Historiography of the American West
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Questions and Answers

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?

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?

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?

<p>The state constitutions asserted white supremacy by prioritizing the interests of white settlers over native and Hispano cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critique do new western historians have against the traditional view of democracy in the West?

<p>They denounce the abuses and argue that the traditional narrative oversimplifies the complexities of power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the federal system impact the drafting of state constitutions?

<p>It constrained the states from drafting any constitutions that contradicted the federal Constitution, impacting local governance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did brutality against indigenous populations play in historical narratives, according to the newer historians?

<p>New historians were the first to openly denounce the brutality faced by American Indians during the conquest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the concept of a 'region of exchange' significant in understanding North America's history?

<p>It illustrates the continuous interaction and conflict among different cultural groups vying for prominence in the area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do progressives view the New Deal in relation to liberal heritage?

<p>Progressives see the New Deal as a continuation of the liberal heritage, which includes earlier democratic measures aimed at improving daily life through government intervention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the first hundred days of the New Deal?

<p>The first hundred days of the New Deal are significant because they saw an unprecedented number of reforms and governmental actions taken in such a short period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to conservative historians, what effect did the New Deal have on personal freedom?

<p>Conservative historians argue that the New Deal limited personal freedom and personal growth, contradicting American values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who classified the New Deal as the Third American Revolution and what does this denote?

<p>The historian Lewis Hackler classified the New Deal as the Third American Revolution, indicating its transformative impact on American society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What reservations do conservative writers have regarding the federal government's role as seen in the New Deal?

<p>Conservative writers express that the New Deal represents a contradiction to the tradition of minimal federal government involvement in individuals' lives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Progressive School relate the New Deal to earlier populist movements?

<p>The Progressive School connects the New Deal to earlier populist movements by highlighting a historical struggle against monopoly and privilege, rooted in the people's party of the late 19th century.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which political party do conservative historians generally align with, and what is their critique of the New Deal?

<p>Conservative historians generally align with the Republican Party and critique the New Deal for fostering government decisions that they view as un-American.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do progressive historians believe about the relationship between the New Deal and laissez-faire economics?

<p>Progressive historians view the New Deal as a counterpoint to laissez-faire economics, promoting government intervention to rectify social inequalities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did railroads contribute to the transformation of the American West?

<p>Railroads provided essential transportation for goods and people, facilitating settlement and economic integration in the West.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of land along railroad tracks in the context of settlement?

<p>Land along railroad tracks was valuable because it offered immediate access to transportation and goods, encouraging settlement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the demographic preferences of railroad companies when selecting settlers.

<p>Railroad companies preferred European, rural, white, and Protestant settlers to establish a familiar hierarchy similar to the East.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What central environmental challenge did settlers face in the American West?

<p>Settlers faced significant challenges due to the arid environment, particularly the scarcity of water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do historians like Rothman, Worster, and Cronon contribute to our understanding of the American West?

<p>These historians emphasize the impact of the environment on culture, institutions, and the experiences of settlers in the West.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What alternative perspective on Western history is provided by the new leaders of 'new Western history'?

<p>They offer an alternative to the triumphalist view by focusing on the complexities of settlement rather than glorifying heroes and cowboys.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what ways did railroads serve as a 'cement' for the nation during the Civil War era?

<p>Railroads helped to unify the nation by connecting the dislocated regions of the North, South, and West, promoting economic cooperation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'melting pot' imply in the context of the American West, and how does it contrast with historical realities?

<p>The term 'melting pot' suggests diversity and democracy, but historical realities reveal a focus on establishing a white, Protestant hierarchy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Richard Hofstadter's perspective on the New Deal?

<p>Hofstadter viewed the New Deal as a pragmatic response to the economic crisis, focusing on regulated wages, public works, and working hours.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did historians from the New Left critique the New Deal in relation to minorities?

<p>They argued that the New Deal failed to adequately address the needs and rights of minorities, particularly African Americans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of World War II on the economic situation in the U.S. compared to the New Deal?

<p>Historians agree that WWII ultimately saved the country and led to economic recovery, rather than the New Deal policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the general stance of Republican critics towards Roosevelt's New Deal?

<p>Republicans accused Roosevelt of being a socialist and criticized the New Deal as a product of capitalism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were some of the failures attributed to the New Deal according to various historians?

<p>Failures included the lack of new employment opportunities before WWII and insufficient wealth distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did James MacGregor Burns and Paul Conkin emphasize about the New Deal?

<p>They suggested that Roosevelt did not do enough to radically transform the economic system and mainly maintained it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did recent historians' perspectives on the New Deal differ from earlier traditional views?

<p>Recent historians focus more on the impacts of the New Deal from below and its effects on ordinary people rather than just government policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Luthenberg, what did Roosevelt fail to address during his presidency?

<p>Luthenberg pointed out Roosevelt's shortcomings in not doing enough for various societal issues and merely maintaining the existing system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did nuclear fear play in Reagan's approach to the Cold War?

<p>Nuclear fear led Reagan to adopt a less aggressive stance, contributing to the easing of tensions and the so-called 'Reagan reversal'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What crisis was the Soviet Union facing that influenced Gorbachev's decisions during the Cold War?

<p>The Soviet Union was facing serious systemic crises that required political and economic reforms to avoid collapse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Garthoff’s perspective differ from the view that Reagan's administration was primarily responsible for ending the Cold War?

<p>Garthoff believed the end of the Cold War resulted more from Gorbachev's policies, such as reducing military buildup, than from Reagan's actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Reagan calling the Soviet Union an 'evil empire' during his first term?

<p>This rhetoric illustrated Reagan's initial hardline stance towards the Soviet Union, which later softened during his second term.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does John Graham Wilson's book 'The Triumph of Improvisation' suggest about the leaders' strategies in ending the Cold War?

<p>Wilson's book suggests that the leaders discovered rather than designed the course that led to the Cold War's end.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the relationship between Reagan and Gorbachev evolve over time?

<p>Initially tense, their relationship improved significantly, culminating in Reagan becoming a good friend of Gorbachev.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the leaders' willingness to pivot affect the dynamics of the Cold War?

<p>Their willingness to pivot allowed for increased dialogue and cooperation, facilitating the end of hostilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Reagan's stated goals for his presidency regarding the Cold War?

<p>Reagan's goal was to end the Cold War, although he was uncertain about how to achieve that.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Edmund Burke and modern political scientists have in common regarding community ties?

<p>Both emphasize that reason alone cannot sustain community; emotional connections are essential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main public sentiment surrounding Proposition 13 in California during 1978?

<p>The public largely favored lower taxes despite concerns about reduced public services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to George Marcus, how do emotions compare to reason in political decision-making?

<p>Emotions are problematic and cannot be debated or tested like reason and judgment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Madison in the Federalist Papers suggest about citizen attachments to government?

<p>He suggests that emotional attachments often lead citizens to prioritize personal interests over communal ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why were senators not elected by voters until the early 20th century?

<p>Senators were elected by a body of higher electors due to fears of uneducated mob rule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do biases play in the political decisions of citizens according to the content?

<p>Biased loyalties shape voting behavior, often favoring personal or community interests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did emotions influence the public reaction during campaigns like Proposition 13?

<p>Emotions, particularly anger towards the federal government, intensified public responses in the campaign.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has changed in the electoral process of the American president compared to the early days of the republic?

<p>Today, the American president is elected by popular vote rather than solely by electors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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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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.

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