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The American Experiment: A History of the United States,
Second Edition
Steven M. Gillon, University of Oklahoma
Cathy D. Matson, University of Delaware
et al.
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Learning Objectives
Upon completion of reading each chapter, you should be able to do each of the following:
- Describe the migration of people into the Western Hemisphere and the emergence of the early Native American civilizations that came to dominate the Americas.
- Compare and contrast the early Native American cultures that developed in North America with those of Mesoamerica and South America.
- Identify the early kingdoms of West Africa, and discuss how they shaped the region's social, economic, and political structure.
- Trace the events and developments that contributed to Europe's internal transformation during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and evaluate the role these changes played in the resulting European exploration.
- Trace the origins of African slavery and discuss the impact European involvement in the slave trade after 1400 had on the institution of slavery.
- Identify and evaluate the role of Christopher Columbus in Spain's ascendancy as an empire builder in the Western Hemisphere.
- Define the "Columbian Exchange," and assess its impact on those regions of the world that were involved.
Top- Discuss the impact Spain's quest for political and economic control of the New World had on the native peoples and environment of the Western Hemisphere.
- Compare and contrast the triumphs and setbacks of colonists who migrated to the New World from Spain, France, Holland, and England.
- Describe the motivation of early settlers to Jamestown, and identify the obstacles they had to overcome, discuss how the motivation and experiences differed from the Pilgrims, and explain why they succeeded.
- Outline the events that led to the introduction of African slaves into the Western Hemisphere, and explain why slavery gained a foothold in the Chesapeake.
- Discuss the political, economic, and social distinctions that emerged as the earliest North American colonies took hold.
- Describe the cultural differences between the Native Americans and English settlers who came in contact with each other during the seventeenth century, and discuss the role these conflicting paradigms played in the resulting tension and conflict, which followed.
Top- Compare and contrast the circumstances and events that led to the founding of the first English settlements in North America with those of the colonies established during the Restoration period.
- Describe the distinctive features that characterized the new colonies in North America and explain how these features evolved as the process of founding and development proceeded.
- Discuss how English authorities attempted to organize and manage the economic, politics, military, and the cultural affairs of the colonies, and explain how the colonists responded to this type of intervention.
- Examine the impact of the Glorious Revolution on the colonies and describe the legacy of these events in the forthcoming revolutionary period.
- Discuss the relationship between the continuing expansion of the colonies and the numerous wars that persisted in North America.
- Identify the basic ideas and principles of the Enlightenment, and evaluate the impact of the movement on the embryonic revolutionary spirit in the colonies.
Top- Describe the kinds of social and cultural distinctions that developed among the colonists during the 1700s.
- Identify the various ethnic and cultural groups that were represented in the new wave of immigrants that streamed into the colonies during the early to mid-eighteenth century.
- Discuss the motivation of the new immigrants in making the trek to North America, and identify their settlement patterns in the colonies.
- Identify the causes of the series of conflicts that took place on the Colonial frontier and assess the effect this tension had on both settlers and Native Americans.
- Compare and contrast the economic and social structure that developed in northern colonies with that which emerged in southern colonies.
- Describe how the political and cultural maturation of rural settlements differed from those of coastal cities and villages.
- Discuss the factors that led to the reliance upon slave labor in the colonies, and compare and contrast North American slavery with that which developed in the Caribbean.
- Identify the causes and manifestations of the Great Awakening, and evaluate the impact of the movement on eighteenth century colonial life.
Top- Discuss why colonial representatives held a meeting in Albany during the summer of 1754, and explain why the Albany Congress failed to accomplish its goal.
- Describe the causes and consequences of the French and Indian War, and discuss how this contributed to the rising tensions in the English Empire.
- Explain the causes of colonial frontier tensions during the mid-eighteenth century, and identify the significance and legacy of the resulting violence that erupted.
- Discuss how the Parliament attempted to legislate colonial obedience during the Imperial Crisis, and evaluate the short-term effectiveness of their efforts.
- Identify the long-range goals and intent of the colonists' repeated protest against the actions of Parliament.
- Describe how colonial protests led to new colonial political authority, extralegal committees, and outright mob actions.
- Explain why colonial leaders convened the First Continental Congress, and describe the shared cultural identity that helped the colonists to forge unified actions.
