Sunday, October 31, 2010

Democratizing 20th Century Review Sheet

Make sure you know about each term. Some of the list may be repeated as I copied and pasted this from several documents.

Required Readings: Zinn, Industrializing America, Battle for Suffrage

Espionage Act
American Protective League
Green Corn Rebellion
Jeanette Rankin
Kate Richards O'Hare
IWW Trials
Palmer Raids
Sacco and Vanzetti
Seneca Falls Convention
women's education/college
Grover Cleveland
Anna Garlin Spencer
Carrie Chapmann Catt
Alice Paul
Woodrow Wilson/Women's Suffrage
Woodrow Wilson/WWI
CPI
Fourteen Points
Nineteenth Amendment
anarcho-syndicalism
IWW (I know you did this term before, you must do it again)
free speech fights
The Preacher and the Slave
Joe Hill
Lawrence, MA (I expect a detailed discussion of these events)**
difference between the AFL and IWW
"One Big Union"
Rules for Female Teachers
Mark Twain
Upton Sinclair
Muckraker
J. P. Morgan, J. D. Rockefeller
Taylorism
Immigration and the Labor Force
Triangle Shirtwaist Company
International Ladies Garment Workers
Unionization/AFL
Samuel Gompers
Big Bill Heywood
IWW
mainstream reason cited for U.S. entry into WWI
2. unrestricted submarine warfare
3. Monroe Doctrine
4. Panama Canal
5. Spanish American War
6. The Jungle
7. 19th amendment

People to know:
1. Alice Paul
2. Woodrow Wilson
3. Upton Sinclair
4. Jane Addams
5. Mary Harris
6. William McKinley
7. Mother Mary Jones
8. Ida Tarbell
9. Kate Richards O’Hare
10. J. P. Morgan
11. Andrew Carnegie
12. Eugene Debbs
13. Samuel Gompers
14. Carrie Chapman Catt
15. Emma Goldman
16. Helen Keller
17. Mary Elizabeth Lease

Terms/Concepts to know and understand:

1. muckraker
2. Silent Sentinel
3. Marxist
4. scab labor
5. collective bargaining
6. imperialism
7. Taylorism
8. Reformist Motherhood
9. Political Motherhood
10. Republican Mothers
11. Socialist Woman

Organizations to know:
1. NAWSA
2. AFL
3. WP
4. IWW
5. WCTU

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Politics and Government Homework

Read document packet essay The Antifederalists: The Other Founders of the American Constitutional Tradition? by Saul Cornell

Annotate

If you "lost" or "never got" packet:



http://www.gilderlehrman.org/historynow/09_2007/historian6.php

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Poltics and Government Homework

1) Current Events
2) Read Vidal Chap 4 65-76. Select five quotes and for each discuss:
a) What Vidal wants you to know, think believe
b) The connection to the E. Q. How Democraic is the Constitution
c) Why you picked the quote; its significance in the book.
(Each answer should be at least several sentences)

New Vocab:

Esteemed: having an illustrious reputation; respected; "our esteemed leader"; "a prestigious author"

Proto: indicating the first or earliest or original; "`proto' is a combining form in a word like `protolanguage' that refers to the hypothetical ancestor of another language or group of languages"

Inalienable: 1 - incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another; "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights"
2 - unforfeitable: not subject to forfeiture; "an unforfeitable right"

unscrupulous: Without scruples, immoral; Contemptuous of what is right or honorable

commensurate: proportionate; of a similar measurable standard

scurvy: 1 - a condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) 2 - of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick"

indelible - cannot be removed or erased; "an indelible stain"; "indelible memories"

incarnate – 1 - represent in bodily form; "He embodies all that is evil wrong with the system"; "The painting substantiates the feelings of the artist" 2 - invested with a bodily form especially of a human body; "a monarch...regarded as a god incarnate"

augur: predict from an omen; bode

allure: tempt: dispose or incline or entice to; "We were tempted by the delicious-looking food"

intrepid: without fear; "fearlessly, he led the troops into combat"

assert: affirm: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent"

megalomaniac: Megalomania is a non-clinical word defined as: 1 - A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence. 2 - An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

