U. S. History 1301
Exam: UNIT FOUR TEST
Fall 2020
To write the essay you may use Unfinished Nation, applicable e-readings, class-notes, and the PowerPoint lectures. You must cite only these sources in your essay. You may use a parenthetical system of referencing, e.g., (Class Notes 3/28).
I will evaluate your papers based on 1) the quality and plausibility of your response (i.e. it is thoughtful and based on careful reading and engagement with the sources); 2) on how well you use the material from both the readings and the class presentations/discussions to support your response (including a judicious quote here and there—but do not use long block quotes; it is generally better to paraphrase); and 3) on the quality of your writing—your prose should be clear and precise, free of grammatical and spelling errors, and you must follow the format below. Please note: I take writing very seriously—it is one of the skills most valued in the professional worlds you are most likely to enter after college. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and judicial referral.
Format:
The essays should be not more than 2 pages, double-spaced, with 1inch margins in 12 pt. Times New Roman or Calibri font. Your name, class name, and semester should appear in the top right-hand corner. You should have a title but no title page necessary. I will also not accept computer problems as an excuse for handing in a test late. The essay should have a thesis paragraph, body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
Due: Noon on Dec. 10
Answer separately, TWO of the four essay prompts:
1. To what extent was the breakup of the Union in 1861 a result of the conflict over slavery and to what extent was it due to other factors?
2. How can one account for the failure of Reconstruction to bring social and economic equality of opportunity to the former slaves?
3. To what extent did the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act contribute to the continuing sectional crisis in the 1850s. Could something have been done to resolve the issues of this period peacefully?
4. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the South and the North in the Civil War. Was a Northern victory inevitable? Why or why not?
