Final Essay – Due December 17th by 11:59pm
Requirements:
· Your essay should be at least four pages double-spaced, in reasonably-sized font such as Times New Roman 12-point font
· Your arguments should be supported by specific, detailed evidence and information from the course
o By “specific, detailed evidence/information” I mean that you should include names, dates, or other specific information so that your reader will know exactly what you’re talking about.
o Instead of writing something vague like “the time when Black people were getting attacked by white people”, be specific—say “the Tulsa Race Massacre” or “the Red Summer”. Use the terms/names that we discussed in class, and use dates (or at least specific years) to make it clear which events you’re talking about.
· No outside research is required, so I will not be requiring citations or a bibliography; you should use the information and materials from the course to supply your evidence. However, if you choose to include information from other internet resources, I will expect you to use in-text citations and include a bibliography/works cited.
Writing Prompt:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” –Ronald Reagan
“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.” –Rosa Parks
The concepts of freedom, equality, and rights are very much intertwined. Rosa Parks, for example, fought for her rights as a citizen, as a way to gain greater freedom and equality in American society. Near the beginning of your essay, you should define what you mean by the terms “freedom”, “equality”, and “rights”. You may use definitions you agree with that you find on the internet, but if you do, you will need to cite your sources.
In your essay, explore how these three concepts are connected, and how different groups throughout 20th century American history have struggled for greater freedom and equality as well as recognition of their rights. You could examine these concepts along the lines of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or even socioeconomic class (e.g. workers’ rights). Make sure to explore:
1) What kinds of barriers each group faced which prevented them from exercising their rights or gaining true equality/freedom in the USA,
2) What methods each group used to overcome these barriers and gain their rights and freedoms,
3) How (by what laws, court decisions, or other mechanisms) those rights and freedoms are protected and guaranteed today
4) What barriers, if any, still remain today preventing these groups from being truly “equal” in US society
Choose at least three groups to examine in depth. You may choose groups/examples from any period of 20thcentury American history. Each argument you make should be supported with plenty of specific details, case studies, and historical evidence from our class materials. Additional research is not required, although if you decide to do some extra research (particularly to answer question #4), you will need to cite your sources in-text as well as include a bibliography or works cited at the end of your paper.
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