Semester In Review: Most Interesting...

For the end of the semester blog, make me a Top 10 List of the most interesting things you learned this year, so far, about US History. They could be from anything we did in class, anything you've read from the blog, any video we saw etc.

Valley Forge: Best of Times//Worst of Times

Washington and his men spent a difficult winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania from the end of 1777 to the early months of 1778.  One of the strange customs of war from the 18th Century is that armies would basically call a cease-fire when the weather turned cold.  As winter would approach, each army would find a place to hibernate until the fighting would resume in spring.  Washington's choice was Valley Forge.

It is well documented how miserable his men were during this time.  There was little food, adequate clothing or proper shelter to protect the men from the winter winds.  Washington, in display of one of his best qualities, refused to live in comfort while his men suffered.  He remained in the camp until winter thawed out.

As difficult as this time was, the men in Washington's camp received the best training of their "careers" up to that point.  Prussian military leader Friedrich Von Steuben came to the aid of Washington and drilled his men until they were an actual fighting force.  For this week's blog, I want you to read this story, watch part one and part two of this video series and in the comments write about your impression of Washington, Von Steuben and the soldiers in light of their struggle at Valley Forge.

George Washington: Spy Master

One of the most intriguing, and often untold, parts of the Revolutionary War is the role spying played in giving the Continental Army an advantage over the more powerful British Army. The Culper Ring in New York played a monumental role in passing important information back and forth without being detected.

For this week's blog, visit these four websites and then write about what you learned. How exactly did this Culper Ring work? Why do you think the Americans heavily relied on spies in some cases and the British really did not?
Site One
Site Two
Site Three
Site Four

The Declaration of Independence: Does It Really Matter?

Many people point to the Declaration of Independence as the most important document in American history. While that is debatable, the DOI was certainly a turning point in the development of our nation.

The question is...does the DOI really matter? What if we didn't write that document but fought the war anyway? Would we not have been free because we did not declare it in writing?

What if we had lost the war? Would this document have set us free anyway?

Check out this funny parody video, read this "kid's version" and look at this website to gain some background on the document and its writers.

For the comment section, explain how important you think the DOI is. Could/would we be the nation we are today without it?

Boston Massacre: A Lesson in Propaganda

Let me catch you up to speed. People from Europe came to America for LOTS of different reasons.  Some came for political asylum, some for religious freedom, some tried to escape their mounting debts back home and some came for the fun of it.  Either way, as time passed and the colonies grew a certain "American Culture" began to develop.  All these different cultures, living thousands of miles from home and across an entire ocean, began to develop a new identity.  It's not that they considered themselves as "Americans".  They did, however, begin to identify with their home colony (i.e. "I'm a Virginian" etc.)  The confusing part is that while this new identity was being developed, the colonists were still fully recognized as British citizens.  That meant the King and Parliament (England's version of Congress) were still in control.  Some colonies had more self-government than others, but all answered ultimately to the Mother Country.

When the French/Indian War started, the colonists needed British troops help to defend their land.  This arrangement worked because England A) hated France and B) wanted to see their colonies survive so they could continue to make a profit off them.  So the war was fought and England won, and then the trouble started.  William Pitt, the British Prime Minister (their version of a president) began taxing the colonies more heavily than they were used to in order to pay off the debt racked up by the French and Indian War.  And who could blame him? England sent her troops across the ocean and paid for much of the war cost up front. You cannot blame them for wanting a return on their investment.  Plus, the colonies belonged to England in the first place, so what's the big deal?

The problem was the colonists had basically been left alone for many decades leading up to the war with France.  They had enjoyed the freedom this "salutary neglect" (fancy phrase :-) )  had brought.  Now they resented England playing a more active role in colonial affairs.  As the reins tightened, many colonists began to advocate more freedom.  It is important to note that the original requests from the colonists were not for independence.  That is a common misconception.  What the colonists wanted, at least in the early years after the F/I War, was their rights as British citizens to be recognized.  To be treated like they would be if they lived in England.  The cries for independence rang out only after their requests for equal rights were ignored.

All of that background leads us to this week's topic: The Boston Massacre.  In March of 1770 an unruly crowd of Bostonians were harassing a group of British soldiers who were guarding a local customs (tax) house.  Heated words were exchanged, the colonists threw sticks, stones and snow balls at the soldiers and shots were fired.  Five colonists were killed and the soldiers were put on trial.  Ironically, John Adams (the cousin of Samuel Adams who was probably the most radical leader of the Sons of Liberty) was hired to defend the British soldiers against their charges of murder.  Amazingly, Adams convinced the jury of the innocence of the soldiers and they were free to go.

