Success

 

 

This week was our last week together as we prepared for final exams.  While the rain never seemed to end, at least our room stayed cool and we could focus on what we needed to know instead of wishing we were at the beach. 

This year we have strengthened our analytical skills as we discussed a wide range of issues.  Your point of view will change over time as you experience more of life.  The classroom is a safe place to practice developing points of view and sharing them with fellow students.  Don’t ever be afraid to speak your mind, but always take time to gather information and think about your point of view.  Argue and debate out of knowledge.

We have had an exciting year as we travelled the globe via our current events and study of Contemporary World Issues.  You will soon find out that the world is really very small...we can see and be in contact with people from all over the globe in a matter of seconds....we can fly to, buy from and sell to any part of the world...and our actions as individuals and a nation affect all.  You are truly COTW: Citizens of the World!

In addition to our international studies we have spent much time thinking and talking about the major internal changes our country is experiencing. We have talked about domestic issues, including the presidential election and the economic challenges we are facing.  We have seen that issues are never as simple as they appear, and people with good intentions can differ sharply in interpreting what they observe.

Oral Histories

Congratulations again for doing such a good job on your oral history interviews.  This month-long project allowed you to experience history as events that affect everyone in their daily lives.  The stories told by family and friends make the events of the past come alive.  The last of the thank-you notes were mailed yesterday…a nice touch to what I hope you found to be a very meaningful project.

Study Guide

You have a study guide to help you review for the exam.  I would also urge you to use your portfolio and of course read over each blog entry.  By reading the weekly entry, you will have a review of all the classes since our midterm exam.  When doing the study guide, don’t just use the glossary for definitions as that does not put the event, person or term into context.  By using the text to read about the events, you will get a better understanding of the reason why the term is on the study guide.  Be sure to explain the significance of each term, person or event – why we need to know about it.

The study guide also has a description of the exam.  Take time to read it over and make sure to bring the study guide the day of the final…you will get extra points for a study guide that shows you took the time to think about the topics. As always, I am available for extra help before and after school…all you need to do is ask.

Status of Assignment Sheet

This week you also handed in your sheet of assignments.  This is a very useful tool for you to monitor your grades.  All the assignments are posted in the class, all your graded work goes in your folder and since we run on a point system, all you have to do is add up your points and divide by the total number of points offered.  These are your grades and you should take the time to monitor your progress.  As students about to entire your Senior year, you should have a system in place to track your progress.  So at the end of the quarter there should be no surprises… 

A Final Farewell to our Seniors

Congratulations on your graduation!  Walk the stage with pride…and go forth to do good things for one and all!

Last Entry

So it is now time to say good-by and wish all of you a happy and safe summer.  I want to thank my blog editor for keeping my thinking and writing clear, crisp and accurate.  I want to thank my many readers for their comments which always led to a better entry.  But most of all, I want to thank all of my students for a great year.  Your interest, enthusiasm, and questioning have led us to a deeper understanding of our world and how we can contribute to a better tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

The importance of staying focused

LBJ and Senator Greene D-RI

 

 

As we approach the end of the year, we have engaged in group activities that help us better understand the tides of change in America since 1960.  Working in groups allows everyone to have better access to information, as long as everyone pulls their weight. Psychologists and people who study how we learn best recommend group activities.  To get the most out of working together you need to have a plan and focus on understanding and discussing the material together, as opposed to simply copying someone else’s notes.

 

We used this approach as we began examining the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), reading a book review by President Bill Clinton of Robert Caro’s book “The Passage of Power.”  You used an anticipation guide to frame your thinking, and then you each read one section of the review.  Having each member of the group read one section made the assignment more manageable.  Each person then reported a link they found in the reading to the anticipation guide.  You discovered LBJ was the most powerful Majority Leader in the history of the Senate before becoming Vice President to John F. Kennedy.  The Vice Presidency was a far less powerful position and LBJ came to hate it.  But as Caro states, “with the crack of a gun, everything changed” and LBJ became President.  He used his knowledge of the legislative process and his ability to “get to people” to achieve passage of major Civil Rights legislation at a time most observers said it would be impossible.  We also watched an interview of Caro so you could see and hear the author of this critically acclaimed fourth volume on LBJ.  

