Today was the second day of "Taxes and Protest". You should now be able to not only know various British Acts that were place on the colonists along with the colonial reaction but also how some of these events relate to one another. You should complete handout #7 to practice the cause and effect relationship between these events. On the front side of handout #7 the following three things go in the "cause" boxes: French and Indian War, Colonists being taxed and the Stamp Act. On the back side of handout #5 the following three things go in the "effects" boxes: Proclamation of 1763, Colonists being taxed and More and more British troops in America.
We also started our first role play. On this role play you will take either the role of a colonist or a member of British parliament. The topic is the imposing of taxes on the colonies. You and your partner will work together to compose a speech in the role that you have been given. The speech should last at least 60 seconds. A rubric for the role play can be found on handout #8. Role plays are designed for you to show you know the history of a particular time period and also to be able to formulate an argumentative speech and then to give that speech in an effective manner. Make sure you have your speech parts done for class tomorrow.
One more thing - the reading assignment is due for tomorrow.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September 9, 2009
We got into the swing of things today talking about the American "Revolution" which John Adams said took place before blood was shed at Lexington. To start off it is important to understand the initial relationship between the American colonists and the British. It was expected that the colonies would provide raw materials for British industry. This was the system of mercantilism. You should complete handout #4/#5 in your notebook. If you need a another explanation of mercantilism you should look on page 98 of your book. Here are the 3 parts to mercantilism: 1)countries wanted to accumulate gold and silver, 2)to do this they needed to export more than they imported, 3)countries would use their colonies to provide them with raw materials and as a market for manufactured goods and thus give them more exports than imports.
When the British beat the French in the the French and Indian War it gave them control of North America but also left them in debt and with troops in America that needed to be paid for. British parliament decided to tax the colonists in order to pay for what the British felt was the defense of the colonies. You should be able to explain some of the British acts placed upon the colonists and also the colonial responses. Handout #6 should be completed where you should list some of the acts passed by the British and the colonial protests that ensued after each act. The acts I will focus on are: The Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act.
Looking ahead reading assignment #2 (handout #7) will be due on Monday.
When the British beat the French in the the French and Indian War it gave them control of North America but also left them in debt and with troops in America that needed to be paid for. British parliament decided to tax the colonists in order to pay for what the British felt was the defense of the colonies. You should be able to explain some of the British acts placed upon the colonists and also the colonial responses. Handout #6 should be completed where you should list some of the acts passed by the British and the colonial protests that ensued after each act. The acts I will focus on are: The Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act.
Looking ahead reading assignment #2 (handout #7) will be due on Monday.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Friday, April 10th
Talked about the "Path of Appeasement" cartoon first today. This one will be an important one for you to remember for the future. In this cartoon, Uncle Sam is lying face down in the snow ignoring the snowstorm of Nazism. Sam is being an isolationist and if he does not do something quick he will be buried by the snowstorm. This is the path of appeasement according to the cartoonist.
Next we looked at Pearl Harbor. You should read pages 728-730 in your text book and use handout #22 to record some quick facts about this event. You should pay close attention to why the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was a series of political and tactical decisions that culminated in Japan's fateful decision to attack the U.S. Pacific Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor.
We also worked on role plays and finished up this work. Some role plays were presented and any other role plays must be presented on Monday.
Next we looked at Pearl Harbor. You should read pages 728-730 in your text book and use handout #22 to record some quick facts about this event. You should pay close attention to why the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was a series of political and tactical decisions that culminated in Japan's fateful decision to attack the U.S. Pacific Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor.
We also worked on role plays and finished up this work. Some role plays were presented and any other role plays must be presented on Monday.
Thursday, April 9th
We started today looking at how President Franklin Roosevelt tried to slowly turn the country into a more internationalist view. I call this "Inching to Internationalism". You should use handout #18 and find what each one of these acts said, did or required. You can find all but the Kellogg-Brian Pact on pages 711-712 and 724-728. You also should be able to evaluate each one on its isolationism. In other words which act shows the U.S. at it most isolationist stance, which one is the least.
We also started our third role play today. You will work with a partner to complete a role play speech from either the isolationist or internationalist viewpoint. Your topic is whether or not the U.S. should get involved with the brewing conflict in Europe. Role play directions are on handout #19 and a rubric is on handout #20. Please use the handouts we have done over the past week to help you with your speech especially handout #16. Be ready to present tomorrow.
We also started our third role play today. You will work with a partner to complete a role play speech from either the isolationist or internationalist viewpoint. Your topic is whether or not the U.S. should get involved with the brewing conflict in Europe. Role play directions are on handout #19 and a rubric is on handout #20. Please use the handouts we have done over the past week to help you with your speech especially handout #16. Be ready to present tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, April 7th
The topic for the next couple of days is the viewpoints in America as WWII starts brewing in Europe. These two viewpoints were isolationism and internationalism.
We first did a Quick Write to stimulate thinking about these two views. Put your quick write on the back of handout #16. Here is the prompt: "If you could guarantee the capture of Osama Bin Laden but for certain it would lead to WWIII ... would you do it?"
If your belief is that we must do whatever is necessary to bring Bin Laden to justice you share a viewpoint similar to the Internationalists prior to WWII. If you think WWIII is too scary a price to pay then you have a viewpoint that is similar to the isolationists before WWII.
Next we need to go into more detail concerning the viewpoints of isolation and internationalism. You should read handout #15 and pages 711-712 in your book about these beliefs and complete the t-chart on handout #16. On this chart list the arguments that would support each viewpoint.
Here are some viewpoints to consider-decide whether each of these is an isolationist viewpoint or an internationalist viewpoint:
--WWI settled nothing
--Stop Hitler before he gets too powerful
--Britain and France are important to us
--We must deal with problems at home (i.e. the Great Depression)
--It is a European war
--America became great by focusing on America
--WWI was debts unpaid
--A war in Europe affects the U.S. greatly
--War gives profits to arms dealers ("merchants of death")
--world trade helps world peace
--the Great Depression is over
--world alliances would drag the U.S. into conflict
--great power means we must assume great responsibilities
--America had been tricked into WWI (Nye Committee)
--Neutrality might drag the U.S. into war anyway
--Europe and a European war are far away
--This is the 1930's and 1940's things happening in the world are not that far away
--Europe will always be at war
When you are done adding these to your chart on #16. Read the two speech excerpts on handout #17 and underline key points of each man's speech. FDR will make a case for internationalism and Robert Hutchins will make a case for isolationism. You can add these arguments to your chart on #16. Then answer the questions on the back of #17.
--
We first did a Quick Write to stimulate thinking about these two views. Put your quick write on the back of handout #16. Here is the prompt: "If you could guarantee the capture of Osama Bin Laden but for certain it would lead to WWIII ... would you do it?"
If your belief is that we must do whatever is necessary to bring Bin Laden to justice you share a viewpoint similar to the Internationalists prior to WWII. If you think WWIII is too scary a price to pay then you have a viewpoint that is similar to the isolationists before WWII.
Next we need to go into more detail concerning the viewpoints of isolation and internationalism. You should read handout #15 and pages 711-712 in your book about these beliefs and complete the t-chart on handout #16. On this chart list the arguments that would support each viewpoint.
Here are some viewpoints to consider-decide whether each of these is an isolationist viewpoint or an internationalist viewpoint:
--WWI settled nothing
--Stop Hitler before he gets too powerful
--Britain and France are important to us
--We must deal with problems at home (i.e. the Great Depression)
--It is a European war
--America became great by focusing on America
--WWI was debts unpaid
--A war in Europe affects the U.S. greatly
--War gives profits to arms dealers ("merchants of death")
--world trade helps world peace
--the Great Depression is over
--world alliances would drag the U.S. into conflict
--great power means we must assume great responsibilities
--America had been tricked into WWI (Nye Committee)
--Neutrality might drag the U.S. into war anyway
--Europe and a European war are far away
--This is the 1930's and 1940's things happening in the world are not that far away
--Europe will always be at war
When you are done adding these to your chart on #16. Read the two speech excerpts on handout #17 and underline key points of each man's speech. FDR will make a case for internationalism and Robert Hutchins will make a case for isolationism. You can add these arguments to your chart on #16. Then answer the questions on the back of #17.
--
Monday, April 6th
Today's first topic was German blitzkrieg. How did the Germany come to dominate Europe and begin WWII. You should use the map on handout #12 to show their expansion geographically and the list on handout #13 to write out each expansion movement. The text book on pages 713-718 in an excellent source for this information. Here is what should be on the list on #13. Plot these on #12
1) Germany annexes Austria
2) Germany takes Czechoslovakia
3) At the Munich Conference, Britain and France "appease" Hitler (know this-it is a very important development)
4) Germany attacks Poland (start of WWII)
5) Germany attacks Denmark
6) Germany attacks Norway
7) France fortifies its German border in case of attack
8) Germany attacks the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxumbourg
9) Germany attacks France through Belgium's Ardennes Forest. This is a surprise to France
10) The British army is "saved" at Dunkirk, France
11) Battle of Britain
We also looked at the beginnings of the Holocaust in Germany and German controlled territory. You should be reading of have read the book Night and that is a great resource as to what it was like in the camps. We will focus on the beginnings of the Holocaust and why America was not available to assist Jews that were looking for ways out of Europe. You should read p. 719-723 in your book. Pay close attention to the other groups Germany discriminated against, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht and America's lack of help to Jews. Then answer the questions on handout #15.
