This will be the last homework assignment of the semester! Congratulations on nearing the halfway point. I hope the class has taught you valuable information about our western culture and caused you to think more deeply about our present and future. This week we will continue our study of the Renaissance, specifically focusing on the tremendous art work that was created. I would like you to begin by reading an overview of the period found at the link http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/ and comparing the Renaissance period to today. How are we different? How are we alike?
Then look at the artwork found at http://history.hanover.edu/courses/art/111ren.html . Select a single piece of artwork that appeals to you and introduce it in your essay. Who was the artist and when was the work created? Where was the work created/where is it today (if it is mobile)? Why does this particular piece appeal to you?
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those for all preceding assignments. God bless!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Homework 6, Due December 3, 2010
Welcome back from Thanksgiving break! Only a few weeks left in the semester, so be sure to keep up with your assignments! We'll be studying some very interesting history over the next few weeks, and I know you'll be interested in some of the individuals we discuss. One such individual is a true "Renaissance Man" - Galileo.
As most of you already know, Galileo was, among other things, a scientist who was tried for an unusual crime (by today's standards) - teaching "non-biblical" beliefs, namely that the earth orbited the sun! Although he was convicted and forced to publicly declare that he had been wrong, he was never tortured or imprisoned (his principle punishment was the requirement that he do penance, which his daughter did for him). Since no equipment had been invented that allowed anyone to see the orbits, both sides based their arguments on other things, such as math (both sides were wrong) and the interpretation of scriptures. So how did this get started?
As we learned previously, the discovery of ancient Greek and Roman history by the Crusaders absolutely revolutionized Europe. In a few short centuries Europe would go from being woefully primitive in comparison to the Arabs, Chinese and Indians (people from India), to being the dominant military, commercial, and educational force in the world. However, it's important to point out the the ancient Greeks and Romans weren't exactly foolproof - their own information was sometimes nothing more than an educated guess. The biggest perpetrator was Aristotle himself. The great man is responsible for so much wisdom and creativity, but his greatest contributions to history are probably the things he got wrong! For example, he believed that the heart circulated air through the body, not blood. For centuries, despite the increasing evidence to the contrary, many people refused to accept the fact that Aristotle was wrong. And he had another guess that was wrong also - the order of the universe.
Aristotle was at least inciteful enough to realize that many of the ancient myths about the night sky were wrong, but he was responsible for convincing many people that the earth stood still and the sun, moon and stars orbited around it. The Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy claimed to have proof that Aristotle was right (therefore the earth-centered theory was called the Ptolemaic Model). When this theory was brought back from the Crusades in the 1300s, many Europeans automatically accepted that it was true, and even found scripture that, the believed, backed up his assertions. For example, Psalm 93:1: “Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm ...” and Psalm 96:10: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable ...”.
Although the 16th century astronomer Copernicus described a "heliocentric", or sun-centered, universe as being the only model that explained the movement of the stars, by the time people were exposed to this view the Ptolemaic Model was considered sacred. When Galileo Galilei came along, he wrote a book called "Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences" in which he had two smart characters (one believed the Copernican Model, the other was smart enough to listen to him) and one character that was obviously supposed to be simple (named Simplicio), and he argued for the geocentric model with ridiculous and shallow arguments. It was open opposition to what the Catholic Church held to be true, and the dumb character seemed to resemble the Pope (Galileo's longtime, and soon to be ex-, friend).
Galileo's trial in the 1630s was complex because a great deal of politics was involved and ended in the manner I mentioned earlier. Within fifty years of his death the Catholic Church reversed its decision and embraced the Copernican Model (of course, we know now that neither the sun nor the earth is fixed, nor is our solar system the center of the universe). Why it concerns us today is that we still face questions about the compatability of scripture and science. While many people today embrace faulty science in order to argue that the Bible isn't true, we Christians have seen over and over that science proves the Bible's teaching.
Your assignment this week is to consider the story of Galileo and answer the following questions: How should Christians have acted toward the Copernical Model in the 1600s, and why? If the scriptures in Psalms do not imply that the earth literally stands still, what do they mean? (you'll need to read the verses around them for context). And, finally, what can Christians do today to ensure that mistakes like these don't occur again?
I look forward to reading your answers. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those that have preceded it. Thanks and have a good week!
As most of you already know, Galileo was, among other things, a scientist who was tried for an unusual crime (by today's standards) - teaching "non-biblical" beliefs, namely that the earth orbited the sun! Although he was convicted and forced to publicly declare that he had been wrong, he was never tortured or imprisoned (his principle punishment was the requirement that he do penance, which his daughter did for him). Since no equipment had been invented that allowed anyone to see the orbits, both sides based their arguments on other things, such as math (both sides were wrong) and the interpretation of scriptures. So how did this get started?
As we learned previously, the discovery of ancient Greek and Roman history by the Crusaders absolutely revolutionized Europe. In a few short centuries Europe would go from being woefully primitive in comparison to the Arabs, Chinese and Indians (people from India), to being the dominant military, commercial, and educational force in the world. However, it's important to point out the the ancient Greeks and Romans weren't exactly foolproof - their own information was sometimes nothing more than an educated guess. The biggest perpetrator was Aristotle himself. The great man is responsible for so much wisdom and creativity, but his greatest contributions to history are probably the things he got wrong! For example, he believed that the heart circulated air through the body, not blood. For centuries, despite the increasing evidence to the contrary, many people refused to accept the fact that Aristotle was wrong. And he had another guess that was wrong also - the order of the universe.
Aristotle was at least inciteful enough to realize that many of the ancient myths about the night sky were wrong, but he was responsible for convincing many people that the earth stood still and the sun, moon and stars orbited around it. The Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy claimed to have proof that Aristotle was right (therefore the earth-centered theory was called the Ptolemaic Model). When this theory was brought back from the Crusades in the 1300s, many Europeans automatically accepted that it was true, and even found scripture that, the believed, backed up his assertions. For example, Psalm 93:1: “Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm ...” and Psalm 96:10: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable ...”.
Although the 16th century astronomer Copernicus described a "heliocentric", or sun-centered, universe as being the only model that explained the movement of the stars, by the time people were exposed to this view the Ptolemaic Model was considered sacred. When Galileo Galilei came along, he wrote a book called "Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences" in which he had two smart characters (one believed the Copernican Model, the other was smart enough to listen to him) and one character that was obviously supposed to be simple (named Simplicio), and he argued for the geocentric model with ridiculous and shallow arguments. It was open opposition to what the Catholic Church held to be true, and the dumb character seemed to resemble the Pope (Galileo's longtime, and soon to be ex-, friend).
Galileo's trial in the 1630s was complex because a great deal of politics was involved and ended in the manner I mentioned earlier. Within fifty years of his death the Catholic Church reversed its decision and embraced the Copernican Model (of course, we know now that neither the sun nor the earth is fixed, nor is our solar system the center of the universe). Why it concerns us today is that we still face questions about the compatability of scripture and science. While many people today embrace faulty science in order to argue that the Bible isn't true, we Christians have seen over and over that science proves the Bible's teaching.
Your assignment this week is to consider the story of Galileo and answer the following questions: How should Christians have acted toward the Copernical Model in the 1600s, and why? If the scriptures in Psalms do not imply that the earth literally stands still, what do they mean? (you'll need to read the verses around them for context). And, finally, what can Christians do today to ensure that mistakes like these don't occur again?
I look forward to reading your answers. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those that have preceded it. Thanks and have a good week!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Homework 5, Due November 26, 2010
As you can see by the due date, this assignment may be completed any time over the next two weeks (as a result of the holiday and all the extra-curricular activities going on). As we discuss the Crusades this week you will learn that, as military endeavors, they were mostly failures. Given the fact that nearly a thousand years later these events still shape the identity of Christianity in the minds of many people world-wide, one might be tempted to believe that the brutality and loss of life and fortune were without benefit. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
The returning European crusaders brought back two things that would forever change the world - Bubonic Plague and knowledge from a very advanced society. Prior to the Crusades Europe operated under the feudal system, where power rested in the hands of the wealthy and the vast number of poor people were individually unimportant (they had no valuable skills and could easily be replaced should anyone decide not to comply with the demands of the lord). However, after the devastation of the plague, workers were in high demand - giving them much more bargaining power. While the Bubonic Plague destroyed the economic system, the new knowledge acquired from their Muslim enemies gave Europeans the opportunity to build new systems, both political and economic.
You can read more about the crusades at the following link: http://history-world.org/crusades.htm . Since we'll be spending so much time in class discussing the information and technology that Europe gained from the Crusades, I'd like to take this homework assignment to ask you to consider the possibility and effects of a global pandemic like the Bubonic Plague occuring in our own life times.
You have heard dire predictions about things like bird flu, etc. Suppose that disease hits humanity and we are unable to stop it before it rapidly spreads. Remember, due to air travel, a disease can become intercontinental in a matter of hours. Assume 50 percent of the world’s population is killed off in a matter of a few months. Discuss some general ways that you think the United States might change and support your ideas with information you learned during the study of what the bubonic plague did to Europe in the Middle Ages. The link http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm should provide you with all the materials you'll need for your research. Remember to respond to the work of others, and that this isn't due until the 26th. Thanks!
The returning European crusaders brought back two things that would forever change the world - Bubonic Plague and knowledge from a very advanced society. Prior to the Crusades Europe operated under the feudal system, where power rested in the hands of the wealthy and the vast number of poor people were individually unimportant (they had no valuable skills and could easily be replaced should anyone decide not to comply with the demands of the lord). However, after the devastation of the plague, workers were in high demand - giving them much more bargaining power. While the Bubonic Plague destroyed the economic system, the new knowledge acquired from their Muslim enemies gave Europeans the opportunity to build new systems, both political and economic.
You can read more about the crusades at the following link: http://history-world.org/crusades.htm . Since we'll be spending so much time in class discussing the information and technology that Europe gained from the Crusades, I'd like to take this homework assignment to ask you to consider the possibility and effects of a global pandemic like the Bubonic Plague occuring in our own life times.
You have heard dire predictions about things like bird flu, etc. Suppose that disease hits humanity and we are unable to stop it before it rapidly spreads. Remember, due to air travel, a disease can become intercontinental in a matter of hours. Assume 50 percent of the world’s population is killed off in a matter of a few months. Discuss some general ways that you think the United States might change and support your ideas with information you learned during the study of what the bubonic plague did to Europe in the Middle Ages. The link http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm should provide you with all the materials you'll need for your research. Remember to respond to the work of others, and that this isn't due until the 26th. Thanks!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Homework 4, Due November 12, 2010
As we've studied the history of Christianity in the days of the Roman Empire and the centuries after its fall, I hope you've had an opportunity to consider the incredible price that was paid by early Christians as they faced terrible persecution for their beliefs. The bravery of these men and women is astounding, and modern Christians should be mindful that we have the Word of God preserved only by His grace and their faithfulness. Of course, people are still being martyred and imprisoned today for their Christian beliefs.
This week I'd like you to research a Christian martyr and share his/her story along with a personal lesson we can learn from them. Here are a couple of good websites you can access to begin your work.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm
Remember that your response must be at least 200 words and that you must respond to at least two others (a total of 150 words). Failure to complete your homework assignments can have a dire effect on your grade!
This week I'd like you to research a Christian martyr and share his/her story along with a personal lesson we can learn from them. Here are a couple of good websites you can access to begin your work.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm
Remember that your response must be at least 200 words and that you must respond to at least two others (a total of 150 words). Failure to complete your homework assignments can have a dire effect on your grade!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Homework 3, Due November 5, 2010
This being a short school week, you will doubtless have extra time to commit to history homework! All kidding aside, I will eliminate the minimum word count for your essays and responses for this week's assignment. Your assignment is a simple and straight-forward one: following Tuesday's election results, research the outcome of the contest your wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Tell us who won and whether your prediction was correct. Summarize your beliefs about how the election results will affect the US over the next two years and explain why. Enjoy your extra-long weekend!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Homework 2, Due October 29, 2010
Last week's homework assignment was very well done by so many of you! Congratulations on your research and on taking a stand. Remember, there's no reason why politics should intimidate you; it's your RIGHT to have an opinion and to express it freely. If someone else wants to get angry and act childishly that shouldn't convince you to not participate! By backing down you give up your right to participate in the democratic process.
