hist 131

Some historians have argued that America’s influence, prestige, and power is waning in the twenty-first century. In the book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, Timothy Snyder challenges us to defend our institutions, stand up for what is right, and implores us to “be a patriot, set the example of what America means for the generation to come.”[1] After having finished On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, and taking into account what we have learned this semester, answer the following in a paragraph or less:

1. If you were to pick one American institution to support and defend, what would it be and why?
2. In what ways can we stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity?
3. What does it mean to be patriotic?
4. How would you define freedom?
5. Who is American? What does being American mean to you?
6. Is America’s influence, prestige, and power waning in the twenty-first century?

[1] Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century (New York, New York : Tim Duggan Books, 2017)