The Road to Political Independence

Overview - Below are the likely reading assignments and essay questions for the first unit of our year together.  The unit test will be a combination of short answer questions (at least a paragraph long) and multiple choice questions regarding key terms and events.  Test will be worth 60 points.

Reading Assignments for this Unit - Below are the likeley reading requirements from the textbook, more readings will assigned in the form of handouts as we progress through the unit.  Please take notes on all assigned readings and expect regular note checks and pop quizzes on the readings.

Read 65-69 - Life in the Colonies

Read 72-76 - Slavery in the Colonies

Read 59-63 - British Colonial Policy

Read 85-88 - French and Indian War

Read 94-96 - Further Causes of the Revolution

Read 98-101 - Writing the Declaration of Independence

Read 110-114 - The Revolution

Unit Essay Questions – Please choose one of these questions on which to write approximately a 2 page paper (at least 500-600 words).  A limited amount of outside research is expected to add to knowledge gained through classwork and textbook readings. Essay must be submitted to turnitin.com by 11:59pm the day before the test.  Paper should be typed and submitted with standard 12 font, 1 inch margins in Times New Roman font.  Bibliography must be provided in MLA format and all quotes must have appropriate citations.  Paper will be worth 40 points.

1. What was the cause of the French and Indian War? What issues came up through this War and why did these issues upset the colonists so much?  What were the effects of this war (both short and long term)?

2. Why did the Americans win the Revolution? Where and from whom did they receive help? Why did we get help from these places?

3. What similarities and differences are there between the 13 colonies?  In what ways could these colonies be grouped or categorized?  Based on these categories what other events do these similarities and differences seem to influence?

4. The Declaration of Independence in the second paragraph speaks of the big goals and ideas on which this country was founded. What are three of these ideas? Do you believe we have fully achieved these ideas or goals?

What is Worth Fighting For? The Cold War and Civil Rights

Readings with Related Assignments

 

Handout -- Reading on Early Cold War Events

                  Note Check and Group Connect the Ideas Collage

Read pages 797-800 and 802-806 on the Kennedy and Johnson Presidencies

Read pages 807-814 on Cold War Foreign Policy Events (Cuba, Berlin and Peace Corps)

Read pages 785-788 on Brown v. Board and Boycotting Buses

        Note Check and paragraph on a quote that speaks to a students belief

Read pages 826-830 on Freedom Riders and Birmingham Clashes

        Reading Quiz

Read pages 831-835 on Victories in Civil Rights

       Note Check and 2 events or people who have made you a better person – what did you learn from them?

Read pages 836-840 on Malcolm X and Black Power

       Reading Quiz

Read pages 845-850 The Women’s Rights

                  Note Check and a list of 5 rights that you think every person on the planet should have and why

Read pages 852-861 Civil Rights for Latinos and Native Americans

       Note Check and Paragraph on a rule that you think should never be broken

Read pages 807-814 Fighting Communism in the 60’s

        Reading Quiz

Read pages 872-877 on the Vietnam Conflict

       Note Check and Describe 3 attitudes/ ideas that you think lead people to long term happiness

Read pages 878-885 on the Effects of Vietnam at Home and Abroad

       Paragraph using notes: Describe the evolving US policy on Vietnam from Kennedy to Johnson and American reaction to the War

Short Essay: This I Believe

This era was formed and pushed forward by the strong beliefs and ideals of individual people who came together to make change.  While we study this time period I would like you to consider what you strongly believe in – what ideas or principles guide your life?  You will pick one of your beliefs and then write an essay following the guidelines below.

Be Brief: Essay should be between 300-400 words or about 2 minutes in length when read out loud at a natural pace. (You will not be required to read this in class)

Tell a story: Be specific. Consider moments when your belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching but it should be real.

Name your belief: If you can't name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, focus on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

Be positive: Tell us what you do believe, not what you don't believe. Speak in the first person.

Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.

And Lastly: Be prepared after you finish your essay to find a person or event in US History that depicts or embodies the belief you have just discussed

WW2 and the Cold War

Topics to be Covered during this Unit

Read pages 685-691and 715-719 How the War Started and Wartime production

Read pages 731-736 and 726-729 Women in the Labor Force and Discrimination during the War

Japanese Internment (web-based assignment)

Read pages 700-705 Victory in the Pacific – Bombing of Japan

Read pages 741-746 The Cold War Begins

Read pages 756-761 The Korean War

Round Robin Reading on Major Events of the Cold War– Berlin Airlift, HUAC, Rosenberg Trial, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis

Questions we will Answer during this Unit

1. Explain the effects of World War 2 on Americans at home using two or three groups of people as examples.

Questions to think about when writing this essay: 

What major changes occurred in the US during the War?  What groups of people were most affected by wartime changes and how?  What were the causes and effects of these changes?

2.  Explain the effects of the Cold War on Americans at home as well as America’s relationships with other countries using two to three major examples. 

Questions to think about when writing this essay:

What were the causes of the Cold War?  What events occurred because of the Cold War?  What institutions were a direct result of the Cold War?  How did Americans react to the Communist threat?