2 essays--You will be required to answer # 1, but you can choose
one from # 2 and # 3.
Use
evidence from course materials, and use endnote citations, to support your
analysis and conclusion. Endnotes will not count in total page count.. Essays will
be evaluated on the following criteria: 1)that you have analyzed a broad array
of the materials for the course for your conclusion—cite as much material (up
through October 16) as you can when you make arguments and conclusion. You
should avoid extensive quotations from the sources. Use brief quotes or refer
to the quotes in the endnotes 2) that you have demonstrated the ability to use
historical evidence to make an historical argument 3) that you can trace
developments over time and understand causation of these
developments.
Note: I will mark-down the essay if you use non-course material for this essay if that means you ignore or overlook material from this course. That means no textbooks, internet sources, books you have read for another class. The idea is to use the course material, not something you read on-line or for another class, to address the questions. However, if you do use all relevant material from this class, you are welcome to bring in additional material to support your conclusions. However, you may not use non-course internet sources at all without prior approval.
Note 2: If you are not aware of the university’s rules for plagiarism, please consult them. I fail students for plagiarism.
1) “Liberal do-gooders are always seeking to enlarge government on behalf of the downtrodden, but they only mess things up. Liberal plans sure didn’t work in the 1960s, and that’s why the doctrine of liberalism failed, and why the doctrine fell out of favor. Liberals are also the unrealistic peaceniks who oppose the military and thus have ruined U.S. credibility across the globe.” Limp Rushbaugh, The Limits of Lilly-livered Liberals (Ailes Publishing Co, 1992)
Evaluate these comments in light of the historical evidence. Your essay should discuss the changes in and challenges to liberalism during the 1960s and early 1970s. Why did liberalism begin to falter in this era? In your estimation, what is the greatest myth about liberalism in the 1960s? Use historical evidence to counter that myth.
2) Write an essay that analyzes the cause and effect of 2 protest or “rights” movements of the 60s era. (In terms of effects, discuss only the effects during the era we have studied—in other words what changes did the movement effect DURING the period you have read about.) In the essay, discuss what and who caused the movement to become a factor in American life. What role did the response of government, authorities in power, or opposition to the movement play in the direction of the movement? If you were to teach a high school class on these movements, what documents or points of evidence from the class are the most critical to present to students? (List and briefly defend your decision). To what extent have your notions about these movements or authorities’ responses to these movements been challenged by the course material?
3) Write an essay that traces the way that the presumptions about secrecy in foreign policy decision-making affected the foreign policy and domestic politics of the 1960s.