WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT (TO FINAL)

Week 9: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch.25 –American and a World in Crisis, 1933-1945

Chapter 25 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your first critique.

http://sunsite.unc.edu/pha/
This web site is dedicated to eliminating "history by soundbite." The emphasis here is on documents. Report on myths of Pearl Harbor.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/a_people_at_war/a_people_at_war.html
Back to NARA; A People At War. Look at the events starting with Prelude to War. Then select any three links for your review and report.

http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/doyourememberwhen/
Review the online exhibition: "Do you remember, when".

http://www.sfmuseum.org/war/evactxt.html
Discuss critically General DeWitt's Final Report on the Evacuation of the Japanese.

Week 10: The Enduring Vision: Ch.26. The Cold War Abroad and at Home, 1945-1952.  Annual Editions: Baseball's Noble Experiment.

Chapter 26 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your second critique.

http://cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/
This website was created for the twelve-part CNN series on the Cold War in 1998-1999. For a glimpse into the covert operations of the Cold War, click on Espionage and then read the The Man Without a Face - An Interview with Markus Wolf. He was head of STASI – the notorious East Germany Ministry For State Security. Discuss the methods of this most effective espionage operation. Did he ever have any doubts about use of these secret services?

http://sunsite.unc.edu/expo/soviet.exhibit/entrance.html#tour
Library of Congress: Soviet Archives exhibit. Proceed to the second floor for "The Soviet Union and the United States." Follow the footsteps for a guided tour. Focus your analysis on the "Informal Workings of the Soviet System."

Week 11: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch. 27. America at Midcentury, 1952-1960

Chapter 27 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your third critique.

http://www.mos.org/exhibits/ComputingRevolution/

The Computer Revolution (from Museum of Science - Boston).  Re-creation of milestones in the history of the computer.  Review these milestones - and - in this 21st century, what new ways will computers shape our lives?

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/pop/info-family.htm
"Nifty Fifties." This "fun" site will provide some irreverent -and not very analytical - insights into this decade.  Under Pop History, click on Families in the Fifties.  Discuss the most important changes in family life during the 1950s.

http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/humor.htm
Review the "lighter" side of this war hero.

Week 12: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch. 28 - The Liberal Era, 1960 - 1968 

Chapter 28 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your fourth critique.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/
Cold War International History Project. This is the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Go to Declassified Top Secret. Check out the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Who would you blame for this crisis?

http://www.nara.gov/research/jfk/index.html
This the President John F. Kennedy Records Collection. Briefly describe the contents of this collection. Did Kennedy believe in the Domino Theory? Why or why not?

http://vietnam.vassar.edu
From Vassar College.  The Vietnam Wars.  Discussion why the Americans intervened and why did last so long?

Week 13: Reading Assignment. The Enduring Vision. Ch. 29 – A Time of Upheaval, 1968 - 1974.  Annual Editions: The Spirit of '68

Chapter 29 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your fifth critique.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/when_nixon_met_elvis/index.html
Nixon-Elvis: The first time that all 28 photos are available of this meeting on December 21, 1970. Review this three part analysis. Historically, how important is this meeting?

http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/special/watergate/index.html
Watergate: 25th Anniversary special. What are the lessons of Watergate?

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/sixties/index.html
Visit the exhibition on Psychedelic 60s: Literary Tradition and Cultural Change.  Were the sixties the best or the worst of times.  In your answer use examples from this site.

Week 14: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch. 30 – Society, Politics, and World Events from Ford to Reagan, 1974-1989.

Chapter 30 Self Evaluation

Select one of following for your sixth critique.

http://www.time.com/time/newsfiles/reagan/
TIME.  Newsfile: Ronald Reagan.   Why was Reagan so popular? And do you agree with the textbook assessment of this 40th U.S. President? Why or why not?

http://pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/
American Experience (PBS).  How has Jimmy Carter redefined the role of ex-president?

http://www.filmsite.org/70sintro.html
The Greatest Films of the 1970s.  Which film would you consider the best representative of the popular culture of the 1970s? Why?

Week 15: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch. 31 – Beyond the Cold War: Charting the New Course, 1968-1995.

Chapter 31 Self Evaluation

For seventh critique, select one site from either Week 15 or Week 16.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/
Frontline (BBC): The Gulf War. Examine critically - An Oral History – the Gulf War through the eyes and in the words of those who played major roles (The Decision Makers).

http://www.wall-berlin.org/gb/berlin.htm

A concrete Curtain.  The life and Death of the Berlin Wall.  Discuss the role or USSR in the opening of the Berlin Wall

Week 16: Reading Assignment: The Enduring Vision. Ch. 32.  New Century, New Challenges, 1996 to the present.  Annual Editions.  Case Against Perfection (on genetic engineering).

Chapter 32 Self Evaluation

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/impeachment/hearings.html
Clinton Impeachment Trial. If you had been a member of the U.S. Senate, how would you have voted? Why?

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/
Election 2000 (CNN).  Revisit the major events and development of the Election 2000.  Would you have change your vote? Why?

http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/766/
Bush v. Gore (531 U.S. 98 (2000)).  Check your the Supreme Court decision on the Election 2000.  Do you agree with decision? Why? While you are there, do a Virtual Tour of the Supreme Court building.  You will need to install Quick Time 5 plugin.

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020909/index.html
September 11:A Nation Remembers.  Where were you on September 11? Did you feel that this was a turning point in American history? Why?

Reminder: Due date for all seven final critiques will be one week before the final examination.  Seven final critiques turned in after due date will receive one-half credit.

 

FINAL EXAM

See the Reviews and Exams page for details.


Home :: Introduction :: Important Phone Numbers :: Important Dates :: Exam Map :: Cool Web Sites :: Webboard :: Course Information