This week's assignment will focus on a less-controversial subject, though. When you think of Ancient Rome it is likely that you picture the incredible architecture and artwork that continues to exist and inspire us today. Your assignment is to follow one of the following links and choose a Roman piece of artwork or architecture to share with us. What was the initial purpose of your topic? Does it exist today? What is special/unusual about it? Why did you choose this specific example?
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-architecture/index.htm
Take time to choose your selection carefully and share what you've learned!
This week's assignment will focus on a less-controversial subject, though. When you think of Ancient Rome it is likely that you picture the incredible architecture and artwork that continues to exist and inspire us today. Your assignment is to follow one of the following links and choose a Roman piece of artwork or architecture to share with us. What was the initial purpose of your topic? Does it exist today? What is special/unusual about it? Why did you choose this specific example?
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-architecture/index.htm
Take time to choose your selection carefully and share what you've learned!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Homework 1, Due October 22, 2010
As we continue our discussion of the history of Rome I want you to consider the enormous amount of dedication and sacrifice it must have taken for the democratic system to have been adopted - and then notice how quickly the Romans lost it with the dawn of the age of emperors. The right to choose our representatives in government is sacred and includes an incredible responsibility. Voters absolutely must make an honest effort to understand the issues and carefully consider the longterm effects of the proposed plans in order to make a reasonable choice. For example, polls conducted this week on college campuses in states where key elections are being held found that many of the students were unaware of the positions of the candidates - on issues the students said they cared about! (I suppose we can all be thankful that the youth voter turnout is consistently low).
This week's assignment is an exercise in democracy. I want you to visit the site http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/page?id=10476449 to view an analysis of the upcoming election. Then I want you to choose any election on the ABC News site and report back on it. Who is the incumbent, who is the challenger (include the party affiliation) and who does ABC News think will win? Then find a news story about the campaign and share what you learn (cite your source). Finally, tell us who you think should be elected (or good/bad points about both candidates if you wish to keep your politics a secret).
Remember that the minimum requirement is 200 words - you don't have to write a book! Your responses to your classmates have been good; keep up the good work!
This week's assignment is an exercise in democracy. I want you to visit the site http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/page?id=10476449 to view an analysis of the upcoming election. Then I want you to choose any election on the ABC News site and report back on it. Who is the incumbent, who is the challenger (include the party affiliation) and who does ABC News think will win? Then find a news story about the campaign and share what you learn (cite your source). Finally, tell us who you think should be elected (or good/bad points about both candidates if you wish to keep your politics a secret).
Remember that the minimum requirement is 200 words - you don't have to write a book! Your responses to your classmates have been good; keep up the good work!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Homework 8, Due October 15, 2010
For the next couple of weeks we will be studying the greatest western empire of all time - the empire of ancient Rome. So much of western culture is derived from Rome - our languages, laws and politics, and even forms of recreation. Of course, as you've already noted, Rome was built on the heritage of other cultures that came earlier, but nowhere else do we see all these special western traits come together quite like the Roman empire. You might know, for example, that the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian languages are all derived from the old Latin (called "vulgar Latin" because it was the language of the common people). You might even know that half of the modern English language is directly descended from the vulgar Latin (we'll discuss why when we talk about the history of England). But did you know that most of the major European cities today are built on the locations of Roman military forts? At the peak of the Roman Empire, not only did Rome control the Mediterranean world and the Middle East, but also North Africa and almost all of western Europe.
If you are a native of Kentucky it is likely that you have very little Roman ancestry, however. It is more likely that your ancestors (and mine) were uncivilized people like the Gaelic (or Celtic) or Germanic tribes. So how did the culture of Rome become the basis for the culture for all the rest of the European people groups? Well, that's an important topic we'll discuss in lecture over the next few days.
Your assignment for this week is to research life in ancient Rome and identify ways that Romans were SIMILAR TO residents of modern Somerset. Go to www.worldbookonline.com (choose the student section) and find the article "Rome, ancient" (found at the link http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar474350&st=life+in+ancient+rome ). You will have to sign in to World Book: your id is "scs" and your password is "cougars". Identify and discuss two topics of similarities that you find.
Remember that your essay must be at least 200 words and you must leave comments on the essays of at least two others (totally 150 words). Your essays are due Friday evening by midnight; the responses are due Sunday evening by midnight. Give it your best effort!
If you are a native of Kentucky it is likely that you have very little Roman ancestry, however. It is more likely that your ancestors (and mine) were uncivilized people like the Gaelic (or Celtic) or Germanic tribes. So how did the culture of Rome become the basis for the culture for all the rest of the European people groups? Well, that's an important topic we'll discuss in lecture over the next few days.
Your assignment for this week is to research life in ancient Rome and identify ways that Romans were SIMILAR TO residents of modern Somerset. Go to www.worldbookonline.com (choose the student section) and find the article "Rome, ancient" (found at the link http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar474350&st=life+in+ancient+rome ). You will have to sign in to World Book: your id is "scs" and your password is "cougars". Identify and discuss two topics of similarities that you find.
Remember that your essay must be at least 200 words and you must leave comments on the essays of at least two others (totally 150 words). Your essays are due Friday evening by midnight; the responses are due Sunday evening by midnight. Give it your best effort!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fall Break, October 4-8, 2010
Hope you are enjoying your fall break! There is no new assignment this week; however, for those of you who have missing assignments from previous weeks, here's your chance for make up work. Under THIS POST ONLY, submit your essay, being careful to label it (include the homework number and original due date). Essays must be at least 400 words in length and can earn you up to 50% credit (which is far better than the zero you currently have!).
See you next Monday!
See you next Monday!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Homework 7, Due Friday October 1, 2010
Perhaps the most important contribution of ancient Greece to modern western culture is the concept of government "by the people." Throughout history in many cultures the ability to govern has belonged to powerful minorities that maintained their position by dominating society with overwhelming power. This concept led to abuses and inequalities that could usually only be corrected by revolution and violence. The Athenians imagined a new power structure - one that can best be described as an "employee government". Government officials are "hired" by the citizens and can be "fired" just as easily.
The practice of democracy in Greece was not exactly like the democracies of today. Because the citizens of a city-state like Athens lived in a relatively small geographic region it was possible for the decision makers to meet in a public forum to discuss the pressing concerns of the day. Imagine if you will what it would be like if all the decisions concerning taxes, war, and building projects for Pulaski County were made in public votes held at the Center for Rural Development. Can you imagine the community involvement and the passionate advocacy that would take place? By comparison, in the modern US democratic system the citizens are so spread out that it is impossible for a meeting, and often people feel that decisions made in government only barely affect them. That's why we choose representatives to speak for us in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.
This week's assignment is to visit the following British Broadcasting Company website and read about government in ancient Greece:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocracy_01.shtml
Answer the questions: Should democracy be updated to better serve US citizens? With the invention of the internet, should the process be changed, and, if so, how?
Your work this past week was especially good - keep it up! Have a good week.
The practice of democracy in Greece was not exactly like the democracies of today. Because the citizens of a city-state like Athens lived in a relatively small geographic region it was possible for the decision makers to meet in a public forum to discuss the pressing concerns of the day. Imagine if you will what it would be like if all the decisions concerning taxes, war, and building projects for Pulaski County were made in public votes held at the Center for Rural Development. Can you imagine the community involvement and the passionate advocacy that would take place? By comparison, in the modern US democratic system the citizens are so spread out that it is impossible for a meeting, and often people feel that decisions made in government only barely affect them. That's why we choose representatives to speak for us in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.
This week's assignment is to visit the following British Broadcasting Company website and read about government in ancient Greece:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocracy_01.shtml
Answer the questions: Should democracy be updated to better serve US citizens? With the invention of the internet, should the process be changed, and, if so, how?
Your work this past week was especially good - keep it up! Have a good week.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Homework 6, Due September 24, 2010
This week we will continue our study of ancient Greece. The assignment will take us away from ancient history, however, and cover current events in Greece, giving us the opportunity to become familiar with modern news sources. You should remember that the media, while providing our primary source of information about the world around us, is made up of people just like any of the rest of us - usually having beliefs and causes we'd like others to follow as well. You should read every article with the question in mind: "What is the author's argument (point) and should I agree?" For instance, research has shown that members of the modern US media tend to be somewhat more liberal than the rest of the US population, and often those liberal beliefs are subtly reflected in their writing. Rember, there is no law against having an opinion, and the media is under no obligation to refrain from trying to influence you. It is up to you to read carefully and apply the lessons of critical thinking before you form your own opinions.
Go to the link http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1987368,00.html and read the recent Time Magazine article dealing with current events in Greece. After reading the article search the web for other quality news sources that discuss these events. In your essay, summarize the events of the article and state your opinion as to why these events are happening. Answer the question: Could this happen in the US? Why or why not?
Some of you have fallen behind in your homework. Remember that this will have a detrimental impact on your grade! For those of you who have stayed on top of your assignments, congratulations on your efforts and learning to manage your time successfully. Have a good week!
Go to the link http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1987368,00.html and read the recent Time Magazine article dealing with current events in Greece. After reading the article search the web for other quality news sources that discuss these events. In your essay, summarize the events of the article and state your opinion as to why these events are happening. Answer the question: Could this happen in the US? Why or why not?
Some of you have fallen behind in your homework. Remember that this will have a detrimental impact on your grade! For those of you who have stayed on top of your assignments, congratulations on your efforts and learning to manage your time successfully. Have a good week!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Homework 5, Due September 17, 2010
After reading your essays this past week I am proud of the work you all are doing. Your comments have been good also, especially considering that the subject matter has not been controversial (which would be easier to generate differing opinions about the issues). So, keep up the good work!
This week's assignment will focus on Egypt and the Middle East in the modern era. Here are a list of significant events, people, and issues from the last 100 years. Choose ONE to research and report for your essay. Remember that your essay need only be 200 words (no less), and your responses must total at least 150 words.
Six-Day War
Intifada
First Gulf War
Anwar El Sadat
Yitzhak Rabin
Yasser Arafat
Golda Meir
Camp David Accords
Oslo Accords
Research your topic and then report your findings. Answer the question "Why is this person/event/issue significant to world history?" Remember to cite your sources (you may use the web sites we've explored in previous assignments or search for information elsewhere, but be careful about websites you visit! I look forward to reading your work!
This week's assignment will focus on Egypt and the Middle East in the modern era. Here are a list of significant events, people, and issues from the last 100 years. Choose ONE to research and report for your essay. Remember that your essay need only be 200 words (no less), and your responses must total at least 150 words.
Six-Day War
Intifada
First Gulf War
Anwar El Sadat
Yitzhak Rabin
Yasser Arafat
Golda Meir
Camp David Accords
Oslo Accords
Research your topic and then report your findings. Answer the question "Why is this person/event/issue significant to world history?" Remember to cite your sources (you may use the web sites we've explored in previous assignments or search for information elsewhere, but be careful about websites you visit! I look forward to reading your work!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Homework 4, Due September 10, 2010
For this week’s assignment we are going to get more practice doing basic research. Go to www.worldbookonline.com and sign in. Your log in id is “scs” (no quotes, no punctuation) and the password is “cougars”. Enter the World Book Student site and search for articles related to the history of Egypt. There are few requirements as to the topic – find something that interests you. You will need to reference an article and a related table, map, or special report in your essay. Be sure to fully cite your references (don’t just name the website, but list the website, article name and author, and date you read it).
