Elections Then and Now

Congratulations to all who handed in your final assessment on Territorial Expansion on time! When US business leaders were asked to rank the skills and traits they look for in workers, one of the top items was “arrives on time and meets deadlines.”

This past week we focused on Andrew Jackson. Why was his election considered a victory for the “common man?” How did politics change to encourage greater participation? After responding to these questions, we asked what qualities we look for in a candidate in 2007 and what future changes would encourage greater voter participation. You put together an impressive list of qualities for presidential candidates: honesty, creativity, good listening skills, and ability to respond to the needs of the average person. We then assembled a list of voting changes that could lead to greater participation: allowing several days for voting, using the internet to vote, and even lowering the voting age to include all high school seniors. It will be interesting to watch for these changes. Just as paper ballots were a new idea during the Jackson era, voting via the internet may be the new idea for the 21st century.

This weekend you have two assignments: the spoke diagram on Andrew Jackson and the sound bite worksheet. You have watched a video about AJ, you have a packet with readings and of course you have your text. Follow the rubric and use a variety of resources and you should meet or exceed the standard. We practiced listening for sound bites when we watched our news report from ABC so you know what to look for…make sure to select the appropriate sound bites and offer evidence to support your position. Providing evidence is good practice for our upcoming CIM task.

CIM Task

Next week we will start our CIM Task. The task will be one you could use for your portfolio, and after hearing Mr. Ruscito’s presentation on the new PBGR (Performance Based Graduation Requirements) you know that this is an especially important assignment. You will be writing a persuasive essay. We will have some time in the library and Mr. Fontaine has put together a file of resources you may use to help you write your essay.

Class Folder

You are required to have an updated folder in the classroom. If you take your folder home to review your work, please return the folder ASAP to the bin. You do not want to lose credit because of a missing folder. The status of assignment sheet allows you to monitor your work and keep track of your grade. You can always find your percentage grade by adding up your points and dividing that sum by the total possible points.

Expansion: Costs and Benefits

This week we completed our standard on Territorial Expansion by reading about the Oregon Trail experiences, the decision to remove the Native Americans from prime agricultural land and the War with Mexico which led to the addition of much of the territory now occupied by our southwestern states. The video on President Polk was an excellent review of the motives behind expansion and the idea that the United States had a “Manifest Destiny” to expand from the east coast to the west coast.

This spirit of expansion was captured by John Gast in his painting “American Progress.” You did a great job comparing and contrasting this painting with the “Trail of Tears,” which told another side of the expansion story.

With the end of our unit, we are ready for the final assessment which was announced at the start of our study. Keeping an eye on the calendar I have decided to focus on the chart and a brief writing assignment. You will have a choice as to which activity you would like to do to demonstrate your understanding of territorial expansion. The assignment is due Friday

Mr. Ruscito Reviews PBGRs

This week Mr. Ruscito gave you a briefing on the new graduation requirements. As part of your portfolio you will be expected to meet standard on a variety of tasks. The Social Studies department is preparing to offer a CIM history writing assignment within the next few weeks. The task will be an extended writing assignment requiring research. In English you are currently learning many of the skills that you will need to meet standard on the Social Studies task.

Portsmouth Sword Case

Last week the Portsmouth School Committee issued a new policy on yearbook pictures. We have been following this case which involved First Amendment issues, the American Civil Liberties Union and student rights. Last month the Rhode Island Commissioner of Education ruled in favor of the student, allowing the picture of the graduating senior, with his mock sword, to appear in the yearbook. After the ruling, the School Committee said it would review the picture policy and make changes to avoid this type of conflict in the future. The new policy, announced this week, prohibits any accessories or backdrops. All pictures must be traditional indoor or outdoor scenes and the yearbook staff and faculty advisor have full editorial rights to make any changes to submitted pictures.

Current Events

We will continue with our study of current events every day 3. Make sure you select a quality article (look for the author’s name) about a national or international issue. To earn full credit you must have a full paragraph summary (in your own words) and a second paragraph that tells us why you selected the article and its link to history or government. This is a great opportunity to earn lots of points.

A Word about Homework

The most important homework assignment is the one you assign for your own review. Many of you are not taking the time to review the work we have done in class so your understanding of the standard is limited. You have the standards and benchmarks which clearly outline what a student should understand. If you don’t understand then you need to take corrective action: reread, ask questions, check the blog, or stop by after school for a one on one review.

Thank you

Thank you to many of you who have come by to offer your congratulations on my recent selection as Middletown Teacher of the Year. I feel fortunate to work with so many other talented teachers at MHS, all in an effort to provide you with the best possible education.