First, read this story of the Boston Massacre from the perspective of the Captain of the British soldiers involved in this scuffle.  Then, look at this portrayal of the events by Bostonian silversmith Paul Revere.  Be sure to read the explanation as well as look at the image.  There should be an option at the bottom of the page to view Revere's image in an enlarged view.

Is there any difference in the way the same incident was portrayed by the two sides? If so, why do you think that is?  How could the same story be told two different ways?

Whaling: Important Colonial Industry

One of the most fascinating aspects of life in New England (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut & New Hampshire) was the whaling industry. To think that animals of that size could be hunted down without the use of any modern technology is very interesting. The whaling industry shaped much of colonial life at that time. In fact, whale oil was used to light lamps and lanterns in all thirteen colonies!

For this week's blog, visit this website and read ALL of these four sections: American Whaling, Vessels & Terminology, Life Aboard and Whales & Hunting. In the comments section, list (using numbers like 1. 2. 3. etc.) the ten most important/interesting things you learned from each section. That will be a total of 40 facts!

The French & Indian War: The War That Made America

The other major event at this time in the colonies, besides the First Great Awakening (which was covered in last week's blog) was the French + Indian War. Essentially, the French and British were fighting in Europe and it bled over into the North American continent. Fighting broke out in 1754 and was concluded in 1763. The British won the war and gained essentially all the land EAST of the Mississippi River. This was is interesting because there were conflicts between the French/British, British/Colonists and Colonists/Natives.

For this week, watch this video and take good notes while you listen/watch. Summarize the important points (people, battles, places etc.) of this conflict in the comments section. What would've happened if the French had won the war?

The First Great Awakening: America's First Spiritual Revival

One of the most interesting aspects of the colonial era is the longer the British colonies were established, the less British they became. The colonists slowly what can essentially be called a "unique American culture" even though they were technically still the "property" of England.

The First Great Awakening (implying there was to be a 2nd G.A. later) occurred in the decades leading up to the French/Indian War. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield drew massive crowds and attention to spiritual matters. 

For this week's blog, you are going to visit this website which gives a brief overview of the importance of the First Great Awakening. Be sure to read not only the main page but also the extra links on the right-hand side of the screen.

Then please read Jonathan Edwards' most famous sermon: Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God. This message is considered the most important primary source from this era.

For the comment section, write your reaction to this period of colonial history. What did you think of the sermon? What was your favorite line/phrase?

Religious Freedom?: Salem Witch Trials

You should know by now that not every colony started in America was founded for religious freedom.  Most people think the thirteen original colonies were all about freedom from religious oppression in Europe, but people also came for adventure, profit, to escape a rocky past, for cheap land etc.  All of that being said, Massachusetts was known for its religious background.  Unfortunately, it was not always positive.

Massachusetts, well actually most of New England, was founded by Puritans.  This religious group took their spiritual life very seriously.  In fact, only church members were allowed to vote in Massachusetts.  Visit this website for a brief description.

The Puritans strict beliefs about the way life should be lived, coupled with their very paranoid attitude about the Devil, led to the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s.  Salem was not the only Massachusetts town that experienced a witch hunt, but it has become the most notorious due to Salem's tourist industry, a recent revival of interest in witchcraft and a famous play called The Crucible about the trials.

I visited Salem, MA last summer and spent some time at this museum.  When you visit this website, please look at three of the sections on the left side of the screen: 1692 Salem Witch Trials, FAQ & Kids' Questions.  Be sure to watch all of the videos in the Kids' Questions section.

For the comments section this week, reflect on the lifestyle and beliefs of the Puritans, as well as all you learned about the Witch Trials, and discuss whether or not the Salem Trials were legitimate.  Do you think there were witches in Salem?  If not, why do you think the Witch Trials happen?  Can you think of any modern examples where people get caught up in a mass hysteria movement and are blamed/accused of things that are not true?

Jamestown: Britain's First Successful Colony in America

After the Roanoke debacle, which we will cover in depth on Thursday, England once again turned her gaze to the Atlantic Coast of North America. In 1607 John Smith and others led a group to the Virginia Coast and established Jamestown. This colony's main goal was to make a profit off the land for the Virginia Company, which was a business back in England. Unfortunately, there was essentially zero gold in Jamestown so the profit would have to come from selling crops from the New World to people back home. Unfortunately again, the original Jamestown settlers did not come to farm (they came for gold) so they were unprepared and ill-equipped.

