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.

Another One???: Assassination of William McKinley

In 1901 America was forced to mourn a third president's death in the past thirty-five years.

Lincoln, Garfield and now...William McKinley.

Do some research for this week's blog. Answer each question with 50 words to obtain your 200 words for this week.

1) What was William McKinley like, politically? Did he align with "big business" or the "common man"?

2) Why was he in Buffalo, NY when he was shot?

3) Why was he killed?

4) Teddy Roosevelt took over as POTUS when McKinley died. How was Teddy different from McKinley?

William Jennings Bryan: The Cowardly Lion

Did you know there is a very popular theory that the famous children's book, The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, is actually an allegory for the Populist Movement.

For example, it is widely believed the character of the Cowardly Lion is portraying William Jennings Bryan (famous politician and Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson). Also-Bryan College is named after him.

Spend some time Googling the connections between Populism and this novel. There is A LOT out there for you to read/watch.

In the comments section, write 200 words describing what you learned and what you found interesting. Be sure to included at least one sentence on whether or not you think this conspiracy theory is true.

Gilded Age: A Changing Life for Americans

As you have seen over the past few chapters, America was changing A LOT during the decades following Reconstruction.

Events like recreation, urbanization, immigration, sanitation, political corruption and many more were dominating the headlines.

For this week's blog-visit this website. Notice the drop down menu at the top that says "38. From the countryside to the city". When you click the drop down menu you'll see options "38 a-f" and more. Please select a topic between "38 a-f" and "38 a-e". These are all Gilded Age topics.

Read what this website has to say AND look at other websites to get more info about whatever topic you selected.

For the comment section, write 200 words discussing what you learned about the Gilded Age topic of your choice.

The Gilded Age: America's Growing Pains

In the late 19th century, the most effective way to reach people was in newspapers and magazines. One of the most creative ways to critique the government and point out issues in America was using cartoons.

The term for this era is the "Gilded Age"-coined by author Mark Twain. "Gilded" refers to something that looks shiny and nice on the outside but on the inside is a mess. Twain used this phrase to refer to America because, on the outside, America was expanding and business was booming. Large cities were being built and new technologies developed. But...at what cost? Immigrants, poor city folk and rural farmers, Native Americans and African Americans were all being treated very harshly at this time.

For this week's blog, do a Google search on "Gilded Age Political Cartoons". Find one you think is interesting and do some research on it. Figure out who drew it, when it was drawn and what it means.

For the comment section, answer the following prompts.

1-Who drew your cartoon?
2-Which magazine/newspaper published it?
3-When was it published?
4-Which Gilded Age issue did it address? (Business, Immigration, Politics etc.)
5-Describe what is in the cartoon and what it mean.

You need to post the image in your comments OR paste a link so I can look up the cartoon.

Remember to reach at least 200 words as you are answering the prompts.

America Industrializes: We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Perhaps the single greatest change to American life in the 19th century, besides the ending of slavery, was the growth of business. We used to be a largely agrarian (farming) society, but that slowly began to change.

When factories and machines began to produce steel and mine coal at record speeds, cities became more modern and jobs became more plentiful.

With more jobs came a need to fill those jobs. Where would the workers come from?

Well...often these jobs were filled with immigrants from Europe. Most of those immigrants entered America through a processing station in New York harbor called Ellis Island.

This week, take some time to explore this fun website. There is a lot of great info and old pictures from this immigration age. Click "start the tour" to begin and follow it all the way to the end.

For the comments....

1) Create a list of the 10 most interesting things you learned from this "Ellis Island Tour".

2) Write a paragraph detailing what you think was the most difficult part of being an immigrant at Ellis Island.

Each part should be at least 100 words.

America Moves West: We'll Never Be The Same

This week we are looking in depth at America's experience as it progressed westward across the nation. There were technological innovations that proved how far we had come (i.e. Transcontinental Railroad) but also many terrible social interactions (natives vs. army).

Take a look at this website this week. Choose any story, beginning with the Pony Express story, and explain in the comment section what it taught you about the "old west".

Make sure your post is at least 200 words and the word count is included.