 

The reading also contained challenging vocabulary.  Each of you should have looked up the meaning of unfamiliar words in your section and talked with your group about the meanings.  Increasing your vocabulary is a critically important tool that will help you on SATs and other standardized tests and allow you to express yourself more clearly in any situation.

 

We watched a clip from a TED talk by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO of Facebook.  She offered recommendations on leadership we should all take to heart: be at the decision-making table, stay focused on the task right to the last day, and select friends or partners in your life who will support your efforts.  Maybe your summer reading list should include her book “Lean In.”

 

You also had your announced quiz on the women’s movement. It was based on your text reading and by now you should be masters of locating key information: vocabulary and names are always important. 

 

We updated our status of assignment sheets.  We will do this one more time as I return your women’s quiz, and then you can add up your total points and divide by the points you could have earned to see your percentage grade.  All assignments are posted on the board and it is your responsibility to keep your folder up to date.  You will receive credit for a well-organized folder and a completed status of assignment sheet.

 

Study guides will be distributed next week…it is the same guide that was posted last week.  Study guides are like savings accounts…you get out what you put into it, plus interest! 

 

World History

 

We had to juggle this week as we encountered more standardized testing.  Congratulations to all of you for submitting your power points on time.  Punctuality is an essential trait in the working world.

 

We will present the projects on Monday.  You should use note cards and make sure you have practiced with your partner.  Be prepared to respond to questions.  This is a great assignment to wrap up our study of World War II.  As you listen to the presentations, you will be asked to take notes and then use your notes in responding to quiz questions.

 

You had a one page reading on the Cold War which contained key vocabulary.  I know what is on your final exam (!) and vocabulary from this time period will be included.

 

Next week we will update our status of assignment sheets and start preparing for the final exam.  You will have a map activity on the final so we will spend some time working with a map of Europe.

 

With summer weather finally arriving and the end of term just weeks away, it’s easy to be distracted.  Don’t let that happen to you!  How you perform in these final weeks could have a decisive impact on your grade.

Special Posting: Study Guide for Final Exam

 

 Name____________________________________

Study Guide for 2nd semester CWI/Comparative Government/Modern America

The final exam is made up of multiple choice, matching, short answers based on two primary source readings, a photo analysis, and an editorial cartoon. You will also have a question based on our international speakers. To prepare for the exam, I would recommend that you read over the blog entries (www.mhscotw.blogspot.com), review your work in your folder and fill out the study guide using the chapters in the text. I would caution you not to rely too much on the glossary as it may give you the definition of the word but it does not put it into context. I am also available before or after school if you want any additional help or have questions. You may earn up to 5 additional points for a completed study guide that is handed in the day of the exam.

Topics covered include: Depression and Election of 1932, New Deal, WW II, Cold War, Civil Rights, JFK, Women’s Movement; Nixon

 

Reasons for Stock Market Crash

 

Impact of the Crash

 

How did government react to the crash (Hoover and FDR)

 

How were people affected by the crash ?

 

Why is the election of 1932 a turning point in history?

 

Describe the first 100 days of FDR

 

How did people react to the New Deal?

 

What role did the Supreme Court play during the New Deal era?

 

How did people keep up their morale during this time period ?

 

Axis powers

 

Mussolini

 

Isolationism

 

Pearl Harbor attack

 

Allies

 

Midway and Guadalcanal

 

Reasons for and against using the atomic bomb

 

 

Reasons for the Cold War

 

Marshall Plan

 

NATO

 

NAACP and goals

 

Brown v. Board of Education

 

Election of 1960

 

Bay of Pigs

 

Cuban Missile Crisis

 

Warren Commission

 

Letter from Birmingham Jail

 

Equal Rights Amendment

 

LBJ

 

Earl Warren

 

Robert Caro

 

Gloria Steinem

 

Feminism

 

George Wallace

 

Robert Kennedy

 

Watergate

Reflect and Learn

 

On Monday we celebrate Memorial Day.  This holiday originally commemorated those who lost their lives in the Civil War, but over time it has become a day to remember all who have died in service to our country, and our own loved ones.  Many families take this opportunity to visit cemeteries to honor those who have gone before.  You can learn a great deal about history at cemeteries as you read the markers and note the dates.  One of my favorite cemeteries is the graveyard next to Saint Columba’s Chapel on Indian Avenue.  The markers tell of astounding accomplishments, tragic losses, and simple lives filled with love and care. 

