I want to applaud this class for the impassioned response to Friday's reading about "Robber Barons". History should feel personal because, while it happened long ago in some cases, it is our history. We should disagree. In fact, I encourage respectful disagreement. It means we are thinking!
I thought it would be a good idea for everyone to solidify their content knowledge on what exactly the terms capitalism, socialism/communism mean.
For this week's blog, view this video and visit this website for some quality explanations on these different economic systems. You may want to Google other resources as well.
For the comment section, answer all three of the following questions...
1) Summarize, in your own words, the differences between capitalism and socialism/communism.
2) What are the pros/cons of capitalism and socialism/communism?
3) After learning more about these concepts this week, which system makes the most sense to you personally? Why?
Monday, September 26, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Labor vs Ownership: The Pullman Palace Car Strike
The growth of industry led to many opportunities for those in control of capital and resources to makes LOTS of money. Unfortunately, human nature often gets the best of us and greed kicks into high gear.
One of the best examples of a successful business, in the face of hard times, exploiting its workers is George Pullman's Palace Car Company. His seemingly uncaring tactics led to a major strike run by the A.R.U. This type of episode signifies the struggle between the people who own companies (management) the people who run companies (labor).
Watch this 9:00 video to get a very clear understanding of what happened in the Pullman Strike. For the comments, answer ANY THREE of the following questions. Remember, your answer must be at least 200 words and you lose -15 points if the word count is not included.
Choose Three:
1-What was a Pullman Palace Car?
2-Why caused the workers to strike in 1894?
3-What response did the government, including President Cleveland, have to this strike?
4-What happened to some of the labor leaders after the strike ended? Did their appeal to the Supreme Court work?
5-What were some of the results of the strike?
One of the best examples of a successful business, in the face of hard times, exploiting its workers is George Pullman's Palace Car Company. His seemingly uncaring tactics led to a major strike run by the A.R.U. This type of episode signifies the struggle between the people who own companies (management) the people who run companies (labor).
Watch this 9:00 video to get a very clear understanding of what happened in the Pullman Strike. For the comments, answer ANY THREE of the following questions. Remember, your answer must be at least 200 words and you lose -15 points if the word count is not included.
Choose Three:
1-What was a Pullman Palace Car?
2-Why caused the workers to strike in 1894?
3-What response did the government, including President Cleveland, have to this strike?
4-What happened to some of the labor leaders after the strike ended? Did their appeal to the Supreme Court work?
5-What were some of the results of the strike?
Monday, September 12, 2016
Industrialism Embodied: The Brooklyn Bridge
The next few weeks we will turn our attentions to the growing rate of industrialism in America. Literally the landscape of our nation was changing.
One ubiquitous, but often overlooked evidence of industrialism at its finest is the Brooklyn Bridge. Constructed in the last few decades of the 19th century, this bridge symbolizes the changes in America.
For this week's blog, read this account regarding the building of this bridge.
For the comments, reflect on what you have read. Answer these two questions...
1) What impressed you from the article you read?
2) What is the most impressive man-made creation you have ever personally seen (building, monument, vehicle etc. etc.)?
Remember, your post must be at least 200 words and the word count must be posted (or you lose 15 points automatically).
One ubiquitous, but often overlooked evidence of industrialism at its finest is the Brooklyn Bridge. Constructed in the last few decades of the 19th century, this bridge symbolizes the changes in America.
For this week's blog, read this account regarding the building of this bridge.
For the comments, reflect on what you have read. Answer these two questions...
1) What impressed you from the article you read?
2) What is the most impressive man-made creation you have ever personally seen (building, monument, vehicle etc. etc.)?
Remember, your post must be at least 200 words and the word count must be posted (or you lose 15 points automatically).
Monday, September 5, 2016
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show: The Persistence of the "Mythical Wild, Wild West"
Another angle we can take on this chapter is the "myth of the wild, wild west". If you closed your eyes and repeated that phrase, undoubtedly a dozen images would immediately spring to mind.
Have you ever stopped to think...where did those images come from? Where, exactly, do Americans get their minds-eye view of the wild, wild west? Also, was it even all that wild?
An obvious answer is 20th century media. Everything from old-timey radio programs, to novels and movies perpetuate a certain perspective on the American West. Case in point, Hollywood is releasing a remake of a famous western called The Magnificent Seven with Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. You've probably seen the previews.
One of the earliest players in the Old West theme was Buffalo Bill Cody. He led a incredibly successful Wild West Show which traveled around America...kind of a like a modern-day circus.
For this week's blog, visit this website to gain more information about Bill Cody, his friends and his show. You'll need to read the main article and then look at some of the links on the left side of the screen.
For the comments section, list the ten most interesting things you did not know about Buffalo Bill and His Show. After your Top Ten List, write a paragraph about why Americans love clinging to myths that we all (for the most part) know are not true.
Remember......each week's blog post must be at least 200 words and the word count should be included in parenthesis at the end of your comment section. From this point forward, blog's without the word count attached will lose 15 points.
Have you ever stopped to think...where did those images come from? Where, exactly, do Americans get their minds-eye view of the wild, wild west? Also, was it even all that wild?
An obvious answer is 20th century media. Everything from old-timey radio programs, to novels and movies perpetuate a certain perspective on the American West. Case in point, Hollywood is releasing a remake of a famous western called The Magnificent Seven with Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. You've probably seen the previews.
One of the earliest players in the Old West theme was Buffalo Bill Cody. He led a incredibly successful Wild West Show which traveled around America...kind of a like a modern-day circus.
For this week's blog, visit this website to gain more information about Bill Cody, his friends and his show. You'll need to read the main article and then look at some of the links on the left side of the screen.
For the comments section, list the ten most interesting things you did not know about Buffalo Bill and His Show. After your Top Ten List, write a paragraph about why Americans love clinging to myths that we all (for the most part) know are not true.
Remember......each week's blog post must be at least 200 words and the word count should be included in parenthesis at the end of your comment section. From this point forward, blog's without the word count attached will lose 15 points.
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