Battle of Little Bighorn: A Win for the Natives

As we approach this chapter about America moving westward, we will encounter some ugly truths about our past. The most obvious is the blatant disregard for the well-being of the Native Americans "in our way".

Many famous battles (aka massacres) were fought in this period. One that stands out as unique, because America lost, was the Battle of Little Bighorn (aka Custer's Last Stand).

For this week's blog...
1) Watch this brief video
2) Read this first hand account

For the comment section, write 100 words for each of the following two questions.
A-Why were the natives victorious in this battle?
B-Why do you think they were largely unsuccessful in every other major skirmish with the US Army during this period?

Manifest Destiny: God's Plan?

The official "era of Manifest Destiny" probably began with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase under President Jefferson. Many Americans believed God had ordained for us to move further west no matter what was in our way.

This era led to a lot of technological innovations and a lot of heartbreak...especially for Native Americans.

For this week's blog, complete the following two activities.

1) Read this brief article about the history of Manifest Destiny.

2) Carefully examine the painting below. The artist was John Gast and the title is American Progress.

For the comment section, write 200 words on how the painting illustrates what you learned from the article about America's westward expansion.

Reconstruction: A Whole New World

We begin our journey with the most significant era of the 19th century.

The Civil War has just ended. The slaves are now free. So...what happens now?

The importance of the Reconstruction Era cannot be overstated. The nations entire social structure, since 1619, had been turned on its head.

Slaves had their freedom but no formal training on how to be free. They'd never been given the chance!

White society now had to coexist with a previously subjugated group of people. It...didn't go smoothly.

For this week's blog, take a look at this website. Choose any of the links labeled "Reading" and read about an aspect of this era.

In the comment section, write 200 words on what you learned from your selection. Be sure to post your word count at the end of your essay.

Final Blog: Current Event & Reflection

Today's blog post will be our final one for the school year. I have so enjoyed reading your weekly responses. Thank you for being so consistent with these weekly assignments. I hope you've enjoyed learning new things in a different format.

This blog actually has two parts. Each part must be at least 200 words and labeled separately in your comment section. Each part is worth 50 points, which means this blog assignment is worth double.

Part One: Select an American history event between 1970-2019 (don't pick 9/11 attacks because we are all familiar with that.) Write 200 words about the event you chose and why you think it is significant. (200 words total)

Part Two: Reflect on our year together. What have you most enjoyed learning about this year? What topic/activity/assignment meant the most to you? (200 words total)

Vietnam Draft: Muhammad Ali

One final blog about this Vietnam Era...

One of the most important (and talented) athletes of the 20th Century was Muhammad Ali. Ali was a boxer whose birth name was Cassius Clay. When he converted to Islam he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Famously, during the Vietnam War, Ali was drafted and refused to go.

Do some research on this episode and answer these questions (50 words each):

1) What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?

2) Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?

3) How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?

4) How did Ali avoid jail time?

Richard Nixon: Opening Up China

I have been enjoying the 54321 projects so far.

One of the key figures, as we saw today, in ending our involvement in the Vietnam War was Richard Nixon. As I mentioned in class..."he brought our boys home".

Another pivotal role Nixon played in Cold War foreign policy was with China.

Do some research on the following topics: "Nixon Visits China" and "Ping Pong Diplomacy".

For the comment section, write 200 words on what you learned AND why Nixon would willingly visit a major communist nation at the height of the Cold War.

Major Civil Rights Moment: MLK's "Letter 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.

LBJ's Vision: The Great Society

As we will see in a few chapters, President Johnson (LBJ) was a very controversial figure in regards to the Vietnam War. His foreign policies, and his tendency to not tell the whole truth, caused him a lot of problems.

One of the brighter spots in his administration was his determination to help the underprivileged in America. He called his program "The Great Society".

For this week's blog, watch this video. For the comment section, do the following...