For this week's blog, visit this site about Jamestown. Be sure to watch the videos about Jamestown. Also, explore the "Jamestown Settlement" tab on the left hand side of the screen for more information. In the comment section, list the 20 most interesting things you learned about Jamestown from exploring this site.

Dividing The World: Treaty of Tordesillas

One of the motivations for all this European exploration was competition between rival countries. Generally speaking, there were two major rivalries at this time: Spain vs. Portugal + England vs. France. In the case of Spain and Portugal, both Catholic countries called on the Pope (leader of the Roman Catholic Church) to settle a dispute about which part of the world each country now "owned the right to explore".

In the 1490s, Pope Alexander VI decided to draw an imaginary line down the Atlantic Ocean. Spain was then "given the right" to explore any lands west of this line and Portugal "got" anything east. For the comments this week, read these three articles (1, 2 and 3). Do you think the Pope's decision was wise? What might have been an alternate solution? Also, did the Pope really have the authority to make this decision?

Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca: Lost in the "New World"

One of the more interesting, but often overlooked, Spanish conquistador stories is that of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca. He and his men landed in Florida (Tampa Bay), wandered throughout Texas and eventually found fellow Spaniards years later in Mexico. All the while, their numbers dwindled from disease and the harsh conditions.

Read this article, this article and watch this video to get a more complete picture of this story. In the comments section, pretend you are De Vaca after finally finding fellow Spaniards after years of wandering. Write a letter home to your family describing the "New World" and your adventures. Be sure to use actual details from his story.

Age of Exploration: New Technology

The time in history when Europeans started exploring Africa and across the Atlantic Ocean is known as the "Age of Exploration". As you will come to learn in class, there are many factors that led to European exploration. One of the more interesting was new technology. Now, what was considered "new technology" in the 1400s is not exactly what we'd consider cool today; however some of these inventions were completely life altering.

Here is your assignment for this week. Visit this site and choose ONE of the technology items described on the page. Then do your own Google search on the item you chose. In the comments section, explain what the invention was, how it worked and how it changed the lives of explorers. The catch is, once an invention is selected from the page and written about in the comments, you cannot pick it. So, it's first come//first served this week!

Mississippians: Mound Builders

We have spent the last two blogs looking at impressive feats of architecture and human ingenuity via the Aztecs and Incas. This week we will spend some time looking at an impressive culture much closer to us.

Near St. Louis, MO, about 1,000 years ago, the Mississippians built series of "mound settlements" that became little/mid-sized cities. The most well known of these sites was Cahokia, which grew to 20,000 people. These settlements were centers of trade, agriculture and entertainment for the natives.

Watch this video and read this article about Cahokia and the Mississippians. Do you see any similarities and/or differences between the Mississippians, Aztecs and Incas? What was the most interesting thing you learned?

Machu Picchu: Amazing Incan Construction Feat

As you can see from last week's Aztec blog, the ancient civilizations of North + South America were far from "uncivilized".  This week we will focus on the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu.  This incredible feat of construction is still a worldwide tourist attraction today. Located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu was a religious and cultural center for the Inca Empire.  By carefully reading this site and this site, provide in your comment this week a description of Machu Picchu. Be sure to include what you think is the most impressive about this place.

Aztecs: The First Americans

Welcome to Advanced US History for the 2014-2015 School Year! I am very excited to be your teacher this year and am looking forward to our journey. We are going to be learning A LOT over the next nine months and a major part of your education will be this blog. Every Monday a new post will appear. Follow the directions. Watch the videos. Read the articles. Think critically about what you are learning. Then, by Sunday at 11:59PM, post a 100 word comment in the Comment Section. This post will be a quiz grade every week, so don't forget!

We will start with the question: "What was America like before it was America as we know it?".  The answer is that it was very diverse and filled with millions of native tribes and cultures. One of the most fascinating were the Aztecs.  They dominated the Mexico region of North America for centuries before being wiped out by Hernan Cortes in the 1500s.  Visit this website to learn more about this culture.

For the comment section this week, I want you to debate the following statement: "Prehistoric cultures were not sophisticated. They had no technology, culture, belief systems or entertainment. They were basically cavemen." Is this true? Use the Aztecs, and the info you learned from this site, as proof for your answer.

Civil War: Self-Guided Tour

The Civil War is so important for countless reasons. We could do a whole year's worth of blogs and never completely cover every aspect. Some people love to study the battles. Others like how it affected women, slaves and free blacks. Others focus on Jefferson Davis vs. Abraham Lincoln. Still others study the music and poetry of the time. Etc. Etc.

