Is America Becoming a House Divided Against Itself?

David Gergen writes a very intelligent and insightful article on why American political discourse seems so divisive and our government seems so disfunctional at the following: Is America Becoming a House Divided Against Itself?

Road to Revolution Assignments: 10/4 to 10/11 (UPDATED)

Wed: Read 122-128.
1.What effects did the French & Indian Wars 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 even more resistance by the colonists?
6.How did the colonists resist the Stamp Act? Why were they successful?
7.What long-term effect might this act and the colonists’ resistance have had?

Thurs: Read 131-139.
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? Why did the Tea Act upset so many colonists?
4. What were the Coercive Acts and how did the colonists react to them?
5. Why did the Coercive Acts bring Americans closer to war?

Tuesday: Read 140-146 and Degler’s article, “A New Kind of Revolution.”
1. What did the First Continental Congress do? How important was it?
2. What effect did Lexington and Concord have on relations with England?
3. Why did the colonists finally declare independence?
4. What is Degler’s main argument? Do you agree with him?
5. Was the revolution conservative or radical?

Note: Please see the corresponding document in the Assignments and Study Guides page to (link to the the right) for "key terms."

Assignments for 9/26-10/3

For Wednesday's class, you should outline an answer to the following question: "Although New England and the Chesapeake region were settled by people largely of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. Why did this difference in development occur." You will turn this outline into an essay that will be due on Monday.

For Thursday's class you should read pages 105-114. For Monday's class read 115-121. Use the following to guide your reading:

French & Indian Wars:
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 last French & Indian War? Why did they win?
4.What long-term effects did these wars have on the colonies and their relationship with Great Britain?

If you've enjoyed studying this oft-overlooked episode of American history, you can dig a little deeper with this PBS documentary on the French and Indian War:


The Band's "Acadian Driftwood" - the best song ever written about the French and Indian Wars:

New York in the Colonial Era

From time to time I will post parts of the documentary New York by Ken Burns so that you can see teh correlatiosn between what we are studying in class and teh great city you live in. Below is the first part (1/8) of Episode 1. I ask that you watch the first three parts of Episode 1 by Monday. I think it will give you some real insight into colonial life in your city. After watching the episodes please post your reactions to teh film in the comments section of the blog.

John Winthrop's "Model of Christian Charity" & our Homework for Thursday

We will read the following exerpt from John Winthrop's "Model of Christian Charity" (often referred to as his "City Upon a Hill Sermon") in class Wednesday. We are reading this to undernstand what was the Puritans' mission in New England.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/winthrop.htm





Remember that our homework for Thursday is to read pages 52-66 on the Middle Colonies.

Were The Puritans Puritanical?

I am posting a link to the Deglar article instead of handing out a paper copy. Please let me know if you have any problems accessing or reading it.

http://www.spokaneschools.org/1800201281131263/lib/1800201281131263/were_the_puritans_puritannical.pdf

Southern Culture

As we explore what Southern colonial traditions have survuived and shaped American society, culture and government, I thought it would be valuable to also take a look at what is not part of contemporary Southern culture and society. The op-ed piece published this weekend in the New York Times (link below) about stereotypes of Southerners in American culture is a good start:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/opinion/sunday/the-south-aint-just-whistlin-dixie.html

USA Beats Russia in Rugby World Cup 13- 6!

See Mike Petri (Xavier class of 2002) score the game-winning try in the highlight video below!

The Columbian Exchange

Please see the podcast below. It is an interview (on NPR's Fresh Air) with Charles Mann, the author of the most recent book on how the exchange of plants, animals, and microbes radically changed the course of history for both the Old World and the New World. It's a great example of how unitended consequences are often even more important than intended consequences.




Of course history ofetn informs (or misinforms) and inspires art - here's an example in Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer."

Mark Bingham

As we've talked about in class, history is remembering important events, people, etc. so that we understand the present. I think Mark Bingham is an important person to remember and help us understand heroism and those around us who are often stereotyped in certain ways.

A Prayer to Begin Our Studies

This weekend I heard the following prayer at the memorial Mass for my friend Sean Lugano. I think it puts our response to the attack on our country on 9/11/2001 in the right perspective. I think it's also a good prayer to keep in mind as we begin to study the proud history of our own nation.

This is my prayer, O God of all nations,
A prayer of peace for lands afar mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies everywhere are as blue as mine...
O hear my prayer, thou God of all nations,
A prayer of peace, for their land and for mine.

Welcome to AP US HIStory 2011-12!

For Monday's class, be sure to read the Course Outline, the Zinn article and pages 8-18 in your textbook and answer the appropriate questions in your notebook.