1) Create a Top 10 List of the most important things you learned from this video (100 words)

2) Write a paragraph discussing whether or not you thing the federal government should be responsible for "eliminating poverty". (100 words)

The Russians Are Coming!: Khrushchev visits America

In 1959, at the invitation of President Eisenhower, the Premier (Leader) of the Soviet Union-Nikita Khrushchev-spent twelve days touring America. He visited farms, IBM headquarters and the White House...and lots of other places.

Interestingly, the place N.K. wanted to most visit was Disneyland in California but he was not allowed!

For this week's blog, spend some time on this website reading over the itinerary and details of N.K.'s trip to America. There are also some short clips at the bottom of the page you should watch that show him in action.

For the comment section...

1) If the Soviets were our biggest enemy during the Cold War, why did Eisenhower invite N.K. to visit? (100 words)

2) After watching the clips and reading through his itinerary, what is the most interesting part of this story to you? (100 words)

Post War America: Truman vs. Eisenhower

As we close the book on World War Two, we look ahead to the two men who would lead us during the pivotal post-war years into the turbulent 1960s.

Truman had to deal with the decision to use nuclear weapons, plummeting approval ratings and the Korean War.

Eisenhower, in stark contrast, was the conquering hero of Europe. The leader of D-Day, he enjoyed a fairly popular and prosperous presidency.

You'll need to do independent research on each president in order to complete this week's blog.

Since we did not have a blog last week, this week's blog will count for 100 points and will require 400 words.

For the comments...

A) After you have used the website to research each president, write a 100 word summary paragraph on BOTH presidents. Discuss their main beliefs and issues they faced during their terms in office.

B) Finish the blog with a 200 word paragraph on which president you think did a better job. Be sure to give evidence to back up your opinion.

Korea: The Forgotten War

Many people skip directly over Korea and move into Vietnam when they think of global conflicts after World War II. In fact, the Korean Conflict (so-called because America never officially declared war on North Korea) is often called the "Forgotten War".

For this week's blog, you are going to watch this video which gives the basic details of the Korean Conflict.

For the comment section, create a Top-10 List of the ten most important facts you learned about this global event. (100 words)

Then, write a 100 word summary answering this question: If the Korean Conflict is so important to the history of the U.S., why is it a "forgotten" war? 

Pearl Harbor: Different Perspectives

As we began to see last week, America was not totally neutral in World War II...even though Congress was passing several Neutrality Acts!

Of course, we can all point to the single event that completely brought us into the war-the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

For this week's blog, please read each of the following eyewitness accounts of this day:

1) American View

2) Japanese View

3) White House View

4) Watch this newsreel from the 1940s with footage from Pearl Harbor

For the comment section, write 200 words on this event. Be sure to include information from both an American AND Japanese perspective.

From Prison to Absolute Control: Rise of Hitler

For this week's blog, do some research on the life of Hitler. Notice his early struggles and his rise to controlling Germany by the 1930s.

In the comments...

1) Create a 10 point timeline of Hitler's life that you think covers the most significant events in his life that lead him from being a WW1 soldier to leader of Germany. Each point should have a date and a brief explanation of what happened in his life at that time. This section must be at least 100 words.

2) Write a 100 word paragraph answering this question: "What was it about Hitler's personality and/or ideas that allowed him to gain as much power as he did over the German people?".

America & The Holocaust: How Involved Should We Be?

One of difficult things to face about our involvement in World War II is America knew about the atrocities happening in Germany a few years before we officially entered the war. We were reluctant to get involved and people on all sides of the issue were counseling FDR on how we should respond.

For this week's blog, visit this website and read the article (it is called America & The Holocaust). At the end of the article you will find four questions about what you read. Choose ONE of the questions and answer it with 200 words for your blog response this week.

Hoover vs. FDR: Who Was Right?

For this week's blog, I want you to research the strategies of President Hoover in dealing with the Great Depression and the strategies of FDR.

For the comments, write 50 words on Hoover's ideas to "fix the Great Depression" and 50 words on FDR's ideas. Then, write 100 words explaining which side you agree with and why.

Great Depression-Crash Course

For this week's blog, and to ease back into the swing of things, please watch this video on the Great Depression.

For the comment section, write a 200 word post detailing what this video taught you about this era.