The Gilded Age
Much of our class discussion this week will hinge on one of the most important topics in any society: the fair distribution of wealth (and since, in every modern society wealth equals power, we can truly say the basis of all class structure in the modern era). In the last century all of the previous social structures were swept away by changes in technology which changed the way that people worked and related to each other. In the confusion that accompanies such changes all the relationships had be re-imagined, based on the question "What is fair?"
Consider this: in every business transaction, there are usually three participants. There is the entrepreneur, the worker, and the customer. All three desire to get the best deal they can; the entrepreneur claims that he or she deserves the profits because of the creativity and risk that went into providing the good or service. The worker wants part of the profits as well because he or she is doing the work, and of course the customer wants a good deal (ie, doesn't want to pay enough to make both the entrepreneur and worker happy). Let's get specific: we recently escaped the spector of a basketball season with no NBA. Fortunately (for the basketball-addicted) a profit sharing scheme was agreed upon between owners and players and the season will get underway on Christmas day. Now, who deserves to benefit from the spectacle of professional basketball the most? The owners? Kobe and LeBron? And what about the fan sitting in the bleachers?
For years arguments have been made the the owners (entrepreneurs) are either the most important part of the equation, or the least important part of the equation. Now, obviously, this homework assignment isn't about basketball, but about the struggle between big businesses and the working people at the end of the nineteenth century. What do you think? Who deserves the biggest part of the profits - the owners or the workers? And don't make the argument that both of them make enough, because I could have just as easily used an example of a fastfood restaurant owner, worker, and customer. Here are the questions I want you to address:
1) In the context of this discussion, what is fair?
2) How can that fairness be established without unconstitutional government intervention in the workplace? In other words, what kind of agreement must be reached between owners and workers and how can it be maintained for the long-term?
3) Most importantly, what would happen if either side of the equation (owners/workers) were to be too weak to effectively bargain with the other?
In addition, go to the link http://www.hippocampus.org/US%20History%20II and choose two of the following lessons under the "Gilded Age" heading to review and use as evidence in your essays:
Corruption in Business and Government
Entrepreneurs
The Government Steps In
Workers in America
Union Organizations
Major Strikes
As always, 200 words, 150 words of response, due on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Don't put this off to the last minute!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Bonus Opportunity - Due November 25, 2011
As this week is going to be a busy one for everyone, I think this would be a great time for an optional assignment. Here's how it works: if you do the assignment I will exchange a zero on a previous assignment with a 100. If you have done late assingments and received a score that is less than 100 (such as a 50 for a REALLY late assignment) I will add up to 100 points for doing this assignment. For example, if you have two previous assignments from this quarter for which you have received 50s I will change both grades to 100s. Pretty cool, huh? Here's what's up:
Next week's assignment will focus on the changes in America's economy and social structure at the dawn of the twentieth century. However, in lecture we will also discuss the change in America's standing in the international community (Age of Empire) and the acquisition of new territories through war and annexation. Your assignment is something of a geography exercise. You are to research an American territory and report back on your findings. Here's what I want to see:
1) A brief summary of the territory's history;
2) An explanation of the current governmental structure;
3) and details about the people and culture.
Answer the question, "What do you see as being the future of U.S. territories?"
Your essay schould be at least 200 words long and include reference citations. Respond to at least two other posts with at total of at least 150 words. Thanks and God bless!
Next week's assignment will focus on the changes in America's economy and social structure at the dawn of the twentieth century. However, in lecture we will also discuss the change in America's standing in the international community (Age of Empire) and the acquisition of new territories through war and annexation. Your assignment is something of a geography exercise. You are to research an American territory and report back on your findings. Here's what I want to see:
1) A brief summary of the territory's history;
2) An explanation of the current governmental structure;
3) and details about the people and culture.
Answer the question, "What do you see as being the future of U.S. territories?"
Your essay schould be at least 200 words long and include reference citations. Respond to at least two other posts with at total of at least 150 words. Thanks and God bless!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Homework 5, Due Nov 19, 2011
Changing Landscape in America
As we study an often over-looked period of US history, you will learn that the 35 years between the end of the Civil War and the dawn of the twentieth century were an important era that changed America from an unimportant "new world" country to a major player on the international scene. Our economy transformed from a simple agrarian society to a complex industrial powerhouse, and politically the US went from Washington's isolationism to the US Age of Empire. Literally millions of immigrants poured into the country, changing the way that Americans lived, worked, looked and sounded. As we've noted in lecture, it was also a time to readjust race relations in America post-slavery, especially in the South.
