Unit 3 Document Workshop Day Fri 11/6
by Dr. H - November 6th, 2015
Document Workshop Chapters 23-24-25-26
Assignment for Today: Each group will address one of these questions below, using documents from your assigned part of our textbook. By the end of the day (preferably by the end of class) each group should leave a comment below, responding to your assigned question USING primary source EVIDENCE.
1) Using evidence from Documents 23.1 – 23.5, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
World War II transformed racial and gender relations in the US.
World War II reinforced traditional racial and gender relations in the US.
2) Using evidence from Documents 23.6 – 11, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
Because the Allies won the war, American values ultimately triumphed.
Although the Allies won the war, American values were ultimately undermined by the war.
3) Using evidence from Documents 24.1 – 5, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
The Cold War represented ideological and strategic continuity with World War II. Little had changed.
The Cold War represented a fundamental change from the ideological and strategic realities of World War II. Much had changed.
4) Using evidence from Documents 24.6 – 10, decide:
Who was more “un-American†in the 1950s: suspected Communists, or HUAC and Senator McCarthy? Why?
5) Using evidence from Documents 25.1 – 4, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
Postwar American suburban culture made the nation more secure and equal.
Postwar American suburban culture increased inequality and made the country less secure.
6) Using evidence from Documents 25.5 – 10, decide:
Whether people who were teenagers in the 1950s would be accurate in remembering the time with fond nostalgia for “the good old days�
7) Using evidence from Documents 26.1 – 2, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
The Cold War inspired American commitment and loyalty in the 1960s.
The Cold War divided Americans in the 1960s.
8) Using evidence from Documents 26.3 – 5, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
Protest / reform movements of the 1960s expanded opportunities and widened meaningful political participation.
Protest / reform movements of the 1960s failed to expand opportunities or meaningful political participation.
9) Using evidence from Documents 26.6 – 11, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
Freedom Summer (1964) succeeded in its goals.
Freedom Summer (1964) failed in its goals.
Teenagers from the 1950’s would be accurate in remembering the time with fond nostalgia for “the good old days”. In document 25.6 it says, “Kids are better-educated, better-informed, and, in the majority of cases, more alert today than at any previous time in history”. In 25.5 Dick Clark says, “The other reason, and it’s a long shot, is having a wide circle of friends, you meet more different types of people and learn how to adjust to them. This pays off after the teen years are past and you are either at work or away at school”. He then goes on to say “they’re especially fine if they have at least one ore two brothers of dating age”. In ways the teenagers of the 1950s were recruiting younger generations to model after the present generation by encouraging them to go to events such as community dances, mixed activities, and church activities. While teenagers of the 1950’s “recruited” younger generations to follow their likes and trends, they wanted to separate themselves as much as possible- music wise. There was harsh criticism from a majority of parents that criticized Elvis Presley who crossed over the traditional line and challenged more provocative clothes and dancing. In document 25.8 it says “Elvis is the king of popularity and we (teens of America) love him and we’ll see he lives forever. Not his body and his name. Adults won’t admit he’s so great, because they’re jealous ! They know top singers weren’t as great as Elvis. They’re mad because their taste isn’t as good as ours”. General Carlos P. Rumulo says that you will be really lonely if you lock yourself away from others in communication with others and said “a stranger is a friend that I haven’t met”. This idea was the philosophy of the ambitious teenagers of the 1950’s.
Question 3:
The Cold War represented a fundamental change from the ideological and strategic realities of World War II.
24.5 Mentions how the US has more international relations.
In WW2 the U.S fought to defend their country and in the Cold War they were competing against Russia.
Once one country got stronger the other country had to match. The tougher the U.S. got the Russians got equally as tough.
The allies won the war, American values were ultimately undermined by the war because they were more concerned about preventing the war and the elimination of the atomic weapons. They feared that if they were to use the weapons, their positions in the future would be negatively judged. Their obligation to our nation to use weapons to help save American lives in the Japanese war. Even though they got suggestions they tried to cooperate in making this development contribute to improved international relations. If America used the atomic power again their prejudiced against people would be heightened.
7) Using evidence from Documents 26.1 – 2, which of these is the more persuasive statement and why?
The Cold War inspired American commitment and loyalty in the 1960s.
The Cold War divided Americans in the 1960s.
The more persuasive statement is: The Cold War divided Americans in the 1960s. Looking at document 26.1, a comic where Khrushchev is pulling missiles from Castro’s mouth this image portrays Khrushchev as the one in power and Castro as powerless. The statement above the image “This hurts me more than it hurts you!†shows how the Soviet Union did not want to withdraw missiles from Cuba, their communist ally, but they were forced to. This statement is often used by parents on their children and using it between countries shows the power difference between Cuba and The Soviet Union, and it is obvious that the removal of missiles from Cuba will hurt Cuba more than it will the Soviet Union. An American artist created this cartoon for The Hartford Times so, this shows how many Americans viewed this crisis. Looking at document 26.2 a letter from an American solider to his girlfriend back home in August on 1969 shows the conflicting feeling of even the soldiers involved in the Vietnam War. During the time of this letter many Americans felt like troops should be withdrawn from Vietnam. George Olsen the writer of the letter says : “You kill because that little SOB is doing his best to kill you and you desperately want… to go home.†. It is important to note also in the letter he keeps repeating how terrified he is. This shows that the focus of the soldiers fighting was not necessarily on winning the war, but rather living so they could get back home. He goes on to say how he envied the people who did not have to fight and says “but I can’t see letting another taking my place and my risks over here.†He explains that he would rather it be him there potentially die than someone else. Both these documents illustrate the divided opinions the American people felt during the time of The Cold War in the 1960s.
