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How have new western historians portrayed the experiences of non-winners in history?
How have new western historians portrayed the experiences of non-winners in history?
They have recognized the waste and exploitation of immigrants and rejected the view of European superiority.
What is the significance of Jason Pierce's work 'making the white men's west' in the context of this history?
What is the significance of Jason Pierce's work 'making the white men's west' in the context of this history?
It highlights the importance of race, showing how being white facilitated access to power in the western expansion.
What did Amy Bridges argue regarding the constitutional conventions during the western expansion?
What did Amy Bridges argue regarding the constitutional conventions during the western expansion?
She argued that they were designed to ensure compliance with the US Constitution and promote Americanization.
In what ways did the state constitutions reflect white supremacy according to the provided content?
In what ways did the state constitutions reflect white supremacy according to the provided content?
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What critique do new western historians have against the traditional view of democracy in the West?
What critique do new western historians have against the traditional view of democracy in the West?
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How did the federal system impact the drafting of state constitutions?
How did the federal system impact the drafting of state constitutions?
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What role did brutality against indigenous populations play in historical narratives, according to the newer historians?
What role did brutality against indigenous populations play in historical narratives, according to the newer historians?
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Why is the concept of a 'region of exchange' significant in understanding North America's history?
Why is the concept of a 'region of exchange' significant in understanding North America's history?
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How do progressives view the New Deal in relation to liberal heritage?
How do progressives view the New Deal in relation to liberal heritage?
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What is the significance of the first hundred days of the New Deal?
What is the significance of the first hundred days of the New Deal?
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According to conservative historians, what effect did the New Deal have on personal freedom?
According to conservative historians, what effect did the New Deal have on personal freedom?
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Who classified the New Deal as the Third American Revolution and what does this denote?
Who classified the New Deal as the Third American Revolution and what does this denote?
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What reservations do conservative writers have regarding the federal government's role as seen in the New Deal?
What reservations do conservative writers have regarding the federal government's role as seen in the New Deal?
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How did the Progressive School relate the New Deal to earlier populist movements?
How did the Progressive School relate the New Deal to earlier populist movements?
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Which political party do conservative historians generally align with, and what is their critique of the New Deal?
Which political party do conservative historians generally align with, and what is their critique of the New Deal?
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What do progressive historians believe about the relationship between the New Deal and laissez-faire economics?
What do progressive historians believe about the relationship between the New Deal and laissez-faire economics?
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How did railroads contribute to the transformation of the American West?
How did railroads contribute to the transformation of the American West?
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What was the significance of land along railroad tracks in the context of settlement?
What was the significance of land along railroad tracks in the context of settlement?
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Describe the demographic preferences of railroad companies when selecting settlers.
Describe the demographic preferences of railroad companies when selecting settlers.
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What central environmental challenge did settlers face in the American West?
What central environmental challenge did settlers face in the American West?
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How do historians like Rothman, Worster, and Cronon contribute to our understanding of the American West?
How do historians like Rothman, Worster, and Cronon contribute to our understanding of the American West?
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What alternative perspective on Western history is provided by the new leaders of 'new Western history'?
What alternative perspective on Western history is provided by the new leaders of 'new Western history'?
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In what ways did railroads serve as a 'cement' for the nation during the Civil War era?
In what ways did railroads serve as a 'cement' for the nation during the Civil War era?
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What does the phrase 'melting pot' imply in the context of the American West, and how does it contrast with historical realities?
What does the phrase 'melting pot' imply in the context of the American West, and how does it contrast with historical realities?
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What was Richard Hofstadter's perspective on the New Deal?
What was Richard Hofstadter's perspective on the New Deal?
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How did historians from the New Left critique the New Deal in relation to minorities?
How did historians from the New Left critique the New Deal in relation to minorities?
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What was the impact of World War II on the economic situation in the U.S. compared to the New Deal?
What was the impact of World War II on the economic situation in the U.S. compared to the New Deal?
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What was the general stance of Republican critics towards Roosevelt's New Deal?
What was the general stance of Republican critics towards Roosevelt's New Deal?
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What were some of the failures attributed to the New Deal according to various historians?
What were some of the failures attributed to the New Deal according to various historians?
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What did James MacGregor Burns and Paul Conkin emphasize about the New Deal?
What did James MacGregor Burns and Paul Conkin emphasize about the New Deal?
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How did recent historians' perspectives on the New Deal differ from earlier traditional views?
How did recent historians' perspectives on the New Deal differ from earlier traditional views?
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According to Luthenberg, what did Roosevelt fail to address during his presidency?
According to Luthenberg, what did Roosevelt fail to address during his presidency?
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What role did nuclear fear play in Reagan's approach to the Cold War?
