Are you ready for a Revolution?

We have finished our first standard on colonization and settlement and we are ready to move on to The American Revolution. This week you will get a copy of the new standard and we will start with questions. What do we want to know about the Revolution and what sources are going to help us in our quest? I would encourage you to visit two especially good sites to help you as we discover the events of this extraordinary time:
Liberty and History of US.

If you find other sites that would be useful for your fellow historians, please bring in the address. We will evaluate the site and you can earn extra credit for sites that are then posted on the blog as a link.

Music fans will know that the Beatles (do I need to identify this band?) sang a song entitled “Revolution.” I am looking for a legal copy of the song so we can play it in class. If you have a copy, please bring it to class on Monday or Tuesday, so we can listen to the lyrics (extra credit opportunity).

Wilma, Harriet, and Rosa

This past week our current events were dominated by women. The effects of Wilma continue to plague the citizens of Florida. Living without electricity is not a pleasant experience and it is extra daunting for our senior citizens. We also learned that the process for confirming a Supreme Court Justice is not always painless or swift. The Constitution calls for the advice and consent of the Senate for presidential nominations and this week the Senate, informally, said no to Ms. Miers. Stay tuned to learn about the next nominee. Finally, a great woman, Rose Parks, died last week. Her body will lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol on October 30 and 31. She is the first woman in history to be afforded this honor.

Thank you

Visitors of the blog may have noticed some changes: additional profile information, added links, and a counter (it is amazing what you can learn from a simple counter). A special thank you to Em and M Consulting, Inc. which helped with the new design.

The Lenses of History

King Philip’s War, a conflict that occurred in our own backyard, was our focus this week. In your groups, you acted like historians, checking multiple sources and asking questions. We quickly discovered that writers have interpreted this event in a variety of ways. One text identified the war as a “turning point in history,” another text devoted one paragraph to the event, and one completely ignored the war. It is up to each of us to read a variety of sources and then to construct our understanding of the event. The writing and interpretation of events is an ongoing endeavor. The war was recently interpreted by Jill Lepore in her book “The Name of War: King Philip’s War and the Origins of American Identity.”

Next week we will continue to look at the clashes between the colonists and the Native Americans in the French and Indian War. Our first step in exploring this event will be to generate the questions we will need to ask and then develop a list of possible sources to check as we reconstruct this conflict.

As you do your current events assignments, keep an eye open for articles on Native Americans and the challenges they confront today. Our state paper as well as the larger national papers regularly report on Native Americans who are petitioning states or the federal government for recognition.

Congratulations!

This week your first essay assignment was due and over 96% of you turned in the paper on time. That is what I call being punctual! This is a great habit to cultivate. Every employer wants workers who are on time. If you did not turn in the assignment, please come and see me.

Spirit Week

You should also be congratulated on having a terrific Spirit Week. It was fun seeing your crazy outfits and walking through your Hawaiian Paradise. You should be proud of your school and class spirit. Let’s keep up the positive attitude.

Enjoy the game tonight and the homecoming dance. Have a safe and fun weekend and I want to see everyone back on Monday.

Closing Quote

“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.” - Cicero

Bonus points for anyone who can identify Cicero, in class, on Monday.

Wrapping up Standard I

On Friday you received your essay assignment for Standard 1 on colonization and settlement. The essay is due on October 20 and it needs to be word processed. To meet standard, you must also attach the rubric and the chart that we have been working on for the past two weeks. To give you extra time for your essay, you will not have to do a current event on day 4.

So where to begin?

Your chart should act as your outline or graphic organizer. If you are missing information, you can check your portfolio or your text. There is no need to do any further research prior to writing. Use your chart as a way to build an outline for your essay.

Have some fun with the essay…use the first paragraph to grab the reader’s (King George III) attention…make sure your first paragraph contains a clear thesis statement…paragraphs two thru four are your body paragraphs in which you develop your thesis…make sure to keep each paragraph focused on one main point. The final paragraph is the time to restate your thesis and to end your essay. No new information should be introduced in the final paragraph.

