History books entail information about various eras and reflect the times they represent highlighting information which may be subjective and debatable. To interpret and to fully understand, one needs to read various accounts of similar historical value to look for elusive content and the way selected authors have accounted the facts. Indians have been recalled as the losers of their times mostly by various historians, as most of history textbooks and collections are written by winners, therefore the evasive depiction likewise.
Hence today historians can correlate various accounts of history to translate and interpret how Indians influenced and shaped the lives of English settlers. Indians already provided the English settlers with cultivated and cleared land ready for farming and agriculture, which made their tasks simpler and thus they moved forward to impact the habitants with their cultural and technological exchange to develop infrastructure and government.
The first source reflects on selected Indians tribes wilderness and inadequate resources to preserve lives. It also lists their skills and expertise in construction of temples, pottery, textiles and clay artifacts until European settlers introduced the new world methods of farming, use of iron in construction, government and religious beliefs that would lead Indians to move forward in future. However it also projects Indians as an obstruction and waste to be eliminated for having no role in the future of America.
The second source details the Spanish rule on Indians. The Spanish leadership contributed majorly to education and review and printing of literature, while also acknowledging talent by giving out prices. However the Spanish were unable to utilize the agricultural resource and richness of the American land, and sought after the gold reserves which devastated many out of disease and starvation. They also struggled to convert Indians to the Christian rituals.
The third source looks appreciative of the Indians expertise and their sophisticated methods in cultivating maize and corn and for building infrastructure and cities to reach out to sizeable population. It talks about Indians who had nomadic lifestyles, and changed with English invasion into transformed and settled agricultural villagers. Furthermore since the Indians were not densely populated within close proximities it allowed English settlers to outnumber Indians to hold and restrain them.
All three sources commonly talk about John Smith, an Englishman who contributed majorly for creating awareness about the need to cultivate corn and maize and to give agriculture top priority. He ensured that prime objective of every native and traveler should be accumulating necessary food for survival. He served as great motivator and leader in those times. Nonetheless the sources also list the many uncommon diseases prevailing in those times amongst the Indian population and their inability and limited resources to cure.
Another common contribution is the account of Spanish and English peace deal that as part of the joint stock company that enabled order in the new world. The third source looks more credible for its account as it also gives credit to the Indians in their contribution for the development of civilizations.
The United States economy is facing a financial crisis. This situation has prompted a quick action from President Obamas administration. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a congressional testimony We are better of aggressively today to solve our economic problems President Obama responded to the issue by submitting a federal budget for the fiscal year 2009. The budget indicated a deficit of 1.8 trillion in 2009 and 1 trillion in 2010 and also in 2011. This has increased the Gross Domestic Product from 40 to 60. According to Bernanke such an increase has never been experienced since 1950 (Marle, 2009).
Lack of employment is also an issue faced by the Americans. In the year 2008 about 115,000 workers lost jobs in Florida. This has made it difficult for citizens to pay their mortgage and other necessities. President Obama during his campaign for elections promised to create more jobs (Real Clear Politics, 2008).
A Brief Look At Thematic Strands
Utilization of Power, Authority and Governance
To effectively teach students, I will give them a brief history of power and governance. For instance by giving them history of the previous presidents who have been in power before and the economic state then. I will also explain to them American constitution and how the government is supposed to be run and maintained. I will let them ask questions on how they think Obamas administration is as compared to the previous administration and the state of the nation economically, socially and as viewed by the world. Judging from what the students know I will give them the current situation. For instance The Economist (2010) Judging by president Obamas first year in office, he has demonstrated competence and discipline. He is dedicated to improving the welfare of the people New York Times (28th Jan 2010) states Obama administrations early months in office were dominated by a single issue The economy Obama made the central bank to obtain a written document of approval from the treasury concerning emergency funding. He also proposed review of Federal government structure and use of funds (Robert, 2009)
Science Technology and Society
For better understanding of this concept, I will start by giving students technological trends that have been there. I will give them the importance of technology and how we have benefited from it. Students will mention some of the technologies and scientific discoveries they are aware of. I will then give them the challenges of technology, the current situation and what the government is doing about it. For instance, Science and technology has boosted the growth of American Economy since world war two. Obama promised to keep this trend as a priority in his administration. He acknowledges the innovation demonstrated by scientists. He also understands the challenges faced and gives remedies for new approaches to solving problems. He promised that his administration will increase funding for research and encourage young upcoming scientists (Science Debate, 2008).
