History

Please use the Give me liberty and any additional sources needed.

Address one of the two questions below. Each asks that you draw upon relevant material from the readings, and incorporate it into a concise, clearly-organized, independent analysis.

Your exam paper should be between 800 and 1,000 words in length.

1. What were some of the main themes and approaches of the black freedom movement of the 1960s? What were the key lines of debate within this movement?

2. The American past is often divided into decades -- each one taking on its own label (or labels). The 1860s, for example, is the decade of the Civil War; the 1920s, of prosperity; the 1930s, of hard times; the 1960s, of protest; the 1970s, of disillusionment; and so forth. How about the 1990s? For this essay, come up with a label that, in your view, best captures the direction -- and central concerns -- of American society during the last decade of the 20th century. Explain the reasoning behind your choice. (Bear in mind -- no historical period can be fully captured by one label. Not everyone, for instance, prospered during the Twenties, suffered during Thirties, or protested during the Sixties. Your essay, then, should also note some aspects of 1990s America that do not necessarily conform to the label you have proposed.)