Diane


 * Lecture Notes

Outcome of the Civil War Questionnaire (Holt Textbook)

Civil War Questionnaire (Holt Textbook)**

__What event triggered the war between the Union and the Confederacy?__ The main event that triggered the war between the Union and the Confederacy is when the Confederate army attempted an attack at Fort Sumter. __How did the Union’s strategy differ from that of the Confederacy?__ The Union’s strategy differed from that of the Confederacy because the Union wanted to keep peace, when the Confederacy wished to secede from the Union. __Which side do you believe was best prepared for war? Explain your answer.__ The Union was definitely best prepared for war, because the North had most of the useful resources, as their industry was far more developed than the agricultural south. __How did women take part in the war?__ The women usually indirectly participated in the war, but the most famous woman for playing a role in the war was Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor. She aided injured soldiers as she worked in the Sanitary Commission. __In what ways were the armies of the North and South unprepared for war?__ The North, to begin with, was too far away from the South. The rivers also flowed from east to west. Even for the South, there were shortages of soldiers, clothes, and other essential supplies. The soldiers were willing to volunteer, but they lacked skills. __Why did men volunteer to fight in the war?__ Men volunteered to fight in the war mostly for the adventurous bits; they were mainly excited about the glory and thrill. __List the early battles in the East and the outcome of each battle.__ The early battles in the East include the First Battle of Bull Run, which was a Confederate victory, and the Seven Days’ Battles, also a Confederate victory, and the Second Battle of Bull Run, another huge Confederate victory. __Why do you think the Union lost the First Battle of Bull Run?__ The Union lost the First Battle of Bull Run most likely because for one thing, their soldiers lacked skills. They did not grasp the basics and did not have skills to participate in the war. They also did not have much of an idea of how the land looked like, as they were confused about where they were. __What costly mistake did the Confederacy make before the Battle of Antietam?__ The costly mistake the Confederacy made before the Battle of Antietam is when they had divided their army and failed to save reserves. __What was the outcome of the Battle of Antietam, and what effect did it have on both the North and the South?__ The Battle of Antietam kept the Confederacy from moving toward the north, despite the numerous casualties. __Why do you think General George B. McClellan did not finish off General Robert E. Lee’s troops when he had the chance?__ General George B. McClellan did not finish off General Lee’s troops when he had the chance to, as he believed that the Confederate reserves existed and it was an obligation to save his own men. __What was the Union’s strategy in the war at sea?__ The Union’s strategy in the war at sea was to block the Southern ports and cut them off from foreign trade, successfully reducing the number of ships entering the south. __Why were ironclads more successful than older, wooden ships?__ - Ironclads were more successful than older, wooden ships because the wooden ships had to be powered by wind or oars, while the ironclads were able to run on its engine. The ironclads were harder to sink, and carried powerful weapons.

1. Manifest Destiny
 * Terms**
 * The belief that Americans had the right and obligation to expand west.

2. Annexation of Texas
 * In 1845, this was the voluntary seizure of the Republic of Texas as the 28th state of America. The territory of Texas included present-day Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado.

3. Oregon Trail
 * one of the notable overland migration routes on the North American continent that led to the Missouri River to the Oregon Territory.

4. Oregon Territory
 * the unorganized Oregon Country claimed by the United States, the organized U.S. territory, as well as Britain

6. California Gold Rush
 * this lasted from 1848 through 1855, when gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma of California. As word spread, 300,000 people traveled to California from all places.

6. Mexican American War
 * an armed conflict between American and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 after the Annexation of Texas; Mexico claimed ownership of Texas and refused to recognize the secession.


 * Keyterms & People**


 * Review Questions**

__Identify the major components of the Monroe Doctrine and its purpose.__
 * The major components of the Monroe Doctrine are, first, the declaration of America that the colonization in its nation was officially over, and second, that America will not interfere with European colonies (including south and north America), and will not be involved in its issues.