Production Distribution and Consumption
To address this issue, I will give students some of the product and services that are produced in the country.
I will provide ways of fairly distributing them and how it is has been done. Students will then give examples on areas they think there is unequal distribution. From these examples I will elaborate to them the reasons and what the government is doing to improve. For instance the issue of distribution of resources and management among all the states in America is paramount in president Obama administration. Obama recently announced the use of 467 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to enhance development and utilization of geothermal power for all states in America. This is a move that will increase Americans competitiveness and also support jobs that will ensure quality energy (U.S Department of energy, 2009).
About creating jobs for the citizens, New York Times (8th Dec 2009) said Mr. Obama outlined proposals intended to promote job creation. They include incentives for small businesses to hire more workers and additional money to build roads Obama is also concerned with heath care which forms the main part of the domestic priority. Jonathan (2009) Key members of congress have promised to introduce ambitious health care reform legislation in 2009.
Applying The NCSS Thematic Strands To Teach 11th graders
Thematic Strands as proposed by the NCSS have been identified as a new and fresh era of teaching Social Studies and Humanities to promote civic competence as well as adequately educate and equip students and young learners with the necessary knowledge and social tools.
When addressing the Thematic Strands in relation to the current state of the US economy, it is important to note that the US economy was in a serious financial crisis that affected major US banks, lending institutions, mortgage companies and the housing sector at large. Plenty of investors wrongly took risks they should not have taken. This led to a near collapse of the sector. When the new administration of president Barrack Obama took office they provided financial aid to financial institutions and banks to prevent them from going under. In return the institutions were expected to be properly regulated, avail funds to small businesses to enable them grow, compete and hire new workers.
Regarding the housing sector which was badly hit by the economic recession the new administration provided a lifeline to home owners. This was done in several ways such as extending the time before foreclosure, providing single mums with access to financial assistance and reducing premiums for other home owners.
Regarding jobs creation, the president has provided incentives such as tax waivers to companies and small businesses which hire new workers. There is also a significant focus on retraining workers for new kind of jobs. Also a new impetus has been focused on creating green jobs and availing green technology.
By using presidential powers and his administrations position, Barrack Obama has positively influenced policy to assist middle income families, create employment and reduce the impact of the recession on American families and businesses.
When applying the Thematic Strands when teaching 11th graders, it is important to focus on relevant questions on each thematic strand. If it is the strand on power authority and governance ask the students how does presidential and congressional power positively affect the average American child and family How about small businesses Is the governance of those in power positively affecting the nation and its people
In terms of production distribution and consumption of goods and services, are the goods and services provided useful to me and my family What are the benefits to society Does the end result make me happy Why Are there ways to improve these provisions
As the president has made new and green technology his main focus and that of his administration, how will this positively change the way you view technology What new avenues will open Will there be new jobs created Will I be in a position to benefit from this new technology
Allow student to participate by making positive contributions. Ensure they address both positive and negative aspects pf each thematic strand as specified by the NCSS. Let them also contribute any changes, adjustments theyd make had they the chance.
Conclusion
From all the above sources it is clear that Obamas administration is dedicated to the welfare of the citizens. In addressing the benefits, the outcomes and the results of the policies of the Obama administration it is useful when applying Thematic Strands to focus on positive aspects of each. Allow student participation and listen to the views provided. Paint a background picture for the 11th graders so they may have a clearer picture of the situation at hand.
It happened during that period,
when our country was coming back from the impact
of the Great Depression. It was all good,
moving forward, politics and economy intact.
However, the incident on December 1941 marked something
never before imagined, but nonetheless inevitable.
As Americans watched in horror as flames erupted in their home,
one thing is certain all these would result in retaliation War.
From its isolation, the country stood up and declared,
rekindled its alliances and partnership it once held.
Who would have thought the War went this far out
and prompting the army to extend and the nation shout
we fight for our security and protection of our liberty.
With this, mobilization took place on all states equally,
amassing weaponry and armaments no one can imagine.
All these essential elements can truly be heard and seen.
The end may seem so far away during this time.
Numerous casualties have tainted the battle front and land.
With no apparent signs of success,
we enter the battlefield fully committed in establishing our purpose.
Through months of campaign, we achieve our goals.
In years, we are near the breaking point
the time for success is almost attainable, almost in our grasp
then Hiroshima... and Nagasaki...
Though we may have neglected the end result of this war,
but these have never been an option in the first place.
Oh Indeed it was during this time,
that will forever mark our history, our heritage, and our pains...