Some of you have been writing essays that are nearly a thousand words long. Congratulations overachievers! However, you are overworking me – so stop. The minimum is 200 words and your essay should be at least that long if you want credit. However, feel free to put a sock in it after getting your point across. That will be greatly appreciated!
Some of you have been writing essays that are nearly a thousand words long. Congratulations overachievers! However, you are overworking me – so stop. The minimum is 200 words and your essay should be at least that long if you want credit. However, feel free to put a sock in it after getting your point across. That will be greatly appreciated!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Homework 3, Due September 3, 2010
This week’s assignment offers you a choice of topics to research. We are going to use the website livius.org, which is similar to Wikipedia.org in that it is a free resource with many contributors, but different in that the contributors are all college history professors whose work is thoroughly checked for accuracy and quality.
The first option is to research and report on the war between Jews and Romans at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and other Jewish strongholds. Read the article found at the link http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar05.html and write an essay describing your findings. State and defend your opinion about whether the Jews should have rebelled against the Roman Empire, given what you know of the subject.
The second option is to further research the Babylonian Empire. While we have discussed the Old Babylonian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, and the New (Neo) Babylonian Empire, there are several other empires that arose in the area known as Mesopotamia that we did not discuss in class lecture. Follow the link http://www.livius.org/ba-bd/babylon/babylonian_empire.html and read the article there then report your findings on one of the empires that we did not discuss in class. Offer and defend your opinion as to why this region so often saw powerful empires arise only to fall quickly after a few generations.
The third option is to research the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as discussed in the article found at http://www.livius.org/se-sg/7wonders/seven_wonders.html . Which was most impressive? Which was, in your estimation, the least? Defend your opinions by offering critical analysis of both.
As always, be sure to cite your sources. In citing an internet source, be sure to mention the author, the title and URL of the page, and -this is important- the date on which you saw the page. After all, webpages are bound to change. Also, check the website www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for important information regarding lesson plans. Thanks and keep up the good work!
The first option is to research and report on the war between Jews and Romans at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and other Jewish strongholds. Read the article found at the link http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar05.html and write an essay describing your findings. State and defend your opinion about whether the Jews should have rebelled against the Roman Empire, given what you know of the subject.
The second option is to further research the Babylonian Empire. While we have discussed the Old Babylonian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, and the New (Neo) Babylonian Empire, there are several other empires that arose in the area known as Mesopotamia that we did not discuss in class lecture. Follow the link http://www.livius.org/ba-bd/babylon/babylonian_empire.html and read the article there then report your findings on one of the empires that we did not discuss in class. Offer and defend your opinion as to why this region so often saw powerful empires arise only to fall quickly after a few generations.
The third option is to research the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as discussed in the article found at http://www.livius.org/se-sg/7wonders/seven_wonders.html . Which was most impressive? Which was, in your estimation, the least? Defend your opinions by offering critical analysis of both.
As always, be sure to cite your sources. In citing an internet source, be sure to mention the author, the title and URL of the page, and -this is important- the date on which you saw the page. After all, webpages are bound to change. Also, check the website www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for important information regarding lesson plans. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Homework 2, Due August 27, 2010
This week we will be studying some of the most important ancient empires of the western world, including the Old Babylonian Empire and the Jewish Empire. Your assignment is to research one of the following great leaders: Hammurabi, Cyrus the Great, Darius I, or Solomon. Here are some questions to consider as you read the articles and write your essay:
What were the great accomplishments of the leader's reign?
What were the obstacles he faced?
How do you think the commoners he ruled felt about him? Why?
If it were possible for your selected leader to be a modern president, would he be good at the job? Why do you think he would/wouldn't?
Incorporate your answers to these questions in an essay format. You should start at www.worldbookonline.com but you may have to do some additional reading to find all you are looking for. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those of Homework 1; you must submit a 200 word essay (don't forget to cite your sources!) and you must respond to at least two essays by other students (responses are due Sunday, August 29, and must total at least 150 words). Keep up the good work!
What were the great accomplishments of the leader's reign?
What were the obstacles he faced?
How do you think the commoners he ruled felt about him? Why?
If it were possible for your selected leader to be a modern president, would he be good at the job? Why do you think he would/wouldn't?
Incorporate your answers to these questions in an essay format. You should start at www.worldbookonline.com but you may have to do some additional reading to find all you are looking for. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those of Homework 1; you must submit a 200 word essay (don't forget to cite your sources!) and you must respond to at least two essays by other students (responses are due Sunday, August 29, and must total at least 150 words). Keep up the good work!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Homework 1, Due August 20, 2010
Welcome to the new school year! I am excited about this class and look forward to getting to know all of you better as we study history. This week's history assignment is a "warm-up" exercise. I would like you to answer the following question: If you could choose to visit any culture in history, which would it be? Why are you especially interested in that time period and culture? Visit www.worldbookonline.com and log in (your ID is scs; the passwork is cougars) and find an article about your chosen culture. Report back on your findings, and be sure to cite the article correctly in your essay.
Remember, your essay must be at least 200 words in length (which isn't very long, after all) and you must read the essays of others and respond to at least two of them (a total of 150 words in response). See me before or after school if you need help setting up a Google ID to leave comments on the blog!
Remember, your essay must be at least 200 words in length (which isn't very long, after all) and you must read the essays of others and respond to at least two of them (a total of 150 words in response). See me before or after school if you need help setting up a Google ID to leave comments on the blog!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Homework 5, Due Friday, May 7
In honor of our theatrical production this week I'd like to turn your attention to the topic of culture and arts. While eating lunch at a restaurant today, I was struck by the complete silliness of it all: a crowd of people paying for food and service…and something else – the pleasure of eating tasty food. If we were strictly governed by logic we would choose our meals based on nutritional value and cost effectiveness. Mealtime would be similar to recharging a cell phone – plug in, fill up, and go on. But that’s not what we do because, while our needs would be met, another need – the need for enjoyment – would go unfulfilled. So we are motivated much more than we are usually ready to admit by the joy of creative art. One could apply the same standard to the clothes we wear, houses we live in, and many other things we do.
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 26-30, 2010
No new homework this week because of our annual testing! Please get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast. You may bring snacks to the room to eat between tests. If you have missed a homework assignment up to this point in the fourth quarter you may post it here this week for 80% credit. That's much better than the zero you're going to receive otherwise, so take this opportunity to bring the grades up! God bless!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Homework 4, Due April 23, 2010
What is your definition of a "hero"? This week we will study one of the greatest American presidents, one that many hold to be a true hero, Gerald R. Ford. He became president during one of the darkest periods in American history, in a political environment that was so bitterly divided that many citizens had abandoned hope of ever seeing a return to normalcy. On top of that, he inherited the worst modern economy other than the Great Depression and the awful aftermath of the War in Vietnam.
With all of this going on, it is easy to see why noone could govern without being despised by certain segments of society. President Ford was the first president to be "honored" with a full-time comedic double on Saturday Night Live, and Americans were easily influenced by the non-stop ridicule that was heaped on him and his family. Throughout his time in office, however, he did his best and never showed anger toward those that hated him. Twice he was targetted by assassins (he was not injured in the attacks), and while the Secret Service hustled him away on one of those occasions, he shouted back at the law enforcement officers not to hurt the college student that had attempted to kill him.
To say the least, President Ford's decision to pardon President Nixon following Nixon's resignation was a controversial decision, but one that Ford felt was in the best interest of the country. After two years of non-stop Watergate news and numerous officials bound for jail, prosecutors were gearing up for a criminal trial to put the former president in prison. Ford pre-emptively pardoned Nixon, telling the country that it was time to begin the healing process and to focus on the other problems that were challenging America. Ultimately this decision cost Ford his bid for re-election in 1976, but years later his most vocal critics would publicly admit that Ford's brave decision truly was for the best.
Now I would like to hear from you. Choose an individual we have studied up to this point in US History and explain why that person deserves to be recognized as a true American hero. Back up your opinion with facts and observations. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks and God bless!
With all of this going on, it is easy to see why noone could govern without being despised by certain segments of society. President Ford was the first president to be "honored" with a full-time comedic double on Saturday Night Live, and Americans were easily influenced by the non-stop ridicule that was heaped on him and his family. Throughout his time in office, however, he did his best and never showed anger toward those that hated him. Twice he was targetted by assassins (he was not injured in the attacks), and while the Secret Service hustled him away on one of those occasions, he shouted back at the law enforcement officers not to hurt the college student that had attempted to kill him.
To say the least, President Ford's decision to pardon President Nixon following Nixon's resignation was a controversial decision, but one that Ford felt was in the best interest of the country. After two years of non-stop Watergate news and numerous officials bound for jail, prosecutors were gearing up for a criminal trial to put the former president in prison. Ford pre-emptively pardoned Nixon, telling the country that it was time to begin the healing process and to focus on the other problems that were challenging America. Ultimately this decision cost Ford his bid for re-election in 1976, but years later his most vocal critics would publicly admit that Ford's brave decision truly was for the best.
Now I would like to hear from you. Choose an individual we have studied up to this point in US History and explain why that person deserves to be recognized as a true American hero. Back up your opinion with facts and observations. The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks and God bless!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Homework 3, Due April 16, 2010
This week we will discuss the most famous political scandal in our nation's history - the only scandal to bring down a presidency. Usually Americans are forgiving of politicians - ones they voted for, at least - and, while two presidents have been impeached, no president has ever been removed from office for "high crimes and misdemeanors", as stipulated by the Constitution. Of course, we'll never know, but it certainly seems obvious that had Richard Nixon not resigned the presidency in 1974, Congress would have made him the first to be impeached and convicted. In fact, were it not for a pardon by the next president (Gerald Ford), it is likely that Nixon would have been arrested and placed in jail for his part in the scheme, as was the case for several of Nixon's team members.
So what could possibly cause one of the most successful presidents to come to such a fate? His team cheated in the 1972 election and he and others helped cover up the crimes. Why would Nixon have done such a thing - especially given the fact that he could have won in 1972 without making any real effort? As we discussed in a previous lecture, a radical youth movement had captured control of the Democratic Party and most Americans weren't ready to go along with their extreme positions. Nixon's choices (and those of the people he chose to be on his team) were bizarre - and based on a notion that somehow the laws didn't apply to them. Remember, in a republic such as ours, everyone is equal under law, and no one, not even the president, has a right to act illegally.
For this week's assignment I would like you to first visit the following link: http://www.watergate.info/chronology/brief.shtml and read the brief timeline of events. Then choose two links (you'll find them on the side of the timeline under the heading that reads "home") from "Burglary" to "Aftermath" and report on your findings. Answer the questions: 1) Was the American system of government in danger of collapse? and 2) What should be done to ensure, within the boundaries of the constitution, that this doesn't happen again.
For those of you who like controversy, you may choose to report on the rather incendiary essay by former Nixon speech writer (and 1988/1992 presidential candidate) Patrick Buchanan, found under the "Analysis" link. Respond critically to his assertions and take a position - pro or con.
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks, God bless, and welcom back!
So what could possibly cause one of the most successful presidents to come to such a fate? His team cheated in the 1972 election and he and others helped cover up the crimes. Why would Nixon have done such a thing - especially given the fact that he could have won in 1972 without making any real effort? As we discussed in a previous lecture, a radical youth movement had captured control of the Democratic Party and most Americans weren't ready to go along with their extreme positions. Nixon's choices (and those of the people he chose to be on his team) were bizarre - and based on a notion that somehow the laws didn't apply to them. Remember, in a republic such as ours, everyone is equal under law, and no one, not even the president, has a right to act illegally.
For this week's assignment I would like you to first visit the following link: http://www.watergate.info/chronology/brief.shtml and read the brief timeline of events. Then choose two links (you'll find them on the side of the timeline under the heading that reads "home") from "Burglary" to "Aftermath" and report on your findings. Answer the questions: 1) Was the American system of government in danger of collapse? and 2) What should be done to ensure, within the boundaries of the constitution, that this doesn't happen again.
