Sunday, November 30, 2008

HW 12/1/08

What's up, APUSHers?

We're going to be doing a COOPERATIVE HOMEWORK assignment. To quote the Wonder Pets, "what's gonna work? Teamwork!"

Here's what to do.

1. REVIEW Chapter 6 in the APUSH review book (the one you bring to class).
3. Based on your number, you are ONLY responsible for the following questions:
- 1: You are doing 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21
- 2: You're doing 2, 6, and 10, 14, 18, 22
- 3: You're doing 3, 7, and 11, 15, 19, 23
- 4: You're doing 4, 8, and 12, 16, 20, 24,

Remember, you're only responsible for the questions based on your number. Really dig in, and come up with detailed, thoughtful answers to these questions.

Questions:
1. Who were the leading men of the Constitutional Convention? What was the occupation and social status of these men?
2. Why was the Constitutional Convention originally called?
3 What was the Great Compromise?
4. What were the issues regarding slavery at the Constitutional Convention? How was the issue of slavery handled at the convention?
5. Why did many oppose the Constitution as it was originally written?
6. What were the Federalist Papers? Purpose? Who were some of the people that wrote them? Why were the Federalist Papers importatnt?
7. Who made up the first cabinet?
8. Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
9. Who drafted the Bill of Rights? Identify FIVE rights that are protected by the Bill of Rights.
10. What were the major parts of Alexander Hamilton's economic program?
11. What was the Whiskey Rebellion? Why was it important?
12. What happened as a result of the disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson?
13. As the French Revolution developed in Europe, what was Washington's policy towards the Franco-American (French/American) alliance?
14. What was the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793?
15. What were the terms of Jay's Treaty? How was it received in America?
16. What were the terms of the Pinckney Treaty? Why do you think it was important?
17. What was significant about Washington's Farewell Address?
18. What precedents did Washington set during his presidency?
19. What events led the United States and France into undeclared naval war in the late 1790s?
20. What was the XYZ affair? American response?
21. What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
22. What were the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions? Who wrote them?
23. Explain the major differences between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.
24. How was Jefferson elected in 1800? Why was the election of 1800 considered a "Peaceful Revolution?"

Materials to Help You: Check out the lectures below. You're not required to view any of these. However, by doing so, it will certainly enhance your understanding of the material, and it will probably MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT!!!

Articles of Confederation
The Confederation Faces Challenges
The Philadelphia Convention
Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
Development of the 2 Party System

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanksgiving Break Assignment

I can hear you grumbling as you stare at the screen. Remember, this is a college course, and this is hard work, but it is well worth it.

So...Here's the assignment. Do a little bit each day. Don't wait until Sunday night to do it!

Here's the updated Link for the NOTES

1. READ: Chapter 6 in the Review Book. As always, highlight and outline.
2. Check GOOGLE DOCS for the NOTES Highlight these, too.
3. COMPLETE: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ.
4. When you are finished, go to the bottom of the page, and click "submit answers." After you get your score, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Please submit the results, and then email them to me. Please be honest, and send me what you get after you take the quiz. Please put your name in the "my name" section, your email address in the "me" section, and put MY EMAIL in the "my instructor" section. My email address is MTesler@schools.nyc.gov.

Do the best you can. Good Luck!

Supplemental Materials to Help You: Please note that you are not required to view any of these. However, by doing so, it will certainly enhance your understanding of the material.

Articles of Confederation
The Confederation Faces Challenges
The Philadelphia Convention
Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
Development of the 2 Party System
Good Outline
Vocab Words
VIDEO #1 - A Precarious Experiment
VIDEO #2 Vision for a Nation

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Tonight's HW - Make Your Own Test!

What?!? Is he kidding?!?

Nope. You read it write APUSHers.

Using all of the resources available to you, prepare a twenty-five (25) question multiple-choice test.

Feel free to use all of the resources available to you on the blog. There are tons of websites out there that you can use to find information to create questions. Don't just copy the questions from the review book.

Make sure that your exam is fair & balanced. Remember the purpose of a test is to see what you've learned, and how well you're meeting the standards for your class. Your test should be a balance of 5 easy questions (just about anyone who's ever taken an American History course could answer them), 10-15 moderately difficult questions (Challenging; you would have to have read the textbook, paid attention, took good notes, etc. in order to get these questions), and 5-10 tough ones (make your brain sweat difficult).