The humor in Horse Feathers, a 1932 film starring the four Marx Brothers, calls into mind the physicality of The Three Stooges. But where the Stooges play rambunctious and loveable buffoons clobbering and nearly maiming each other to death, the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo) rely more on irreverent humor spiced with witty dialogue and memorable characters to incite laughter from their audience.
The dialogue in a Marx Brothers comedy is fast, crisp and always on the dot. You seldom go to a Marx Brothers movie hoping to see Groucho clobbered by Harpos harp or Chico slipping on a banana peel. You go see the Marx Brothers for the brilliance of their interplay and the precision of their comic timing. Also, there is the subversive element in their comic sketches which incites the audience to share in the fun of poking the proverbial rod at any figure of authority, be he a doctor, a teacher, or the president of a school.
Horse Feathers basically ridicules American colleges and its obsession with college football during the Prohibition era. To improve his teams chances of winning against a rival school, Huxley College president Professor Wagstaff (Groucho) goes to a speakeasy to recruit two professional players. He finds Chico and Harpo instead, who both moonlight as icemen or bootleggers. When rival school Darwin signed up the pros, Wagstaff then orders his new recruits to kidnap the players during the championship game. The victims, however, turned the table on their kidnappers by locking them in a room. In the end, the Huxley team wins the game by driving to a homerun on a makeshift chariot.
The silliness of Horse Feathers lies in the fact that it skewers authority figures, even ladies of society. Connie Bailey, the lone female character whom everyone calls the college widow, is romanced by Wagstaffs son Frank. But she is also carrying on a secret dalliance with the coach of the rival team, who is paying her to get the Huxley signals for the championship game. In the comedic world of the Marx Brothers, there is no such thing as a decent woman except one with an ugly face.
Horse Feathers also showcases the Marx Brothers classic dialogue comedy. The most famous is the dead-pan exchange between Chico and Groucho in the speakeasy scene where Chico guards the door while Groucho tries to guess the password for entry. The password is Swordfish, which is used as a title of a 2001 movie starring John Travolta and referenced by other films like The Net and Hackers.
In spirit, Horse Feathers resembles a lively and often tongue-in-cheek comic sketch from Saturday Night Live. You can almost imagine SNL alums Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd smirking while mouthing this dialogue
Murray Tomorrow we start tearing down the college. Ackroyd But, Professor, where will the students sleep
Murray Where they always sleep in the classroom.
The same anarchic yet irreverent spirit is found in movies like Smokey and the Bandit and Animal House, which incidentally both end in chaos ala Horse Feathers. Like Horse Feathers, the two films feature sardonic anti-heroes at odds with authority figures who appear either pompous or stereotypical. Both films also celebrate an up-yours love of mayhem that is a send-off to other Marx Brothers classics like Night at the Opera and Duck Soup.
Britain stationed troops in Boston to protect cargoes from India. A crowd gathered near the port. The British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five people, including Crispus Attucks, a mulatto worker. John Adams, the defense attorney of the soldiers, described the incident as a rabble of troublemaking immigrants and slaves. Two of the soldiers were lightly punished. Six of them were acquitted. England removed the troops from Boston. From the point of view of the colonists, England was transforming itself into a tyrant, threatening the autonomy and prosperity of the colonies.
Samuel Drowne, a resident of Boston, standing at his own door in Cornhill, saw about 14 or 15 soldiers of the 29th regiment (who came from Murrays barrack). They were armed with naked cutlasses, swords or bayonets, others with clubs, fire shovels or tongs. The soldiers assaulted the townspeople who were armed with sticks and shovels. The soldiers went by the way of Cornhill, Crooked-lane and Royal-exchange lane into King Street. Samuel Drowne followed them. The angry crowd followed the soldiers. Some of them were armed with large sticks and to some extent spikes.
Most of the soldiers were gentlemen, standing together a little below the Town-house upon the Exchange. The people who followed the soldiers assaulted the residence. The officer ordered five soldiers to be on guard. A corporal warned the people to go away. Unable to convince the crowd to leave, the officer ordered the soldiers to disperse them. The soldiers went out of King-Street. By this time, about two hundred people stood upon the steps of the Exchange tavern, being the next house to the Custom-house. Captain Preston ordered the soldiers armed with firelocks to approach the west corner of the Custom-house. At that very instant, the people were dispersed at the sight of the soldiers. About twenty or thirty remained in King-Street. Those who remained were mostly sailors and other persons meanly dressed. They dared the soldiers to open fire. Drowne heard Captain Preston said, Damn your bloods Why dont you fire
The captain ordered the soldiers to fire indiscriminate to the crowd. The soldiers fired irregularly, pointing their guns variously in a part of a circle they stood. The soldiers kept firing as though there was no tomorrow. Drowne saw flashes of two guns fired from the Custom-house, one of which was out of a window of a chamber westward of the balcony. The other was from the balcony itself.
