Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Constitution

For Friday: Using your textbook and the resources found in the Study Guides and Resources page, learn the following the following:
1. What is federalism?
2. What does separation of powers mean?
3. Who has the power to declare war?
4. Who controls the military?
5. Who negotiates treaties?
6. Who approves treaties?
7. Who decides the constitutionality of laws?
8. How are federal judges chosen?
9. How are cabinet members chosen?
10. What is the process by which laws are made?
11. What is the process by which amendments are made?
12. What is the Electoral College?
13. How are judges and executive officials removed from office?
14. How are Senators selected and how long are they in office?
15. How are members of the House of Representatives selected and how long are they in office?




For Monday Read 190-192 and Bill of Rights. Prepare for Chunky Monkey Case (found in the Study Guides and Resources page . Bring copy of Constitution to class for use during class. The Constitution can be found in your textbook or you can bring it in another form.
As you read pages 190-192, consider the following questions

1. Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
2. Why was it written?
3. What basic rights does it protect?




For Tuesday: Chunky Monkey Assignment due.  See Resources for assignment.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Establishing an American Government

for Monday: Read pages 164-176. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. How did the revolution change society? Were the changes radical?
2. How did the revolution change the lives of African-Americans, women, and American Indians? Were these changes substantial or incremental?
3. In the new governments, what was kept of English traditions and what was new?
4. What two groups or forces struggled over the form and direction of the new state governments?
5. How was the government under the Articles of Confederation different from our government under the Constitution?
6. What were the Articles of Confederation’s weaknesses?

Know the Significance of the following: Land Ordinance of 1785; Northwest Ordinance of 1787; Shays’s Rebellion.


For Tuesday: Read pages 177-189. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Why did the writers of the Constitution want a new form of government?
2. What role did Shay’s Rebellion play in this decision?
3. How was the new Constitution different from the Articles of Confederation?
4. What groups opposed the Constitution and what groups supported it?
5. Why did it gain ratification?

Know the significance of the following: Philadelphia Convention; James Madison; Virginia Plan; William Patterson; New Jersey Plan; Roger Sherman; Connecticut Compromise; bicameral legislature; separation of powers; federalism; Senate; House of Representatives; Supreme Court; 3/5 Compromise; democratic; republican; Federalists; Anti-Federalists; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; The Federalist Papers.

Friday, October 18, 2013

The Revolutionary War

For Tuesday: Read pages 146-156. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Who should have won the Revolution and why?
2. What were the most significant events and battles that enabled the Americans to win?
3. Was Washington a great general?

  For Wednesday: Read pages 156-163. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Why did the Americans win their independence?
2. What were the most significant events and battles that enabled the Americans to win?
3. Was the Peace of Paris a good treaty for the United States? Why?

By Wednesday, know the significance of the following:
Thomas Paine;“Common Sense"; Battles of Lexington & Concord, 1775; Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775; Benedict Arnold; George Washington; Whigs; Tories; Continental Army; militias; Hessians; Henry Knox; Battle of New York, 1776 ; Battle of Trenton, 1776; Battle of Saratoga, 1777; Gen. Howe; Gen. Burgoyne; Gen. Cornwallis; Joseph Brant; Valley Forge; Friedrich von Stueben; George Rogers Clark; Marquis de Lafayette; Battle of Yorktown, 1781
 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Road to Revolution

The Origins of Revolt: For Monday read 122-128.
1. What effects did the Seven Years War have on the relationship between the colonies and the mother country?
2. Why did the British increase taxes on colonial trade and the enforcement of these taxes?
3. Why did the Writs of Assistance upset American colonists?
4. How was the Sugar Act different from earlier duties? Which group of colonists did it hurt most?
5. How was the Stamp Act different from earlier taxes? Why did this tax cause more resistance by the colonists?
6.. How did the colonists resist the Stamp Act? Why were they successful? What long-term effect might this act and the colonists’ resistance have had?

Rising Tide of Conflict: For Wednesday, read 128-137
1. What were the Towshend Duties? Why did Townshend think they would work? How did the colonists respond? What were the long-term effects of the duties and the response they received?
2. Who was responsible for the Boston Massacre? How was the massacre seen by the colonists and why was it seen that way?
3. What was the importance of the Committees of Correspondence?
4. Why did the Tea Act upset so many colonists?

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

French and Indian Wars

French & Indian Wars:  for Thursday, 10/3, read 106-114; for Friday, 10/4, read pages 114-121.
1.       Why were the French & Indian Wars fought?
2.       Why did most Indians side with the French?  Was this prudent?  What was the result for the tribes that sided with the French?  What was the result for those who sided with the British?
3.       Who won the Seven Years War?  Why did they win?
4.       What long-term effects do you think this may have had on the colonies and their relationship with Great Britain?

Explain the significance of the following:
Seven Years War; Great War for Empire; Albany Congress; George Washington; Fort Duquesne; Fort Pitt; Gen. Braddock; William Pitt; Gen. Wolfe; Pontiac’s Rebellion; Proclamation of 1763

The song below is not only the only song I've ever heard about the French and Indian War, it's a great song about the Acadians -  French Canadians who were expelled from the Arcadia region of Quebec as a result of the last French and Indian War.  As your book describes on pages 116-117, many Arcadians moved to the French colony of Louisiana, where they settled and became known as the Cajuns.  Their distinct ethnic culture and language survives today in regions of Louisiana.  If you've ever had jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish pie, etc. you have the Cajuns to thank. Beneath that first song are a couple of examples of Cajun influenced music. Enjoy the songs; they are a big part of what is great about America!