For those of you who like controversy, you may choose to report on the rather incendiary essay by former Nixon speech writer (and 1988/1992 presidential candidate) Patrick Buchanan, found under the "Analysis" link. Respond critically to his assertions and take a position - pro or con.
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as those of every assignment preceding it. Thanks, God bless, and welcom back!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Homework 3, Due April 2, 2010
Because I will be busy this weekend and because next week is a short one, I’m posting this assignment early. It won’t be due until Friday night, April 2. There will be no assignment over spring break.
As we’ve discussed in lecture and earlier homework assignments, the Vietnam era was a difficult time for the US in many ways. In addition to the war the economy was bad for a very long time – but we’ll talk more about that later. It truly was a time of “culture war” within our country and there seemed to be no end to the anger and mounting violence. By 1960, due to the “Baby Boom” nearly 50% of the US population was under the age of 18, allowing for widespread revolt against the status quo (perhaps you’ve heard that modern Arab countries, hotbeds of terrorism, share the same statistic today). As we’ll discuss later in our study of the Civil Rights Movement, racial tensions boiled over into massive riots that engulfed entire communities in flames and turned inner cities into war zones.
As time went on and patience grew thin, there were occasions when law enforcement officials took the law into their own hands or acted in ways that failed to meet the high standards and expectations of a police force in a democracy. One such instance, as we discussed in lecture, was the “police riot” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968; another, also in Chicago involving the city police force, was the shooting deaths of two members of the Black Panthers (a radical civil rights group) in December of 1969. These relatively rare events were used by domestic (American) terrorists as justification for criminal violence.
It seems difficult to comprehend how things got so far out of hand, but perhaps current events demand that we do our best to understand the past. As I write this assignment there are news stories online concerning responses to the recent health care legislation. Members of both parties have been targeted; the office of one member of the House of Representatives was shot at and a coffin was left in front of another’s family home, to name a couple of extreme instances. In the 1970s every cause seemed to be radicalized and many believed that the worst was yet to come.
Although the followers of Charles Manson are epitomize the evil forces at work in that era and the Symbionese Liberation Army gained much more public attention, for our assignment this week we’ll focus on politically motivated homegrown terrorists. I’d like you to read about the Weather Underground Organization (WUO), a group that continues to be important today because some of the members are still politically active, having mostly avoided long prison sentences due to legal technicalities. As you read, consider the following questions and respond to them in your post: 1) what part (if any) of the story surprised you? 2) What fueled the anger of this group, and how should people act to bring about change they believe in? 3) How were these violent enemies of the status quo different from George Washington and our founding fathers?
Because memories of these events are still fresh for many people I found it difficult to locate a document that accurately shared the story without being politically skewed. Ironically, the best appeared at Wikipedia.org, which I have checked for accuracy and fairness. You may locate it at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_(organization) .
The parameters of this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it.
As we’ve discussed in lecture and earlier homework assignments, the Vietnam era was a difficult time for the US in many ways. In addition to the war the economy was bad for a very long time – but we’ll talk more about that later. It truly was a time of “culture war” within our country and there seemed to be no end to the anger and mounting violence. By 1960, due to the “Baby Boom” nearly 50% of the US population was under the age of 18, allowing for widespread revolt against the status quo (perhaps you’ve heard that modern Arab countries, hotbeds of terrorism, share the same statistic today). As we’ll discuss later in our study of the Civil Rights Movement, racial tensions boiled over into massive riots that engulfed entire communities in flames and turned inner cities into war zones.
As time went on and patience grew thin, there were occasions when law enforcement officials took the law into their own hands or acted in ways that failed to meet the high standards and expectations of a police force in a democracy. One such instance, as we discussed in lecture, was the “police riot” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968; another, also in Chicago involving the city police force, was the shooting deaths of two members of the Black Panthers (a radical civil rights group) in December of 1969. These relatively rare events were used by domestic (American) terrorists as justification for criminal violence.
It seems difficult to comprehend how things got so far out of hand, but perhaps current events demand that we do our best to understand the past. As I write this assignment there are news stories online concerning responses to the recent health care legislation. Members of both parties have been targeted; the office of one member of the House of Representatives was shot at and a coffin was left in front of another’s family home, to name a couple of extreme instances. In the 1970s every cause seemed to be radicalized and many believed that the worst was yet to come.
Although the followers of Charles Manson are epitomize the evil forces at work in that era and the Symbionese Liberation Army gained much more public attention, for our assignment this week we’ll focus on politically motivated homegrown terrorists. I’d like you to read about the Weather Underground Organization (WUO), a group that continues to be important today because some of the members are still politically active, having mostly avoided long prison sentences due to legal technicalities. As you read, consider the following questions and respond to them in your post: 1) what part (if any) of the story surprised you? 2) What fueled the anger of this group, and how should people act to bring about change they believe in? 3) How were these violent enemies of the status quo different from George Washington and our founding fathers?
Because memories of these events are still fresh for many people I found it difficult to locate a document that accurately shared the story without being politically skewed. Ironically, the best appeared at Wikipedia.org, which I have checked for accuracy and fairness. You may locate it at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_(organization) .
The parameters of this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Homework 2, Due March 26, 2010
This week we will discuss the radicalization of the two political parties during the 1960s. The Democratic Party lurched "leftward" (more liberal) on the strength of anti-war sentiments and the most out-spoken elements of the counter-cultural revolution. By 1972 the party would nominate Sen. George McGovern, a candidate so liberal that most of America (including his home state of South Dakota) would be unable to support his run for the presidency.
On the other hand, a new conservatism was born during the 1960s that had several influences. First there were those who were opposed to the counter-cultural revolution. They saw the attacks on America's institutions by "hippies" as an insult and a dangerous opportunity for communists during the Cold War. This branch of conservatism was moved by issues and philosophies and tended to be very religious. One of the issues that was important to these cultural (or social) conservatives was the legalization of abortion, which became law as a result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973.
Another branch of conservatism was primarily concerned with the perceived dangers of government over-spending as a result of the "Great Society" programs. While the US was used to deficits (going into debt) during wars, it became the regular practice to spend more than was coming in to fund things like Medicare, welfare, and public schools. Today the US is more than $12,000,000,000,000 in debt, and the amount grows every minute! This branch of conservatives are known as "fiscal conservatives", and the primary goal of this group is to cut government spending to balance the budget. Of course, many people consider themselves to be both social and fiscal conservatives, but it's important to remember that that is not always the case.
For your assignment this week I'd like you to research one of the following leaders of the political parties and discuss that individual's impact on American politics:
Democrats: Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy
Republicans: Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan
Provide a brief biographical sketch of your subject and explain his political views. How do you think that individual changed his party? You might begin your research at the following link: http://virtualology.com/famousamericans/
Cite your sources and follow the grading expectations of every other assignment for this year. Thanks and God bless!
On the other hand, a new conservatism was born during the 1960s that had several influences. First there were those who were opposed to the counter-cultural revolution. They saw the attacks on America's institutions by "hippies" as an insult and a dangerous opportunity for communists during the Cold War. This branch of conservatism was moved by issues and philosophies and tended to be very religious. One of the issues that was important to these cultural (or social) conservatives was the legalization of abortion, which became law as a result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973.
Another branch of conservatism was primarily concerned with the perceived dangers of government over-spending as a result of the "Great Society" programs. While the US was used to deficits (going into debt) during wars, it became the regular practice to spend more than was coming in to fund things like Medicare, welfare, and public schools. Today the US is more than $12,000,000,000,000 in debt, and the amount grows every minute! This branch of conservatives are known as "fiscal conservatives", and the primary goal of this group is to cut government spending to balance the budget. Of course, many people consider themselves to be both social and fiscal conservatives, but it's important to remember that that is not always the case.
For your assignment this week I'd like you to research one of the following leaders of the political parties and discuss that individual's impact on American politics:
Democrats: Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, Eugene McCarthy
Republicans: Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan
Provide a brief biographical sketch of your subject and explain his political views. How do you think that individual changed his party? You might begin your research at the following link: http://virtualology.com/famousamericans/
Cite your sources and follow the grading expectations of every other assignment for this year. Thanks and God bless!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Homework 1, Fourth Quarter, Due March 19, 2010
For a start, I'll let you in on something that's likely to warm your hearts. One of my classes at UK requires a weekly posting somewhat like these assignments. This week I sat down to do my homework and decided to post directly to blackboard instead of typing the assignment first on Word. You can guess the rest, and, yes, I was about finished when tragedy struck. I was mad at myself but had to grin when I thought of the times I'd warned you about the exact same thing.
Now on to your assignment. Of all the modern presidents none has captured the imagination of the US and world quite like John Kennedy. He was the first of his generation to be elected as president - the World War II generation, sometimes called the "greatest generation". Later Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr would be elected from that generation, an unprecedented accomplishment that is unlikely to be equalled in the future.
Kennedy was to face several challenges upon assuming the presidency. The Cold War was in full gear and its effects were causing concern about nuclear war and increased commitment to Vietnam, among other things. Twice the US came to the brink of all-out war with the Soviet Union, and both events centered on the island of Cuba. In 1959, a year before Kennedy's election, Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government and assumed dictatorial powers. Amazingly, today, more than 50 years later, Castro is still in power, though his younger brother Raul governs the country.
As Castro came to power the Cuban army and many business elites of the country fled to the US - 30,000 of them were given citizenship in a single day, in fact, and their political and cultural influence is still powerful today, especially in parts of Florida. These Cuban-Americans despise Castro and were intent on staging a counter-revolution based in the US to regain control of their home country. This and other events caused the new Cuban government to reach out to the Soviets for support, which of course the communists were more than happy to supply. Ironically, the US CIA had actually assisted Castro in his revolution in order to get rid of the corrupt regime of Cuban President Batista. Almost accidentally a new communist country came into existence only 90 miles from the shores of south Florida - not a pleasing prospect for the US during the Cold War!
The first major confrontation came with the Bay of Pigs invasion, in which US-assisted Cuban-Americans invaded Cuba with disastrous results. The second was the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in which the US discovered that the Soviets were placing powerful inter-continental ballistic missiles - nuclear bombs - in Cuba, and they were going to be capable of destroying any US city. The world watched and waited as the Soviet ships bearing the missiles were intercepted by US naval vessels and a stand-off occurred. For thirteen days, no one knew if nuclear war would occur.
On both of these occasions many of Kennedy's advisors urged him to attack Cuba and use the nuclear capabilities of our armed forces. Instead, Kennedy chose to listen to a group of young advisors, many of them in their 20s and 30s, most important being his younger brother Robert (whom he'd appointed to be his Attourny General), and their advice kept the US from precipitating Word War III. I'd like you to chose one of these events and analyze Kennedy's abilities as president. Was he a good leader? Did he make the correct choice given what he knew at the time? Should he have acted differently?
For information about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/JFK+and+the+Bay+of+Pigs.htm
For information about the Cuban Missile Crisis, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/jfkl/cmc/cmc_intro.html
If there are other events in Kennedy's administration that you'd prefer to research, you may begin at the Kennedy Presidential Library homepage: http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Please note that the 4th quarter bonus opportunity will be posted sometime this week. God bless!
Now on to your assignment. Of all the modern presidents none has captured the imagination of the US and world quite like John Kennedy. He was the first of his generation to be elected as president - the World War II generation, sometimes called the "greatest generation". Later Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush Sr would be elected from that generation, an unprecedented accomplishment that is unlikely to be equalled in the future.
Kennedy was to face several challenges upon assuming the presidency. The Cold War was in full gear and its effects were causing concern about nuclear war and increased commitment to Vietnam, among other things. Twice the US came to the brink of all-out war with the Soviet Union, and both events centered on the island of Cuba. In 1959, a year before Kennedy's election, Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government and assumed dictatorial powers. Amazingly, today, more than 50 years later, Castro is still in power, though his younger brother Raul governs the country.
