Worksheet 1 Week 2 HIST 1502 SP 24
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University Of Connecticut *
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Apr 3, 2024
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HIST 1502 SP 2024 Weekly Analysis Worksheet #1
Week Two: The Ends of Reconstruction & the Contested West
Drawing upon the information and citing specific examples from chapter 17 in your textbook, the documents, and course lectures, answer the questions below. Your answer to each question should be no less than 150 words.
No research beyond class texts and lectures is necessary for answering these questions. Answers that do bring in outside sources will not be accepted. Type your answers directly onto this page, save it with your last name in the title, convert to PDF, and upload it as an Assignment
by Thursday, January 25, at 11:59 pm EST.
1/ Identify and explain two examples that illustrate how the “ends” of Reconstruction and U.S. expansion and colonization of the West were connected to one another. If you wish to draw in material from Chapter 16, you can, but it is not required.
The intertwined nature of the post-Civil War Reconstruction and U.S. westward expansion is evident in the shared experiences of African Americans and Native Americans. Following emancipation, the South employed Black Codes and Jim Crow laws to maintain a semblance of slavery, perpetuating systemic racism. Concurrently, westward expansion saw the U.S. government violating treaties and employing aggressive policies against Native American tribes, resulting in displacement and loss of ancestral lands.
The common thread is the unjust treatment and denial of rights to marginalized groups. Manifest Destiny, driving westward expansion, fueled a narrative of white superiority, leading to the oppression of African Americans and Native Americans alike. This parallel oppression underscores a historical pattern of discrimination and exploitation woven into the fabric of post-
Civil War America, revealing an interconnected struggle for freedom and justice.
2/ Citing one example from chapter 17 and one example from an assigned document, explain the role of civilization as a concept to U.S. colonization of the West. In the process, be sure to describe what civilization means in this context.
The ideology of "civilization" in the U.S. colonization of the West was a tool for justifying the displacement and cultural assimilation of Native American communities. This concept, defined by Euro-American standards, labeled indigenous cultures as "uncivilized." Chief Joseph's 1879 speech highlighted the detrimental impact of such perceptions on Native Americans.
Furthermore, the establishment of white-controlled schools aimed at erasing Native American culture. These schools enforced assimilationist policies, suppressing indigenous languages, traditions, and spirituality. The forced attendance of Native American children in these institutions contributed to the systematic dismantling of their cultural identity. This deliberate strategy obscured the rich tapestry of Native American heritage, reflecting a dark chapter in the history of U.S. westward expansion, where cultural erasure was a means to assert dominance.
3/ Chapter 17 opens with the power of nostalgia and the “Mythic West” in U.S. history and then sets about breaking down those ideas. Drawing from lecture, chapter 17, and/or the week’s assigned documents, identify and explain three examples that contradict popular myths about the American West. In Chapter 17 of "The American Promise: A Concise History, Volume 2," the text challenges popular myths about the American West, including those related to Native Americans, mining, and the fight for land and resources. Firstly, it highlights the harsh realities faced by Native Americans, countering the myth of a harmonious coexistence. The forced removals, broken treaties, and cultural suppression reveal a darker side of westward expansion.
Secondly, the chapter dispels the romanticized image of mining as a straightforward path to wealth. The environmental impact of mining, labor exploitation, and the boom-and-bust cycles challenged the idea of easy prosperity in the West.
Lastly, the fight for land and resources portrays conflicts among settlers, Indigenous peoples, and corporations, dispelling the myth of a unified front in westward expansion. This nuanced perspective highlights the complexities and struggles associated with the American West, offering a more accurate portrayal than the nostalgic myths often perpetuated.
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