 

Modern America

 As we approach the end of the year, we have focused on group activities that help us better understand the tides of change in America since 1960.  Working in groups allows everyone to have better access to the information as long as everyone does their share.  Psychologists and people who study how we learn encourage teachers to use more group activities.  To get the most out of working together you need to have a plan and focus on understanding and discussing the material together, as opposed to copying someone else’s notes. 

 

Our Presidential power point project is a perfect example of group work.  The first step in the project was having a work plan…who was going to do what and how would you communicate.

After you presented your project, you filled out a self-evaluation sheet.  This gave you the opportunity to think about your contribution and to rate your group.  The question as to who in your group should receive extra credit can be especially revealing as to how the project progressed. 

 

We also spent one day on the Women’s Movement.  We read an excerpt from Gail Collins’s book “When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present.”  We compared and contrasted what life was like for women prior to 1960 and how quickly it has changed for many.  But while opportunity for women has dramatically improved, a significant wage gap still exists.  In today’s economy, for similar jobs a woman makes 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. I gave you an example of how this wage gap hit me while working in Washington DC, but it was rectified once my complaint was investigated. We also used music to better understand the times by comparing Burt Bacharach’s “Wives and Lovers” with “I Am Woman,” written and sung by Helen Reddy.

 

You have a worksheet on the Women’s Movement and you will have a quiz on this material.   Make sure you know key people and terms (ERA, feminism, Phyllis Schlafly, and GloriaSteinem) as well as why the movement occurred, goals of the movement and why not every woman agreed with the movement.

 

HippoCampus

 

To get ready for finals, you will have a study guide, your folders with past work, the trusty blog and now a great web site that summarizes key units in American History: HippoCampus.  By clicking on the American History tab, you can scroll down to the unit you want to review.  You have the option of reading a summary or viewing a brief video.  While it is not a perfect substitute for having your own text, it will be a very useful supplement to your other materials.

 

Seniors

 

On Friday you received the study guide for the final exam.  You may turn in the guide the day of the exam and earn extra credit on your exam grade.  If you received a textbook, please make sure to return it the day of the exam.  As you may know, we are short of books and we are anxious to collect every book - and I know you don’t want to receive a bill!

 

World History

 

This week we focused on winning World War II using a map of the battles waged in the Pacific and a primary source reading on how those battles affected our soldiers.  We also did a T chart listing reasons why the atomic bomb was used and reasons some people opposed it.  While historians continue to debate the necessity of dropping the bomb, the man who ultimately decided, President Truman, said it was the only responsible decision that could have been made.  The President wanted to end the war as quickly as possible and save the lives of American soldiers.  I feel fortunate to have been to Japan and viewed the World II museums in Tokyo and Hiroshima to get a better understanding of the attitude of the Japanese.  It is clear their society still faces conflicts in interpreting why they went to war.

 

We also worked with a group on the costs of war.  We looked at the loss of life, destruction of property, collapse of economies and the shift in world power.  At the end of the war, the United States and Russia emerged as super powers and we will see that their shadow will fall heavily on Europe as it tries to recover.

 

In lieu of a unit test on World War II you are working with a partner on your power point project.  You have had three days in the computer lab and you have a rubric.  Your finished product needs to be emailed to me at asullivan@mpsri.net by Wednesday afternoon.  I will put all the projects in a folder and we will present on Thursday.  You are encouraged to use note cards as you should not read off the slides.  Your comments should supplement, not repeat, what is on the slide.  We are stressing visuals as this is a power point project and not an essay.  This is great practice for your capstone project.

