1) What perceptions of “others” are reflected attending Miss Columbia’s School House (Document 1)? How does Aguinaldo’s criticism of America’s policies towards the Philippines (Document 2) echo the 1894 political cartoon? What do these two documents suggest about the way America perceived conquered peoples and the likelihood that they would ever be fit for American citizenship and its liberties?
2) What relationship does President Eisenhower draw between events in the modern Civil Rights Movement and the goals of the United States in waging the Cold War (Document 3)? How does the Alcatraz Proclamation (Document 4) and the “The Soiling of Old Glory” photograph (Document 5) reflect the increasing radicalization of the Civil Rights Movement by the 1970s as well as the violent responses it could produce within Anglo American communities? Based upon Eisenhower’s speech, how do you believe he would respond to Documents 4 and 5 in the context of the Cold War?
3) According to President Reagan (Document 6), what does “having a positive view of American history” mean and what values does the country stand for? What should modern Americans think of their country’s past in regards to race relations according Senator Obama (Document 7)? Do you agree with these documents arguments about America’s past? Why or why not?
4) Based upon your reading of these documents, to what extent do you believe America’s past continues to influence American society and modern debates about inequality? Does our past and efforts to confront and resolve issues of inequality empower us with a moral authority to dictate world affairs today? Why or why not?
