Dred Scott Case

Dred Scott was an African American slave who fought for his freedom in the Supreme Court after living on free land before his master died.
March 1857, he lost. It was said by the court that Dred had no rights as a non-citizen therefore he could not be freed and had no right to sue in court.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court also ruled that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to be Unconstitutional.
The decision against Dred Scott created an even bigger conflict between the North and South.
Want to read more? Click Here.

December 8th, 2010

What is the natural condition of man?

Freedom of individuals?

Or

controlling the weak?

Compromise of 1820:

- Maine and Missouri become states at the same time to keep the number of slave and free states even in the senate.

- Establishes 36 30 line defining future states as slave or free states.

Nullification: 

- Theory that a state has the right to nullify, or cancel, any federal law which that - state has deemed unconstitutional.

- The source of authority is the state.

Compromise of 1833:

- Gradually reduced the Tariff of Abominations.

Gag Rule:

- Pro-slavery prevented any discussion of slavery in Congress 1831-1844.

Great Compromise of 1850:

- Fugitive slave laws.

- California is a free state.

Fugitive slave law:

- Conflict over recapture of escaped slaves.

- Officials now had a duty to arrest anyone suspected of being a runaway slave.

- The suspected slave had no trial, could not testify.

November 30th, 2010

Expansion and its connect to the Civil War
Growth upsets the balance...

Constitutional Uncertainty-
  *Limits of Federal Powers was uncertain.
Expansion, Politics and Economics-
  *Already major issue in the 1820s.
  *Very top-down
Social reform movements-
  *Grass roots movement that influences government.
  *As a movement really gains in the 1840s.

Nationalism (1810-1820's)
  *National interests and national unity placed ahead of regional concerns.
Supreme Court decisions strengthen Federal Government.
American System Economic Plan-
  *Tax imports, use money to build transportation routes.
There was a balance of power.

Sectionalism-
  *Placing regional interests ahead of national interests.
-Especially North vs. South.
-Economic interests play a key role.

Government taxed manufactured goods.
Used money to build roads in the north.

Tariff of Abominations-
Huge Tax on manufactured goods (1828)

November 19th, 2010

Notes taken this class:

-Nationalism:
  National interests and national unity placed ahead of regional concerns.
-American System Economic Plan:
  Tax imports, use money to build transportation routes.
-Monroe Doctrine:
  US demands Europe stays away from Western Hemisphere.

-Sectionalism:
  Placing regional interests ahead of national interests.
-Especially North vs. South.
-Economic interests play a key role.

Mr. Long will go more in depth about sectionalism after Thanksgiving.
Quiz on Tuesday! Be prepared.

November 15th, 2010

Students presented the remaining projects.
The rest of the presentations are due today.
There is a quiz on Friday based on the information in the presentations.

-
Northwest Indian Territory:
-Tension between British Canada and USA.
  -Trade restrictions with France.
  -British supporting N.A. in North West.
  -Impressment of US sailors.
Tecumseh
-Shawnee
-Organized effort to hold back US.
Black Hawk War:
  -Re-invades Illinois.
  -Ended by 1832.

Southern Indian Wars:
-US Government moves South against the Creek and then Seminole in Florida.
-Andrew Jackson famous for these wars.
-Jackson fights Seminoles in Florida, though he was not allowed to.
-Spain forced to give up Florida.
-US victory, Seminoles accept reservation by 1824.
-Jackson becomes president and in 1830 tries to move all Native Americans to west Mississippi.
-Seminoles resist, 3rd longest war in US history in Defense in Florida.

November 8th, 2010

Students had projects to do.
They chose from these topics:
Indian Removal Act.
Texas Revolution.
Black Hawk War.
The Oregon Trail.
Seminole Wars.
The California Gold Rush.
War of 1812.
Mexican-American War.
Louis and Clark Expedition.
Mormons.

Projects are due next class.
There will be no time given during next class to work on them.

November 2nd, 2010

Mr. Long had a substitute today.
So the students had to fill out a paper:
Do you believe in fate or Destiny? 
If there are no jobs here after graduation, what will you do?
What do you know about Native Americans?

