The purpose of the “Document Analysis” assignments is to help you to practice making evidence based arguments about history. There is a brief introduction to each prompt. Chose a topic that interests

The purpose of the “Document Analysis” assignments is to help you to practice making evidence based arguments about history. There is a brief introduction to each prompt. Chose a topic that interests you. Take time to carefully study each of the sources given, keeping in mind what you might want to argue and sources that support your argument. Then write. The document analysis should be between 2-3 pages, typed and double spaced. There is no need to include a title page or section for your name and class information since Canvas keeps track of that. Focus your analysis on the content, which needs to include a clear thesis statement, evidence and facts that support the thesis, proper citation and a conclusion that summarizes your argument.

Answer only one question from one of the prompts. Be sure to type the question you are answering above your response. The first paragraph should clearly state your position and 2-3 points you intend to discuss as support for your position. The paragraphs that follow should be a discussion of your main points and should include an analysis (an explanation of how and why these points support your position) of the facts and referencing of the sources. Be sure to cite your references, from the prompt and the course text, withinyour your document (not at the end). The last paragraph (the conclusion) should be a summation of the points that support your position.

Prompt 1

Part of the criteria for acquiring the status of being “reconstructed” for a southern state was to ratify and adopt the “Civil Rights Amendments” which are the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. These amendments radically altered southern society and the status of freed slaves and were difficult to accept. As a result southern states pursued various methods and legislation  to circumvent the Civil Rights Amendments. The first site lists the content of the amendments and as you examine each of then consider how it impacted southern states. The remaining sites focus on how the south “legally” circumvented the amendments. The first site pertains to the 13th amendment, the next two sites to the 14th and the last site to the 15th. 

“Civil Rights Amendments (Links to an external site.)”

“Sharecropping (Links to an external site.)” (13th amendment)

“Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 (Links to an external site.)" (14th amendment)

“Berea College v. Kentucky 1908 (Links to an external site.)" (14th amendment)

“Williams v. Mississippi 1898 (Links to an external site.)" (15th amendment) 

1. Why were each of these amendments difficult for the South to accept in terms of how they altered Southern society?
2. What was the rationale for the South to circumvent these amendments? Provide an analysis of each amendment and reference the “Sharecropping” document and the three Supreme Court decisions.

Prompt 2

In the latter half of the 19th century the United States experienced a huge wave of immigration mainly from Europe. Many of these immigrants came to America seeking jobs created by the industrial revolution. The sheer number of people arriving created a variety of problems. As you read the following documents be aware that Josiah Strong is an American and Jacob Riis is an immigrant from Denmark which results in the differing viewpoints. 

“The Dangers of Cities 1886; Josiah Strong (Links to an external site.)” 

“How The Other Half  Lives 1890 (excerpt); Jacob Riis (Links to an external site.)” 

What problems did Josiah Strong associate with immigrants? Are these problems still relevant today?

How do the authors differ in their assessment of immigrant life in America?