Let's all commit to making sure that we all complete this assignment. On Thursday, we will take each others' tests, and see how we're doing. I'll collect 'em, and use the questions you made to create the exam.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Monday's Lecture/Notes

Monday's HW

Hello, APUSHers:

Here's tonight's HW:

1. Review the text of the Declaration of Independence. CLICK HERE for the full text. CLICK HERE for an abridged version.

2. Based on what we discussed in class, and what you've learned about the causes of the American Revolution...

On what grounds does the document justify the colonists' demand for political independence? Do you find these reasons persuasive?


Please post your answers here. Thanks!

The GIANT APUSH REVIEW

Check it out!

A special thanks once again to Horace Greely HS. This is truly an amazing review. Download it, and keep it on your computer for reference.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Test - Causes of the American Revolution

Hello, APUSHers:

With breathless anticipation, I know that many of you have been awaiting our next exam. Not to disappoint, we will have one on MONDAY, November 24.

The test will consist of roughly 40 to 45 multiple choice questions. They will be based on Ch. 4 and 5 of the APUSH review book.

Regarding the questions on the exam, I will be taking them from a variety of resources. Of course, the ones at the end of Chapters 4 and 5 will likely make their way on to the exam. In addition, here's other places to look:

1. Interactive Multiple Choice. From regentsprep.org. There's some good questions here. Bet you can figure out which ones I'm going to use!

2. Ms. Pojer's Super-Duper Awesome Website Check out the links for topics 4 and 5.

3. REALLY SUPER HARD TEST #1. I'll take a few from here. This is the bad part of town, where the question troll loves to hang out. Beat him at his own game.

4. REALLY SUPER HARD TEST #2. Not for the faint of heart!

5. More Good Questions. Look for the section on the American Revolutionary War.

Above all, stay focused, and don't let the troll beat you! Good Luck!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Tonight's HW 11/14/08 - Common Sense

Hello, APUSHers:

Here's tonight's HW. I know you cannot wait!

1. Watch the Video. Take notes, as the video clip is playing. Make sure you watch the video FIRST!

If you haven't set up your PowerMedia Plus! Account, you're going to need to do that in order to watch the video. Use Passcode: yPNvYtchCh to set up an account if you have not yet done so.

2. Read the following excerpt below:

I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, that the same connection is necessary toward her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument....

Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province [Pennsylvania] are of English descent. Wherefore I reprobate the phrase of parent or mother country applied to England only, as being false, selfish, narrow and ungenerous....

The injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection are without number; and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourselves, instruct us to renounce the alliance: Because, any submission to, or dependence on Great Britain, tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels; and sets us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom, we have neither anger nor complaint. As Europe is our market for trade, we ought to form no partial connection with any part of it....

[Continued British rule will lead to] the ruin of the continent. And that for several reasons. First. The powers of governing still remaining in the hands of the king, he will have a negative over the whole legislation of this continent. And as he hath shown himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary power; is he, or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, "You shall make no laws but what I please"....Secondly. That as even the best terms, which we can expect to obtain, can amount to no more than a temporary expedient, or a kind of government by guardianship, which can last no longer than till the colonies come of age, so the general face and state of things, in the interim, will be unsettled and unpromising....

O ye that love mankind! Yet that dare oppose, not only tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression.


3. Answer the following questions:

1. What arguments does Paine offer in urging the colonists to separate from Great Britian?
2. Why did Paine feel that the time was right for American independence?
3. Do you think appealed more to their love of freedom, or their fear of tyranny? Why?
4. How does Paine use worldwide events to make his argument stronger?
5. How good a spokesperson was Thomas Paine for the Patriot's cause? To what degree would his words unite the Colonists in the Revolution?

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tonight's HW 11/12/08

Hello, APUSHers:

I know, all of you were absolutely despondent over the fact that we didn't have homework last night. So...

1. READ, and OUTLINE Chapter 5 in the review book. Boston Trippers, please bring your highlighters. You will score major points with teachers, administrators, etc., if they see you in the hotel lobby, or on the bus, with your AP book open, highlighting away.

2. CLICK HERE for the Video Liberty! The American Revolution: Blows Must Decide. Watch the video! It's interesting.

3. FINISH the questions we were working on in class today.

4. CREATE FIVE questions of your own, based on the video and your knowledge of USH.

If you haven't set up your PowerMedia Plus! Account, you're going to need to do that in order to watch the video. Use Passcode: yPNvYtchCh to set up an account if you have not yet done so. If you forgot your user ID, you can set up a new account as well.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Friday's HW 11/07/08

Directions: Read the following five document excerpts, and then write one well-organized paragraph summarizing the reasons many Americans felt pushed toward independence.

