Humanities Homework Help

1. Historians often distinguish between “history from the top down” and “history from the bottom up.” History from the top down focuses on leaders and elites: presidents, politicians, military officers, and the like. History from the bottom up focuses on common people: average citizens, racial minorities, immigrants, women and children.

In studying the history of the 1960s, which is more important: history from the top down or history from the bottom up? Who had a greater effect on the course of American history in this period, the nation’s political leaders or its regular citizens?

2. How “new” were the New Right and the “Reagan Revolution” of the 1980s? Is the conservative ascendancy of the late 20th century best understood as a completely novel development in American history, or as part of a much longer history? If the latter, which earlier historical period is most useful in understanding Reaganism and the New Right? Use the assigned documents to support your answer.