Presidential Parade

This week, as we juggled schedule changes, field trips, mock car crash and standardized testing, you also managed to finish your study of JFK and had your announced quiz.   

We also started our study of the Women’s Revolution by reading how women felt they were being treated as second class citizens and limited in their opportunities.  Even women who attended the best colleges could only find jobs as secretaries, teachers or nurses.  With the publication of “The FeminineMystique” by Betty Friedan, everything started to change very quickly.  New York Times columnist Gail Collins has written an exciting account of this revolution in the role of women called, appropriately, “When Everything Changed.”  Speak with women in your life who lived through this period.  Ask them how the change in attitudes towards women opened up job opportunities, changed fashion, and rearranged family structures.  But while women have made great strides, the work is not complete.  Next week we will look at the new book “Lean In,” which discusses barriers that still must be broken before women will have true equality, especially economic and political parity.   

You also presented your presidential power point projects this week.  This was a fun project as you got to work with a group, and along with policy issues we looked at popular culture.  It is always fun looking back on fashions, movies and songs to better understand previous eras. Working in a group allows you to use the strengths of each individual member.  You are masters at communicating, so sharing information and slides should come naturally to you.  After presenting to the class, you will complete a reflection sheet that asks you to think about the group process, your contribution and what you could do next time to improve the product. 

You will have a quiz on the presentations so let’s quickly review some of the key points:

Richard Nixon is our only president to resign, because of the Watergate scandal.  One of his positive accomplishments was establishing normal diplomatic relations with China.  Gerald Ford is our only president to serve who was never elected, and his popularity plummeted due to his pardon of Nixon and a poor economy. He was followed by Jimmy Carter, a former governor of Georgia, whose administration was hampered by high gas prices, inflation and unemployment, and by the taking of American hostages in Iran (Ben Affleck saw the drama in this situation and directed the award winning movie “Argo”…worth renting). 

After serving one term, Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan, who served two terms.  Reagan, a former actor and governor of California, spoke as though every day was the Fourth of July.  Initially, his tough talk toward the Soviet Union led to some of the tensest months of the Cold War.  But after Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader, he and Reagan formed a solid working relationship that reduced tensions and allowed Gorbachev to pursue reforms that eventually transformed the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War.  At home, many Americans supported Reagan’s claim that government had become too large and backed his efforts to reduce spending and taxes, but he left a sizeable debt for the next president, George H. W. Bush.  Bush Senior (not his official name, but an easy way to distinguish him from his son, George W. Bush) ran on a platform of no new taxes, but after seeing the size of the debt he felt raising taxes was the only responsible move to make.  His popularity soared after the very short and successful Desert Storm operation that turned back the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, but he only served one term as many voters turned against him for breaking his tax pledge. 

Bush Senior was followed by Bill Clinton, a former governor of Arkansas.  Clinton was able to develop an economic plan that produced a robust economy.  People’s wages went up, unemployment went down and he was able to leave a sizeable surplus by the end of his second term.  But even though he received high marks for the economy, he was involved in a personal scandal that led to his impeachment.  Remember, the House impeaches (indicts) and the Senate then holds the trial to weigh the evidence.  The Senate heard the charges and decided Clinton’s misdeeds did not meet the “high crimes and misdemeanors” standard the Constitution requires to complete the removal process.  So Clinton goes down in history as the second president to be impeached, but he was not removed from office.

Clinton was followed by George W.Bush.  This is a president you remember, as he served during the tragedy of 9/11.  That terrorist attack eventually led us into wars with Iraq and Afghanistan.  While our leaders at the time predicted Iraq would be a brief conflict, our troops were not withdrawn until the end of 2011, and we are still fighting in Afghanistan.  Bush Junior will also be remembered for controversial tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that contributed to our massive deficit and failed to promote the economic growth he had promised, with high unemployment continuing to this day.  As future voters and taxpayers you will need to decide what course of action you want your country to take.  Even though most voters want a balanced approach, mixing spending cuts with modest tax increases for the wealthy, members of Congress have been pressured by lobbyists to take a no tax increase pledge.  If a member votes for a tax increase, enormous amounts of money are poured into his or her opponent’s campaign in the next election.  What would you do if you were an elected official?

