Civil Rights Era: Letters From A Birmingham Jail

We all are aware of Dr. King and his legacy. Famously known for his powerful presence while giving speeches, one of his most famous moments in the civil rights movement came via the written word.

Imprisoned in 1963 for leading nonviolent protests in Birmingham, AL, MLK Jr. wrote an incredible response to eight local white ministers who thought he should "cool it".  The eight ministers took out a full page ad in the local newspaper advocating for a "Call for Unity". The group called the MLK-led protests "unwise and untimely".

Although imprisoned, King wrote a response on scraps of paper and the margins of newspaper. His "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" has become a seminal document in the defense of his cause and methods.

Please read the full text of his letter here. In the comment section, discuss what struck you the most after reading his letter.

The Stormy Sixties: 60 Iconic Moments

For a myriad of reasons, the 1960s have fascinated Americans since the decade closed almost fifty years ago. So many major political, cultural and global events occurred during those ten years it is difficult to keep them all straight.

This website provides sixty images of sixty important events (people etc.) from the decade.

For this week's blog, scroll through the sixty images. (Some are more serious than others).
Choose two of the images to further research. Then, write 100 words for each of the images you chose. (Total of 200 words)

This is a first-come-first-served type assignment. So, be sure to post your blog quickly in order to get the images you want.

This blog is due by Sunday 11:59PM on March 19th.

The First Two Postwar Presidents: Truman vs. Eisenhower

Truman and Eisenhower served as president during a very critical time during our nation's history. We had helped the Allies defeat Germany/Italy/Japan but were now faced with a new threat: the Soviet Union.

The late 1940s and the decade of the 1950s was a time of extreme economic growth in America coupled with extreme anxiety about the nuclear age. And of course, Truman and Eisenhower dealt with both in different ways.

For this week's blog, visit this website. This site is an incredible resource as we seek to compare the presidencies of Truman and Eisenhower.

Take your time and sift through the information, tables and graphs of each man. Then, in the comment section, make your case for which president you think "did a better job" in office. Be sure your response is at least 200 words.

Due to the end of the nine weeks happening on Friday, this blog is due by 11:59PM on Thursday of this week.