American History

1. During the first half of the 1800s, the United States began to undergo social and economic changes as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The industrialization of America affected where people lived and how they earned a living. It also had an impact on family life and the opportunities available to American women and girls. How did the Industrial Revolution affect young women in America? According to Alexis de Tocqueville, what was expected of young women in traditional American society? What kind of opportunities did they have? According to Harriet Robinson, what new opportunities did the Industrial Revolution present young women? How did the experience of a mill girl in Lowell differ from the experience of most other young women? In your essays, please provide examples from the assigned primary source readings to support your argument/thesis and demonstrate that you have read closely the assigned readings. Essays should be between three and four pages, double-spaced, and written in 12-point font. You must use the following readings: • Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America," chapters 3/10 and 3/12 • Harriet Robinson, "The Characteristics of the Early Factory Girls" 2. "I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." -Frederick Douglass The above quote is a passage from a speech given by Frederick Douglass, an African-American abolitionist, in July of 1852. In his speech, Douglass criticized the celebration of America's independence, which takes place on the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and he also criticizes the institution of slavery. What do you think of the criticisms presented by Frederick Douglass? How do the principles of the Founding Fathers and Declaration of Independence conflict with the reality and criticism of slavery presented by Douglass in his autobiography and his speech of 1852?