?
January 9, 2014
Evaluate the impact of slavery on the economic and social systems of the South.
January 14, 2014
How did the South’s reliance on a slave labor system restrict its ability to diversify its economy?
January 16, 2014
Discuss how the American social reform movement evolved out of the Second Great Awakening.
January 21, 2014
Why did social reformers view alcohol as the greatest threat to public morality in the United States?
January 23, 2014
In what ways could American women of the first half of the 19th century be said to have benefited from changes that resulted from the social reform movement?
January 28, 2014
Compare the United States’ foreign policy toward Mexico and Great Britain in the 1830s and 1840s. How do you account for the similarities and differences in America’s actions toward these countries?
January 30, 2014
What were the most important factors in pushing or pulling great waves of immigrants to the United States between 1820 and 1850?
February 4, 2014
Describe the factors that created dynamic, economic growth in the United States in the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.
February 6, 2014
What incidents and events increased southern fears concerning growing northern hostility toward the southern way of life? How correct was the South in these fears?
February 11, 2014
Why did the traditional two-party system fail in the 1850s? What role did third-party movements play in heightening sectional tensions during this period?
February 13, 2014
Evaluate the causes of the sectional crisis of the 1850s. Could anything have been done to resolve the issues of the period? Explain.
February 18, 2014
Describe the effects of the war on the “home front” of the North and the South. Did one side benefit more than the other? Explain.
February 20, 2014
When the war started in 1861, both sides were confident that the conflict would be short. What conditions made the Civil War a prolonged, bloody conflict instead of the brief “skirmish” all had anticipated?
February 25, 2014
Analyze the events that occurred from Lincoln’s election to the attack on Fort Sumter. Could the war have been averted during those crucial months?
February 27, 2014
How did freed slaves react to their new status after the Civil War? What did most African Americans soon realize about the reality of their freedom?
March 4, 2014
How successful was the North in changing southern society during Reconstruction? Who benefitted the most from these plans and who benefitted the least?
March 6, 2014
Compare and contrast the executive and congressional plans for reconstructing the Union. What was their objective? Which plan was better for the nation? Why?
March 11, 2014
What impact did the frontier have on American attitudes, behavior, and institutions? Is the “frontier thesis” of Frederick Jackson Turner viable?
March 13, 2014
If you were a Sioux chief relocated to a reservation in Oklahoma in 1900, what would you tell your grandchildren about your life and that of your people before the white man came? Once the white man arrived on the Great Plains, what happened to your way of life?
March 18, 2014
Contrast life on the western frontier for the miner, cattleman, and farmer. What social and economic factors contributed to the lifestyle developed by each group?
March 20, 2014
Could American industrial growth have occurred without the industrial giants of the period? Explain.
March 25, 2014
You are steel worker in Pennsylvania. What reasons would you have for joining a union? Describe your hopes and aspirations for yourself and your family.
March 27, 2014
How did the railroad industry pioneer the economic developments of the late 19th century?
April 1, 2014
What was the purpose of the Settlement House movement? Evaluate its objectives and methods.
April 3, 2014
How did the changing American residential patterns of the late 19th century reflect the larger changes of American society?
April 8, 2014
Compare the role of the political machines and the social reformers in dealing with the new urban environment of the late 19th century. Which group was more successful?
April 10, 2014
Beyond the immediate cause of the depression of 1893, why did it create a crisis for American society?
April 15, 2014
Did American farmers have any alternative to the political system for solutions to their problems in the late 19th century?
April 19, 2014
You are writing your congressional representative a letter regarding the annexation of the Philippines. Explain why you believe he or she should vote either for or against this decision. [Give both sides]
April 19, 2014
Why was the Spanish-American War “a splendid little war” for the United States? What effect did it have on American society?
April 19, 2014
What were the characteristics of the “new immigrant” between 1900 and 1920? How did this wave of immigration differ from early ones?
April 19, 2014
In what ways did popular entertainment change during the Progressive period?
April 19, 2014
Discuss in some detail major features of Woodrow Wilson’s progressive reform program between 1913 and 1920.
April 19, 2014
By examining his actions as president, discuss Theodore Roosevelt’s reputation as a “trust buster.” Was that reputation deserved or underserved?
April 19, 2014
Discuss the fight over the question of ratifying the Treaty of Versailles. How did the fight reflect the key issue confronting American foreign policymakers at the end of World War I?