Protocol: 1 - forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
2 - code of correct conduct; "safety protocols"; "academic protocol"

in esse: in existence

in posse: in possibility, having a potential to exist, in potential but not in actuality, (contradistinguished by in esse); in possibility, having a potential to exist, in potential but not in actuality, (contradistinguished by in esse)

somber: drab: lacking brightness or color; dull; "drab faded curtains"; "sober Puritan grey"; "children in somber brown clothes"

commencement: beginning: the time at which something is supposed to begin

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Democratizing Twentieth Century America Homework

For the past several weeks we have been studying the Industrial Revolution as a context for understanding how and why women got the right to vote when they did. In your next essay, you will discuss the Women's Suffrage Movement. You will demonstrate your understanding of this movement--its roots, its successes and its limitations. You will also demostrate your understanding of the historic context, including the rise of socialism and Progressivism.

In this essay you must include evidence obtained from the following sources:

a) Howard Zinn - "The Socialist Challenge" and "War is the Health of the State"
b) Kerber, De Hart - "Industrializing America"
c) Who Built America? - "Woman Suffrage", "Factory Reform and the Conditions of Labor", "The Garment Industry and Working Women's Activism", "Socialist, Marxists and Anarchists" **(this book is only available in class and yuo must use class time to take your notes)
d) Women's Suffrage Packet

Your essay should respond to the Essential Questions:

a) Why then? Why did the endeavor for this reform get underway when it did?

b) What gains were won? What gains were sought but not won?

c) If this reform was only partially achieved, what limited its attainment?

An A paper will:

--answer all of the questions, either as past of one contiguous essay or in three seperate sections; the thrust of the essay should be behind answering the a) why then? question
--contain a sophisticated, provocative thesis, supported by 3 arguments
--contain 3 cogent and sophisticated arguments that support the organizing
idea/thesis
--argue well developed, original ideas and illustrate new understanding
of the topic
--persuasively use evidence from Zinn, Industrializing America, Who Built America and Battle for Suffrage packets; contain at least five or six quotes from Zinn and five from the other readings
--discuss both the authors' and primary source perspectives about events
--persuasively use evidence from an outside source
--be well organized, containing a clear introduction that presents the thesis in a highly engaging,compelling manner, followed by smooth transitions from one idea to the next, with a conclusion that synthesizes the different strands and arguments
--demonstrate a clear understanding of the historical time period and demonstrate the cause and effect relationship between significant events
--conform to the conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation, and be thouroughly proofread and include the signature of one adult to whom it was read aloud

For tomorrow, please bring a tentative thesis for this essay. You might try something like this -- "The social and economic changes brought about by industrialization provided new routes through which woman could obtain the right to vote." or "While college educated women were important leaders within the Women's Suffrage Movement, the right to vote for women could not have been achieved without the working class." or "Industrialization, immigration, education and World War I were key forces that helped women seize the right to vote during the early Twentieth Century."

Once you have a thesis, please construct 2-3 arguments in support of the thesis.

For each argument, list 3 quotes you will use to support.

You can set this up, but take care to make it neat and organized. Be prepared to share with the rest of the class. Use your notes fro class and homework to assist you.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Democratizing 20th Century America Homework

1) Select five quotes from your readings (War is the Health of the State and Battle for Suffrage) that support the following statement:

The timing of World War I was integral to the success of the Women's Suffrage Movement.

Explain each quotes connection to the aforementioned statement, using at least several sentences for each.

Politics and Government Homework

1) Please remember your 2 page reflection about Freakonomics (typed, double spaced)

2) Please remember your current event reports

3) Read the second essay (James Madison and the Constitution by Jack Rakove) in the packet I handed out on Friday and make some notes for yourself.

4) Please make sure you have finished at least the first 3 chapters in Inventing a Nation

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Politics and Government - New Vocabulary

Ingenuity: the process of applying ideas to solve problems or meet challenges.

