GTA Final Museum Proposal: Political Corruption Exhibit
HIST1002 - United States History II
University of Cincinnati
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
The problem of this assignment is to develop and produce a museum exhibit that will address
a major historical theme repeatedly shown throughout 1877 to modern-day history. This
assignment specifically references American history and characteristics such as its economy,
politics, diplomacy, and social justice. This problem is uniquely complex because it features
many various manners in which a person could construct an exhibit. Additionally, there are
copious amounts of viewpoints a person could adopt to display to the public. For example, it
is up to the museum exhibit to depict the United States government as fulfilling a positive or
negative role in the daily lives of Americans. Furthermore, a public museum is perceived by
the public and historians very differently. Academic historians are more analytical, while the
public generally enjoys more hands-on and experienced-based learning. This complicates the
display of the museum and the style can attract a certain types of individuals while some people
would not be interested in them. Finally, creating a public historical exhibit is very intricate
because it may sway modern-day public opinion depending on the material, viewpoints, and
ultimate message. Viewers of the museum may deem it controversial because this museum
proposal is showing the government in a negative light. However, it is best to show this because
people need to be reminded that the government is still an institution that has flaws that needs
to stay in check. I responded to the task by choosing the theme of political corruption and public
reaction. This theme is multiplexed due to the awareness and message that it spreads along with
the difficulty of choosing suitable artifacts to educate the public. The message is to be
interpreted by each member of the public differently, and with diverse minds viewing a
museum exhibit such as one about political corruption, it may negatively influence their
perspective of the United States government. Additionally, the complication in choosing
artifacts will stem from the multitude of options with government scandals. Although the theme
of political corruption and public reaction may distress the public, it is ultimately vital for this
theme to be displayed because it educates the public about political matters that affects their
everyday lives. The United States foundation is built upon the government serving its people
This is an American value and a basicprinciple of this institution. However, citizens are often
unaware of the corruption, trickery, and deception that the government acts upon for its own
benefit. This is unconstitutional, and important in history because it shows that the government
is capable of misconduct. Overall, it isbeneficial because people are able to learn from history.
For instance, Winston Churchill claimed, “Those who fail to learn history are condemned to
repeat it?” (House of Commons Speech, 1948) A museum exhibit with this theme is able to
spread awareness of the dangers of government power overstepping boundaries. Corruption is
inevitable in the government system. However, it is up to the public and other entities such as
the other branches of the government to restrict this unfair usage of power. A term coined by
Charles Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws is checks and balances. This exhibit will
emphasize the importance of the principle of checks and balances in democracy. When people
are in positions of power, they typically seek more power, which leads to corruption and
dishonesty. A phrase that supports this narrative of the theme is the famous phrase, “Absolute
power corrupts absolutely" by Lord Acton, a British historian of the early twentieth century.
Lord Acton gives insight the observation that power tends to lead to corruption and how there
is a correlation between the amount of power and the amount of corruption in an institution or
individual. This is the best narrative regarding the theme of political corruption and public
reaction because the public reaction draws attention to the crime committed by the government
or government officials and penalizes him, her, or them for the wrongdoing by shame, distrust,
and mockery from the public. If it is extremely severe, it could result in a lost of power,
impeachment, or unemployment. It gives justice to the act of corruption by punishment.
Additionally, this message is vital because it is necessary for the public to receive the benefit
of the government and be aware of the unavoidable nature of political corruption.Artifacts in
this exhibit will include political cartoons of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in 1875, the Court
Packing Scheme in 1937, a small collage of two small events between the 1930s and 1970s,
the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the Watergate Scandal in 1972, and Iran-Contra Affairs in the
1980s. First, the Whiskey Ring Scandal involved a conspiracy of distillers illegally
bribingmillions of dollars from taxes on alcohol. It was during the time of Grant’s second
presidential term, and this supports the narrative of the exhibit because the United States
Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Benjamin H. Bristow, swore to find the conspiracy and
bring charges against them. It depicted another branch of government taking the responsibility
of punishing theact of political corruption. Between 1937 and 1971, there were small events
that depict political corruption. These do not need their own display because they are not major
events regarding political corruption since they were not widespread nationally. This collage
will depict the Seabury investigations from 1930 to 1933 and Bloody Christmas in 1951. The
Seabury investigations, which are represented by the New York Times article titled “In Scandal
of 1930’s, City Shook, and a Mayor Fell", was also known as the Hofstadter Committee. A
series of investigations into Ex-Judge of the Court of Appeals, Samuel Seabury by State Senator
Samuel H. Hofstadter exposed a conspiracy of people in power (judges, attorneys, police and
bail bondsmen, etc) extorting money from innocent defendants facing trail. This fits the
narrative of the museum because manypeople, who were often women, were framed and
charged with crimes that they did not commit for money. The public was shocked and in
response, the state senator, who people elect, resolvedthis issue of corruption by ordering the
investigation. In addition to the Seabird Investigations, Bloody Christmas is included and
represented by the Los Angelos Times article titled, “Bloody Christmas: Police Assault in
Prisonhouse Melee." It featured eight officers who were arrested forthe beating of seven young
men on Christmas. The officers nearly escaped their trial, but due to the push from the Hispanic
community to hold an investigation, political justice was served. Thissupports the narrative of
the museum because it features government employees who abuse their power and try to cover
up this incident. This was ultimately stopped by the public. Second, the Court Packing Scheme
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. The Court Packing Scheme was an attempt
by Roosevelt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to counter the strong partisan that
opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Like the Whiskey Ring Scandal, this attempt at
corruption was corrected by a part of the government. TheSupreme Court ruled that this bill
was unconstitutional, and it failed to proceed any further. Next, the Pentagon Papers referred
to censorship of the press, which is a violation of the First Amendment and deception that
decisions were made about the Vietnam War without the approval of Congress, which also
violated the Constitution. This was eventually declassified and released to the public in 2011.