__How did the Monroe Doctrine influence America’s relationship with other foreign countries?__
 * America was not a powerful country that had the ability to influence other foreign countries; for one thing, it lacked militaries. Thus, it was considered “bold talk” for a powerless nation, but today, it is a significant document that plays as a key root in American foreign policy.

__Identify the circumstances that allowed the United States to gain possession of the Louisiana Territory.__
 * When there was an economy-threatening situation where France’s Napoleon asked Spain to regain Louisiana, Jefferson made a decision to ask Monroe and Livingston to negotiate on purchasing Florida and New Orleans. By then, the slave revolt allowed the French military to humiliatingly suffer. This made Napoleon decide that he needed to pour in more money, and offered a quick bargain to sell Louisiana for 15 million dollars. This enabled the nation to double its size, but the federalists attacked Jefferson that this was unconstitutional, and even Jefferson questioned it himself. However, as the bargain was very beneficial, they decided to overlook the Congress and the rules.


 * Homework: Research Brown versus the Board of Education (use link above) and write a summary of the case (1 full paragraph). Describe what the case was in your own words and the courts ruling. Do you agree with the ruling? Why or why not? 20 points, due Friday at the start of class.**

Linda Brown was a black 3rd grader who got rejected to a school seven blocks away just because of her skin color, and had to go to a school that was a mile away. Her father sued the school system, claiming it was unconstitutional. May 17, 1954, the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark court decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared that the state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students denied black children equal educational opportunities. The unanimous decision also stated “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” Although the district court ruled that the systems were Consequently, this racial segregation was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. I very much agree with the ruling, because the system is, as the Supreme Court had concluded, against the Constitution. After all, are not all men created equal? Do they not have the right to be treated equal? Regardless of the skin color, all citizens of the nation have the right to be treated equally, in this case, education-wise as well. Therefore, I strongly agree with the ruling of the Supreme Court.


 * Supreme Court Decisions**

1. How many Supreme Court justices are there? - There are nine Supreme Court justices.

2. What is a Supreme Court? What does it do? - It settles disputes and issues important to the American people.

3. What was the judiciary act of 1789? What is judicial review? - A law established on 1789 that created the Judiciary Branch of the federal government. Elements included were the number of Supreme Court members, the number of lower district courts, the idea that the Supreme Court.

4. What was the story of Marbury vs Madison? - Marshall, as a federalist, wished to support Adams. He knew that he had to act accordingly to the established laws. However, he soon figured that the idea of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was entirely unconstitutional thus illegal. As a result, Jefferson and Madison appeared happy whereas Marbury, Adams, and Marshall were upset. Marshall finally decided to give the Supreme Court the power to throw laws out of Congress, resolving the problem.


 * Lewis & Clark Questionnaire**

Why did Jefferson want to explore the West?

- Thomas Jefferson wanted to expand the territory, as he envisioned to stretch it across the entire continent. In addition, Jefferson also wanted the nation to be bonded in liberal political, and unified means, rather than geographically. Despite the great size of the nation, he wanted the citizens to learn of brotherhood and thus had interest. Being a Virginian also impacted him as he was craving for more lands for the tobacco fields.

Why was Lewis and ideal leader for the Corps of Discovery?

- It could be said that Lewis was an ideal leader for the Corps of Discovery, as he had outstanding political skills and fulfilled the conditions of a true leader. His had a complex but great character, and integrity enabled him to handle his own uneducated men as well as the Indians; he got along with them like a gentleman. Furthermore, he successfully played the role of Mr. President’s right hand in the White House, a favorite.

What kind of man was William Clark?

- William Clark was always able to find the solution to anything, a man that was fairly different from his partner Lewis; he was easygoing and smart. The force of his personality was strong and impacted many, even disciplining Lewis. Another significant trait of Clark was that he had a good sense of the location of lands. He could easily map places in a precise way. Later, when the long expedition had ended, he could easily adjust and enjoy his new blooming life.

Who was Sacageawea, and how did she aid the expedition?

