History Principle or Self Interest

History- Essay (Principles or Self Interest)1492-1877
One of the persistent issues confronting historians is the question of whether most Americans act to promote principle or self-interest. When confronting great public issues, do Americans usually try to promote certain values and beliefs or do they usually try to promote their own well-being?
Take-home question: When Americans involved themselves in public events during the period of history covered by the exam, did they act principally to promote certain principles or to promote their own self-interest?
Explain Your Answer Hints:
(1) Self-interest does not have to be defined economically. A person whose motive is to benefit personally from something, whether that’s defined by a higher standard of living, a happier life, personal freedom to practice their own religion, or anything else, could be considered self-interested.
(2) The argument that people act from principle assumes they may possibly benefit personally from their actions. However, personal benefit is not their motive; indeed, the effort to improve things for everyone might require great personal sacrifice by those seeking change.
(3) If a person or group seems to act out of self-interest, yet their actions prove to be self-destructive or contrary to their ultimate benefit, that may be a sign that they are actually pursuing a principle heedlessly rather than seeking self-interest.
• 4-page typed essay that makes a reasoned judgment, based on evidence, regarding a significant historiographical issue related to the topics covered.

• DS, Times Roman, 12 size font

• Papers are graded on both content and style

• 4 pages, 1” margin, bibliography (footnotes-if needed)

Teacher Note: Remember that making a successful argument involves not only presenting evidence and arguments for your side of the issue, but also refuting evidence and arguments on the other side of the issue. Be sure to explain the reasons for your answer and use specific examples drawn from the textbook, class lectures, or other sources to support your answer.

Based on these reading and discussions can also use Lowell Paper info.

The War of the American Independence • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 211–47, 252–61
The Confederation Period and the U.S. Constitution, 1781–89 • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 262–89, A74–A105
Beginning of special discussion board topic on the Lowell System THE EARLY REPUBLIC 1789–1815
George Washington and the Organization of the New Government • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 289–303
The Origins of Political Parties and the First American Party System • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 303–14 Thu., Sep. 3 The Origins of Political Parties and the First American Party System • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 303–14
Adams and Jefferson • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 314–46
The Struggle for Neutral Rights and the War of 1812 • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 346–66 THE AGE OF EGALITARIANISM 1815–44
The Market Revolution and the Great Transformation, 1815–60 • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 367–413, 522–24, 576–78 Page 10
Postwar Nationalism and the Era of Good Feelings • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 414–41 Andrew Jackson: Ideology, Executive Power, and the Indian Removal Policy • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 442–55, 478–81
Jackson and Van Buren: the Nullification Crisis, the Bank War, Political Parties, and Economic Depression • Shi, America: A Narrative History, 456–78

Sources used in this class:
David E. Shi, America: A Narrative History, 11th ed. (New York: W. W. Norton, 2019). ISBN: 9780393689693

Louis P. Masur, ed., The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 3d ed. (Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 2017). ISBN: 9781319048990 A free PDF version of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is available on our course Canvas site.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ed., The Classic Slave Narratives (New York: New American Library, 1987). ISBN: 9780451528247 Free PDF versions of the two selections we will read from this book, Narrative of Frederick Douglass and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl are available on our course Canvas site.

Harold D. Tallant, ed., “The Lowell System: Accounts of Early Industrialization in the United States,” 8th ed. (unpublished manuscript, 2020). For Fall 2020, this book is available only from the course Canvas site as a free PDF. Note: This is a newly revised version of this work. All students are required to use this new version on our Canvas site rather than a previous edition.