Top- Identify the ideas and experiences that accounted for such a large percentage of the diverse colonial population opting for the decision to declare independence, and discuss why these colonists remained committed at each turn of the war.
- Discuss the efforts of the Second Continental Congress to mobilize for war.
- Explain how the revolutionary leaders reconciled their mobilization for war with simultaneous attempts to petition King George III for an end to hostilities.
- Identify the types of individuals and groups, who: a) joined the American patriots; b) actively opposed independence; and c) remained neutral in the Revolution. Discuss the motives of each group.
- Identify the major leaders and battles of the American Revolution, and assess the impact these individuals and events had on the outcome of the war.
- Describe the kinds of hardships, shortages, and sacrifices that revolutionaries endured as the war progressed.
- Discuss the key components of the Articles of Confederation. Explain why such a weak central government was established. Evaluate the legacy of the governing document.
- Explain to what extent patriots were motivated by republican values about individual character and the proper role of government, and to what extent they were motivated by the desire for economic success and political self-government.
Top- Describe the critical economic issues facing the new American government following the Revolution, and evaluate how well these matters were addressed by political leaders.
- Identify the focus of widespread postwar discussions about American political and cultural identity, and discuss the impact these discussions had on American society.
- Discuss the powers new states enjoyed after the Revolution, and assess whether they were sufficient to protect Americans from external and internal discord.
- Compare and contrast the conflicting plans of government debated at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, and evaluate the role compromise played in these discussions.
- Outline the Federalist strategy for ratifying the Constitution, and discuss the factors that led to their success.
- Identify the principles and institutions Alexander Hamilton promoted as Secretary of the Treasury, and describe how his policies shaped the nation's government and economy.
- Identify the foreign policy crises that confronted the nation during the Federalist era, and evaluate Presidents Washington and Adams' response to these events.
Top- Define the "Revolution of 1800", and explain why it represents such a seminal event in American History.
- Explain how the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans attempted to calm the bitterness of political factionalism, maintain small government, and promote development during the early nineteenth century.
- Assess the impact John Marshall and the Supreme Court had on America's economic and political landscape during the early nineteenth century, and describe the causes and consequences of the resulting tension between Marshall and Thomas Jefferson.
- Trace the events that led to the Louisiana Purchase, and evaluate how America's expansion into new frontiers affected other national interests.
- Discuss the causes, consequences, and significance of the War of 1812.
- Define the "Era of Good Feelings," and identify the economic, social, and political crises of the Madison and Monroe presidency that appear to contradict this historical label.
- Evaluate the performance of the three native-son politicians of the "Virginia Dynasty" that occupied the White House.
Top- Explain how Americans reacted to economic and political change in the early republic, and describe how their reactions affected American society and culture.
- Discuss the causes and consequences of the Second Great Awakening. Compare and contrast the leaders, message, and affect of the First and Second Great Awakening. Why has this been characterized as both an emotional and rational awakening?
- Outline those factors that led to the construction of canals and roads in America during the first half of the nineteenth century, and discuss the role federal and state governments played in the development of these transportation networks.
- Discuss how new machines and technologies changed commerce in the early republic, and identify those groups and individuals that sought such changes and benefited from them.
- Describe how far-reaching material innovations joined frontiers and settled areas together into one nation, while at the same time enhancing regional differences.
- Define "scientific farming" and discuss the economic and social impact this agricultural innovation had on American farms.
- Trace the emergence of "King Cotton" during the post-revolutionary period, and evaluate the effect cotton had on the Southern economy and society, including the institution of slavery.
Top- Discuss the conditions and values that gave rise to the new political culture called the "era of the common man."
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1824 presidential election. Define the "corrupt bargain" and assess the affect it had on the Adams Administration.
- Define democracy, and explain how Jacksonian democracy departed from the traditional republican political culture of the post-revolutionary period.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1828 and 1832 presidential elections. Discuss the role of Martin Van Buren in these contests, and identify the "famous firsts" of the 1832 campaign.
- Outline the political initiatives and accomplishments of the Jacksonian period, and assess whether Jacksonian politics and policies truly represented the values and aspirations of most Americans.
- Trace the rise of the Whig party and the Workingmen's parties, and discuss how successful these new parties were in changing the American political landscape.
