A Nation under Our Feet by Steven Hahn
- 1. A Nation Under Our Feet by Steven Hahn is an insightful and deeply researched exploration of the complex experiences and struggles of African Americans in the United States, particularly focusing on the period from the Civil War to the early twentieth century. Hahn delves into the processes of political and social transformation that African Americans underwent as they navigated their freedoms and enforced constraints in a society deeply entrenched in racism and inequality. The book highlights how Black men and women actively engaged in politics, building grassroots movements, and forming communities that insisted on their rights and dignity in a nation that often sought to deny them both. Through extensive use of archival materials and a nuanced understanding of the time, Hahn illuminates the significance of grassroots activism in shaping a nascent democracy that sought to integrate the voices of formerly enslaved people. A Nation Under Our Feet is praised for its rigorous scholarship and its ability to convey the stories of individuals whose struggles for civil rights are often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives.
What is the central argument of Steven Hahn's 'A Nation under Our Feet'?
A) African Americans built a political nation and organized for self-defense and citizenship.
B) African Americans played no significant role in Reconstruction politics.
C) The Civil War was primarily caused by economic disputes over industrialization.
D) Southern whites universally opposed black political organizing after emancipation.
- 2. According to Hahn, what was a key form of African American political organization during Reconstruction?
A) The Ku Klux Klan
B) The Whig Party
C) The Union League
D) The Federalist Party
- 3. Which organization does Hahn highlight as important for black self-defense in the post-Reconstruction South?
A) The Colored Farmers' Alliance
B) The Sons of Liberty
C) The National Rifle Association
D) The American Legion
- 4. What does Hahn say about African American international perspectives in this period?
A) They were completely isolated from world affairs.
B) They focused only on domestic agricultural issues.
C) They developed connections to global movements against imperialism.
D) They rejected all foreign influences.
- 5. According to Hahn, how did African Americans use the legal system during Reconstruction?
A) Solely for property disputes
B) Only through white lawyers and representatives
C) They avoided the legal system entirely.
D) To assert rights and challenge discrimination
- 6. What does Hahn say about black military service in shaping political consciousness?
A) It made veterans reject political involvement.
B) It had no impact on political views.
C) It fostered ideas of citizenship and rights.
D) It was prohibited by federal law.
- 7. What role does religion play in Hahn's analysis of black politics?
A) Religious leaders opposed political engagement.
B) Only secular organizations mattered politically.
C) Religion was separate from political activity.
D) Churches were central institutions for political organizing.
- 8. What does Hahn argue about black landownership?
A) It was tied to aspirations for economic and political independence.
B) It was unimportant to political development.
C) It was discouraged by black leaders.
D) It was easily achieved after emancipation.
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