Introduction
America the Story of Us is a 12-hour documentary series that tells the story of America from the earliest days of settlement to the present day. The series was produced by the History Channel and aired in 2010. The DVD set includes all 12 episodes, as well as a companion book and study guide. This article will provide an answer key to the questions in the study guide.
Episode 1: Rebels
1. Who were the first people to arrive in America?
The first people to arrive in America were the Native Americans.
2. What was the significance of the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first military engagement of the American Revolution. It marked the beginning of the war between Great Britain and the 13 colonies.
Episode 2: Revolution
1. Why did the colonists want independence from Great Britain?
The colonists wanted independence from Great Britain because they believed they were being unfairly taxed and governed without their consent. They also wanted to establish their own government and be free from British rule.
2. Who was Thomas Paine and what was his role in the American Revolution?
Thomas Paine was a writer and pamphleteer who wrote "Common Sense," a document that argued for American independence from Great Britain. His writing was instrumental in convincing many Americans to support the revolution.
Episode 3: Westward
1. What was the Louisiana Purchase?
The Louisiana Purchase was a land deal between the United States and France in which the US acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River.
2. Who were Lewis and Clark and what was their mission?
Lewis and Clark were explorers who were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the newly acquired western territory. Their mission was to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean and to establish trade with Native American tribes.
Episode 4: Division
1. What was the Missouri Compromise?
The Missouri Compromise was a law passed by Congress in 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state, thus preserving the balance of power between free and slave states. It also established a line dividing the United States into free and slave territories.
2. Who was Frederick Douglass and what was his role in the abolitionist movement?
Frederick Douglass was an African American abolitionist who escaped slavery and became a prominent speaker and writer. He was a vocal opponent of slavery and worked tirelessly to promote abolition and civil rights for African Americans.
Episode 5: Civil War
1. What were the causes of the Civil War?
The causes of the Civil War were complex and varied, but the primary issue was slavery. The northern states opposed slavery, while the southern states supported it as a vital part of their economy and way of life.
2. Who was Abraham Lincoln and what was his role in the Civil War?
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and he served during the Civil War. His primary goal was to preserve the Union and end slavery. He is best known for his Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be set free.
Episode 6: Heartland
1. What was the Homestead Act?
The Homestead Act was a law passed by Congress in 1862 that provided free land to settlers in the western United States. The law encouraged westward expansion and helped to populate the frontier.
2. Who was John D. Rockefeller and what was his role in the oil industry?
John D. Rockefeller was an American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Standard Oil Company. He was a pioneer in the oil industry and his company controlled much of the oil production and distribution in the United States.
Episode 7: Cities
1. What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on American cities?
The Industrial Revolution led to the growth of American cities as people moved from rural areas to urban areas in search of work. The development of factories and new technologies also led to increased production and economic growth.
2. Who was Jane Addams and what was her role in the settlement house movement?
Jane Addams was a social reformer and activist who founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago. The settlement house movement aimed to improve the lives of immigrants and the poor by providing education, social services, and other resources.
Episode 8: Boom
1. What was the Roaring Twenties?
The Roaring Twenties was a period of cultural and social change in the United States during the 1920s. It was characterized by a booming economy, the rise of jazz music, and the emergence of new technologies and forms of entertainment.
2. Who was Henry Ford and what was his role in the automobile industry?
Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. He was a pioneer in the automobile industry and his company was responsible for the development of the assembly line, which revolutionized manufacturing and made cars more affordable for the average person.
Episode 9: Bust
1. What was the Great Depression?
The Great Depression was a severe economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to 1939. It was characterized by high unemployment, bank failures, and widespread poverty.
2. Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt and what was his role in the New Deal?
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and he served during the Great Depression and World War II. His New Deal was a series of programs and policies aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.
Episode 10: World War II
1. What were the causes of World War II?
The causes of World War II were complex and varied, but the primary cause was the aggressive actions of Nazi Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. The war began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, and it lasted until 1945.
2. Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower and what was his role in the war?
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a general in the United States Army and he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. He played a key role in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.
Episode 11: Superpower
1. What was the Cold War?
The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s. The two superpowers were engaged in a global struggle for influence and power, but they never engaged in direct military conflict.
2. Who was Martin Luther King Jr. and what was his role in the Civil Rights Movement?
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist who became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He advocated for nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, and he played a key role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and other civil rights campaigns.
Episode 12: Millennium
1. What are some of the major challenges facing the United States in the 21st century?
Some of the major challenges facing the United States in the 21st century include climate change, income inequality, political polarization, and global terrorism.
2. Who was Barack Obama and what was his legacy as President of the United States?
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States and he served from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African American to hold the office of President. His legacy includes the Affordable Care Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Comment