E block

Please meet me in lab 320 for class tomorrow.

Due Wednesday 12/18

For all classes: a creative original symbol for either one of the current cabinet positions or one of the first two political parties. Whichever you choose, your final creation needs to show thought, effort and a clear understanding of the department or party. Use color and describe it in 2-3 sentences on the reverse side of the page. Worth 10 points.

Due Monday 12/16 for all classes

notes (1.5 pages) on p. 168-174

E block - take 3rd lunch Thursday

The title says it all!

Last government-based assignments and test

A block (and other classes as well, if you missed this in class):  here's the answer key to the "how well do you know your political terms" worksheet.

Here's the link to what we'll be doing in class on Wednesday (A block) and Thursday (E block).

Due Monday 12/9:  news story that demonstrates the best or worst of American democracy (you can find the assignment here).
Here's the example I mentioned in class (so please do not repeat these articles or this specific point):  these two articles on the timeline of the Affordable Care Act show (on the negative side) how slow the legislative process can be, or (on the positive side) how thoroughly the law has been reviewed by all branches (and levels) of government:  http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130928/PC16/130929326 and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2013/11/02/76b6f9b6-43f9-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html

Thursday 12/12 is your test on American government for all classes (note the change for A and C).  Format will be multiple choice and an open response written section.  You should be able to answer all of these study questions in detail, and here's an electronic version of the crossword I gave out in class.  

Here's the link to the Constitution summary I mentioned in class, and here's the answer key to the guide to the Constitution.  Finally, you can find the 100 naturalization test questions and their answers here.  You should be very familiar with the first section (#s 1-57) with the exception of #s 35, 36, 40 and 56.  ("selective service" in #57 can be simply translated to mean the military, or military service).  

due Tuesday 11/26

Due Tuesday for all classes and worth up to 10 points for term 2:

Find and print or cut out a recent (from within the past 3 months) political cartoon from a major news source, briefly (in 2-3 sentences) explain the comment it's making, and briefly (in 2-3 sentences) explain whether or not you agree with that comment.  The cartoon's message needs to focus on the role, functioning or effectiveness of government, but please try to steer clear of ones that focus on the role of party politics. Your explanation needs to include at least one well chosen bold term from the "Constitution handbook" and explain how the cartoon demonstrates that term.  To show and understanding of the term, you will likely need to identify the elements (i.e. people, objects and words) in the image in your explanation.  

Please properly cite the cartoon in MLA format.

E block:  please remember that your guide to the Constitution is due Monday.

upcoming assignments

A block:
Guide to the Constitution due Thursday 11/22
bumper sticker due Friday 11/23

C block:
bumper sticker (see below) and guide to the Constitution (see below) both due Friday 11/23

E block:
bumper sticker (see below) due Friday 11/23 and guide to the Constitution due Monday 11/25

The bumper sticker should be 1/2 of an 8 x 11" piece of paper folded and cut "hot dog" style (i.e. lengthwise) and needs to make a comment on the nature of the democratic system.  This can be positive or negative and based off of the "Constitution Handbook" given out in class the other day.  You may include words, images or both, but the images and/or words must be visible, and you need to use color and make good use of the space on the page.  Please also include a short 2-3 sentence explanation of your message on the back and how it offers a comment on American government.  Out of 10 points for quarter 2.

Here's the guide to the Constitution - you may complete this in bullet/note form.  The U.S. Constitution itself is widely available online.

due Wednesday 11/20 for C block only

At least 3 pros and 3 cons of American democracy based on your reading of the "Constitution Handbook"

due Friday 11/15 and Monday 11/18

Please read and take 2 pages of notes on p. 159-168 - you can skip the section on where historians disagree, but I will definitely be looking for 2 full pages of notes for full credit on this assignment.

Due Monday:  part 1/step 1 of the sheet you received in class today (either option 1, 2 or 3) in preparation for the group debate we'll have on the Constitution.

due Wednesday 11/13 for all classes

Here's the current events assignment due next week (on Wednesday 11/13).

