Overview: In this assignment, you will analyze political cartoons from the Spanish-American War era to explore how concepts of civilization and barbarism shaped ideas surrounding U.S. imperialism. Furthermore, you will trace these concepts back to their earlier connections with Manifest Destiny and the justification for westward expansion and the relocation and forced assimilation of indigenous peoples in the contiguous United States.
Objectives: Upon completion of this assignment, students should be able to:
1. Construct a historical thesis supported by selected primary sources. 2. Estimate the correct era from which a primary source derives.
3. Interpret the thesis of a secondary source.
Instructions:
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Thesis Construction: Begin your essay by formulating a thesis that articulates your perspective on how the notions of civilization and barbarism influenced U.S. imperialistic ideas. Ensure that your thesis could be supported by the primary sources available to you.
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Analyzing Political Cartoons: Choose at least three political cartoons from the Spanish- American War era that either support or criticize U.S. imperialism. Describe each cartoon in detail, highlighting key elements, symbols, and characters. Analyze the cartoons in the context of the broader political and social atmosphere of the era. How do they depict the concepts of civilization and barbarism?
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Connecting Past to Present: Link the themes found in the cartoons to the ideas underpinning Manifest Destiny, especially in relation to westward expansion and the treatment of indigenous communities. Highlight any parallels, continuities, or divergences you observe.
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Incorporating Secondary Sources: Engage with at least two secondary sources we’ve discussed in and out of class. Interpret the thesis of these sources and integrate them into your analysis to strengthen your arguments.
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Era Estimation: For each primary and secondary source you incorporate, identify the likely era from which it originates and justify your estimation,
Submission Guidelines:
Length: Approximately 1200-1500 words.
Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced. Citations: Use Chicago Manual of Style for all citations. Submit as a .doc or .pdf file.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Integration of Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to cohesively link primary and secondary sources to your main thesis.
- Engagement with Information Literacy: Proficiency in estimating the correct historical era from which your chosen primary sources derive.
- Critical Thinking: Depth of analysis regarding civilization and barbarism themes and their connection to U.S. imperialism and Manifest Destiny.
- Communication Skills: Clarity, coherence, and organization of your written work.
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |||||
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Thesis Construction
This criterion evaluates the clarity, insightfulness, and development of the student’s thesis statement. The thesis should articulate a well-defined perspective or argument regarding the influence of civilization and barbarism on U.S. imperialistic ideas during the Spanish-American War era. It should be directly relevant to the assignment and capable of being supported by primary and secondary sources.
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10 pts
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Analysis of Political Cartoons
This measures the depth and quality of the student’s analysis of selected political cartoons. The analysis should include a detailed description of the cartoons, an understanding of the symbols and characters used, and a contextual interpretation of how these cartoons reflect or critique the concepts of civilization and barbarism in relation to U.S. imperialism.
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15 pts
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Use of Secondary Sources
This criterion assesses how effectively students integrate and interpret secondary sources. Students should demonstrate an understanding of the authors’ theses in these sources and skillfully incorporate these perspectives into their own analysis to strengthen their arguments.
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15 pts
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Connecting Past to Present
his focuses on the student’s ability to link the themes in the political cartoons and their arguments to the broader historical context, particularly the ideas underpinning Manifest Destiny and the treatment of indigenous communities. This involves identifying parallels, continuities, or divergences between past and present themes.
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5 pts
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Era Estimation
This criterion evaluates the student’s ability to accurately identify and justify the historical era from which their chosen primary and secondary sources originate. It involves an understanding of historical context and the ability to place sources within a specific temporal framework.
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5 pts
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Quality Writing
This optional criterion rewards exceptional writing skills. It includes the clarity, coherence, and organization of the essay, as well as adherence to grammatical rules and the specified formatting guidelines.
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5 pts
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Total Points: 55
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