American History 121, Spring 2009

Slavery....

After reading the three slave spirituals posted on the course calendar for Week 10, is there any single theme or message that runs throuhout them all? Why do you think they have a more "Old Testement" feel to them?

As I mention on the course calendar, I want you to read one of the listed slave narratives at the Library of Congress's, Born into Slavery, and describe it here. I want you to pay particular attention to how the slave you pick describes his/her experience with slavery. Was it a good experience or bad one?

Jackson's Bank Veto Message

After reading Jackson's Bank Veto Message posted on the course calendar for last week, is Jackson a "states rights" person or more in favor of a strong federal government? What leads you to think the way you do?

Is there any correlation between Jackson's veto message and events happening today with respects to the government's involvement with the banks? What do you think Jackson would believe or do?

Interesting bumper sticker....what do you think?

On my way to work this morning, I got behind a person with a bumper sticker on their car that said: "Since when is dissent patriotic?" It was next to a bumper sticker that said "NO Socialism."

Knowing what you now know so far about American history, particularly about the American Revolution and the rhetoric the colonists engaged in against the government of Great Britain, is it fair to say dissent -- defined here, and seemingly by the bumper sticker, as disagreement with the government and the "established" agenda -- is unpatriotic? I would argue that "dissent is the very manifestation of patriotism?" What do you think? (You don't have to agree). What about the "NO Socialism" bumper sticker? How might the two bumper stickers contradict each other?

Do you think the person who owned the car would be more of a Jacksonian Democrat or Hamiltonian Federalist/Whig?