Has events leading up to the revolution ever been a dpq or free response?</p>
Gilded Age stuff:</p>
corrupt Presidents, political bosses/machines, Compromise of 1877, Jim Crow laws, Pendleton Act, ethnic conflicts (Chinese exclusion act), Cleveland, Populists, and the like</p>
Yes it has been; the events of the stuff leading up to revolution has been a question (I can’t remember date though…). The Revolution itself was a FRQ last year!</p>
What about Reconstruction as a DBQ topic?</p>
How are you guys preparing for the DBQ/FRQ? </p>
I’m making notecards for various eras and writing down a bunch of relevant info for each, so I don’t blank out on what happened during a certain period.</p>
I found a list of every presidential election EVER on google, pasted onto microsoft word, cut out the unimportant candidates, printed it out, and began writing the most important events under each president. So far it’s helped A LOT! Because if you don’t remember when something happened, if you know what president it happened under you’ll have a good idea.</p>
OK, I took the test last year and got a 5. I seriously went on the college board site, looked at old questions and based on trends on few previous years I was able to predict the 2010 DBQ about the Puritans (horrible topic IMO). That being said, I have a hunch that it may be about American Imperialism.
The college board loves to test ambiguous topics, and there is a lot of ambiguity in the era of American Imperialism. For instance, the question could ask you whether or not this period was or was not a stark break with previous American attitudes on foreign affairs and expansion. </p>
Also, the Gilded Age could be likely (people have been saying that is a possibility for a few years now, so its bound to happen soon than later 
) </p>
Good luck to all of you fortunate test takers. FYI I bought back my essays and typed them out, so if anybody would like copies of them to see what kind of essays get a 5 just let me know :)</p>
Swimmer, could you email me those essays? That would be great because my class hasn’t done very many essays!! I’ll message you.</p>
sure, cud u please PM me ur email address? the essys are too long to be sent via PM on this site. Thanks</p>
Wouldn’t it be something if swimmer was right?</p>
Alright, here are the essays I was discussing a few replies above (I guess they can fit on a reply, just not a PM). Hope these help you all! </p>
Essays… </p>
AP American History 2010 Examination – Free Response Section
DBQ – Puritans Impact on New England Colonies
King Henry VIII imposed the Church of England on the English people. This forced subscription of the English to Anglicanism caused divisions within the religious communities, which inevitably led to the Puritans to physically separate themselves from the British Isles and journey to the New England Colonies. The first major Puritan settlement was the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was the epitome of Puritan beliefs put into practice. The practicing of these beliefs eventually resulted in the large influence of Puritan credence’s to perpetuate themselves within the New England Colonies. The Puritans journeyed to what is now the Northeastern United States to practice their religious beliefs free from British persecution and influence; with them they brought their strict yet tight-knit communal practice, strong Protestant work ethic, and laid the foundations for colonial autonomy that would eventually bring about the American Revolution.<br>
The social aspects of the Puritans seem to be most prominent and longest lasting impact on New England Colonial development. For instance, the colonies were very close together, both physically (DOC B) and emotionally. The town square was the heart and brain of all social activity, even made apparent in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. This was beneficial to the Puritans since they were inhabiting territory never explored by Europeans; therefore, imitating the impact of the Frontier on people in the era of Western Expansion. Also, the role of religion was unexplainably crucial to the Puritans and their impact on colonies in New England. John Winthrop, the leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, described the colony as a place for Puritans to act in a way to serve as a model for the rest of the world (DOC A). This statement is essentially summed up in the “city upon a hill” belief that dominated the mindset of the Puritans. This placed more emphasis upon the church and even made the Puritans a very intolerant group of people, which was carried on into the foundations of colonial life under the indoctrination of their children with their beliefs, thus stressing the role of religion in education (DOC E). The intoleration of the Puritans can be seen in the exiling of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson to Rhode Island, “Rogues Island,” for religious descent.<br>