1) Germany annexes Austria
2) Germany takes Czechoslovakia
3) At the Munich Conference, Britain and France "appease" Hitler (know this-it is a very important development)
4) Germany attacks Poland (start of WWII)
5) Germany attacks Denmark
6) Germany attacks Norway
7) France fortifies its German border in case of attack
8) Germany attacks the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxumbourg
9) Germany attacks France through Belgium's Ardennes Forest. This is a surprise to France
10) The British army is "saved" at Dunkirk, France
11) Battle of Britain
We also looked at the beginnings of the Holocaust in Germany and German controlled territory. You should be reading of have read the book Night and that is a great resource as to what it was like in the camps. We will focus on the beginnings of the Holocaust and why America was not available to assist Jews that were looking for ways out of Europe. You should read p. 719-723 in your book. Pay close attention to the other groups Germany discriminated against, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht and America's lack of help to Jews. Then answer the questions on handout #15.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friday, April 3rd
We began today by discussing handout #11 and the dictatorships that will become the Axis powers and the enemies of the U.S. in WWII. You should be able to see similarities reading across the rows.
We also discussed the political ideologies that these dictatorships believed in and where they would be placed on a political spectrum line. You should draw a horizontal line on the back of handout #11. The center point on this line should be labeled "Neutral". Very close to the neutral point are the American political parties-the Republicans are on the right side of neutral and the Democrats are on the left side on neutral. Republicans are referred to as Conservatives and the Democrats are called Liberals. Republicans generally believe in: more national security, national collective values and less taxes. Democrats generally believe in: individual rights, personal freedom and more government services.
At the far, far right end of the spectrum line are the Fascists (Italy) and Nazis (Germany). It is as if you could take our Republican party beliefs of security and collective values to the highest degree. Fascists believe that the nation is all-important and there should be no individual differences. This usually leads to racism and discrimination because no individual differences are tolerated.
At the far, far left end of the spectrum line are the Communists (USSR). Imagine taking our Democratic party beliefs of individual rights and more government services to the utmost degree so that all people are exactly equal (there are no social classes) and the government provides for everyone because all the wealth is controlled by the government and distributed equally among all the people in society.
As you can see, fascism and communism are at different ends of the spectrum and people of these two beliefs do not see eye to eye. Hitler and Mussolini disliked the Communists intensely. Germany will eventually attack the USSR and that will cause the USSR to become on of the Allies in WWII.
We also discussed the political ideologies that these dictatorships believed in and where they would be placed on a political spectrum line. You should draw a horizontal line on the back of handout #11. The center point on this line should be labeled "Neutral". Very close to the neutral point are the American political parties-the Republicans are on the right side of neutral and the Democrats are on the left side on neutral. Republicans are referred to as Conservatives and the Democrats are called Liberals. Republicans generally believe in: more national security, national collective values and less taxes. Democrats generally believe in: individual rights, personal freedom and more government services.
At the far, far right end of the spectrum line are the Fascists (Italy) and Nazis (Germany). It is as if you could take our Republican party beliefs of security and collective values to the highest degree. Fascists believe that the nation is all-important and there should be no individual differences. This usually leads to racism and discrimination because no individual differences are tolerated.
At the far, far left end of the spectrum line are the Communists (USSR). Imagine taking our Democratic party beliefs of individual rights and more government services to the utmost degree so that all people are exactly equal (there are no social classes) and the government provides for everyone because all the wealth is controlled by the government and distributed equally among all the people in society.
As you can see, fascism and communism are at different ends of the spectrum and people of these two beliefs do not see eye to eye. Hitler and Mussolini disliked the Communists intensely. Germany will eventually attack the USSR and that will cause the USSR to become on of the Allies in WWII.
Thursday, April 2nd
I'm out today taking the football team to be honored at the State House in Augusta. Here is what you need to do as we begin to look at WWII more closely.
Read p. 709-713. Complete handout #10 which is a reading assignment that covers these pages.
Also, handout #11 should be completed. Handout #11 is a chart that compares what will be the three Axis dictatorships, their beliefs and their expansionist goals. Information from the above reading will be used to compete #11.
Read p. 709-713. Complete handout #10 which is a reading assignment that covers these pages.
Also, handout #11 should be completed. Handout #11 is a chart that compares what will be the three Axis dictatorships, their beliefs and their expansionist goals. Information from the above reading will be used to compete #11.
Wednesday, April 1st
April Fools!!
Today we discussed handouts #6 through handout #9. Handout #6 should go as follows:
Treaty of Versailles:
--Winner's peace - Germany treated harshly (had to do what the winners said)
--Treaty not ratified in the U.S.
--League of Nations without the U.S.
Economic effects:
--Post WWI the U.S. experienced rapid inflation
--Wages did not rise with the price of goods
--Many workers conducted strikes because they felt businesses were making more money because of higher prices and they were not seeing any benefits
Racial effects:
--Great Migration - many African-Americans moved to the North during WWI because factory jobs there were open because workers had left to fight the war. This led to many racial conflicts in the North and race riots.
--Red Scare - many Americans were afraid that communism would take root in the U.S. Many suspected communists were deported.
--Anti-immigration - going hand in hand with the Red Scare. The U.S. established quotas that limited immigration into America.
A handout #7 review is on the previous post.
The answers to the questions on handout #9 can be found in the reading #8.
When we finished covering this WWI information - we took a quiz**
Today we discussed handouts #6 through handout #9. Handout #6 should go as follows:
Treaty of Versailles:
--Winner's peace - Germany treated harshly (had to do what the winners said)
--Treaty not ratified in the U.S.
--League of Nations without the U.S.
Economic effects:
--Post WWI the U.S. experienced rapid inflation
--Wages did not rise with the price of goods
--Many workers conducted strikes because they felt businesses were making more money because of higher prices and they were not seeing any benefits
Racial effects:
--Great Migration - many African-Americans moved to the North during WWI because factory jobs there were open because workers had left to fight the war. This led to many racial conflicts in the North and race riots.
--Red Scare - many Americans were afraid that communism would take root in the U.S. Many suspected communists were deported.
--Anti-immigration - going hand in hand with the Red Scare. The U.S. established quotas that limited immigration into America.
A handout #7 review is on the previous post.
The answers to the questions on handout #9 can be found in the reading #8.
When we finished covering this WWI information - we took a quiz**
Tuesday, March 31st
I'm out today at a seminar. Here is what you need to do.
Read handout #8. This reading is about the Treaty of Versailles that was the peace treaty to WWI. In this treaty the Germans were treated very harshly by the Allies because they lost the war. They were made to: pay $33 billion in war payments; admit guilt for starting WWI; strip their military. It left the Germans in economic disarray and with a hatred toward the allies. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson did not want a harsh peace towards Germany but he gave in because he wanted a League of Nations to be formed. A League of Nations will be formed by the Treaty of Versailles but the U.S. will not be a part of it because the Treaty will not be ratified (passed) by the U.S. Senate and therefore it will have no standing in the U.S.
After reading #8, you should answer the questions on handout #9 that go with the reading.
When you are done with these questions you should use handout #7 to compare the peace plans after the Civil War (Reconstruction) and WWI (Treaty of Versailles). There are many similarities in each peace. Both times the President wanted a lenient peace but a harsh peace plan was put in place. This left the defeated angry and resistant to the peace plan and will fuel resentment for a long time. In the case of WWI Germany will be left with economic problems and hatred toward the allies. Because of this the Treaty of Versailles is sometimes referred to as a "winner's peace" which means the winners set harsh peace terms and the losers had to follow because they had no choice.
Read handout #8. This reading is about the Treaty of Versailles that was the peace treaty to WWI. In this treaty the Germans were treated very harshly by the Allies because they lost the war. They were made to: pay $33 billion in war payments; admit guilt for starting WWI; strip their military. It left the Germans in economic disarray and with a hatred toward the allies. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson did not want a harsh peace towards Germany but he gave in because he wanted a League of Nations to be formed. A League of Nations will be formed by the Treaty of Versailles but the U.S. will not be a part of it because the Treaty will not be ratified (passed) by the U.S. Senate and therefore it will have no standing in the U.S.
After reading #8, you should answer the questions on handout #9 that go with the reading.
When you are done with these questions you should use handout #7 to compare the peace plans after the Civil War (Reconstruction) and WWI (Treaty of Versailles). There are many similarities in each peace. Both times the President wanted a lenient peace but a harsh peace plan was put in place. This left the defeated angry and resistant to the peace plan and will fuel resentment for a long time. In the case of WWI Germany will be left with economic problems and hatred toward the allies. Because of this the Treaty of Versailles is sometimes referred to as a "winner's peace" which means the winners set harsh peace terms and the losers had to follow because they had no choice.
Monday, March 30th
We took notes on the beginning of WWI and how the U.S. got involved. Here are the notes:
Causes of WWI:
--Alliances - Alliances between countries guaranteed mutual support if war was declared. This meant if only two countries went to war it might involve many because their alliances would go to war as well.
--Nationalism - People had intense pride in their countries and the country's interests came before the world as a whole.
--Militarism - There was a arms race going on and a strong military was seen as making a country strong
--Imperialism - Countries of Europe had conflicts in the underdeveloped parts of the world as they sought colonies
U.S. involvement:
--Attempt at neutrality - The stated policy of the U.S. was to stay out of the conflict in Europe but people started taking sides based on their country of origin. Eventually support for the allies is strongest
--German aggression brings the U.S. into the war - German U-Boats started sinking shipping into GB and France and American was affected. The Lusitania was sunk killing 128 Americans. The Zimmerman Telegram is the final straw. This proposed a German alliance with Mexico and if Mexico could keep the U.S. from entering the war in Europe and the Central Powers won WWI then Germany would help Mexico get back the Mexican Cession territory from the U.S.
