Four Essay Topics - American History Before 1877

Four Essay Topics - American History Before 1877We will begin with a discussion of essay topics that will enable you to pursue and complete your degree. After that, we will examine the kinds of issues that might appear in American history before 1877. We will also examine the work that graduate students are doing to learn more about these subjects. We then discuss what graduate students should expect from their mentors and professors and finally we touch on the importance of graduate students attending courses that are offered by professors who do not hold any affiliations with a particular university.Issue One - The Class of 1817: Many students will begin to look at this period of American history when they hear of the class of 1817. This will be a major topic of examination and it will provide them with an opportunity to research and understand this period. It will also be an important area to examine as it will allow you to see a number of related issues. Many questions will be as ked. Many issues will emerge that will require thought and consideration.The existence of slavery is an important issue that should be examined carefully. The policies used to enforce slavery on these plantations were brutal. It is also important to study issues such as women's rights and the status of Native Americans. Issues of race relations and class relations will also be an important part of this period of history.Issue Two - The Civil War and Reconstruction Period: We will now proceed to examine issues associated with the Civil War and Reconstruction period. Many people view this period as a time of extreme violence. There were even some instances where black men and women were hanged for assault. We must be careful to distinguish between the reality of these incidents and the reality of the period.The importance of Reconstruction and what actually happened during this period are an important aspect to understand. There was not just one area or one group that was victimized d uring this period. The policies used were extensive and discriminatory.The role of women is also an important area that must be explored. Female participation in politics was limited during this period. There was no integration or equality.Topic Three - Reconstruction and the Gilded Age: The Gilded Age was an era of extreme wealth and an increase in political power. There were many cases of white males attempting to increase their wealth through social engineering. Issues of this period were complex and included issues of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.This is the third of four essay topics that will provide a review of the major issues of American history before 1877. We now turn our attention to a discussion of those topics that deal with the Civil War and Reconstruction period.