The importance of politics during the reign of the Puritans and their impact in New England can be seen in the signing of the May Flower Compact. Though not an actual constitution, it put into place a working means of civil order within the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Later on, the practices of the government and the limitation of the power of government can be seen in the writings of John Cotton (DOC H). Also, despite being devotedly Puritan, the Puritans had an understanding of religious tolerance to a degree; however, some believed this would create divisions within the government and people (DOC G). This differed slightly from the New England, considering that Pennsylvania was Quaker and Rhode Island was viewed as a “sewer.” The hostility towards the Indians goes back to this time; even though the Puritans were religious, they felt that to ensure their devotion to God some violence was necessary (DOC D). Essentially, they were being Machiavellian. Therefore, this led to the Puritans not doing anything to “offence the Church” (DOC C), but to not allow any outside force to cause offence either. Similar to the colonist in their revolts against legislation following the end of Salutary Neglect. The Puritans were those who believed that strict uniformity of religion in politics would only serve a state and bring civil order (DOC F), which is marked in the attitudes of the colonies and Founding Fathers influenced by the Enlightenment.<br>
Economically, the Puritans were vital to the beginning of what has been dubbed the Protestant work ethic. This led to the Puritans and colonies to adhere steadfastly to their duties and work on their own. Unlike, the Southern colonies, which were dominated by the Anglican Church and wealthy second-born sons using indentured servitude for labor. This devotion to work also led to the rapid importance of the timber, shipbuilding, and fishing industries in New England. Also, the Puritan conscious made the Puritans and colonist weary of making profit for solely secular gain (DOC J). Secondly, Puritans were so concerned with their life’s work ethic that it consumed them to their death (DOC I). The economic activities of the Puritans made the New England Colonies more united and not driven by monetary gain. Differing from the South, whose colonization was driven by economic prospect – seen with the cash crops of tobacco and rice.<br>
The Puritan peoples, though not the kindest to non-Puritans, were devoted to a pious life that inevitably influenced the New England Colonies and thus the states of the Northeast. The Puritans’ impact on economic practices, social interaction, and politics has been and are still apparent even in the 21st century. </p>
FRQ – Essay 3, Western Expansion and Slavery<br>
Slavery was marked to be an issue of eventual national dispute when it was incorporated into the Constitution and given a more comfortable place in American society with the 3/5 compromise. Therefore, when the era of Manifest Destiny began the issue of slavery began to reappear each time the country expanded and the new territory was neither free nor slave. The biggest territorial gain that awoke this age-old debate was the territory acquired during the Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War. Following the Mexican-American War, the territory gained became debated over its status as free or slave, eventually the decisions and actions of both the North and South would bring the country into civil war from 1861-1865; for instance, the Compromise of 1850, the Wilmot Proviso, the Kansas-Nebraska Act each helped foment the Civil War.<br>
Comprimising is an American tradition, and the Compromise of 1850 was an attempt to address the slave status of the territory ceded to the United States from Mexico. This compromise resulted in the admission of California as a free state. While the remaining territory would be determined, free or slave by popular sovereignty, proposed by Stephen Douglas. Texas entered the union as a slave state. The main concern of having equal free and slave states was so neither side could gain an advantage in the Senate and enact legislation against the other. There was also debate over whether or not to extend the Missouri Compromise line, but that never materialized. This was seen as a compromise in which neither side gained advantages over the other.
The legislation the preceded the compromise of 1850 was the Wilmot Proviso, which called for the complete denial of slavery into any territory gained from Mexico. This bluntly acted in favor of the North and political parties such as the Free-Soil Party, and eventually the Republican Party that would arise from “Bleeding Kansas.” This legislation never passed and the Compromise of 1850 ensued. However, had this legislation passed the North would have ‘won’ the dispute over slavery, received a majority in the Senate, and possibly enacted legislation to end slavery without a war or the Emancipation Proclamation. Or, this could have angered the South enough to secede over a decade before the election of Abraham Lincoln.