New Technology in WWI:
--Trench warfare
--Airplanes
--Tanks
--Poison Gas
--Machine Guns
--Submarines
We also started work on handout #6 in order to look at the effects of WWI in America. Complete the web diagram on #6 after reading p 596-603.
Causes of WWI:
--Alliances - Alliances between countries guaranteed mutual support if war was declared. This meant if only two countries went to war it might involve many because their alliances would go to war as well.
--Nationalism - People had intense pride in their countries and the country's interests came before the world as a whole.
--Militarism - There was a arms race going on and a strong military was seen as making a country strong
--Imperialism - Countries of Europe had conflicts in the underdeveloped parts of the world as they sought colonies
U.S. involvement:
--Attempt at neutrality - The stated policy of the U.S. was to stay out of the conflict in Europe but people started taking sides based on their country of origin. Eventually support for the allies is strongest
--German aggression brings the U.S. into the war - German U-Boats started sinking shipping into GB and France and American was affected. The Lusitania was sunk killing 128 Americans. The Zimmerman Telegram is the final straw. This proposed a German alliance with Mexico and if Mexico could keep the U.S. from entering the war in Europe and the Central Powers won WWI then Germany would help Mexico get back the Mexican Cession territory from the U.S.
New Technology in WWI:
--Trench warfare
--Airplanes
--Tanks
--Poison Gas
--Machine Guns
--Submarines
We also started work on handout #6 in order to look at the effects of WWI in America. Complete the web diagram on #6 after reading p 596-603.
Friday, March 27th
We intro'd the next unit today with a discussion about what everyone already knows about WWI and WWII. Some things that you need to keep clear in your heads are the following:
WWI - 1914-1918 with U.S. involvement beginning in 1917
The Allies (Britain, France, Russia, U.S.) vs The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire)
WWII - 1939-1945 with U.S. involvement beginning in 1941
The Allies (U.S., Britain, USSR) vs The Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan)
New packets were given out and a new reading assignment was also assigned. Handout #5 covering the beginning of WWI and U.S. involvement. Due on Monday.
WWI - 1914-1918 with U.S. involvement beginning in 1917
The Allies (Britain, France, Russia, U.S.) vs The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire)
WWII - 1939-1945 with U.S. involvement beginning in 1941
The Allies (U.S., Britain, USSR) vs The Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan)
New packets were given out and a new reading assignment was also assigned. Handout #5 covering the beginning of WWI and U.S. involvement. Due on Monday.
Tuesday, March 24th
We finished up Reconstruction today. Remember Lincoln's plan was very lenient. He wanted to restore the South as quickly as possible and was going to let states return by simply finding a few people to say a loyalty oath. The Rad Republican plan was much harsher. The Radicals throughout almost all former CSA leaders and put Union troops in the South to govern and make sure freed blacks got the right to vote. The South very much detested this plan.
This plan was good for freed blacks though. It gave them many right. Blacks also elected some men to US Congress during Reconstruction. Overall there was a positive increase in their Civil Rights. Reconstruction ends in 1877, however, and when this happens the rights blacks had started to earn were taken away. The South passed Jim Crow laws to segregate the races and the KKK were left unchecked. It wasn't until the 1950's and 60's when blacks started to get those rights back.
13th Amendment - abolished slavery
14th Amendment - gave freed slaves the rights to citizenship
15th Amendment - gave freed blacks the right to vote
This plan was good for freed blacks though. It gave them many right. Blacks also elected some men to US Congress during Reconstruction. Overall there was a positive increase in their Civil Rights. Reconstruction ends in 1877, however, and when this happens the rights blacks had started to earn were taken away. The South passed Jim Crow laws to segregate the races and the KKK were left unchecked. It wasn't until the 1950's and 60's when blacks started to get those rights back.
13th Amendment - abolished slavery
14th Amendment - gave freed slaves the rights to citizenship
15th Amendment - gave freed blacks the right to vote
Monday, March 23rd
We started today with a poetry reading from the verses everyone created on Friday. Nice!
We began work on Reconstruction today. Reconstruction was the time period after the Civil War. After R.E. Lee's surrender at Appomatox Court House, VA it became necessary to rebuild the country. Abraham Lincoln had said in his second inaugural address that he wanted "malice toward none and charity for all" and he would proceed with attempting to institute a very lenient peace plan with the South. However, Lincoln will be assassinated and this plan will never take place. A group of Congressmen called the Radical Republicans instead took control of Reconstruction.
You should complete handout #27 by doing the simulation where you will create your own reconstruction plans.
Then read handout #26 that describes the competing plans and their parts. This reading also explains the effects of Reconstruction especially on freed blacks.
From this reading you should complete handout #28. Lincoln's plan will be described in the single section entitled "Lincoln's Plan". The Radical Republican's plan will be described throughout the section. Contrast these plans. You will need to use you text to find the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution. The end of the reading handout #26 will also describe the effect of Reconstruction on freed black and also how the end of Reconstruction affected life in the South.
We began work on Reconstruction today. Reconstruction was the time period after the Civil War. After R.E. Lee's surrender at Appomatox Court House, VA it became necessary to rebuild the country. Abraham Lincoln had said in his second inaugural address that he wanted "malice toward none and charity for all" and he would proceed with attempting to institute a very lenient peace plan with the South. However, Lincoln will be assassinated and this plan will never take place. A group of Congressmen called the Radical Republicans instead took control of Reconstruction.
You should complete handout #27 by doing the simulation where you will create your own reconstruction plans.
Then read handout #26 that describes the competing plans and their parts. This reading also explains the effects of Reconstruction especially on freed blacks.
From this reading you should complete handout #28. Lincoln's plan will be described in the single section entitled "Lincoln's Plan". The Radical Republican's plan will be described throughout the section. Contrast these plans. You will need to use you text to find the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution. The end of the reading handout #26 will also describe the effect of Reconstruction on freed black and also how the end of Reconstruction affected life in the South.
Friday, March 20th
Today we talked about a number of Civil War topics that affected the lives of soldiers and the people during the war. The first being the draft. The Civil War was the first time in America that a draft was used as Congress at Lincoln's urging passed the Enrollment Act in 1863. Under this Act, men aged 20 to 40 were eligible to be drafted. One could get out of the draft, however, by: 1) agreeing to pay $300; 2) finding a substitute to serve in your place; 3) having a doctor sign a medical deferment. These stipulations allowed many wealthy citizens to get out of the draft but not poorer citizens. Over time this meant the fighting force was much poorer than those that stayed home. This Act led to draft riots as people protested the draft. The most notorious of these riots occurred in New York City.
Another topic discussed was how prisoners of war were handled during the Civil War and the horrible Confederate POW camp at Andersonville. At the beginning of the war POWs were exchanged after a few battles when the amount of POWs grew to where it became difficult for each side to keep them. When the Union decided to enlist black troops the CSA responded with the decision to kill and black troops that were captured and also kill any white officers in command of black troops. Lincoln then decided to halt POW exchanges rationalizing that the North with more people would benefit by not exchanging the POWs. This led to the camps overflowing and conditions in the these camps being deplorable. Andersonville in Georgia was by far the worst. You should read handout #24 which is excerpts from a diary of the Union soldier at Andersonville. You should answer the questions that follow the diary entries.
Lastly we discussed how the Civil War affected women, blacks and the economy of each side. You should read p. 364-368 in your text book and complete handout #25. Make sure you add to this handout: economy, battlefield medicine and food to the bottom of the handout. After researching the info you should complete a four line verse/poem that reflects what you have learned from this section in the book.
Another topic discussed was how prisoners of war were handled during the Civil War and the horrible Confederate POW camp at Andersonville. At the beginning of the war POWs were exchanged after a few battles when the amount of POWs grew to where it became difficult for each side to keep them. When the Union decided to enlist black troops the CSA responded with the decision to kill and black troops that were captured and also kill any white officers in command of black troops. Lincoln then decided to halt POW exchanges rationalizing that the North with more people would benefit by not exchanging the POWs. This led to the camps overflowing and conditions in the these camps being deplorable. Andersonville in Georgia was by far the worst. You should read handout #24 which is excerpts from a diary of the Union soldier at Andersonville. You should answer the questions that follow the diary entries.
Lastly we discussed how the Civil War affected women, blacks and the economy of each side. You should read p. 364-368 in your text book and complete handout #25. Make sure you add to this handout: economy, battlefield medicine and food to the bottom of the handout. After researching the info you should complete a four line verse/poem that reflects what you have learned from this section in the book.
Thursday, March 19th
Today we finished the Civil War battles power point and also talked about the battles at Shiloh and Vicksburg that were not included in the power point.
You should be able to answer questions like the following:
What two battles were fought in the North?
What battles were fought because the Union army was trying to capture Richmond?
What battles were fought for control of the Mississippi River?
What battle is considered the turning point of the war?
What battles were huge Confederate wins?
The second half of class we discussed the Emancipation Proclamation. You should reread the section about Emancipation on page 363 and then complete the handout #22. Some of the things to think about is that Lincoln decided to issue Emancipation to help the Union in the war effort. Emancipation increased the "cause" in which the Union was fighting and also allowed the Union to enlist black soldiers that could help fight and help win the war. Lincoln, however, was still nervous about the border states that stayed in the Union leaving for the CSA if he ended slavery in those states. Therefore the Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in the rebelling states and not in those Northern border states.
You should be able to answer questions like the following:
What two battles were fought in the North?
What battles were fought because the Union army was trying to capture Richmond?
What battles were fought for control of the Mississippi River?
What battle is considered the turning point of the war?
