JA 8 B Civics: April 1-5

 This week we will begin our investigation of the Legislative Branch of our Federal Government. We will discuss the many roles of the Legislative Branch, along with how checks & balances affect it as well. We will investigate how members of Congress are elected, & what the men & women of Congress actually do when they go to work! Emphasis will be placed on how a bill becomes a law. We will discuss how bills move through Congress, are voted upon, & can eventually become law in our nation. We will also investigate the similarities & differences between the House of Representatives & the Senate this week as well!

U.S. History: April 1-5

This week we will continue our investigation of the birth of "Modern
America." We will investigate the problems created by all of the new wealth generated by the American Industrial Revolution. We will discuss the problems of unsanitary conditions, child labor, and worker's rights. We will also begin to investigate the political machines that developed in places like New York, and how they played a role in the lives of people. This shall take us to the development of the Progressive Movement. We will also look at some of the famous political cartoons created by Thomas Nast, who creatively described the political corruption of the day.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: April 1-5

This week we will continue our investigation of the outbreak of WWII. We will discuss Hitler's invasion of Poland & the use of the Blitzkrieg to swiftly knock out his adversaries. We will also investigate Hitler's non-aggression pact with Stalin & the the consequences this would have early in the war. After Poland, Hitler's next target was France. We will discuss the fall of France to the Nazis & how it led to Axis domination of the European continent for most of the war. After France, Hitler needed to take out Great Britain. Towards the end of the week we will discuss the Battle of Britain along with the constant Nazi bombardment of major British cities, specifically the bombing of London.

JA 8 B Civics: Mar. 25-29

This week we will continue our discussion of citizenship & the role that citizens play in the political process. We will investigate the rights & responsibilities of American citizens , as well as the importance of people being actively involved in our democratic process. We will focus on many of the major rights & responsibilities, but our main focus will be the right to vote and to be an active participant in our government.

U.S. History: Mar. 25-29

This week we will continue our investigation of the Civil War by looking at the final battles and "Sherman's March," We will also discuss the concept of total war & the effect this had on the North & South. Towards the end of the week we will discuss the conclusion of the war and the different plans for Reconstruction; which was how to bring the Southern states back into the Union & rebuild the nation as one. We will also look at the effect Lincoln's assassination had on these plans & on the nation.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Mar. 25-29

This week we will begin continue investigation of the causes of WWII. We will discuss the rise of dictators, beginning with Mussolini (Italy), Stalin (USSR), & Hitler (Germany). We will also investigate the rise of militarists in Japan & the Spanish Civil War (and the take-over by Franco) in the years following WWI. As for the dictators, they all made promises to their people, & then found ways of controlling them with absolute power. We will discuss how the dictators came to power & how they maintained power.

JA 8 B Civics: Mar. 11-15

This week we will finish our investigation of the Bill of Rights & students will present their projects to the class. We will also discuss some later amendments which extended rights over time. Emphasis will be placed on the Civil Rights Movement & suffrage for women. Later in the week we will begin our exploration of the duties & responsibilities of citizenship. We will discuss how citizens truly can make a difference in their communities through volunteerism & other activities. We will investigate other duties & responsibilities, such as voting & jury duty as well!

U.S. History: Mar. 11-15

This week we will continue our investigation of the break-out of the American Civil War after the election of Abraham Lincoln. We will discuss the leaders of the Union & Confederacy, as well as the major battles of the war. We will examine and discuss the major "turning points" of the war in favor of the North, even though the South was known to have had superior military leaders. We will investigate the effects of the war on the soldiers, slaves, and civilians as well.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Mar. 11-15

This week we will begin our investigation of the causes of WWII. We will discuss the rise of dictators, beginning with Mussolini (Italy), Stalin (USSR), & Hitler (Germany). We will also investigate the rise of militarists in Japan & the Spanish Civil War (and the take-over by Franco) in the years following WWI. As for the dictators, they all made promises to their people, & then found ways of controlling them with absolute power. We will discuss how the dictators came to power & how they maintained power. We will discuss the ideology of fascism as well. All of them used propaganda, censorship, terror, & they worked to eliminate those who spoke out against them. Later in the week we will emphasize our efforts on Hitler & the Nazis, as their actions were a major cause of more conflict. We will also discuss the issue of appeasement & why the nations in Europe allowed these dictators to "get away" with so much before war broke out in 1939.

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JA 8 B Civics: Mar. 4-8

This week we will continue our investigation of the Bill of Rights & responsibilities of citizenship. We will continue to examine how more Americans have earned their Constitutional rights over the years. Students will also have class time to work on their Bill of Rights projects in class this week. This is truly your first project grade in class, so it is vital to put your best efforts forward!

U.S. History: Mar. 4-8

This week we will begin our investigation of the causes leading up to the Civil War. We will discuss the Missouri Compromise and its effect on the division of slave and free states. We will also discuss the social and economic differences between the northern and southern states. We will look at the role of abolitionists, including John Brown, a leader of significance. We will look at another turning point in the debate by discussing the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and its effect on the relationship between the national government and states rights. Finally, we will investigate the rise of Abraham Lincoln by discussing the famed Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Presidential election of 1860, which caused South Carolina to leave the Union.

Conflicts of the 20th Century: Mar. 4-8

This week we will begin wrapping up our investigation of the Great War & by examining the Versailles Peace Conference. We will focus much of our efforts this week on the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, as they would have a lasting impact, & be a root cause for the rise of dictators & WWII. We will discuss what the Allies demanded from Germany & we will discuss the other peace treaties as well. We will discuss the "Big Four," which included Woodrow Wilson (USA), Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (G. Britain), & Vittorio Orlando (Italy). These 4 men were the essential decision makers at the Paris Peace Conference & they all had different views on how to deal with Germany. We will look at each of their views in detail. Towards the end of the week we will examine how the map of Europe changed after WWI & how this would create resentment & anger for many of the nations involved.