Core 102History and the Modern World

The Idea of Democracy

Roger Williams University

Section 01 LLC T, TH   09:30AM-10:50 AM GHH 205

Section 04 ELI  T, TH   12:30PM- 02:00 PM  GHH 106

Spring  Semester, 2016

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.

Office: GHH 215

Hours: M, W, F, 12:00-1:30

Or By Appointment

Phone:  ext 3230

E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu

Due By Bridges, the last day of final exams, Wednesday, May 11, at Midnight.

Since the middle of the semester, we've followed the battles for equal democratic rights for two groups.  We began by investigating the battle for rights for Women, the week of March 15.  We concluded with a look at the battle to end slavery and to provide equal rights for African Americans and other minorities. April 5th.  Consequently,  I'm going to offer two options.

Option One:  Equal rights for Women  ( Five pages.  I will read more, and don't be afraid to add pictures if you wish.)

• According to the documents we read and the video we watched, what were the chief ways men discriminated against women in the age before the passage of the Women's Suffrage Amendment?  What were some of the arguments the women and their supporting men used to counter the arguments against equality.  In your opinion, which were the best of these?
  

• Considering the situation now...has complete gender equality been won here in the United States, or Elsewhere, depending on where your home country is.  What still needs to be accomplished and what are the principal causes of opposition today?  Is true equality a possibility or is it just a dream.  What do you think?
  

Option Two:  Equal rights for African Americans and other minorities

( Five pages.  I will read more, and don't be afraid to add pictures if you wish.)

• According to the documents we read and the videos we have watched, what were (and perhaps are) the reasons Anglo-Saxons discriminated against African Americans, other racial or ethnic minorities or religious minorities in the United States?  Give examples of these from the readings, the videos, and things you might have seen recently in the news.  You might consider some of the arguments being made in the current electoral cycle if you wish.  If you use current examples from the Internet, please include a link (just add it to the body of the paper.
  

• Considering the situation now, though the situation may have improved, are there still things which need to be improved.  If so, what are they, and how can we improve them?
  

For extra Credit,

Do both of them

• I will be in my office Thursday Morning from 8:00 until  about three, and the rest  of the finals period from noon until at  least 5:00. If you would like  to have me go over draft, bring it by the office.