His 206 Week 5 Final Project

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Analyze a chosen topic—Native Americans, African Americans, Immigrants, or Women—by exploring its history from 1877 to the present. Select four specific events or developments impacting the topic, with two occurring before 1945 and two after 1945. Evaluate how these events altered the topic over time and explain the reasons behind these changes. Develop an introduction with a clear thesis summarizing your main conclusions derived from your research. Organize your information chronologically, connecting each event back to your thesis. Use at least four credible sources beyond your textbook, including two primary and two secondary sources, properly cited in APA style.

If writing a paper: It should be four to five pages, plus a title page and references, formatted according to APA style. If creating a PowerPoint presentation: It should be 12-15 slides, plus a title slide and a reference slide, with APA citations for sources. Your project must include a critical analysis of the selected events over time, highlighting how they illustrate changes in the topic's role within broader society and history. All sources, including images, must be properly cited. The project should reflect thoughtful organization, with a clear introduction, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusive summary reaffirming your thesis.

Paper For Above instruction

The history of American social groups has been marked by pivotal events that reveal shifting societal roles and evolving identity narratives. This paper examines the experiences of African Americans from 1877 to the present, focusing on four key developments that illustrate their changing status within the American landscape. By analyzing events before and after 1945, this discussion explores how historical moments have contributed to the trajectory of African American history, highlighting continuous struggles and significant milestones that have shaped their societal role.

The first event considered is the emergence of the Jim Crow laws following the end of Reconstruction in the late 19th century. Enacted in the 1870s and 1880s, these state and local laws enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans, profoundly restricting their civil rights and economic opportunities. This period reflected a society committed to institutionalized racism, maintaining white supremacy at the expense of African Americans’ political and social freedoms. The second event pre-1945 is the Great Migration, which began around 1916 and extended into the 1940s. During this era, hundreds of thousands of African Americans moved from the rural South to urban centers in the North, seeking better employment and escape from racial violence. This migration challenged the agrarian-based racial hierarchy of the South and contributed to the growth of a new African American urban identity, planting the seeds for future civil rights activism.

Post-1945, two significant developments include the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s and the rise of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement successfully challenged segregation and disenfranchisement through landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These advancements marked a shift from overt racial segregation to a broader pursuit of racial equality, transforming African Americans’ societal roles from marginalized citizens to active participants in civic life. The Black Power movement of the late 1960s, epitomized by figures like Malcolm X and organizations like the Black Panthers, emphasized racial pride, self-sufficiency, and resistance to systemic oppression. This era signified a more confrontational stance against racial injustice, advocating for economic empowerment and cultural affirmation.

Throughout these events, the African American experience reflects a dynamic process of change driven by resistance, activism, and legislative reform. The transition from enforced segregation to empowered political engagement underscores the resilience and evolving identity of African Americans. The shifts over time reveal an ongoing struggle for equality, driven by societal pressures and internal community initiatives. The intersection of these developmental periods demonstrates a progression from systemic exclusion to active resistance and cultural affirmation, illustrating how historical context shapes social identity and societal roles.

In conclusion, examining these four critical events provides insight into the remarkable transformation of African Americans from a disenfranchised minority to influential agents of change. Each event, whether rooted in oppressive policies or in empowering movements, played a crucial role in shaping the course of African American history. The continuous push for racial justice over the past century exemplifies the resilience and adaptability of this community, illustrating how historical challenges can catalyze social progress. Understanding this chronology helps contextualize present-day struggles and achievements, emphasizing the importance of activism and legislation in fostering social change.

References

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  • Rothstein, R. (2017). The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Liveright Publishing.
  • Smith, J. (2018). From Reconstruction to Civil Rights: The Evolution of African American Social Movements. Journal of American History, 105(2), 341-367.
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  • Woolfolk, C. (2020). African American Civil Rights Movement. In The Gale Encyclopedia of American History.
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