1/30 - 1/31 Class Update

Yesterday, we read the textbook to find out about different plans for Reconstruction. We looked at plans by Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and the radical Republicans. We also filled out a map about radical Reconstruction in the South from 1865-1870. President Lincoln had hoped to restore southern state governments to "successful operation" by December 1865. This didn't happen for more than a decade due to the Radical Republican rule, which put the South under military rule and divided the South into five districts, each of which were governed by a Northern general.

Today, we read Andrew Johnson's obituary from The New York Times, which was mostly a sketch of his career (it was very long). We also talked about the impeachment process.

1/28 - 1/29 Class Update

Yesterday, we went to the computer lab to learn about the early white Southerner's response to reconstruction. We went to a website and filled out a worksheet with questions asking about an assigned state about things such as the population growth and the cash value of farms. We also looked at a political cartoon about the Black Codes, as well as filling out a worksheet about the Black Codes in the Post-Civil War South.

 Today, we learned about the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. We filled out a worksheet about the 14th Amendment to determine what it actually did. We then created a magazine cover about the 14th Amendment.

1/24 - 1/25 Class Update

Yesterday, we talked about Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (March 4, 1865). We also talked about the difference between restoration and reconstruction after the Civil War. The point of restoration was to abolish slavery and the point of reconstruction was to gain social and political equality for African Americans, as well as to punish the South.

Today, we talked about Abraham Lincoln's assassination. It's weird to think that it took the United States almost two weeks after Lincoln's assassination for them to successfully find and kill John Wilkes Booth. It would never take that long to find someone responsible with today's technology and security measures, if it was even possible for them to get that close to the President.

Winnie the Pooh!!! (and first day of 3rd quarter!)

In honor of Winnie the Pooh Day (January 19th!), we're reading a Winnie the Pooh character breakdown and deciding which character we're most like. After that, we'll be taking a quiz to determine which character we really are.

I'm pretty sure my dad would say that I'm like Owl, but I would say I'm more like Rabbit. The quiz tells me...

Which Winnie the Pooh Character Are You?

You are Rabbit. You are clever, intelligent, and level-headed. You have close, loyal friendships, but you have a bit of a short temper when the people around you act foolishly.

I remember when I watched Winnie the Pooh, I always got really annoyed by Rabbit. Supposedly, your own faults are the ones you're quickest to judge in others, so it makes sense that I got annoyed by him.

12/20 - 12/21 Class Update

Yesterday, we read about either Gettysburg or Vicksburg, filled out a worksheet about the battle, and created a "billboard" about it. My group had Vicksburg and our billboard was pretty epic. We tried to find the date for the Vicksburg Campaign, but Google told me that it was December 20th, 2012 so we abandoned that idea. We drew the Mississippi River and a battle scene on ours, which clearly made it better than the other groups.

Today, the class went to the winter concert assembly since we had history last period.

1/14 - 1/15 Class Update

For both yesterday and today, our class time has been spent studying for our midterm. I'm not looking forward to the rest of the week...

1/9 - 1/10 Class Update

Yesterday, we had our Civil War unit test.

Today, we got our midterm review sheets and studied and/or harassed Mr. Boyle for the whole class.

Beau really wants me to play with him so I guess I'm done with blogging for today.

1/7 - 1/8 Class Update

Yesterday, we took Powerpoint notes on "The Tightening Anaconda," which is about the Anaconda Plan. We also watched a video on this and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Today, we took Powerpoint notes on Appomattox and the end of the Civil War. We also asked Mr. Boyle questions about our test tomorrow.

1/3 - 1/4 Class Update

Yesterday, we talked about the Emancipation Proclamation., which freed slaves in states in rebellion against the United States. It didn't free slaves in border states or other areas under the Union military control. We read a blog post from someone who thinks that the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't effective enough and believes it to be "uninspiring." We also read through the Gettysburg Address and answered questions on it.

Today, we looked at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, which is located by the State House in Boston. We also took PowerPoint notes about African-Americans joining the Civil War as soldiers. They were granted permission to serve in the military in the Emancipation Proclamation. One of the first all African-American units to be formed was the 54th Massachusetts Regiment under the leadership of Robert Gould Shaw.