Then they had to write about what they of Manifest Destiny.

American Progress by John Gast.
What does this painting mean to you?

October 28th, 2010

Exam today!
Good luck :D


There is no homework over the weekend.
Have a lovely Halloween.

October 26th, 2010 [Practice Quiz]

Exam next class!


Practice Test:


1. Jamestown's major crop was:
A.) Corn.
B.) Tobacco.
C.) Cotton.
D.) Cocaine.

2. An Indentured Slave is a person who:
A.) Was a slave for their entire life.
B.) Was a child that was born into slavery.
C.) A person that has fake teeth.
D.) A person who was under contract to work for a certain amount of time.

3. Who made the City On A Hill speech?
A.) John Winthrop.
B.) John Rolfe.
C.) John Smith.
D.) Thomas Jefferson.

4. What does it mean to be a Puritan?
A.) To have no morals and no religion.
B.) The lack of using technology and cars.
C.) Having a strict moral code and religious views.
D.) Plymouth, right?

5. Bacon's Rebellion was a rebellion against:
A.) The tax on Bacon.
B.) A rebellion against Native Americans.
C.) The movement west.
D.) The Article of Confederation.

6. Social Contract Theory is:
A.) The agreement to give up liberty for safety.
B.) The theory as to why people do the things they do.
C.) The agreement that government is too big.
D.) A French guy thought of it.

7. The Stamp Act was a tax on:
A.) Milk and Cookies.
B.) Tobacco.
C.) Whiskey.
D.) Paper goods.

8. A Revolution is:
A.) The over throwing of a dictator.
B.) A small change over a long period of time.
C.) A big change over a short period of time.
D.) Russia had one...

9. Liberty is:
A.) Freedom.
B.) The chance to succeed.
C.) Failure.
D.) Being a Puritan.

10. Olive Branch Petition was created to:
A.) Create a war.
B.) Avoid a war.
C.) Virginia wanted more trees.
D.) Make an alliance with France.

11. Lexington and Concord was:
A.) Tried to end slavery.
B.) Was a rebellion against Native Americans.
C.) The first battles to start the Revolutionary War.
D.) Ended the Civil War.

12. Describe the Boston Massacre.
    What happened? Why did it happen? How many people died?

13. Who is Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau?
   What did they believe? What were their thoughts on humans and government?

14. What was the Boston Tea Party?
   What happened? Who was most effected by the acts?

15. What is Martial Law?
A.) The placement of military power by military personnel because of emergencies.
B.) The law that people are not allowed to rebel.
C.) Military is not allowed to kill civilians.
D.) A tax on bubblegum.

October 22nd, 2010

Does a country create unity while maintaining liberty when there is Diversity?

 Students in class today had the task of deciding how much power (dirt) their state should have. Then they had to figure out how to effectively carry the cups up stairs, but only one person could carry them. The first set up was each cup on top of each other, it was effective, but the states on the bottom, like Delaware could feel the pressure of all the states above them and not be as free as Virginia. Then it was figured out, the dirt was poured out onto a plate and then the cups were in the middle of the dirt, which basically means that if no state has power, they all have power. The states are now surrounded by power.

 The Great Compromise. Click this link.

Amount of voters in states:

(Minus slaves)

(5) CT: 235000

(1)DE: 50000

(3)GA: 53000

(6)MD: 21700

(8)MA: 378500

(3)NH: 141700

(4)NJ: 173000

(6)NY: 31900
(5)NC: 29400
(8)PA: 43000
(1)RI: 68000
(5)SC: 143000
(10)VA: 45000
(Purple means the amount of votes each state gets in House of Representatives)

3/5ths Compromise. Click this link.

Sectionalism- When a state only cares about its own section, not the country in a whole.

Next week is quarter exam and review.
Homework: read two federalist papers.

October 20th, 2010

Why do we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Does America have liberty and justice for all? 

Does the the Pledge of Allegiance still have the same meaning?

Should we say it every day?

Is it disrespectful to talk during the Allegiance?