So for this week's blog I am going to give you a list of things you can research concerning the Civil War. You must pick three (3) and write 100 words on each of your choices. That is a total of 300 words for this week's blog. Consequently, this week's blog will be worth 150 points rather than the usual 50. Choose wisely and enjoy exploring this topic!

Options:
*Clara Barton/Field Nurses
*Women as spies/soldiers
*Massachusetts 54th Regiment
*Civil War Poetry
*Civil War Songs
*Baseball & The Civil War
*Monitor & The Merrimack
*Lincoln's problems with his generals
*Battles: Antietam, First Bull Run, Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Sherman's March to the Sea
*Andersonville Prison
*Grant's Wilderness Campaign
*Lincoln's growing war-time executive power
*Copperheads
*Appomattox Courthouse

North & South: Pros & Cons

So we've finally reached the Civil War. This and next week's blog will be the last two of the year. I want to thank you again for all of your hard work contributing to this blog each week. I've loved the topics, discussion and interaction!

This week, research the advantages and disadvantages facing both sides at the beginning of the war. List at least three advantages and disadvantages for each side (total of 12) in the comment section. Also, based on your list, assess which side should have won the war based on your findings.

Civil War in Congress: The Caning of Charles Sumner

One of the most remarkable events in Congressional history occurred on May 22, 1856. Senator Charles Sumner was caned (meaning beaten up by a cane) on the floor of the Senate. I'll type that again...a senator was caned by a representative from South Carolina on the floor of the Senate! The disagreements over the spread of slavery had come to blows!

Read this article and this article to get a better feel for this incident. In the comment section, explain why this caning happened AND how it represented the struggle facing all of America at this time.

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I A Woman?

Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Baumfree) is a fascinating figure during this time of mid-19th Century reform movements. Being a black woman who was born into slavery, she had an interest in several of the reform movements.  I didn't know her personally, but she seems like she would have been a cool chick.

For this week's blog, read her famous speech from 1851 called "Ain't I A Woman?" and watch poet Alice Walker read it as well.  It is a short, but powerful and humorous speech about the role of women in 1850's society.

In the comment section, discuss your take on the speech. What was Sojourner trying to say?

Remember The Alamo!:Remember The Alamo?

One of the most widely recognized American phrases is "Remember The Alamo!", but I am sure most Americans could not even name the decade in which this battle took place. But you guys can! Right? Right! (1830s of course!)

Anyway, many inaccuracies have crept into our collective remembrance of the Alamo. Check out this website on some of the most common misconceptions. In the comment sections, detail the one you found the most interesting. Also, discuss why Americans seem to prefer myth to reality.

Manifest Destiny: The Ugly Side

Last week we looked at the Oregon Trail, which a decidedly more positive element of Westward Expansion than this week's topic. Well...except for the growing hostilities between the emigrants and the native tribes.

This week we look at Mr. Polk's war: The War with Mexico. Since the earliest exploration days (remember Chapter 2, Cortes, etc?), Spain owned a MASSIVE amount of land in North America. Essentially everything from the southern tip of Central America all the way to Washington (the state, NOT D.C.) was known as Mexico. In 1821, Spain lost control of all this land. Soon, Americans were invited by the Mexican government to move into Texas to help cultivate the land. Well, the Americans quickly outnumbered the Mexicans which led to the Texan War For Independence (Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, The Alamo etc.)

Years later, James Polk promised to acquire the rest of the Mexican Territory and he accomplished this by going to war. This conflict is often overlooked in history classes, but it plays a key role in setting up the Civil War as well as expanding our border all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This war is also important because there was a large anti-war group in America who thought this was a totally unjust and immoral fight.  One such outspoken anti-war leader was a young Whig politician known as Abraham Lincoln.

For this week's blog, please visit this site and spend AT LEAST 30 minutes reading the various sections. There is a lot to digest, most of which won't be familiar to you, so soak it in. Don't rush through this. In the comment section, please list the 30 most important facts you learned about this conflict from this website. Conclude your comments with you analysis of the war: Was it justified? If Polk wanted this land so badly, could he have gotten it another way? Was war the only option?

Westward Ho!: The Oregon Trail

Our next chapter, Manifest Destiny, outlines the many reasons Americans expanded beyond the Mississippi River during the 1800s.  One of the most famous routes for westward travel was the Oregon Trail.  This land voyage was very difficult, but successfully traversed by countless pioneers hoping for a fresh start in the West.