As Castro came to power the Cuban army and many business elites of the country fled to the US - 30,000 of them were given citizenship in a single day, in fact, and their political and cultural influence is still powerful today, especially in parts of Florida. These Cuban-Americans despise Castro and were intent on staging a counter-revolution based in the US to regain control of their home country. This and other events caused the new Cuban government to reach out to the Soviets for support, which of course the communists were more than happy to supply. Ironically, the US CIA had actually assisted Castro in his revolution in order to get rid of the corrupt regime of Cuban President Batista. Almost accidentally a new communist country came into existence only 90 miles from the shores of south Florida - not a pleasing prospect for the US during the Cold War!
The first major confrontation came with the Bay of Pigs invasion, in which US-assisted Cuban-Americans invaded Cuba with disastrous results. The second was the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in which the US discovered that the Soviets were placing powerful inter-continental ballistic missiles - nuclear bombs - in Cuba, and they were going to be capable of destroying any US city. The world watched and waited as the Soviet ships bearing the missiles were intercepted by US naval vessels and a stand-off occurred. For thirteen days, no one knew if nuclear war would occur.
On both of these occasions many of Kennedy's advisors urged him to attack Cuba and use the nuclear capabilities of our armed forces. Instead, Kennedy chose to listen to a group of young advisors, many of them in their 20s and 30s, most important being his younger brother Robert (whom he'd appointed to be his Attourny General), and their advice kept the US from precipitating Word War III. I'd like you to chose one of these events and analyze Kennedy's abilities as president. Was he a good leader? Did he make the correct choice given what he knew at the time? Should he have acted differently?
For information about the Bay of Pigs Invasion, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/JFK+and+the+Bay+of+Pigs.htm
For information about the Cuban Missile Crisis, go to http://www.jfklibrary.org/jfkl/cmc/cmc_intro.html
If there are other events in Kennedy's administration that you'd prefer to research, you may begin at the Kennedy Presidential Library homepage: http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Please note that the 4th quarter bonus opportunity will be posted sometime this week. God bless!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Homework 10, Due March 12
As we continue our study of the Vietnam War, it should be obvious to you that those were years of tremendous tumult and bitterness in the US. Coupled with this terrible war was an extended recession (worse than the current financial situation, and lasting about 10 years), and the occurrence of the Watergate scandal (much more on that later). It was during this time that a "counterculture" emerged - young people making decisions and living lifestyles for the express purpose of rejecting all that was important to their parents' generation. Clothes changed, music changed, values changed - and all of these changes were met with hearty condemnation from older generations, creating a so-called "generation gap". This counterculture revolution would set the stage for the massive drug use and sexual revolution (rejection of biblical constraints on sexuality) that are associated with the era.
It's hard now to understand just how far this nihilism defined a generation. (Nihilism, by the way, can be described as the complete rejection of all authority). For instance, when Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California in 1966 his teenaged daughter cried and asked him "How could you do this to me?" (An American Life) By being an elected official, he became a bad guy, part of the "establishment". There was such a complete disconnection between the culture of young people and adults that it's not much of an exageration to say that there were two wars going on at the same time - one military, one cultural.
While this culture war typically was fought in words, that wasn't always the case. Every summer throughout the late 60s and early 70s young black Americans rioted, burning and looting inner cities protesting for civil rights (we'll study the civil rights movement in depth later). At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago protestors were beaten by police in what the courts later termed a "police riot", and Americans got used to hearing about tear gas and rubber bullets being used to break up demonstrations.
Exactly forty years ago, as the spring semester of 1970 drew to a close, riots and protests were widespread across America. After several brutal years in Vietnam, President Nixon announced that he was ordering an expansion of the war with invasions into Cambodia and Laos. This brought an explosive reaction from demonstrators everywhere, but two events occured that help to define the history of the era, and thereby contribute to the story of who we are as Americans. On the campuses of Kent State (OH) and Jackson State (MS) universities, protests turned violent and were met with powerful police responses. At Kent State four unarmed students, two of whom were not participating in the protests, were killed by guardsmen's bullets. The deaths shocked America as the images of those events were published in the news media.
I would like you to follow the link at the bottom of the page to read a compilation of eye-witness accounts of the Kent State tragedy. When you have finished post your responses to the following questions: 1) Does it seem possible for such an event to occur today? 2) Who deserves the blame for the tragedy? Why do you make that choice? 3) What lessons can be learned from the Kent State story?
Let me encourage you to read critically. Ask yourself which side the author supports, and judge how fairly does he or she seem to be telling the story. As you prepare for college this will be one of the most important skills you will develop!
Here is the link to the essay:
http://dept.kent.edu/may4/chrono.htm
Your assignment requirements are exactly the same as all those that have preceded this one.
It's hard now to understand just how far this nihilism defined a generation. (Nihilism, by the way, can be described as the complete rejection of all authority). For instance, when Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California in 1966 his teenaged daughter cried and asked him "How could you do this to me?" (An American Life) By being an elected official, he became a bad guy, part of the "establishment". There was such a complete disconnection between the culture of young people and adults that it's not much of an exageration to say that there were two wars going on at the same time - one military, one cultural.
While this culture war typically was fought in words, that wasn't always the case. Every summer throughout the late 60s and early 70s young black Americans rioted, burning and looting inner cities protesting for civil rights (we'll study the civil rights movement in depth later). At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago protestors were beaten by police in what the courts later termed a "police riot", and Americans got used to hearing about tear gas and rubber bullets being used to break up demonstrations.
Exactly forty years ago, as the spring semester of 1970 drew to a close, riots and protests were widespread across America. After several brutal years in Vietnam, President Nixon announced that he was ordering an expansion of the war with invasions into Cambodia and Laos. This brought an explosive reaction from demonstrators everywhere, but two events occured that help to define the history of the era, and thereby contribute to the story of who we are as Americans. On the campuses of Kent State (OH) and Jackson State (MS) universities, protests turned violent and were met with powerful police responses. At Kent State four unarmed students, two of whom were not participating in the protests, were killed by guardsmen's bullets. The deaths shocked America as the images of those events were published in the news media.
I would like you to follow the link at the bottom of the page to read a compilation of eye-witness accounts of the Kent State tragedy. When you have finished post your responses to the following questions: 1) Does it seem possible for such an event to occur today? 2) Who deserves the blame for the tragedy? Why do you make that choice? 3) What lessons can be learned from the Kent State story?
Let me encourage you to read critically. Ask yourself which side the author supports, and judge how fairly does he or she seem to be telling the story. As you prepare for college this will be one of the most important skills you will develop!
Here is the link to the essay:
http://dept.kent.edu/may4/chrono.htm
Your assignment requirements are exactly the same as all those that have preceded this one.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Homework 9, Due March 5, 2010
As you know, we've begun our study of the Vietnam War. I mentioned in class that it has been the most controversial event in American history, and the controversy lives on. As I researched this assignment, my original plans had to change. Here's why: as opposed to the Civil War and the World Wars, there are very few notable web sites devoted to Vietnam. I had hoped to give you some exposure to the "reaction at home" but the websites that covered the anger and bitterness all contained objectionable material. It occurs to me that most of you have seen Vietnam portrayed or at least referenced in books, movies, and TV shows. Because it is still fresh in our nation's mind, the war is still a source of emotional debate. So, rather than sending you to do research, this week I'd like to ask a series of questions:
1. Was Vietnam worth it? The years, the tens of thousands of lives, the fortune that was spent?
2. Did the US lose the War in Vietnam? Our enemies didn't defeat us in the field of battle, yet we left and our allies were destroyed. What does this question mean for Americans today?
3. Could another "Vietnam" occur again? Would Americans be willing to sacrifice as much, regardless of the cause? (For perspective, remember that by the late 1960s about 500 American soldiers were dying every week in Vietnam).
4. How did this happen? Should the US policy (Truman Doctrine) have been different?
I look forward to your answers. Please remember that the requirements for this assignment are a minimum of 200 words, and at least two responses to the posts of others (responses must total 150 words minimum). Thanks and God bless!
1. Was Vietnam worth it? The years, the tens of thousands of lives, the fortune that was spent?
2. Did the US lose the War in Vietnam? Our enemies didn't defeat us in the field of battle, yet we left and our allies were destroyed. What does this question mean for Americans today?
3. Could another "Vietnam" occur again? Would Americans be willing to sacrifice as much, regardless of the cause? (For perspective, remember that by the late 1960s about 500 American soldiers were dying every week in Vietnam).
4. How did this happen? Should the US policy (Truman Doctrine) have been different?
I look forward to your answers. Please remember that the requirements for this assignment are a minimum of 200 words, and at least two responses to the posts of others (responses must total 150 words minimum). Thanks and God bless!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Homework 8, Due February 26,2010
Presidential elections are always important and are usually exciting events that draw the energy and passion of the American people into public service and discussion. The right to vote in free and fair elections is one of the greatest privileges of citizenship, and the need to vote responsibly, which means based on the issues and the character of the candidates, is our greatest civic duty. While many people love politics, for some who have grown cynical, the word itself is negative. Unfortunately the political process has weaknesses; for instance, it takes so much money to run for office today that many qualified citizens never run because they don’t have access to the necessary finances. There is a great debate today about how to fix that problem, because it seems that there is no easy solution.
Perhaps the most hotly contested election and certainly the closest was the election of 1960. The Democrats had no established candidate, and it was obvious that Senator Adlai Stevenson wouldn’t be nominated a third time in a row. The Democrats were the dominate party but had not been in the White House during the previous eight years – instead, a very non-political moderate Republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had served. Now that the elderly President Eisenhower was leaving office and it was likely that the Republicans would nominate his young vice-president Richard Nixon to be their candidate, even though there were rumors that he had “bent the rules” in previous elections. Nixon went on national television to deny the allegations and explained that the only bribe he’d ever taken was a puppy named “Checkers” and that he intended to keep the dog.
The Democratic nominee who would emerge is an iconic figure in American history – John F. Kennedy, a young senator from Massachusetts who had served in the Navy in World War II. The Kennedys were a unique family. John Kennedy’s dad was ambassador to Great Britain during FDR’s presidency, and John’s older brother Joe had died during the war. John’s maternal grandfather had been a famous Irish-American mayor of Boston, and both sides of the family were very wealthy. All of the Kennedys attended Harvard and went on to law school. The three young Kennedy men (John and his younger brothers Robert and Edward) all held press credentials, and John’s wife Jacqueline was a reporter who spoke three languages (she would later make speeches in Spanish and French during the Kennedys’ trips to other countries).
The election changed America in several ways. One important development was that for the first time the candidates debated on live television, which played up to Kennedy’s stylish appearance and smooth public speaking abilities. Nixon, on the other hand, was uncomfortable in front of the cameras and came across poorly. To make matters worse he had suffered a serious knee injury and was unable to get the infection properly cared for; the result was that he was in tremendous pain, looked very pale (and refused to allow stage makeup to be applied) and wiped sweat from his face throughout the entire debate. Still, when the votes were counted Kennedy won by a smaller margin than the number of people who usually attend a UK football game – a tiny fraction of one percent of the voting population! Kennedy became the youngest president ever elected (Teddy Roosevelt was younger when he became president, but he took office by accession, not election).
What were the issues that voters were concerned about in that election? I’d like you to take some time and research one of the following elections: 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972. Briefly introduce the two nominees but focus on the issues that were most important to voters during that time period. Some places to start your research might be
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/elections.php
or
http://www.historycentral.com/elections/
Good luck and God bless!
Perhaps the most hotly contested election and certainly the closest was the election of 1960. The Democrats had no established candidate, and it was obvious that Senator Adlai Stevenson wouldn’t be nominated a third time in a row. The Democrats were the dominate party but had not been in the White House during the previous eight years – instead, a very non-political moderate Republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had served. Now that the elderly President Eisenhower was leaving office and it was likely that the Republicans would nominate his young vice-president Richard Nixon to be their candidate, even though there were rumors that he had “bent the rules” in previous elections. Nixon went on national television to deny the allegations and explained that the only bribe he’d ever taken was a puppy named “Checkers” and that he intended to keep the dog.
