Violence and atrocities have been (and continues) to be a feature of American life and politics
Violence and atrocities have been (and continues) to be a feature of American life and politics. McGuire’s book traces the terrible legacies of racial and gender oppression in the South from the 1940s to the 1970s. However, she also offers historical accounts of progress and shows how average Americans can make a difference to stop racism and sexism. In other words, McGuire gives examples of how the “little people” made the US federal and state government more accountable to the people.
For the term paper, which will be due on the last day of class, you will need to read the rest of McGuire’s book which means reading chapter 7,8, and the epilogue. In other words, additional material and/or research should not be integrated into the term paper. This ensures that I evaluate all student work at the same “playing field.” In addition, I hope this frees up space so that you are able to finish all your classes on a high note.
However, aside from reading the rest of McGuire’s book, you will also need to add details from Kaufman’s The Fall of Wisconsin. Meaning, for the rest of the semester, you will be asked to read/skim this book and use the information to build your term paper. So, rather than asking you to do more outside reading and research, I am asking you to slowly and incrementally write your paper throughout the semester. As a general rule, students do remarkably well on their term papers if they “chip away” at it, a little bit at a time.
Use the information from all two books and answer the following question:
To what extent did certain figures and individuals in McGuire’s chapter 7,8, and the epilogue, as well as Kaufman’s The Fall of Wisconsin reshape American politics for the better – or tried to make it better – reflecting the spirit of the Preamble of the Constitution, which is to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity"?
**The paper should be approximately 1800-2100 words in length, double-spaced. This question is geared to be an application of course concepts. It was intentionally written in an open-ended way. Therefore, there is more than one right answer; it is a matter of writing and demonstrating that your argument is feasible.
Sample Solution
The Preamble to the United States Constitution states that the purpose of the government is to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity." In the years following World War II, the United States faced a number of challenges in fulfilling these goals. The country was still segregated, and African Americans and other minority groups were denied their civil rights. Women were also discriminated against, and they were not given equal opportunities in the workplace or in government.Full Answer Section
However, a number of individuals and groups worked to make American politics more just and equitable. These individuals and groups, including those discussed in McGuire's At the Dark End of the Street and Kaufman's The Fall of Wisconsin, reshaped American politics for the better and helped to fulfill the goals of the Preamble. McGuire's Book In At the Dark End of the Street, McGuire tells the story of the civil rights movement in the American South. She focuses on the efforts of ordinary people, both black and white, who fought for justice and equality. One of the individuals who McGuire highlights is Amzie Moore, a black sharecropper who became a civil rights activist. Moore was a founding member of the NAACP in Mississippi, and he was a tireless advocate for civil rights. He was also a target of violence, and he was beaten and shot on several occasions. Another individual who McGuire highlights is Medgar Evers, a field secretary for the NAACP. Evers was a vocal critic of segregation, and he was assassinated in 1963. His death helped to galvanize the civil rights movement, and it led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Kaufman's Book In The Fall of Wisconsin, Kaufman tells the story of how the Republican Party in Wisconsin used voter suppression tactics to take control of the state government. Kaufman focuses on the efforts of individuals like David Whitney, a Republican operative who helped to develop the voter suppression strategy. Whitney and other Republicans used a number of tactics to suppress the vote, including gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and cuts to early voting. These tactics made it more difficult for people of color, poor people, and young people to vote. The Republican Party's success in Wisconsin was a warning to other states. It showed how voter suppression could be used to take control of state governments. Conclusion The individuals and groups discussed in McGuire's and Kaufman's books reshaped American politics for the better. They helped to make the country more just and equitable, and they helped to ensure that the government was more accountable to the people. These individuals and groups showed that ordinary people can make a difference. They showed that it is possible to overcome the forces of injustice and to create a more just and equitable society. In addition to the individuals and groups discussed in these books, there were many others who worked to make American politics more just and equitable. These individuals and groups included:- Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott
- Martin Luther King, Jr., who led the civil rights movement and gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech
- Shirley Chisholm, who was the first black woman elected to Congress
- Betty Friedan, who was a founder of the National Organization for Women
- Gloria Steinem, who was a leading figure in the women's liberation movement