Promulgated: the act of formally proclaiming or declaring a new statutory or administrative law as in effect after it receives final approval.

Parable: a brief, succinct story, in prose or verse, that illustrates a moral or religious lesson.

Tact: consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense

Viable: capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are

Metaphysical: pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics; "metaphysical philosophy"

Existential: derived from experience or the experience of existence

Demurely: Standards of modesty (also called demureness or reticence) are aspects of the culture of a country or people, at a given point in time, and is a measure against which an individual in society may be judged.

Palladium: a silver-white metallic element of the platinum group that resembles platinum

Invariably: without variation or change, in every case; "constantly kind and gracious"; "he always arrives on time"

Locutions: a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"

Plutarch: a lunar impact crater that lies near the north-northeastern limb of the Moon, just to the south of the irregular crater Seneca

Exalted: of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style; "an exalted ideal"; "argue in terms of high-flown ideals"

Demonstrable: capable of being demonstrated or proved; "obvious lies"; "a demonstrable lack of concern for the general welfare"

Mediocrities: The assumptions of mediocrity principle is the notion in philosophy of science that there is nothing special about humans or the Earth.

Aide-de-Camp: an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer

Envisaged: form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case; "Can you conceive of him as the president?"

Passive: lacking in energy or will

Eminence: high status importance owing to marked superiority; "a scholar of great eminence"

Demagogue: a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices

Progenitors: an ancestor in the direct line

Dutiful: willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect; "a dutiful child"; "a dutiful citizen"

Reluctant: loath: unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom; "a reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake"

Desultory: marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another; "desultory thoughts"

Derive: come from; be connected by a relationship

Minuscule: of or relating to a small cursive script developed from uncial; 7th to 9th centuries

Reconcile: make (one thing) compatible with (another); "The scientists had to accommodate the new results with the existing theories"

Prescient: perceiving the significance of events before they occur

Despotism: a form of government by a single authority, either an individual (Despot), or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute political power.

Maxims: a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits

Arbiter: someone with the power to settle matters at will; "she was the final arbiter on all matters of fashion"

Surrogates: someone who takes the place of another person

Prose: ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

Odious: in an offensive and hateful manner

Demur: a pleading in a lawsuit that objects to an earlier pleading filed by an opposing party

Indiscreetly: without discretion or wisdom or self-restraint; "she inquired indiscreetly after the state of his health"

Deliberations: the process in which a jury in a trial in court discusses in private the findings of the court and decides by vote with which argument to agree of either opposing side.

Anomaly: deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule

Loftily: elevated in style, tone, or sentiment, as writings or speech

Folklore: the unwritten lore (stories and proverbs and riddles and songs) of a culture

Conciliation: the state of manifesting goodwill and cooperation after being reconciled; "there was a brief period of conciliation but the fighting soon resumed"

Vantage: place or situation affording some advantage (especially a comprehensive view or commanding perspective)

Commenced: get down: take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

Subtlety: the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze; "you had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew"

Indolent: disinclined to work or exertion

Constituent: an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system

Delegation: the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person (normally from a manager to a subordinate) to carry out specific activities.

Hypergamist: the act or practice of seeking a spouse of equal or higher socioeconomic status, or caste status than oneself.

Condescended: behave in a patronizing and condescending manner

Reputedly: Pertaining to a reputation accorded to another; Pertaining to that which is supposed or assumed to be true

Laudanum: narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient

Rustic: characteristic of rural life

Mediocrity: ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding

Writhe: to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort"; "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace

Nettle: sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation

Ad Hoc: for or concerned with one specific purpose; "a coordinated policy instead of ad hoc decisions"

Annexation: the formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation

Renounced: give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

Overture: something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows

Congenial: suitable to your needs; "a congenial atmosphere to work in"

Desultory: marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another; "desultory thoughts"

Exuberant: unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings

Ceded: the assignment of property to another entity

Unprecedented: having no precedent; novel; "an unprecedented expansion in population and industry"

Brood: think moodily or anxiously about something

Amiable: disposed to please; "an amiable villain with a cocky sidelong grin"

Astute: Quick at seeing how to gain advantage, especially for oneself; shrewd; critically discerning

Fin De Siecle: relating to or characteristic of the end of a century (especially the end of the 19th century)

Anglophone: Any person, of whatever ethnic origin or mother tongue, whose first official language is English.