- Although there are not many details about her as an individual, Sacageawea was a very young Shoshoni Indian. She was married to a French man whom had won her from gambling. She played an important role in aiding the expedition by using her skilled senses of what the landscape said about direction, and talents in looking for food. During the expedition, she found her family as she realized her brother was the cheif of the Shoshoni Indians they met. However, she took a step back, remaining loyal to Lewis and Clark.

What was life for York, Clark’s black slave, during the expedition?

- Life was exhilarating for York; unlike what all of the other slaves were being treated, he was treated as one full member of the expedition. He had his own rifle, he was popular with many people they met during the expedition, and even could vote. Moreover, being a black fascinated many Indians and were given the idea that the darkness of his skin was something that could be washed off.

How did Lewis and Clark deal with the Indians they encountered?

- Lewis and Clark tried to accomplish three things as they met Indians. To let them know that they were now apart of the United States, that they were to be documented, and that they wished to establish friendly trade relations with them. However, they did come across hardships, as their cultures differed. Also, they had certain ways and patterns of introducing themselves and presenting their ideas and purposes.

What kinds of animals did Lewis and Clark discover?

- Lewis and Clark discovered animals that were quite rare to see back in America, and thanks to them, experienced many things related to them. They were astonished to observe the numerous amount of praire dogs, and were also fascinated to spot coyotes and herds of buffalo roaming. In addition, they were very much irritated by mosquitoes, and even grizzly bears. In fact, they were always chased by bears. Through the expedition, they had discovered 200 new species of plants, and 100 new species of animals, all unknown to America.

What are some of the lesser known stories of the expedition?

- Whiskey was a significant treat for them on the expedition, preventing desertion. Lewis’ dog, Seaman was another great member of the expedition. It was clear that Seaman was adored, because he was taken to every place with them, suffering times together, and was never eaten despite the fact that it could feed the whole crew. Furthermore, Lewis and Clark began to name many of their interesting discoveries, usually naming them from their characteristics/

What is the larger historical significance of the expedition?

- The Indians started becoming more dependent on the settlers, because of the expedition. It’s also a tale of adventure like the Odyssey, like a great big American road trip. It also teaches us about the value of teamwork, as the expedition could not have gotten that far without cooperation between the members.


 * Section 1: Washington Leads a New Nation**

1a) What role did the electoral college play in George Washington’s election to the presidency? - Electoral college today is very sophisticated at times, but George Washington was elected unanimously. Thus it is hard to say if it played a big or a small role, but I would say it played a fairly great role because it helped define what most citizens believed about the first president.

1b) What were some of Martha Washington’s duties as First Lady? - As the First Lady, Martha Washington entertained guests and attended social events, along with her husband.

2a) What precedent did President Washington and Congress establish regarding the executive branch? - President Washington and Congress established departments in the executive branch for different areas in the national policy. The President elected a department head that would advise the President in their respective area of national policy.

2b) What was the purpose of the Judiciary Act of 1789? - The Judiciary Act of 1789 was established to set up the federal court system and courts’ location.

2c) What do you think was the most important element of the Judiciary Act of 1789? Why? - The nomination of the candidates is the most element of the Judiciary Act of 1789. It is important because the candidates must be willing to benefit the new nation, support and act as one, and be able to manage a stabilized nation. That is the reason why the Senate must also approve of the candidates.

3a) What city served as the first capital of the United States? Why? - New York City served as the first capital of the United States, because the city was already beginning to recover from the damages of the Revolution, and getting rid of many signs of British rule. It also represented the spirit of the new nation.

3b) What expectations did most Americans have for the new nation? - The expectations of most Americans were high; they wanted improved trade systems, wanted to be free from too many restrictions, and expected the government to protect them and keep the economy stable.

3c) Do you think New York City should still be capital city of the United States? Explain your answer. - Yes, I believe New York City should still be capital city of the United States, because New York City not only exerts a powerful impact over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment, but is also an important, global location for international affairs; housing the United Nations headquarters. It could also be said that New York symbolizes America.