The Democratic nominee who would emerge is an iconic figure in American history – John F. Kennedy, a young senator from Massachusetts who had served in the Navy in World War II. The Kennedys were a unique family. John Kennedy’s dad was ambassador to Great Britain during FDR’s presidency, and John’s older brother Joe had died during the war. John’s maternal grandfather had been a famous Irish-American mayor of Boston, and both sides of the family were very wealthy. All of the Kennedys attended Harvard and went on to law school. The three young Kennedy men (John and his younger brothers Robert and Edward) all held press credentials, and John’s wife Jacqueline was a reporter who spoke three languages (she would later make speeches in Spanish and French during the Kennedys’ trips to other countries).
The election changed America in several ways. One important development was that for the first time the candidates debated on live television, which played up to Kennedy’s stylish appearance and smooth public speaking abilities. Nixon, on the other hand, was uncomfortable in front of the cameras and came across poorly. To make matters worse he had suffered a serious knee injury and was unable to get the infection properly cared for; the result was that he was in tremendous pain, looked very pale (and refused to allow stage makeup to be applied) and wiped sweat from his face throughout the entire debate. Still, when the votes were counted Kennedy won by a smaller margin than the number of people who usually attend a UK football game – a tiny fraction of one percent of the voting population! Kennedy became the youngest president ever elected (Teddy Roosevelt was younger when he became president, but he took office by accession, not election).
What were the issues that voters were concerned about in that election? I’d like you to take some time and research one of the following elections: 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972. Briefly introduce the two nominees but focus on the issues that were most important to voters during that time period. Some places to start your research might be
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/elections.php
or
http://www.historycentral.com/elections/
Good luck and God bless!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Homework 7, Due February 19, 2010
As World War II ended and Americans readjusted to peace, the five years following the war (1945-1950) were among the most formative in our nation's history. Consider the following facts by carefully reading the paragraphs below. When you have carefully read the information provided choose two of the questions to respond to in your homework essay. (It's amazing to consider that all these things were happening in one five year span!).
The GI bill sent former soldiers to college, and for the first time in history higher education and the better jobs that it leads to was open middle class and poor Americans (white, for the most part, but this would soon change). Can you pause for a moment and consider how important this has been in making the US the country it is today?
The Nuremburg and Japan trials were conducted and for the first time in world history nations united together to demand justice. Former Nazi and Japanese officials were given legitimate, fair trials and either acquitted or sentenced based on the evidence. The accused criminals had lawyers and access to evidence. The trials were public and the newspapers of the world reported the daily proceedings. Why was it important that these trials (and the executions that followed) were done in such a manner?
The US instituted the Marshall Plan. It might sound normal by today's standards, but at the time it was an extreme departure from anything we'd ever done: US taxpayer dollars were used to help rebuild Europe! Not just charity projects like food and clothing, but we actually paid for the rebuilding of infrastructure so the European economies would survive and get back on track. Considering the fact that the US has spent $10 billion a month in Iraq for the last seven years, that idea might not surprise you, but you can imagine that it was a novel idea back then, especially considering how strictly tax dollars were spent in the early days of our country. At the same time the US was completely redesigning the Japanese economy, education system, and military. Is there a justifiable reason to spend your money for the benefit of other countries? Does the US eventually get enough benefit from the investment to justify the cost?
After almost 2,000 years, the nation of Israel was reborn. Jews who had lost everything in Europe were unlikely to return to their home countries, and the Zionist movement was born. Hundreds of thousands of American Jews emigrated to Palestine, and in 1948 Israeli independence was declared. Of all the nations on earth, the US has had no closer relations than our relationship with Israel over the last 60 years. Today the nation of Israel, which is surrounded by enemies and has a large Muslim minority, continues to struggle against regular attacks but still has a vibrant economy and fully functioning society. Do you think the US should continue to be so involved in Israel, and do you think that it is possible to see a peaceful solution to the conflict?
The Iron Curtain descended over eastern Europe and the Cold War began. After the Soviets pushed the Nazi army back into Germany, the Communists never relinquished control over eastern Europe, including East Germany. Freedom and democracy were replaced with harsh dictatorships that lasted for decades - most until the end of the 1980s. For years more than a million American and Soviet troops stared at each other from just a few yards apart across the East/West border of Germany: an extremely explosive situation that could have erupted into war at any time. (I was a high school student when the Berlin Wall came down and the eastern European countries overthrew the communist dictator governments - what an exciting time to be watching the world events!). How do you think America has changed since the end of the Cold War?
The United Nations was created and a new era of cooperation began. Along with the UN, new organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank emerged so that large nations such as the US could assist poor countries in developing their economies and improve the lives of their citizens (through immunization efforts, for example). Today there is much controversy as to the efficacy of such programs. Is this unhappiness the result of the fact that the problems of the world are just too large and complex to solve, or do you think that these programs are probably effective but our access to news and information just highlights the continued suffering of those in other countries?
The requirements for this assignment are exactly as all those that preceded it. God bless!
The GI bill sent former soldiers to college, and for the first time in history higher education and the better jobs that it leads to was open middle class and poor Americans (white, for the most part, but this would soon change). Can you pause for a moment and consider how important this has been in making the US the country it is today?
The Nuremburg and Japan trials were conducted and for the first time in world history nations united together to demand justice. Former Nazi and Japanese officials were given legitimate, fair trials and either acquitted or sentenced based on the evidence. The accused criminals had lawyers and access to evidence. The trials were public and the newspapers of the world reported the daily proceedings. Why was it important that these trials (and the executions that followed) were done in such a manner?
The US instituted the Marshall Plan. It might sound normal by today's standards, but at the time it was an extreme departure from anything we'd ever done: US taxpayer dollars were used to help rebuild Europe! Not just charity projects like food and clothing, but we actually paid for the rebuilding of infrastructure so the European economies would survive and get back on track. Considering the fact that the US has spent $10 billion a month in Iraq for the last seven years, that idea might not surprise you, but you can imagine that it was a novel idea back then, especially considering how strictly tax dollars were spent in the early days of our country. At the same time the US was completely redesigning the Japanese economy, education system, and military. Is there a justifiable reason to spend your money for the benefit of other countries? Does the US eventually get enough benefit from the investment to justify the cost?
After almost 2,000 years, the nation of Israel was reborn. Jews who had lost everything in Europe were unlikely to return to their home countries, and the Zionist movement was born. Hundreds of thousands of American Jews emigrated to Palestine, and in 1948 Israeli independence was declared. Of all the nations on earth, the US has had no closer relations than our relationship with Israel over the last 60 years. Today the nation of Israel, which is surrounded by enemies and has a large Muslim minority, continues to struggle against regular attacks but still has a vibrant economy and fully functioning society. Do you think the US should continue to be so involved in Israel, and do you think that it is possible to see a peaceful solution to the conflict?
The Iron Curtain descended over eastern Europe and the Cold War began. After the Soviets pushed the Nazi army back into Germany, the Communists never relinquished control over eastern Europe, including East Germany. Freedom and democracy were replaced with harsh dictatorships that lasted for decades - most until the end of the 1980s. For years more than a million American and Soviet troops stared at each other from just a few yards apart across the East/West border of Germany: an extremely explosive situation that could have erupted into war at any time. (I was a high school student when the Berlin Wall came down and the eastern European countries overthrew the communist dictator governments - what an exciting time to be watching the world events!). How do you think America has changed since the end of the Cold War?
The United Nations was created and a new era of cooperation began. Along with the UN, new organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank emerged so that large nations such as the US could assist poor countries in developing their economies and improve the lives of their citizens (through immunization efforts, for example). Today there is much controversy as to the efficacy of such programs. Is this unhappiness the result of the fact that the problems of the world are just too large and complex to solve, or do you think that these programs are probably effective but our access to news and information just highlights the continued suffering of those in other countries?
The requirements for this assignment are exactly as all those that preceded it. God bless!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Homework 6, Due February 12, 2010
In our continued study of the Second World War, we will turn our attention to the atrocities of the German regime known as the Holocaust. While many people now know of the horrible slaughter of millions of Jews and other groups, the story has not always been widely understood, and even now, in Europe and the Middle East, some groups are claiming that it never happened.
In class we briefly discussed antisemitism (the hatred of Jews) and its origins. It's rather difficult to imagine that Americans were once generally antisemitic, holding all Jews accountable for the crucifiction of Jesus and continuing the European tradition of blaming Jews for all wide-spread financial woes. The Ku Klux Klan, in addition to the mistreatment of African-Americans, also targeted Jews and Catholics in their abuses. It was only after the revelation of the evils of the Holocaust that most Americans adopted a sympathetic view of the Jewish people.
Jews have lived in America almost since the very first settlers arrived. Because most of the colonies were founded by determined Protestant groups, however, Jews weren't welcomed many places. It was Maryland, with its guaranteed religious freedome for all, and New Amsterdam (New York), with its secular society, where most of the Jewish settlers made their homes. Following World War II hundreds of thousands of American Jews, called Zionists, would emigrate to the new country of Israel, recreating a nation that had been non-existent for almost 2,000 years. They even revived the ancient Hebrew language in order to assimilate all the Jews that would arrive from countries like the US and the Soviet Union and many others. Israel was even governed by a Jewish-American - Golda Meir.
Today millions of Americans claim Jewish heritage. Although there has never been a Jewish-American president or vice-president, Jews have served in every other capacity in government. Because American Jews aren't always possible to identify strictly my physical appearance, many Americans are unaware of this minority group (thank goodness for Adam Sandler's Hanukah song, right?). Still concentrated in New York, some pockets of Jewish Americans cling to the traditions that set them apart in the earlier days of our nation's history. They even speak a language called Yiddish - unique in that it never belonged to a country, and was entirely made up of slang and bits of other languages. (Some of the words have become common in English, such as schmooz and klutz). So even if you think this assignment is megilla, be a mensch - not a nudnik or a neddish - and get it done, mach shnel. Fershtay?
Please go to the National Holocaust Museum education web site - http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/ - and report on one of the articles you find there. Also, if you have visited the holocaust museum or been to a European museum of similar focus, share your experience. The requirements for this assignment are exactly like those of all previous assignments. Good luck and God bless!
In class we briefly discussed antisemitism (the hatred of Jews) and its origins. It's rather difficult to imagine that Americans were once generally antisemitic, holding all Jews accountable for the crucifiction of Jesus and continuing the European tradition of blaming Jews for all wide-spread financial woes. The Ku Klux Klan, in addition to the mistreatment of African-Americans, also targeted Jews and Catholics in their abuses. It was only after the revelation of the evils of the Holocaust that most Americans adopted a sympathetic view of the Jewish people.
Jews have lived in America almost since the very first settlers arrived. Because most of the colonies were founded by determined Protestant groups, however, Jews weren't welcomed many places. It was Maryland, with its guaranteed religious freedome for all, and New Amsterdam (New York), with its secular society, where most of the Jewish settlers made their homes. Following World War II hundreds of thousands of American Jews, called Zionists, would emigrate to the new country of Israel, recreating a nation that had been non-existent for almost 2,000 years. They even revived the ancient Hebrew language in order to assimilate all the Jews that would arrive from countries like the US and the Soviet Union and many others. Israel was even governed by a Jewish-American - Golda Meir.
Today millions of Americans claim Jewish heritage. Although there has never been a Jewish-American president or vice-president, Jews have served in every other capacity in government. Because American Jews aren't always possible to identify strictly my physical appearance, many Americans are unaware of this minority group (thank goodness for Adam Sandler's Hanukah song, right?). Still concentrated in New York, some pockets of Jewish Americans cling to the traditions that set them apart in the earlier days of our nation's history. They even speak a language called Yiddish - unique in that it never belonged to a country, and was entirely made up of slang and bits of other languages. (Some of the words have become common in English, such as schmooz and klutz). So even if you think this assignment is megilla, be a mensch - not a nudnik or a neddish - and get it done, mach shnel. Fershtay?