Turbulent Times

Upon returning to Washington in 1806 from our Lewis and Clark trek, we soon saw storm clouds of war forming on the horizon. By 1811, War Hawks from the West and South were calling for war against Britain. These members of Congress wanted to “defend American honor,” which the British were offending by impressing our sailors and inciting Native Americans to attack settlers. The War Hawks also wanted to drive Britain out of Canada to gain more land for development. It was mainly New Englanders, worried about trade, who called for cooler heads to prevail. Opponents of war also argued that the United States was a young country with limited revenues and a small, inexperienced army and navy. Pressured by the War Hawks, President Madison in June 1812 sent a message to Congress requesting a declaration of war. His “War Message” was narrowly approved, and for two years war waged on land and sea. The successful resistance by defenders of Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore harbor, inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. However, American forces were unable to prevent the British from seizing Washington and burning a number of buildings, including the White House and Capitol. The most famous battle, the Battle of New Orleans, took place two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed, ending the war. Because news of the treaty had to travel by ship, neither the American commander, Andrew Jackson, nor his British counterpart was aware that peace had been declared.

This “most peculiar” conflict, as one of our textbook calls it, resulted in a stalemate, as no land was won or lost. But according to some historians, by defending its honor against the mighty British Empire, America gained new respect in Europe. Along with our national anthem, the war brought Andrew Jackson to prominence, preparing the way for his future election as President. A heroine of the conflict was Dolley Madison, the First Lady, who saw the British troops advancing towards Washington and had the foresight and perseverance to load priceless paintings and historic artifacts onto a wagon, which made its way to safety. Her action saved one of the most famous paintings of George Washington painted by Rhode Island's own Gilbert Stuart.

A special thank you to Mrs. Gill from the library for providing us with “The Battle of New Orleans,” sung by Johnny Horton. I would also urge you to check out the blog posting from March 2006 entitled “The Second Battle of New Orleans” to see photos I took on a trip to The Big Easy last year.

Missouri Compromise

With the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase settlers quickly moved into the region and started forming states. But would new states enter the Union as free or slave states? The Ordinance of 1789 had included a provision that all states northwest of the Ohio River would be free, but Missouri wanted to enter the Union and Missouri was outside the jurisdiction of the ordinance. After much debate, Congress, in order to preserve the balance of power in the Senate, allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, while Maine (carved out of Massachusetts) entered the Union as a free state. The Compromise went on to say that any other states north of 36/30 N latitude, carved out of the new “unorganized” territories, would be free while those below that line would be slave. Would this be a lasting Compromise? Is slavery an issue that can be compromised? Stay tuned for further disagreements that will erupt into war!

Indian Removal

In order for the white settlers to move further west, it was necessary to deal with the “Indian problem.” One major event during this time period was the Trail of Tears. The classroom agenda (that you always write down in your notebook) identified both of these terms so you would be more successful in searching for information. This weekend you have a worksheet with guiding questions to help you understand the views of the settlers and the Native Americans.

Some of you quickly pointed out that your text did not have information on the Indian Removal Act. In this age of “googling” for information, sometimes finding information in a book can be a challenge. If you are having difficulty locating the information try using different key words in the index. One student replaced Indians with Native Americans and located the information. One student found our last topic in the text and thumbed through the adjoining pages, which quickly brought him to a section on Native Americans. One student used the chronological search method by narrowing down the long listing in the index of Native American sections to the one closest to the time period of territorial expansion.

Finally, realize that not all books are a good source. If you remember our study of King Philip’s War, one text referred to it as a turning point in history while another text did not mention the war. Just as you interpret events differently, historians who write text books do as well.

Words of Wisdom

This week I attended two events where speakers talked about the importance of education and the role of teachers and students. Dr. Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Foundation and past President of Brown University said, “teachers, teach your students to be independent.” That is one of my mantras as I try to show you ways to find the information you need to think and act like historians. Telling you a page number may seem efficient to you now, but think of all the times in the future when you are going to be asked to find information or solve a problem and you will have to rely on your own skills.

Yesterday, CCRI Newport (what a beautiful, new school, only 5 minutes from MHS) hosted an education forum on what schools of the future should be teaching. Ronald Machtley, former Congressman from Rhode Island and the current President of Bryant University (another great RI college in Smithfield) said “students need to be flexible, creative, able to work in teams, and able to take initiative.”

Revisions

Revisions should be turned in the next day unless you have asked for extended time. If you delay doing the revisions your work is going to accumulate and it will be difficult to keep up with the current assignments. Keep in mind that I am available after school for extra help, so take advantage of this one-on-one opportunity to get back on track.

Speaking of Creative

The award for most creative (as well as meaningful) title for the Missouri Compromise map goes to BW. The title: “Deal Or No Deal.”

Current Events

Monday is a day 3, our favorite day of the week as we discuss what is happening in the outside world. Current events are due and you may select any national or international article. Make sure you follow the rubric and aim to exceed the standard by word processing, selecting a longer article, and making good observations and comments. Don’t forget that link to history!

