American History 121, Spring 2009

>>BOOK REVIEWS<<

By Saturday, March 7, I would like every student to post on this blog the title of the book they are going to review AND the date they intend to hand it in to me. As a concession, I will allow students to review books going back to the first day of class. I'm just concenred that you are going to run out of time. We're almost 1/2 through the semester and I havne't received any reviews. I know it's human nature to procrastinate, but, speaking from experience, you wont get a field statement done + study for the final + read a book + write a book review the last 2-3 weeks of class.

 

Political Parties....

George Washington believed that political parties, such as the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans, would be bad for the country, that they had the potential to rip the country appart and should be avoided. However, despite the political tensions between the Federalists (Hamilton) and the Republicans (Jefferson) that we discussed in class, how could it be argued that political parties actually saved the country? Do you see them as beneficial to the political process today?

ELECTORAL COLLEGE LINK

As promised, here is the link to the electoral college web site. Do you think we should get rid of the Electoral College or keep it?

>>>ELECTORAL COLLEGE LINK<<<

SO....what are your thoughts on this article?

I'm posting this link to a NY Times article to elicit responses and debate. No hidden message, no hidden agenda other than that I'm curious as to what you, the students, think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html?_r=1

 

Something inspiring......

Some things to keep in mind as you watch this clip.

1) Jill Biden could have done anything she wanted, but she chose to teach.

2) Jill Biden got her Ph.D. at 55 years old....You're NEVER too old to learn.

3) Learning is a life long experience.

4) Beauty fades, dumb is forever......

CLICK HERE FOR THE CLIP FOR THE TODAY SHOW

 

Alexander Hamilton...Good Guy or Bad Guy? (Week 6)

Although we only began to talk about the upcoming drama over the Constitution and the battle between the Federalists and anti-Federalists, from what you've read on Alexander Hamilton (the book, the web-site), what are your impressions of the man? What motivated him? Is he a good guy or bad guy as far as "the people" are concerned? Defend your answer.

(Where did Hamilton differ from Jefferson. You'll find some clues there that might help you formulate your answer.)

Readings for week 5: The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

After reading the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the U.S., what is the most obvious difference between these two documents?

Considering the Constitution itself, what does the Constitution say about slavery? What does it say about political parties? What is the only crime mentioned in the Constitution and why do you think it’s in there?  

 

Lastly, when you read the Constitution and then the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments to the Constitution) what does each one accomplish in your view?

Readings for Week 4 on the American Revolution

In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson talks about a “long train of abuses and usurpations” by Great Britain and that because of these abuses the colonies were justified in ending their allegiance to the British Crown. After reading all the material assigned for this week, do you believe Jefferson was right? Why or why not?

A second question to consider. After reading William Pitt’s speech on the Stamp Act, as well as the Resolutions of the First Continental Congress and the Declaration and Resolves of the Second Continental Congress what do you believe is the true grievance of the colonies? What is it that they, the colonies, see as their fundamental right as citizens of the  British Empire? Remember we discussed in class last week how the colonies were trying to become MORE British. What is contained in these documents that gives you any indication of the colonies attempting to become so?

A final question, and one that we will discuss more in-depth in class on Saturday: Who does the Continental Congress focus its attack on in the Resolutions of the First Continental Congress and the Declaration and Resolves of the Second Continental Congress, and who does it focus its attacks on in the Declaration of Independence?

TED Videos from Saturday's Class

For those of you interested, below are the links to the TED videos we watched in class. Remember the talk by Dr. Brilliant has some graphic pictures.

Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen

Larry Brilliant: TED Prize wish: Help stop the next pandemic