Please go to the National Holocaust Museum education web site - http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/ - and report on one of the articles you find there. Also, if you have visited the holocaust museum or been to a European museum of similar focus, share your experience. The requirements for this assignment are exactly like those of all previous assignments. Good luck and God bless!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Homework 5, due February 5, 2010
Please note that the due date coincides with the merit trip. No additional time will be granted to complete the assignment, so please complete the work early or be prepared to take a penalty (only 10% off if you complete it over the 6th or 7th, however - after that it will not be accepted for credit).
We began our discussion of World War II this last week by considering the horrific evil that was perpetrated by the Third Reich. The famous quote is “all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.” That is not the story of the Second World War, however. Good people did much – and they literally saved the world from the kind of fear and suffering not seen on earth since the days of Genghis Khan – but this time on a much wider scale. From the underground organizations such as the White Rose to individuals hiding Jews from the Nazis, people took the initiative to do what they could to stop the spread of Nazism, and for thousands the ultimate result was death without ever knowing the outcome. Without the organized efforts of the US and our allies, however, Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo would have been successful. Americans gave sacrificially – their sons (over 400,000 American soldiers died), their efforts, and their finances. Even Hollywood got in on the act, producing one patriotic film after another.
Studs Terkel, an American author, captured the experiences of hundreds of people who participated in World War II and compiled their stories in an awesome book entitled “The Good War”. It is obvious what his title insinuates: this was a war worth fighting. It was good versus evil, with human freedom on the line for all humanity. For us, that seems a little unbelievable – after all, no one’s ever taken our freedom. However, in other societies where freedom has been lost, oftentimes generations, even centuries, go by before authoritarianism is defeated and human rights restored.
Now, I love to read, but few books have ever captured my attention like “The Good War”. While print versions aren’t available online because of copyright restrictions, numerous sound recordings are available through the Studs Terkel website - http://www.studsterkel.org/gwar.php. If you are able to access these sound recordings (I have been unable to open them, but you might have better luck) listen to one and report your findings. Summarize and evaluate the person’s experience in World War II.
If you are unable to access the sound recordings, go to http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afcphhtml/afcphhome.html and do your research there. (This is the Library of Congress website, and the interviews are also in audio format, but transcripts are available. Because they are unedited, they are inferior to the Terkel interviews). Click on “name” or “subject” and randomly choose an individual to research and report on. The requirements for this assignment are exactly like all the others that have preceded it.
The time has come as well to discuss your 3rd quarter bonus opportunity. Like last quarter, you may use this as a “test pass” or, more wisely, an opportunity to drop your lowest test grade of the quarter. Here’s the assignment: since we are studying World War II and will soon cover Korea and Vietnam, I would like you to interview an American vet who participated in a foreign war (World War II up to the current conflicts, any is acceptable).
You must submit your video log to this website (I’ll create a specific post) and give me a list of questions you plan on asking in advance of the interview. The interview should be about ten minutes long. If you don’t have a family member who participated in a war, ask around for friends or members of your church who can help. Your questions should focus on the individuals experience (his/her job, location, memorable events) and the lasting impact of the war on the individual. PLEASE take time to carefully plan your interview, make an appointment with the vet, be courteous and respectful. (Be sure to send a thank-you card afterwards). The best of these interviews will be made available for wider viewing, so make sure the individual knows that this video will be viewed publicly.
We began our discussion of World War II this last week by considering the horrific evil that was perpetrated by the Third Reich. The famous quote is “all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.” That is not the story of the Second World War, however. Good people did much – and they literally saved the world from the kind of fear and suffering not seen on earth since the days of Genghis Khan – but this time on a much wider scale. From the underground organizations such as the White Rose to individuals hiding Jews from the Nazis, people took the initiative to do what they could to stop the spread of Nazism, and for thousands the ultimate result was death without ever knowing the outcome. Without the organized efforts of the US and our allies, however, Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo would have been successful. Americans gave sacrificially – their sons (over 400,000 American soldiers died), their efforts, and their finances. Even Hollywood got in on the act, producing one patriotic film after another.
Studs Terkel, an American author, captured the experiences of hundreds of people who participated in World War II and compiled their stories in an awesome book entitled “The Good War”. It is obvious what his title insinuates: this was a war worth fighting. It was good versus evil, with human freedom on the line for all humanity. For us, that seems a little unbelievable – after all, no one’s ever taken our freedom. However, in other societies where freedom has been lost, oftentimes generations, even centuries, go by before authoritarianism is defeated and human rights restored.
Now, I love to read, but few books have ever captured my attention like “The Good War”. While print versions aren’t available online because of copyright restrictions, numerous sound recordings are available through the Studs Terkel website - http://www.studsterkel.org/gwar.php. If you are able to access these sound recordings (I have been unable to open them, but you might have better luck) listen to one and report your findings. Summarize and evaluate the person’s experience in World War II.
If you are unable to access the sound recordings, go to http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afcphhtml/afcphhome.html and do your research there. (This is the Library of Congress website, and the interviews are also in audio format, but transcripts are available. Because they are unedited, they are inferior to the Terkel interviews). Click on “name” or “subject” and randomly choose an individual to research and report on. The requirements for this assignment are exactly like all the others that have preceded it.
The time has come as well to discuss your 3rd quarter bonus opportunity. Like last quarter, you may use this as a “test pass” or, more wisely, an opportunity to drop your lowest test grade of the quarter. Here’s the assignment: since we are studying World War II and will soon cover Korea and Vietnam, I would like you to interview an American vet who participated in a foreign war (World War II up to the current conflicts, any is acceptable).
You must submit your video log to this website (I’ll create a specific post) and give me a list of questions you plan on asking in advance of the interview. The interview should be about ten minutes long. If you don’t have a family member who participated in a war, ask around for friends or members of your church who can help. Your questions should focus on the individuals experience (his/her job, location, memorable events) and the lasting impact of the war on the individual. PLEASE take time to carefully plan your interview, make an appointment with the vet, be courteous and respectful. (Be sure to send a thank-you card afterwards). The best of these interviews will be made available for wider viewing, so make sure the individual knows that this video will be viewed publicly.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Homework 4, Due January 29, 2010
I left a note on last week's assignment, but most of you won't see it, so let me repeat - great job guys! I really enjoyed your posts, and some of you found powerful quotes that I hope stick with you. So many things Dr. King said made an impact, and not just because of his style of delivery. His thoughts were deep, and he spoke powerful truth in his fight for justice and equality. Most people don't realize that his final trip to Memphis was not to work on behalf of the African-American population, but rather to bring attention to the way workers, black and white, were being mistreated.
This week's assignment takes us to a topic that deserves our attention - the Great Depression. It is altogether fitting that we should be studying America's greatest financial crisis - our weakest point other than the Civil War - against the backdrop of our current economic situation. It is important to understand that for the great majority of our history our economy has been the envy of the world. Even in times of hardship, the US rarely has suffered as much as other countries have, thanks in large part to our abundant natural resources, our free-market system, and the so-called "protestant work ethic" that defines our national character. Christian morality coupled with economic and political freedom have made this country the world leader it is today - still the country more people desire to emigrate to than anywhere else on earth. (Think about that the next time you are having a down day - millions would trade place with you in a heartbeat).
We discussed in lecture that the economy works in cycles, and every factor works in relation to many others. When things start to go bad, they can get bad in a hurry; conversely, when things start to improve, the whole economy rises together. Examine this chain of events from the last five years and note how problems tend to grow until they get out of hand:
It's hard to pick a starting point, but here's a try:
1. gas prices rise for a number of reasons (war in Iraq, instability in oil-producing regions, and especially the decision to weaken the US dollar in relation to other currencies in order to close the dangerous trade deficit).
2. higher gas prices mean higher costs of production for every good and service sold in the US - groceries, clothes, cars become more expensive to buy.
3. higher prices mean that people purchase fewer things
4. factories and stores lay off workers because fewer things are being purchased.
5. Unemployment and higher prices mean that many can't pay their home mortgages, which were too high to begin with because Americans had purchased homes they couldn't afford.
6. Banks close when people stop paying their home mortgage payments.
Now, if we think about where things are headed after number six, it doesn't look good, does it? You have personally witnessed every one of these events (if you are aware of your surroundings, at least). Now, consider how the Hoover administration dealt with similar circumstances in the early 1930s: the government did nothing, believing that it was not the role of government to meddle in the economy. The banks failed and most Americans lost everything. For years America struggled, and some families never regained their financial security. Thousands died of disease and malnutrition, and tens of thousands were homeless.
Compare that to the Bush and Obama administrations (knowing that the final chapter hasn't been written, only history will tell if their efforts were successful or not): The Bush administration broke every precedent in the history books by bailing out Bear Sterns (an investment bank that had survived the Great Depression!). This began the practice of using tax-payer dollars to shore up desperate companies, especially banks and auto makers. When millions of Americans stopped paying their home mortgages, the US government (using tax dollars, of course) bailed out Fannie May (funny name, it's just a nick, but it's the company that holds most of the mortgages in America). Without this swift and unprecedented action, it is amazing to think of the terrible disaster that would have occurred. The warning note is that the government, not having enough tax dollars on hand, borrowed heavily and increased the federal debt to an amount you have to see to believe. Stop right now, open up another browser, and paste in the link http://www.usdebtclock.org/ to get an idea.
Here's the assignment:
Review the pictures posted at http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/tp/greatdepressionpictures.htm . Which one do you think best sums the American experience of the Great Depression?
One of the iconic notions of the Great Depression is the thousands of homeless individuals (mostly men, but including thousands of teens) who "rode the rails" - illegally jumped on trains to travel in search of work or lodging. Go to the website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/ and read about it. Report back on your findings.
Finally, answer the question: Do you think the recent government intervention policies will work? Why or why not?
Thanks, and happy reasearching. The requirements are the same as in every preceeding assignment. God bless!
This week's assignment takes us to a topic that deserves our attention - the Great Depression. It is altogether fitting that we should be studying America's greatest financial crisis - our weakest point other than the Civil War - against the backdrop of our current economic situation. It is important to understand that for the great majority of our history our economy has been the envy of the world. Even in times of hardship, the US rarely has suffered as much as other countries have, thanks in large part to our abundant natural resources, our free-market system, and the so-called "protestant work ethic" that defines our national character. Christian morality coupled with economic and political freedom have made this country the world leader it is today - still the country more people desire to emigrate to than anywhere else on earth. (Think about that the next time you are having a down day - millions would trade place with you in a heartbeat).
We discussed in lecture that the economy works in cycles, and every factor works in relation to many others. When things start to go bad, they can get bad in a hurry; conversely, when things start to improve, the whole economy rises together. Examine this chain of events from the last five years and note how problems tend to grow until they get out of hand:
It's hard to pick a starting point, but here's a try:
1. gas prices rise for a number of reasons (war in Iraq, instability in oil-producing regions, and especially the decision to weaken the US dollar in relation to other currencies in order to close the dangerous trade deficit).
2. higher gas prices mean higher costs of production for every good and service sold in the US - groceries, clothes, cars become more expensive to buy.
3. higher prices mean that people purchase fewer things
4. factories and stores lay off workers because fewer things are being purchased.
5. Unemployment and higher prices mean that many can't pay their home mortgages, which were too high to begin with because Americans had purchased homes they couldn't afford.
6. Banks close when people stop paying their home mortgage payments.
Now, if we think about where things are headed after number six, it doesn't look good, does it? You have personally witnessed every one of these events (if you are aware of your surroundings, at least). Now, consider how the Hoover administration dealt with similar circumstances in the early 1930s: the government did nothing, believing that it was not the role of government to meddle in the economy. The banks failed and most Americans lost everything. For years America struggled, and some families never regained their financial security. Thousands died of disease and malnutrition, and tens of thousands were homeless.
