Response Paper 5: Reconstruction

Response Paper 5: Reconstruction

The chapter on Reconstruction discusses the effect of the Civil War on South Carolina. There many reports by the residents about how the war had left their roads in ruins. The chapter highlights the impact of the war was with many of the South Carolina residents quoting that their future may be uncertain. After the revelation of the impact of the Civil War, relevant stakeholders held talks about reconstructing the many parts of the country. The leaders also discussed equality, where the focus was not only on the majority group but on the minority communities as well. Reconstruction was a concept adopted and implemented by President Lincoln following his laws on emancipation.

Reconstruction was an essential concept after the civil war since it led to the restoration of the Southern States. Additionally, it helped redefine the laws governing American society. In this case, the reconstruction concepts discussed and created new laws that would see equal rights being accorded to all Americans based on citizenship. Reconstruction not only concentrated on the roads but also south to repair and amends the voting rights of all Americans. Before the civil war, many people from the majority groups were allowed to vote, and those included loyal unionists from the Lincoln governments. My reaction to this chapter and what it entails is that it was a beneficial concept for both the majority and minority communities.

Question

Reconstruction was part of the Thirteenth Amendment passed on January 31, 1865. Reconstruction had many benefits for all people and communities across the United States. States like South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland implemented new laws and policies that led to their economic and political development. After going through the readings, I have the following question.

If the Civil War and Reconstruction would not have occurred, when would have Americans in both majority and minority communities have received equal voting rights?

Response Paper 6: The American Empire

Reading this chapter on the American empire elicits historical memories since the article begins by discussing images of ancient Rome, the British Empire, and the Persian Empire. The chapter provides adequate knowledge on how the American Empires operate, stating that they took many forms, and the imperial process was implemented in many contexts. On this note, one interesting fact from reading the chapter is that Britain had colonized the United States. After gaining independence, the American Empire exerted itself across the United States across the Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. The empire also sought to influence the Spanish-globally exchange locally and internationally.

Additionally, the spread of the American Empire led to the rise of American Imperialism. American imperialism helped understand the effect of American interventions in places like Cuba, Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico. As such, imperialism helps comprehend the richer deeper understanding of American engagement with the world. More importantly, imperialism helped comprehend the effects of economic, cultural, and political effects on their partners, as well as how the actions shaped the choices and actions of other groups and nations. My reaction to this is that this was a necessary aspect to comprehend, considering that the American Empire’s effects were felt locally and internationally following the increase of European and Asian immigrants in the US. Also, American imperialism helped Americans comprehend what their identity was and what was expected of them locally and internationally.

Question

After reading the rise and effect of the American Empire, American Imperialism, and the interventions incorporated, I have the following question.

Did American Imperialism and its intervention help Americans comprehend themselves better, considering that foreign governments sought to protect American economic interests?

Response Paper 7: The Progressive Era

Reading the chapter on The Progressive Era helped comprehend the negative and positive effects of leadership. They include monopoly, bribery, trust, and society privileges. The chapter denotes one writer called Jack London in the Iron Heel wrote about the effects of the changes of religious, social, and political structures. On this note, there was the rise of the problems associated with the effects of imperialism on capital and labor. Farmers and workers were continually waging war towards capitalists who injected themselves into the public life advocating new reforms as part of the progressive era. From the chapter, all Americans had the interest to fight for their civil rights, voting rights, and higher wages.

Additionally, there were efforts by the relevant stakeholders to mobilize the correct reforms that would lead to the majority and minority groups receiving equal treatment in terms of voting rights. The progressive era was a period that had many strikes from workers due to their rights being infringed by the middle and upper-class residents in the United States. Many of these strikes occurred because these workers received low wages, and their living conditions were not favorable. My reaction to this is that the progressive era that involved the fight for economic, political, and social rights that had been infringed. Also, there were other concepts observed, like the interference of the government on the economy. Religious leaders and activists were also investigated, and their effect on the laws and regulations governing the US.

Question

After reading this chapter, I have the following question.

Since there were controversies over the concept of imperialism, did they lead to implementing new laws, policies, and legislature to promote equality across the United States?