The United States was transformed by industrialization, or the emergence of a national economy dominated by large-scale manufacturing, mechanized transportation, and enormous corporations, in the decades after Reconstruction. As we have seen in this course, industrialization created new divisions in American society, but it also provided opportunities for many Americans and immigrants to pursue previously unimaginable prosperity.
In this brief paper of 2-3 double-spaced pages (about 600-900 words) I would like you to look back on the material from the class so far, especially what you have read in The American Yawp and the assigned primary sources, to address this question: Were Americans becoming more free by the early twentieth century? Why or why not? Your paper will present and support an argument that, on balance, Americans either were or were not becoming more free in the early twentieth century. To answer this question, you will need to define freedom for the purposes of your argument, and you also may find you need to define the particular group or groups of Americans you are focusing on.
Support your argument with specific, cited evidence from content in at least three different chapters in The American Yawp or primary sources (for instance, you could use evidence from two chapters in The American Yawp and one primary source, or one chapter in The American Yawp and two primary sources, etc.). Provide citations for direct quotes and for specific information, even if its expressed in your own words. Since there are no page numbers, cite information and quotes with chapter numbers or source titles, such as (American Yawp Chapter 21) or (Eugene Debs). You may provide evidence from the course presentations as well, if its relevant, but you will still need evidence from three different written sources.
Your paper should include the following elements:
An introductory paragraph that introduces the topics you will discuss and includes a thesis statement of between one and three sentences that states your argument, or your answer to the question.
Body paragraphs that present and analyze specific evidence that supports your thesis.
A conclusion that reflects upon the significance of your argument. In other words, use this space to discuss why it is important to know that Americans did or did not become more free in this era. Does it perhaps provide perspective on the contemporary U.S.?