In the critical essay based on Katie Oxx’s The Nativist Movement in America: Religious Conflict in the Nineteenth Century, you will answer the following questions and provide specific examples from the text to support your arguments. The essay will be 5-8 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font. Any direct quotes should be cited using the page number in parentheses following the closing quotation marks. A cover page containing your name, the class, and the assignment title is required. The essay will be turned in on Blackboard and in paper.
What is the thesis of this book? Define the important concepts (nativism, Doctrine of Christian Discovery, nationalism, Manifest Destiny) and explain how they interact with one another. Are you convinced by the author’s argument? What other facets of nativism (gender, class, etc.) would you pursue as an historian? Why?
Can a general set of causes be created for the outbreak of nativist violence? If so, explain using specific examples from the three events discussed in the book. If not, why not (drawing specific examples from the book)? Are there any similarities in the factors involved or the political aftermath of the three events? What were the national and long-terms impacts of these particular events and the nativist movement in general?
This book is different in tone from the other book in this series you read. How does this difference impact the narrative presented? What impact does the author’s use of current events have on the reader? As an historian, do think this type of approach is beneficial or detracts from the thesis of the book. Why or why not (be specific)? How well does the author integrate the chosen documents into the narrative? Which three or four documents do you believe contribute the most to the book? Why? Which three documents do you feel contribute the least? Why? Is the format of this book effective? Why or why not (be specific)? What might you change?