The previous U.S. president wielded the historical-sounding slogan, “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), as his campaign theme in 2016 and 2020. Please use the assigned readings through Sept. 27 to explain how the formation and growth of the United States up to 1900 should help us understand this kind of historical reference. In other words, what seems most important to you for explaining the kind of country and society that the United States had become by 1900? And how might being historically informed help us think about the idea of “greatness”?
