Washington

What excites you most, educationally, about the upcoming 8th grade trip to Washington?

Prior Restraint

Please share one important point that you have learned thus far as you have researched your case. Be specific, and explain it well.

Is the First Amendment more important.........

When, if ever, is it justified for the government to suspend an individual’s civil liberties and safety for national security purposes? Shouldn't free speech rights allow individuals to speak out against the government?

What Did You Say?

Under the Sedition Act, a man named James Callender was fined and imprisoned for making the following statement about President John Adams:

"He has never opened his lips, or lifted his pen, without threatening and scolding. The grand object of his administration has been to exasperate the rage of the contending parties, to calumniate and destroy every man who differs from his opinions."

Would you approve or disapprove of a modern politician who tried to bring back the Sedition Act today? What would you say the politician?

Father of the Constitution--James Madison

Please give me your thoughts on the following quote from James Madison--"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth....and what no just government should refuse."

BILL OF RIGHTS

Go online or to your textbook--Read the first five amendments of the Bill of Rights. Which amendment do you think is the most important for U.S. citizens? Why? Place the first five amendments in order of greatest importance to least importance, as you see it.

Beyond Brown v. Board of Education

Think about the other students at your school, your circle of friends, and the people who live in your neighborhood. To what extent do you think Brown v. Board of Education's dream of an integrated America has been made real?

Non-Violence

Much of what the NAACP, and eventually Dr. Martin Luther King, stood for was protest without the use of violence. Would you agree that this is the most effective way to win support for a cause? Can you think of a situation where protest must be violent?

A New Understanding

You have finished the rough draft of your research papers--Congratulations! Please share something you learned that you did not know before you began the research process, and connect that information to what we have been studying in class. Why is this particular piece of information interesting or important to you?

Separate But Equal

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the case that legalized segregation in our country, is widely considered to be the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court. Explain why you agree or disagree with that statement.

This is Unfair

I would like you to make a case, briefly, that African Americans were treated very unfairly following the Civil War. How would you defend this argument, using only one supporting point.....

The Right To Vote

In 1872, Susan B. Anthony broke the law by voting; at the time it was illegal for women to vote. For this crime she was tried, found guilty, and fined $100.00. Why do you think Anthony was willing to go through such an ordeal just to vote? Is the right to vote that important in our country?

Welcome to Harlem

The trip to Harlem was informative and exciting--the rich history of Rucker's Park; the walking tour which explored the sights, sounds and culture of Harlem; the authentic and delicious soul food served at Sylvia's eatery; and finally the incredible ambiance of the Apollo Theater, and Mr. Apollo himself, Billy Mitchell. the talent show was unforgetable--can not believe the talents of our King students.

Please reflect on one aspect of the trip, and in particular one piece of information you learned that you did not know. How and why did this information impact you?

Lincoln's Dream

In 1864, while speaking to a group of citizens in Baltimore, Abraham Lincoln said the following:

"The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing."

In saying this, do you think President Lincoln really believes that his dream for a unified and truly free nation will ever be accomplished? What are your thoughts?

Letter from a Civil War Soldier

Imagine that you are a young man who just volunteered to fight as a Union (northern) soldier in the Civil War. Write a letter to your parents explaining why you are going to fight.

Yay, The Video Project is Over!!!

Please reflect on the video project, particularly the process of preparing, researching, interviewing and producing the final product. Then respond to the following questions in a paragraph (not separate answers):

• Did you enjoy the project?
• Identify and discuss one important (or surprising) piece of information that you learned about your topic as you created your video.
• What would you change about the project?
• What was you favorite part of the project?
• What did you learn about group projects that will help you in the future?

Hope you enjoyed the project--I enjoyed watching you all work on it. Great job!!!!!

Uh Oh--Civil War

All the compromises were designed to avoid the issue of slavery, and ultimately Civil War--why was our country so afraid of a war between the North and South?

The Reality of Compromise

Following the Kansas-Nebraska Act (and the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850), was it possible to avoid Civil War? What would you have done if you were the leader of our country and had to find a way to maintain a reasonable relationship between the North and the South? Could anything more be done?

Missouri Compromise

Please share a website which provides thorough understanding of the Missouri Compromise, and its effects at the time and in the following years. Provide one fact about the Missouri Compromise that you never knew and found especially interesting. Why was this website so helpful? What makes a website informative and helpful to you?

Why Can't We Be Friends?

We are starting to understand what Thomas Jefferson meant in 1776 when he wrote "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence. What kind of meaning do those words have in today's society? Are we closer to a world in which "all men are created equal?"--Really?