If you're looking to get ahead beyond that, you will be reading in the Brinkley book through page 168 sometime in the next week or so.

due Friday 11/8 for all classes

p. 147-155 - 1.5-2 pages of notes

A block - due tomorrow (Thursday 10/31)

A block only:
Please write a 4-5 bullet point (or sentence) response to the question you received on the index card in class today.  Definitely feel free to use your notes or to look back in the Brinkley book to help you formulate an answer.

assignments for 10/21-11/6

Reminder:  please use the class period on Thursday 10/24 to work on your group projects.  You can find the projection description here.

Here are the due dates for your reading and notes due this week and next:

A block:
p. 125-131 due Monday 10/21
p. 131-137 due Tuesday 10/22
p. 137-146 due Friday 10/25
Questions based on the Declaration of Independence are due Monday 10/28
Your battlefield news report project is due Wednesday 10/30
Your American Revolution test is Wednesday 11/6.  Format is the same as last time - multiple choice and a written section.  Here's a list of study questions to help you prepare.

C block:
p. 125-131 due Tuesday 10/22
p. 131-141 due Wednesday 10/23
p. 141-146 due Friday 10/25
Questions based on the Declaration of Independence are due Monday 10/28
Your battlefield news report project is due Tuesday 10/27
Your American Revolution test is Wednesday 11/6 - see note under A block above.

E block:
p. 125-131 due Monday 10/21
p. 131-141 due Wednesday 10/23
p. 141-146 due Friday 10/25
Questions based on the Declaration of Independence are due Monday 10/28
Your battlefield news report project is due Wednesday 10/30
Your American Revolution test is Wednesday 11/6  - see note under A block above.


Here's the extra credit site visit project description.  It needs to be handed in before 3 p.m. on Monday November 4th to count for first term.  Please sign up for sites in this Google document.

assignments this week and next (through 10/18)

A and C blocks:  please be ready for mock town government tomorrow (see last post).

All classes:  notes on pages 105-111 due Thursday 10/10.

Notes on pages 111-116 (stop at "the tea excitement") are due Tuesday 10/15.

Please finish reading the chapter for Thursday 10/17 for A and C blocks or Friday 10/18 for D block (p. 116-123) - note the change.

Please read this chapter carefully - there's more "need to know" detail in this chapter than there was in the previous three.  I will be looking for the 5:1 ratio of pages read to pages of notes as an absolute minimum and would recommend that you take more for this chapter.

Also, here's an opportunity to earn some extra credit.  It's due by next Friday (10/18).
You can find the Mental Floss History of the United States chapter on the revolutionary period through Jefferson's presidency here.  It's a short (and amusing) review of this period.

town meeting and other assignments

Please remember notes for Friday 10/4 (p. 95-107)

Monday for C block and Tuesday for A and E blocks, we'll be having a mock town meeting.  Please read through this document (also given out in class) and complete the assignment at the end to prepare.

Here are the issues (warrant articles) we'll discuss in our mock town meeting:

A block:

Change the high school start time from 8 to 9 a.m. (and end time from 2:30 to 3:30).

Adding a bike lane on Mass Ave.

Allowing fast food franchises (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.) to open in town.

A ban on the use of styrofoam products by businesses in the food industry (cups, plates, take-out containers for food, etc.).


C and E blocks:
Allowing town parks to "close" at 11 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.

Adding a bike lane on Mass Ave.

Allowing fast food franchises (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.) to open in town.

A ban on the use of styrofoam products by businesses in the food industry (cups, plates, take-out containers for food, etc.).

I will give you a better sense of how the meeting will run next class.  Just be prepared to offer a few opinions or comments about the issues above, especially about the one issue you found a source to support your opinion on.

Crevecoeur reading and other homework due this week

The Crevecoeur reading and questions are due next class - Wednesday 10/3 for A block, Tuesday for C and E blocks.  The reading can be found here and the questions are here in case you need them.

