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Trace the history of civil disobedience in the United States from the colonial period in the 18th Century to the present day. At a minimum, the essay must include an analysis of the major movements in U.S. history: the revolutionary period in the 18th Century, the Women’s Rights Movement in the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century, the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th Century, and one of the movements of the 21st Century.
The essay must address the aims of each of the movements, the role civil disobedience played in its success or failure, the role of one or more influential men or women in the movement, and whether its effects are lasting. Students must use “The Declaration of Independence” penned by Thomas Jefferson and approved by the Continental Congress, “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. The purpose of this research assignment is for students to demonstrate their ability to research a complex issue that impacts all Americans and apply their non-biased, critical thinking to the issue. During the semester, we have read and discussed essays written by writers and thinkers ranging from Aristotle to more contemporary writers. Every issue addressed by these individuals in some way impacts people here in the United States as well as in other countries globally, regardless of how long ago the work might have been written. Students also will demonstrate their ability to collect information from a variety of sources to reach warranted conclusions and present their analysis in an organized, thoughtful manner. Each one stipulates three of the eight sources required. The additional five sources must be college level, academic sources that are scholarly and peer-reviewed. Documentaries and TED Talks are acceptable sources. Students may use more than eight sources, and all sources used must be cited according to MLA style. 2000, approximately 8-10 pages. The Works Cited list is not included in the word count.
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