Consider what you have learned about American history during the period of 1862 the early 1900's. How do the stories in unit 4 reflect what is going on in the country then?
I think the question is quite clear. What was going on in the country during those 40 years? Do the stories tell about that? Do they reflect the reality of that time as you understand it?
I was wondering if it wants to know what the country was like in the stories or in the country in general.