January question #1: Reparations

1.  The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the subsequent Civil Liberties Act Amendment of 1992  made it possible for the families of those Japanese Americans placed in Internment camps during World War II (per Roosevelt's order 9066) to receive reparations for their mistreatment at the hands of the American government.  However, no such reparations have ever been offered by the US government for those families who are descendants of slaves, an insidious institution that lasted for centuries longer than the horrible four years of internment for West Coast Japanese Americans.  Are reparations the answer for a government's fear-induced/unethical/racially motivated practices?  Why was it possible, do you think, for the US government to provide reparations to (most) of the 10,000 Japanese Americans and/or their descendants yet no one has offered reparations to the descendants of slave families?

January question #2: Wealth and capitalism

2. The Industrial Revolution in America provided an opportunity for those with money to become far richer than the standards of the 19th century had ever allowed for before. It allowed a "middle management" to grow, in effect giving America it's first taste of an "Upper Middle Class" and perhaps a true "Middle Class " at all.  At the same time, others were terribly exploited in the work force, and the sheer overwhelming nature of impoverished Americans is a huge part of what we study as we examine the "progress" that the Industrial Revolution wrought.

Consider the 21st century and the distribution of wealth in our own time.  Are the wealthiest people of the world to be admired?  Why or why not?  Is our capitalist society "fair"--why or why not?

January question #3: Charlie Hebdo

3.  On January 7, three masked men attacked the paper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 (including two police officers) and wounding another 11.  At the writing of this question, three terrorists have been killed and at least four hostages have died as well.  There is still one alleged terrorist at large in the area outside of Paris.  The magazine has been under fire in the past (literally and metaphorically) for its controversial depictions of Mohammad (the purported cause of Wednesday's attack).  Should such free speech and freedom of the press (consider the US Constitution's 1st Amendment) always be protected?  Are the depictions of Charlie Hebdo acceptable?  Why or why not?

November question #1: LAND

A core component of any study of 19th century American history focuses on land:  how America acquired it,  how America solidified its borders, and how land--and migration--are reflections of both the American Dream and the impending destruction of the Native American way of life.  In today's political climate, the addition of casinos to many reservations has become a main source of income for the tribes on government-assigned reservations.  Considering the relationship between the voters and the tribes (with respect to the casinos) and/or the realities of American involvement in countries worldwide, do you think this notion of Manifest Destiny exists today?  In what way?  Why or why not?

November question #2: Supreme Court

This year the Supreme Court made some powerful decisions regarding the Defense of Marriage Act.  In your studies, you have examined the Supreme Court cases that shaped the early decades of the court's existence.  Consider a series of Supreme Court decisions (from your own research, from your studies, or from the newspaper).  Do you feel like the court's inclinations have changed?  How so (or why not)?  Choose a court case that you think would have been decided differently in another age.

November question #3: Mid-Term Elections and Looking Forward to 2016

Consider the election results from earlier in the month in the United States.  How does this election set up the country for the 2016 Presidential election?  What hypotheses can you make about the outcome of that next election?  Why?

October question #2

Consider Scotland's recent vote to determine independence from the UK.   Countries such as China and Russia were hoping that Scotland would NOT vote for independence.  Why not?  What promises did the British government make to Scotland in the hopes that the vote would, indeed, be a "no" vote?  Draw parallels between these promises and the hopes/fears of the Whigs and Tories during the era of the American Revolution.

October Question #1

Consider what you've studied about the creation of the earliest colonies.  It is rather amazing that the religious focus of some colonies (Massachusetts) and the economic focus of other colonies (Virginia) eventually came together into one country.  With that in mind, consider which influences the United States more today: religion/morals or the pursuit of economic prosperity?

April question #1

To what extent do you think the failure of Prohibition has influenced many states' decisions to begin legalizing the use of marijuana today? What do you think of the states’ control over these decisions even as the Federal government continues to ban marijuana use.

April question #2

To what extent did the United States' entry into World War I set this country on a path to always becoming militarily involved in international affairs? 

April question #3

Whether it's the start of WWI (the first mechanized war) the start of the Cold War and the usage of the atom bomb, or American soldiers in Iraq who correspond with their families via Skype, America has a long history of technological advancements coming as a result of the money spent on warfare.  Do you think the United States would have the technology as quickly if it did not have the wars?  Where else—and what else—could the impetus for such tech advancements come from?

February question #1: What is Progress?

February question #1:  What is Progress?

Henry David Thoreau's fears about societal encroachment into the natural world seem to reflect the current uncertainly regarding how much "progress" is too much.

Consider some of the most advanced technological changes of our time:  smart phones, drones, robotic technologies, electric cars, alternative fuel sources.  What would Thoreau have thought of them?  Be specific with your responses, especially since some of our most advanced technological changes are "green."

February question #2: Immigration

February question #2: Immigration

In an era of globalization, some academics argue that borders mean less than they did even just 10 years ago (think EU). As the world attempts to move toward more unification and cooperation, should there be fewer immigration restrictions? What, in your opinion, are reasons to deny people entry into your own country? Why? What is the best way to discourage/end illegal immigration?

Nativists of the 19th and early 20th century often complained of immigrants because they took away jobs from "native born" Americans, were uneducated (didn't speak English), poor, and utterly different (leading to discomfort of those already in America). Are such nativist arguments heard today in your own country? Is there any validity to such arguments?