American History Homework Nine Answers - Model

Lecture - Questions - Student Answers

1. In your opinion, the 2008 election that concluded on Tuesday is most similar to which election in history, and why?

I think the 2008 election is very similar to the Jackson election of 1824. His landslide victory in the presidential election of 1828 is similar to the landslide that Obama won over McCain. Also, the middle and lower class voters loved Jackson as much as the upper class disliked him. This is very similar, as many lower class, uneducated, and young people support Obama, while those who are educated and know what he really is strongly dislike him. (Natalie D.)

The recent election between Barack Obama and John McCain is, in my opinion, most similar to the election of 1932 between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover. I know we haven’t learned about this one yet, but I think it fits very well. This election was during the Depression, and the economy was bad, and FDR was elected a lot in part because he promised to fix the economy. Our economy is doing bad now as well, and Obama promised to fix it. As you’ve said, when the economy is bad, the incumbent usually isn’t reelected, and that is the case in 1932. Now, McCain wasn’t the incumbent, but he was associated a lot with Bush, and that might be a reason for why he wasn’t elected. (Sarah W.)

2. Imperialism: a good or bad thing?

3. Your thoughts on the progressive movement, please.

In the 1800s the progressive movement was very effective. However, today the progressive movement will not be influential in American politics. As President Reagan strongly emphasized, we need less government. This is what will help lower taxes and pick our economy back up. (Jenna N.)

4. Please explain the cartoon in the Minnesota Tribune, having the caption at top, "WHAT WILL HE DO!" and the caption at the bottom, "The eyes of the world are upon him." Include your description of the point of view of the cartoonist.

The cartoon depicts President McKinley's choice about what to do with the Philippines, after America won the Spanish-American war. American newspapers opposed the return of the Philippines to Spain, because they feared the mistreatment of the Filipino people. It shows a man with earth as his head watching. This depicts the phrase, 'wht whole world is watching.' Whether from peer pressure or personal opinion, McKinley decided to keep the Philippines as an American territory. I believe the cartoonist believed that McKinley would give the Philippines back to Spain. I draw this conclusion from the way McKinley appears: with a frown and a tight grip on the Filipino child's neck. He appears especially sinister next to the child's terrified face. He is also standing next to a cliff with a sign that says, to Spain. If the cartoonist viewpoint was that McKinley would shield the Filipino people, he probably would not have drawn the cartoon in this manner. Perhaps he would have shown a 'kind' McKinley shielding the child and leading the child away from the cliff. (Bethany S.)

Honors (pick 2 out of 3)

H1. Do you agree with how the United States finally ended the fighting in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War?

H2. How do you think the role of newspapers in the recent election compares with the "yellow journalism" of the 1890s?

H3. Write about any issue you like relating to 1896-1920, or the recent election.