Activity 1

The Irish Question plagued Britain throughout the nineteenth century, but the Great Famine gave the question a special urgency. In 1845 Ireland suffered the first of three potato crop failures caused by a fungal disease of unknown origin. Since the potato was the mainstay of Irish agriculture, these failures were especially devastating. Unable to feed themselves or pay their rents, thousands of Irish farming families starved and were evicted from their homes. This mass displacement and Britain's inability to deal with it fueled the activities of groups like the Fenians that sought Irish independence from Britain. The Famine also occasioned one of the greatest waves of immigration to the United States. Just as the potato was the staple crop of Ireland, the Famine became a staple of the news. One of many British papers to report on the crisis, The Illustrated London News published articles with vivid drawings. Take a look at some samples of these illustrations: mother and children, distributing clothing, eviction, and emigrant ship, between decks. How do these drawings present the Irish famine and its effects? How do you think the editors of the paper regarded the plight of the Irish? What responses do you think the illustrations were intended to elicit from readers of the paper? Now examine a cartoon of an Irish "coffin ship" published in Harper's Weekly, an American magazine. What does this cartoon suggest about the attitude of at least some of the American public toward the famine victims traveling to the U. S.? Finally, take a look at some photographs of famine victims: starvation, eviction, and homeless woman. Aside from the medium, how do these pictures differ from the periodical illustrations you examined above? What do they convey that the illustrations do not? What do the illustrations convey that the photographs do not? Do you think the viewers responded to the photographs differently than they responded to the illustrations?

Activity 2

Between 1865 and 1914, the United States grew into a world power whose industrial might was rivaled only by that of Germany. Germany is notable for modernizing rapidly under conservative, militaristic, anti-democratic rule. By contrast, the United States did so within the framework of democracy. Let's consider how American democracy of this period worked. The presidential election of 1896 is particularly interesting, because it is one of the few in American history during which a third party-in this case the Populist Party-offered a truly significant challenge to the two established parties. Learn more about the parties and platforms of this election. When you finish, take a moment to examine the material on "Campaign Themes" included on the site. Now choose one of the following questions: 1. How would you have voted in the 1896 election? What platform and theme(s) did you find most persuasive? Why? 2. The First Amendment of the Constitution declares that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This clause prevents government from interfering with religion, but it has never prevented religious leaders from expressing their views concerning government. Why were "free silver," prohibition of liquor, and immigration considered religious issues during the election? By whom, and what were the opposing views? 3. What were the prevailing views in 1896 of: women; African-Americans; non-Christian religious minorities within the United States; non-Christians overseas (for example, in Turkey)? With your question in mind, examine the cartoons that appeared in newspapers and magazines during the election. Use the cartoons as evidence to support your answer.