My mother was admitted to the hospital today, so I may or may not have consistent access to email for the next day or so. If I need to cancel class on Friday I will notify you by Thursday night.
Archive for the ‘Discussion Starters’ Category
Discussion Questions for November 6
Thursday November 6, 2008Here are some questions to help you prepare for our discussion tomorrow about Paul Johnson’s article on Mayo Greenleaf Patch. Don’t forget to print out the article online (in the JSTOR database), and bring it to class with you.
What is Johnson’s thesis?
Why did he choose to write about this family?
What are some of the major themes in this article?
What was his occupation, and how did it help Patch gain a degree of economic independence?
The year 1807 marked a dramatic turning point in the lives of the Patches and, if you buy Johnson’s argument, in the lives of Americans (at least, New Englanders) in general. What happened in 1807?
Why is this move significant and how did it change the structure of the Patch family?
How could we describe the relationship between Mayo and Abigail?
How did the naming of the Patch children illustrate the power relations in the family?
Discussion on Wednesday, October 22
Tuesday October 21, 2008Here are some questions to jump start our discussion of the Sedition Act (1798) and the Kentucky Resolutions (1798). Bear in mind that the organic nature of in-class discussions will lead to questions not listed here. See you all Wednesday!
SEDITION ACT
What are the main provisions of this act?
With all of these actions and opinions being prohibited, what ARE you allowed to do or say?
Who does it target?
Do you think that this approach was an effective method for diminishing the divisive partisan politics of the Early Republic? Why, or why not?
As mentioned in lecture, President Adams didn’t strictly enforce the Sedition Act. So, what is its significance? What does it teach us?
KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS
What passages in this document show support for the states’ rights position?
According to Jefferson’s interpretation of the Constitution, what power does Congress have?
Why were Democratic-Republicans like Jefferson opposed to the Alien Act (passed at the same time as the Sedition Act)?
Since the Kentucky Resolutions weren’t supported by other states, what is their greater significance?
Sample Document Analysis
Tuesday September 30, 2008THE TRAGEDY OF INDIAN REMOVAL
Introduction:
The Indian Removal Act was ratified by Congress in 1830 with the full support of President Andrew Jackson. The Removal Act stipulated that all Indian tribes residing east of the Mississippi River be relocated to lands in present-day Oklahoma—including those that had assimilated to white ways.[1] The leader of the Cherokee Nation’s fight against removal was a man named John Ross. Known as a Chief among his people, Mr. Ross was a highly successful plantation owner in Georgia at the time the Removal Act was passed. Ross, who had fought alongside Jackson himself in the War of 1812, was the principal author of the Cherokee Nation’s Memorial and Petition.[2] In it, Ross outlined his people’s numerous arguments against removal. This document, when considered together with the author’s unique point of view and in the proper historical context, provides students and historians alike with an astute and insightful perspective on the subject of 1830s Indian removal.
Outline of Paper Body:
Summary of Memorial and Petition
Explanation of Ross’s argument
The historical significance of this document
Tone of document; Ross’s reason for writing; the “end of the story”
Conclusion:
Indisputably, 1830s Indian removal was an unspeakable tragedy. Today, primary documents such as Ross’s Memorial and Petition serve to remind all Americans that no government is infallible. Even when presented with numerous compelling arguments against removal, Congress turned a blind eye to the plight of its countrymen. Was the need for land so great that it merited the deaths of thousands of innocent people? Memorial and Petition is truly a gem, and if nothing else, it will forever stand as a grim reminder of the mistakes of past generations. Such is the importance of the study of human history—the same kind of mistake need never occur twice.
