American History and Civil Rights

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois

• Booker T. Washington believed that industrial and agricultural labor was the key to economic empowerment for African Americans, particularly in the South.
• Washington's approach focused on practical skills and education to improve economic conditions.
• W.E.B. DuBois, on the other hand, advocated for a "Talented Tenth" of African Americans to receive classical education and acquire intellectual pursuits.
• DuBois criticized Washington for not being outspoken enough on the need for political equality and civil rights for African Americans.

Slavery and Democracy

• The question of whether being barred from political participation in a democratic country has a dehumanizing effect on a person was discussed.
• The answer to this question has been "yes" for many Americans throughout history.
• This concept would have been foreign to those living in the Middle Ages.

Women's Rights in the Progressive Era

• The women's suffrage movement during the Progressive Era was examined.
• John Adams' reasons for opposing women's suffrage were reviewed, including his argument that women are naturally more inclined towards domestic matters.
• The class discussed the distinction between "nature" and "nurture" in relation to gender roles and characteristics.
• A Woman's Suffrage poster from the early 1900s was analyzed, presenting twelve arguments for women's rights.
• The strengths and weaknesses of these arguments were evaluated, with the overall conclusion being that the arguments were more sound than not.

Explore the perspectives of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois on economic empowerment and civil rights, the dehumanizing effects of political exclusion, and the women's suffrage movement during the Progressive Era. Learn about the key figures, arguments, and historical contexts that shaped American history.