The guns were pointed to the crowd, as though it was preempted. The person who held the gun in a stooping posture withdrew himself into the house, having a handkerchief or cloth over his face. The dead and wounded lay in the street. At first, the soldiers did not allow the people to carry the dead. At last, perhaps having realized their cruelty, the soldiers permitted the people to carry the dead.
The Atlantic System
British colonial supremacy in North America was due primarily to the creation of a commercial enterprise the Atlantic System. This commercial framework was not just a system of colonial ports it was rather a system of colonies and markets in which the ultimate beneficiary was the island of Britain.
The creation of the Atlantic System in the 17th century facilitated trade and commerce between Europe and the Americas. Spain and Portugal controlled large colonies in the New World. Gold flowed from these colonies to the markets of Europe. Great Britain saw colonization of North America vital to the survival of the emerging English empire. Britain dominated the Malay-Africa trade route, after defeating the Portuguese and Dutch in several major naval engagements.
The real danger was in the Western edge of the route. Control of the Guinea-South African coastlines was necessary for the protection of the route. The advantage of this system is quite obvious. Great Britain could easily ship its goods from the ports at Malaya and India to London via this route. Raw materials could be transferred from Africa to the Thirteen Colonies the emerging factor markets in the New World. Trade with both Britain and the East brought prosperity in the colonies.
The Atlantic system perpetuated even after the Second World War. British colonial possessions in South and Central Africa was consolidated via the Atlantic route to London. Indeed, the Atlantic system was not merely a commercial enterprise, it was the political foundation of the British Empire.
Causes of the American Revolution
The American Revolution was not simply an ideological revolution. Its causes were both political and economic in nature. To the historian, the conflict represented the triumph of democracy still to some, it symbolized the birth of a nation.
There were indirect and immediate causes of the American Revolution. The Seven Years War alienated many colonists. The British promised the colonial army (made mostly of colonists) land in Canada which turned out to be a mishap in policy. Increasing British restrictions on trade, the imposition of martial law, and general economic restrictions fueled discontent. The passage of the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Tea Act of 1773 in the British parliament introduced new taxes.
The colonists were aghast with the situation. They demanded representation in the parliament as condition for the payment of regular taxes. When the British responded by sending a large army to the colonies, the colonists rose in open revolt. From a historical view point, the colonists knew that war with Great Britain was a very risky venture. However, foreign countries like Spain and France already promised military assistance should the colonies revolt (even before the war). In addition, a majority of the colonists opposed the new taxes. Thus, it would be relatively easy to swing the loyalty of the colonies.
The effects of the Revolution were both lasting and significant. Two centuries later, the Thirteen Colonies replaced Great Britain as the major trading power in North America. It has become one of the two superpowers during the Cold War the wealthiest nation on the planet.
Two decades before the civil war there was development of conflicting sectional ideologies. Both Southern and Northern societies viewed themselves as one fundamentally well organized and the other one going against its cherished values and thus a threat to its existence. The development of these two ideologies was in many ways interconnected. This made the Southerners and the Northerners grow apart. The Northerners had their own ideologies as well as the Southerners which made them two very different societies. The Northerners formed the Republicans whereas the Southerners formed the Democrats society. The republicans were mainly the white laborers while the democrats included the black slaves and the slave holders.
The Southerners were more and more conscious to insist on slavery as the basis of civilized life which made them reject the materialism and lack of togetherness in the Northern community. Northerners viewed slavery as the direct opposite of good society and also as a danger to their own essential interests and values. The existing political system could not restrain these two conflicting ideologies and this led to the breakup of the two societies to form the Northern and the Southern societies.
The Republicans valued the ideology of free labor which did not only involve an approach towards work but a validation of the ante-bellum of the southern society. The Northern republican thus extensively criticized the Southern society which appeared equally different and inferior to theirs. Republicans did not believe in the reality of slave power which had taken control of the federal government in the South.
The Republican ideology spread over a long distance because of its multifaceted nature, thus most people embraced it as an overwhelmingly successful combination of values and interests. This ideology appealed in many diverse ways to a range of groups within the party. It gave the northerners of divergent social and political backgrounds a basis for collective action. It provided the moral agreement which permitted the north for the first time in history, to assemble an entire society in modern welfare.