While the Compromise of 1850 seemed to be the second answer to all of slavery’s disputes, the first was the compromise of 1820; it only pacified the issue. This was similar to the policy of appeasement in the pre-WWII era. Stephen Douglas, wanting to build a railroad through Kansas to help the region develop, chose to endorse the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which actually violated the terms of the compromise of 1820 since it explored the possibility of slavery above the 36’30 line. This resulted in the influx of zealots on both sides on the issues of slavery. Which in turn resulted in the situation known as “Bleeding Kansas,” here the bloodshed gave a solemn prelude to the Civil War that lingered no too far ahead. However, Douglas did not intend for this to happen, he merely wanted the railroad to increase the population of this sparsely settled area. Nevertheless, this deepened sectionalism and the political unity of the country laid in much distress.<br>
Besides the Western expansion, the Sumner-Brooks exposed sectionalism; the Dredd-Scott decision defied previous legislation and supported the nullification theory, and the importance of cotton to the South made compromise less of a reality.
The era of Manifest Destiny, the Compromise of 1850, the Wilmot Proviso, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act each brought the country closer to civil war. While the several incidents in-between, not pertaining to Western expansion, about slavery only hampered the possibility of seeking a common ground between the North and the South. </p>
FRQ – Essay 5, Modern American Population Shifts<br>
Following the Allied victory of WWII the United States entered a period of prosperity from not having its industries blundered by the bombings that had flattened Europe. The United States entered its modern era during this time and began to grow as a world superpower economically and politically. The social demographics of this era led to many changes in the population shifts of the country and the ethnic diversity that is characteristic of the United States. The growth of the Sunbelt was the product of American prosperity, yet eventually had consequences still being played out today and the immigration brought about by needs for labor and refuge exposed a civil rights movement for minorities.<br>
The Sunbelt expanded drastically during WWII; it displayed the population of the United States gradually shifting westward. This was caused by the desire of Americans to be in regions with more pleasant climates. There was also the influence of the GI Bill which made it easier for members of the armed services to buy homes; this increased the demand for homes in the region. Also, the “baby boom” that ensued led to the growth and need for a more family oriented community the Sunbelt offered. There were also the “white collar” jobs that were in high demand and in plentiful amount in this region. Thus, the “baby boom,” GI Bill, employment, and personal climate preference fed the blossoming of the Sunbelt; however, it also appears that the pursuit of the “American Dream” in the conformity of the 1950’s fed largely into this.<br>
While the Sunbelt was a bi-product of the many positive changes in American Society, the resulting “Rust Belt” in the Northeast hurt the economy and had profound social impacts. The “Rust Belt” stretches from Ohio into the New England States. This includes cities such as Detroit. The mass amounts of people leaving the region resulted in a shortage of labor for its factories, which in turn led to many factories shutting down. This then led to the economic depression in the “Rust Belt,” which therefore resulted in an increase in crime and violence. Thus, giving cities such as Detroit it characteristic connotation as being ‘ghetto.’<br>
The wave of immigration following WWII did not have its majority come from Europe; instead it came from Latin America and Asia. Most notable from Latin America are the Mexicans. The initially came to the United States as the braceros to fill in agricultural labor shortages during WWII, but after the war they remained and many more arrived as migrant workers. Many of the Mexican immigrants settled in the Southwestern United States. The immigrants from Asian countries came from countries such as Vietnam, China, Japan, and other Southeast Asian countries. They came for reasons similar to those of the ‘New Immigrants’ of the 1880’s – escape political persecution and pursue economic opportunity. Also, the smaller wave of immigration from Europe mainly consisted of Jewish peoples.<br>
