New Deal: Political Cartoons

As we've noted in the past, political cartoons are an entertaining way to get a glimpse into how people thought about major issues in our history as they were happening.

For this week's blog, please conduct a Google search on "New Deal Political Cartoons". Find one that seems interesting and do some research on it.

Look for items like-where was it published? when? what is happening in the cartoon? what symbolism do you see in the cartoon? was the artist critiquing or supporting FDR's New Deal?

For the comments, post a link to the cartoon and write 200 words detailing the information you found.

Remember-you cannot do the same cartoon as someone else!

The Great Depression: The Roaring Twenties End With A Thud

For this week's blog, you are going to write two 100 word responses.

#1-Google "Dorothea Lange photography" and look at images she took during the Great Depression. Write 100 words on which photograph(s) made the greatest impact on you and why.

#2-Google "causes of the Great Depression". Write a 100 word response on at least THREE different events/causes that led to the Great Depression.

1920s: The Craziest Decade In Our History (Maybe)

With World War One coming to a close, the 1920s were seen as a decade to "return to normalcy". As it would turn out, that decade would be anything but normal!

This week's blog has two assignments-each with a 200 word comment. Please do not post until both assignments are complete.

Part One: Visit this website. Notice this site gives you information about significant events from each year of the decade. Also, as you scroll down on the main page, you will find interesting info about the culture (music, sports, fashion etc) of the decade.

Spend some time perusing this site and finding items of interest.

For the comment section, write 200 words about what you found most interesting on this webpage.


Part Two: Watch this video.

1) Create a "Top 10 List" of the 10 most interesting things you learned from this video about this decade. (100 words at least)

2) Write a paragraph as to why the 1920s was "anything but normal" for Americans. (100 words at least).

World War One: Lots of stories...

For this week's blog, visit this website.

Here you'll find a repository of first hand accounts of various World War One events.

Please choose ONE, read it carefully and write a 200 word summary explaining what you learned.

You cannot repeat someone else's choice. If you post on the same story after someone else already posted, you will not receive credit.

World War One: The War To End All Wars?

The War To End All War...that's what people really thought about this conflict.

It seems strange to think people could be so naive, but I think this mindset relates to just how terrible WW1 was. People could not imagine another conflict as horrific as this one. And yet, we know better...

This week's blog consists of two crash course episodes about World War One. The first video is from the "world's perspective" of the war and the second is from "America's perspective".

Video One (World Perspective)

Video Two (America Perspective)

Watch both and in the comments create a Top 10 List for each video (100 words each). Even though the videos are about the same war, they are looking at it from two different angles. Be sure to reflect those differences in your lists.

Panama Canal: A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama

Perhaps TR's greatest achievement as POTUS was securing the land for, and moving ahead with the construction of, the Panama Canal. But, as with most things, it was not without controversy.

Do some independent research on the Panama Canal origins and construction.

For the comments...

1) Create a Top Ten list of the ten most interesting facts you learned about the Panama Canal. (100 words minimum)

2) Do you think the shady way in which TR secured the land from Colombia takes away from the "greatness" of this achievement? (100 words minimum)

America in the Philippines: An Ugly Side of Imperialism

Not much is known by the average American about America's involvement in the Philippines during this turn-of-the-century Imperialism Age.

This week for the blog, consult these sources...

Source One

Source Two-You don't have to read this whole page. It contains dozens of letters from soldiers about their involvement in the Philippines at this time. Choose 5-6 to read and you'll get the idea.

Source Three-Brief video

For the comment section, write 200 words about what you learned (that you didn't already know) about our involvement in the Philippines.