Maritime: relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen

Despotism: a form of government by a single authority, either an individual (Despot), or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute political power.

Inevitable: incapable of being avoided or prevented

Paradoxically: seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true; "it is paradoxical that standing is more tiring than walking"

Indulged: to yield to an inclination or desire; allow oneself to follow one's will

Avarice: insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)

Solemnly: in a grave and sedate manner; "the judge sat there solemnly"

Populist: the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite; most famous for their advocacy of the free coinage of silver money and government control of monopolies.

Nemesis: something causing misery or death

Neofeudal: "new feudalism" and implies a contemporary rebirth of policies of governance and economy reminiscent of those present in many pre-industrial feudal societies

Venality: a vice associated with being bribeable or of selling your services or power, especially when one should act justly instead

Perversion: a curve that reverses the direction of something; "the tendrils of the plant exhibited perversion"

Subsequent: Following, afterwards in either time or place

Hereditary: A trait that is transmitted genetically from one generation to the next.

Superseded: take the place or move into the position of

Brooded: think moodily or anxiously about something

Intricacies: intricate character or state

Abhorrent: utterly opposed, or contrary, or in conflict

Votaries: a person who is bound by solemn religious vows, as a monk or a nun.

Ermine: the expensive white fur of the ermine

Turbulent: characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

Seldom: infrequently, rarely

Acquisition: the act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession of something

Theoreticians: someone who theorizes (especially in science or art)

Dwindled: become smaller or lose substance; "Her savings dwindled down"

Vigorously: strong and active physically or mentally

Exploited: taken advantage of

Lapidary: an expert on precious stones and the art of cutting and engraving them

Isolationism: a policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations

Stratagems: A confidence trick or confidence game

Bubonic: often fatal disease characterized by fever, chills, prostration, delirium, and buboes

Decimate: kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies

Ramshackle: In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained

Adjacent: nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space

Politics and Government Homework

Make sure you complete the character graphic organizer. Keep up with your reading.

Democratizing Twentieth Century Homework

Read Zinn pgs 365-376

Construct a three column chart.
'
In the first column (P.O.V.), least each of the following terms and describe each in your own words. Discuss what Howard Zinn wants you to know, think and believe.

In the second column, (Evidence) include a quote(s) for each term. The quote should clearly illustrate the thinking behind your summary in column one.

In the third column (Significance/Connections) explain why the term is important in the context of our unit: Democracy and equality for women--The right to vote--Why then? And/or consider the term's connection to industrialization, socialism, imperialism, secret alliances, nationalism or militarism.

a) Samuel Gompers
b) Charles Schenck
c) Espionage Act
d) "shouting fire in a crowded theater"/Schenck v U. S.
e) Eugene Debs/Espionage Act
f) American Protective League
g) draft resistance
h) Jeanette Rankin
i) Kate Richards O'hare
j) Palmer Raids
l) Sacco and Vanzetti

Vocabulary

proclaim: declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles; "He was proclaimed King"

deliberation: (usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question; "the deliberations of the jury"

obstruct: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn"

unanimous: solid; acting together as a single undiversified whole; "a solid voting bloc"

Prussia: Former name of Germany; the Prussian Empire

acquiescence: acceptance without protest

vigilante: someone who illegally punishes someone for perceived offenses, or participates in a group which metes out extrajudicial punishment to such a person

sedition: an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government

treason: a crime that undermines the offender's government

atrocity: wicked act

conscription: the military draft

medieval: referring to the Middle Ages

despotism: absolute monarchy, dictatorship

cumulative: increasing by successive addition; "the benefits are cumulative"; "the eventual accumulative effect of these substances"

disillusion: disenchantment; freeing from false belief or illusions

diplomat: an official engaged in international negotiations

seclusion: to shut off or keep apart, as from company, society, etc.; withdraw from society or into solitude: as, to seclude oneself from the world; To shut or keep out; exclude; preclude

imminent: about to happen

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Democratizing Twentieth Century Homework -- October 6

Read Zinn "War is the Health of the State" pages 359-365

Why did Sean Wadsworth propose a draft?

