Muckrackers Uncover Unsanitary Meat Practices!

Upton Sinclair wrote this book for a couple of reasons. First 
and foremost, he tries to awaken the reader to the terrible 
living conditions of immigrants in the cities around the turn of 
the century. Chicago has the most potent examples of these 
conditions. Secondly, he attempts to show the advantages of 
socialism in helping to remedy the problems of a society such as 
the one that exists in Chicago at this time. Sinclair accomplishes his objectives with an extremely 
powerful story. 
What are the lasting effects of Upton Sinclairs Novel the Jungle? 

Uncovering social wrongs

How the other half lives: Jacob Riis

Is it American to let people starve?

How to mend a broken nation?

"The Rail Splitter Repairing the Union" — a political cartoon of Andrew Johnson and Abraham Lincoln from 1865, during the Reconstruction era of the United States (1863–1877). Cartoon print shows Vice President Andrew Johnson sitting atop a globe, attempting to stitch together the map of the United States with needle and thread. Abraham Lincoln stands, right, using a split rail to position the globe. Johnson warns, "Take it quietly Uncle Abe and I will draw it closer than ever." While Lincoln commends him, "A few more stitches Andy and the good old Union will be mended." (wikipedia)


In what ways was reconstruction a success? A failure? Explain and use evidence from your studies in class. 

Constitution is not DEAD! It lives on!

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4697

 How would you change the Constitution? Here are some changes made in the past 200 years, and some changes for the future.

You may have heard the U.S. Constitution called "a living document." Though it may seem like a dry piece of paper to you, it really is designed to live and grow as the nation grows.

Even the Founding Fathers knew it might have to change with the times. Article Five of the Constitution spells it out: "The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses [the House and the Senate] shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution . . ." States were also given a chance to propose changes, or amendments. Three-fourths of the states have to approve the amendment for it to become law.

In the past 200 years, the Constitution has been amended 27 times. The 13th Amendment, in 1865, forever banned the practice of slavery. The 15th Amendment, in 1870, gave all citizens the right to vote, regardless of their race.

Americans have added laws only to take them back. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed. It banned the making and selling of alcohol. But it was impossible to get all people to stop drinking. Many people felt the government had no right to make laws about their private habits. So in 1933, the 21st Amendment was adopted. It repealed, or canceled, the 18th Amendment.

The nation may need amendments in the future. For example, advances in technology may change the way we communicate. Someday, we may be able to vote from our own homes, hooked into central computers through our TV sets. And what if we are able to live in space? We may need new laws to govern space life.

What kind of laws do you think we will need in the future?

Reaction to the Articles of Confederation!

During his life, he never allowed a portrait of himself to be made, so his true appearance remains unknown.

Daniel Shays was a farmer turned revolutionary. Describe the issues that inspired him to speak out against the Articles of Confederation. How could the authorities have handle his concerns? Why would people outside of his state of Massahuchetts be frightened by his story of rebellion?

Story of Rebellion: Ebeneezer MacIntosh and the Sons of Liberty

Sons of Liberty

The first widely known acts of the Sons took place on August 14, 1765, when an effigy of Andrew Oliver (who was to be commissioned Distributor of Stamps for Massachusetts) was found hanging in a tree on Newbury street, along with a large boot with a devil climbing out of it. 

The boot was a play on the name of the Earl of Bute and the whole display was intended to establish an evil connection between Oliver and the Stamp Act. The sheriffs were told to remove the display but protested in fear of their lives, for a large crowd had formed at the scene. 

Before the evening a mob burned Oliver's property on Kilby street, then moved on to his house. There they beheaded the effigy and stoned the house as its occupants looked out in horror. They then moved to nearby Fort Hill were they built a large fire and burned what was left of the effigy... 

On that evening it became very clear who ruled Boston. The British Militia, the Sheriffs and Justices, kept a low profile. No one dared respond to such violent force.

By the end of that year the Sons of Liberty existed in every colony. Their most popular objective was to force Stamp Distributors throughout the colonies to resign. However, there were opportunists everywhere, too, who would use the name Sons of Liberty to carry out acts of revenge and other violence not related to the cause.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sons.htm    

 How does a minority influence a majority to achieve political change?

 Were the Sons of Liberty justified in their revolutionary activities?

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Colonial Differences

40% of the population were slaves

How did the different social and economic characteristics of the northern and southern colonies later play a crucial, and tragic, role in American history?