Due Friday for all classes:  notes on pages 98-105 (1.5 pages or more if it helps you)

E block - please take 3rd lunch tomorrow.

Please come to class as you normally would, but we'll be taking 3rd lunch because of the test tomorrow.  Just a heads up so you can plan accordingly.

reminders about project and first test next Tuesday (10/1)

Please remember that you need to sign up before midnight tonight (Wednesday) for your project topic on the Google spreadsheet - see previous post.

Your test on chapters 1-3 is schedule for next Tuesday 10/1.  Format will be multiple choice and an open response writing section or essay (TBD).  Here are some questions to help you review (you need to be able to answer them thoroughly and with ample, significant, relevant supporting details):

Exploration and Colonization Study Questions:

1. What defined the cultures of the native peoples of the Americas? 
2. Many of the Europeans who encountered natives of the Americas viewed them as uncivilized – is this a fair analysis? 
3. What motivated explorers in the age of exploration?  What were the various motivations for colonization, from both the perspective of the colonists and the monarchies of Europe that promoted colonization?
4. How did the colonies of the various colonial powers differ?  What distinctive features and traits did colonies have, both individually and by region?  (Focus especially on the English colonies)
5. What successes and failures did the early colonists experience?  (Was colonization of North America a success or a failure overall?)
6. How would you characterize native/colonial relations and interactions?
7. What themes or trends emerged that would define the future American republic? 
8. How would you interpret the three themes of early American history (US is vs. are, liberty vs. security, meaning of freedom) in the context of this period?  

Due next week (9/23-9/27)

Chapter 3 guided reading due Tuesday 9/24.  You can find the scanned 3rd chapter of the Brinkley book here.

In case you're not able to access the Google document above, here are the prompts for the guided reading that's due Tuesday:

Guided Reading for Chapter 3:  Society and Culture in Provincial America

Directions:  Please read the chapter thoughtfully and thoroughly, but use the prompts below to guide your note-taking instead of taking detailed notes as you normally would.  Be efficient and fit what you consider the essential ideas from the chapter in the spaces below.    

What was life like in colonial America for the following groups?  Make 3-5 general points about each group:  

-Women:

-Slaves:

-Indentured servants:

-Immigrants:

-“The other”/outsiders (individuals/groups outside of mainstream society):  

Describe the differences between the northern and southern economies and resulting social structures:  

Explain the reasons behind and outcomes of the Salem Witch Trials:  

Describe the origins, purpose and impact of both of Enlightenment and the Great Awakening.  How were the two movements in conflict with each other?

Summarize the chapter by stating 5 themes/big ideas you see in the reading:  


Due by Thursday 9/26:  role you're going to play, submitted to me in writing, for this project.  Please sign up in this Google spreadsheet with your student ID # (not your name!) and your specific person or general topic by Wednesday at midnight (i.e. before Thursday).

Due Friday 9/27:  project (see link above)

due Tuesday for all classes

Brinkley chapter 3 guided reading, which you can find here.

Readings due next week (9/16-9/20)

Here is a link to chapter 2 from the Brinkley book for those of you who don't yet have book.

A block and E block:
p. 32-40 due Monday 9/16
p. 40-49 due Wednesday 9/18
p. 49-54 due Thursday 9/19
p. 54-62 due Friday 9/20

C block:
p. 32-40 due Monday 9/16
p. 40-49 due Tuesday 9/17
p. 49-54 Wednesday 9/18
p. 54-62 due Friday 9/20

Here's a link to the site with the interactive view of the Jamestown fort.
Here's a link to the Time article on Jamestown.
Here's another link to a chapter called "Did Pocahontas save John Smith?" from Unsolved Mysteries of American History.

first post of the 2013-14 school year

Here is the skit assignment displayed in class today during A and C blocks, in case you need to refer to it, and here is the Columbus facts versus myths answer key.

