Life in the West

Life in the West

In order to learn about what life was like for the different groups that went West in the 1800's, students will be creating mini-dramas. The first step in this project involves each student group reading about the group of settlers they have been assigned and finding out why they moved West, the hardships they faced, and the legacies that they left.

Happy 200th Birthday Abraham Lincoln!

Manifest Destiny: A Review

**For extra credit, post a response answering this question: Which lands would you say were acquired in an honorable way and which ones weren't? Explain your answer.**


Here is the video "Elbow Room" from Schoolhouse Rocks:


Three of the major acquisitions that we discussed in class (Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession) took place during the Presidency of James K. Polk. Here is a fun song about his term in office written by the band They Might Be Giants.



Lyrics:
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump

12 Angry Men

As a follow-up to our study of the Constitution we are watching one of my favorite films; 12 Angry Men, and discussing how our rights, specifically those listed in the 5th and 6th Amendments often must compete with our human nature.

Here is a trailer for the film:


For extra credit, post a comment answering this question: In what way does the film show us the importance of the 5th and 6th Amendments, specifically when it comes to the role of "reasonable doubt"?

Springfield Trip

There is still plenty of room on the Springfield Trip for students and parents. E-mail me for details.

The 19th Amendment

Constitution Test

REMINDER: The U.S. Constitution Test will be taken on Wednesday, January 28th.

Constitutional Law Competition

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Here are two very different takes on the process by which a bill becomes a law. The first is the famous "I'm Just a Bill" from Schoolhouse Rocks. The second is a scene from the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in which a naive new senator's secretary explains the difficulty of actually getting a bill passed.

CONSTITUTION TEST!!!!!!!

The Constitution Test will be on Wednesday, January 28th. Study Guides will go out either Monday or Tuesday of this week.

E-mail me if you have any questions.

Still Learning

I've been playing around with our new Smart software. Here is an experimental video I made with the program reviewing the Legislative Branch.

Three Branches Quiz

Take the quiz below for Extra Credit (and to help prepare for the Constitution Test). The answers will be sent to me. Don't forget to fill your name in.

The Three Branches of Government

The Preamble

the Preamble of the Constitution is a single sentence introduction to the document. It states the purpose of the new form of government with its six goals:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Here is the Schoolhouse Rocks video that teaches about the Preamble:


This video is from the Andy Griffith Show (from the 1960's). In it, the character of Barney claims that he still remembers the entire Preamble from when he learned it in grade school. Watch and see how well he really remembers it:

The Consitutional Convention - An Overview

The Declaration of Indpendence, Illustrated Children's Version

Happy Thanksgiving

President Franklin Roosevelt proclaims a National Day of Thanksgiving:


Charlie Brown Thanksgiving:

Kermit the Frog Helps Write "Yankee Doodle"

The Declaration of Indepence from the Mini-Series "John Adams"