Underground Railroad: This Train Is Bound For Glory

Harriet Tubman, one of America's most courageous people ever, was a leader of the Underground Railroad movement. As we saw in class last week, she could have stayed in Canada once she escaped but chose to return up to 20 times to save others!

Historians quibble over exactly how many people she helped lead to freedom. In fact, some people claim the threat of her actions was scarier to slave owners rather than whatever number she actually freed.

For this week's blog, please visit this website. There are four sections you need to read: The Underground Railroad, Levi Coffin's Underground Railroad Station, Fugitives Arriving at an Indiana Farm and Harriet Tubman. For each section, list the five most interesting things you learned. Then, write a brief reflection on the Underground Railroad system. What is your reaction to what you read about this week?

North + South: How Different Were They?

In Chapter 14, we will be talking about differences between the Northern and Southern States in the 1800's. In the Northern states, the nineteenth century was a time of immigration, industrialization and growth. Many immigrants, women and children worked long hours in factories trying to make enough money to make ends meet while others were climbing up the social ladder of wealth and prosperity. Watch this video to hear more about the tenements that people called home and learn "How the Other Half Lives." What surprises you about this video?

Now, I'm sure you recall that in the 1800's slavery was commonplace in the South. Even though the living conditions of slaves heavily depended on the hearts of their Slave-Master, all of the slaves experienced a rough journey to the Americas. Read this article to discover what the journey to the Americas was like for captured slaves.

For your comment this week, post about the similarities and differences between the experiences of the slaves in the South and the poor living conditions of many in Northern cities. What were the attitudes of the people "above" them?

Whitney's Cotton Gin: Unintended Consequences of Technology

In the late 1790s, as America was still in its first decade of country-hood, Eli Whitney submitted a patent for the cotton gin. This machine, which essentially removed the human element from cleaning cotton (think: removing the seeds), revolutionized the southern economy.

Read the following links (Link One, Video) and then answer these two questions for the comment section.

1) What was Eli Whitney's original intent for the cotton gin? Did he think it would encourage or discourage the slave system in the South?

2) What were the consequences (both good and bad) of the cotton gin?

We Didn't Start The Fire: Burning of D.C. (This is for the week starting February 8th)

One of the more interesting tidbits of the War of 1812 was the ransacking and arson of our nation's capital.

For this week's blog, read this account and this account of the incident. In the comment section, answer the following questions.

1) Why do you think the British not only attacked, but burned (attempted to burn down) D.C.?

2) Why do you think Dolley Madison felt it was important to save the portrait of George Washington before fleeing the White House? I mean, it was just a painting, right?

War Heroes: Oliver Hazard Perry

Have you ever heard someone say, in a joking way, "Danger? I'm not afraid of danger. Danger is my middle name." Well, in this case, danger is literally Oliver Hazard Perry's middle name. Use a thesaurus.

Anyway...for this week's blog Google the name Oliver Hazard Perry. Visit at least three different websites (not Wikipedia!!!) for your research. Be sure to include the websites you used in the comments section.

For the comments...

1) List ten interesting facts you found about OHP.

2) What is OHP's legacy in relation to the War of 1812 specifically?

Barbary Pirates: A Difficult Test in Jefferson's First Term

An often overlooked episode of American history involved North African pirates and our young navy. Jefferson's first term is often praised, and rightly so, for the Louisiana Purchase + the Lewis & Clark Expedition. However, his first four years were not all roses and ponies.

American merchants, constantly being harassed by European powers in the Atlantic, were now facing impassable waters north of Africa. Bribes were demanded. Threats were made. It was all very difficult.

Read these two links (one and two) and answer the following two questions in the comments section.

1) Describe the difficult situation we were put in by the Barbary Pirates.

2) How does the second link relate America's 19th century struggle with piracy to our 21st century struggle with terrorism?

Jefferson in the White House: Our Third President

Thomas Jefferson was just a different kind of cat. According to contemporary sources, his voice was high-pitched which made him very self-conscious. In fact, he would write out his State of the Union Addresses and have them read aloud to Congress rather than read them himself! He also would answer the door to the White House in his slippers. Could you imagine ringing the doorbell to the White House today and President Obama answering the door in his jammies?

Read this account of Jefferson in the White House. In the comments section, answer the following two questions:

1) What does Mrs. Smith's account of Jefferson in the White House teach you about the man?

2) Do you think the job of President is different today than it was when Jefferson was President?