A Time to Honor

It is fitting that we celebrate Memorial Day as we conclude our study of the Civil War. Memorial Day was first observed in 1866 as a day to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. In the South this day has been known as Decoration Day and is a time to place flowers and flags on the graves of fallen soldiers. Over time, Memorial Day has become a time to honor all those who have given their lives for their country. The President traditionally places a wreath of flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington cemetery and local communities observe the day with parades and the reading of the Gettysburg Address. Next week we will read the address and see if the message Lincoln delivered in November 1863 still holds meaning for us today.

As we have an extra day off this weekend to relax, please take a moment to think about all of the people who have given their lives so that we can live in a free country. This holiday has a special meaning for us in 2007 as our soldiers face danger in Iraq. We have lost over 3,400 soldiers in this conflict and each one of them had families, hopes and dreams. Let us honor their courage and commitment!

The Civil War Packets

In an effort to allow you to pace your reading, you have a packet of assignments on the war. You have target dates for completion of the various sections and if you use your class time wisely you should cut down or eliminate home work.

This week we read a portion of the Emancipation Proclamation and discovered that this document did not unconditionally free all slaves. Lincoln’s attitude towards slavery had changed over the course of the war. The Proclamation was a clear announcement that once the war was over, Lincoln would free the slaves. The Proclamation was focused on the states that were in rebellion but made no mention of freeing the slaves in the border states, as Lincoln needed to keep them in the Union. He was reported to have said, “I may need God on my side to win this war, but I know I need Kentucky on my side to win this war.”

In Doris Kearns Goodwin’s award winning book “Team of Rivals,” she writes about Lincoln’s political genius and ability to change his views as he comes to understand the complexity of issues. By 1863, Lincoln’s initial goal to save the Union is joined by his determination to end slavery.

As part of our study of the war, we are fortunate to have access to Ken Burn’s award winning PBS special on the Civil War. This is a multi-disc series and while we will only have time to view limited segments, I would encourage all of you to check out the web site or view more of the series. Copies are available at MHS library and most public libraries.

Reconstruction

As we complete the Civil War packets, we will next turn to rebuilding the country during a ten year period called Reconstruction which then leads us to the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age is an especially important time for local history as this is the age when the mansions on Bellevue Avenue in Newport are built. The profits from war and the investments in new technology created our first class of millionaires and they spent some of their astronomical earnings on the palatial homes found in Newport. While this was happening, labor unions were just starting to form to help defend the rights of workers and monitor working conditions. Did the men who built these mansions earn their money fairly or did they exploit the laborers who worked for low wages and in dangerous factories? This will be for you to decide.


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Job Well Done

Congratulations to all! The Civil War Fair of 2007 was a big success and I congratulate all of you for putting forth a great effort. You clearly demonstrated that you know how to think and act as historians! I saw evidence of critical thinking, using multiple sources, relying on primary sources for unusual insights, grappling with complexities, making links to contemporary issues and trying to construct your own interpretation of events. Special compliments to those who made an extra effort with their home-made three-dimensional displays, especially the Andersonville Prison, the Underground Railroad, and the battle of the ironclads.

We had many traditional projects focused on battles, technology and medicine, but this was the first year for such topics as how the economy was affected by the conflict, how civil liberties were affected by the war, how our language changed because of the war, and how animals were affected by the war. It is always a special challenge to take on a non-traditional topic but the rewards can be great as you delve into uncharted territory.

In addition to historical content, this project gave you the opportunity to practice your habits of mind and real world skills that are applicable to many arenas. The use of the journal encouraged you to stay organized and to manage your time. Those who spent the time to make a work plan ended up with projects that showed a greater attention to detail and presentation. Working with a partner gave you the opportunity to practice one of the skills most employers are looking for: the ability to work on a team. The annotated bibliography illustrates your appreciation for sources and gives credit to those who researched similar topics. Plagiarism is a major problem on high school and college campuses and you don’t want to be put into a position where your work is challenged. Cite sources as all good historians do!

Periods 3 and 7 have had the opportunity to do a self evaluation and a reflection. Period 8 will have the same opportunity on Monday. After a major project it is important to take the time to think back on what you did….looking for strengths and weaknesses so the next time you are asked to tackle a major problem or task you will remember the lessons learned.

Finally, a thank you to all of our families, friends, and guests who acted as our outside audience. We appreciate you taking the time to visit the fair and to listen to the presentations. Our students have been working diligently this year and it is rewarding to share these efforts with others. Thank you!

Interterm Reports

We are half way through our final quarter and interterm reports are scheduled to go out this week. In addition to our regular homework, you had your CIM Freedom of Speech essay and the Civil War project. If you missed either project, you will be below standard. Before and after school help is always available.

Fans of John Adams

This has been a banner week for Adams fans. The Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle included the following clue:

Subject of McCullough biography

and the Adams presidential dollar coin will be released on May 18.

Quote of the Day from NY Times obituary on Karen Hess, a culinary historian:

Ms Hess was not a trained historian, but she fervently believed in the importance of primary sources and demanded that professional historians apply the same techniques to the study of the household that they did to the study of wars and presidents.
“She always believed that history was written in our daily lives, not just in battles won and court cases, which was how traditional historians had always written things,” said John Martin Taylor, a cookbook author who has chronicled the food of the Carolina Lowcountry.

Show Time!