A block:

Due Friday 9/6:  p. 2-9 (stop at "Europe looks westward") - include the section on "where historians disagree:  the American population before Columbus"

Due Monday 9/9:  p. 9-14 (stop at "the Spanish Empire") and prop for your skit

Due Tuesday 9/10:  p. 14-21

Due Friday 9/13:  p. 23-30 

C block: Winners of the guess the state quiz were Michaela and Olivia with 33 correct answers - nicely done!

Due Friday 9/6:  p. 2-9 (stop at "Europe looks westward") - include the section on "where historians disagree:  the American population before Columbus"

Due Monday 9/9:  p. 9-14 (stop at "the Spanish Empire") - and prop for your skit
Due Wednesday 9/11:  p. 14-21

Due Friday 9/13:  p. 23-30 

E block:

Due Monday 9/9:  p. 2-9 (stop at "Europe looks westward") - include the section on "where historians disagree:  the American population before Columbus"

Due Tuesday 9/10:  p. 9-14 (stop at "the Spanish Empire")

Due Wednesday 9/11:  p. 14-21

Due Friday 9/13:  p. 23-30 

You may also find these helpful:

Requirements for note-taking

Tips for success in this class 

Class syllabus 

for review - Grant segment from the Presidents series

The part on Grant starts about 12 minutes in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfQaga2eU2g

last due dates and final exam info

Please wrap up editing on your website and save all changes by 12 a.m. Tuesday 6/18.  The project description is in a previous post.

Your Civil War and Reconstruction test is next Wednesday (6/19).  Here are some review questions to guide your studying.

Finally, here's a brief study guide for the final exam, which is at 12:25 on Monday 6/24 (you have the first four periods of the day pretty much as usual, except for an extended homeroom, then lunch followed by the exam period).  Please turn in your Brinkley book to me at the start of the exam period or before if you feel you don't need it.  We'll review in class on Thursday and Friday of next week.  

*Keep in mind that you must be in the room for the entire time the final exam is scheduled for, so plan to bring reading or study materials in case you finish early.*

do be done in the computer lab today (Tuesday)

Please complete this survey before you begin working on your project:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/29VTTFZ

due Wednesday 6/5

Due Wednesday 6/5:  finish the Civil War chapter (~1 page of notes) (398-404)
Due Thursday 6/6:  notes on p. 407-515
Due Monday 6/10:  questions based on Confederates in the Attic excerpt (will be given out in class Thursday)
Due Tuesday 6/11:  notes on p. 415-427 (skip the "where historians disagree" section)
Due Wednesday 6/12:  notes on 427-437

Your website project is due Monday 6/17.

homework for the first week of June

due Monday June 3rd:  notes on pages 388-398

due Thursday 5/30

The final draft of your research paper is due at the start of class on Thursday 5/30.  Please remember that it needs to be a full five pages (to the end of the fifth page or longer) and that you need to include a final works cited page with your final draft.

Also due Thursday 5/30:  notes on pages 371-388 in Brinkley (you may skip the colored sections on where historians disagree and baseball in the Civil War).

A few things I noticed while I was checking your rough drafts that need to be fixed for the final draft:
-Titles should be in standard font - no bold, underlines, or italics (unless you're including the name of an artistic work or part of a quotation)
-Write in past tense - this is history, so it has already happened.  If you have a quote in present tense, that's fine - quote it as is.
-AVOID using I, me, you, we - this is a formal essay, and that's the rule of thumb.

upcoming due dates

Upcoming due dates:
Test on chapter 13 (the impending crisis - westward migration and the crisis of the 1850's) next Thursday May 16th.  Here are some review questions.

Your citations (either notecards or a typed list) are due Monday 5/20 and the rough draft is due Thursday 5/23.  There is no late credit for the rough draft, so please be sure to have it printed and ready to go at the start of class.  (It needs to be at least 4 pages, double spaced with 1 inch margins, and generally as close to the final draft as possible).

