Instructions: Write TWO 3-4 page essays on any TWO of the questions below. You are expected to write clear, well-organized essays that contain a thesis statement, supporting arguments, and a conclusion. You are encouraged to discuss these questions with your classmates. The completed exam is due in class on Sept 23.

1. Americans have historically expressed ambivalent reactions to capitalism. While in the 21st century many people in this country are celebrating our identity as the leading capitalist nation in the world, our history suggests that there is a strong anti-capitalist strain in U.S. culture as well. Using examples from U.S. economic history, write an essay in which you discuss some of the complex and contradictory reactions to the spread of capitalist social relations. In your essay make sure to explain specifically what is meant by capitalist social relations, and provide an explanation why some people had interests that were opposed to the spread of capitalism.

2. In a series of cases regarding the attempted regulation of the railroads in the late 19th Century, the U.S. Supreme Court established the principle that corporations were "legal individuals," and thus protected by the 14th amendment. These decisions clearly rejected the notion that corporations were public institutions that were granted privileges only as long as they were socially responsible and accountable to the needs of the community. Do you agree with the Court's position? Is granting corporations the constitutional protections of individuals consistent with your understanding of democracy? Have the consequences of the court's decision been favorable to the economic development of the U.S.?

3. One of the most important events in U.S. economic history was the Great Migration of African Americans out of the South between 1910 and 1960. Briefly describe some of the economic forces that encouraged this migration. How did the experiences of African Americans in Northern and Midwestern cities differ from those of white migrants? Is the historical experience of migration relevant to understanding the economic situation of Blacks in the U.S. today?

4. In her discussion of protective legislation, Kessler-Harris states: "To be sure, freedom of contract was a worthless privilege, as some have argued: one that had been used far more often to justify exploitation than as protection." Discuss what she might mean by this statement and give examples to support her argument. Do you agree with her position? Was it really necessary for the state to intervene into the labor market to protect women workers? Were there any alternative policies besides protective legislation that should have been used to alleviate abusive working conditions?

5.  Evaluate the role of the progressive movement in the development of the U.S. economy in the early 20th century.