A Week of Conflict and Compromise

Can you identify the events depicted?

We had a week filled with conflict and compromise. The War of 1812, sometimes refered to as the "Forgotten War," did produce a new name for the President's mansion, our national anthem, and a war hero who would become our seventh president. As our video on the Star Spangled Banner pointed out, while no land was gained by this war, a new and stronger national identity was forged.

This unity was quickly tested with the conflict over Missouri's application to enter the Union as a slave state. Should the new land added through the Louisana Purchase be slave or free? How could the balance of power in Washington be maintained? Was slavery no longer just an economic issue? Did the Missouri Compromise solve the problem or delay the issue for another day?

Upon Your Return

When we return to class, we will continue to move west to California. You will be reading about the War with Mexico from both the American and Mexican point of view. Keep in mind that you know what your final assessment will be so think about how best to design a chart that will show how land was added to the United States from 1783-1855.

This is a friendly reminder that February 27 is a "day one" which means you have a current event due. Keep racking up those points!

Winter Break

While you are enjoying some time to rest I hope you will pause for a moment and remember President's Day. February is the birth month for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In the past, many states, towns and companies commenorated both days with time off. Today both holidays have been consolidated into President's Day when car dealerships and stores announce special sales and federal, state, and local government offices close. Without strong leadership from our Executive branch, our country would drift. Thank you George and Abe for your steady and strong hand.

"I Know My Rights"

This week you acted as judges as you considered actual civil liberties cases involving high school students. Did Mary Beth and Paul Tinker have the right to wear black arm bands to school to protest the Vietnam War? Did the principal have the authority to censor the high school newspaper? Did "TLO" have her right to privacy violated with the search of her handbag? You weighed the evidence, you applied your knowledge of The Bill of Rights and you rendered a decision. Our discussion was spirited as we tried to balance the need for liberty and the need for order. This is true today as we have looked at the Patriot Act and its infringement on our civil liberties. This tension between freedom and order was played out in your own school as the issue of pajamas as legitimate school attire came to a head. Make sure to read the article in The Newport Daily News by Kate Homer in this morning’s edition. The balancing act between rights and order will always be with us and as informed citizens you must play the role of protecting your rights or they may wither away. I know you will be ready to come to the defense of our civil liberties!

To read more about high school students and their efforts to defend their civil liberties, check out "We the Students" by Jamin B. Raskin.

Election of 1800

The election of 2000 (Bush v. Gore) reminded us that our electoral college system is not a perfect arrangement. Our young country encountered its first major election hurdle in 1800. The Constitution called for the candidate with the most votes to be president while the runner up would be the vice president. In 1800 the country was faced with a deadlock between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr with 73 votes each. In the event of a tie, the Constitution called for the House of Representatives to decide on a final victor. After 36 ballots, Thomas Jefferson was elected President with Burr as his Vice President. Stay tuned for more on Aaron Burr as he challenges Alexander Hamilton to a duel and only one man walks away! Congress realized this type of electoral problem had to be avoided in the future so the 12th Amendment was enacted in 1804 which called for separate ballots for each office.

The election of 1800 is sometimes called the revolution of 1800 as this is the first time in our country's history that presidential leadership changed from one political party to the other, with the Federalist party of Washington and Adams losing to the anti-Federalists, now known as the Jeffersonian Republicans. Today in our country we don’t worry about violence if there is a change in political leadership but in 1800 this system was untested. While the Federalists lost the presidency and would never regain their power, we need to reflect on the lasting impact this party had in establishing our country. We also need to remember that even though the new president was not a Federalist, the principles of the Federalists, especially their belief in a strong national government, continued to be upheld by the Supreme Court under the leadership of John Marshall. Over the past few weeks, two new members have joined the current Supreme Court and Senators, through the “advice and consent” hearing process, have tried to determine what impact Judges Roberts and Alito will have on our country. If political leadership changes in the White House, will the Roberts Court play the same role as the Marshall Court after the election of 1800?

“Go West, young man…”

This week you received a packet on territorial expansion and we began raising questions on how, why and at what expense did the United States expand to the West coast. The first major addition of land was the Louisiana Purchase made by President Jefferson. The additional land doubled the size of our country overnight! Being a man of science and curiosity, Jefferson sent Lewis and Clarke on an expedition to explore the new acquisition. While visiting New Orleans in 2004, I was amused by the license plates, which celebrated the bicentennial of Lewis and Clarke's expedition with the inscription "Corps of Discovery 1804-2004." Have you ever noticed how much American history you can learn from reading license plates? How about an extra credit question: Bring in the motto or phrase found on a state license plate that helps tell part of our history and be prepared to explain the connection. I will ask you next week for your response.

