Great Depression Part Two

On your blog describe life in the Great Depression. You should look up pictures and videos online.

Causes of the Great Depression

Pick the cause of the Great Depression that you think was the most important. Summarize the cause on your blog, and explain the history and evolution of the cause or problem. The causes are lack of diversification, maldistribution of wealth, declining exports, credit structure, and unstable international debt structure.

Only three students can pick each cause. You can call dibs on the comment section of this blog.

Progressivism

Pick a problem in society that the Progressive movement attempted to solve. You should describe the problem on your blog, how the Progressives attempted to solve the problem, and whether they were successful in solving the problem. You must also comment on at least three other students' blogs.

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).