To Be or Not To Be

Should President Andrew Jackson’s portrait remain on the $20 dollar bill? This is your final assessment essay so this week you began asking the questions and seeking the answers that will help you make a decision.

We read about the spoils system and Jackson’s insistence that his friends and political supporters fill the over 2,000 jobs in Washington. We talked about the advantages and disadvantages the spoils system brings to our democratic system of government. We discussed Jackson’s hatred of the National Bank and his veto of the recharter legislation in 1836 that effectively closed the bank. Jackson wanted local banks to take care of the needs of the common man. Over the weekend, you have your spoke diagram assignment which will give you the opportunity to think more deeply about the policy and character traits that made up AJ. Next week, we will move on to the Trail of Tears, an episode in our history that now seems tragic but that many people at the time believed to be the best option available.

Editorial Cartoons

As part of our video on Jackson, you saw the famous cartoon depicting him as King Andrew. We will look at the components of an effective editorial cartoon by analyzing the cartoons you have selected for your current event assignment. Keep in mind that you can find hundreds of contemporary cartoons on the internet. One of my favorite sites is run by a cartoonist and a history teacher so the cartoons are arranged by topic. The cartoon you use for your assignment must come from a paper other than the Newport Daily News. We want to get as many different cartoons as possible so we have ample material to look at the different ways to depict an issue or event.

“Heir Apparent”

Period 2 keep in mind that you will be having an accountable talk activity on March 17. You are responsible to the text, your group and yourself. A group activity gives you the opportunity to become the expert in one area but it also means you have the responsibility of being ready to share your insights with the group. A group is only as strong as its weakest link. In our last “John Adams” assignment not all group members participated and it brought the overall level of the presentations down. Take a half hour this weekend, find a comfortable chair, read your assigned section, and think about the main issues you want to share with your group. Use your habits of mind to think deeply about the reading, asking questions and making connections. This book has been read by millions of people so there is something for everyone within these pages.