Our Inaugural Addresses

Morgan's Inaugural

Your Final

Today in class we began by doing some self-reflection on our America Redefined portfolios using this self-assessment tool. 
We then talked through each piece of the Final Project for the year.   This is the rubric I'll be using to assess your final.  This is a brainstorming chart that will help you get started.

Wrapping Up and Moving Forward

As our unit on Redefining America concludes, we need to begin to think about how we will bring all of the information that we've been studying over the last several weeks together. Your task to close the unit is to explore changes in the Presidency, America's role in the world, or changing social norms and views during this era more explicitly. You should choose whichever of those topics have been most consistently named in your portfolio and identify a progression or pattern that you see emerging.   Once you've done so, work to create a thesis or assertion about that topic that will guide your argument which you can present either in writing or in a creative/visual format.  Make sure that you are not merely making observations about the events occurring but instead that you are making an assertion about how, why, so what, cause/effect, etc.
Today in class, we'll be using this brainstorming sheet in order to work towards arriving at a thesis for the synthesis piece that you'll create. Notice, that the sheet also asks you to categorize the moments that you identify according to the Preamble section that you can most readily connect them to.  This is intended to give you a "twofer"-not just prepping for the synthesis of this unit, but also to begin brainstorming for your final.  We'll be going over the requirements and instructions for the final on Friday in class, so please read through it before then.  You will have Thursday in class to work on your synthesis piece.

70's and 80's

Yesterday and today in class, we'll be using episodes of The Century to supplement our reading of the Foner text and continue considering the changes in the presidency, social norms and views, and America's role on the world stage.
Here is the link to Starting Over and the corresponding study guide.
Here is the link to A New World and the corresponding study guide.

End of Vietnam

Today we heard a speaker, Jon Schaefer, share his experiences of what it's like to be in war from the Vietnam War. His presentation can be found below.
In class, Mr. Kramer presented a lecture on the end of the war and we discussed its legacy. You can see the lecture slides here.
Jon Schaefer Presentation
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Schaefer's "Considerations Before Going to War".

Slides from the presentation.

Freedom at Home-The Great Society

As we continue our look at the 1960's and the Vietnam War, it's important to remember the other issues in the United States at the time and how LBJ and the government attempted to respond to those issues. How much of an impact did the War have on the United States' ability to meet Johnson's vision of a Great Society? In order to address that question, please complete the tasks in this web activity. You should work with a partner to discuss your responses.  Note-You should be able to finish somewhat quicker than the times listed on the document because you've already read the Washington Post article in the "Looking at the Legacy" section.

1968

Today in class, we'll be taking a closer look at significant aspects and events of the Vietnam War-the draft, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai Massacre, the 1968 Democratic Convention, and the shootings at Kent St. University. To do so, please complete this webquest.
Be sure to look at the calendar for your homework for this weekend, there have been some changes made.