World History

This week you had a map of Europe to complete.  Maps are a great way to earn points and to get a better understanding of how countries are affected by war.  You will have a map activity on your final exam so this assignment was good practice. We also finished taking notes on our reading as to how the Allies were able to land in France (D-Day) and recapture territory occupied by the Germans.  You were able to test your note taking skills by answering possible quiz questions using your notes.  This is a good way to see if you are finding the key information and to help you refine your note taking skills.  We can’t write everything down so you need to keep asking yourself…what is significant…what do I need to know?

We also watched video clips from The History Channel that told us some lesser known stories of the war.  One of my favorites is the clip on the “fake” army that was put together to make the Germans think the Allies would be landing in a location far from the actual landing for D-Day.  Rubber tanks, inflatable trucks and phony tracks were all part of an effort to fool the Germans…and it worked!

We also started on a partner project on a topic you are interested in from WW II.  You got to select your partner and your topic and we started our research in the computer lab.  You will be designing and presenting your power point to the class.  Our topics must demonstrate higher level thinking skills…we are not just describing an event or a topic, we are asking “how” questions or “compare and contrast” questions.  We will continue to work on the project next week.  You will get your rubric on Monday.

Extra Credit

Be the first in your class to email me the correct response to one of these questions using your MHS account and earn extra credit: 

What role did “Ultra” play in winning World War II?

OR

What is Reaganomics?

 

Job Well Done

The Kennedys in Newport

 

 

Congratulations to all who handed in their oral history projects!  They have been a delight to read and to view.  And a special tip of the hat to the two students who earned perfect scores…a first for this project! Many of you did a great job asking open ended questions and using follow-up questions to further probe the events and time periods you selected.  Asking rich questions allowed your person being interviewed to explain more than the facts of the event.  Learning to write thank you notes is important as you will need to use this skill as you ask people for college or job references and ultimately interviews.  This project should have given you the sense that stories are the best way to learn history and that you yourself are witnesses.  Sometime in the future you may be interviewed as to what is was like to live during the time of our first African American president…or during an era when social media dominated everyday interactions…or who knows…the election of our first woman president?

This week we had to work around NECAP testing and field trips.  We had our second and last day in the library or computer lab to complete the presidential power point project.  You will have some class time to check in with your group and we will select a day later in the coming week for the presentations.  Keep in mind that you must be knowledgeable about the entire project, not just the slide you built.  

We watched a brief video about President Kennedy.  Many Newporters consider him a local as he was married at St. Mary’s Church to a “local” girl, Jackie Bouvier. While he only served for 1,000 days, it was during his time that we were confronted with the most dangerous crisis of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis.  His assassination and funeral became the first nationally televised event that consumed everyone’s attention.  You had a text based reading and worksheet to complete and we will have one more class activity before we have our quiz.

World History

This past week we focused on events leading up to World War II with your timeline and worksheets that compared the features of communism, fascism and democracy. We also watched a powerful power point that showed how Hitler marched through Europe conquering countries until he finally overreached by marching into Russia.  By opening up two fronts he stretched his forces too thin and this allowed the Allies to turn the tide and start the long and successful march towards Berlin.

We watched a clip about Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics, which are sometimes called the Nazi Olympics.  The video showed you the power that Hitler had over the crowd and the ever present propaganda banners and posters that glorified the Aryan race and militarism.

For home you had a reading and a T chart activity.  You had to list the events from the reading and their significance.  You also had a study guide for the quiz on Monday.

Coming events

Over the next few weeks, along with continued standardized testing and AP exams you will also need to start preparing for final exams, which count for 10 percent of your grade.  You will have a study guide and your portfolio, and of course you can always review your trusty Blog!  But it won’t be all work – next Saturday is the Junior Prom.  Be safe and have fun – I look forward to seeing your photos!

