Task 3 & 4
COMPETENCIES
1002.1.3 : Reconstruction and the Age of American Imperialism
The graduate examines the major changes that defined the United States in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.
INTRODUCTION
Over the course of the nineteenth century, the United States matured into a country with interests and influences extending beyond North America. Following the upheaval of the Civil War, Americans tried to reassemble their country and bring the states of the former Confederacy back into the Union. The decade of Reconstruction was characterized by contentious legislation and attempts to integrate African Americans into the political, economic, and social frameworks of the United States. The Second Industrial Revolution reached its height during the second half of the century as well. New innovations in manufacturing, transportation, and communication accelerated the growth of consumer culture and changed the standard of living in the United States. As the nineteenth century drew to a close, the United States became an overseas empire, fighting wars with European powers over territorial influence and acquiring colonial possessions of its own.
In this assessment, you will examine the legal and social changes that took place during Reconstruction in the United States. You will also consider the ways that industrialization and imperialism contributed to the emergence of the United States as an international power during the late nineteenth century.
REQUIREMENTS
Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. An originality report is provided when you submit your task that can be used as a guide.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
A. Discuss three major changes in race relations (i.e., laws, amendments, labor arrangements, working conditions, migration patterns, socioeconomic changes) that resulted from Reconstruction (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs).
B. Describe two consequences of industrialization on American politics and/or society (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs).
C. Explain the rise of the Progressive movement (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) by doing the following:
1. Describe the role of religion and social morality in promoting Progressive reforms.
2. Describe two reform movements that helped to define the Progressive Era.
3. Discuss one impact of the Progressive movement on American politics (i.e., amendments, legislation, diplomatic decisions).
D. Explain (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) the role of American imperialism in leading the United States into two of the following conflicts:
• Hawaiian Annexation
• War in the Philippines
• Spanish-American War
• World War I
E. Provide acknowledgement of source information, using in-text citations and references, for quoted, paraphrased, or summarized content.
1. Include the following information when providing source references:
• author
• date
• title
• location of information (e.g., publisher, journal, or website URL)
RUBRIC
COMPETENT
The candidate provides adequate articulation of response.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient support, of 3 major changes, in race relations that resulted from Reconstruction.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides an appropriate description, with sufficient detail, of 2 consequences of industrialization on American politics and/or society.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides an accurate description, with sufficient detail, of the role of religion and social morality in promoting Progressive reforms.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides an accurate description, with sufficient detail, of 2 reform movements that helped to define the Progressive Era.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of 1 impact of the Progressive movement on American politics.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical explanation, with sufficient detail, of the role of American imperialism in leading the United States into 2 of the given conflicts.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides sufficient acknowledgement of source information, using in-text citations and references, for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized content.
COMPETENT
The candidate includes the given points, with accurate and complete information, when providing source references.
Task 4
COMPETENCIES
1002.1.4 : The Making of Modern America
The graduate explains significant international and domestic challenges that the United States confronted since World War I.
INTRODUCTION
The development of the United States in the twentieth century was shaped by several challenges: an economic collapse, global war, and social and political upheaval at home. The economic collapse that preceded the Great Depression brought high unemployment, increased prices for goods, and displaced populations across the United States. President Franklin Roosevelt promised a “New Deal” for Americans, and during his administration the federal government intervened in the American economy with regulations and stimulus, changing the relationship between the states and the federal government. The aftermath of the Second World War brought the United States to greater international prominence, but the following geopolitical and ideological struggle with the Soviet Union divided the planet and threatened international destruction through the use of thermonuclear weapons. At the same time as the United States was expanding its role as an international power, many domestic protest movements challenged institutional discrimination and unequal systems of power in federal and state governments. Their victories resulted in legislation and legal precedents that changed the complexion of American society.
In this assessment you will examine several major events that shaped modern American society. You will consider how the New Deal policies were designed to ameliorate the effects of the Great Depression, how the Cold War was waged both internationally and domestically, and how the civil rights movement challenged the perceived assumptions of American society.
REQUIREMENTS
Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. An originality report is provided when you submit your task that can be used as a guide.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
A. Explain (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) the major causes of the Great Depression (e.g., economic policies, trade concerns, banking practices, international commerce).
B. Describe three ways (e.g., major legislation, organizations, relief and recovery efforts) that the New Deal sought to address the problems of the Great Depression (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs).
C. Explain how the end of World War II contributed to the rise of Cold War tensions (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) by doing the following:
1. Discuss the effect of the arms race on the rise of Cold War tensions.
2. Describe how differing ideologies led to increased Cold War tensions.
3. Explain the effect of Cold War tensions on American culture and domestic policies (e.g., security concerns, organizations, discrimination).
D. Explain two changes (e.g., legislation, cultural shifts, economic shifts) that came about as a result of one of the following historical events (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs):
• civil rights movement
• feminist movement
• gay rights movement
• rise of the religious right
E. Provide acknowledgement of source information, using in-text citations and references, for quoted, paraphrased, or summarized content.
1. Include the following information when providing source references:
• author
• date
• title
• location of information (e.g., publisher, journal, or website URL)
Task 4 RUBRIC
COMPETENT
The candidate provides adequate articulation of response.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical explanation, with sufficient detail, of the major causes of the Great Depression.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides an accurate description, with sufficient detail, of 3 ways that the New Deal sought to address the problems of the Great Depression.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical discussion, with sufficient detail, of the effect of the arms race on the rise of Cold War tensions.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides an accurate description, with sufficient detail, of how differing ideologies led to increased Cold War tensions.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical explanation, with sufficient detail, of the effect of Cold War tensions on American culture and domestic policies.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides a logical explanation, with sufficient support, of 2 changes that came about as a result of 1 of the given historical events.
COMPETENT
The candidate provides sufficient acknowledgement of source information, using in-text citations and references, for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized content.
COMPETENT
The candidate includes the given points, with accurate and complete information, when providing source references.
