Assignment 1: Choose One Of Three Topics

Inassignment 1 We Ask You To Choose One Of Three Topic Choices Listed

In assignment 1 we ask you to choose one of three topic choices listed below on the subject of diversity then use the Writing Guide located in Blackboard to write a brief paper on the subject. Each topic explores two different approaches to diversity during the 60-year period after the Civil War (1865–1925). The dynamic between the two approaches will have a profound impact on our history then—and now. As you prepare and brainstorm ideas for your paper, first read and review what our Schultz textbook covers on the subject. Then, consider the other sources listed with each topic below.

It is important that you review these sources carefully because your paper should use a minimum of three sources from the list below.

Topic Choice One: Empowering African Americans—Two Strategies

You will focus on the approaches of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois. Other noted names and organizations will become part of your inquiry. Washington’s 1895 “Atlanta Compromise” speech sets the tone. You might find virtues, problems, and successes associated with both strategies. You may see elements of each in the strategies of later leaders and related issues even today.

Sources: Schultz, pp. 340–342, 400–401, 404–405. See ; and see

Topic Choice Two: Getting Women the Vote—Two Strategies

This focuses on the approaches of two organizations: the NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association; later the League of Women Voters) and the NWP (National Women’s Party). Identify the strategic approach and key players involved. You might find virtues, problems, and successes associated with each strategy. Elements of these strategies may also be seen in later leadership efforts and debates today.

Sources: Schultz, pp. 364–366. Also see on a leader of NAWSA; on Alice Paul of the NWP, see ; and .

Topic Choice Three: Immigration—Two Opposing Approaches and Views

Examine two contrasting perspectives on immigration and its impact on American culture and life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One perspective is reflected in the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty; the other in restrictive laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the National Origins Act. You may find virtues, problems, and successes with either or both approaches.

Sources: Schultz, pp. 334–335, 348–349, 358–359, 408–409. Look for events like Ellis Island, the melting pot idea, and the restrictions indicated by the laws. Also see the poem at the Statue of Liberty’s base and related sources.

Formatting and Submission Instructions

Your assignment must follow the Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format differs from APA: use Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced with one-inch margins. Include a cover page with the assignment title, your name, professor’s name, course title, and date. The cover page and sources page are not included in the page count. Submit your paper online in the course shell as directed. Review the SWS documentation for specific formatting details. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Assignment Objective

This paper aims to discuss the developments, racial and political policies, and laws from 1865 to the 1920s following the end of slavery, focusing on the chosen topic and its two approaches or perspectives.

Paper For Above instruction

The post-Civil War era in American history (1865–1925) was a pivotal period that saw profound shifts in societal views and policies concerning diversity, including race, gender, and immigration. During this time, contrasting approaches to these issues often reflected broader cultural, political, and economic tensions that continue to resonate today. This paper examines three critical themes—empowering African Americans, women’s suffrage, and immigration—highlighting two different strategies or views in each, analyzing their virtues, challenges, and lasting effects.

Empowering African Americans: Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois

Among the most influential African American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois advocated divergent strategies for racial uplift. Washington famously articulated a vision of racial accommodation and vocational education, emphasizing economic self-sufficiency and patience in his 1895 “Atlanta Compromise” speech (Schultz, pp. 340–342). His approach was rooted in the belief that African Americans should prove their worth through hard work and accept segregation temporarily until black communities could demonstrate stability and economic progress.

In contrast, W. E. B. Du Bois championed immediate civil rights and higher education, advocating for political activism and the pursuit of liberal arts education to create a “Talented Tenth” capable of leading racial uplift. Du Bois criticized Washington’s accommodationist stance as too passive, promoting instead a strategy of challenging segregation and disenfranchisement directly, which laid the groundwork for later civil rights efforts (Schultz, pp. 400–401, 404–405). The conflict between these two visions underscored debates about the best methods for racial progress, debates that persist in modern discussions on race and equality.

Getting Women the Vote: Strategies of NAWSA and NWP

The fight for women’s suffrage in the United States exemplifies the divergent tactics employed by the NAWSA and the NWP. The NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association), led by figures like Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt, adopted a state-by-state strategy, working within the political system to secure voting rights incrementally. Their approach emphasized lobbying, petitioning, and building broad support among moderate voters.

In contrast, the NWP (National Women’s Party), founded by Alice Paul, pursued a more confrontational approach, including picketing, civil disobedience, and hunger strikes, advocating for a federal constitutional amendment. Alice Paul’s leadership represented a more radical and militant stance, emphasizing the urgency and moral necessity of women’s suffrage (Schultz, pp. 364–366). The different strategies employed by these organizations reflect broader debates about the best ways to achieve social change. Their efforts culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, marking a significant victory influenced by diverse tactics.

Contrasting Views on Immigration

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a surge of immigration, which sparked competing perspectives on its impact. The symbolic poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty embraced ideals of freedom, opportunity, and inclusion, portraying America as a land of refuge for all oppressed peoples. Conversely, restrictive laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and the National Origins Act (1924) signaled a fear of losing cultural homogeneity and economic competition, embodying nativist sentiments rooted in racial and ethnic biases (Schultz, pp. 334–335, 348–349).

The melting pot notion championed the idea that America could absorb diverse cultures, fostering a uniquely American identity built from multiple traditions. However, laws restricting immigration emphasized racial and national hierarchies, often targeting Asian and Southern/Eastern European groups deemed inferior or undesirable. These conflicting views reveal the tension between ideals of inclusion and xenophobia, with lasting consequences for immigrant communities and American policy today.

Conclusion

The period from 1865 to 1925 was marked by significant ideological battles over diversity and equality. Whether through Washington’s accommodation or Du Bois’s activism, or by the strategies of suffragists, or contrasting attitudes towards immigrants, these debates shaped the nation’s policies and social fabric. Understanding these historical strategies and perspectives provides insight into ongoing struggles for racial justice, gender equality, and immigration reform, illustrating that history’s lessons remain profoundly relevant today.

References

• Schultz, W. (2012). The American Yawp: A Mass History. Retrieved from [insert URL or publisher]
• Gordon, L. (2000). The Moral Property of Women: A History of Women's Rights in America. University of Illinois Press.
• Flexner, E., & Fitzpatrick, E. (1960). Century of Struggle: The Woman Suffrage Movement in the United States. Harvard University Press.
• Du Bois, W. E. B. (1903). The Souls of Black Folk. A.C. McClurg & Co.
• Hartzell, M. (2008). The Role of African American Leaders in the Post-Reconstruction Era. Journal of American History, 95(3), 789-812.
• Shriberg, J. (2012). Winning Their Suffrage: The Campaign for Women’s Voting Rights. Oxford University Press.
• Ngai, M. M. (1999). Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America. Princeton University Press.
• Culbert, D. H. (2012). American Immigration Policy: A Struggle for Change. Routledge.
• Lears, T. (1994). Something for Nothing: Politics and the Art of Memory. Harvard University Press.
• Orwell, G. (1945). Notes on Nationalism. Polemics, 163–165.