4. Review your notes on George Washington. Then fill in the interactive graphic organizer to compare how Washington and Congress organized the new government. - Washington’s decisions: elected the department heads, and met with them for advice. Acts of Congress: passed the Judiciary Act of 1789, created departments in the executive branch for different areas of the national policy. First Government: had three levels of federal courts and defined their powers and relationship to the state courts.


 * Section 2: Hamilton and National Finances**

1a) What economic problems did the new government face? - The main economic problems the new government was facing were carrying the burden of paying the war debts, settling and agreeing on ideas and systems to do so, deciding what type of government it should have the power, and deciding the path of the economical growth of the nation.

1b) What compromise did Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison reach regarding repayment of state debts? - The South did not want to help the federal government help pay state debts, because the Southern states had very little war debts. Hamilton knew that the Southern officials, however, did not favor having New York as the national capital. Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison successfully compromised, and as the national capital moved to Philadelphia, the Southern officials agreed to support the federal government.

2a) What disagreement did Jefferson and Hamilton have over the central government? - Hamilton believed that a strong central government was essential, whereas Jefferson believed that the people had the right to rule the country.

2b) Hamilton was a New Yorker, while Jefferson was from Virginia. How do you think that affected their view on the economy? - Hamilton, as a New Yorker, would support and present ideas that are more centered towards developing the industry, and Jefferson, a Virginian, would favor ideas for average citizens and farmers.

2c) Do you agree with Hamilton or Jefferson regarding the average citizen’s ability to make decisions for the country? Explain your answer. - Hamilton thought that the average citizen had no interest in public affairs, and Jefferson believed that each citizen could work to better society. I agree with Jefferson, because it is not entirely true that citizens took no interest in public affairs; people probably wanted to know what is going on in the new nation they live in. If they did not participate, how would they work together in unity?

3a) Why did Jefferson oppose the creation of the Bank of the United States? - Jefferson opposed to the creation of the Bank of the United States, as he favored strict construction; he thought that the federal government should do only what the Constitution specifically says it can do.

3b) What is the difference between loose construction and strict construction? - Loose construction means that the federal government can take reasonable actions that the Constitution does not specifically forbid, and strict construction is a different way of interpreting the Constitution; allowing the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take.

3c) Defend Alexander Hamilton’s stance in favor of the creation of a national bank. - The creation of a national bank would not only safely deposit the government’s money, but also make loans to the government and businesses.

4. Review your notes on U.S economic problems and Hamilton’s solutions. Then fill in the interactive graphic organizer to show how Hamilton’s view on the economy differed from those of Thomas Jefferson.
 * =  ||= Hamilton ||= Jefferson ||
 * = Bonds ||= The bonds should be paid in full value. ||= The bonds should not be paid in its full value because it would benefit speculators. ||
 * = Economy ||= Planned to promote manufacturing and business. ||= Believed that the farmers were the most independent voters. ||
 * = Tariffs ||= Favored higher tariffs so that the American industry would be protected against foreign competition. ||= Favored lower tariffs so that it could help the farmers. ||
 * = National Bank ||= Thought that the creation of a national bank would be helpful for the government for storing money and loaning. ||= Thought that this gave too much power to the Federal government. ||

