How did the Germans create and maintain political and cultural power in the city?

This 1,400-2,100-word paper asks that you make an argument about gender, race, and/or ethnic identity in Milwaukee based upon the material that has been presented in class and in your texts. This thesis must be backed up by accurately cited examples from the texts. You must have a minimum of three academic sources, whether from class or independent research. If you are unsure of whether or not the research you have collected is academic, contact me as soon as possible.

Do not spread yourself too thinly by covering an excessive amount of time (e.g., covering Black Milwaukee from 1860 to 1980). Do not venture too far beyond the eras we have covered in class as there are extant historical factors that we have yet to cover in class that can and will undermine your argument. I have given you the tools for a successful paper in both the course texts and lectures; use them to construct your argument’s evidence.

Be mindful of organization. This is a history paper. Unless you have a very good reason for discussing an event in 1871 before Milwaukee’s political landscape in 1850, chronology is going to determine what you talk about and when. Thematic organization is possible but deliberate, so ask me if you are unsure of the best way to organize your paper.

This paper is not a report. Do not simply provide information about a topic. You are making an informed argument about an aspect of Milwaukee’s history using secondary sources as evidence to prove your point. Simply recounting things that happen will be detrimental to your paper’s grade.

The purpose of this paper is to make an informed observation about the evolution of ethnic and/or gender identity in Milwaukee and to support your statement with evidence. All materials must be cited appropriately in a works cited page as well as in standard citation.

If you need help getting started, a synthesis may seek to address one of the following questions:

In what ways did class and/or ethnic identity impact women’s experience in Milwaukee?
How did the Germans create and maintain political and cultural power in the city?
What institutions aided and/or hindered the Milwaukee Poles and why does it matter?
How does the queer experience of 19th century Milwaukee challenge our “traditional” readings of the past?
How did Milwaukee nativists remove Germans from power? In your eyes, was this successful?

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