Our work on the Civil War projects continued this week. This is your last weekend to get together with your partner to finalize your display, make your 3 D object, and compile your annotated bibliography. Keep in mind you must demonstrate to the judges critical thinking skills, so go beyond telling the story of your topic and strive to analyze and critique. Next week will be the time to make your note cards (which will be collected) and to practice your presentation.

Please go ahead and deliver your letter of invitation this weekend and on Monday I will give you credit for the assignment. In a perfect world we would have had time on Friday to review your draft letter but because of events beyond our control, I will ask you to go ahead and issue your invitation this weekend. You will receive extra credit if one of your guests is able to attend. The Fair is a fun and festive time for all as you get to demonstrate your abilities to think and act like historians, and parents, guardians and friends take pride in seeing you present.

On Monday I will give you a final check list of items required for the event. Make sure to come prepared on Thursday the 17th, dress appropriately, and feel confident. I know it is going to be a great event!

If you need any last minute assistance, I am available before school and will be available after school on Monday. Do not hesitate to stop by if you need some one-on-one guidance.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

This week we also finished watching the video of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” In our UpFront magazine, an article on the top 100 influential people in American History listed Harriet Beecher Stowe as number 41. Her novel is credited with educating the world on the cruelty of slavery and pushed our country closer to Civil War. When President Lincoln (ranked number 1) met Harriet Beecher Stowe, he is supposed to have said “So this is the little lady who started this big war.”

While the video does modify the original story it adheres to the basic story line, showing how slaves were treated and the degradation they endured as families were torn apart. Stowe also included the positive role that many groups, especially the Quakers, played in helping slaves escape to freedom.

Happy Mother’s Day

Julia Ward Howe, best know for writing the words to The Battle Hymn of the Republic, is often credited with supporting the efforts to set aside one day a year to honor mothers. In this morning’s Newport Daily News (C9), a column by the Reverend Amy Bowden Freedman reminds us that Howe spent many summers on Aquidneck Island. The article goes on to speak of her upbringing and the significant role she played in the Civil War as an advocate for abolition and an organizer on the home front.

Mother’s Day received national recognition in 1914 when President Wilson signed a joint Congressional Resolution observing the second Sunday in May as a time to celebrate our mothers.

Mothers have played an important role in our history. They are often credited as pushing our government to act in a more humane and generous spirit. Many historians credit the mobilization of mother’s against the Vietnam War as a turning point in that long and bloody conflict. Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has proven to be a highly effective advocate for measures that reduce the number of lives lost to drivers impaired by alcohol.

Every day, mothers and others who provide mothering skills take on a wide range of responsibilities, from caretakers of the home to leaders in many professional fields. They devote long hours, and years, to the care and upbringing of all of us. So take a moment today, and every day, to say a word of thanks. Your Mother will hear you no matter where she may be tomorrow.

Let's Go to the Fair

It is that time of year when we start preparing for our Civil War Fair. This is an opportunity to show our guests how you can think and act like an historian. It is an especially exciting project as you have selected your own topic and partner. All of the skills we have been working on this year are showcased in your final project: using multiple sources, asking questions, looking for evidence, debating, discussing and communicating. The Fair is May 17 and you will be writing a letter of invitation next week inviting a member of your family or friend to the event. You should take a special pride in showing your work to our community.

You have been given a wealth of sources ranging from this blog to the special folder we have set up on the G drive that contains a power point by Mr. Fontaine on how to find primary source documents. You have a depth of knowledge (DOK) chart that will help you develop a critical thinking question to guide you in your work. You have a model of an annotated bibliography, a list of helpful hints from past students, and a student-friendly rubric. You have also been given a blue book which will act as a journal where you can document your work, set up a timeline, and keep track of your multiple sources.

In the past, students have found that developing a critical thinking question can be daunting. Remember you have the DOK chart to help you focus your thinking. You want your project to be more then a description of an event or group of people. Using primary sources will help you get your project to a higher level of thinking because you will have to analyze the document to find evidence. You may also want to use a hypothesis as an overarching theme for your work and then show the judges how you proved or disproved the statement.

A big key to success in this project is managing your time. You have a list of dates when we will use the library. Now you need to set aside time after school or on a weekend to work with your partner. You should have your display completed by May 16 so you have the last 24 hours to practice your presentation.

With so many resources available, sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed. Some of the best sites for information include the Library of Congress main site, the special Memory site, Mrs. Oz’s compilation, the Public Broadcasting site and Eye Witness to History. There are also specialized sites for music of the period.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

We also started watching the video of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” This is an especially good video because it has top rated actors and it takes large sections of the narrative directly from the novel. This book sold over 300,000 copies in the United States and was translated into over 20 languages, making it a worldwide best seller. The video gives you a window into the life of a slave and the numerous challenges of daily living when you are viewed as property and not as a human being.

We are Free

Yesterday, Rhode Island celebrated its own special Independence Day. Rhode Island became the first colony to declare its independence from England on May 4, 1776. While we may be the smallest state, Rhode Island has played a significant role in the formation of our nation.

Let’s All Wave

Queen Elizabeth is visiting the United States this weekend and her first stop was Jamestown, Virginia to celebrate the founding of the colony 400 years ago. In addition to playing tribute to the hearty colonists, she tipped her hat to the Native Americans who helped them survive the first few years but then became victims of widespread colonization. In recognizing multiple points of view, she was thinking and acting like an historian!

Today the Queen is off to the Kentucky Derby and then on to the White House for a special State Dinner.