- What is the “Lost Cause?” How has it attempted to change the meaning of the Civil War over time? How and where do we see this ideology in action?
- According to Ta-Nehisi Coates, what was “this cruel war,” the Civil War, fought over? How does Coates support his argument? If Coates is correct, what is the real purpose of the “Lose Cause” ideology?
- Why did the Daughters of the Confederacy build the monument at Stone Mountain? What message do you think the monument sends? Ultimately, how did the “Graven Image” documentary make you feel?
- The timeline shows when many of the Confederate monuments were built. Why were so many built to begin with, and especially why were so many built in the early 1900s and the 1950s? Ultimately, what should we do about Confederate monuments? Explain your answer.
- Historian Donald R. Hickey wrote, “The obscurity of [the War of 1812] should not blind us to its significance, for it was an important turning point, a great watershed, in the history of the young republic.” Contemporary Americans called it the “Second American Revolution.” To what extent was the War of 1812 a turning point for the United States? Does it deserve to be known as the “Second American Revolution?” Provide evidence.
- Upon witnessing a mob of Andrew Jackson supporters storm the White House on Inauguration Day, author Margaret Smith wrote, “It was the People’s day, and the People’s President, and the People would rule.” To what extent was this an accurate description of Jackson and the actions of his administration? Did Andrew Jackson represent all of the American people? Explain your answer in detail.
- In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Building upon that idea, the framers who wrote the Constitution sought to create a “more perfect union.” How successful was the early republic (1789-1820) in living up to these ideals and goals?