Opportunities and Conflict

Thomas Jefferson, the soft spoken writer of the Declaration of Independence, knew that secure access to the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans was essential for the movement of goods and people in the western part of the country. Napoleon needed money to help finance his continuing wars so a deal was struck and in October 1803 the Louisiana Purchase land became part of the United States. Overnight and with a price tag of $15 million (about 3 cents per acre) the size of the United States was doubled. While the additional land and access to the Mississippi brought many blessings, it also meant that the eastern seaboard's domination of the government would fast wane as additional western states joined the union. The divisive issue of slavery would once again have to be confronted: would new states be slave or free?

Jefferson, being a curious leader, decided to send Lewis and Clark along with the Corps of Discovery to explore the new purchase. They were directed to make maps of the area and to locate a water route to the Pacific. In addition, they were to catalogue Indian tribes and the resources of the territory, including plants and animals. They left from St. Louis, Missouri, in 1804, reached the Pacific on December 3, 1805, and returned by the end of 1806. Many, including the President, doubted if the explorers would ever return.

While the Federalists worried that the new settlers in the western lands would favor Jefferson's Anti-Federalist policies, John Marshall clearly had the Federalist agenda in mind as the Supreme Court ruled on many ground-breaking cases. In case after case, the Court established the supremacy of the Constitution and federal law. Many historians believe the most important case decided at this time was Marbury v. Madison, which established the principle of judicial review. In other words, the Supreme Court had the power to declare a law unconstitutional. This bold decision clearly put the Court on equal footing with the other two branches and provided an additional check to their actions.

A Most Peculiar War

This week you had the opportunity to write about why countries go to war and why within the same country there may be supporters as well as opponents of the war. Your primary source documents from the War of 1812 allowed you to read what was said during the debate on that conflict and to cull the reasons for supporting and opposing it. Opponents feared causalities and the cost of the war while supporters wanted to stop British interference with trade and to remove the threat that England posed to the states. Many of you made the connection that opponents and supporters of the war in Iraq make many of the same arguments.

You have a graphic organizer that will help you locate and record key information on this conflict, but the most important question is the last one on the guide: what do you think about this conflict? Think of the significance of the War of 1812…how is our country different after this conflict? Did we gain or lose from it?

Current Events

Keep in mind that we have returned to our regular schedule of current events on day 3. You may select any national or international issue. The first paragraph should be a summary of the article (in your own words) and the second paragraph should include why you selected the article, a link to history or our study of government and your personal opinion or reflections on the issue. This assignment is a great way to pick up points. Every time you earn full credit for the assignment it is like getting a 100 and if you exceed the standard you can earn extra credit. The students with the highest grades at the end of the quarter are usually those that have done all the current events assignments and have tried to exceed the standard.

A word of caution

When you are absent (excused) please take the time to see me before or after school to get the work you missed. You have 5 days to make up missed work. In case I am not available and you have work to hand in, you may leave it in my mailbox in the faculty room.

A Special Posting

During our February break I had the opportunity to return to one of my favorite cities in Europe: Paris. While traveling through the city and its outskirts I kept seeing monuments and markers that reminded me of our study of American history, so I have done a special posting of selected pictures from the trip. I hope you enjoy viewing them and would be happy to talk further with anyone who is interested in learning more about the trip.

Traveling to other countries give us a unique opportunity to see how others live and to place ourselves within the global community. People may speak another language, eat different foods and think differently about world issues, but we must all recognize this is a small planet and we all want “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” I hope you can keep this in mind as our future decision makers.

"An American in Paris"

While strolling through Paris you are quickly immersed in a vibrant, European joie de vie but the importance of the French and American alliance is never far from view.

George Washington, Commander of the Continental Army and our first President, rides on his horse just blocks from the Eiffel Tower. President Jefferson stands watch over the Musee D'Orsay by the River Seine, and President Wilson is honored with his own Avenue in recognition of his support of the Allies in World War I and fostering the idea of international cooperation through the League of Nations.

During our reflection writing after the first semester, The Thinker reminded us of the importance of reflection. Here he is in his own garden area outside the Rodin Museum. The original smaller version is safe inside the museum


The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people to the Americans in 1884 as an expression of friendship and the commitment to liberty for all. A smaller version of the statue stands on a piece of land in the River Seine and can be seen by all from the many boats that travel the river.

A replica of the liberty torch stands next to one of the many bridges that cross the Seine.

Benjamin Franklin, a favorite of the French people in the 1780s, looks out over the Trocadero, one of the busiest intersections in Paris.







While Americans love their SUVs, the French are learning to love this tiny electric car. The streets are filled with these fast moving, low cost, clean cars. Two things I did not see in Paris: a Starbucks or a parking place!

Popular American items are readily available in Paris but at steep price. The big 2 on the Coke machine indicates that a can of Coke costs 2 euros or about $2.70. This was a bargain as most cafes charge $4.oo. The value of the dollar has been on a steady decline for the past four years. On an earlier trip to Europe in 2001, the euro was worth .75 cents which made traveling a bargain. Now it's about $1.35. Be on the lookout for an influx of European tourists this summer as they flock to the US as a bargain spot.

So with a nod and merci to George Gershwin (for the blog title) I say, "a bientot."