The Gilded Age

Historical Background
The growth of industry and capitalism during this period generated a controversy that is still with us today: is capitalism good for America? This should be a topic that you have heard a little about in today's world as well with the current economic crisis, and the issue of how much the government should regulate the economy.
Assignment
On your blog, you need to pick one of the "Robber Barons" and do a biography of that person. You will need to show how they were able to rise to the top (was it the American Dream or something else), how they were able to consolidate their power, and how the government's policies affected their businesses.
You will need to comment on at least two other students' blogs that did a different person than you and one that did the same person as you. This needs to be more than just "I agree with Moya."
Some possible choices for Robber Barons are Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Morgan. No more than three students can do the same one, so call dibs as soon as possible in a comment to this blog.

The Closing of the Western Frontier

Myth vs. Reality



You should watch clips of a Hollywood western of your choice and prepare a report that contrasts the romanticized Hollywood version with the reality presented in your textbook. You should do this on your blog and comment on three of your classmates' blogs. If you need suggestions then let me know (I've always liked Tombstone).

Civil War Postcards

On your blog create a postcard that shows the point of view of a person from the Civil War time period, showing five days in the person's life. This means you need to have five different pictures and descriptions.

You should also comment on at least one other students' blog.

Your choices are

1. African-American Soldier from the 54th Massachusetts' regiment

2. Union nurse on the field at Gettysburg

3. Northern woman left at home alone

4. Southern woman managing a plantation

5. Yankee soldier at Antietam

6. Northern prisoner-of-war at Andersonville

7. Southern soldier preparing for Pickett's last charge

8. A Southern plantation owner

(Only two students can pick each choice, so call dibs in the comment section of this blog.)

For extra credit, be the first to tell me in class what this cartoon is about.

Reform Movements

"American reform movements between 1820 and 1860 reflected both optimistic and pessimistic views of human nature and society." Assess the validity of this statement in reference to reform movements in one of the following areas:
Education
Temperance
Women's rights
Utopian experiments
Penal institutions

Pick one of the reform movements and answer the question on your blog. Only 3 students can pick each movement. You can call dibs on the movement you want in the comment section of this blog. You must also comment on three students blogs (two that have different movements than you and one that has the same movement as you).

Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South

Historical Background

Cotton played a key role in the creation of a southern way of life. You should understand the conflicting views of slavery being a somewhat benevolent, paternalistic institution versus an overly brutal, dehumanizing monster; how blacks survived, maintaining their dignity and some aspects of their African cultures; and how the institution of slavery continues to influence our attitudes towards race today.

Assignment

"Slavery was the dominating reality of all southern life." Assess the validity of this generalization for two of the following aspects of southern life from about 1840 to 1860: political, social, economic, and intellectual life.

You should answer this question on your own blog. You should also include a visual of some sort and comment on three of your classmates' blogs.

Common Man or King Andrew

Andrew Jackson has been heavily debated by historians. Was Jackson the hero of the Common Man or King Andrew?

Answer with your opinion on your own blog. Please include a picture in your blog. You also need to comment on three of your classmates blogs.

Sectionalism and Nationalism

How could both Sectionalism and Nationalism exist at the same time and at the same place?