Final Exam

Part 1  –  The Public Works Projects that Made the West:

The Panama Canal and The Los Angeles Aqueduct

After viewing these films and reading the texts at the associated web sites, prepare a 2 page essay (400-500 words) describing how these magnificent engineering projects were representative of new ideas about the role of government in national development characteristic of the Progressive Age in American History, 1890 -1920. 

Explain why these projects were important for American expansion into the Pacific region, as well as the economic growth of the Western states in the 20th century.  Use the title listed above as the title for your essay.

Your essay should answer the following questions:

1. The importance of the following individuals in the development of these projects; what roles did they play and why were they so important:

• President Theodore Roosevelt

• Chief engineer John F. Stevens

• Col. George Washington Goethals

• Dr. William Gorgas

• William Mulholland

2. Explain the reasons why these projects were viewed as necessary for national and regional development.  What did the builders hope to accomplish with these projects?

3. Describe the engineering skills necessary and the demands of the projects, and describe some of the technical problems faced by the engineers and builders.

4. Who benefited from these projects, and who did not?  How did the United States and the city of Los Angeles benefit materially from these programs?

Sources

• Progressivism and Reform  Read this article from Microsoft's online Encarta Encyclopedia for background on the Progressive Age.

  • The Conservation Movement  Another important reform movement of the Progressive Age was the Conservation Movement; here Theodore Roosevelt was again a leader, along with Gifford Pinchot of the U.S. Forest Service.

    • Read this article from Encarta on the history of Conservation

    • Visit this site at the Library of Congress on the Conservation Movement, and in particular read the Preface and the Chronology section from 1890 to 1920.

• The Age of Imperialism  Visit and read this site for background information on this period of American history.

• The Panama Canal

  • Film:  "A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama" - shown in class and available online after Spring Break

    • Study Guide  -  Read this guide before viewing the film.

  • Website:  "Make the Dirt Fly!"  Smithsonian Institution - Visit and read the information available at this site.

• The Los Angeles Aqueduct

  • Film:  “Cadillac Desert: Mulholland’s Dream” - shown in class and available online after Spring Break

  • Websites:  Cadillac Desert: Mulholland's Dream  KTEH-TV and  The Story of the Los Angeles Aqueduct  Los Angeles Department of Water & Power - Visit and read the information available at these sites.

• San Diego, the Panama Canal, and Water Resources

  • The Panama - California Exposition  1915-1916

  • San Diego Water Resources - article from Journal of San Diego History

Deadline:  Thursday, May 22.  Papers may be submitted in room P - 17 K, or by the Blackboard Digital Drop Box.