Overview The content discussion this week examines Reconstruction and the Gilded Age periods during US History and examines their consequences. Instructions Select one (only one!) topic from the below and write a response to the prompt by the initial post due date. Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course readings or linked documents) on Reconstruction, which plan for Reconstruction – Lincoln’s, Wartime Congressional, Johnson’s or Congressional – do you believe was best for the nation? Why? Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course readings or linked documents) on Reconstruction, do you believe Reconstruction was successful? What did freedom mean for African Americans after the war? What positive changes did Africans Americans experience from Reconstruction? Negative changes? What might the American people or government have done differently to make their lives better? Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course readings or linked documents) on the Gilded Age, explain how industrialization contributed to the rise of the American labor movement? Do you believe that this labor movement attained its goals? Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course readings or linked documents) on the Gilded Age, describe the rise of American Big Business during this era. Do you believe that men such as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie were “Robber Barons” or “Captains of Industry?” Defend your answer and explain why. Make sure you use evidence from the sources and source types noted in your prompt to support your points. You may use sources other than those found in Recommended Resources, but you should write at least 300 words in your response. Reply to at least two other students’ posts with substantive responses of at least 100 - 150 words, and be sure to reply to your instructor. .

1. Overview
The content discussion this week examines Reconstruction and
the Gilded Age periods during US History and examines their
consequences.
Instructions
Select one (only one!) topic from the below and write a
response to the prompt by the initial post due date.
Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course
readings or linked documents) on Reconstruction, which plan
for Reconstruction – Lincoln’s, Wartime Congressional,
Johnson’s or Congressional – do you believe was best for the
nation? Why?
Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course
readings or linked documents) on Reconstruction, do you
believe Reconstruction was successful? What did freedom mean
for African Americans after the war? What positive changes did
Africans Americans experience from Reconstruction? Negative
changes? What might the American people or government have
done differently to make their lives better?
Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course
readings or linked documents) on the Gilded Age, explain how
industrialization contributed to the rise of the American labor
movement? Do you believe that this labor movement attained its
goals?
Based on at least two primary sources and your readings (course

2. readings or linked documents) on the Gilded Age, describe the
rise of American Big Business during this era. Do you believe
that men such as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie were
“Robber Barons” or “Captains of Industry?” Defend your
answer and explain why.
Make sure you use evidence from the sources and source types
noted in your prompt to support your points. You may use
sources other than those found in Recommended Resources, but
you should write at least 300 words in your response.
Reply to at least two other students’ posts with substantive
responses of at least 100 - 150 words, and be sure to reply to
your instructor.