Monday Sept. 19th - Friday Sept. 23rd

Dead confederates at Dunker Church -- Battle of Antietam Sept 1862

Courtesy art.com

Advanced US History

Monday
After returning and discussing recent quizzes, we examined both the advantages and disadvantages of the North and South at the onset of war, as well as the Northern strategy for victory (anaconda plan, Richmond, Tennessee, and Mississippi).  Class concluded with a reading of a famous primary source from Sullivan Ballou, a union soldier killed at the First Battle of Bull Run.

Tuesday
Presentations begin today with a number of early setbacks for the Union, key battles in 1861-62.  Battles include First and Second Bull Run, Shiloh, Peninsular Campaign, and Antietam).

Wednesday
Quiz #2
1862-63 Presentations Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg

Thursday
Class today focused on the Battle of Gettysburg.  We discussed the three days of battle, and how Pickett's charge represented the "high water mark" of the war.  Lee's retreat on July 4th marked the last time the confederates would attack on union soil.

Friday
1864-65 Presentations.

image courtesy soldierstudies.org

American Studies


Monday
Continue work on Civil War Presentations -- Presentation Lab


Tuesday
Class discussion of a comparison of north and south, northern strategy for victory, etc.
Assignment:  Weapons/Medical Care in the Civil War worksheet

Wednesday
1861-62 Presentations.  These early battles were, in many cases, major setbacks for the union and cast doubt on whether or not the war was worth fighting and if the Union could be preserved.

Thursday
Quiz #2

Friday
"Glory" -- this film focuses on the exploits of the 54th Massachusetts regiment, the first regiment including soldiers of color in American history.

Week of Sept. 12th - 16th

photo of A. Lincoln courtesy whitehouse.gove

Advanced American Studies

Monday -- After reviewing the decade preceding the Civil War, we took our first quiz.  If you were absent for this quiz, you have 3 days to make it up.

Assignment:  Read 72-79.  Complete "Assault in the Senate" reading for Thursday.

Tuesday --  Today's focus was on the election of 1860.  The splintering of national parties left Abraham Lincoln as the winner of the 1860 election, and his ascendancy will set off a wave of secession across the south.

Wednesday -- Student Services presentation in presentation lab

Thursday/Friday --  Introduction of Turning Points project and work time in the writing lab.

American History

Monday-- We are continuing our look at the decade that led to Civil War, from the Compromise of 1850 to the publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852 and the subsequent events that divide north and south like the Kansas Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott case, and John Brown's raid.

Tuesday -- After reviewing the decade preceding the Civil War, we took our first quiz.  If you were absent for this quiz, you have 3 days to make it up.

Wednesday -- Student Services presentation in presentation lab

Thursday --  Today's focus was on the election of 1860.  The splintering of national parties left Abraham Lincoln as the winner of the 1860 election, and his ascendancy will set off a wave of secession across the south.

Friday --  Introduction of Turning Points project and work time in the lab.  Project will be due Tuesday.

Friday, September 9th

Advanced American History

Our discussion of sectionalism and tensions between North and South continues today with a discussion of some of the key events and individuals that lead to Civil War in the 1950's.  You should understand the following:

• How and why the Compromise of 1850 produces unintended consequences that lead to conflict.
• How the Kansas-Nebraska Act produces tensions, leads to the formation of the Republican party, etc.
• The impact of things like the Dred Scott Case, Uncle Tom's Cabin, etc.

Reminder:  Quiz #1 -- Monday!

American Studies

After checking your homework for today, we reviewed the concept of Sectionalism, the Abolitionist Movement, and problems of the early 1800's between North and South.  We also began work on questions from Chapter 3, Section 1 (p. 66) that summarize some of the key events leading to war in the 1860's

Thursday, September 8th

Advanced American History

The Civil War did not happen in a vacuum, there were dozens of causes and decades worth of division between northern and southern regions in the United States. Today, we explored this idea ofsectionalism, the development of slavery as an institution in the south, the triangle of trade and the growing diversity and economic power of the north. All of these factors drove a wedge between north and south that would inevitably lead to the outbreak of war.

Assignment: Read Chapter 3 Section 1. Answer questions on handout.
Reminder: Quiz #1 Monday

American Studies

The Civil War did not happen in a vacuum, there were dozens of causes and decades worth of division between northern and southern regions in the United States. Today, we explored this idea ofsectionalism, the development of slavery as an institution in the south, the triangle of trade and the growing diversity and economic power of the north. All of these factors drove a wedge between north and south that would inevitably lead to the outbreak of war.

Assignment: Read pages 44-48. Answer Questions 2, 4 & 5.

Wednesday, September 7th

Advanced American History

Today we begin our first unit, a discussion of the American Civil War.  As we begin the examination of some of the root causes of the Civil War, consider these statistics:

• 3 million served
• 620,000 were killed (2% of the population)
• it is the bloodiest conflict anywhere in the world in the 19th century
• it is the bloodiest conflict in American history
• 4 of 10 who served were killed or wounded
• One soldier killed for every 6 slaves freed

Between 1861 and 1865, in the words of David McCullough, "Americans made war on each other and killed each other in great numbers, if only to become the kind of country that can no longer conceive how that was possible"

If absent or for review, please view the introductory piece by Ken Burns found above.

Assignment:  Read text pages 44-48  

American Studies

To finish our introduction to the study of American history, we discussed our oral history results about high school students of a generation or two ago.  After completing this, we introduced the first unit of study for the school year, The Civil War.  If absent or for review, please view the introductory piece by Ken Burns found above.

Tuesday, September 6th

Advanced American History

As a precursor to our study of American history, we set out to try to define America and Americans, examined the responsibilities of citizenship, etc.  Questions on John Steinbeck's essay were collected.

American History

As part of a discussion of American citizenship, we took a sample citizenship test and examined a few statistics on American knowledge of civics and history.

Assignment:  Complete Oral History Interview

Advanced American History

Both American history and American literature classes are in the auditorium for a two period block.  Here students will be introduced to the nature of the interdisciplinary course with an overview slideshow of the two courses and other activities including quizzes, group trivia and music in history. (note:  Mrs. Koehler and myself have been known to entertain in this intro experience, but you won't see anything like the video above).

Assignment:  Be sure to complete the Steinbeck reading and questions by Tuesday

American History

Our study of American history continues with an analysis of the nature of historical study.  What does it mean to think "historically?"  Why would you want to?  Through a few informal class activities, we will come to understand how studying our collective past allows us to better understand our present and plan for our future.

Assignment:  Complete oral history interview questions for Wednesday.