Understanding History 2 assignments
1. What topic from the above list would you want to present? Why would you choose to lecture on this
topic? What would you rename your lecture to emphasize the primary narrative you will stress in the
lecture?
I will like to present Lesson 4: A Dream Deferred. I would choose this topic because, first I am a woman,
of African American ethnicity. Secondly, I still see the same group of people – African American and
women of all ethnicities faced with special obstacles like or worse than those faced in the late
19th century. In this 21st century, American women still have men and politicians decide what to do with
their bodies as regards the abortion law. Whilst an average African American family is still caught in the
unending web of racial discrimination. The lecture will be renamed “America: A Dream Still Deferred”
2. What specific details/stories from this topic would you include and why? Would there be any specific
details/stories you would not include in your lecture and why?
I will include details about the freed African American in the South’s decision to stay back on their
plantation and the long-term consequences of that decision on their economic and political growth. The
South remains poor while the North- which is open to industrialization, becomes richer and
revolutionized into modern cities.
I will discuss sharecropping – slavery by another name. In the mid-880s, Jim Crow law mandated the
separation of facilities between races. Booker T Washington’s 1895 frugal and obedient theory. Plessy
versus Ferguson – affirms the Jim law. Fitness to citizenship: no right to vote for people who are slaves,
poll taxes, literacy as a weapon to disenfranchise the African American community. I will mention the
contributions of people like W.E.B. Du Bios, and Ida be Wales during the era. Also, Francis Willard and
the Temperance movement, and the black club movement. All aspect of the video is significant and
related to the topic, even the Tom Moss lynching.
3. Which of the above topics would you least like to present a lecture on and why?
The least interesting is Lesson 7: The Populist Challenge. While it is relevant, as it touches on the
marginalized farmers of the south and their economic and political life. I do not feel pity for them. The
South white Americans continue to create the most unbearable conditions for the African American
community. Also, immigrants from Europe are not readily accepted. Freedmen are still treated as if they
are slaves, segregation is encouraged at all levels. Every part of America is significant, just like every man
or woman. To keep a united front, the North had to work with the South to overcome the significant
challenge posed by the South.
Unit 2
1. What specific criteria would you use in formulating your rankings of importance? For example, some
possible factors could be economic, political, social, or cultural impacts.
The timeline covered by Unit ll is indeed intriguing. From the outbreak of the Great Depression through
the New Deal by President Roosevelt to the Outbreak of the Second world war and the leading role in
democracy assumed by the United States among all nations of the world. Also, the cold war, which is the
aftermath of World War II, and the decaying relationship between the United States and the Soviet
Union. I will rank these events based on their political, economic, and cultural impacts on the people and
the country. The political aspect will be ranked based on the President during the period and his
influence on the events that either lead to or contributed to the outcome of that period. The resulting
economic situation during these periods can also be compared to reflect the impact on the nation.
Culturally, each period has a direct impact on the labor union, and minority groups such as African
Americans, Spanish/Latinos, Japanese, and Indians.
2. What is your most important topic based upon the criteria you established in your prior response and
why? Please be specific
My most important topic is the period from the Great Depression to the outbreak of the second world
war and the series of events that lead to America's role as the Great Arsenal of Democracy" which
eventually lead to the end of the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, which began with the
stock market crash in 1929, Roosevelt implemented a series of programs and policies known as the New
Deal. The New Deal aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to address the economic crisis.
Roosevelt's administration implemented various measures such as creating jobs through public works
projects, establishing social welfare programs, and regulating the financial industry to prevent future
economic crises. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Roosevelt initially declared the United
States to be neutral. However, as the war escalated and Germany, Italy, and Japan became increasingly
aggressive, Roosevelt shifted the country's stance. He provided military and economic aid to countries
fighting against the Axis powers and implemented measures to prepare the United States for potential
involvement in the war. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United
States officially entered the war. Roosevelt led the nation through the war effort, mobilizing the economy
for wartime production, expanding the military, and forming alliances with other nations, such as the
United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, to fight against the Axis powers.
Roosevelt's leadership during these challenging times was characterized by his ability to inspire and
communicate with the American people, implement bold policies to address the economic crisis and
guide the United States through the global conflict of the Second World War. Labor unions gained
strength during this period, advocating for workers' rights, and better working conditions. African
Americans also became increasingly vocal in their fight for civil rights, with influential figures such as
Eleanor Roosevelt advocating for racial equality.
What is your least important topic based upon the criteria you established in your prior response and
why? Please be specific.
The period during the Great Depression, began with the stock market crash in 1929, during the time of
the 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover. He served as president from 1929 to 1933,
during the early years of the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt served as the 32nd
president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. Unlike Hoover who believed the
economy would naturally correct itself without government interventions, Roosevelt implemented a
series of programs and policies known as the New Deal. The New Deal aimed to provide relief, recovery,
and reform to address the economic crisis. Roosevelt's administration implemented various measures
such as creating jobs through public works projects, establishing social welfare programs, and regulating
the financial industry to prevent future economic crises. The period covered a time when lots of people
died of hardship and poverty level and unemployment was unprecedentedly high, the nation was further
plugged into hardship by joining the second world war due to the aggression of other countries like
Japan and Germany. It was not the best time in the history of the United States of America.
Unit 3
1. Over the past 20 years, several significant events have shaped American history. Most notable among
them was the September 11 Attacks (2001). The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, were a defining
moment in American history. Four commercial airliners were hijacked by members of the extremist
group Al-Qaeda, with two planes flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into
the Pentagon, and another crashing in Pennsylvania. These attacks led to profound changes in American
foreign policy, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, and a reevaluation of national
security strategies. Following the September 11 attacks, the United States launched the War on Terror. It
involved military operations in Afghanistan (to dismantle the Taliban regime and target Al-Qaeda) and
later in Iraq (based on concerns over weapons of mass destruction). This prolonged conflict has had farreaching consequences, including political instability, regional tensions, and significant human and
economic costs. Although I was in another country on that faithful day, the ripple effect of September
11, 2001, soon reached every corner of the world. Traveling, and immigration processes changed
tremendously, and everyone becomes a suspect. Nobody feels safe again, especially at the airport and
air travel sector.
2. I hope the historical theme that will emerge from these decades of my life will include the rise of
minority groups. Firstly, the election of Barack Obama (2008) who became the first African American
president in U.S. history, marked a significant milestone for racial progress. Secondly, the major social
movements and debates around civil rights. Notable examples include the LGBTQ+ rights movement, the
Black Lives Matter movement following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, and the #MeToo movement
against sexual harassment and assault.