What battles were huge Confederate wins?
The second half of class we discussed the Emancipation Proclamation. You should reread the section about Emancipation on page 363 and then complete the handout #22. Some of the things to think about is that Lincoln decided to issue Emancipation to help the Union in the war effort. Emancipation increased the "cause" in which the Union was fighting and also allowed the Union to enlist black soldiers that could help fight and help win the war. Lincoln, however, was still nervous about the border states that stayed in the Union leaving for the CSA if he ended slavery in those states. Therefore the Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in the rebelling states and not in those Northern border states.
Wednesday, March 18th
We finished role plays today and also discussed the battles of the Civil War. Battle info was given in a power point. You should have handout #21 with the battles complete now.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16th
We gave some role plays today. If you did not present today you should be ready to go on Wednesday. If you have a partner and your partner is not following through with their part, you still must finish a complete role play. I will give you extra credit for doing the extra work.
Also today we started to look at the battles of the Civil War. Use pp 357-363 and 369-373 to find information on the following battles: 1st Bull Run, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg. Use handout #21 to record information. You should be finding the following info: date(s) of battle, location of battle, victor of the battle, important/significant facts about the battle. Also find out the officers for each side in each battle.
Handout #20 which is a reading assignment will be due on Tuesday.
Also today we started to look at the battles of the Civil War. Use pp 357-363 and 369-373 to find information on the following battles: 1st Bull Run, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg. Use handout #21 to record information. You should be finding the following info: date(s) of battle, location of battle, victor of the battle, important/significant facts about the battle. Also find out the officers for each side in each battle.
Handout #20 which is a reading assignment will be due on Tuesday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday, March 13th
Yeah!!! Role plays. C'mon this is a good one. The directions of the role play are on handout #18. You and a partner will play Lincoln and Davis and argue about who should win the war based on the advantages and strategies that you listed on handout #17. The argument should be scripted and you will perform each role for the class. Keep in mind the 2 men are arguing and each fiercely believes in his cause and his side. You should go back and forth between the 2 men over each topic. The role play should last 2 minutes which you should easily achieve if you cover all the info available.
Homework-You should (if not already done) complete handout #19 which is a reading assignment covering the beginning of war between the Union and Confederacy.
Homework-You should (if not already done) complete handout #19 which is a reading assignment covering the beginning of war between the Union and Confederacy.
Thursday, March 12th
Today we started with a notes outline that is on handout #16. These notes cover a timeline of events from the Missouri Compromise to Southern Secession. Here are the notes:
Question of Slavery in the U.S. ---> Need for balance to maintain unity ---> Missouri Compromise (1820) ---> Period of balance between slave and free states for 30 years ---> California upsets the balance, need for Compromise of 1850 ---> Kept the Union together temporarily but settled nothing ---> Turbulent 1850's (Fugitive Slave Act, Underground RR, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dred Scott decision, caning of Sumner) ---> Kansas-Nebraska Act, popular sovereignty in those territories ---> Bleeding Kansas ---> Creation of Republican party, election of Lincoln ---> Southern secession, creation of the C.S.A.
Also we looked at the advantages and disadvantages to both the North and South as well as each sides war strategies. You should read pp. 350-356 in your textbook and complete the T-chart that is on handout #17. An example of a Northern advantage was more people. There were 22 million people in the North and only 9 million in the South. This should go on the chart. Read the section in the book and list all advantages and war strategies on the chart.
***Bonus - Find a cool history website that you think I should use or one that would be of interest to other students. Post the URL of that site in a comment to this post. 10 bonus points per website with a maximum of 30 points is in it for you.
Question of Slavery in the U.S. ---> Need for balance to maintain unity ---> Missouri Compromise (1820) ---> Period of balance between slave and free states for 30 years ---> California upsets the balance, need for Compromise of 1850 ---> Kept the Union together temporarily but settled nothing ---> Turbulent 1850's (Fugitive Slave Act, Underground RR, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dred Scott decision, caning of Sumner) ---> Kansas-Nebraska Act, popular sovereignty in those territories ---> Bleeding Kansas ---> Creation of Republican party, election of Lincoln ---> Southern secession, creation of the C.S.A.
Also we looked at the advantages and disadvantages to both the North and South as well as each sides war strategies. You should read pp. 350-356 in your textbook and complete the T-chart that is on handout #17. An example of a Northern advantage was more people. There were 22 million people in the North and only 9 million in the South. This should go on the chart. Read the section in the book and list all advantages and war strategies on the chart.
***Bonus - Find a cool history website that you think I should use or one that would be of interest to other students. Post the URL of that site in a comment to this post. 10 bonus points per website with a maximum of 30 points is in it for you.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday, March 11th
First thing today we updated our maps on handout #3. Since we now know that the Kansas-Nebraska Act implemented popular sovereignty in those territories we can know color in those territories with the color you used to show popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories. The color I have been using to show pop. sov. is green. Put those your map. Also, we know that in the Dred Scott decision the Supreme Court said that all blacks in America are NOT citizens of the U.S. and also said that Congress could not ban slavery in any of the territories of the U.S. This means that the Northern territories that have yet to be colored on your maps can now be colored. They were open to slavery so they should be colored your slave state color. In my case that is red. This should complete your map.
Today's main topic is the election of 1860. This was an extremely important election because the Southern states will secede upon the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln was a member of the Republican party. The Republicans were created in the 1850's to fight the spread of slavery. They slowly grow into a powerful political party because Northern Free-Soilers moved into the Republican party. Lincoln won't be the first Republican party candidate for Presidency but he will be the first Republican party candidate that becomes President.
It is important to understand a little about the system by which we elect the President. Our President is elected by the Electoral College. Each state has a number of electors that is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives each state has. In most states of the Union, whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state wins those electors. This system is what is called as "winner-take-all". Therefore, presidential candidates must accumulate electoral votes in order to win.
You should complete handout #14 using maps on page 341 and 347. It is important to understand that Lincoln becomes President because of sectional differences. He receives all his support in the free states and gets little support in the South. Fortunately this is enough for him to win the electoral vote and become President.
Also, this event marks the beginning of Southern secession. Southerns believed they no longer had a chance in U.S. politics because the Congress and the Presidency were controlled by the free states and that it was only a matter of time before laws were passed abolishing Southern slavery. So the South decided to secede.
Don't forget-1850 headlines are due tomorrow.
Today's main topic is the election of 1860. This was an extremely important election because the Southern states will secede upon the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln was a member of the Republican party. The Republicans were created in the 1850's to fight the spread of slavery. They slowly grow into a powerful political party because Northern Free-Soilers moved into the Republican party. Lincoln won't be the first Republican party candidate for Presidency but he will be the first Republican party candidate that becomes President.
It is important to understand a little about the system by which we elect the President. Our President is elected by the Electoral College. Each state has a number of electors that is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives each state has. In most states of the Union, whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a state wins those electors. This system is what is called as "winner-take-all". Therefore, presidential candidates must accumulate electoral votes in order to win.
You should complete handout #14 using maps on page 341 and 347. It is important to understand that Lincoln becomes President because of sectional differences. He receives all his support in the free states and gets little support in the South. Fortunately this is enough for him to win the electoral vote and become President.
Also, this event marks the beginning of Southern secession. Southerns believed they no longer had a chance in U.S. politics because the Congress and the Presidency were controlled by the free states and that it was only a matter of time before laws were passed abolishing Southern slavery. So the South decided to secede.
Don't forget-1850 headlines are due tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 10
Today we talked extensively about the events of the Turbulent 50's. These events proved that the North and South could not get along with one another. You should have a completed handout #12. Info for each event is in handout #11 and also in your textbook.
Also you should have been given an extra handout on the Dred Scott decision. Use handout #13 to understand this important case and complete the additional handout listing the arguments for and against Dred Scott and the Supreme Court's decisions in this case.
Due for Thursday, the turbulent 1850's headlines. Make sure your headlines are completely biased either for the North or South.
Also you should have been given an extra handout on the Dred Scott decision. Use handout #13 to understand this important case and complete the additional handout listing the arguments for and against Dred Scott and the Supreme Court's decisions in this case.
Due for Thursday, the turbulent 1850's headlines. Make sure your headlines are completely biased either for the North or South.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 9th
Okay, we spent all last week learning about the two Compromises that kept the U.S. together and out of war. Now it is your chance to tell me about what you have learned. On handout #8 is an essay prompt for you to answer. As I have stressed in class, use a format to write your essay! The essay is due on Wednesday.
Also, today we began to discuss a time period I call the Turbulent 50's. We talking 1850's here. These are events that proved the country could absolutely not live half-slave and half-free. The Compromise of 1850 will not be enough to hold the U.S. together. You should read handout #11 which is a reading section. This section also ties into the reading that you should have done to do handout #9 which will be a collected and graded assignment.
When you are finished with the reading you should complete handout #12. Handout #12 is a chart that has 1850 events listed in the left hand column. In the middle column you should describe that event. Use info from either your text book or handout #11. In the right hand column you should think about how the event contributed to sectionalism. Now, sectionalism is when the sections of the country become more important and more identifiable that the nation as a whole. Imagine us thinking of ourselves as Mainers first and Americans second. I want you to think about how each 1850's event made Northerners feel one way and Southerners feel the other and how those feelings led to conflict. In other words, how does each event lead to conflict between the North and South.
Also, today we began to discuss a time period I call the Turbulent 50's. We talking 1850's here. These are events that proved the country could absolutely not live half-slave and half-free. The Compromise of 1850 will not be enough to hold the U.S. together. You should read handout #11 which is a reading section. This section also ties into the reading that you should have done to do handout #9 which will be a collected and graded assignment.