April 19, 2014
In general terms, did Woodrow Wilson’s foreign policy differ significantly from that of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft?
April 19, 2014
Discuss the federal government’s attitude toward business in the 1920s. Who were the leading proponents of close government-business relations?
April 22, 2014
How did women and minorities fare with respect to the apparent prosperity and climate of change that characterized the 1920s?
April 24, 2014
What was the legacy of the New Deal? In what ways did the New Deal change Americans’ attitudes toward the role of the federal government in their daily lives?
April 29, 2014
Why is Franklin D. Roosevelt considered a “great” president? How did his political philosophy affect both his New Deal policies and executive conduct?
May 1, 2014
Assess American foreign policy in the aftermath of World War I. What effect did the war have on American attitudes toward the outside world?
May 6, 2014
Is “independent internationalism” an accurate description of United States’ foreign policy between the two wars? If so, why?
May 8, 2014
What was the policy of “containment”? Who were its leading proponents, and how did they implement this policy between 1947 and 1950?
May 13, 2014
Describe U.S. foreign policy toward China between 1945 and 1960.
May 15, 2014
What were the key characteristics of American culture and society during the 1950s? Discuss each in some detail.
May 20, 2014
Describe the arguments of social critics about American suburbia and consumerism in the 1950s.
May 22, 2014
How did John F. Kennedy implement his belief that the Cold War was a test of America’s toughness and strength? Was he successful in achieving his goals?
May 27, 2014
Describe the philosophy and major decisions of the Warren Court.
May 29, 2014
Compare the foreign policy of Richard Nixon to those of Kennedy and Johnson. Why was Nixon better able to lessen tensions with the Soviet Union?
June 3, 2014
Compare the foreign policy views of Henry Kissinger with those of Zbigniew Brzezinski.
June 5, 2014
Describe the successes and failures experienced by the African American community during the 1980s and 1990s.
POSSIBLE FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS ON TESTS FOR THE 2013-2014 ACADEMIC YEAR
Analyze the home-front experiences of TWO of the following groups during the Second World War. African Americans, Japanese Americans, Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans
In what ways did the American family change between 1970 and 2000?
Choose TWO of the following organizations and explain their strategies for advancing the interests of workers. To what extent were these organizations successful in achieving their objectives? Confine your answer to the period from 1875 to 1925. Knights of Labor, American Federation of Labor, Socialist Party of America, Industrial Workers of the World
Describe the nature of England’s first colonial settlement, Jamestown, as it evolved from a floundering, haphazard enterprise to a stable community.
Analyze the social, political, and economic forces of the 1840s and early 1850s that led to the emergence of the Republican Party.
Describe the significant changes in New England society, culture, economy, and politics, as well as the influence of Puritanism in the late 1600s.
Analyze the ways in which the British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified colonials’ resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values.
How did the Anglo-American economic relationship change during the 18th century? What impact id those changes have on the colonial economy?
Describe the changing immigration patterns in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s.
Trace the development of the Anglo-American conflict. Could the relationship have been saved?
Describe the reasons why most Americans voted against President Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980.
How successful was the new Republic in implementing the goals of the Revolution?
How would you account for the failure of America’s effort in the Vietnam War?
How did the views of Hamilton and Jefferson give birth to political parties?
In the midst of the affluence and prosperity of the 1950s, considerable doubt existed about the character of American society. What were the most significant criticisms of the character and direction of American society during the 1950s?
How did the Battle of New Orleans and the Hartford Convention contribute to the demise of the Federalist Party?
How did the origins of the Cold War reflect different American and Soviet traditions, as well as their different needs and interests in Europe after World War II?
In what ways did the transportation revolution contribute to the development of a national market economy in the United States between 1810 and 1840?
Describe the American strategy for defeating Japan in World War II. How successful was that strategy? Explain your answer.
Describe the temperament and political philosophy of Andrew Jackson.
Describe the bull market of the 1920s and explain the stock market crash of 1929.
Compare the economic systems of the upper and lower South. In which region would slavery have died a “natural” death? Explain.
What factors contributed to the upsurge in fundamentalism in the United States during the 1920s? How was this manifested in the period?
What were the major goals of the expanded and improved public education system of the 1830s and 1840s?
What major factors motivated United States policy toward Latin America between 1900 and 1920?
Describe the main concepts of the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. How effected was the United States in implementing this policy in the 1840s? Did all Americans support this doctrine? Explain.
