Writing assignment for U.S History to 1877

For this assignment, you need to use Chapters 8, 9, & 10 in Shi & Mayer.  Choose two documents from each chapter that have some common theme or idea, and explain what that theme or idea is, using the six documents to support your arugment.  Remember, you are not looking for a theme from chapter 8 and another from chapter 10, but one theme/idea present in six documents from all three chapters. Answer must be of 350-600 words. 

Don't use any other sources other than the documents in Shi & Mayer.  Your answer should be rooted in the documents; they are your evidence to prove whatever points you are making in your effort to answer the questions.  This is not a summary; focus on answering the assignment question.