Besides searching for riches, a shorter route to Asia, and converting Natives, what similarities and differences did the explorers have? Name two similarities and two differences. The explorers had a variety of similarities, such as searching for riches or a shorter route to Asia, and converting the Natives to Christianity. However, what else did they have in common? Sebastian Cabot, John Cabot, Giovanni Da Verrazano, Henry Hudson, Pedro Alvares Cabral, Sebastian Cermenho, Samuel De Champlain. What did these explorers have in common? These explorers were all navigators. Since the ability of navigating played a fundamental role in becoming an explorer, many well-known explorers were navigators. It helped them keep track of where they were, and allowed the explorers to be more accurate. Another similarity is that the explorers were mainly from Europe. All the thirteen explorers we have been studying about were from Europe, especially from Italy, Spain, England, France, and occasionally, Portugal. Most of these explorers traveled during the 15th to the 16th century, which tells us that the number of the expeditions was growing rapidly because a cultural movement, the Renaissance was occurring. During the Renaissance period, many Europeans started sailing across the ocean to explore. This fact is connected to why most of the explorers were Europeans, and why they were sailing at a similar time. The explorers had a lot of similarities, but they also had a lot of differences. First, the places they each traveled were very different. For instance, Hudson traveled to Canada, while Magellan sailed around the world. Cortez explored Mexico, Pizarro sailed through much of the Pacific coast of America along Peru, and Coronado explored North America’s southwest region. Thus, the explorers may have had similar purposes for their expeditions, but they explored to places that were different from the others. Furthermore, the explorers’ relationships with the natives were contrastive. Some explorers treated the natives brutally, whereas some maintained a friendly relationship, and some unfortunately got killed by them. Francisco Vasquez De Coronado, Hernando Cortez, Vasco De Balboa, and Francisco Pizarro were conquistadors. Cortez destroyed the Aztec Empire and Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire. The others violently killed the natives. Sir Francis Drake was friendly to the natives, and did not try to convert them into Christianity. Giovanni Da Verrazano and Juan Ponce De Leon were unlucky and got attacked by the natives. The natives ate Giovanni Da Verrazano, and Juan Ponce De Leon was wounded with a poison arrow when they attacked him. Therefore, the explorers had similarities of being navigators and being from Europe, but also had a number of differences, such as their explored places and their attitudes towards the natives. Facing every setback and facing lots of hardships, every explorer loyally worked hard to find riches for their country. Their discoveries have contributed to many researches and today and in the past. Thanks to those explorers, everyone finally knows what the world really looks like, and I believe every single one of them deserves to be respected.

_

February 9th, 2009


 * Key Terms & People**:

- Constitution: the basic principles that a democratic country is governed by. - Virginia Plan: A proposal for a strong national government with three branches. - New Jersey Plan: A proposal for a more decentralized plan amending the old Articles yet allowing for a somewhat stronger government. - Compromise: a settlement of a dispute. - Great Compromise: the Great Compromise combined the two plans, Virginia and New Jersey. - Three-Fifths Compromise: an agreement that stated that slaves would count only 3/5ths of a person in determining representation. - Electoral College: a set of people who are selected from each state to elect a candidate as president. Citations: Kelly, Martin. "What is the Great Compromise?." __About.com__. 9 Feb 2009 < http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/f/greatcompromise.htm>.


 * Main Idea Questions**

1. Should the government's power come from the states or the people? - The government’s power should come from the people; the people are, in the end, the ones that form a country. They know what’s best for them and thus their voices are the basic and yet the most crucial aspect in leading a free and just country.

2. Should slaves be counted as people or property for determining representation in Congress? - Thomas Jefferson once said, “Every man is created equal.” Slaves are people, not animals nor property. They have every right to be given voices. They are, after all, citizens that make up the country as well. Listening to everyone, even slaves, contributes to the maintenance of a stable country.

3. Should the slave trade be outlawed or allowed to continue? - Slave trade must be outlawed. Keeping human beings to work 24/7 is abuse. The Founding Fathers themselves claimed that every man has the right to pursue happiness. Aren’t slaves men? How do they differ from men? Their skin color? Determining whether someone should be able to pursue happiness or not should not depend on race or appearance in a liberal country that claims justice for all.

4. Should a single person be allowed to head (lead) the executive branch? - Yes, a single person should be allowed to lead the executive branch. The president should be the leader of the executive branch to represent the country to foreign policies. It is also safe because the remaining two branches ensure the president is not overpowered thus preventing dictatorship.

5. Should the chief executive (president) be elected by the Congress or by the people? - The people should elect the chief executive; everyone has different opinions about which leader should be the best for the country. The Congress does not represent the needs of the people and thus it raises the risks of conflicts. The majority of the people, people that form one nation, should have their ways to decide which leader should lead.