A Time for Reform

This past week we looked further into the character and policies of President Jackson so you would have the information you needed to make an informed decision on his status on the $20 bill. While many saw Jackson as a man of the people, there were others who saw him as a tyrant. Even the Senate saw the President as overstepping his bounds and voted to censure him for refusing to hand over documents pertaining to the National Bank. It is interesting to note that this past week a censure resolution against President Bush has been introduced by Senator Feingold (D-Wisconsin) in an effort to hold the President accountable for the domestic spying program.

The famous editorial cartoon of Jackson robed as a King gave us ample examples of how a cartoonist can convey a strong political message with few words. Using the cartoons you brought in for current events, we quickly identified exaggeration and symbolism as two methods cartoonists employee to convey their messages. Keep on the look out for cartoons that you especially enjoy and bring them in to share with the class. One of our Habits of Mind (HOM) is to find humor as we work and this is a perfect medium to practice this HOM.

Essays

It is time for you to decide on the question of the day: Has President Jackson earned his spot on the $20 bill? In class we started a list of his positive and negative attributes. We looked at his character and his policies. After compiling your list, weigh the evidence and make a decision. You should have a clear, strong thesis with two supporting reasons. Make sure to use the rubric as your guide and attach it to your word processed paper on Monday.

On Monday we will survey the class for the final tally and then turn to a question that was posed on the blog last week about who might be a more appropriate person to honor if we decide to remove AJ from the $20. Any suggestions?

A time of Reform

The 1800s were also a time when reform movements focused on correcting the ills of a fast growing country. Major movements included efforts to ban alcohol (temperance), improve and expand public education, increase the legal and political rights of women and ban slavery. The women’s rights movement and the abolitionist movement were closely connected as many anti-slavery advocates were women and many of the arguments used to fight slavery were used to support legal rights for women.

Our reading on the anti-slavery movement will lead us into our new unit on “The Coming of the Civil War.” We will be looking at the growing distrust between the North and the South and the government’s inability to solve the problems of the day. Some of this sounds like what we are hearing from Iraq as that country copes with ethnic and geographic divisions and a young government that is having difficulty stopping the violence. Some observers are wondering if Iraq is moving towards civil war.

Your Project

It is none too early to start thinking about what you would like to select as a topic for the annual Civil War Fair. This is a great opportunity for you, along with a partner of your choice, to think and act as historians delving into an issue, event, person or theme from the Civil War. You will be using all of your historical skills to build a presentation that you will be proud to display to an outside audience.

"Unrighteous Traffick"

This week The Providence Journal has run a six part series on Rhode Island's role in the slave trade. By reading this series you clearly see that slavery permeated our entire country. I would recommend that you all take the time to check out the site.