Does mass media cause us to be less proud and not patriotic?

How do we have unity and sustain diversity at the same time?

Common goals.

Leadership.

Our system for governance creates space for disagreement.

Compromise.

Tuesday there is a review.

Thursday there is an exam.

Homework due next class.

October 18th, 2010

What do you know about The Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation- 

  It lacked taxing authority. They had to ask for funds.

  There were no Uniform Tariffs.

  Unpaid war debts created economic problems

  "One state, One Vote" system did not strike a balance between large and small states.

Tariff- Tax on imports

Anti-Federalists-

  Anonymous writers and famous revolutionary figures came out publicly against the Constitution.

  Thought strong national government threat to the right of individuals and that the President would become a king.

  Feared that a Federalist system would inevitably lead to the same sort of corrupt system that the colonists had been with the British.

  Feared the rise of tyranny and the loss of state autonomy.

Anti-Federalists Papers- They wrote persuasive essays under the pen-name Brutus.

        *These were written by  Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason and Richard Henry Lee.

Federalists  Papers- They wrote persuasive essays under the pen-name Publius. 

        *These were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.

Click the links above to read more about them.

ESSAY DUE NEXT CLASS.

October 14th, 2010

Here is a very simplified list of The Amendments.

What do you think being cruel means? Do you think the death penalty is cruel?

Paper to write:

Take an amendment or article from The Constitution.
Explain the history behind it.
Explain what it means.
Research a recent political or legal issue that has to do with what you chose.
Minimum 5 paragraphs, no more then 5 pages.
12 size font, 1 inch margins.
In text citations. In parentheses just put the title of the document inside.
It is due Wednesday, 20th 2010.

Next class, notebook must be in order.

Homework was due today. 

Why has America not (yet) had victory in Afghanistan?

 Enemy blends in with society.

 Civilian suffering turns people against us.

 Irregular fighting style, out typical approach not as effective.

 Lack of leadership.

 Political division.

Struggles of America in Afghanistan and reasons Americans defeat England 1175-1783.

Centrality of Will- The want to win more then the other side. Never surrendering.

Treaty of Paris- Ended the Revolutionary War in 1783.

Articles of Confederation- These gave the states their own freedom, there was no central power. These gave them too much power and freedom and it didn't work. There was no communication, and no common goal. The Articles of Confederation also could not tax people, they would have to ask for money.

Separation of Powers:

Judicial Branch- Determines and interprets laws.

Executive Branch- Carries out and enforces laws.

Legislative Branch- Creates laws.

Bicameral- Two houses, two parties.

Division of Powers:

Federal vs. State.

Homework: book work.

Things to know on the quiz

Study Guide

Jamestown- Know their values, beliefs and goals.

Plymouth- Same thing.

Stamp Act- What did the Stamp Act affect? Why was it put in place?

Parliament- Legislation of Great Britain.

Boston Massacre- Know what happened, and was it really a massacre?

Intolerable Acts- Know who and what these affected.

Lexington & Concord- Know what happened.

Olive Branch Petition- adopted by the Continental Congress in July 1775 in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war.
Liberty- Freedom.
Revolution- A big change in  short amount of time.
Social Contract Theory- The agreement to give up rights for the better of the people.
Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau- Know their beliefs and ideas.
Income tax, property tax, and sales tax- Know who controls these taxes and what they are/mean.
Federalism- The different levels of government.

Bring all primary documents to class! If you lost any, makes copies from a fellow class mate.

Quiz on Thursday, 10.7.2010

October 5th, 1010

The Deceleration of Independence

Three significant changes in the Deceleration:

 Instead of "created equal" it was "created independent."

 Colonies were changed to states.

 There was the full power to levy war.

 In the final draft, there was nothing about slavery.

Slavery was not in the Deceleration because the South still had them and needed them for work. If that had been taken out, it would have been disastrous. However, Thomas Jefferson did address the issue and he even put it back in. Though, more then half of the nation did not approve it.

The Deceleration Of Independence united the 13 colonies.

The Deceleration of Independence did not create war.

QUIZ NEXT CLASS.