This expressed the narrative of the exhibit due to the Supreme Court ruling that this action
violated the Constitution. It displayed checks and balances in the approach that it took in
handling this case.
Then, the Watergate Scandal occurred a year after the Pentagon Papers. It involved the Nixon
administration like the Pentagon Papers, and concerned burglary and other illegal acts at the
Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The Watergate Scandal supported that political
corruption is inevitable, but it should be monitored because eventually, the Supreme Court
ordered Nixon to hand illegal tapes over. Finally, the Iran-Contra Affairs dealt with the illegal
activity of selling armed weapons to Iran for financial aid to support Nicaraguan contra rebels.
This was eventually uncovered and participants such as the most famous, Oliver North, was
punished by the judicial system.The other museum proposals that I have reviewed are unique
and fascinating. Two classmates that I would like to mention are Madi and Jose. I thoroughly
enjoyed both of their narratives of their own museums. Madi applied the theme of political
corruption and public reaction to American foreign and domestic reputation, while Jose wanted
to analyze past events of corruption to create better ways to combat modern-day political
corruption. These were two different viewpoints that I did not have in mind while creating my
own narrative. However, my narrative explains it the best because while the idea that people
are learning from history to attempt to stop the repetition of corruption is a great narrative, the
museum maker ultimately did not explain how this was going to occur with the artifacts that
he presents. Furthermore, the narrative applying to domestic and foreign reputation is notable,
the artifacts address more socialinjustice rather than political corruption. Political corruption is
defined as the use of powers by government officials usually for illegitimate private gain.
Therefore, the artifacts do not match with the theme chosen.I received feedback from Professor
Vanover. He suggested that I should add an artifact orartifacts between the 1930s and the 1970s
because there is a significant gap between the Court Packing Scheme (1937) and the Pentagon
Papers (1971). I took this into account and added two small artifacts in one display together.
They were newspapers for the Seabury Investigations (1930-1933) and Bloody Christmas
(1951). The instructor made a valid point that there should be either an explanation of why
there is no artifacts between the two or more artifacts because to a viewer of the museum, they
could be potentially confused on why the maker of the museum did not address almost four
decades of American history. It is best to fashion the museum in this manner because then the
audience will understand the time period and some minor events between the 1937 and 1971.
Ultimately, when the public experiences this museum exhibit, they will most likely be more
cautious of the government and other political matters. They will most likely respond in this
manner because the museum depicts the deceit and betrayal of government officials that people
elect or respect. It would make people question the reliability, honestly, and sincerity of the
government now. However, although the public will more likely be more suspicious and
untrusting, they are educated on the dangers and the likelihood of political corruption,
deception, and dishonesty from the United States government, and they will use this knowledge
to identify signs of corruption in the current government. Potential criticism stems from the
facts that the perspective of the museum is showcasing merely the negative side of the
government with the events of political corruption. To properly respond to this criticism, it
should be noted that there is an urgency to see the government as a potential source of
corruptionbecause it is not flawless. People should be reminded that the responsibility lies in
everyone to keep corruption in check. This goal is to bring awareness to the dangers of the
power of the government and potential corruption. Without depicting the negative side of
government, this is not achieved to its potential.
The most challenging part of this problem-solving project was choosing of the artifacts tocover
multiple aspects of the theme as well as an even spread from the time frame of 1877 to 2019.
It was a challenge because it was hard to cover certain time frames. For example, in the
preliminary museum draft proposal, I included the Court Packing Scheme, which occurred in
1937 and the Pentagon Papers, which happened in 1971. However, I left the audience with a
gap of four decades between the two artifacts. To achieve a successful museum, something
needed tobe done about the time gap. Yet, when I researched for a sixth major artifact for the
museum, I could not find a federal event. I settled with two smaller, localized events that
displayed political corruption. I placed them both in a collage to stand on their own. These two
events addressed theearly 1930s as well as the early 1950s. From completing this project, I
learned that criticism and feedback is absolutely necessary in order to have a successful project.
For instance, a person needs others to point out the weaknesses of the project in order for them
to improve on the certain areas that are lacking. Professor Vancouver’s feedback made my
project more well-rounded and tell a smoother story with a transition from the FDR
administration to the Nixon administration. I believe that there is always something that can be
improved upon for a more successful project. Potentially, a person can point out something that
I have not addressed or giveme a different perspective for the narrative. However, at this
moment, having completed the project, I cannot see any further work or changes that needs to
be made in this museum project.
