1) Why do the authors of Document 1 and Document 2 believe it is necessary to strictly defineAmericans, and promote efforts to assimilate, or “Americanize,” immigrants in the UnitedStates? How do President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Smith’s arguments differ? Do youfind their arguments persuasive? Why or why not? Based upon Document 3, how might WoodyGuthrie respond to each of those proposals?
2) In examining Document 4 and Document 6, how did the onset of the Cold War redefinewhat it meant to be an American? What role do these documents suggest loyal citizens play inwaging war against Communism? In examining the political cartoon (Document 5), how doesthe artist critique the “anti-subversive” efforts that took place during the Second Red Scare? Inwhat ways does the McCarthy era continue to influence American society?
3) The turbulent 1960s saw numerous attempts to identify the root problems within Americansociety and the role of citizens in resolving them. In examining Document 7, Document 8, andDocument 9, what common problems are identified within American society? What are some ofthe differences? What role did each of these documents suggest Americans should play inachieving social justice? Are their arguments persuasive? Why or why not?
4) The last several decades of the Twentieth Century saw the emergence of new groups ofAmericans claiming rights as citizens. To what extent does the failure of the Equal RightsAmendment (Document 10) to be ratified, but the signing of Title IX (Document 11) into law,signal about the changing role and rights of women in modern America? After reading PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush’s remarks (Document 12), why do you believe it took so long for the countryto acknowledge and protect the rights of the disabled?
5) How does Maya Angelou’s inauguration poem (Document 13) reflect upon the identity of”hyphenated Americans” by the early 1990s? In reading Document 14, how does PresidentElect Barack Obama define Americanism? Looking back over documents 1-13, did his election,as the first person of color to become President of the United States, resolve the questions andcrises surrounding the definition of an American citizen? In a post-9/11 world, has Americaprogressed in its inclusiveness? Why or why not?