How did the progressive reform impulse manifest itself at the level of city government?
Was the conflict over the settlement of Kansas a rehearsal for the Civil War? In what ways did popular sovereignty stir up sectional tensions in the 1850s?
How did the new 20th century concepts of organization and management change the life of the American worker?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the South and the North in the Civil War. Was a northern victory inevitable? Why?
Explain why the United States developed the Open Door policy.
Discuss the impact of the Civil War on southern society. What traditions and institutions were destroyed by the conflict?
Is it correct to assume the election of 1896 was a turning point in American political history? Explain.
Discuss the nature and hardships of life on the Great Plains in the late 1800s. What developments helped to alleviate these hardships?
Which aspects of the war on terror have been controversial? Why?
Why did industrial development occur at such a rapid pace after the Civil War?
Describe Reagan’s economic policies and the trends of the economy during the 1980s.
Compare and contrast the ideas of William Graham Sumner with those of Richard Ely.
Describe U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America in the early 1960s.
Politics was a major interest in American society during the late 19th century. How successful were the political parties (Democratic and Republicans) in dealing with the major issues of the times? Was it inevitable for a third political party to be formed?
Discuss the impact of Sputnik on the United States.
Describe why the American war in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War was so costly and so controversial.
How did the Cold War bring about reforms in the United States military and intelligence establishments in the 1940s and 1950s?
How did increasing urbanization between 1900 and 1920 change American society?
What were Japan’s objectives in Asia in the 1930s? Was conflict unavoidable for the United States, given the nature of Japan’s grand design for Asia?
How did the progressive reform impulse manifest itself at the state level?
Compare and contrast the respective approaches of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to the issues and problems of the Great Depression.
Although the United States officially adopted a policy of neutrality at the beginning of World War I, there was considerable pressure on the government to alter that stance. What were the key sources of that pressure?
In what ways did the increasing popularity of the automobile contribute to economic growth and social change in the United States during the 1920s?
What reasons did the Democratic Party, despite its apparent second-place political position in the 1920s, have for looking to the future with optimism?
How did World War I affect the situation of labor, women, and minorities in the United States between 1914 and 1920?
What were the origins, stipulations, and weaknesses of the New Deal’s major recovery programs, the Agricultural Adjustment Act and the National Recovery Administration? Why did the Supreme Court declare both measures unconstitutional?
How did Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson differ in their respective approaches to the problem of regulating and controlling big business in the United States?
Assess the response of the United States to the military aggression of Japan, Germany, and Italy in the 1930s.
Describe Henry Ford’s theory of production, profit, and labor relations.
Describe President Eisenhower’s foreign policy approach toward the Soviet Union.
By 1900, the United States had created an overseas empire. Was this empire a natural culmination of its expansionist path at home? Explain, using specific examples of the type of territories that became part of this empire. Explain why these territories were important to the American government and society.
Explain the sources of the American economic boom in the 1950s.
Why was the Populist party unsuccessful in reaching beyond its narrow base of support? Include an analysis of its platform, candidates, and supporters.
Did Lyndon Johnson have any other alternative to the actions he took regarding Vietnam?
The new immigrants of the late 19thcentury faced many hardships as they sought a place in American society. To what do you account their ability to make a home in America? What internal and external resources were available to make the transition easier for them?
Explain how the Watergate scandal demonstrated the vitality of a democratic society.
Had the definition of work changed by 1900? How did workers respond to the change? Were they successful?
Discuss the significance of the 1992 election.
Describe the major military confrontations between Native Americans and whites on the post-Civil War frontier.
Identify and discuss the major foreign policy objectives of the United States between 1815 and 1824.
By the early 1870s, it was evident that northern interests in Reconstruction was waning. Why? Were the majority of northerners really dedicated to reconstructing southern society? Why were the Redeemers able to take back the South?
How did political, economic, and constitutional issues combine to lead to the death of the national bank?
What arguments did secessionists develop to justify leaving the Union? What problems did secession create for both the Buchanan and Lincoln administrations?
Describe the characteristics of the African-American culture that slaves developed in their communities. What role did family and religion play for this culture? Could slaves have survived without this culture? Explain.
Discuss the major elements of the Compromise of 1850 and how they were an attempt to balance the requirements of pro- and antislavery factions in the United States.
Discuss the different approaches tried by American reformers to deal with the problem of slavery in the United States.
Was the Mexican War inevitable? Could the United States have achieved its objectives in any other manner? How?