Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Constitution

What makes the United States special? Is it our diversity? Our determination? Our natural resources? Or is it our system of government, a system of checks and balances on the most powerful governing parts, set up in a way as to not allow any one part more obvious power over the other two? A system that is run, for all intents and purposes, by the voices of those that it governs?

This week, we will take a closer look at this system and its formation in the late 1700s, a decade after independence from Britain was won. You are responsible for the following assignments.

[Please remember, at this point, you are full-fledged APUSH students, so this will now be run more like a college class; in other words, no more late assignments will be accepted. Assignments are due during 2nd period on the due dates unless otherwise noted. If you have a question or concern about this policy, see me during my office hours (8:30-9:20AM daily, or afternoons by appointment).]


1.)“American Pageant” Guidebooks, Ch. 9 & 10 – Due Tues., 9/27

2.)Document-Based Question :“How Revolutionary Was the Revolutionary War?” – Due Wed., 9/28

3.)Precis for Zinn, Ch. 5 – Due Thursday, 9/29

4.)Monterey Institute, Unit 2 – Chapter 5 (Lessons 14 & 15) – Due Fri., 9/30
a.)Lesson 14 – “Explore the Articles of Confederation” – Mult. Choice
b.)Lesson 14 – “Explore the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, 1786” – Answer the “Consider This” question
c.)Lesson 15 – “Explore ‘A Supernumerary Crisis’ by Thomas Paine” – Mult. Choice
d.)Lesson 15 – “Explore the Land Ordinance of 1785” – Mult. Choice
e.)Lesson 15 – “Explore the Northwest Ordinance of 1787” – Mult. Choice
f.)Lesson 15 – “Explore Letters to James Madison” – Answer the “Consider This” question

5.)“The Framers and the Faithful” article from “Washington Monthly”, April 2006 – Read the article, and answer the questions included (BOTH documents are on my McKeel webpage) – Due Mon., 10/3

6.)Zinn, Ch. 6 – “The Intimately Oppressed” (Questions on my webpage) – Due Tues., 10/4

7.)Monterey Institute, Unit 2, Chapter 6 (Lessons 16 thru 19) – Due Thurs., 10/6
a.)Chapter 6 – Free-Response Question (“Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of Confederation were effective in solving the problems that confronted the new nation?”
b.)Chapter 6 Writing Assignment (“Patrick Henry’s objection”)
c.)Chapter 6 Discussion Question (“How did the compromises made when writing and ratifying the Constitution encourage the development of political factions? Compare and Contrast the effectiveness of Washington’s and Adams’ presidencies in obeying and promoting the Constitution during their administrations.”)
d.)Lesson 16 – “Explore Congress Hall, Philadelphia” – Answer the “Consider This” question
e.)Lesson 17 – “Explore Federalist & Anti-Federalist Papers on Taxation Power” – Mult. Choice
f.)Lesson 17 – “Explore Washington’s First Inaugural Address” – Mult. Choice
g.)Lesson 17 – “Explore Bill of Rights” – Mult. Choice
h.)Lesson 18 – “Explore George Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality” – Mult. Choice
i.)Lesson 18 – “Explore the Jay Treaty” – Mult. Choice
j.)Lesson 18 – “Explore Washington’s Farewell Address” – Mult. Choice
k.)Lesson 19 – “Explore Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions” – Mult. Choice

Besides these assignments, you will also have classwork assignments that will be turned in as well.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Founding Fathers, or Revolutionary Outlaws?



So, just what exactly is this thing called "HISTORY"?

-It's an account of the past.
-The accounts/narratives differ depending on one’s perspective.
-As historians, we rely on evidence to construct our accounts of the past.

-Any single piece of evidence is insufficient...therefore, we must consult multiple pieces of evidence in order to build a plausible account.

What would you say about a person that formed an opinion about a topic after only viewing one source of information? Can you then build an historical account based on only one side of the story?

Take the Founding Fathers, for instance. They risked EVERYTHING they had earned and/or inherited, legally and illegally, to form a more perfect union out of 13 English colonies hugging the eastern seaboard of the North American continent (if you want to know what sort of danger the Founders were in during the struggle, check out the account in "American Pageant" of how King George III dealt with a few Irish rebels at the same time). But why? Out of a sense of duty to create something better for posterity? Because Parliament and King George III taxed them too heavily? Are there other reasons?

We all know how the American Revolution ended...and we all know that the winners write history. Have you ever checked out the English side of the story, though?


http://www.redcoat.me.uk/Rev-War.htm

I think you'll agree that there account of the facts is a little bit different than ours.

Here is a list of what's coming up:

1.) "American Pageant," Ch. 8 Guidebook - due by Mon., 9/12

2.) "Loyalists" - some colonists remained loyal to England during the fight for independence (like colonists in East & West Florida, the 14th & 15th colonies that never get mentioned). Why? At what cost? On my McKeel webpage, there are a series of primary documents in .PDF format titled "Loyalists"; read the accounts and complete the graphic organizer attached. Then answer in paragraph-form the following (using your knowledge of the topic):

• Why did some colonists oppose independence?
• Do their arguments seem reasonable?
• What might Patriots have said in response to these arguments?
• Which side do you think was more reasonable?

*This "Loyalists" assignment is due on Tues., 9/13.

3.) You will need to view the following lessons (and complete the activities) on the Monterey Institute's AP US History I website () http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/AP%20US%20History%20I/nroc%20prototype%20files/coursestartc.html:

A.) Watch Unit 2, Chapter 4, Lessons 10 ("Imperial Reorganization") & 11 ("Philosophy of the American Revolution")
B.) Complete the Writing Assignment for Chapter 4 ("Reasons Many Americans Felt Pushed Toward Independence" - one-to-two paragraph response.
C.) Complete the Discussion Question (as a response to this blog or on paper) for Chapter 4 - "Why did the British change their economic and political policies towards the colonists from 1763 to 1775? Were the colonists justified in their response to the British policies? What groups were the colonists defending/neglecting in their revolt against the British?"

D.) Watch Unit 2, Chapter 5, Lessons 12 ("The Declaration of Independence") & 13 ("The Revolutionary War")
E.) Complete the Writing Assignment for Chapter 5 ("5 Grievances in the Declaration of Independence")

Assignments A-E from the Monterey Institute's APUSH website are due by Wed., 9/14.