For this week's blog, visit this website and read at least 10 of the articles you find. Familiarize yourself with the trail, who traveled on it, where it lead and what life was like for the migrants.  In the comment section, describe some of the more interesting findings you uncovered from your reading.

P.S. There is a section on this website where you can play the old Oregon Trail game (which was a mega hit when I was in 5th grade) online. It's kind of corny, but it does represent the decisions necessary for survival and highlights some of the historical places the pioneers would have traveled. It's fun, in a nostalgic sort of way, and you should take some time and play it!

John Q. Adams: His Father's Son

John Quincy Adams was an interesting guy. He is the only president to have married a lady who was not born in America. He was famous for skinny-dipping in the Potomac River in Washington D.C. He was the first son-of-a-former-president to become president himself. He's the only president to go back to the House of Representatives after he left the White House. He is also the second president to only serve one term.

If you remember, Monroe's presidency was named the "Era of Good Feelings" (even though beneath the surface there was quite a bit going on) and he won both terms with very little opposition. So, isn't it strange that someone with the rich heritage of JQA would only stay in office for only one term? Especially since he was definitely suited for the job and had a strong political career (he wrote the Monroe Doctrine) before he was elected president.

For this week's blog, search the internet for information about the presidency of John Q. Adams. Begin your search with the 1824 Election and continue on until the 1828 Election. For the comment section, discuss why you think JQA only served one term. What troubles did he face as president that cost him a chance at reelection?

The Missouri Compromise: A Devastating Solution

As America stretched further west, and new inventions made travel more efficient, a new problem arose: Would new territories have slaves or not?  Southerners of course wanted to expand slavery into new territories in order to spread their influence and maintain their economic system. Conversely, Northerners were beginning to abolish slavery (little by little) and they also did not rely on slave labor to progress their manufacturing economy (remember...they used girls and immigrant).  They feared more slave states would dominate the country, thus they would lose influence in Congress and national elections.

In 1819 America had 22 states: 11 free and 11 slave. When Missouri applied for statehood, the balance would have been thrown off making it 11 free and 12 slave. This would have given slave states more power in the Senate which scared the North. Northerners, who controlled the House of Representatives, wanted to block Missouri's admittance. So, thanks to Henry Clay the Missouri Compromise was reached.

Visit this website, this website and this website to learn more about this compromise. For the comment section consider the following questions: What were the pros and cons of this compromise? How did it lead to more conflict decades later? If you were in charge of settling this issue, what would you have done?

Necessity: The Mother of Invention

Let's take a step in a different direction.  The next set of chapters we'll be discussing deal with the growth and change of America.  After the War of 1812 we finally become recognized as a legitimate country.  Other world powers begin to notice we've defeated/stood up to the British Empire twice and survived.  Our population was growing and our land claims had doubled thanks to the Louisiana Purchase.  We had now entered into an exciting time of "What is America really going to be?" type questions.  One answer to that query is "Innovators".

Beginning around 1790, America slowly became one of the world leaders in new inventions and technological progress.  The early inventions may not seem very cool or exciting, but they greatly changed the lives of people who could afford them/who worked with them.

Notice the title of this week's blog: Necessity: The Mother of Invention.  I want you to watch this video and use the first 50 words of your comment to explain what that phrase means.

For the second half of your comments, do a web search and find an invention created in America between the years 1790-1865.  Describe the invention and how it changed lives.  Here's the catch-you cannot repeat an invention that someone in the class has already posted.  So it is to your benefit to be one of the first commenters this week!  It'd be cool if you posted a picture of your invention as your avatar this week.

Modern Marvels: The Erie Canal & The National Road

As we discussed in class today, the early 19th century was a time of major evolution in the lives of Americans.  Technology was rapidly bringing convenience and efficiency into the lives of everyday citizens.  Read these two articles, one on the Erie Canal and the other on the National Road, to get an eyewitness perspective on two major developments in America's transportation network.

As you read these stories, put yourself in the place of a "common citizen" who was watching these events unfold.  Would you be excited? Scared of the "new way of life"? Worried about government taking up more land for future projects?  Looking to get in on the ground floor of these new construction projects?  For the comment section, pretend to write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.  Give your thoughts on either the canal or the road.  What do you think people would have said back then?  Is "progress" always a good thing?

The War of 1812: America's Second War For Independence

By now you probably realize the American victory over the British in the War for Independence did not really change America's situation that significantly.  Yes, we established the principle of self-government and wrote the now legendary Constitution, but other than that....