Top- Discuss how northern life was transformed during the first half of the nineteenth century, and identify those groups who welcomed the new cultural and economic opportunities, and those who resisted them.
- Identify the leaders, goals, setbacks, and accomplishments of the social reform and women's rights movements during the first half of the nineteenth century.
- Outline the factors that contributed to the transformation of industry and labor during the early nineteenth century, and evaluate the role the putting out, free labor, Waltham system, and Lowell system played in this process.
- Explain how industrialization altered social relations in America and how the political culture embodied the expectations, opportunities, and tensions of ethnic groups and social classes.
- Discuss how a distinctively American culture began to develop during the early to mid-nineteenth century, despite regional, ethnic, and class differences.
- Trace the development of utopian societies in America during the nineteenth century, and explain why many of these societies failed.
- Define transcendentalism, and identify the leaders, literary contributions, and legacy of the movement.
Top- Identify the range of attitudes about slavery in the North and South.
- Compare and contrast the motivation, proposals, and efforts of those individuals who believed in gradual emancipation and colonization with those who advocated immediate emancipation and rebellion.
- Discuss what made the culture and economy of the South distinctive from that of the North and West.
- Describe the culture that developed in slave communities of the South, and explain how it differed from the white culture of the same region.
- Describe the causes and consequences of the tensions that developed among small farmers, plantation owners, and slaves in the South.
- Outline the forms of slave resistance that took place during the early to mid-nineteenth century, and evaluate the role slave revolts played in Northern and Southern society.
- Identify the arguments promoted by some Southerners in defense of slavery, and evaluate the impact their speeches and writings had on American society.
Top- Define Manifest Destiny, and discuss the role government and business played in promoting westward migration during the nineteenth century.
- Identify the hardships migrants encountered on their trek to the West, and describe the types of communities they established.
- Describe the ideas westward migrants shared about moving West, the type of culture that should develop there, and the government's role in supporting settlements and defining legal rights.
- Discuss the tensions that arose between Native Americans and western settlers, and evaluate the impact these conflicts had on western society and culture.
- Trace the events that led to the establishment of an independent Republic of Texas.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1844 and 1848 presidential elections.
- Discuss the causes, consequences, and significance of the Mexican War.
- Explain why so many Americans opposed the Mexican War.
Top- Discuss the role of western frontier development, the expansion of slavery, and emerging industrialization in exacerbating the sectional divisions between the North and South.
- Identify the leading proponents for each regional and/or political interest in the debate, and outline the arguments they provided in support of their political proposals and personal beliefs.
- Identify and evaluate the compromises that political and cultural leaders attempted to forge during the antebellum period, and explain why their compromises ultimately failed.
- Define "Young America," and discuss the affect the movement had on the Pierce Administration foreign policy.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1852, 1856, and 1860 presidential elections. Compare and contrast the concerns and mood of the country in each of these contests.
- Discuss the political rise of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party during the mid-nineteenth century.
- Trace the events, from 1850 to 1860, that led to the ultimate failure of compromise and outbreak of the Civil War.
Top- Outline the assets and liabilities of the North and South at the start of the Civil War, and evaluate how well the war strategies of each side reflected their strengths and resources.
- Explain how the Union and Confederacy mobilized the military, economy, and public opinion for war.
- Compare and contrast the impact of the war on Northern and Southern society.
- Describe the naval strategy of the Union and Confederacy, and identify the successes and setbacks experienced by both sides during the war.
- Identify the role of women and African Americans during the Civil War.
- Trace the major battles of the Civil War, identifying the military leaders, strategies, results, and significance of each.
- Explain why General Grant's strategy for a Union victory was successful.
- Discuss how President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation transformed the war.
Top- Describe the social, economic, and political devastation in the North and South that resulted from the Civil War.
- Compare and contrast Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson's plans for Reconstruction.
- Explain why President Johnson and the Republican-controlled Congress divided over Reconstruction policy.
- Discuss the Reconstruction goals of the Radical Republicans, and describe the role they felt the government should play in achieving these objectives.
- Explain how African Americans responded to freedom and political participation during Reconstruction, and discuss how southern whites reacted to the political participation of Freedmen.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1868, 1872, and 1876 presidential elections. Discuss the controversy surrounding the 1876 contest, and the impact of the resulting Compromise of 1877.