When you are finished with the reading you should complete handout #12. Handout #12 is a chart that has 1850 events listed in the left hand column. In the middle column you should describe that event. Use info from either your text book or handout #11. In the right hand column you should think about how the event contributed to sectionalism. Now, sectionalism is when the sections of the country become more important and more identifiable that the nation as a whole. Imagine us thinking of ourselves as Mainers first and Americans second. I want you to think about how each 1850's event made Northerners feel one way and Southerners feel the other and how those feelings led to conflict. In other words, how does each event lead to conflict between the North and South.
Friday, March 6th
Okay, California. Big problems back in 1850. Adding California as a free state would upset the delicate balance between free and slave states and therefore, the South threatened to secede from the Union. The only thing that would keep them in the Union would be another compromise. Thus, the Compromise of 1850 was born.
You should read handout #7 and answer the questions at the bottom of handout #6. We discussed these in class on Friday. All of the answers can be found in handout #7.
Also, we finished the notes on handout #5. Here they are:
Compromise of 1850:
why: The admission of free state California upset the balance between free and slave states
California wants ... to be free state
a. 36 degrees 30 line no good anymore
b. The South threatened to secede from the Union
who negotiates the Compromise: Henry Clay
Terms:
1. California becomes a free state
2. Utah and N. Mexico territories will decide slavery by Popular Sovereignty (the people will vote and decide)
3. A new stricter Fugitive Slave Act
4. The slave trade is banned in Washington D.C.
Lastly, handout #9 which is reading assignment is due for next Monday.
**Bonus - Become a follower of this blog and earn 15 bonus points!!
You should read handout #7 and answer the questions at the bottom of handout #6. We discussed these in class on Friday. All of the answers can be found in handout #7.
Also, we finished the notes on handout #5. Here they are:
Compromise of 1850:
why: The admission of free state California upset the balance between free and slave states
California wants ... to be free state
a. 36 degrees 30 line no good anymore
b. The South threatened to secede from the Union
who negotiates the Compromise: Henry Clay
Terms:
1. California becomes a free state
2. Utah and N. Mexico territories will decide slavery by Popular Sovereignty (the people will vote and decide)
3. A new stricter Fugitive Slave Act
4. The slave trade is banned in Washington D.C.
Lastly, handout #9 which is reading assignment is due for next Monday.
**Bonus - Become a follower of this blog and earn 15 bonus points!!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, March 5th
After Tuesday you were left with a map that showed 11 free and 11 slave states colored in on your map (handout #3). This provided a great situation for the country. With free and slave states balanced neither could threaten to overpower the other. No laws could be made ending or extending slavery because the vote on such laws would never pass through the Senate and if it didn't pass in the Senate it was not law. Thus the country would stay together.
But a problem arose when Missouri applied for statehood. Missoui wanted to be a slave state and entering as a slave state upset northerners. Northerners proposed that no more slaves be allowed to enter Missouri and that slaves would be freed upon reaching the age of 25. Now southerners were at odds with the North. THIS ARGUMENT WAS THREATENING TO BREAK UP THE COUNTRY. Fortunately while our leaders were debating the Missouri situation, Maine also applied for statehood. This allowed leaders to work out a compromise where Missouri became a slave state and Maine became a free state. This arrangement was two parts to the compromise. Political leaders tried to solve future slavery issues by setting a line by which slavery would be allowed beneath the line and slavery would be banned above the line. This line was a line of latitude at 36 degrees 30 minutes. This was the 3rd part to the Missouri Compromise. Update you map by coloring Missouri your slave state color and Maine your free state color. Lastly, take your regular pen or pencil and darken in the 36 degrees 30 line. This line is the southern border of Missouri and it extends to the border of Texas. Label this line correctly
You should read page 257 and 258 in your textbooks. This section fills in information about the Missouri Compromise. When you are finished with this reading you should complete handout #4. If you feel you can do this handout easily you are all set. If not you should make sure you see me. When you are finished with #4 you should go back to handout #3. Look at your list of states and their order of admission to the Union. Put parenthesis around Maine and Missouri because those states came into the Union together. Do the same thing for Arkansas and Michigan. They also entered together. This kept the balance of power in the Senate still equal. Put a bigger parenthesis around Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and Iowa. Those four states were admitted together as well continuing to maintain balance between free and slave states. When you are finished with the list update the maps by coloring all the new free states you free state color and all the new slave states you slave state color.
Next you should complete the top half of handout #5. This is a notes outline. The notes should be as follows:
Missouri Compromise - 1820
Created by: Henry Clay
Why: To keep balance of power equal between the free/slave states
Terms:
1) Maine is a free state
2) Missouri is a slave state
3) Slavery will be banned above 36 degrees 30 and allowed beneath it
The Missouri Compromise led to a period of compromise and balance that kept the U.S. together and out of Civil War for 30 years.
You should then move on to handout #6. Handout #6 has three questions at the top about the Missouri Comp that you should try to answer. For question #1 you should think about what the South gained from the Missouri Compromise. Key to question #2 is the term sectionalism. Sectionalism is when sections of the country become more important and more identifiable than the nation as a whole. The Missouri Comp contributed to sectionalism. How? You need to find Jefferson's quote to answer question #3. This quote is on handout #3 and also in the reading on page 257.
Lastly today, we worked on the next compromise that was needed because balance could not be maintained when California was ready to become a state. You should read handout #7 which is reading handout and complete the questions on handout #6 about the Compromise of 1850.
**Bonus: If you have read all of this--awesome. You deserve some bonus points. I need followers of my blog. Become a follower of my blog and earn 15 bonus points.
But a problem arose when Missouri applied for statehood. Missoui wanted to be a slave state and entering as a slave state upset northerners. Northerners proposed that no more slaves be allowed to enter Missouri and that slaves would be freed upon reaching the age of 25. Now southerners were at odds with the North. THIS ARGUMENT WAS THREATENING TO BREAK UP THE COUNTRY. Fortunately while our leaders were debating the Missouri situation, Maine also applied for statehood. This allowed leaders to work out a compromise where Missouri became a slave state and Maine became a free state. This arrangement was two parts to the compromise. Political leaders tried to solve future slavery issues by setting a line by which slavery would be allowed beneath the line and slavery would be banned above the line. This line was a line of latitude at 36 degrees 30 minutes. This was the 3rd part to the Missouri Compromise. Update you map by coloring Missouri your slave state color and Maine your free state color. Lastly, take your regular pen or pencil and darken in the 36 degrees 30 line. This line is the southern border of Missouri and it extends to the border of Texas. Label this line correctly
You should read page 257 and 258 in your textbooks. This section fills in information about the Missouri Compromise. When you are finished with this reading you should complete handout #4. If you feel you can do this handout easily you are all set. If not you should make sure you see me. When you are finished with #4 you should go back to handout #3. Look at your list of states and their order of admission to the Union. Put parenthesis around Maine and Missouri because those states came into the Union together. Do the same thing for Arkansas and Michigan. They also entered together. This kept the balance of power in the Senate still equal. Put a bigger parenthesis around Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and Iowa. Those four states were admitted together as well continuing to maintain balance between free and slave states. When you are finished with the list update the maps by coloring all the new free states you free state color and all the new slave states you slave state color.
Next you should complete the top half of handout #5. This is a notes outline. The notes should be as follows:
Missouri Compromise - 1820
Created by: Henry Clay
Why: To keep balance of power equal between the free/slave states
Terms:
1) Maine is a free state
2) Missouri is a slave state
3) Slavery will be banned above 36 degrees 30 and allowed beneath it
The Missouri Compromise led to a period of compromise and balance that kept the U.S. together and out of Civil War for 30 years.
You should then move on to handout #6. Handout #6 has three questions at the top about the Missouri Comp that you should try to answer. For question #1 you should think about what the South gained from the Missouri Compromise. Key to question #2 is the term sectionalism. Sectionalism is when sections of the country become more important and more identifiable than the nation as a whole. The Missouri Comp contributed to sectionalism. How? You need to find Jefferson's quote to answer question #3. This quote is on handout #3 and also in the reading on page 257.
Lastly today, we worked on the next compromise that was needed because balance could not be maintained when California was ready to become a state. You should read handout #7 which is reading handout and complete the questions on handout #6 about the Compromise of 1850.
**Bonus: If you have read all of this--awesome. You deserve some bonus points. I need followers of my blog. Become a follower of my blog and earn 15 bonus points.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tuesday, March 3
Today begins our discussion on how our country came to go to war against itself in what we call the Civil War. The buildup to war will happen over many years so we will begin with learning about the Missouri Compromise which happened in 1820, 41 years before the first shots were fired in the Civil War.
We started today looking at the list of states and their year of admission into the Union on handout #3. To start we will only consider the states down to the #22 state to enter the Union, Alabama. You should mark each state with an "F" if it was a "free" state and did not allow slavery and an "S" if it was a "slave" state and did not allow slavery. When you are finished with this create a T chart in the extra space listing Free vs Slave states. When you are finished you should have eleven of each on your chart. **Note-if you don't have eleven each check Delaware and Maryland. Most people think of these as Free states but they did allow slavery. Also, only go to Alabama.
Now that you have eleven free and eleven slave states on your list you should color them on the backside of handout #3. Color free states one color and slave states another color. When you are finished coloring these 22 states you should easily see that the distinction between slave and free breaks down purely by geography. Slave states were in the South and free states were in the North. You probably knew that already but now you can easily see it.