Once you have drafted your essay, have a friend or relative read it over. A “new” pair of eyes may catch errors or have editorial suggestions.

Finally, word process your essay and print it out before the due date. If you don’t have a computer or printer at home, make use of the school or public library. You may also print out your essay before school in my classroom.

Good luck! If you need any further assistance, you know where you can find me.

Spirit Week

Remember to wear your hat or shirt from your favorite sports team on Monday. Mardi Gras beads will be sold in the café during lunch and can be worn all week to show our support for families who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Check your advisory bulletin board for further fun activities during Spirit Week.

Colonial Economy

This week we focused on the economy of the colonies, that is, how money was made and who did the work. As part of our investigation, you did a map of the Triangle Trade routes.

Triangle Trade was a dangerous but lucrative exchange of goods and people. The major components of the trade included rum, slaves and sugar. While our text simplifies the exchange, students who checked multiple sources (like the good historians you are becoming) learned that the routes included stops in Europe, Africa, the West Indies and the Colonies and numerous goods were exchanged. This was a crucial moment in our history, as the importation of slaves and its impact on our history and culture are still with us today. A series of lectures and workshops are being held at Brown University this year to reevaluate the history of slavery. We will all benefit from this reexamination and its ultimate recommendations.

Around 1660, Virginia and Maryland began passing laws to define the status of Africans as slaves. Historians estimate that between 9 and 12 million slaves came to the Americas from 1600 to 1808. Of this number, approximately 350,000 came into the Colonies. The slaves were needed in the West Indies to work on sugar plantations and in the Colonies to work on tobacco and eventually cotton plantations. Slaves were also used in the Middle and Northern Colonies as servants and craftsmen.

The portion of the trade route between Africa and the West Indies was known as The Middle Passage. Slaves endured packed conditions, heat, and disease.

New Englanders, and most notably Rhode Islanders, were an integral part of slave trading. New England ship owners carried rum and other products to Africa where they were exchanged for slaves. The ships transported the slaves to the West Indies to be sold. Sugar and molasses were purchased and brought to New England to be made into rum.

Slave trading was dangerous but profitable. The crew was subjected to stormy weather, possible slave rebellions and disease.

Next week, we will be reading more about The Middle Passage from the perspective of a slave and the captain of a slave ship (good historians look at multiple perspectives). We will also be reading primary source accounts from a Newport Captain and slave trader.


Strategies

While engaging in our study of history we are also learning skills and strategies to be better readers. As you read, make sure you ask yourself what you already know about a topic, ask questions of the reading and try to make connections. By taking these steps, you will become more efficient readers. You can use these strategies any time you read.

Coming Attractions

Make sure to continue working on your colony chart. The information you are gathering will help you organize your essay (soon to be announced).


Progress Reports

On Friday, you updated your portfolio and reflected on your progress to date. I like that word “progress,” as it means “a moving forward or onward.” If you are meeting standard, congratulations, and keep up the good work. If you are below standard, make a plan to improve. Do you need to put more time into your homework? Have you missed current events? Have you given up the opportunity to revise work? Have you developed a strategy to stay organized?

I have no doubt that all of you can be successful. Keep in mind:

“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

The Original Thirteen

This week we have focused on different aspects of the thirteen original colonies and how they developed into three distinct regions. I have given you a chart that will help you sort through the information and develop the distinctions among the regions. Keep in mind that the chart is only a beginning. There are many other categories you will discover as you continue to read about the colonies.

There are numerous web sites that will aid you as you envision the three regions
The ones that I found most interesting included a site on Plimoth and Jamestown. A clever teacher with a great sense of humor also put together a tour of Jamestown that is worth checking.
There are other sites waiting for your discovery.

Two interesting news items this week that will help us as we look to better understand the early days of our country: the swearing in of Justice John Roberts as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the redesign of the ten dollar bill. On Monday we will discuss this current event as I have taped the swearing in ceremony to show you. You can learn a great deal about history by looking closely at your money. Take a minute and study any of our bills or coins and you will discover enduring symbols of our history.

GO RED SOX!