Finally, here's the piece of The Story of US (the end of the episode called "Westward") and here's a link to the last 15 minutes of the episode called "Divison" (topic covered include the Fugitive Slave Law, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Bleeding Kansas, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, and Lincoln's election)

due next week (5/6-5/10)

Due Monday 5/6:  read the excerpt from Uncle Tom's Cabin and answer the questions at the end.  If you missed class today, you can find it electronically here.

Here's the James K Polk fact sheet from class today.

Also, be working on the next stage of the research paper (outline and thesis).  This will be due Thursday 5/9, and the notecards with citations OR just a typed of list of citations (step 3) are due Monday 5/20.  I will go over these more in class next week.

Here's a good guide to MLA format and here's an example outline.

work due the week of 4/29-5/3

Due Tuesday 4/30:  p. 350-359 (1.5-2 pages of notes)

Due Thursday 5/2:  p. 359-367 (2 pages of notes)

Due Friday 5/3:  works cited page.  You can add to or delete from this page later - this step is to make sure that you can find enough sources on this topic.  Please make it look like a works cited page you'd hand in with your final paper (consistent font, single spacing, alphabetized by the first word in the source citation - either the author's last name or the article title if there's no author) but add your name and your topic in the upper left hand corner.

upcoming assignments

Here is the assignment description for the profile project and here is the Google doc in which you can sign up for general roles. You can find the skit assignment here.  Due dates are listed within the documents themselves.

Also, I will be testing you after vacation on Wednesday 4/24.  Review questions are below:

Economies of North and South Study Questions: 

-What defined the economies of the north and south during this period?  What features did each regional economy have?

-Was the beginning of industrialization a blessing or a curse?  What areas of the economy were especially impacted?  Was farm or factory work preferable?

-Did increasing levels of immigration help or hurt the country? 

-What impact did improved transportation and communication have? 

-How did slaves cope with life in the slave system?  How did white southerners attempt to defend the system and their way of life?

-At this point in history (the mid 19^th century), what was the most viable solution to the slavery issue? 

-How did the lives of Americans all over the U.S. change (for the better or for the worse)?  What was life like for the various classes in different regions of the country?

-How did literature, art and entertainment reflect the times?  How did writers and artists attempt to create a distinctly American style? 

-What prompted the need for reform, and what areas did reformers seek to correct?  How successful were the various antebellum reforms?

-Overall, was there more of a “U.S. is” or “U.S. are” attitude?

due the week of 4/1-4/5 and Mon 4/8

Due Wednesday:  notes to the end of the chapter on cotton, slavery and the Old South
Due Thursday 4/4: notes on p. 316-326
Due Friday 4/5: notes on p. 326-334 (*I'll check these on Monday 4/8)
Due Tuesday 4/9 (note the change):  notes on p. 334-341

Here are the social pyramids from class.

due 3/18-3/28

Due Monday 3/18:  p. 268-75 (1.5-2 pages of notes)
Due Wednesday 3/20:  p. 276-283 (1.5 pages)
Due Tuesday 3/6: p. 283-295 (2 pages)
Due Wednesday 3/7:  advertisement for a middle class product:  

Create an 8x11" advertisement for a product that could've been marketed to the middle class in the mid-19th century.  Check the reading for examples (the end of chapter 10).  Your advertisement should be realistic, clear, colorful and highlight the advantages of the product.

Worth 10 points - grading based on creativity, originality, accuracy and effort. 
Due Thursday 3/8:  p. 297-306 (1.5-2 pages of notes)

notes for the next chapter

Due Friday 3/15:  1.5-2 pages of notes on 260-267
Due Monday 3/18:  p. 268-275 (stop at "commerce and industry")

Jackson and the Bank war, review questions by group

Here's the document with the yes and no arguments in response to the question of whether Jackson's war on the bank was truly in defense of the common man.

Also, here are the answers to the review questions each group presented in class yesterday.

Due Monday

Finish the questions for the article on the vice presidency and the analysis of the presidential rankings (both given out in class Thursday)

due this week

Due tomorrow (Thursday 3/7) - signed permission slip for Veep.  You can find it electronically here.  Please return the slip either way (whether or not your parents give permission).