As we learn more about the habits of mind, I can't help but think how Lewis and Clarke as well as their guide, Sacajawea, used these practices to accomplish their goals!

Friendly Reminders

The activities on the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clarke are due the next class period. Make sure you read the directions carefully so you can earn full credit for your efforts. You are most welcome to work ahead with the packet as our goal is to complete the activities before you head off for the Winter break. Keep in mind that we still have current events on day 1 and day 4. Period 2, don’t forget your group assignment on the designated chapters in “John Adams.”

A Week of Drama

This was a dramatic week in Washington as we watched the State of the Union address, witnessed the swearing in of Judge Alito, mourned the death of Coretta Scott King and we heard about the need to do more for the world’s poor by Bono.

I wonder if the Founding Fathers had any idea that the Constitutional requirement for a State of the Union address would become such a spectacular annual event. As our news commentator reminded us, this was a majestic evening as the three branches of government gathered in the House chamber to hear the President’s agenda for 2006. Adding to the excitement of the event was the monumental security that is now required for a gathering this large. Mail boxes removed from the streets surrounding the Capitol, man hole covers welded shut, barricades restricting vehicle traffic, and a greatly restricted fly zone all added to the drama of the occasion. As you watched the address, you saw an example of partisanship, that is, one political party acting supportive through clapping and standing while the other party remained in their chairs and only offered polite applause. Keep in mind that the Constitution makes no mention of political parties and our first president was very much against Congress dividing along factional lines.

Many of you asked about the teleprompter and its use so I have provided a link for you to learn more about how the apparatus works. Even though I recently cautioned you about the use of Wikipedia, I found their link to be the most useful. I am using one of my habits of mind…. “being open to new learning.”

Samuel Alito was sworn in as our newest Associate Justice on the Supreme Court just in time to attend the State of the Union address in his new robes. His confirmation vote of 58 to 42 had four Democrats voting in his favor and one Republican, our own Senator Chafee, voting no. Senator Chafee, like many Rhode Islanders, is a man with an independent mind. This vote will be cited by supporters and opponents as his own reelection race to the Senate heats up this spring.

The passing of Coretta Scott King was warmly eulogized as the President began his State of the Union address with a call for the entire country to pause and remember all that the King family has done to make us one nation. Mrs. King worked alongside her husband in the early days of the Civil Rights movement and took on the monumental task after her husband’s assassination of holding this country accountable for how it treats all its citizens. May we all continue to support the efforts on behalf of equality in this country and around the world!

Ending the week in Washington was the annual National Prayer Breakfast where the administration, members of congress and the judiciary along with world leaders gather to commit themselves to working for the good of all nations. Bono, the keynote speaker, called on the United States, the wealthiest nation in the world, to earmark an additional 1% of its budget to help the world’s poor. Bono reminded the leaders that millions of children are dying from poverty and disease when they could be saved by making modest investments in providing basic drugs and clean water.

The Bill of Rights

Your posters look great! With your graphics and brief narratives your posters really zeroed in on the importance of our amendments and how they affect our everyday lives. Next week, you will be “quizzed” on how these amendments are applied even in the lives of high school students. You heard the powerful example of a Portsmouth student who believed her civil liberties were infringed upon when she was denied the opportunity to tutor young children. She did not turn and walk away but provided us all with a lesson that when you believe you have been wronged you can seek redress. In this case, she called upon the American Civil Liberties Union to help her defend her rights.

We will take another look at the rights of high school students as we play the role of judges in actual cases. Can a student’s locker be searched? Can students wear black arm bands to school as a form of protest? Can the school newspaper be censored by the principal? You will the read the facts of each case and then make your decision. Black robes anyone?

George Washington: A Man of Precedent

Next week will also mean a return to 1789 and we will try to identify the many challenges Washington had to meet in order to put this country on the right track. You have been asked to look at economic, political, and social challenges and then to identify his response. We must also keep in mind that GW did not act alone, and the advisors he surrounded himself with will play an instrumental role. I wonder what techniques good leaders use to benefit the most from their advisors.