- Define the "New South." Discuss how it differed from the "Old South," and explain how it reflected the failure of Reconstruction.
- Explain why Reconstruction has been called "America's unfinished revolution."
Top- Identify the groups who migrated westward during the last half of the nineteenth century, and discuss their motivation for making the trek to this region.
- Discuss and evaluate the role that the federal government played in settling the West.
- Identify the Native American tribes that inhabited the American West, and describe the impact westward migration and settlement had on their society and culture.
- Describe how migrants to the West viewed and treated the environment and its resources, and explain how enterprises in the West resembled those in the East.
- Identify the cultural attitudes and racial stereotypes settlers brought with them to the West, and discuss how these assumptions shaped the societies they created.
- Trace the origins of the modern conservation movement to this period in American history.
- Discuss the role of women, Chinese, and Hispanic residents in the West and discuss how they shaped Western society.
- Define the "Myth of the Garden," and explain why Americans transformed the West into a cultural symbol of rugged individualism.
Top- Discuss how advances in technology, marketing, and transportation spurred industrial expansion after the Civil War.
- Identify the factors that led to the emergence of a new consumer society in America, and describe how this development affected the American economy and society.
- Explain how American cultural values sanctioned competition, and describe how business managers attempted to limit competition.
- Define vertical and horizontal integration, and identify the business leaders who employed these practices, and the impact they had on the economy.
- Discuss how the nature of work and composition of the work force were altered in industrializing America.
- Identify the new working people of industrializing America; and describe the conditions and attitudes they encountered.
- Identify the national labor unions that emerged during the late nineteenth century, discuss how these unions responded to the new work environment, and explain why their organizing efforts were not more successful.
Top- Identify the groups of immigrants who came to America during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, and discuss the impact they had on urban life.
- Describe the social, economic, and political problems that plagued American cities during the late nineteenth century, and evaluate government attempts to address societal ills.
- Discuss how changes in transportation and improvements in technology influenced the geography of American cities during the late nineteenth century.
- Define "democracy of amusement," and describe the affect it had on American theater, entertainment, sports, and journalism during this period.
- Explain how the new social environment of the late nineteenth century influenced literary and artistic development in America.
- Identify the gains made by women during the late nineteenth century that allowed them to challenge traditional notions of gender roles, and discuss the legacy of these developments.
- Discuss how urban life influenced American culture and identity.
- Explain why many middle-class Protestants found the city threatening, and assess their efforts to "defend" traditional values and beliefs against this perceived threat.
Top- Define the "Gilded Age," and explain why the national government failed to grapple with the pressing issues facing Americans during the late nineteenth century.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1880, 1884, 1888, and 1892 presidential elections.
- Discuss the role of third parties in Gilded Age elections and politics.
- Discuss the issues that confronted each of the Gilded Age presidents, and compare and contrast their political accomplishments and setbacks.
- Identify the roots of farmers' discontent in the late nineteenth century, and trace the emergence of the Farmers' Alliances and Populist party.
- Describe the political, social, and economic crises of the 1890s, and evaluate the government's reaction to these events.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1896 presidential election, and discuss its role in ushering in a new modern age in American politics and society.
Top- Define progressivism, and identify the groups in society that joined in progressive reform movements.
- Outline the major components of the progressive agenda, and discuss the role the progressives expected the government to play in correcting the nation's problems.
- Distinguish between the goals and tactics of radicals and progressives.
- Discuss how progressivism manifested itself in national politics and in the actions of the federal government.
- Define muckrakers, and identify those individuals involved in muckraking activities during this period and the results of their efforts.
- Identify the political reforms that were implemented at the city and state levels during the progressive era.
- Discuss and evaluate the goals, tactics, and accomplishments of African American and women reformers during the progressive era.
- Compare and contrast the progressive reform agendas and accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
Top- Explain why America abandoned its traditional isolationist foreign policy posture in favor of expansionism at the end of the nineteenth century, and identify the leaders of this movement.
- Trace the events that led to the start of the Spanish-American War, and evaluate the role of the "yellow press" in influencing public opinion in favor of war.
- Discuss how the Spanish-American War represented a critical tuning pointing in U.S. foreign policy.