October 1st, 2010

The Constitution

And

The Declaration of Independence

 

If you are interested, here is also an on line version of The Declaration Of Independence, for which students will be studying in a very short time. So read up, even though it is not completely necessary.

Independence

Despite reading some parts of The Constitution at a later time in class, here is a simpler version of it.

Constitution.

Most Gracious Speech is the speech that started the war. While reading it, remember that the if you see an "f" it is actually an "s".
Read it for homework.
Make quote sandwiches.
CLAIM, QUOTE COMMENT.

 

September 29th, 2010

A primary source is a source from the time period that is being studied.

Example:

A secondary source is a source that was written after the the event or time that it happened.
A textbook is an example of a secondary source.

Students last class had to compare primary sources with the text books in class.

September 27th, 2010

Types of taxes:                            

Income- Controlled by Federal Government.

Property- Property taxes are paid to the town.               

Fees and Fines- Paid to the state.

Sales- Also decided by State.

Levels of Government:

Federal- Creates programs, controls and pays the military as well as administration.

State- Also creates programs and infrastructure(highways, etc.) 

Municipal- Also helps with infrastructure and services(firemen, police)

Students who are interested in knowing which states are the "wealthiest".

State Income

Social Contract Theory: The agreement to give up your rights to maintain order.

Social Contract

Still don't understand Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau still?

Here is something that should help you:

Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau table

Homework: Chapter 4 sections one and two in the book.

Notes encouraged.

Due next class.

QUIZ ON FRIDAY!

September 23rd, 2010

Why do people obey?

Class began today with a game of 'Simon Says', which leads to the important question Why do people obey?

Students were asked to brainstorm some ideas: Fear, convenience, inferiority, respect, consequences for not complying, cultural norms, potential benefits, social conformity.

What is the difference between obedience and duty?

Is duty for others and obedience for self-preservation?

Is duty responsibility?

Is duty a moral obligation?

Jean Jacques Rousseau would say government can not make people want or feel it is necessary to have duty, and obedience can not be forced, because remember, Rousseau believed that society is corrupt, but individual people are good. However, he believes that people understand they have to obey, but as soon as it is taken away, they'll do what they want. 

Term(s) to know:

General Will- The desire or interest of the whole.

Essays were due this class.

No homework.

September 21st, 2010

Security or Liberty?

Would you give up your liberty to be safe?

Students talked about liberty vs. Security today.

They were faced with the question: what is important to you? Liberty or security?

Terms to know:

Social Contract Theory- The agreement to give up your rights for the safety of the people. 

Locke: John Locke had a rather optimistic view on humans. He saw that they had a cooperative, good and tolerant state of nature. He believed that property was supposed to be protected and was very important. 

Hobbes: Thomas Hobbes believed that humans were mean, brutish, short and power hungry. He felt that government was needed to keep people in line.

Rousseau: Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that humans were good and society made them corrupt. He felt that government was temporary.

Sovereign: High power.

Want more info on Locke, Rousseau or Hobbes? Here are some links to some websites:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/hobmoral --->Thomas Hobbes
http://www.thomas-hobbes.com --->Thomas Hobbes
http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jun/rousseau.html --->Rousseau
http://www.iep.utm.edu/locke --->John Locke.

Students who did not present their project last class must present to Mr. Long immediately.
There is an optional essay due next class: What are the Original "American Values?"
Use Primary Sources!
There is no other homework.

September 17th, 2010

This blog has been created to help students in Mr. Longs US History classes to obtain things you have missed in class, get an overview of happened and as a reminder for homework, projects, test and quiz dates.


Started class off by getting into groups and presenting posters students have made. The posters represented various values and how they might have changed over time. Such as superiority, which, according to one student is that it is still very much alive. They took time to explain posters and answered questions about it.


Overarching question: In what ways is the past a part of the present, in what ways is it a departure?

What does it "mean" to be an American?

Some responses: It means to be better then everyone else.

It means to want power and have influence over other countries.

We're hypocritical and even though we say we're free, there is still segregation and the rights aren't equal among everyone.

International traders.