On May 26, 1960, one of the Republican Party leading orators, Carl Schurz of Wisconsin addressed an audience which had gathered to endorse the nomination of Abraham Lincoln. He encouraged the Republicans to stand before the country, not as the anti- slavery party but as the party of free labor. Many republican orators emphasized that the greatest idea and the basis of the Republican Party is free labor. The main aim and objective of the Republican Party was to make labor honorable.
The dignity of labor was a constant theme of the northern culture and politics. In America people did not just work, but worked specifically to gain money. This was considered very honorable labor was the source of every value. Many leaders reiterated that labor is prior to and independent to capital, indeed capital is the fruit of labor. The belief in the dignity of labor was not restricted to the Republican Party it has been part of the American culture from the start. Most Americans come from a protestant background in which the decency of labor was an item of faith. Each man had an occupation or calling to which he was divinely appointed and to succeed in ones calling serves to glorify God. There are moral qualities that ensure success in ones calling, which include honesty, prudence, diligence, punctuality and sobriety.
In the free labor perspective, the objective of social mobility was not great wealth, but economic independence. Free labor meant labor with economic choices, the ability to quit the wage earning group. One who lived all his life depending on wages was considered as still in bondage. As a Southern slave there was nothing wrong with working to acquire enough wealth to start a business. Thus a successful laborer was one who achieved self employment and owned capital, a business or a shop.
The Republicans regarded slavery as morally unjust, politically imprudent and socially destructive. They were therefore opposed to it and criticized the Southern community which exercised slavery. The free labor attitude gave republicans a model of good society and provided them with a standard for judging other social systems. The values of free labor that were mostly cherished by the republicans i.e. economic development, social mobility and political democracy were greatly violated in the south. The south appeared to republicans as a strange and intimidating society because their values and interests were in deep conflict with those of the North.
The economy of the southern community was backward and stagnant. Slavery was to blame for all this as it hindered regional and national development. There was immense poverty in the south, the soil was exhausted, decaying town, wretchedly neglected roads and there was an absence of enterprise and improvement. Slavery had impaired all aspects of economic development in this region. Commerce, political power as well as military strength can never permanently reside in a community where slavery exists. The southern states were well known for their intellectual, moral and political darkness which covered the land.
Despite all these problems the Southern born settlers seemed content with their status in life and seemed to lack the desire to improve their condition. The Northerners feared the issue of slavery in their territories.
They wanted to keep their territories free from this primitive act. Many enterprising men from the Northern state were migrating to the territories with the desire to posses land. This is because they did not want their territories to be occupied fully by the Southerners, who they feared could import their ill values into the North. They believed by doing so they will be able to exclude slavery from the territories. Free white laborers of the North though did not migrate to the South where there was no free labor and social mobility was non existence. They did not also want to work in close proximity with black slaves. In his book Roediger, clearly states that the white labourers did not in any way want to be associated with the blacks.
This made it difficult for both the black and white laborers to form a union to fight for their rights.
The slaves were mostly black men or Negros as they used to call them. They were denied every right including voting. They were always beaten, exiled and killed if they defied anything that their masters wanted a sure way of killing any attempts of Negro domination. The Negro was killed for disputing over the terms of contract with their employers. If there was any dispute between a colored man and a white man the colored man had to die either in the hands of the white man there and then or later through a mob which gathered speedily. If any man showed a spirit of courageous manhood he was hanged for his pains. Colored women were also murdered for refusing to tell the mob where their relatives could be found for lynching.
The black men came up with anti-lynching bureau of the National Afro-American Council to have every lynching investigated and to publish the facts to the world. This was the beginning of the end of lynching because no lynching was allowed before proper investigations. There started to be big changes between the two states and it is during Abraham Lincolns leadership that the two states started to unite. It was then that so many voters from the slave state of Louisiana joined the union and accepted it as the rightful political power of the state. They adopted a Free State constitution and allowed public schools to be attended equally by black and white scholars. They also agreed to have the constitution amended to allow slavery to be abolished throughout the nation.
Although not everybody from the Southern state agreed to these changes those who joined the union represented a good number which could not just be overlooked. They included a good number of white men who felt that they needed to change from the previous unfair way of life. These people vowed to adhere to the new changes, fight for it until it ripens to a complete success. They believed the colored man, in seeing all America united for him, is motivated with vigilance and energy and daring to the same end.
