Reconstruction

Last Blog of the YEAR!!!  Due Wednesday, June 19th.  Also, be sure you completed blogs 1 & 2 for this marking period.  Remember, 1/2 credit is better than NO CREDIT!!!!

 

The Civil War was the bloodiest, most destructive war fought on American soil. After four years of fighting, over 500,000 Americans were dead. When General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virgina, the war was over, but the country would never be the same.  How should the North  "reconstruct" the South?  Think of everything from the economy of the South to how the Confederate leaders might be punished, to how to deal with millions of freed slaves.

 

In the War of 1812 the United States skirmished with Great Britain along the East Cost and near the Great Lakes, resulting in 13,000 US deaths, and the burning of the White House!

The Treaty of Ghent which ended the war settled nothing. Prewar conditions were reinstated, the British policy of impressment was not addressed and the territories of Canada and Florida that the United States wanted so badly remained foreign land.

Was this war neccessary? Why or why not?

Washington's Warning

4th Quarter Blog #1- Due Tuesday, April 30th

In his Farewell Address, Washington warns America to remain neutral. He says,
"Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign World ... The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is... to have with them as little political connection as possible"

What does it mean to remain neutral?

Why do you think Washington warned the country to remain neutral?

Do you think that our country should take Washington's advice now and go back to a policy of neutrality? Why or why not?

Spring Has Sprung

Blog #4-  Due Wednesday, April 10th

 

Here is another "gimmie" blog, where all you need to do to earn full credit is respond (only once) to the following question: 

What do you look forward to most about Spring/Spring Break?

PS- This is the last blog for the marking period- make sure that you have completed blogs 1-3 for this marking period as well. Remember, even if you complete the blog late, you can still earn partial credit, which is better than none!

Checks and Balances

Blog #3- Due Thursday, March 28th

Checks and Balances

When designing the new government, the framers of the Constitution were clever enough to separate power between three different branches - limiting their role so that each is responsible for their own separate purpose of ruling. Why?

 

Brainstorm what could go wrong if these measures were not put in place. What are some of the ways that each branch of government could possibly abuse their power?
What powers are given to the other branches to make sure that no one branch goes too far?

Do you think any one branch has more power than the others? If so, how?

--List possible outcomes for all three branches of government
--Include the powers of each branch to limit the other branches of government

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

Blog #2- Due Monday, March 18th.

The Articles of Confederation was the first form of government created by the young United States after the Revolutionary War. As you know, the Articles of Confederation did not work out and the Constitution eventually took its place.

Why do you think the Articles of Confederation did not last as the government for the United States?
Did Articles of Confederation do anything good?
What needed to be changed to make the country stronger?
What do you think would have happened if the United States kept the Articles of Confederation?
What changes did the "founding fathers" make in the new Constitution to address the problems in the Articles of Confederation?

We've Got Independence, So Now What?

Blog #1- Due February 28th

The Patriots fought long and hard to gain their independence from the British. Next they needed to decide how to run the newly freed colonies. Patriot leaders like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington had many ideas about what the new government should look like, but they didn't always agree with each other. They had many long, and heated arguments debating many issues: Who would run the government? How much power would the government have? Who would choose the leaders? What kind of laws should the country have?

If you were one of the founding fathers (sorry ladies, you didn't have much of a say) of our country, how would you set up the government?

Keep in mind, many people just fought a war to gain freedom from the British rule, so you don't want a government that they are not going to agree with.

Be specific in you answer. Consider things like taxes, trade, religion, laws, how to deal with other countries, military... Also remember that you still have those "pesky" Native Americans to deal with west of the Appalachian Mountains and those annoying British to the north in Canada.