How/why do you think British military requirements changed over time?

How did industrialization impact the nature of war?

What was “no man’s land?”

Discuss the impact of media coverage.

Why did Wilson enter the war?

Discuss the William Jennings Bryant quote: “…opened the doors of all weaker countries to an invasion of American capital and enterprise.
How does this quote connect to the concept of imperialism?

Why did W. E. B. DuBois call the war a "Battle for Africa"?

Compare the Committee on Public Information, the Socialist and the Alliance for Labor and Democracy's stances on the War.

Politics and Government Homework -- October 6

For Section 1 (internship) -- complete a primary source analysis sheet for Madison quote excerpted from the Federalist 49 (pg 15).


For Section 4 (non-internship) -- we had a fire drill, please keep up with the reading and be prepared to share your interperation of the quote listed above.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Democratizing Twentieth Century America Homework 10-4

Read Howard Zinn pgs 347-357

Construct a three column chart.
'
In the first column (P.O.V.), least each of the following terms and describe each in your own words. Discuss what Howard Zinn wants you to know, think and believe.

In the second column, (Evidence) include a quote(s) for each term. The quote should clearly illustrate the thinking behind your summary in column one.

In the third column (Significance/Connections) explain why the term is important in the context of our unit: Democracy and equality for women--The right to vote--Why then? Consider the terms connection to industrialization, socialism, labor unions, women's suffrage or immigration.

a) Progressive Era (please read the entire section before attempting to complete this term)

b) Blacks and Socialism

c) The Niagara Movement

d) Progressive Reform Legislation--amendments and specific acts

e) Pujo Committee

f) Theodore Roosevelt

g) Liberalism

h) National Civil Federation

i) Ludlow Massacre

Answer the following question in about a paragraph:

Zinn seems to be critical of Progressive Reform and reformers. Why do you think this is so? Why does he doubt the stated intentions of progressives?

Vocabulary

nadir: an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything; the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

progressive: favoring or promoting reform (often by government action)

repudiate: disown: cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"

peonage: the practice of making a debtor work for his creditor until the debt is discharged

disenfranchise: (also called disenfranchisement) is the revocation of the right of suffrage (the right to vote) to a person or group of people, or rendering a person's vote less effective, or ineffective. Disfranchisement might occur explicitly through law, or implicitly by intimidation. ...

agitate: try to stir up public opinion; cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks"

militant: disposed to warfare or hard-line policies; "militant nations"; "hawkish congressman"; "warlike policies"

provocative: serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; stimulating discussion or exciting controversy; "a provocative remark"; "a provocative smile"; "provocative Irish tunes which...compel the hearers to dance"- Anthony Trollope

indignation: a feeling of righteous anger

spearhead: someone who leads or initiates an activity (attack or campaign etc.)

submissive: inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; "submissive servants"; "a submissive reply"; "replacing troublemakers with more submissive people"

embody: incarnate: represent in bodily form; "He embodies all that is evil wrong with the system"; "The painting substantiates the feelings of the artist"

sanction: An approval, by an authority, that makes something valid; A penalty, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body; A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying the above ...

trust: Trust-busting is any government activity designed to break up trusts or monopolies. Theodore Roosevelt is the U.S. president most associated with dissolving trusts. However, William Howard Taft signed twice as much trust-busting legislation during his presidency.

manifesto: a public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political party or government)

novel: pleasantly new or different; "common sense of a most refreshing sort"

municipal: A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. A municipality is typically governed by a mayor and a city council or municipal council.