Time For Questions

Are you watching or reading the news?  The stock market hit new highs as unemployment numbers fell, Rhode Island has legalized same sex marriage, and our President was in Mexico building stronger ties with that important neighbor. 

Vietnam

We finished our study of Vietnam by viewing a power point presentation that showed how we became involved in a country so far away.  While alliances can offer protection when countries act in concert against a common threat, they may also drag a country into a conflict which is not in its best interest.  Vietnam was a civil war and outside countries always take a risk intervening in such situations.  Moreover, the war began over France’s desire to hold onto Vietnam as a colony in an era of decolonization.  In hindsight, our decision to support the French and then to step in after they were defeated put us on the “wrong side of history.”  We may want to foster democracies around the world, but ultimately the people of each country must decide what type of government they want.

Our last activity was an accountable talk session focused on two readings that asked the question: why was this war such a divisive conflict?  How could “Eve of Destruction” and “Battle of the Green Berets” both be such popular songs from the early 60s? After our class discussion you had the opportunity to respond to the guiding questions.

Oral History Project

You had one day in the library to do research on your project.  Making a timeline of key events around your topic is a good way to start.  You should develop your questions in a natural sequence…start with closed end questions to establish who you are interviewing and why, and then move on to open ended questions that allow you to explore the topic and the person’s recollection and memories of the event.

You have the rubric which clearly indicates what you must do to meet standard.  You also had the opportunity to look at two model interviews.  We also went over how to write a thank you note.  The project is due any day during the week of May 6-10.  You will need to hand in the rubric, the project, notes taken to prepare for the interview and your thank you note with a stamped envelope.  This is your project for fourth quarter.

Updated Status of Assignment Sheets

1.       Civil Rights organizer

2.      Current event on Korea

3.      Returned and signed status sheet from 3^rd quarter

4.      Civil Rights groups and leaders

5.      MLK letter and responses

6.      Little Rock 9 responses

7.      Preliminary interview sheet

8.      Eyes on the prize 3-2-1

9.      Civil Rights Quiz

10.   Political response to the CR movement

11.   Voting Law restrictions 2013

12.   Letter to the Editor on CR

13.   Vietnam War songs

World History

This week we focused on the years between World War I and II by looking at Gandhi and his principles of non-violence and then turning to Europe to read about the rise of the dictators. We watched clips from the Gandhi movie so you could see the massacre at Amritsar and the Salt March.  The massacre was a turning point for many Indians as they saw the British as oppressors.  Gandhi, through the use of protests and marches, empowered the Indians and this ultimately led to independence.  You had a map assignment and a writing assignment on Gandhi which was due last week.

We then turned to the rise of dictators in Germany, Italy and Japan.  The people of Germany were humiliated by the terms of the treaty that ended World War I, and the Italian people were disappointed that the treaty did not grant Italy territory that instead became part of the new Yugoslavia.  Faced as well with internal disorder and threats of revolution, people in both countries sought strong, charismatic leaders who would restore their nations to glory.  They found this leadership in two dictators: Hitler and Mussolini.  Japan, an island country, wanted to expand its territory and looked to China. In 1931 the Japanese army moved into Manchuria. This started the ultranationalists on a path of conquest.

Status of Assignment List

1.      WWI poster task

2.      WW I test

3.      Status of assignment sheet from 3^rd quarter signed

4.      Russian revolution organizer

5.      Russian revolution quiz

6.      India Map

7.      Gandhi paragraph

Stories from the Past

MLK: Birmingham Jail  

Modern America in a Global World

This week we completed our study of the Civil Rights Movement by reading about the leaders and groups that struggled for equal rights for all Americans.  You saw that at one end of the spectrum Dr. Martin Luther King and the Freedom Riders used peaceful protest, while at the other end of the spectrum Malcolm X was willing to threaten violent confrontation.  Your graphic organizer encouraged you to compare and contrast different leadership methods and styles. You also read an excerpt from “A Letter from Birmingham Jail,” a moving and carefully reasoned explanation of why African Americans were tired of waiting for their rights.  We looked at this primary source through the eyes of an historian.  You will read this letter again in English class to examine the structure, word choice and tone to better understand why this letter is such an eloquent statement of the human condition. Make sure to hand in your responses to the questions about this letter and the new voting restrictions that are currently being advocated. (Due to technical issues, the worksheets could not be loaded this week)

One of the most frightening events of the Civil Rights Movement was the integration of Central High School in Alabama.  We watched a clip from “Eyes on the Prize” where you saw how a huge mob threatened the young African-American students who wanted to attend this school.  It was chilling to hear the crowd talk about lynching one of the students. 

