You may write an essay on one of the following topics. (Please remember that you must write three papers for the course. If you did not submit the second paper, you must write this one; if you submitted the second paper, you may write this one to complete your paper obligation for the course.) Continue to follow the paper guidelines on my home page, observe the standard formatting rules listed there, and cite properly and fully all material taken from the texts. Although you may use materials not assigned in class, questions are designed to be answered using class readings and you will be expected to employ them where appropriate Due: Monday, May 7th, at the beginning of class. The late penalty will be one full letter grade for each day the paper is late, beginning on the afternoon of the 7th. No papers will be accepted after May 10th without a documented, acceptable excuse.

    1. William Graham Sumner argues forcefully for a very limited state. Explain Sumner's conception of a contract society and the proper role of the state; show how this ideal forms the basis for his critique of the political trends he observes around him; and then assess whether the political course he recommends is consistent with his theory. (Be sure to consider both Sumner essays where appropriate.)

    2. Herbert Croly argues that the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century needs to use Hamiliton's methods to fulfill de Crèvecoeur's promise of an American life of material abundance and Jefferson's vision of social and political independence and equality. It is not clear that those three earlier writers would agree he is faithful to their visions. Explain briefly how Croly proposes to combine the ideas of the earlier political thinkers. Then examine how each of the three might take issue with this attempt to adapt his work to modern conditions.

    3. You are William Graham Sumner and you have just read Herbert Croly's The Promise of American Life. Write Mr. Croly a letter in which you develop a critique of his book that explores what you see as the three most serious flaws in his argument.

    4. You are W.E.B. DuBois and you have just read William Sumner's essays, "What Do Social Classes Owe to Each Other?" and the "Conquest of the United States by Spain." Write him a letter in which you compare your respective understandings of race relations in the United States and criticize his response to the plight of African-Americans.

    5. Compare and contrast how Jane Addams, Walter Lippman, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman justify elevating women from their subordinate role in American society and how this might best be accomplished.

    6. Progressive thinkers express hostility toward traditionalism in all forms and believe the limitations of traditionalism can be overcome. Contrast and compare the view of tradition and the strategy for overcoming traditionalism in three Progressive writers.

    7. William Sumner and Randolph Bourne both find militarism and war highly objectionable. Explain each thinker's critique of American militarism and the warfare state, identify any similarities in their respective analyses, and highlight the differences between them.