December 18-22

Advanced American Studies
National History Day work time will be available from December 18-22 and I will be meeting with each group to assess your progress. You must have the following items with you for your meeting:

1. Thesis statement
2. System of organization
3. At least 5 sources on source sheets
4. Green packet -- roughly 80 % of questions have a response
5. Finalize project type

Keep in mind we are at the half way point on the calendar for this project. As we move in to the new year, your research and progress should accelerate.

Thursday, December 17th

Advanced American Studies

World War I "Quest"--if absent, please make up before winter break.

American Studies

Today, we are examining one of FDR's fireside chats.  There are questions associated with FDR's speech found on the web at http://newdeal.feri.org/chat/chat02.htm

Tuesday, December 16th

Advanced American Studies

(image of the "Big Four" on left courtesy of Britannica online)
We will culminate our study of WWI with a look at the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. As the "Big Four" meets in Versailles, France in 1919, the path to worldwide depression and the Second World War will unknowingly be started by the victors looking to punish Germany and the Central Powers at the end of the war.

Assignment: Be prepared for "Quest" on Wednesday.

American Studies
In class assignment was completed today--Chapter 12.3 Hoover's response fails (handout)

Monday, December 15th

Advanced American Studies

(photo on right courtesy Life magazine)
Our third day of focus on The Great War will be centered on the involvement of the United States in WWI. We will discuss how the nation mobilized for war, what opposition was generated, and what social change was created by the entry of the US into WWI.

Assignment: Read pgs. 301-309. Answer questions 4, 5, & 6. "Quest" scheduled for Wednesday!


American Studies

1. Depression Quiz #1
2. Jigsaw readings (Riding the rails, Dust Bowl, Bonus Army) to focus on the problems of the Great Depression.

Assignment: Read p. 384-388. Outline handout on President Hoover's response to economic collapse.

Friday, December 12th

Advanced American Studies

To examine the setting on the Western Front in WWI, we are examining the website www.firstworldwar.com.  While examining the details of life on the western front, keep in mind the overall impact that all of these new technologies on soldiers from both sides.

American Studies

Today we examined a video clip about conditions of the Great Depression.  Keep these key facts in mind about the impact of economic collapse:

1.  By 1933, 24.9% of Americans were without work

2.  The Dust Bowl compounded the problems of downtrodden Americans, displacing many from the Great Plains.

3.  The Great Depression is the only time in US history when more Americans were leaving the US than coming to it.

4.  Worldwide depression leads to the rise of Hitler and destabilizes the entire globe.

Reminder:  Great Depression Quiz #1 on Monday

Thursday, December 11th

Advanced American History

The First World War was the first major conflict of the 20th century, a century that was the deadliest in human history. Between 1914-1918, some 18 million people would die as old military tactics combined with new technological advances to produce horrific results. Moreover, a world wide flu epidemic would compound the struggles for people around the world.

Today, we analyzed how the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand constituted the spark that produced the Great War. In essence, how does the death of one man (and his wife) lead to the deadliest global conflict to date?

Assignment: Read text 282 - 291. Answer questions 4, 5, & 6


American Studies

Economists argue today about the causes of the Great Depression, but today we examined some of the common causes that are cited as elements that led to the greatest economic crisis in US History. (unregulated stock market, uneven distribution of wealth, easy credit, unbalanced trade, mechanization, etc).

Assignment: Read p. 373-381. Answer questions 4, 5 & 6.

Wednesday, December 10th

Advanced American Studies

Essay on "the World is Flat" due at the end of the hour today.


American Studies

Today we will begin to examine the end of the prosperity of the 1920's and the beginning of the Great Depression. Our focus for today is the crash of the Stock Market in 1929.

Assignment: Read Ch. 12.1 (Causes of the Great Depression) and complete causes worksheet.

Monday, December 8th

Advanced American Studies

Watergate - Present Exam.  In class essay on "The World is Flat" is scheduled for tomorrow.

American Studies

Finish Newspaper projects.  They are due at the beginning of the hour on Tuesday!

Friday, December 5th

Advanced American Studies

1. Class discussion on Globalization
2. Exam Review -- Exam (Watergate - Present) Monday!


American Studies

Continue work on Newspaper project. Project is due Tuesday.

Thursday, December 4th

Advanced American Studies

(image at left courtesy of whitehouse.gov)
Class today focused on two areas. First, we reviewed some of the reading content assigned on the Persian Gulf War (1990-91) and the Clinton years (1993-01). Second, we applied the criteria we established yesterday about evaluating presidential effectiveness to the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton (handout)

Reminder: 1970's - Present Exam on Monday. Essay due at end of the hour on Tuesday

American Studies

Continue work on newspaper project. Finished project is due Tuesday at the beginning of class.

Wednesday, December 3rd

Advanced American Studies

1.  1980's Quiz (Reagan policies and the end of the Cold War)

2.  Today we had a class discussion and activity about evaluating presidential effectiveness.  How do we know presidents are great, good, ineffective, terrible, etc.?  What criteria do we use to judge the performance of a president?   In class, we examined some presidential evaluations to determine criteria and we will collectively apply those criteria to Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Assignment:  Complete 1990's part 2 questions

Reminder:  1970's - Present test Monday

American Studies

Today we began the 1920's newspaper project.  Project is due Tuesday, Dec. 9th

Tuesday, December 2nd

Advanced American Studies

(image at right courtesy of nps.gov)
Today's focus was the culmination of the Cold War. Attention was paid to the impact of US military spending, SDI, Reagan, Gorbachev, and the loosening of restrictions on Eastern Europe that eventually leads to the fall of the Berlin Wall on 11/9/89.

Assignment: 1990's handout Part 1


American Studies

1920's Exam!

Monday, December 1st

Advanced American Studies

Photo on right courtesy of whitehouse.gov
Today we looked at the philosophies of Ronald Reagan, specifically his views on the role of government and supply side economics. Be aware of the philosophical differences between Keynesian Economics and Supply Side Economics and the effects that Reagan's economic and political philosophies had on the 1980's.

Assignment: Note-taking -- Sequence the steps that lead to the end of the Cold War (pgs. 751-56)

American Studies
Roaring Twenties Exam review -- complete study guide for extra credit on Tuesday's exam!