All of these things and more make this period an important one for understanding the true identity of America. Follow the link http://www.hippocampus.org/US%20History%20II and choose any three of the titles under "Changing Landscape" to read and review as your homework assignment. Do the reading and watch the videos then report back what you find. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as all of those before. Do your best!
As we study an often over-looked period of US history, you will learn that the 35 years between the end of the Civil War and the dawn of the twentieth century were an important era that changed America from an unimportant "new world" country to a major player on the international scene. Our economy transformed from a simple agrarian society to a complex industrial powerhouse, and politically the US went from Washington's isolationism to the US Age of Empire. Literally millions of immigrants poured into the country, changing the way that Americans lived, worked, looked and sounded. As we've noted in lecture, it was also a time to readjust race relations in America post-slavery, especially in the South.
All of these things and more make this period an important one for understanding the true identity of America. Follow the link http://www.hippocampus.org/US%20History%20II and choose any three of the titles under "Changing Landscape" to read and review as your homework assignment. Do the reading and watch the videos then report back what you find. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as all of those before. Do your best!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Homework 4, Due Nov 11, 2011
In class this week we will discuss the role of habeas corpus in Civil War history and, throughout the remainder of the year, will see instances when the government is tempted to suspend (or even in rare cases ignore) the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. The argument for such an action is usually that it is easier to "get the job done" when the "red tape" has been removed. While we, as Christians, are biblically called upon to obey the laws of the land, it is important for the preservation of liberty that, as citizens, we are aware of our rights and that we hold our leaders accountable to the Constitution.
Decisions that are rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court are extremely important because it is almost impossible to undue the legal restrictions and precedents they establish. In the years following the Civil War, not only were there cities and homes to restore, but also a certain balance of power that needed to be corrected. Actions taken by the Lincoln administration in the time of war were feared to pose a real danger to individual liberty once the war was over. For this reason Congress and the Court, in their separate ways, attempted to reform American government.
In this week's assignment I'd like you to research a Supreme Court case entitled "Ex parte Milligan, 1866" (filed usually under Milligan, ex parte). Lambdin Milligan was undoubtedly a criminal, and something had to be done about his scheme, but the Court ruled (9-0, which is very rare) that the Lincoln administration had made a mistake. It will take some thought to sort out why the Court (led by Lincoln-appointed Salmon P. Chase) disagreed with Lincoln's handling of the situation.
Write an essay (200 word minimum) that explains what the dispute was about, and make a suggestion as to how the need of the government to provide for the safety of society can, in such situations, be balanced with the constitutional guarantees of individual liberty.
As you might have noticed, this is a topic that still matters today. For 10 bonus points on the next test, in addition to the homework assignment, write an essay (turn it in to me in class) that compares and contrasts the Milligan case with the case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 2005.
Good luck and God bless! Don't forget to site your sources and to leave 150 words of comments on the work of others.
Decisions that are rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court are extremely important because it is almost impossible to undue the legal restrictions and precedents they establish. In the years following the Civil War, not only were there cities and homes to restore, but also a certain balance of power that needed to be corrected. Actions taken by the Lincoln administration in the time of war were feared to pose a real danger to individual liberty once the war was over. For this reason Congress and the Court, in their separate ways, attempted to reform American government.
In this week's assignment I'd like you to research a Supreme Court case entitled "Ex parte Milligan, 1866" (filed usually under Milligan, ex parte). Lambdin Milligan was undoubtedly a criminal, and something had to be done about his scheme, but the Court ruled (9-0, which is very rare) that the Lincoln administration had made a mistake. It will take some thought to sort out why the Court (led by Lincoln-appointed Salmon P. Chase) disagreed with Lincoln's handling of the situation.
Write an essay (200 word minimum) that explains what the dispute was about, and make a suggestion as to how the need of the government to provide for the safety of society can, in such situations, be balanced with the constitutional guarantees of individual liberty.
As you might have noticed, this is a topic that still matters today. For 10 bonus points on the next test, in addition to the homework assignment, write an essay (turn it in to me in class) that compares and contrasts the Milligan case with the case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 2005.
Good luck and God bless! Don't forget to site your sources and to leave 150 words of comments on the work of others.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)