Now back to why having an even breakdown of states (11 and 11) was so important during the early 1800's-neither side, North or South, could gain an advantage in government over the other because the power was balanced. To understand this further you need to have an understanding of U.S. Government. We took the following notes on the back of handout #2:
U.S. Government:
3 Branches -
Executive Branch - Pres, VP & Cabinet - Enforce Laws
Legislative Branch - Congress - Make Laws
Judicial Branch - Supreme Court - Are Laws Constitutional?
Legislative Branch -
House of Representative - States' population determines how many Representatives a state has
Senate - 2 Senators per state
Both Houses of Congress have to pass a bill for it to become a law.
Because of the structure of U.S. Government if there was an equal number of slave and free states they balanced each other out in the Senate. Or in other words, if a slave state senator proposed a bill that would extend slavery throughout the country the vote would be 22 to 22 in the Senate (11 states in each section x 2 senators per state) and thus the bill would not be passed. If a northern senator proposed a bill that abolished slavery throughout the country the best he could hope for in a vote would be again 22 to 22 because all Southern senators would vote against this bill. In this way the Free states and the Slave states were balanced equally in power and neither could hurt the other.
The monkey wrench that could be thrown into this is what if balance between free and slave cannot be maintained. More on that tomorrow.
We started today looking at the list of states and their year of admission into the Union on handout #3. To start we will only consider the states down to the #22 state to enter the Union, Alabama. You should mark each state with an "F" if it was a "free" state and did not allow slavery and an "S" if it was a "slave" state and did not allow slavery. When you are finished with this create a T chart in the extra space listing Free vs Slave states. When you are finished you should have eleven of each on your chart. **Note-if you don't have eleven each check Delaware and Maryland. Most people think of these as Free states but they did allow slavery. Also, only go to Alabama.
Now that you have eleven free and eleven slave states on your list you should color them on the backside of handout #3. Color free states one color and slave states another color. When you are finished coloring these 22 states you should easily see that the distinction between slave and free breaks down purely by geography. Slave states were in the South and free states were in the North. You probably knew that already but now you can easily see it.
Now back to why having an even breakdown of states (11 and 11) was so important during the early 1800's-neither side, North or South, could gain an advantage in government over the other because the power was balanced. To understand this further you need to have an understanding of U.S. Government. We took the following notes on the back of handout #2:
U.S. Government:
3 Branches -
Executive Branch - Pres, VP & Cabinet - Enforce Laws
Legislative Branch - Congress - Make Laws
Judicial Branch - Supreme Court - Are Laws Constitutional?
Legislative Branch -
House of Representative - States' population determines how many Representatives a state has
Senate - 2 Senators per state
Both Houses of Congress have to pass a bill for it to become a law.
Because of the structure of U.S. Government if there was an equal number of slave and free states they balanced each other out in the Senate. Or in other words, if a slave state senator proposed a bill that would extend slavery throughout the country the vote would be 22 to 22 in the Senate (11 states in each section x 2 senators per state) and thus the bill would not be passed. If a northern senator proposed a bill that abolished slavery throughout the country the best he could hope for in a vote would be again 22 to 22 because all Southern senators would vote against this bill. In this way the Free states and the Slave states were balanced equally in power and neither could hurt the other.
The monkey wrench that could be thrown into this is what if balance between free and slave cannot be maintained. More on that tomorrow.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, Feb 27
Today we had a quick discussion about what you already know as a class about the Civil War. It is always good to try and stimulate prior knowledge before you begin a subject. I know MS was a long time ago but there still was a few things floating around in your head about the Civil War.
Next we started work on the term list (handout #1) on the Civil War. Hopefully this will help you as we start to introduce topics on the Civil War by giving you some more prior knowledge. Also, when it comes time to review you will not need to spend so much time with simply terms. Most of the terms on handout #1 can be found in textbook chapters 10-11-12. Only the first two on the list are not in those chapters and you will need to look in previous chapters to find those.
Have a nice weekend. See you again next month.
Next we started work on the term list (handout #1) on the Civil War. Hopefully this will help you as we start to introduce topics on the Civil War by giving you some more prior knowledge. Also, when it comes time to review you will not need to spend so much time with simply terms. Most of the terms on handout #1 can be found in textbook chapters 10-11-12. Only the first two on the list are not in those chapters and you will need to look in previous chapters to find those.
Have a nice weekend. See you again next month.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, Feb 26
Test today. Whoo hoo. Gotta love the test.
**Extra Credit: I will give 5 bonus points on the test for anyone that replies with a comment to any of my posts. The comment can be about the blog, the test, my incredible good looks. Just be nice please.
**Extra Credit: I will give 5 bonus points on the test for anyone that replies with a comment to any of my posts. The comment can be about the blog, the test, my incredible good looks. Just be nice please.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, Feb 25
Today we focused primarily on the start of the Mexican War and James K Polk's role in starting the war. Polk was a little known politician that rose to prominence by promising the American people that he would achieve Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that America would expand from sea to sea. What Polk had to say was what Americans wanted to hear and he was elected President.
After Polk became President he then had to deliver. He quickly got Congress to annex Texas and he settled Oregon with an agreement with the British. However, when he tried to buy California from Mexico he was refused. To get Cali he would have to start a war.
Polk starts war with Mexico by using disputed territory at the border of Texas and Mexico. The disputed territory was between the Rio Grande River and the Nueces River. Polk sent American troops onto this land and they were fired upon by the Mexican army. Now Polk could go to Congress and get them to declare war on Mexico and thus War was on. We can certainly assume Polk knew full well what his decisions would lead to.
You should complete the handout #24. The bottom half notes should look like this:
Polk wanted to buy California
--- Mexico refused
--- but he still wanted to achieve Manifest Destiny
Polk started War
--- border dispute was what he used to start war
--- you should be able to sketch this out
Mexican War
--- war is over in 16 months
--- Mexican Cession is the result
You should also answer the questions on handout #26. These questions ask you to think about the role Polk played in this conflict and how important the concept of Manifest Destiny was in the war with Mexico and the getting of California as part of the United States. Also you should comment on what type of President James Polk was-a visionary leader or a bully.
Also, TEST TOMORROW!!!!
After Polk became President he then had to deliver. He quickly got Congress to annex Texas and he settled Oregon with an agreement with the British. However, when he tried to buy California from Mexico he was refused. To get Cali he would have to start a war.
Polk starts war with Mexico by using disputed territory at the border of Texas and Mexico. The disputed territory was between the Rio Grande River and the Nueces River. Polk sent American troops onto this land and they were fired upon by the Mexican army. Now Polk could go to Congress and get them to declare war on Mexico and thus War was on. We can certainly assume Polk knew full well what his decisions would lead to.
You should complete the handout #24. The bottom half notes should look like this:
Polk wanted to buy California
--- Mexico refused
--- but he still wanted to achieve Manifest Destiny
Polk started War
--- border dispute was what he used to start war
--- you should be able to sketch this out
Mexican War
--- war is over in 16 months
--- Mexican Cession is the result
You should also answer the questions on handout #26. These questions ask you to think about the role Polk played in this conflict and how important the concept of Manifest Destiny was in the war with Mexico and the getting of California as part of the United States. Also you should comment on what type of President James Polk was-a visionary leader or a bully.
Also, TEST TOMORROW!!!!
Tuesday, Feb 24
Today we moved on from the American Revolution. We started off looking at a map that showed North America in 1783. This was the original U.S. The Western boundary was the Mississippi River. Florida was yet to become part of the U.S. and the northern border of Maine and Minnesota had yet to be decided. This is the starting point for the topic of today and tomorrow - Manifest Destiny.
Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States and the American people were pre-destined to grow and expand to the Pacific Ocean. People that believed in this idea thought that America was a special place and its citizens special people. If America could expand to the Pacific then it would help U.S. trade immensely because we now could trade easily with Asia. Also, the west was filled with resources for our ever growing country. Unfortunately we would have to shove aside other peoples in our quest for Manifest Destiny.
In class today we completed a map to show the land gains America had to complete its growth to the Pacific. On handout #23 you should show these land gains. Start off by drawing in the original U.S. as described above. Then you should add in the following land gains:
Louisiana Purchase - 1803 - from France - purchase for $15 million
Florida - 1819 - from Spain - Spain ceded (gave) it to the U.S.
Annexation of Texas - 1845 - The Republic of Texas was simply added (annexed) to the U.S.
Oregon Territory - 1846 - We worked out an agreement with the British to divide Oregon Territory
Mexican Cession - 1848 - We took this land from Mexico in war and also paid Mexico $15 million
Gadsden Purchase - 1853 - from Mexico - purchase for $10 million
These land gains also is what is recorded on handout #24 at the top half of the page.
Lastly, you should use the backside of handout #24 to do some "Quick Facts" over the Mexican War. Read page 308 to 311 in your book and take down a couple of facts per book section. Pay particular attention to how President James Polk started the war against Mexico and then how the war went for the U.S.
Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States and the American people were pre-destined to grow and expand to the Pacific Ocean. People that believed in this idea thought that America was a special place and its citizens special people. If America could expand to the Pacific then it would help U.S. trade immensely because we now could trade easily with Asia. Also, the west was filled with resources for our ever growing country. Unfortunately we would have to shove aside other peoples in our quest for Manifest Destiny.
In class today we completed a map to show the land gains America had to complete its growth to the Pacific. On handout #23 you should show these land gains. Start off by drawing in the original U.S. as described above. Then you should add in the following land gains:
Louisiana Purchase - 1803 - from France - purchase for $15 million
Florida - 1819 - from Spain - Spain ceded (gave) it to the U.S.
Annexation of Texas - 1845 - The Republic of Texas was simply added (annexed) to the U.S.
