Due Wednesday Feb. 2nd

Blocks C & E: Read and take notes starting on pg. 414 with "The Political Realignment of the 1850s" through pg. 421 stopping before "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates."

Due Tuesday Feb. 1st

Block C: Please read and take notes starting on pg. 398 with "Escape from Crisis" through pg. 402.

Due Monday Jan. 31st

Already the end of January, wow!

Block C: Please read and take notes on pg. 384 "The Political Origins of Expansion" through pg. 392 "Societies in the West."

Block E: Please read and take notes starting on pg. 398 with "Escape from Crisis" through pg. 402.

Due Friday Jan. 28th

Block C: Please read the handout on the Alamo. Read and take notes starting on pg. 378 with "Manifest (and Not So Manifest) Destiny" through pg. 384 stopping before "The Political Origins of Expansion."

Block E: Read and take notes pg. 384 "The Political Origins of Expansion" through pg. 392 "Societies in the West."

Due Thursday Jan. 27th

Block E: Please read the handout on the Alamo. Read and take notes starting on pg. 378 with "Manifest (and Not So Manifest) Destiny" through pg. 384 stopping before "The Political Origins of Expansion."

*Assignments are up for the next week on your block pages!

Welcome Back & SOTU

A new semester is upon us! I look forward to jumping right into westward expansion with you all tomorrow, but in the meantime, be an educated citizen and check out CNN's full coverage website on President Obama's State of the Union Address. Or, if you're feeling a little more informal, explore this cool blog on CNN complete with video clips! My favorite link, no surprise, highlights famous quotations from different SOTU addresses from throughout the years- worth a look!

Office Hours

Good Morning!

Monday: You are of course, welcome to come by today anytime until 2:00 PM.

Tuesday: I am available 8:00-10:00 PM in PBA dorm, come on by!

Thursday: 11:30-12:00 AM and 7:30-8:00 PM (exclusively for U.S.).

Friday: See you at 10:30 AM in the Science Forum!

Due Thursday Jan. 13th

Block E: As discussed in class, you should be working on your essay prep. Upon receiving your winter exam review guide via email, check it over to make sure you are at least familiar with all the terms listed. Bring any questions to class tomorrow.

Due Wednesday Jan. 12th

Hopefully you're remembering to check your block specific pages...study guide will be out to you asap (sorry, crazy evening- practice, faculty meeting, snow day dorm craziness!).

Block C: Work on essay prep. Review your study guide and come armed with questions.

Block E: Read and take notes starting on pg. 337 with "Abolitionism" through pg. 343.

In-Class Essay Question for Friday

I have been thinking hard about a good essay question for our exam, and I find myself headed in two directions- one broad and all encompassing, and one more specific and related to recent material. I feel both are equally justifiable (and interesting!), and so I will leave the decision to each of you, individually.

For Friday, prepare one of the following questions:

1. Discuss the role of revolt, rebellion and revolution in early American history. There are different angles you could take, ranging from slave revolts such as La Amistad or Stono Rebellion, to the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, to the American Revolution or even the "Revolution of 1800!" What constitutes a revolt, rebellion or revolution? Did blood need to be shed to make America what it is today?

2. Evaluate why a two party system emerged in the period 1820 to 1840. Consider major personalities, states' rights and economic issues in your response. Who were the Whigs? Democrats? How were they born out of prior political parties? What did they believe? Hint: pp. 314-316 will help a lot!

Due Tuesday Jan. 11th

Block C: Please read and take notes starting on pg. 337 with "Abolitionism" through pg. 343.

PS. Block specific pages are revised.

Due Friday Jan. 7th

1. Operation RAW! I can't wait to see your creations.

2. Drafts of your minority papers- you must come with one or else you will see a deduction from your final paper grade. I want to spend a part of class working on the editing process. Hopefully I can get my eyes on as many thesis statements as possible! Remember to footnote...I'll check those too!

3. Read and take notes starting on pg. 329 starting with "American Romanticism" through pg. 337 ending before "Abolitionism." THIS IS EASY READING AND NOTES SHOULD BE BRIEF.  Literally shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes- just define romanticism, transcendentalism, individualism, utopianism, Shakers, Mormons, temperance and you should be good!

Due Wednesday Jan. 5th

1. As a follow up to my prior post on the Zadroga Bill, if you would like to, read "Obama Signs 9/11 Health Bill."

2. Make sure to have finished Chapter 11 notes.

3. Operation RAW. Click the link for directions!

4. Minority paper assignment draft due in class (printed out!) Friday Jan. 7th. Final will be due Monday Jan. 10th!