The consequences of immigration vary. For instance, the immigrants worked hard to preserve their cultural identities. They also brought a new face to the second wave of Civil Rights, the minority component. For example, Caesar Chavez led the migrant workers and led t the boycotting of grapes and cotton products. Thus, making the American people aware of their diverse population and their commitment to the rights of all. However, the immigration persists to this day and is bringing out racial tension in urban centers all across the country. For example, affirmative action was debated in the 1980’s, which exposed racial tensions towards minority populations. Why even in 2010 the debate of immigration in Arizona is at a pivotal point. Nevertheless, these cultures are symbolic of the globalized world and economy that not only American but all humans live.<br>
The growth of the Sunbelt and the immigration that came following the end of WWII led to profound demographic changes within American society, shaping how it is unique and multi-faced enough to move forward into the incoming decades.</p>
I’ll make sure I take note of your prediction and verify it on the test!</p>
Thanks swimmer!</p>
Can some list some of the social,e cononic, and political things about the gilded age? I can’t remember anything!</p>
i was hoping that it wouldnt be the gilded age…thats like the worst topic ever. lol
any tips?</p>
I don’t see how the Gilded age would be a problem, it’s the second industrial revolution (ROSE - railroads, oil, steel, and energy).</p>
maybe itll be on Native Americans!</p>
^^That’s actually a really good way of summarizing the Gilded Age. Thanks!</p>
James, I don’t think it’ll be Native Americans since they did French and Indian War a few years back. I was discussing this with my friend a week ago and my class today and we figured Progressive Era or Gilded Age. But the post about Imperialism makes a lot of sense too.</p>
Gilded Age, off the top of the head:</p>
We’re thinking roughly post-Civil War and pre-Progressive Era. Main decades would be 1870s and 1880s, with the era starting in the 60s and ending in the 90s. “Gilded Age” comes from an expression coined by Mark Twain, who criticized the greed and excess of the age. “Gilded” refers to a covering of gold, and this provides a nice metaphor for the period in general: a time of great prosperity and economic advancement that covered over problems like widespread municipal corruption (Boss Tweed), ostentatious decadence, political strife, and terrible living conditions for many urbanites. </p>
First thing you have to think is economy. This is the age of the big time robber barons like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Morgan. Roughly the “2nd Industrial Revolution”, where areas like oil, steel, railroads, and banking became massively powerful and rich industries. Another huge theme is the federal government’s relationship to the economy , ranging from early land grants to railroad companies (land grants) to the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 and the toothless Sherman Antitrust Act (regulation). Random keywords here would be transcontinental railroad, Bessemer process, railroad land grants, trusts/monopolies, vertical/horizontal integration, interlocking directorates, laissez-faire, etc.</p>
This is also the age of big time labor disputes and strikes like the Great RR Strike and the Homestead Strike. National Labor Union, AF of L, Knights of Labor. Gotta admit I don’t know much about this stuff, but this is definitely the dawning of the age of organized labor.</p>
Once you remember the whole economy thing, then you can kind of reason your way to some other aspects of the period. We’re talking mass urbanization and its consequences, mainly being overcrowding and terrible conditions (dumbbell tenements, settlement houses, Hull House, Jane Addams). Also in the period is the wave of “New Immigrants”, primarily from South/Central/Eastern Europe, who flooded cities like New York and created ethnic enclaves and such. Here we also get another wave of Nativism, think American Protective Assocation, immigration restrictions (Chinese Exclusion Act).</p>
Hmm… politics: Republican v Democrat, with Cleveland as the first Democrat president elected since Buchanan back in 1856. Presidents being (roughly) Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, and Cleveland. Compromise of 1877 ends Reconstruction and ushers in the era of Jim Crow in the South. Republicans dominate with the exception of Cleveland. Big time Republican tensions- Mugwumps, Halfbreeds, Stalwarts- Halfbreed Garfield is assassinated and Stalwart Arthur takes over… civil service reform in Arthur’s administration. Political corruption is stuff like Boss Tweed (Tammany Hall), bossism, Credit Mobilier.</p>
Alright, that’s a pretty decent summary of the Gilded Age, although I’m sure there’s so much more little things regarding politics, women’s rights, immigration, and stuff like that.</p>
@massmarket</p>
Thanks! That review of the guilded age really helped.</p>