ME - Document Analysis - America in Our Time Lesson

Document Analysis - America in Our Time

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When events that happened fairly recently are studied in some ways it can be difficult to predict what will be remembered in future generations. However, certain events are remembered as tied to a particular presidential administration. In the documents below you will read a quote from each President from Jimmy Carter to Barrack Obama relating to key events during their time in office.

Examine these 6 documents and answer the questions that follow. Use what you have learned about each president and their times earlier in the module to help you answer these questions as well. You can also download a pdf copy of the documents here. Links to an external site.

 

Document 1: From President Carters Crisis of Confidence Speech; July 15, 1979 The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America. The confidence that we have always had as a people is not simply some romantic dream or a proverb in a dusty book that we read just on the Fourth of July... Our people are losing that faith, not only in government itself, but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy. As a people we know our past and we are proud of it. Our progress has been part of the living history of America, even the world. We always believed that we were part of a great movement of humanity itself called democracy, involved in the search for freedom, and that belief has always strengthened us in our purpose. But just as we are losing our confidence in the future, we are also beginning to close the door on our past.

Document 2: From President Reagans speech at the Berlin Wall: June 12, 1987 General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! I understand the fear of war and the pain of division that afflict this continent-- and I pledge to you my country's efforts to help overcome these burdens. To be sure, we in the West must resist Soviet expansion. So we must maintain defenses of unassailable strength. Yet we seek peace; so we must strive to reduce arms on both sides.

Document 3: From President Bushs remarks at the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act; July 26, 1990 Three weeks ago we celebrated our nations Independence Day. Today we re here to rejoice in and celebrate another Independence Day, one that is long overdue. With todays signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence and freedom.

Document 4: From President Clintons televised remarks admitting a relationship with Monica Lewinsky which he had previously denied; August 17, 1998 Indeed, I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible. But I told the grand jury today and I say to you now that at no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence or to take any other unlawful action. I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that.

Document 5: from President George W. Bush's televised remarks on September 11, 2001 Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward. And freedom will be defended. I want to reassure the American people that the full resources of the federal government are working to assist local authorities to save lives and to help the victims of these attacks. Make no mistake. The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.

Document 6: from President Obamas speech to Congress on health care; September 9, 2009 Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or too expensive to cover.? We are the only democracy -- the only advanced democracy on Earth -- the only wealthy nation -- that allows such hardship for millions of its people. There are now more than 30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage. In just a two-year period, one in every three Americans goes without health care coverage at some point. And every day, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage. In other words, it can happen to anyone.

Questions

  1. Why would President Carter state that Americans were losing confidence? What events of the time would have contributed to this?
  2. How were President Reagan's words at the Berlin Wall representative of both a bold challenge to the Soviet Union as well as a hope for future negotiation?
  3. In what ways do both President George Bush and Barack Obama's remarks speak of opening opportunities to Americans?
  4. In President Clinton's remarks why does he make a point of denying any unlawful action while also admitting a "relationship that was not appropriate"?
  5. President George W. Bush speaks of freedom being attacked by a "faceless coward" as on the day of the 9/11 attacks as it was not yet known who perpetrated these acts of terrorism. Who did this "faceless coward" turn out to be?

Answer the questions on your own paper or word processing document.

 

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