- Identify the major figures and battles of the Spanish-American War, and discuss the lessons of preparedness the war taught Americans.
- Identify the issues and leaders in the debate between expansionists and anti-imperialists over the annexation of the Philippines.
- Define "Big Stick Diplomacy," and discuss how Theodore Roosevelt implemented his view of America's role in the world during his presidency.
- Describe and evaluate Woodrow Wilson's response to the Mexican revolution, and compare and contrast President Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt's approach to foreign policy.
Top- Discuss the traditions and values that made Americans reluctant to enter World War I, and explain why the Wilson Administration violated their official policy of neutrality.
- Trace those events between 1914 and 1917 that led to America's entry into World War I.
- Describe how President Wilson mobilized the economy, military, and public opinion for war, and examine how the demands of mobilization changed the scope of government power.
- Discuss the impact of mobilization and war on individual rights and social reform in America.
- Discuss the role American troops played in World War I, the type of warfare and hardships they endured, and the impact they had on the final outcome of the war.
- Identify the key elements of Woodrow Wilson's peace plan, and describe the obstacles he faced at home and abroad in implementing his plan.
- Explain how the social and cultural tensions of the period contributed to the civil unrest and Red Scare at the end of World War I.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1916 and 1920 presidential elections.
Top- Explain why the decade of the 1920s has been called the "New Era" or "Roaring Twenties," and evaluate the accuracy of these labels.
- Discuss the role of movies and radio in shaping a new national culture in America during the 1920s.
- Define the "Lost Generation" and "Harlem Renaissance," and identify the leaders, contributions, and legacy of these movements.
- Describe the cultural clash that characterized the 1920s, and identify the major contestants in this struggle.
- Identify the trends in national politics that reflected 1920's tensions.
- Discuss the role of mass communications in producing the cultural phenomenon of the sports hero and in promulgating the cult of individualism.
- Define independent internationalism, and evaluate the role it played in President Harding's and President Coolidge's foreign policy achievements and setbacks.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1924 and 1928 presidential elections.
Top- Identify the causes of the Great Depression, and describe the manifestations of the economic crisis in American society.
- Compare and contrast President Hoover's initial response to the Great Depression with those actions taken in the latter part of his term of office. Evaluate Hoover's overall effectiveness in confronting the economic crisis.
- Compare and contrast the legislative and executive actions taken by President Hoover and President Roosevelt to address the economic crisis confronting the nation.
- Define the New Deal and explain how it expanded the role of the government.
- Discuss the impact of the Great Depression and New Deal on American literature, entertainment, and the arts during the 1930s.
- Identify and assess the impact of New Deal programs on the economic, social, and political status of African Americans, Native Americans, and women.
- Evaluate the overall effectiveness of President Roosevelt in addressing the economic and social crisis that confronted America during the Great Depression, and describe the legacy of the New Deal.
- Identify those groups that benefited the most from Roosevelt's policies and explain why.
Top- Discuss the factors that led to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's isolationist posture during his first two terms of office, and assess the impact this policy had on events in Europe and Asia.
- Trace the events that led to American involvement in World War II.
- Identify the Allied strategy for victory in World War II, and explain how disagreements among the "Big Three" contributed to postwar tensions between the Soviets and the West.
- Explain how World War II contributed to the development of a national culture, and discuss how it contributed to social tensions.
- Identify and evaluate the role African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and women played on the home front and in combat during World War II.
- Describe the events of the Holocaust, and evaluate the American government's response to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany.
- Assess the impact World War II had on American attitudes toward government and world affairs.
Top- Identify the origins of the Cold War, and explain how tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated during the post-World War II period.
- Describe the attempt by the Truman Administration to establish an economic, political, and military shield in Europe against the "communist threat," and evaluate the impact of these efforts.
- Define containment, and discuss how this shaped American foreign policy during the Cold War.
- Trace the events of the Korean conflict, and identify the political, diplomatic, and military issues and events that prolonged the war.
- Explain how the Korean conflict brought about a new direction in American foreign policy and military strategy.
- Identify the factors in the postwar period which influenced American's attitudes toward government and reform. Discuss how these attitudes affected Truman's domestic agenda.
- Describe the origins of the Second Red Scare, and explain how American fears of communism affected attitudes toward society and individual rights.