impetus: drift: a force that moves something along; impulse: the act of applying force suddenly; "the impulse knocked him over"

tacit: Done or made in silence; implied, but not expressed; silent; as, tacit consent is consent by silence, or by not interposing an objection; Not derived from formal principles of reasoning; based on induction rather than deduction

anarchist: Anarchism is a political philosophy which considers the state undesirable, unnecessary and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society, or anarchy.

memorandum: memo, written proposal or reminder

atrocity: the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Democratizning Twentieth Century Homework

Hey folk, sorry I forgot about you again. I want make a habit of it---I'm sure you're really disappointed :)

Please select any four quotes from Zinn pgs 321-347 that would help you support the argument: Industrialization created a climate that made suffrage more attainable for women.

For each quote, explain in several sentences how the quote supports your argument.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Politics and Government Response Essay --DUE NOV 8-- How Democratic is the Constitution? --

An A paper will:

--answer the question: How Democratic is the Constitution?
--contain a sophisticated, provocative thesis, supported by 3 arguments
--contain 3 cogent and sophisticated arguments that support the organizing
idea/thesis
--argue well developed, original ideas and illustrate new understanding
of the topic
--persuasively use evidence from Vidal, Zinn, Wood and HistoryNow handout; contain at least five or six quotes from Vidal and five from the other readings
--discuss both the authors' and the Constitutional Framers perspectives about events
--persuasively use evidence from an outside source
--be well organized, containing a clear introduction that presents the thesis in a highly engaging,compelling manner, followed by smooth transitions from one idea to the next, with a conclusion that synthesizes the different strands and arguments
--demonstrate a clear understanding of the historical time period and demonstrate the cause and effect relationship between significant events
--conform to the conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation, and be thouroughly proofread and include the signature of one adult to whom it was read aloud


A B paper will:

--answer the question: How Democratic is the Constitution?
--contain a fairly sophisticated, thesis, supported by 3 arguments
--contain 3 cogent that arguments support the organizing
idea/thesis
--argue well developed, ideas and illustrate an understanding
of the topic
--persuasively use evidence from Vidal, Zinn, Wood and HistoryNow handout; contain at least five quotes from Vidal and four to five from the other readings
--discuss both the authors' and the Constitutional Framers perspectives about events
--persuasively use evidence from an outside source
--be well organized, containing a clear introduction that presents the thesis in a compelling manner, followed by smooth transitions from one idea to the next, with a conclusion that synthesizes the different strands and arguments
--demonstrate a clear understanding of the historical time period and demonstrate the cause an effect relationship between significant events
--conform to the conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation

A C paper will:

--answer the question: How Democratic is the Constitution?
--contain a thesis, supported by 2-3 arguments
--contain 2-3 arguments that support the organizing
idea/thesis
--argue well developed, ideas and illustrate new understanding
of the topic
--use evidence from Vidal, Zinn, Wood and HistoryNow handout; contain at least five quotes from Vidal and five from the other readings
--discuss the authors' and/or the Constitutional Framers perspectives about events
--use evidence from an outside source
--be organized, containing an introduction that presents the thesis, followed by transitions from one idea to the next, with a conclusion that synthesizes the different strands and arguments
--demonstrate an understanding of the historical time period and demonstrate the cause an effect relationship between significant events
--mostly conform to the conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation

A D paper will:

--attempt to answer the question: How Democratic is the Constitution?
--contain a thesis, supported by 2 arguments
--contain 2 arguments that support the organizing
idea/thesis
--argue well developed, ideas and illustrate new understanding
of the topic
--use evidence from Vidal, Zinn, Wood and HistoryNow handout; contain at least five quotes from Vidal and five from the other readings
--discuss the authors' and/or the Constitutional Framers perspectives about events
--be organized, containing an introduction that presents the thesis, followed by transitions from one idea to the next, with a conclusion that synthesizes the different strands and arguments
--demonstrate limited understanding of the historical time period and cause and effect relationship between significant events
--poorly conform to the conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation

Politics and Government -- Inventing a Nation -- Reading Schedule

There will be daily assignments that correspond to the readings.
You should have read each chapter by the date listed

October 6 -- pgs 13-27

October 8 -- Chap 2

October 12 -- Chap 3

October 15 -- Chap 4

October 20 -- Chap 5

October 25 -- Chap 6

October 29 -- Chap 7

Response Paper 5 pages, 12 pt font, double spaced: How Democratic is the Constitution? Due November 8th

**If you become my sponsee for a history exhibition, your paper should be 6 pages.

Politics and Government Homework

Unit 1: How Democratic is the Constitution?