Due Friday 3/8 and worth up to 10 points:  on an 8" x 11" piece of paper, create a political cartoon, caricature of the of the presidents from this era or symbol for one of the era's major political parties.  Please make it thoughtful and colorful.  Ideally, it should somehow represent an idea that's relevant and significant but that we haven't discussed yet in class.  Include a short 2-3 sentence explanation on the back of the page.

Your Age of Jackson test will be next Thursday 3/14.  The format will likely be the usual (multiple choice and an open response section) but I will let you know about this for sure by the end of the week.  Here are some study questions to help you review.  If I have you write an in-class essay, I will ask you one of these questions, or a close variation thereof.

If you were not in class on Tuesday, here are the cartoons we went over.  You are responsible for getting notes on these from someone in the class.

Due next week (3/4-3/8)

Mock trial scripted questions are due next Tuesday 3/5.  (The answers are due the day of the trial itself - note the change).  The trial itself is Wednesday 3/6.  You will also have a small art-based (cartoon) assignment due Friday 3/8 - more details to follow.

You can find a link to the handout about grading and the specific requirements by clicking here.  You can use the character descriptions on the project sheet handed out in class as well as your notes to help you formulate the questions.  Unfortunately, I don't have the character descriptions electronically.  

To be clear (since some people asked me about this), your questions and answers should, like in a regular jury trial, paint a picture of Andrew Jackson as either deserving of impeachment or as a good president who should stay in office.  This depends on how the witness actually viewed Jackson, and his/her interactions with Jackson.  For example, John Marshall's lawyer will want to ask him questions about how Jackson ignored the Supreme Court's rulings on the Cherokee cases, and how this shows Jackson should be removed from office.  On the other hand, Peggy Eaton, who Jackson defended when others would not, will want to answer questions based on her positive impressions of Jackson and how he came to her assistance.  Though this is not the way an impeachment trial would work in reality, it will make our trial run more smoothly.  

due the week of 2/25-3/1

Due Wednesday 2/27 - Indian Removal timeline - directions:  Using the Brinkley text, choose 10 events that highlight previous presidents’ policies towards Native Americans.  Record the date, the name or a brief description of the event, and what it reveals about that administration’s policy.  Make the description thorough enough that it fills the box on the timeline.

Due Thursday 2/28:  2 pages of notes on p. 248-258 in the Brinkley book

due Thursday 2/14

Due Thursday:  notes (1.5 pages or more) on p. 240-248.

due Monday and Tuesday

Happy snow day!

For Monday 2/11, please use the following links below to answer the following question:
Why is the USS Constitution worth preserving?


http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/08/17/uss-constitution-to-sail-under-own-power-for-first-time-since-1997/


http://www.history.navy.mil/USSCONSTITUTION/HISTORY.HTML (you can stop reading where it says "the great chase"...or continue, if you're interested).

http://www.allhandsondeck.org/courage/index.php (this is meant to be some background information for a lecture, so you can ignore the questions that say "ask students whether..." etc.).  


Please write a 1/2-1 page written (or typed, if possible) response - due Monday.

Due Tuesday 2/12:  begin reading the Age of Jackson chapter (p. 235-240) and take 1 page of written notes.  Please read this chapter carefully and pay attention to detail.  This will be the only chapter in our next unit, so I'll expect you to know it well.  

project due Wednesday 2/6, test Thursday 2/7

You are free of homework for tonight (huzzah!).  I will be testing you next week (Thursday 2/7) and you'll have a project due Wednesday 2/6.  You're done with reading, notes and other nightly homework, though, so you can focus on those two things.  Here's the project description.  You'll have time to work on it in class on Friday 2/1.

