American History Homework Ten Answers - Student Eighteen

Michelle F

1. How could you have prepared better for the midterm exam, and which part of American history do you think you could improve most for next time?

I could have begun studying earlier and reread all of the lectures, instead of just rereading the ones I was least knowledgeable on. Next time I could improve on my knowledge and understanding of cartoons, legislation, and treaties.

Good points, but you did fantastic anyway.

2. Which is your favorite question on the midterm exam that you missed and what do you like about the question or subject matter?

Question 10 on the girls test. While I was taking the test, I was amused when I saw that King Henry VIII was an option. I did not think that anyone would choose that as an answer on an AMERICAN history exam.

Right!

3. Comment on any aspect of the Scopes Trial or the issues leading up to it, and/or can you compare it to any other influential trial in American history?

I find interesting how, even though William Jennings Bryan won the case, the evidence is often distorted, not just then, but still today, to make it seem like he suffered a moral defeat. Microsoft Encarta says

“Bryan won the case, and Scopes was found guilty and fined $100, but the humiliating cross-examination to which Bryan was subjected by Darrow, revealing his ignorance of scientific discoveries, probably hurt the fundamentalist cause ”1

     (Emphasis added)

In truth, after the cross-examination, Darrow asked the jury to find his client guilty.

Right, the Microsoft Encarta entry is completely biased and wrong, perhaps due to H.L Mencken's biased reporting of the trial.

4. Do you think the United States should have entered WWI, and why?

I think that the United States should have entered WWI. We could not have stayed isolated from the political conflict and the actual military conflict showed prospect of coming to our shores, as evidenced by the Zimmerman telegram. Not only that, but the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare threatened the lives of American civilians and violated the rules of neutrality. Germany agreed to make reparations and said that they would not sink any more passenger ships without warning. But in March of the next year, the Germans sunk a French vessel with American passengers. America gave Germany a tacit ultimatum to discontinue the unrestricted submarine warfare. In January 1917 Germany announced that, starting February 1st, they would be resuming unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson broke off diplomatic relations but still attempted to keep the United States neutral. However, on April 6, America declared war. I think that the United States made the right decision in entering the war. I’m just surprised it took us so long.

Superb analysis.

5. Your view of Teddy Roosevelt, please.

Teddy Roosevelt is not one of my favorite presidents, but I think he did better than McKinley would have. However Roosevelt had many policies and regulations, etc., that I do not agree with. One that had been misrepresented his use of the Sherman Antitrust Act to prosecute the Great Northern Railway Company in the Northern Securities Case. The owner of this company, James Jerome Hill, had an unusual approach to building his railways. He took time to make sure it was done well, so it would last, he developed the surrounding area, and he did not accept government subsidies. Most transcontinental railways at the time were government subsidized. The subsidies were given based on how many miles the railways covered, so the companies rushed to build as fast and far as possible. At one point, he combined his various companies into one to make management easier. Teddy Roosevelt called this a monopoly and urged the Supreme Court to strike down Northern Securities.

Altogether he wasn’t a bad president. He’s just not one of my favorites.

Wow, I didn't know that about the Great Northern Railway Company case! Will use as a model answer also!

6. Pick one of the Constitutional Amendments 16 through 19, and express your understanding and view of it.

The 17th Amendment gave the power to select senators to the people, as opposed to the state legislatures as it was in the Constitution. This enables the senators to be the people’s choice, instead of being entirely the politicians’ choice.

Right.

7.Explain the cartoon.

Depicts Teddy Roosevelt, dressed as an angel, pinching the cheeks of Russia and Japan. The Cartoonist is mocking Russia and Japan for needing Teddy Roosevelt’s help.

Right, but mention the purpose: to have them sign the Treaty to end their war in 1905.

H1. Write about any battle or innovation or tactic in World War I.

Chemical warfare made its big debut in WWI when it was used by both sides. It was used both as a physical and psychological weapon. The three main chemicals used in the war were mustard gas, chlorine gas, and phosgene. Phosgene, also known as carbon chloride (COCl2), was lethal in amounts as small as 50 parts per million. It was a choking agent with an unpleasant smell when in high concentration. When inhaled it would cause the lungs to fill with water. Chlorine gas was a greenish-yellow substance with an irritating odor. It would destroy the cells that line the respiratory tract. Last is mustard gas, named for its mustardy smell. It consisted of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and either sulfur or nitrogen. It was usually a solid or liquid, but could be dispensed as an aerosol. It was a blistering agent, causing damage to any surface it came in contact with. It was used more often as it was more stable than chlorine gas or phosgene. Mustard gas could contaminate an area for days after it was released. There were many drawbacks to using chemical warfare. One such drawback was that in the gas had a tendency be blown back at the army who was releasing it, depending on which way the wind blows. Use of chemicals in war has greatly decreased since WWI, and it is unusual now. There are very few wars in which it is suspected that it was used and even fewer are confirmed.

Superb analysis.

H2.What is your view on the limitations of free speech during World War I?

I think that, however tedious it may have been at the time, it was a necessary step in keeping information quiet that the government wished to keep quiet. The Lusitania was sunk because someone let the Germans know that there was ammunition on the ship.

Good.

H3. Please provide your analysis of the midterm exam, in any way. Were the questions challenging? Did it cover the Periods and subject matter appropriately? Did you learn from it overall? I think that it was definitely challenging. But I don’t think that it should have been any easier. I think that it did not cover all subjects equally, however. There were a lot of questions on people, laws, ideas and causes of wars, but very few on the wars themselves. I think that wars and military developments and tactics are a very important part of history.

You're exactly right. Another student pointed this out also. The reason I didn't have much on wars is because the college board exams do not either, but now I'm seeing that a serious bias in the college board exams.

You scored two model answers, a rarity at this point! Terrific homework paper. Score: 99/100. Congratulations.--Aschlafly 23:35, 23 November 2008 (EST)

1"Bryan, William Jennings," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2000. © 1993-1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.