Oregon Territory - 1846 - We worked out an agreement with the British to divide Oregon Territory
Mexican Cession - 1848 - We took this land from Mexico in war and also paid Mexico $15 million
Gadsden Purchase - 1853 - from Mexico - purchase for $10 million
These land gains also is what is recorded on handout #24 at the top half of the page.
Lastly, you should use the backside of handout #24 to do some "Quick Facts" over the Mexican War. Read page 308 to 311 in your book and take down a couple of facts per book section. Pay particular attention to how President James Polk started the war against Mexico and then how the war went for the U.S.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wed, Feb 11th
Today the subject is the Declaration of Independence. Yesterday we talked about Thomas Paine's contributions to Independence. Today we discussed the importance of John Locke. Locke wrote about the Social Contract Theory of government back in 1688. His beliefs become the basis for our Declaration and our form of government. Locke believed all people has natural rights. This means these rights are given to everybody from birth. Locke believed these rights were: life, liberty and property. He theorized that the reasons governments were created is for the protection of these rights and since people came together to form the governments then the power of government rests with the people. Government by the consent of the governed is the basis of our government. In America we vote every November to give our consent to our government.
You should add to the note outline on handout #19 this info on Locke's Social Contract Theory. This should be right under Paine's Common Sense.
To finish out the notes outline, the Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson with help from the "Committee of Five". The parts to the Declaration of Independence are: 1)Preamble, 2)Declaration of Rights, 3)List of Grievances, 4)Formal statement of Declaration. These parts of the Declaration are important and you should look in your textbook to skim through these. The Declaration is on page 134.
Today we also worked extensively on the most important part to the Declaration and that is the Declaration of Natural Rights. In this section Jefferson gave his philosophical statement on why the colonists had the right to declare independence and what type of governmental system the newly created country would have. Essentially this section describes us as a country!
You should be able to pick out the parts of this section that come directly from John Locke. We did this in class. Also, you should try and rewrite this section in your own words. This will be important for understanding and to effectively complete the Declaration activity that we will do in groups.
You should add to the note outline on handout #19 this info on Locke's Social Contract Theory. This should be right under Paine's Common Sense.
To finish out the notes outline, the Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson with help from the "Committee of Five". The parts to the Declaration of Independence are: 1)Preamble, 2)Declaration of Rights, 3)List of Grievances, 4)Formal statement of Declaration. These parts of the Declaration are important and you should look in your textbook to skim through these. The Declaration is on page 134.
Today we also worked extensively on the most important part to the Declaration and that is the Declaration of Natural Rights. In this section Jefferson gave his philosophical statement on why the colonists had the right to declare independence and what type of governmental system the newly created country would have. Essentially this section describes us as a country!
You should be able to pick out the parts of this section that come directly from John Locke. We did this in class. Also, you should try and rewrite this section in your own words. This will be important for understanding and to effectively complete the Declaration activity that we will do in groups.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, Feb 10
Quiz today!! Make sure if you were out to make up the quiz ASAP while the info is still fresh in your minds.
After the quiz we ended our discussions on the American Revolution by talking about Yorktown. You should have read handout #17 and answered the questions on handout #18. In addition, it is very helpful for you to draw a picture of this event. Handout #17 gives you a map but on your diagram think about what is would like if this was a mapquest picture and you hit the zoom button about 5 or 6 times. You map should have the location of the British, the location of the French fleet and the location of Washington's army all shown. In regards to Yorktown make sure you understand the role geography played in the battle. Also understand how important the French fleet was in the battle and in helping to force a British surrender.
We also started today our learning on the Declaration of Independence. I showed a slide with a picture of colonists toppling a statue of King George and talked about why this act alarmed both revolutionaries and loyalists. It is because throwing off a ruling government even if it is an unjust one can be a scary thing. Who will rule next? What laws will they have? Will they be able to protect the people? These are all questions that need to be answered. Think of the American military taking down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq back in 2003. President Bush said that night that the "war had been won". Still six years later we are still struggling in Iraq to help establish a new government that can protect the people's rights.
We started the notes outline on the Declaration of Independence. We completed about half of handout #19. Reasons the colonists wanted to separate were: colonial bloodshed, tyranny of the King, chance for foreign aid. A reason they were hesitant to separate was: fear of mob rule. We talked about one "cause" of the Declaration. Thomas Paine's Common Sense was very instrumental in getting the colonists to act on independence. Paine was a very effective writer and urged people to declare independence. He did this by making his readers feel some emotion if they read Common Sense.
You should read an excerpt from Common Sense on handout #20. Hi-lite or underline words, phrases or sentences where you feel Paine is trying to make readers feel some emotion. At the end there are two questions for you to answer.
After the quiz we ended our discussions on the American Revolution by talking about Yorktown. You should have read handout #17 and answered the questions on handout #18. In addition, it is very helpful for you to draw a picture of this event. Handout #17 gives you a map but on your diagram think about what is would like if this was a mapquest picture and you hit the zoom button about 5 or 6 times. You map should have the location of the British, the location of the French fleet and the location of Washington's army all shown. In regards to Yorktown make sure you understand the role geography played in the battle. Also understand how important the French fleet was in the battle and in helping to force a British surrender.
We also started today our learning on the Declaration of Independence. I showed a slide with a picture of colonists toppling a statue of King George and talked about why this act alarmed both revolutionaries and loyalists. It is because throwing off a ruling government even if it is an unjust one can be a scary thing. Who will rule next? What laws will they have? Will they be able to protect the people? These are all questions that need to be answered. Think of the American military taking down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq back in 2003. President Bush said that night that the "war had been won". Still six years later we are still struggling in Iraq to help establish a new government that can protect the people's rights.
We started the notes outline on the Declaration of Independence. We completed about half of handout #19. Reasons the colonists wanted to separate were: colonial bloodshed, tyranny of the King, chance for foreign aid. A reason they were hesitant to separate was: fear of mob rule. We talked about one "cause" of the Declaration. Thomas Paine's Common Sense was very instrumental in getting the colonists to act on independence. Paine was a very effective writer and urged people to declare independence. He did this by making his readers feel some emotion if they read Common Sense.
You should read an excerpt from Common Sense on handout #20. Hi-lite or underline words, phrases or sentences where you feel Paine is trying to make readers feel some emotion. At the end there are two questions for you to answer.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, Feb 9
Hey guys, only one more week until vacation. We can all make it. Today in class we focused on the battles of the American Revolution. You should have a completed battle map on handout #16. The battle map should show the location of the battle, the winner, the year the battle was fought and one key fact about the battle. The battles that should be plotted on the map are: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, New York, Trenton, Brandwine, Saratoga, Charles Towne, King Mountain and Yorktown. Here are some key facts about each:
Lexington and Concord - first battle
Bunker Hill - first major battle and an American moral victory
New York - huge American defeat, Washington had to keep retreating to keep his army alive
Trenton - GW defeats the Hessians the day after XMas in 1776
Brandywine - the British control Phily and scatter the Continental Congress
Saratoga - considered the turning point because the French officially ally with America
Charles Towne - the British took the fight to the south because more loyalists were there
Kings Mountain - the Americans turn back the British in the S. Carolina backcounty
Yorktown - the final battle
You should also read handout #17 on the battle of Yorktown and answer the questions on handout #18. We will discuss this battle on Tuesday.
Don't forget the Lexington and Concord essay is due tomorrow and we will also have a quiz tomorrow.
Lexington and Concord - first battle
Bunker Hill - first major battle and an American moral victory
New York - huge American defeat, Washington had to keep retreating to keep his army alive
Trenton - GW defeats the Hessians the day after XMas in 1776
Brandywine - the British control Phily and scatter the Continental Congress
Saratoga - considered the turning point because the French officially ally with America
Charles Towne - the British took the fight to the south because more loyalists were there
Kings Mountain - the Americans turn back the British in the S. Carolina backcounty
Yorktown - the final battle
You should also read handout #17 on the battle of Yorktown and answer the questions on handout #18. We will discuss this battle on Tuesday.
Don't forget the Lexington and Concord essay is due tomorrow and we will also have a quiz tomorrow.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, Feb 6th
Gotta love Fridays. Anybody else looking forward to the weekend. Today we began working on some of the most well known battles of the American Revolution and also talked about the advantages and disadvantages each side had at the start of the war. You should complete the web diagram that is handout #15. The answers that go on the web is as follows: professional army, volunteer army, cause, unpopular war, native-american tactics, money and supplies, little money and supplies, far from home, resourceful leaders, home-field advantage, navy. It is your job to use your prior knowledge, the text book and your common sense to put these answers in the correct location on the web diagram on handout #15.
We also started compiling a battle map of key battles during the American Revolution. This will be on handout #16. You should plot the following battles: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, New York, Trenton, Brandywine, Saratoga, Charles Town, Kings Mountain and Yorktown. You should show the winner of each battle by color and also include the date of the battle. On the back of handout #16 you should write one key fact (the most important fact hopefully) about each battle.
Lastly we talked about essay format for your essay on Lexington and Concord. The prompt for the essay is on handout #11 and the essay format is on handout #12. Essays will be due on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend! See you on Monday.
We also started compiling a battle map of key battles during the American Revolution. This will be on handout #16. You should plot the following battles: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, New York, Trenton, Brandywine, Saratoga, Charles Town, Kings Mountain and Yorktown. You should show the winner of each battle by color and also include the date of the battle. On the back of handout #16 you should write one key fact (the most important fact hopefully) about each battle.
