US History II

We’re starting our semester where we’ll finish – at the end. For Wednesday 9/8, please read Josh Levin’s article for Slate.com magazine, titled “How is America Going to End?” It was published about a year ago, and reflects on several different scenarios for the “end of America,” whatever that might mean. It’s several essays bundled together – so look at at least a few of them. Levin postulates the nation will be radically altered by climate change, or fracture into several smaller nations, or fall under totalitarian rule. Are these likely, in your view? Where do you think the nation is headed? What strikes you as the greatest threat to our nation’s stability or security?

And (here’s the kicker) – how do you think studying the American past can help you make sense of your present and your future? In other words, FOR YOU, what parts of the American past do you most want to know about, or think are the most valuable for understanding where we are and where we’re headed?

You don’t need to print the articles, but you should have read them and be able to access them (or your notes on them) so you can speak intelligently about them in our class discussion.