We also looked at the political response to the movement.  You compared JFK’s response with LBJ’s.  While President Johnson will always be linked with Vietnam, we should also remember him for the landmark Civil Rights legislation of 1964.  This legislation prohibits discrimination in a legal sense, but it is only when all individuals truly believe in equal rights that discrimination will end. 

Finally you have your editorial assignment which is due next class.  This will be part of your final assessment, along with the 10 multiple choice questions you will do in class.

Oral History Project

By now you should have handed in your preliminary oralhistory project sheet.  Your person and topic must be approved before you start your project.  While this final fourth quarter project gives you a great deal of choice on topic, person, and format, it must also be completed in a timely fashion.  You may hand in the project the week of May 6-10.  We will continue to talk about what makes for a good project next week.

International Officer Series

On Friday we heard from our last two officers, from Romania and Japan.  As Captain Yaw stated, we should all recognize that while our countries may look and act in different ways, we are all people who have a common need for peace, security and stability. I hope seeing these representatives from other countries will encourage you to take the opportunity to travel and see the world.

World History

This week we completed a graphic organizer on the Russian revolution.  We looked at Russia under the Czars and saw that most of the people were peasants with few rights and living in poverty.  The revolution led by Lenin promised the people “bread, peace, and land.”  You should note that there was much in common with the French Revolution. If you completed the organizer and took good notes when we reviewed the sections in class, you should have done well on your five question assessment.

We then started our discussion of Gandhi, a man of peace and nonviolent resistance.  While we only watched a small clip from the award winning movie “Gandhi,” I would encourage you to watch the entire movie on a rainy day this summer.  It is an excellent rendition of his life and the principles he lived by.  The movie shows the massacre in Amritsar, the salt march and the tragic end of his life.

We will complete our study of Gandhi next week and then start on the rise of dictators and the steps that led us to World War II.

 

 

 

 

Dealing with Tragedy

 

The past two weeks have marked another milestone in the ongoing national debate over gun ownership and how to balance second amendment rights with the need to keep guns out of the hands of people who could harm themselves or others.  While millions of law abiding individuals own guns for hunting and sport shooting, too many guns are also available to people who use them while committing crimes.  Guns are also involved in many family tragedies. 

On April 18, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a bill that would have required more thorough background checks and expanded mental health services to aid people who may be prone to violence.   Although a majority of Senators supported the bill, Senate rules required a 60-40 majority for passage and the final tally was 54-46.  Other measures to increase regulation of gun sales and ownership also fell short of the required 60 votes, as did a proposal to ease restrictions on carrying firearms.

Even though 90% of the American public supported background checks prior to the purchase of a gun, some Senators said the restrictions would interfere with the rights of law abiding citizens.  Supporters of the proposed legislation, including President Obama, raised another issue as well.  In order to be reelected, members of Congress need millions of dollars to run campaigns.  The gun lobby, heavily financed by gun manufacturers, provides much of this money…so politicians have to make a decision…if you are a Senator and need the money to run a campaign are you going to vote with or against the gun lobby?  This issue gets to the heart of what it means to live in a democratic society…who has the final say…the will of the majority, or a few organizations with millions of dollars at their disposal?  

Closer to home we witnessed the kind of carnage at the Boston marathon that some countries experience every day.  It is amazing to watch the FBI and other law enforcement organizations sift through the smallest pieces of evidence, review thousands of photos and watch hours of surveillance video as they seek to identify who committed this heinous act.  No organization has taken credit for the bombing…so I am wondering if this is the action of one deranged person.