What role did nuclear fear play in Reagan's approach to the Cold War?
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What crisis was the Soviet Union facing that influenced Gorbachev's decisions during the Cold War?
What crisis was the Soviet Union facing that influenced Gorbachev's decisions during the Cold War?
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How did Garthoff’s perspective differ from the view that Reagan's administration was primarily responsible for ending the Cold War?
How did Garthoff’s perspective differ from the view that Reagan's administration was primarily responsible for ending the Cold War?
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What was the significance of Reagan calling the Soviet Union an 'evil empire' during his first term?
What was the significance of Reagan calling the Soviet Union an 'evil empire' during his first term?
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What does John Graham Wilson's book 'The Triumph of Improvisation' suggest about the leaders' strategies in ending the Cold War?
What does John Graham Wilson's book 'The Triumph of Improvisation' suggest about the leaders' strategies in ending the Cold War?
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How did the relationship between Reagan and Gorbachev evolve over time?
How did the relationship between Reagan and Gorbachev evolve over time?
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In what way did the leaders' willingness to pivot affect the dynamics of the Cold War?
In what way did the leaders' willingness to pivot affect the dynamics of the Cold War?
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What was one of Reagan's stated goals for his presidency regarding the Cold War?
What was one of Reagan's stated goals for his presidency regarding the Cold War?
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What do Edmund Burke and modern political scientists have in common regarding community ties?
What do Edmund Burke and modern political scientists have in common regarding community ties?
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What was the main public sentiment surrounding Proposition 13 in California during 1978?
What was the main public sentiment surrounding Proposition 13 in California during 1978?
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According to George Marcus, how do emotions compare to reason in political decision-making?
According to George Marcus, how do emotions compare to reason in political decision-making?
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What does Madison in the Federalist Papers suggest about citizen attachments to government?
What does Madison in the Federalist Papers suggest about citizen attachments to government?
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Why were senators not elected by voters until the early 20th century?
Why were senators not elected by voters until the early 20th century?
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What role do biases play in the political decisions of citizens according to the content?
What role do biases play in the political decisions of citizens according to the content?
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How did emotions influence the public reaction during campaigns like Proposition 13?
How did emotions influence the public reaction during campaigns like Proposition 13?
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What has changed in the electoral process of the American president compared to the early days of the republic?
What has changed in the electoral process of the American president compared to the early days of the republic?
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Study Notes
Historiography of the American West
- Frederick Jackson Turner, in 1893, posited the frontier as a crucial factor in Americanizing the population, differentiating westerners from easterners due to westward expansion.
- Turner believed that interactions between settlers and other groups shaped American culture and nationalism.
- He viewed the frontier as promoting individualism and democracy, as individuals are free from external control.
- Presidents sometimes used the "spoils system" to reward political allies, though this was viewed as a failure.
Critique of Turner's Thesis
- Ray Billington questioned the validity of Turner's frontier thesis.
- Interest in the West waned, with historians focusing less on the region, instead of cowboys and Indians.
- Patricia Limerick and Donald Worster's "The Legacy of Conquest" (1887) re-evaluated the West, no longer as a frontier but as a specific region with unique characteristics.
- The West was identified as an area with unique ethnic groups (Native American, Chinese, Hispanic American), and the existing cultures.
Expanding the Scope of Western History
- Western history is now understood as a more complex interaction of various ethnic groups.
- Historians are now more attentive and fair to those who did not succeed or were harmed.
- The West, viewed in the context of the rest of the U.S. and globally, has become a significant area of investigation.
The New Deal
- The New Deal of the 1930s aimed to combat the Great Depression through economic intervention, largely unprecedented in American history.
- This policy was seen as revolutionary by some, but others viewed it as a continuation of existing American political and economic ideas.
- Historians have differing perspectives on the New Deal: Some see it as a liberal political program, while others see it as a continuation of progressive-era policies, with minimal disruption.
The Cold War
- There is disagreement about who won the Cold War, with some historians claiming that the US won due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and others claiming that the pressure exerted by the Reagan administration, and the aggressive use of military action, were the cause of the collapse.
- Some historians claim that the Cold War represented multiple distinct, sometimes overlapping, conflicts.
Oral History Methodology
- Oral history data is not static and can change over time due to different interviews, and the influence of memory and interpretation.
- Memories can be distorted by the way a story is reconstructed.
- Historians must consider other factors, like the significance of what's being talked about, its context, and if it's a generalization vs. a specific experience.
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Description
Explore the different perspectives on the historiography of the American West, particularly focusing on Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis and its critiques by historians like Ray Billington and Patricia Limerick. This quiz examines the evolution of historical interpretation regarding American culture, identity, and the representation of the West.