We are going to start our whole class text-- Inventing a Nation, by Gore Vidal.

This will be challenging text. I anticipate some of you will have a little trouble, but they pay me the big bucks to help you. Don't give up!

Look over this vocabulary list first. I advise you print out a copy and keep it next to you as you read.


Please complete the assignment that follows the list.

“Crossing the Rubicon” – to go to a point of no return.

Meticulous: taking or showing extreme care about minute details

Revenue: the income of government from taxation, excise duties, customs, or other sources, appropriated to the payment of the public expenses.

Transmutation: change into another nature, substance, form, or condition.

Proviso: a clause in a statute, contract, or the like, by which a condition is introduced.

Dividends: that part of the earnings of a corporation that is distributed to its shareholders; usually paid quarterly

Legislature: a type of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend and repeal laws.

Nurtured: help develop; provide with nourishment

Iconic: generally represents an object or concept with great cultural significance to a wide cultural group.

Retrogressive: A deterioration or decline to a previous state; A return to a less complex condition

Guineas: a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings / a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony

Tottering: unsteady in gait as from infirmity or old age; "a tottering skeleton of a horse"; "a tottery old man"

Quorum: a gathering of the minimal number of members of an organization to conduct business

Mitigated: made less severe or intense; "he gladly accepted the mitigated penalty"

Onerous: not easily borne; wearing; "the burdensome task of preparing the income tax return"

Subservient: compliant and obedient to authority

Plenipotentiary: a diplomat who is fully authorized to represent his or her government

Commercial: Pertaining to commerce and having either monetary or non-monetary gain as motive

Armory: a collection of resources; "he dipped into his intellectual armory to find an answer"

Debtors: an entity that owes a debt to someone else. The entity may be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other legal person.

Rhetoric: using language effectively to please or persuade

Exertion: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion"

Disingenuous: not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness

Inadequate: lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

Supple: moving and bending with ease

Creed: any system of principles or beliefs

Anarchy: a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)

Archetypal: representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned

Antidemocratic: opposing the democratic process or democracy, especially by the use of force; enforcing views contrary to that of a majority of the public

Attainder: attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime (felony or treason)

Pellucid: allowing for the passage of light; transparent; easily understood; clear

Engorged: Of or pertaining to something that is overly filled with fluid

Inalienable Rights: Some philosophers and political scientists make a distinction between natural and legal rights.

Implicit: implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something; "an implicit agreement not to raise the subject"

Read pages 1-13
Answer the following questions. Each answer should be several sentences and, whenever possible, make connections to the Zinn chapter "A Kind of Revolution" or the Declaration of Independence that you read and analyzed.


1. Discuss this quote: "George Washington...was serioulsy broke."
Why was George Washington having financial problems? How did his social class and reputation contribute to these problems?

2. Why was there concern about the Articles of Confederation?

3. Explain in detail the difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Include the role of regional differences in you answers.

4. Discuss this quote: "In this crisis there were no Federalists, no future Republicans: only frightened men of property."
What is the crisis? Why does the author of the book want you to know think and believe after reading this statement? Explain.

5. What was the initial purpose of the Philidelphia convention? Why was Wahington conflicted about attending? Why was his presence needed?

6. Describe the new government formed by the Constitution. How did the new Constitution deal with slavery?

Do not forget to complete a current event report!!
These folks present:

Kirosa, Nia, Maurice

Yazmin, Nikki, Ricard, Juile