In response to question 5, we believe that Postwar American suburban culture increased inequality and made the country less secure. According to Document 25.1, a publicity photo for Levittown, Pennsylvania, “…the suburban developments largely excluded African Americans and other minorities…This restriction, written in 1941, remained in effect for several decades.” This suburban town not only discouraged but banned African Americans from moving here, despite their working class.Therefore, even though African American families were in the same financial bracket as their white counterparts, they were not able to live side by side in these new suburban homes.
Across the country in Seattle, Racial Restrictions for housing blatantly stated that, “No property… shall at any time be sold, conveyed, rented, or leased in whole or in part to any person or persons not of the White or Caucasian race.” It went on to read that, “No person other than one of the White or Caucasian race shall be permitted to occupy any property in said addition…except a domestic servant actually employed by a person of the White or Caucasian race…” (25.2) This document and others liked it increased the visibility of racial inequality in the nation because based on one’s race, they could be denied housing even though they could afford it.
The House Committee on Un-American (HUAC) activities was arguably more un-American in the 1950’s than the suspected communists. During HUAC’s investigations against the suspected communists, HUAC infringed upon the rights of the accused communists. During Lawson’s testimony, he refused to answer questions, invoking the fifth ammendment. HUAC imprisoned and blacklisted Lawson without sufficient evidence. Lawson and other members of the Screen Writers Guild were pressured by HUAC to admit whatever HUAC wanted them to say.
We believe that Huac and McCarthy were more un-american. Huac was put in place to seek out domestic communist. One example is a man named John Lawson. He was a play write/ screen writer he was also a communist. He created communist type political themes in his playwrites. In 1947 he was tired before HUAC where they tried to get him to admit before the board that he was a communist. He uses the bill of rights to his adventage and to protect himself. McCarthy who was a senator and big into protecting the US from internal communism He accussed many employees and officials of being communist.
#8
Protest/ reform movement of the 1960s expanded opportunities and widened meaningful political participation.
In the first primary sources Students from the University of California at Santa Barbara formed the MEChA to be unified against a common problem, with a specific philosophy and a main objective through education. Then in the second primary source people unified to adjust the problems of poverty, and discrimination. It’s a speech to motivate individuals to fight against poverty, racism/discrimination. The third primary source then shows that people are trying to increase participation in political matters in a way of being conscious of what is already set in stone by the constitution. All these documents are clear representations of people who acquire a common goal against a problem such as, poverty, discrimination, education, and political awareness.
Some historians believe that the Cold War represented ideological and strategic continuity with World War II that brought little change; however, we believe that the Cold War represented a fundamental change from the ideological and strategic realities of World War II that brought much change. Henry Wallace believes that there will always be ideological conflict which will create change between countries within their business in political affairs throughout various countries. For example, Wallace illuminates his claim by exemplifying the need for a peace treaty between the United States and Russia in 1946. To further our argument, the Marshall Plan (1947), created the democratic basis for international cooperation which brings nations closer together and facilities the task of their mutual aid. This cooperation between countries will bring change both ideologically and strategically because it will create foreign support which is of importance. The view of a political aspect and of a document show that much change was brought during this time period regarding the Cold War and of World War II.
Our question was number 9, Did the Freedom Summer in 1964 succeed or fail in its goals? We came to the conclusion that the Freedom Summer failed because although they had many people join but they didn’t achieve their final goal. They didn’t get enough voters registered, the voter discrimination in Mississippi only 6.6 percent of Negros that were of age to vote actually voted. This is shown in document 26.9.
Based on the evidence, postwar American suburban culture increased inequality and made the country less secure. For example, in Billy Graham’s document,”What is Wrong with Our World?” he expresses how “all over the world men want peace, but somehow peace doesn’t come.” The reason that peace does not come is because the country is still fighting social inequalities at this point in time, due to the gap between classes and segregation that was still occurring. As shown in document 25.2, there were still inequalities between races because white people were the only ones that were allowed to live in suburban areas which showcased segregation in America at the time.
We believe that the first thesis is the more persuasive statement because before the war president Roosevelt emphasized American values in his 4 freedom speech which were freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear. The actions of Japan caused fear in the American citizens and by deciding to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, president Truman reinforced freedom from fear boosting the American values. In Trumans press release on the atomic bomb he says “atomic power can become a powerful and forceful influence toward the maintenance of world peaceâ€. World peace is another way of saying freedom from fear.