Western Conflicts: Battle of Little Bighorn

The Battle of Little Bighorn, in Montana, is one of the most famous "non-Civil War encounters" of the 19th century. In class post-Civil War fashion, the US Army was fighting native groups in an effort to take their land/suppress their resistance movements.

The intriguing part of Little Bighorn is the final result. It is one of the rare cases where the natives prevailed and slaughtered the Americans. Usually it was the other way.

For this week's blog, watch this video and this video. Also, read this Arapaho primary source of the event.

For the comment section...
1) What is the basic story of the Battle of Little Bighorn/Custer's Last Stand?
2) Whose side are you most sympathetic towards...the natives or the US Army? Why?

Reconstruction Stories

Welcome to the first blog post of the year. I hope you will find these weekly assignments enlightening and interesting. As with most things in school/life, you get out what you put in.

The Reconstruction Era, as you know, refers to the ten years of American History after the Civil War ended. I cannot help but note the entire period would have looked much different if Lincoln had not been assassinated in April 1865.

We will cover the main ideas of Reconstruction in class. So, for this blog, I want you to dive into some of the personal accounts of how Reconstruction affected "everyday people".  The study of history is most interesting when seen through the eyes of those who experienced the events first hand.

Please visit this website. Read the account of a first-hand experience with the KKK.

For the comment section, please complete the following tasks.
1) Summarize what you read.
2) Discuss why you think many southern whites resorted to violence against former slaves during the Reconstruction Era?

Remember, your blog must be at least 200 words and include the word count.

Major Moments: 1990s

We'll give this one more try.

For our final blog of the year (Yay!), please describe one significant political event and one significant cultural event from this decade. As always, do not post about an event someone else has taken!

Minimum: 200 words

Major Moments: 1980s

We will stick with the same theme for this week's blog. Research both important political and cultural events from the 1980s. Choose one from each category and write 100 words on their significance (200 words total).

Please remember, you will not get credit for writing about a political and/or cultural event that another classmate has already posted about in the blog. So, the sooner you "claim" yours, the better.

Major Moments From The 1970s

For this week's blog, research one important political event and one important cultural event (music, sports, movies, entertainment etc.) from the 1970s. Write a 100 word paragraph about the significance of each (200 words total).

You cannot write about an event someone else has already posted about, so the sooner you "claim" your two events, the better.

Sixties Culture: Age of Aquarius

Often, when people hear the phrase "the sixties" they think of Hippies!

Certainly one of the most commemorated and analyzed aspects of the decade, the Hippies (or counterculture movement) have become a part of the American lexicon.

This week, please listen to this song. Do some research on the history of the song.

For the comment section, answer the following questions...

1) Which phrase (or phrases) from the lyrics best represent the hippie culture to you?

2) Why could this song be considered the Hippie Anthem?

Vietnam War: A Divided Nation

This week's blog will be in four parts. Each part will cover a different aspect of the Vietnam Conflict. For each part, write 100 words for the comment section. Please don't post your comments separately. Post all four parts as one large comment. This blog is worth 100 points.

Conduct your own Google/YouTube Searches for the following topics. 

Part One: Basic Facts
-Write ten interesting facts about the Vietnam War (100 words minimum)

Part Two: Difficulties Fighting
-Describe the difficulty the U.S. Troops faced fighting "inferior troops" in the landscape of Vietnam. (100 words minimum)

Part Three: Governmental Deception
-How did the U.S. Government (LBJ Administration) cover-up/hide certain details of the Vietnam War? (100 words minimum)

Part Four: Protests At Home
-Why was there such a backlash at home, manifesting in protests and draft-dodging, regarding the Vietnam War? (100 words minimum)