(A) One-Sentence Identifications: Briefly state the importance of each of the following people/places/things/concepts for American economic history:
Henry Hudson; Christopher Columbus; Mississippi River; cotton gin; Sutter's Mill; tobacco; corn; smallpox; Boston; Philadelphia; Alexander Hamilton; Andrew Jackson; Erie Canal; New York Central Railroad; Central Pacific Railroad; Ohio River; beaver fur; interchangable parts; tariff; New Orleans.
(B) One-Paragraph Discussions: Write one paragraph (three to six sentences) answering each of the following questions:
Why does Jared Diamond believe that inventing agricuture was a very bad thing? Why couldn't the Aztecs and the Incas repel the Spanish invasions? How would the U.S. economy have been different in 1860 if the U.S. government had followed a zero-tariff policy? How would the U.S. economy have been different in 1860 if the cotton gin had never been invented? Were there important economic reasons for the American Revolution?
(C) Essay: Write an essay on one of the two following topics:
- What, in your view, are the main important themes of pre-1865 American economic history? What is the most important theme? And why?
- As of the middle of the nineteenth century, the American economy was almost universally regarded as successful. What were the major aspects of this economic success? Why did they come to pass--why did so much go so right for the American economy?
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