WWI Readings-Reflective Responses

Respond to the following prompts:

• What ideas or themes presented in your chosen reading were new to you?
• Did the article lead you to look at teh bigger picture of history any differently? Why/Why not?
• Can any of the lessons/events of the WWI period be applied in a contemporary setting?

(PHOTO: Francis Derwent Wood @ http://www.projectfacade.com/index.php)

Imperialism Response

Post your Imperialism editorials? See my webpage for instructions.

Question to Consider: America is often accused of acting as an Imperial power, by detractors both outside and within. Do you agree or disagree?

Baradat Readings

We will be playing catch-up due to my absence. Thus, to keep you thinking, I want you each to write a critical review of Baradat's Political Ideologies. Please support your opinion with well reasoned analysis and evidence!

"A picture says a thousand words."

Select any of the images we viewed last Friday. What were your initial impressions? Why have you selected this image? How might studying the work yield a greater understanding of the historical period and vice-versa? If you did not attend the trip, visit one of the sites below and examine a work online to complete the assignment.

http://artgallery.yale.edu/
http://ycba.yale.edu/education/edu_fellowships.html

The Industrail Revolution Primary Documents Exercise

Respond to the following:

1. What can this type of exercise teach about about history? The study of history?
2. Have you looked at history differently differently through this exercise?
3. What questions were left unanswered?
4. Any additional thoughts?

The Romantic Revolution

What elements of the French Revolution enthralled Romantics? What means are justified in order to create a "better" society?

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." Thomas Jefferson

"One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes a revolution in order to establish a dictatorship." George Orwell

"When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the "freedom of the press" goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism." Vladimir Lenin

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." John F. Kennedy

"A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets." Napoleon Bonaparte

"Any people anywhere being inclined and having the power have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and force a new one that suits them better." Abraham Lincoln

Responses due Wednesday 12/6

How should we view Christopher Columbus?

How should we as a society view Columbus? Should he be celebrated? Vilified? Something else? Why?

Responses due by Friday

Trial of Henry VIII

Please respond to the following, making sure that you keep in mind the criteria for the blog responses (see your rubric):

• What key elements was each side successful in arguing?
• What did your side do well?
• What were your weaknesses?
• How did/did this exercise contribute to your understanding of the impact of the Reformation?

Is there a modern day DaVinci?

Is there a modern day DaVinci? Can you think of anyone in our time who may be looked upon in the same light centuries down the road? If so, who and why? If not, why not?

Welcome Back to School - AP Euro '06-'07

Using APEuroblog:
To use the Euroblog, you will need to click on "Get Your Own Blog" at the top of the page. Create an account with a username and password. This will allow you to post responses on my APEuroblog. When you post, you will not see an immediate posting. I must first accept the post before it shows up for all to see. This is simply to keep non-class responses off the site. Do not keep hitting the POST button. I will give a demonstration of all of this on our first day back. Enjoy the last few weeks.

Alternative Blog for those absent 6/6

Read the following which can be found on EBSCO:

Title:
Promises Made, Promises Broken: A Political Economic Perspective on German Unification.
Authors:
Hefeker, CarstenWunner, Norbert

Source:
German Politics; Apr2003, Vol. 12 Issue 1, p109-134, 26p

What is the thesis of the article? Do you agree/disagree? How much blame should be placed on the shoulders of individual East Germans?

Goodbye Lenin

Respond to one of the following:
*1) How would you characterize Alex's mother, Christiane, as a mother and a citizen of the GDR? In what ways are these two roles intertwined for her and her children? Does her affection for and devotion to the GDR make her seem sympathetic or odd (or both)?

*2) Pay special attention to what we might call the title scene, in which Alex's mother watches the removal of the statue of Lenin. Why is this scence important? Why is it so funny? What do the following elements contribute to this scene: Mrs. Kerner's facial expression and body language, camera angle, background noise, music?

*Christensen, Kristen M., Prof. "Discussion questions for Goodbye Lenin." Unpublished notes. University of Notre Dame.