Here are the study questions to help you prepare for the test (which is the usual format:  multiple choice and open response):

1. What events, foreign and domestic, defined Jefferson's presidency? Did he have a successful presidency overall? 
2. In what ways did Jefferson’s policies as president exemplify Republican ideals?
3. How and why did the Supreme Court gain power during this period?  What similar trends and themes do the key cases decided by the Marshall Court share?  
4. What significant legal precedents has the Supreme Court set in the last century?
5. Does Jefferson deserve to be called a great American?
6. Did Madison make a wise decision when he asked Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812?  Was it the right decision? 
7. What were the causes, course and effects of the War of 1812?
8. What key figures emerged from the war?
9. Did the U.S. win the War of 1812? 
10. Does the "Era of Good Feelings" (1816-1828) deserve its name? 
11. Why was the Missouri Compromise only a temporary fix?  How did it fail to fully address the slavery issue?
12. What impact did the Monroe Doctrine have?
13. Why was John Quincy Adams’ presidency relatively unsuccessful and unremarkable? 
14. Was there a more “U.S. is” or “U.S. are” sentiment during this time period (1800-1828)? 

(Along with the political issues in the last question above, consider:  How did artists and writers attempt to create works that were truly American?  Why were different regions of the country developing differently, leading to growing sectionalism?) 

As you're reviewing, you may also find this political parties chart helpful.

Due this week and next

Due Friday 1/25:  one page of notes on p. 209-214

Due Monday 1/28:  two pages of notes on p. 216-225

Due Tuesday 1/29:  one page of notes on p. 225-233 (you can skip the section on the Marshall Court--but do take notes on the "court and the tribes"--since you already did the chart assignment)

due Thursday 1/17

Reading/summary of major Supreme Court case due Thursday.  Your case assignments are below.  You can find the cases on the following webpage: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/pop_landmark_cases/index.html

You can see which case you're assigned by checking this document.  Please read the case summary and respond to the questions in this document based on your assigned case.

Jefferson lab assignment (to be done in class on Tuesday 1/15)

Jefferson lab assignment

Websites for you to explore in class during the period we go to the lab are below.  There aren't any specific areas you're required to view or read, but you need to collect evidence that helps you answer the central focus question (does Jefferson deserve to be called a great American?).  You should consider his works and contributions from his lifetime as a whole, not just from his terms as president.

Start at the top of the list and work your way down--I found the sites closer to the top to be richer and more interactive, but the others are worthwhile as well.       

There is a lot of worthwhile material on these sites, so I expect you to spend the whole period browsing through them.  I will check your "t" chart and responses to step 2 (below) for 5 points next class.  You need to have at least 3 detailed, specific pieces of evidence for each side (yes and no) beyond what you had already done in class based on the Time magazine article.  This may be a future essay topic, so taking good notes from the sites will help if that’s the case.

Step 1:  use the following cites to add to your T-chart on Jefferson:
http://www.monticello.org/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/ (photo essay and archives are recommended)
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~meg3c/classes/tcc313/200Rprojs/jefferson_invent/invent.html

Step 2:  explore the following cite about the Lewis and Clark expedition:
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/ (The "into the unknown" and "interactive map" links are recommended)
Record any 5 facts that you think highlight the purpose or results of the expedition:  

due this week

Due Thursday:  1 1/2 pages of notes based on pages 180-188 of the textbook

Due Friday:  please bring your Brinkley textbook to class

Due Tuesday 1/15:  reading/notes on pages 194-204 (2 handwritten pages)
Please also meet me in the computer lab (322) on Tuesday.

party politics project and test

Your project is due Friday - see previous posts for the description.

Your test on the rise of political parties and parties today will be next Tuesday, 1/8.  The format will be multiple choice and open response.  Here are some questions to help you review:

-Why was Washington a good choice for the first chief executive?

-How did political parties emerge, and how did they differ in their views?

-What would the country be like today if Jefferson’s vision for America had been adopted?

-What did Washington and Adams do to shape and define the role of the presidency?

-What events defined each administration, foreign and domestically?  What were each administration's successes and failures?

-How would you interpret the major themes of the first part of U.S. history (U.S. is vs. are, liberty vs. security, the meaning of freedom) in the context of this period?

-What generally defines Democrats and Republicans today?