American History between 1950 and 1975 Discussion

1) Between 1920 and 1945 the United States experienced incredible growth and prosperity, a

prolonged and catastrophic economic depression, and world war. Looking at your notes for the

1920s, the Great Depression and New Deal of the 1930s, and World War II, as well as the film(s)

we have watched, create a top five list of most significant historical developments that you

believe most accurately reflect the changes that shaped America over this span of time. For your

essay to be successful, you should elaborate and explain the historical developments you choose

to focus upon in order, moving forward in time from 1920 to 1945. You can write about positive

or negative events, or a combination of both. The most crucial factor in choosing your top five

historical developments should be change over time. For each of your five topics, you should

explain/describe the historical development, offer an argument as to why you think it is so

important/significant, and suggest how it leads either directly or indirectly to the next historical

event on your list. In other words, do not just provide a list of 5 historical events that you think

are interesting – explain how they relate to each other, how they worked together to shape, alter,

or define the country between the First and Second World Wars.

(2 pages, typed, double-

spaced, preferably 12-pt font, roughly 500 words)

2) Between 1950 and 1975 the United States experienced yet another period of dramatic

economic growth, a prolonged Cold War with the Soviet Union, and a social/cultural/political

revolution in the sixties and seventies that completely transformed the nation, redefining the

meaning of freedom for all Americans. Looking at your notes for the 1950s/Cold War, the

1960s, and the Conservative Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s, as well as the film(s) we

have watched, create a top five list of most significant historical developments that you believe

most accurately reflect the changes that shaped America over this span of time. For your essay

to be successful, you should elaborate and explain the historical developments you choose to

focus upon in order, moving forward in time from 1950 to 1975. You can write about positive or

negative events, or a combination of both. The most crucial factor in choosing your top five

historical developments should be change over time. For each of your five topics, you should

explain/describe the historical development, offer an argument as to why you think it is so

important/significant, and suggest how it leads either directly or indirectly to the next historical

event on your list. In other words, do not just provide a list of five historical events that you

think are interesting – explain how they relate to each other, how they worked together to shape,

alter, or define the country between the end of WWII and the Vietnam War.

(2 pages, typed,

double-spaced, preferably 12-pt font, roughly 500 words)