Britain (and France) were still major thorns in our side.  We got little respect on the world stage or in our own territories.  The natives were being supplied with weapons and encouraged to fight any and all western settlers and settlements.  We were in rough shape financially, and the Jefferson Embargo had hurt us even worse.  The natives, as the saying goes, were growing restless.  Something had to change.

So...let's fight! Madison asked Congress to declare war against England in the summer of 1812.  Unfortunately for him, the British Parliament had decided to stop impressing our ships and sailors (which was one of the major reasons we were declaring war) but by the time we got the news that England had changed her mind it was too late.

Please visit this website and read the nine essays (be sure to click the blue "continue" link so you get the whole story) to gain insight into what different groups of people were thinking about the war.  In the comments section, discuss which essay you thought was the most interesting and why.

The Duel: Hamilton vs. Burr

In what may be the deadliest example of the early political disagreements facing our young nation, Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in July 1804.  Read this primary source, read this article and watch this video (which is supposed to be a mix of comedy and history) to learn more about this incident. In the comment section, discuss your reaction to this episode and whether and why dueling was a popular conflict-resolution strategy centuries ago but no longer is acceptable.

Louisiana Purchase: When Jefferson Breaks His Own Rule & Totally Changes America

The Louisiana Purchase (1803) blindsided President Jefferson and left him with quite a predicament.  We had offered to purchase ownership of New Orleans from France for $10,000,000 and their counter-offer was to sell their entire Louisiana Territory for a mere $15,000,000.  U.S. Ambassador to France Robert Livingston made Jefferson aware of this offer and told him to act quickly before the French changed their mind.  This land purchase would double our country's size and vastly improve our ability to expand territoriality, politically and economically.  The problem was nowhere in the Constitution did it allow the president purchase land from foreign nations. And as I am sure you will recall, Jefferson was a strict interpreter of the Constitution...meaning if the Constitution did not specifically say the president could do something then it was illegal for the president to do it anyway.

Jefferson was facing a classic ethical dilemma: should he break his own rule, risk his integrity and purchase the land to benefit the nation OR should he stick with D-R beliefs and let Congress approve the purchase risking that it might take too long and the deal would be off the table.  Well, obviously he chose to buy the land without Congressional approval and that's how we got the Louisiana Territory.  Funny how Jefferson criticized Adams for "over-stepping the Constitution" but as soon as he became president he did the same thing!

For this week's blog, you are going to visit a website where the Lewis & Clark Expedition (also known as the "Corps of Discovery") is explained.  You are also going to play an online game making decisions along with Lewis & Clark.  Here is the link to the article and here is the link to the game.  After you have completed the reading and the game, in the comment section write your reaction to the Corps of Discovery.  You could include challenges they faced, what it would have been like to have been with them, what you would have done differently or anything else that seems significant about this journey.

John Adams: America's First Dictator?

John Adams had a miserable presidency. I honestly feel bad for him.  He was an excellent public servant leading up to, and during, the Revolutionary War, but sadly his legacy is tarnished with his time as president. His personality was not well suited to be an executive (he was short-tempered, easily offended and too smart for his own good) and he was constantly being compared to Washington.  Following in Washington's footsteps led to constant, and unfair, criticism that he was not able to handle.

Two things define Adams' presidency: The XYZ Affair and the Alien/Sedition Acts.  Of those two, the most damaging incident was the Alien/Sedition Acts.  Rather than explain them to you, I want you to explore these two websites: Website A and Website B.  On Website A, be sure to click the link for the "Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions" at the end of the reading because you need to read that as well.

For the comment section, give your thoughts on the following questions: Was Adams justified in passing these acts? Did these acts violate the Bill of Rights?  If they did, should he have been impeached? Should the government ever be allowed to "overstep their boundaries" in the name of "public protection"?

George Washington: Father Of Our Nation or Deity?

George Washington was our first president. You know this. Heck, Caedmon probably knows this. So, what's the big deal about Washington? Was he really that smart and great?

For this week's blog, you are going to read an eyewitness account of George Washington's inauguration and analyze a piece of art called "The Apotheosis of Washington" which is painted on the ceiling in the U.S. Capital Building. Be sure to read the accompanying explanation of the painting on that website.

For the comments section, please complete the following:
1-Write 50 words on your reaction to the inauguration story.  What do you think the "feeling in the air" was on that day?
2-Write 50 words on your reaction to the art.  What does this art say about how Americans view Washington?