Compare that to the Bush and Obama administrations (knowing that the final chapter hasn't been written, only history will tell if their efforts were successful or not): The Bush administration broke every precedent in the history books by bailing out Bear Sterns (an investment bank that had survived the Great Depression!). This began the practice of using tax-payer dollars to shore up desperate companies, especially banks and auto makers. When millions of Americans stopped paying their home mortgages, the US government (using tax dollars, of course) bailed out Fannie May (funny name, it's just a nick, but it's the company that holds most of the mortgages in America). Without this swift and unprecedented action, it is amazing to think of the terrible disaster that would have occurred. The warning note is that the government, not having enough tax dollars on hand, borrowed heavily and increased the federal debt to an amount you have to see to believe. Stop right now, open up another browser, and paste in the link http://www.usdebtclock.org/ to get an idea.
Here's the assignment:
Review the pictures posted at http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/tp/greatdepressionpictures.htm . Which one do you think best sums the American experience of the Great Depression?
One of the iconic notions of the Great Depression is the thousands of homeless individuals (mostly men, but including thousands of teens) who "rode the rails" - illegally jumped on trains to travel in search of work or lodging. Go to the website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/ and read about it. Report back on your findings.
Finally, answer the question: Do you think the recent government intervention policies will work? Why or why not?
Thanks, and happy reasearching. The requirements are the same as in every preceeding assignment. God bless!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Homework 3, Due January 22, 2010
This week we'll take an opportunity to look into the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since Monday is a day off in Dr. King's honor, we should consider why he is the only American recognized by name with a National Holiday, and what his life's work means to our country. Dr. King was once hated by many Americans, and was a symbol of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Now,in addition to the national holiday, there is a statue on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in recognition of his contribution to American society. Ask someone who was around in the late 1960s if they could have imagined that American would be as integrated as it is now (an African-American president, an African-American UK football coach at a school that once refused to recruit black athletes). How did this change occur? Perhaps no one is more responsible for breaking the walls of injustice than a young pastor from Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr. King was in his twenties when Mrs. Rosa Parks was jailed for refusing to move on a city bus. (It is often misunderstood that Mrs. Parks was asked to give up her seat for a white man, which is untrue. There were plenty of seats available, but the law said that if a white passenger got on the bus all African-American passengers had to move to the rear of the bus into a section labelled "colored". Mrs. Parks, inspired, perhaps, by the recent atrocity of the murder of a black teenager, refused to move and was arrested). Beginning with a boycott of the Birmingham bus lines, Dr. King drew national attention to the injustice of segregation and the violence with which it was often enforced. Until the day he was assassinated in 1968 Dr. King continued to lead a peaceful movement for justice.
This week's assignment is to research the life and legacy of Dr. King and report your findings. Keep your focus on Dr. King, for we will do two homework lessons on the larger Civil Rights movement during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Here are some suggested sites you may research:
For a list of Dr. King's quotations, see http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth297519.html
For a biographical introduction and timeline of Dr. King's life, see http://www.mlkonline.net/bio.html
To hear some of Dr. King's speeches you may visit http://www.mlkonline.net/sounds.html
Answer one or more of the following questions: Had there been no Dr. King, how might America be different today? Has Dr. King's dream been fulfilled (referring to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech)? What principles led Dr. King to lead the Civil Rights movement as he did?
The assignment caries the same requirements as all those that have preceded it. A reminder: cite your sources if you use a reference other than those given above.
Perhaps the best way to remember Dr. King is to follow his example of social involvement. Too many Americans are quick to speak volumes of criticism but slow to get involved and make a difference. As Christians we are instructed to ease the suffering of those who are miserable, and the Bible calls on us to "love justice". Our missions theme this year will come from Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up!" I challenge you to make a positive difference in your community this week.
Dr. King was in his twenties when Mrs. Rosa Parks was jailed for refusing to move on a city bus. (It is often misunderstood that Mrs. Parks was asked to give up her seat for a white man, which is untrue. There were plenty of seats available, but the law said that if a white passenger got on the bus all African-American passengers had to move to the rear of the bus into a section labelled "colored". Mrs. Parks, inspired, perhaps, by the recent atrocity of the murder of a black teenager, refused to move and was arrested). Beginning with a boycott of the Birmingham bus lines, Dr. King drew national attention to the injustice of segregation and the violence with which it was often enforced. Until the day he was assassinated in 1968 Dr. King continued to lead a peaceful movement for justice.
This week's assignment is to research the life and legacy of Dr. King and report your findings. Keep your focus on Dr. King, for we will do two homework lessons on the larger Civil Rights movement during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Here are some suggested sites you may research:
For a list of Dr. King's quotations, see http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth297519.html
For a biographical introduction and timeline of Dr. King's life, see http://www.mlkonline.net/bio.html
To hear some of Dr. King's speeches you may visit http://www.mlkonline.net/sounds.html
Answer one or more of the following questions: Had there been no Dr. King, how might America be different today? Has Dr. King's dream been fulfilled (referring to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech)? What principles led Dr. King to lead the Civil Rights movement as he did?
The assignment caries the same requirements as all those that have preceded it. A reminder: cite your sources if you use a reference other than those given above.
Perhaps the best way to remember Dr. King is to follow his example of social involvement. Too many Americans are quick to speak volumes of criticism but slow to get involved and make a difference. As Christians we are instructed to ease the suffering of those who are miserable, and the Bible calls on us to "love justice". Our missions theme this year will come from Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up!" I challenge you to make a positive difference in your community this week.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Homework 2, Due Jan 15, 2010
I hope you have enjoyed our lecture and discussion concerning World War I. It is, to me, one of the most important turning points in history (which you will see, I hope, as we move on to discuss its aftermath). Unfortunately, many people do not know much about it, and we seem dangerously close to re-learning some of the war's lessons the hard way. Maybe some day there will be a memorial on the mall in Washington, D.C., or a national museum to educate students about US contributions to the war efforts. Unfortunately, none of this will be accomplished in time for a World War I veteran to see it, for the last US veteran of the war recently died. (You can read an interesting article about him at http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/06/frank-buckles-americas-last-living-world-war-i-vet/ published in 2008).
But there was a great deal of other things going on in the US during those days and the years following, leading to the "hay days" that were known as the "Roaring 20s". For example, in an attempt to clean up New Orleans, the state of Louisianna banned the playing of jazz music (because so much of it was played in places where great sin was being committed), and thereby instigated America's first wave of popular music. All of those tremendous black musicians and singers moved to New York and Chicago, and their music came to American homes via new technology that was all the rage: radio and the phonograph. The "jazz age" - where European harmony melded with African rhythm to create a new American sound - would lead to the creation or modification of just about every style of music we listen to today.
Follow the link http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_subj.html and choose two topics to report. You might do some additional research to find examples of some of the music or radio shows that were popular at the time (if you choose to read about those topics) and include links for others to follow. Your essay must be at least 200 words and is due by midnight, Friday, January 15. At least two responses, totalling 150 words, are due by Sunday January 17. Best of luck in your research, and enjoy learning about an exciting time in US history!
But there was a great deal of other things going on in the US during those days and the years following, leading to the "hay days" that were known as the "Roaring 20s". For example, in an attempt to clean up New Orleans, the state of Louisianna banned the playing of jazz music (because so much of it was played in places where great sin was being committed), and thereby instigated America's first wave of popular music. All of those tremendous black musicians and singers moved to New York and Chicago, and their music came to American homes via new technology that was all the rage: radio and the phonograph. The "jazz age" - where European harmony melded with African rhythm to create a new American sound - would lead to the creation or modification of just about every style of music we listen to today.
Follow the link http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_subj.html and choose two topics to report. You might do some additional research to find examples of some of the music or radio shows that were popular at the time (if you choose to read about those topics) and include links for others to follow. Your essay must be at least 200 words and is due by midnight, Friday, January 15. At least two responses, totalling 150 words, are due by Sunday January 17. Best of luck in your research, and enjoy learning about an exciting time in US history!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Q3 Homework 1, Due January 11
Welcome back! It's been several weeks since the last homework assignment, so this one will serve to get you back in the swing of things. Some of you failed to keep up with your homework in the previous quarter which caused serious damage to grades. Just a friendly note to warn you that I will not be accepting late homework from this point on. Homework posted no more than three days after the due date will receive a maximum of 50% credit. After three days the work will not be accepted for credit. By now most of you are in the habit of keeping up with your work and this will not be a problem for you.
Our focus this week is on World War I. Prior to the Second World War, WWI was simply referred to as "The Great War". Imagine - it involved more people, caused more deaths and destruction, and had a greater cost than all the previous wars of the world in human history combined! (Foreshadowing...World War II was more than twice the size of World War I!). It was a war of previously unimaginable proportions. Thanks to the advances in transportation and technology it became possible for the first time for the US to participate on a large scale in a war in Europe. The fighting was changed, as well. Previously soldiers had marched or rode horses onto the field of battle and killed each other with swords and small, inaccurate guns. World War I would introduce tanks, airplanes, poisonous gases, and greatly improved artillery and small arms.
Although we are studying US History, from this point on it will become increasingly evident that the story of America is inextricably tied to that of the entire world. The US, which had practiced isolationism since the days of Washington, would become a world power for the first time - and has been ever since. America discovered that we had grown to become a powerful force in the arena of foreign affairs. Take a minute to think about it - our ancestors, who immigrated here because they were poor, deprived of liberty, and promised nothing but opportunity, built a nation that would turn around and determine the future of freedom in the "old world". That, to me, is the amazing part of the American story.
Out of World War I would come the League of Nations - predecessor to the United Nations. While the UN is hobbled by politics today and has become increasingly unpopular in the US, your assignment this week is to answer the following question: Does the world need the United Nations? If so, identify three things that the UN can accomplish better than individual nations working independently. If not, why not? Identify three reasons why you believe an organization of nations is actually a bad thing. Your essay must be at least 200 words. Comment at least twice (a minimum of 150 words) on the opinions of others. Cite your sources.
I hope your Christmas break was wonderful - here's hoping for a great new year! God bless!
Ps: don't forget to visit www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for lesson plans!
Our focus this week is on World War I. Prior to the Second World War, WWI was simply referred to as "The Great War". Imagine - it involved more people, caused more deaths and destruction, and had a greater cost than all the previous wars of the world in human history combined! (Foreshadowing...World War II was more than twice the size of World War I!). It was a war of previously unimaginable proportions. Thanks to the advances in transportation and technology it became possible for the first time for the US to participate on a large scale in a war in Europe. The fighting was changed, as well. Previously soldiers had marched or rode horses onto the field of battle and killed each other with swords and small, inaccurate guns. World War I would introduce tanks, airplanes, poisonous gases, and greatly improved artillery and small arms.
Although we are studying US History, from this point on it will become increasingly evident that the story of America is inextricably tied to that of the entire world. The US, which had practiced isolationism since the days of Washington, would become a world power for the first time - and has been ever since. America discovered that we had grown to become a powerful force in the arena of foreign affairs. Take a minute to think about it - our ancestors, who immigrated here because they were poor, deprived of liberty, and promised nothing but opportunity, built a nation that would turn around and determine the future of freedom in the "old world". That, to me, is the amazing part of the American story.
Out of World War I would come the League of Nations - predecessor to the United Nations. While the UN is hobbled by politics today and has become increasingly unpopular in the US, your assignment this week is to answer the following question: Does the world need the United Nations? If so, identify three things that the UN can accomplish better than individual nations working independently. If not, why not? Identify three reasons why you believe an organization of nations is actually a bad thing. Your essay must be at least 200 words. Comment at least twice (a minimum of 150 words) on the opinions of others. Cite your sources.
I hope your Christmas break was wonderful - here's hoping for a great new year! God bless!
Ps: don't forget to visit www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for lesson plans!
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