During the two decades following WWII, significant political, social and economic developments took place within the United States. The global triumph against virulent racism associated with the fascist Axis Alliance along with the liberation of colonial regimes, most particularly within Africa, highlighted the blatant prejudice inherent in racial segregation. Due to military service abroad, many members of the armed forces were cognizant of the disparity between American ideals and reality as the nation became absorbed with the pent up desire to improve individual’s quality of life. While prosperity increased for most Americans, subsequent evidence revealed many residents did not share in the affluent society. Racial and ethnic prejudice remained acutely visible. As a tragic consequence of the virulent McCarthyism spectacle, citizens who overtly criticized fundamental inequality were viewed with profound suspicion. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v Board of Education forced apathetic Americans to confront the horrifying edifice of institutional discrimination. With extensive media attention, a persistent civil disobedience campaign was coordinated by Dr. Martin Luther King’s Southern Leadership Conference. As the scope of public protest expanded, it led to the enactment of legislation during the early 1960s that was designed to fundamentally eradicate the political vestiges of racial discrimination and broaden opportunities for women, veterans and people with disabilities.
Explain the achievements and controversies of domestic conditions within the United States during this time frame and analyze the circumstances that allowed complacency to block meaningful progress to resolve these conditions for so long.
The essay must be 6 pages in length, double-spaced, numbered, include 1 inch margins, use 12 point Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and include a cover page that identifies who you are, the title of the course, the name of your instructor
The essay must include footnotes or endnotes and a Works Cited or Bibliography page. Cite a minimum of 3 of the provided readings. The citation style must be Chicago/Turabian. The selected sources must be appropriate to the essay topic, the citations must support the assertions made in the essay, and footnotes or endnotes must be used in each instance where detailed explanations would distract from the argument.
The essay will include three main parts—the Thesis/Introduction, Argument, and Conclusion.
The Introduction section should clearly state the thesis within the first 1-2 paragraphs. The thesis must be relevant and appropriate to the argument and demonstrate an accurate and complete understanding of the question(s). It should do more than restate the question(s) and offer a brief response and it should be free of grammar & spelling errors.
The Argument section should incorporate pertinent details from assigned coursework. The section must provide relevant historical evidence to support the thesis and the key claims made in the argument as needed. It should maintain focus and avoid getting sidetracked. It should present your answer(s) to the question(s) asked clearly and concisely in an organized manner and it should be free of grammar & spelling errors.
The Conclusion section should be in the last part of your essay within the last 1-2 paragraphs. It should briefly restate the thesis and summarize the main points of the argument. It should also demonstrate insight and understanding regarding the question(s) asked and it should be free of grammar & spelling errors.