3) Discuss the director's use of literary devices such as sarcasm and irony to address the social, political and economic realities facing East Germans in 1989/90. Is he effective? Use specific examples from the movie to illustrate your points.

Right or Wrong?

Blog #5
After watching Munich, can you draw analogies to the current War on Terror? Is there an answer to this war? How do we win? Can we lose? You may comment on these or any other aspects of or questions on the subject raised by the movie. Keep in mind that we will also be watching the Tony Blair speech at Georgetown University from 5/06.

DUE FRIDAY!!!

Terrorism Response

What is terrorism? Is there such a thing as a 'just cause?' (Blog #4)
Based on your research and our webquest, answer the above questions. You should also reflect on the process of reaching a definition and how such definitions are applied. What other questions arise based on your work or our discussions?

Additional Questions (You need not respond to all of these, but should consider them as we explore this topic?

• How do we respond to terrorist acts?
• To what extent should we act to prevent terrorism?
• Is torture at times acceptable?
• Do we have to rethink the manner in which we view civil liberties to successfully fight terrorism?
• Should terrorist be afforded rights?
• Is collateral damage a necessary byproduct of the war on terror?
• How should we deal with states that sponsor terrorism?
  

Can YOU think of additional questions?

SOME GOOD WORK ON THE RESPONSES

(For those of you who are posting) I have read some very reasoned and insightful responses. Remember, if you read other responses prior to your posting, you are free to agree/disagree with positions taken. Keep up the good work.

Interpretation of the Marshall Plan and the Cold War

What is your analysis of the argument put forth in The Tragedy of American Diplomacy? Rethinking the Marshall Plan? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this thesis? Limit your responses to 2 pages MAX. There is an excellent site, http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/ , that includes video interviews with several key figures in Cold War politics. See in particular Episodes 2, 3 & 4.

Required Blog #3 - DUE WEDENSDAY 4/12!!!! I will NOT accept them after this date.

Week of 3/20 - Road to WWII

As historians, how should we view the Second World War. Are we fair in viewing it as a distinct entity, or should we focus more on the interpretation that it was really a continuation of the Great War? What about the Cold War?

Required Blog #2

The Treaty of Versailles and Beyond

I have decided to use this blog as a forum to exchange ideas on essential questions or broad themes. As a result, I will be posting several topics per week. I will tell you which responses are required, but will give additional credit to those who respond beyond the weekly requirement. I will not give credit for half-baked drivel, and will apply the rubric for reflective responses. Scores of A/B will receive credit. I WILL NOT penalize you for attempting to respond, but I will not give credit for substandard responses. In essence, it cannot hurt you. You have already completed this weeks mandatory response. Other topics that came to mind:

• How did our Treaty compare to the original? Did we make some of the same mistakes? Why weren't we more willing to compromise, as we certainly had no real stake in the outcome?
• I thought it interesting that the "colonial powers" fought defining parameters on the granting of self-determination (no time limits), and that current geo-political debates echo similar refrains.
• How many of you were aware of the link between the conflicts in the Persain Gulf and decisions made at the conclusions of the First and Second World Wars?

Versailles Conference

Reflective Journal Response. The rubric for evaluating your reflective writing is in the public folder. PLEASE NOTE: I cannot access the rubric from home either. Sorry. Also, I have to publish the post, so if it doesn't show up right away, don't worry.

Required Response #1 - Respond to the following prompts: (Due by Tuesday 3/14)

Did the Versailles Conference process enhance your understanding of the political, social and economic issues facing the world in the aftermath of the Great War? What aspects did you find particularly engaging? Was negotiating difficult? (If so, what might this tell us of the circumstances facing nations who were truly invested in the process?) Were problems left unresolved? What questions or issues were left unaddressed? What would you change? What other issues would you like to raise in the post-conference class discussion?

Keep in mind, I am looking for quality responses that satisfy the requirements of the rubric. Length is up to you.