Lastly we talked about essay format for your essay on Lexington and Concord. The prompt for the essay is on handout #11 and the essay format is on handout #12. Essays will be due on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend! See you on Monday.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thurs, Feb 5th
Whew, most of you are through the first role play. If you have not given your role play you must prepare to do so soon.
The topic for today were the battles at Lexington and Concord. These were the first battles of the American Revolution. They were small battles but of great importance. You should read about the battles in your book on page 130. Look at your map in the book too as it will help you get a feel for the geography. You should take "Quick Facts" on the battles at Lexington and Concord and put the quick facts on handout #9. Lastly you should think about Emerson's poem The Concord Hymn and how he labeled these battles "the shot heard round the world." We will be writing essays on this quote. You can look at handout #11 and #12 for further directions on the essay. It will be due next Monday.
For homework tonight you should complete the reading assignment that is handout #14.
The topic for today were the battles at Lexington and Concord. These were the first battles of the American Revolution. They were small battles but of great importance. You should read about the battles in your book on page 130. Look at your map in the book too as it will help you get a feel for the geography. You should take "Quick Facts" on the battles at Lexington and Concord and put the quick facts on handout #9. Lastly you should think about Emerson's poem The Concord Hymn and how he labeled these battles "the shot heard round the world." We will be writing essays on this quote. You can look at handout #11 and #12 for further directions on the essay. It will be due next Monday.
For homework tonight you should complete the reading assignment that is handout #14.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wed, Feb 4th
We are moving along a little closer to actual war between the colonists and the British. Today we talked about the Boston Massacre where hostilities between angry colonists and an increasing British troop presence finally boiled over into violence. We reread the section in the textbook on the Boston Massacre on page 123 and took down some "quick facts" on handout #9. When doing Quick Facts simply read the selection and note the important facts about the event. After doing this you should have a good idea of what happened that March night in 1770. Here are some key points: it happened at night, the colonists were taunting the British soldiers and throwing snowballs and ice chunks at them, the incident began with just a few young Bostonians and a couple of British soldiers and escalated from there, 5 people died as a result and 6 were wounded, the first to die was Crispus Attucks who was part African-American and part Native American, the British soldiers and the their captain, Thomas Preston, were not found to be at fault in court after the event.
We then looked at Paul Revere's engraving of the event. This picture is on p. 124 in your book. Yes, Paul Revere, the famous midnight rider to Lexington and Concord was also a Boston silversmith and he was asked by the Sons of Liberty to create a picture of the Boston Massacre. He engraved this picture in silver and it was later distributed around the American colonies. Revere doesn't portray the event exactly like it occurred. You should be able to notice at least 5 things about the picture that doesn't fit with the facts.
The big question is then, why? Revere wanted to make the British look like tyrants and would randomly kill innocent people. Not everyone in the colonies supported the Patriot cause. In fact just as many people were loyalists (33%) as Patriots. Also there was another 33% that were very much undecided as to whether or not to support a move to independence. Revere wanted to influence these people to come to the Patriot cause. You should be able to complete handout #13 and define: Patriots, Loyalists and Tories and also know the percentage of each in colonial America.
We also completed handout #10 which is a notes outline. The bubbles are set in a cause and effect manner. They should go as follows: French and Indian War, British debt and British troops in America (Proclamation of 1763), Taxing on the colonists, Colonists rebel by smuggling, boycotting, harassing tax collectors, writing and organizing (Taxation wo/Representation is tyranny), More and more British troops in America to enforce the laws, More friction and violence with the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, and Outbreak of War at Lexington and Concord.
Role plays will be conducted tomorrow first thing.
We then looked at Paul Revere's engraving of the event. This picture is on p. 124 in your book. Yes, Paul Revere, the famous midnight rider to Lexington and Concord was also a Boston silversmith and he was asked by the Sons of Liberty to create a picture of the Boston Massacre. He engraved this picture in silver and it was later distributed around the American colonies. Revere doesn't portray the event exactly like it occurred. You should be able to notice at least 5 things about the picture that doesn't fit with the facts.
The big question is then, why? Revere wanted to make the British look like tyrants and would randomly kill innocent people. Not everyone in the colonies supported the Patriot cause. In fact just as many people were loyalists (33%) as Patriots. Also there was another 33% that were very much undecided as to whether or not to support a move to independence. Revere wanted to influence these people to come to the Patriot cause. You should be able to complete handout #13 and define: Patriots, Loyalists and Tories and also know the percentage of each in colonial America.
We also completed handout #10 which is a notes outline. The bubbles are set in a cause and effect manner. They should go as follows: French and Indian War, British debt and British troops in America (Proclamation of 1763), Taxing on the colonists, Colonists rebel by smuggling, boycotting, harassing tax collectors, writing and organizing (Taxation wo/Representation is tyranny), More and more British troops in America to enforce the laws, More friction and violence with the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, and Outbreak of War at Lexington and Concord.
Role plays will be conducted tomorrow first thing.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Tuesday, Feb 3
Today was the second day of "Taxes and Protest". You should now be able to not only know various British Acts that were place on the colonists along with the colonial reaction but also how some of these events relate to one another. You should complete handout #5 to practice the cause and effect relationship between these events. On the front side of handout #5 the following three things go in the "cause" boxes: French and Indian War, Colonists being taxed and the Stamp Act. On the back side of handout #5 the following three things go in the "effects" boxes: Proclamation of 1763, Colonists being taxed and More and more British troops in America.
We also started our first role play. On this role play you will take either the role of a colonist or a member of British parliament. The topic is the imposing of taxes on the colonies. You and your partner will work together to compose a speech in the role that you have been given. The speech should last at least 60 seconds. A rubric for the role play can be found on handout #8. Role plays are designed for you to show you know the history of a particular time period and also to be able to formulate an argumentative speech and then to give that speech in an effective manner. Make sure you have your speech parts done for class tomorrow.
One more thing - handout #7 is due for tomorrow.
We also started our first role play. On this role play you will take either the role of a colonist or a member of British parliament. The topic is the imposing of taxes on the colonies. You and your partner will work together to compose a speech in the role that you have been given. The speech should last at least 60 seconds. A rubric for the role play can be found on handout #8. Role plays are designed for you to show you know the history of a particular time period and also to be able to formulate an argumentative speech and then to give that speech in an effective manner. Make sure you have your speech parts done for class tomorrow.
One more thing - handout #7 is due for tomorrow.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, Feb 2
Happy Groundhog's Day! We got into the swing of things today talking about the American "Revolution" which John Adams said took place before blood was shed at Lexington. To start off it is important to understand the initial relationship between the American colonists and the British. It was expected that the colonies would provide raw materials for British industry. This was the system of mercantilism. You should complete handout #2/#3 in your notebook. If you need a another explanation of mercantilism you should look on page 98 of your book.
When the British beat the French in the the French and Indian War it gave them control of North America but also left them in debt and with troops in America that needed to be paid for. British parliament decided to tax the colonists in order to pay for what the British felt was the defense of the colonies. You should be able to explain some of the British acts placed upon the colonists and also the colonial responses. Handout #4 should be completed where you should list some of the acts passed by the British and the colonial protests that ensued after each act. The acts I will focus on are: The Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act.
Looking ahead reading assignment #2 (handout #7) will be due on Wednesday.
When the British beat the French in the the French and Indian War it gave them control of North America but also left them in debt and with troops in America that needed to be paid for. British parliament decided to tax the colonists in order to pay for what the British felt was the defense of the colonies. You should be able to explain some of the British acts placed upon the colonists and also the colonial responses. Handout #4 should be completed where you should list some of the acts passed by the British and the colonial protests that ensued after each act. The acts I will focus on are: The Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act.
Looking ahead reading assignment #2 (handout #7) will be due on Wednesday.
Friday, January 30, 2009
First Week
Hey Guys,
It has been great to get to know you all and I am looking forward to a great semester. The best way to sum up the first week is: LEARN YOUR STATES AND CAPITALS. Sorry to yell. I believe that all of you can learn these. If you would like to do them in a smaller block (i.e. a group of 8-10 states rather than 25 than just come and see me). Try to figure our a learning strategy that can help you remember which state is which. When I was in H.S. I used football teams to help me remember states because that was something I was interested in and knew very well. The more you can figure out ways to help you remember the better off you will be.
The other things we have learned the first week also deal with geography. Don't forget about the U.S. Physical maps that are due on Monday. Make sure you follow all the directions on this assignment. If you use a map in the beginning of your textbook it will help you very much. Don't forget we will use the rubric that you created as a class to grade the maps.
Lastly, also don't forget about the reading assignment that is handout #6. Read each section of the text and summarize the key points that the book talks about. Write those key points on the handout. This reading will be important to us as we start learning about the American Revolution on Monday.
It has been great to get to know you all and I am looking forward to a great semester. The best way to sum up the first week is: LEARN YOUR STATES AND CAPITALS. Sorry to yell. I believe that all of you can learn these. If you would like to do them in a smaller block (i.e. a group of 8-10 states rather than 25 than just come and see me). Try to figure our a learning strategy that can help you remember which state is which. When I was in H.S. I used football teams to help me remember states because that was something I was interested in and knew very well. The more you can figure out ways to help you remember the better off you will be.
The other things we have learned the first week also deal with geography. Don't forget about the U.S. Physical maps that are due on Monday. Make sure you follow all the directions on this assignment. If you use a map in the beginning of your textbook it will help you very much. Don't forget we will use the rubric that you created as a class to grade the maps.
Lastly, also don't forget about the reading assignment that is handout #6. Read each section of the text and summarize the key points that the book talks about. Write those key points on the handout. This reading will be important to us as we start learning about the American Revolution on Monday.
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