Ta-Nehisi Coates

http://www.theatlantic.com/ta-nehisi-coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for 'the atlantic'. He has posts related to the civil war and the reconstruction era.

Opening: So Many Ways to Learn

Good morning Historians:

I want to share several pieces of information with you, so I am using our class blog and today's opening to do it.

First of all, I watched two episodes of an amazing show on Sunday night and I was wishing all of you were watching it with me:  Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  You can watch episodes online and I highly encourage you to do so.  You can earn extra credit for the 3rd marking period by watching the show and writing a reflection.   Famous Americans traces their roots and uncover amazing tales of American History while doing so.  Truly mind-blowing, entertaining and informative. 

Second of all, I also watched a documentary about Sacco and Vanzetti over the weekend.  I will show this film on both Wednesday after school and Friday afterschool.  You can earn extra credit by staying to watch the film and writing a reflection.  (And yes, please ask Mr. Sacco if he is related to this other famous Sacco.) 

Please keep in mind that historians constantly seek ways to develop their background knowledge.  Students all across the country are actively preparing for the AP US History Exam on May 11; not only by completing all of their assignments, but also by studying history through multiple perspectives, watching films, keeping up with current events and reading newspapers and magazines.  This is the best way to ensure your success, not only in this class, but success as a lifelong learner. 

Finally, there is another opportunity to broaden your knowledge about the Civil War, right here in our own city of New Haven.  On Thursday, March 28, there will be an event at Yale University starting at 4:30 entitled:  The American Civil War:  Legacies for Our Own Time.   Again, extra credit will be offered to students who attend and write a reflection.  I will leave Metro at 4pm with students and tokens will be offered if you want to go directly home from the event.  I will return back to Metro at 6:30 for students who want to get picked up here. 

RESPONSE #1:  Please comment below about which extracredit opportunities you will be taking advantage of.  Be specific about which historical topics interests you and the events that you will attend. 

RESPONSE #2:  Please click on the following link to the National Women's History Museum's webpage about Women in the Progressive Era.  Spend ten minutes reading and then comment with one significant takeaway and one question.  Remember, a takeaway is something that you want to remember most from the reading.  You should also explain why the takeaway you chose is significant.

Thanks and let's have a great class!
Ms. Blatteau

The Poverty and Progress of the Industrial Age

During yesterday's class, we analyzed an excerpt from Henry George's book, Poverty and Progress.  The symbolism and reality of "liveried carriages" and "barefooted children" paints a vivid image of this era, the Gilded Age.

After the discussion of this source, as well as a discussion of what we know and want to know, I tried to unpack major themes and many of you wrote down questions.

Please dig out those questions from your notebooks and share them here.  If you didn't keep track of questions during yesterday's class, read your classmates ideas and respond with your own thoughts about the connections between railroads, corporations, labor unions and government interventions.  How did the rise of industry affect the distribution of wealth in late 19th century America?

"A Wedding of the Rails," Promontory Point, Utah, 1869
http://www.worldsfamousphotos.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/promopoint.jpg

Carnegie Steel and the 1892 Battle of Homestead:
http://www.battleofhomesteadfoundation.org/images/A_view-of-mill.jpg 
http://www.battleofhomesteadfoundation.org/battle.php

Today in 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is ratified; ending U.S. War with Mexico

IMAGE ANALYSIS:  "The Storming of Chapultepec"

CONTEXT:  The Ending of the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

• Why did some Americans support war with Mexico, while others opposed it?  
• To what extent did this treaty affect Mexican culture and politics; even more than American? 

ISSUES TO CONNECT AND CONSIDER:

• The Impact of Expansion on:
• Native American culture
• The Spread of Slavery 
• James Polk, Democrat, was President
• He pushed for American territorial expansion
• American troops occupied present-day New Mexico and California and invaded parts of Northern Mexico
• Anti-slavery Whigs opposed the war; heavy casualties and high cost of war

Extra Credit Opportunity: Share Your Zinn Education Project Work

Use the comment feature on this blog to post links to and your thoughts about the Zinn Education Project assignment from last weekend. If you haven't done it yet, this is a great opportunity to make-up work and get bonus at the same time! Here is a summary of the assignment:

I learn history everywhere I look. Art, architecture, newspapers, movies, facebook. Wait, what? Facebook? Search Facebook for the “Zinn Education Project” and like it. Scroll through their posts and find one that you connect to, as an intelligent and aware young person there will be something on that page that you will like. I know it.

If you can't get onto Facebook for some reason, go straight to the Zinn Education Project webpage instead.

Be willing to check out the variety of posts. Choose one topic/event/biography and read about it. Write a brief summary of the information presented and create questions about what else you want to know. Lastly, connect what you learned to one of our bigger themes:

American Identity
Culture
Demographic (Population) changes
Economic Transformations
Environment

Politics and Citizenship
Religion
Slavery and its Legacies
War and Diplomacy

What does this historical event or person have to do with the bigger picture of American History? Explain the connections you are making.

Have fun!

Current Events Connection #1

Blogging about: “Abraham Lincoln, Technologist-in-chief”
Edward Tenner, The Atlantic, March 5, 2012

PREVIEW

Abraham Lincoln was the first tweeter, a fan of the newly invented telegraph (1844); he stayed up late at night using the telegraph to send short, direct messages to officers of war on the battlefields.

BIG IDEAS

As you read this article, think about the following big ideas:

The Impact of Technology on Culture

Lincoln’s Interest in Innovations

The Evolution of American Politics: The Classical Founders become Democrats and Republicans

WHAT IF…

If Lincoln had not been murdered in 1865, how do you think he would have responded to the politics, industry, wealth and poverty of the Gilded Age?

ANALYZE THE ARTICLE

1. What do you think the thesis of this article is?

2. What evidence does the author use to support his thesis?

3. What other historical connections can you make to the ideas presented in this article? Think about our guiding themes and the big ideas I listed above.

INSTRUCTIONS

Required: Answer the "Analyze the Article" questions in a separate document.

Bonus #1: Comment on this blog with your the connections you made in Question #3, as well as your thoughts on the What if...question. Points awarded for thoughtful, edited, evidence-based comments.

Bonus #2: Find a link on the Gilded Age Digital History page to share with the rest of the class. There are maps, documents, timelines and fact sheets. Provide a "Preview" to the information you are sharing and create at least one guiding question to go with the link.

A New Place to Share Learning

Many of your classmates have been finding, viewing and writing about interesting links, short videos and historical stories.

It's time to formalize the sharing of them. Think of it as "Sharing Learning."

While our room feels crowded sometimes, and words often stay in the brain instead of becoming voice, I know that all of you have opinions about America's story. It's time to share them!

Use this site to get your voices out there. Sometimes there will be formal assignments; with documents and specific questions to answer. But we mustn't stop there! When you use this site to share your own interests in America's story, you and your classmates' learning will expand exponentially. By sharing what you learn, you will be able to learn from each other.

First assignment: Become a follower of this blog. Know when to check it.