Top- Trace the roots of the "consumer revolution" and explain how consumerism changed postwar American society.
- Identify the manifestations of mass culture in 1950s American society.
- Explain why critics worried about the impact of consumerism and mass culture on American character and evaluate the credibility of their concerns.
- Define dynamic conservatism, and discuss how American values shaped Dwight D. Eisenhower's policies during his presidency.
- Explain how social realities in the 1950s differed from the ideals portrayed in mass culture.
- Describe the impact of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision and the Montgomery Bus Boycott on the civil rights movement and on American society.
- Identify those factors which undercut America's sense of satisfaction and security by 1960.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1952, 1956, and 1960 presidential elections.
Top- Compare and contrast President Kennedy's role in the Bay of Pigs invasion with that of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Discuss the impact each of these events had on Americans and on America's stature throughout the world.
- Identify the components of President Johnson's "War on Poverty," and evaluate its affect on the American economy and society.
- Outline those events that led to increased American involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1960s, and discuss the impact the war had on American's view of themselves and their role in world affairs.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. Compare and contrast the role American involvement in Vietnam played in both contests.
- Define "counterculture," and identify the leaders and objectives of the movement.
- Explain what the youth revolt suggested about social divisions in America and the differences over what it meant to be an American.
- Identify the leaders of the civil rights movement during the 1960s. Describe the goals and tactics of each of these leaders, and evaluate their effectiveness in bringing about political and social change in America.
- Discuss why the liberal consensus proved illusory.
Top- Compare and contrast the objectives of President Nixon's policy of Vietnamization with those of the "Madman Theory" approach. Evaluate the effectiveness of each approach in bringing about the end of the Vietnam War.
- Define the "silent majority," and explain what accounted for their attitudes toward government and society.
- Discuss why so many groups mobilized to demand certain rights during the 1970s, and evaluate how effective they were in achieving their goals.
- Explain how failure in Vietnam forced Americans to reconsider their approach to world affairs.
- Identify the individuals and events that were involved in Watergate. Discuss the role of President Nixon, Congress, and the Supreme Court in these events. Determine the legacy of the Watergate crisis.
- Describe how popular culture reflected the social conflicts of the 1970s, and explain how America's political institutions coped with these conflicting demands.
- Explain why 1979 has been called the "year of crisis," and discuss how the events of this year came to characterize the Carter presidency.
Top- Discuss the roots of public anger with government and the impact it had on the rise of the conservative movement in the 1980s.
- Discuss how Ronald Reagan tapped into public discontent, and why he became so politically successful.
- Define "Reaganomics" and evaluate the affect it had on the American economy of the 1980s, as well as its legacy.
- Examine the attitudes that shaped Ronald Reagan's view of the world, and assess the role he played in bringing about the end of the Cold War.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1980, 1984, and 1988 presidential elections.
- Describe the culture wars of the 1980s, and explain how these competing voices came to represent what it meant to be an American.
- Determine why so many Americans became fascinated with wealth and status during the 1980s. Discuss the relationship between this preoccupation and the resulting hourglass society that developed during this period.
Top- Identify those events that symbolized the end of the Cold War and assess the impact it had on American attitudes toward government.
- Discuss the causes, consequences, and significance of the Gulf War.
- Explain how U.S. actions toward Iraq and Yugoslavia reflected Americans' view of their national interests.
- Define the "information society," and explain how computer technology and the Internet affected the American economy and society during the late twentieth century.
- Identify the candidates, issues, results, and significance of the 1992, 1996, and 2000 presidential elections. Compare and contrast the controversy surrounding the 2000 presidential contest with that of 1876.
- Discuss how partisan divisions shaped American politics during the 1990s. Describe the role it played in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton. Compare and contrast the charges, proceedings, results, and significance of the Bill Clinton impeachment with that of Andrew Johnson.
- Describe the social tensions that characterized the 1990s, and explain what they reflected about Americans' view of themselves and society.
Top- Identify the events of September 11, 2001 and assess the impact they had on American domestic and foreign policy.
- Discuss the causes, consequences, and significance of the war with Iraq, often referred to as Gulf War II.
- Describe the expansion of federal power that took place during the presidency of George W. Bush.
- Define the War on Terror and discuss how it has been fought on the home front.
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