American Life 4/21

Research Paper Guidelines

• Seek assistance if unsure about research paper structure.

• Avoid excessive reliance on others' work without input.

• Incorporate personal voice; don't just paraphrase or quote.

• A paper lacking personal interpretation diminishes its value (formatting issues or plagiarism can lead to significant grade penalties).

Course Participation and Assignments

• Approximately 28-29 active participants in the course.

• Average of 6-7 papers submitted correctly.

• Possible to improve grades significantly through this assignment.

• Late submissions will incur penalties.

• Deadline for research paper submission is in four weeks.

Recent Homework and Grade Updates

• Grades posted since last week.

• Revolutionary War perspectives include:

  • Soldier's viewpoint (Joseph Plummer)

  • Women's viewpoint (Abigail Adams, Catherine Van Cortland)

• Reform movements discussed:

  • Anti-slavery movement (Harriet Tubman, William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass)

  • Other movements: Temperance, prison reform, women's rights.

  • The Second Great Awakening's role in social reforms.

Historical Context and Abolitionism

• Abolitionist movement gained momentum post-Second Great Awakening; shifted from individual conscience to organized movements.

• Frederick Douglass was a prominent figure, emphasizing moral arguments against slavery.

• Harriet Tubman played a crucial role via the Underground Railroad, aiding hundreds of slaves.

• The narrative shifts from slavery as acceptable to an understanding of its immorality, culminating in the Civil War.

Economic Growth in the 1840s and 1850s

• Massive infrastructure projects (canals and railroads) drastically enhanced transportation and trade.

• Economic boom attributed to land availability, mechanization of agriculture, and increased immigration for labor.

• Regions like the Midwest flourished as new communities formed, driven by both citizens and immigrants.

Political Implications

• By mid-1850s, the Republican Party capitalized on public anti-slavery sentiment.

• Political shifts reflected changes in public consciousness regarding slavery; major parties adjusted platforms in response to voter needs.

• The lingering question of how slavery's presence distorted economic and political progress in the South versus a rapidly industrializing North.

Future Discussions

• Understand the intertwined fates of abolitionism, women's rights, and civil rights moving into the mid-20th century.

• Examine the role of significant reforms in shaping contemporary discussions about rights and justice in the U.S.