Document 1


A colonist cannot make a button, a horseshoe, nor a hobnail, but some snootly ironmonger or respectable buttonmaker of England shall bawl and squall that his honor's worship is most egregiously maltreated, injured, cheated, and robbed by the rascally American republicans.

Boston Gazette, 1765

Document 2

We have called this a burthensome tax, because the duties are so numerous and high...that it would be totally impossible for the people to subsist under it....We further apprehend this tax to be unconstitutional. We have always understood it to be a grand and fundamental principle of the constitution, that no freeman should be subject to any tax to which he has not given his own consent, in person or by proxy....We take it clearly, there fore, to be inconsistent with the spirit of the common law, and of the essential fundamental principle of the British constitution, that we should be represented in that assembly in any sense, unless it be by a fiction of law....
Resolution of the Town of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1765, opposing the Stamp Act

Document 3


Considering the utter impracticability of their ever being fully and equally represented in parliament, and the great expense that must unavoidably attend even a partial representation there, this House thinks that a taxation of their constituents, even without their consent, grievous as it is, would be preferable to any representation that could be admitted for them there.

Circular letter, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1768

Document 4

If we view the whole of the conduct of the ministry and parliament, I do not see how any one can doubt but that there is a settled fix'd plan for enslaving the colonies, or bringing them under arbitrary government....If the ministry can secure a majority in parliament...they may rule as absolutely as they do in France or Spain, yea as in Turkey or India....

View now the situation of America: loaded with taxes from the British parliament, as heavy as she can possibly support under,--our lands charged with the most exorbitant quit rent,--these taxes collected by foreigners, steeled against any impressions from our groans or complaints...our charters taken away--our assemblies annihilated,--governors and councils, appointed by royal authority without any concurrence of the people, enacting such laws as their sovereign pleasure shall dictate...the lives and property of Americans entirely at the disposal of officers more than three thousand miles removed from any power to control them--armies of the soldiers quartered among the inhabitants, who know the horrid purpose for which they are stationed, in the colonies--to subjugate and beat down the inhabitants....

Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin, 1774

Document 5


I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, that the same connection is necessary toward her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument....

Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province [Pennsylvania] are of English descent. Wherefore I reprobate the phrase of parent or mother country applied to England only, as being false, selfish, narrow and ungenerous....

The injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection are without number; and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourselves, instruct us to renounce the alliance: Because, any submission to, or dependence on Great Britain, tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels; and sets us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom, we have neither anger nor complaint. As Europe is our market for trade, we ought to form no partial connection with any part of it....

[Continued British rule will lead to] the ruin of the continent. And that for several reasons. First. The powers of governing still remaining in the hands of the king, he will have a negative over the whole legislation of this continent. And as he hath shown himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary power; is he, or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, "You shall make no laws but what I please"....Secondly. That as even the best terms, which we can expect to obtain, can amount to no more than a temporary expedient, or a kind of government by guardianship, which can last no longer than till the colonies come of age, so the general face and state of things, in the interim, will be unsettled and unpromising....

O ye that love mankind! Yet that dare oppose, not only tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression.

Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

Thursday's HW - 11/06/08

APUSHers:

Your mission:

1. CLICK HERE. Listen to the Lecture on the "Philosophy of the American Revolution. Don't forget to take notes!

2. CLICK HERE. Listen to the Lecture on "The Declaration of Independence. Don't forget to take notes!

3. Answer the question below, in a well-organized POST of at least ONE PARAGRAPH:

Why did the British change their economic and political policies towards the colonists from 1763 to 1775? Were the colonists justified in their response to the British policies? What groups were the colonists defending/neglecting in their revolt against the British?

For each lecture, you will see a link for a "printable version." You can print those out if you'd like to help with note-taking.

Missing Work

Hello, APUSHers:

It has come to my attention that some of us to date have failed to complete some major assessment pieces.

Please check TeacherEase and determine which assignments you need to complete. Please note that any missing work that is not turned in by November 15th will turn into a zero. Zeroes are bad things. They can ruin your average, and cause you to fail the course for the trimester. That would really be a shame, considering how hard many of you are working.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Wednesday's HW - 11/05/08

Hello, APUSHers:

Here's Wednesday's Assignment

1. REVIEW CHAPTER 4
2. CLICK HERE. Follow the links for Chapter 7 Notes.
3. Download, and print the notes.
4. Read, and highlight the notes.
5. Outline the notes. Your outline may be NO BIGGER THAN ONE PAGE!

GOOD VIDEO ON THE REVOLUTION
Watch it! Impress your classmates with your knowledge!