On the international front, North Korea continues to threaten South Korea and the US with a possible missile attack.  Secretary of State John Kerry has gone to South Korea to reassure the country that the US will be there to help prevent an attack or respond in case a missile is fired.  This week you had a current events assignment to bring in an article about this buildup of tensions and link it to our study of the Korean War.

And England laid to rest former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, “The Iron Lady.”  Mrs. Thatcher is credited, along with President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, with helping end the Cold War.  She remains controversial in the United Kingdom, however, because critics blame her policies for undermining social welfare and accentuating class divisions in Britain. 

Modern America in a Global World

This week we continued our study of the Civil Rights Movement by looking at diverse strategies and leaders.  Dr. Martin Luther King stood at one end of the spectrum…a man who advocated nonviolent confrontation.  Other leaders, such as Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, were discouraged by the slow progress toward equality and invoked the threat of violence, while advocating for separate black communities.  You had a chart to fill out after reading the one page handout on the movement.  We can see that leaders of the Civil Rights Movement employed widely varying tactics in the effort to win civil liberties for all.

Brown versus Board of Education

We read an excerpt from the Supreme Court ruling in 1954 that outlawed segregation in schools.  The unanimous court ruled that separate facilities were unequal and thus schools had to be integrated.  This was not a popular decision in the South or in some parts of the North, where schools struggled to integrate by busing children out of their own neighborhoods to other parts of the city where either white or black students were needed to meet the court orders.

Little Rock Nine

Of all the events within this era, the one that speaks loudest to students is the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Officials at first did not think it would be a problem, but once the day arrived, a mob of opponents from throughout the region gathered at the school.  The Governor brought in the National Guard to keep the African American students out of the school.  President Eisenhower, who had to uphold the Supreme Court ruling on integration, met with Governor Faubus at the summer White House in Newport, near Fort Adams, and urged him to allow the students to enter.  When the Governor returned to Arkansas, he replaced the National Guard with local police, again with the intent to keep the African American students from entering.  At this point the President sent in federal troops, who escorted the students into the school.  The mob dispersed, and the rule of law prevailed.

A particularly chilling moment in this episode came at the height of the tension, when someone suggested they lynch one of the students to placate the crowd.  What a chilling thought – that an adult would suggest hanging a teenager to calm a mob!  But lynchings were a constant threat for African Americans living in the Deep South.  If you are interested in learning more about this heinous time in our history you should read “Lynching and Spectacle” by Amy Wood. As one of the students, Ernie Green, said, “It was a year like no other school year.”  A story of courage - and to think it happened just a little over 50 years ago.

Oral History Project

The overview of your final fourth quarter project was handed out this past week.  This project gives you the opportunity to select a topic of special interest to you and find a neighbor, relative or friend who lived through the event and would be willing to answer your questions.  My favorite historian, David McCullough, continues to recommend that history be taught through storytelling, so this is your chance to hear the stories through an interview.  You may interview a grandparent, aunt, uncle, neighbor or friend.  You can select any topic from 1945-2000 that interests you and that you did not experience directly.  Examples might include the space race, the Cold War, Beatlemania, changing social trends, the assassination of JFK, or the first Gulf War.  You will need to do some reading on your topic to get ready for the interview.  The assignment was given to you prior to the break in case you are travelling and may be visiting relatives or friends who would be good to interview.  When you get back from break we will do a decades activity that will give you additional ideas for topics.  The project is due the week of May 6.

World History

This week we completed our study of World War I by reading an UpFront article on why World War I still matters, and by completing a graphic organizer.  Much of the conflict in Southwest Asia can be traced back to the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the redrawing of the map of that region.  On Friday you had your assessment and you were able to use your notes so good grades should have been earned by all.

We also returned to our Imperialism essay and focused on writing one perfect paragraph.  By using the rubric and your help sheet on thesis statements many of you made excellent revisions.

We also finished off third quarter by updating our status of assignment sheet and filling out a form that needs to be taken home for a signature.  This is a perfect time to reflect on what successes you had and what improvements you can make so the fourth quarter is your best quarter to date.