BLOG 32: WORLD WAR II FAMILY STORIES

Did you have a great grandparent or grandparent or relative who fought in World War II? If so find some information out about what they did during the war. It could be combat action they saw or maybe they did something important on the homefront here in the U.S. Find out their stories and share it with us.

Note:  Your relative did not have to serve in the military for their story to be important during this time period!

BLOG 31: CAN YOU PASS THE U.S. CITIZENS TEST?

When a person is applying to become a U.S. citizen they must take a test.  The test is administered by an U.S. immigration official in a conversational manner.  You must answer 6 of 10 oral questions correctly in order to become a U.S. citizen. 

Try taking the History Channel's citizenship test.  You will want to click on QUIZ 2.  After you take the quiz send a response about what you thought of the quiz and also your overall score.



Good luck!

TAKE THE CITIZENSHIP QUIZ!!

BLOG 30: YOUR FAMILY'S STORY

Do a little historical research by talking with your parents or another family member about how your family immigrated to America.  

Some typical questions to ask...

*When did they come (time period/year).

*Where did they come from?

*Why did they come (What pushed or pulled them to come to the U.S.)?


If you have many stories to share, you are welcome to write about them all.

BLOG 29: THE FINAL FRONTIER?

The United States' people and government turned their attention west after the American Civil War and Reconstruction were over by 1877. 

In 1890 the U.S. Census declared that the frontier in the United States was closed. The last government controlled land rushes took place in the early 1890s in what is present day Oklahoma. Do you think there are any modern frontiers that still can be explored and settled? Explain.

***Look up words like census, frontier and land rush if you do not know what they mean. Chapter 17 will help you with the context of these words.

***Remember, 50 word minimum response using correct grammar and spelling!!!!

BLOG 28: JFK ASSASSINATION

Today, around 60% of Americans believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.  Talk to a family member and ask what they believe and why they feel that way.  You can use the questions in the line graph below to help with your conversation.

BLOG 27: LINCOLN'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Would you be as forgiving as Abraham Lincoln was at the end of the American Civil War when he said in his 2nd Inaugural Address, "With malice towards none; with charity for all..."?

Why or why not?

BLOG 26: THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

What is the most important idea in the Gettysburg Address?  Why do you believe that? 

BLOG 25: THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR?

What is a "turning point"?  Give an example of a "turning point" from your own life experience.

What is considered the turning point in the American Civil War?

BLOG 24: CIVILIAN LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR

How did the war affect people and politics in the North and the South? Use the following questions to focus your reading and blog response. Was there any dissent over the war? Were there any economic strains caused by the war? What was the role of women? How did men enlist in the military?

*Before answering the question read chapter 15, section 4, pages 528 - 532.

* Please make sure that your responses are 50 words or more.

BLOG 23: TOTAL WAR

What is "TOTAL WAR" and how does it relate to Union William T. Sherman?

BLOG 22: A WAR OF NORTHERN AGGRESSION OR SOUTHERN SECESSION?

Based on your 13 documents and group discussion from class, "LINCOLN AND THE OUTBREAK OF WAR" respond to the question below.  Use text evidence and cite your sources.  Do not forget to make a connection in your own words as to what you believe and the evidence you choose.


Some people refer to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression", while others refer to it as the "War of Southern Secession." From the documents, which name for the American Civil War is correct?  

Make a case for one or the other and prove it!

Due on Wednesday, March 18th. 

BLOG 21: COMPARE ABRAHAM LINCOLN WITH JEFFERSON DAVIS

Compare/Contrast President Abraham Lincoln with the Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the American Civil War.  Give at least 2 examples for each president. Research can be done online.  Please make sure your blog is in your own words.  No cutting and pasting!


Remember you must have a minimum of 50 words in your

BLOG 20: LINCOLN'S FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS

When Abraham Lincoln officially became president on March 4, 1861 he famously said in his Inaugural Address to all Americans,

"In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of ...war.  The government will not assail you....We are not enemies, but friends.  We must not be enemies.  Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

What can you infer from Lincoln's quote?

BLOG 19: JOHN BROWN:HERO OR MADMAN?

A Michigan teen made a documentary last year about whether or not abolitionist John Brown was a hero or a madman.  His school project won national attention from newspapers like USA Today.

Before starting your own research on John Brown, click on the link title Teen's Documentary on John Brown and read Luke Jaden's story....who know this could be you some day.  

Next, I would like you to do a little of your own online research on John Brown.  As you research who John Brown was, I would like you to form an opinion as to whether Brown was a HERO or MADMAN.

Do not forget to use text evidence from the sources you read to support your belief about John Brown: HERO or MADMAN?

A young John Brown

John Brown later in life

BLOG 18: CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR POLITICAL CARTOON

What do you think this political cartoon relates to.  Pay close attention to the details and words in the political cartoon. 

Whose point of view is this coming from?

Why would a "freesoiler" feel that slavery is being forced down their throat?

BLOG 17: UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

1.) Read the excerpt from the book Uncle Tom's Cabin on pages 492-493 in the textbook.

2.) Imagine that you are a northerner in 1851 reading Uncle Tom's Cabin for the first time. Write a letter to a friend explaining how this excerpt made you feel about the slavery.  Use text evidence to support your feelings.  

Make sure your response is 50 words or more and grammatically correct!

***If you enjoy the excerpt, you can find the book for free online and read it in its entirety. 

BLOG 16: NEW STATES IN THE WEST

How did the question of the admission of new states (like Missouri & California) to the U.S. fuel the debate over slavery?


* Use your article on Westward Expansion from class and also pages 482-485 in your textbook.

* Please respond with 50 words or more.

BLOG 15: AMERICA'S MANIFEST DESTINY

America's belief in its "Manifest Destiny" was both a blessing and a curse.  The blessing was that this philosophy helped to strengthen our country while adding new lands to the United States.


What were some of the "curses" or negative side effects of our westward expansion?


***Please respond with 50 words or more using proper spelling and grammar.

BLOG 14: CONSTITUTION AT WORK

Find an example of one of the 7 Prinicples of the U.S. Constitution in every day life.  Search the internet news sites like CNN, NBC Nightly News, FOXNEWS and others for an example of the Constitution being followed or violated. Describe the who, what, where, when and why in your summary.  Make sure it connects with what we have been studying in class over the past month.

In your response please cut and paste the URL to the site and story you used.  Feel free to use short news videos (like the ones I show in class) for your response.

BLOG 13: SEPARATION OF POWERS

1. What does the U.S. Constitution setup under Articles I, II and III?

2. Why do you think the Founding Fathers thought it was important to separate the national government into 3 branches of government when they were creating the Constitution?

***The U.S. Constitution starts on page 228 in your textbook.