Friday, May 06, 2011




How should those who have participated in genocide or mass murder (such as the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Srebrenica, and the list goes on)be dealt with by society. To what degree should individuals be held accountable? What about those who give orders and those who carry them out? Do experiments such as those conducted by Milgram, Zimbardo and others mitigate responsibility? Why or why not? In order to get full credit on this response, you must cite specific evidence from Ordinary Men, as well as other class sources.

Due Monday 5/16

Evaluate Browning's thesis in light of class discussions and the Goldhagen readings. Does it hold water? Could ordinary people like you or I be turned into killers? Is it LIKELY that in a similar situation we would follow the same path of the men of OPB 101? Do any of Goldhagen's criticism undermine Browning? Discuss, citing examples from all three required readings.

Due Friday 5/13

Monday, May 02, 2011

WWII Rresponse - Choose an option.


Blog Options

#1 - Compare and contrast Triumph des Willens and Why We Fight #1: Prelude to War (1943). Both are linked to the WWII page on my website. You can address cinematic style, messages, psychological appeals or other elements employed by 2 of the most influential producers of the period, Leni Riefenstahl and Frank Capra.

#2 - Watch Inside the Mind of Hitler. What did you find most interesting or disturbing about Dr. Langer's psycho-analysis of Hitler? Be sure to support your views with specific references to the video. What about Langer's conclusions?

Due Friday 5/25 by NOON.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Vote for the MVD!!!!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Ordinary Men


You need to have a copy of Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men by the time we return from break.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Post Versailles


Questions to answer (Select 2):
1. How well did the delegations function as allies? What might this tell us about the real peace process?
2. Were new conflicts created? Why?
3. Were you frustrated? Why? How do you think real participants may have felt?
4. What was most successful about the conference? Least?

Nation specific questions (Answer your nation’s Q):
• US – Why did you abandon your core beliefs in national self-determination when you held a veto over reparations?
• GB – Disarmament was extremely vague, with no specific limitations beyond a number of troops. Why were there no specific provisions addressing issues such as naval vessels, air forces, WMD, heavy weapons, etc.?
• France – What was your strategy to ensure reparations? Without these, you are economically devastated.
• Yugoslavia/Poland/Arab Emirates – Are you satisfied with the outcome and your status at the end of the conference? Why/Why not? What was your biggest “victory”? Worst “defeat”?
• China – What were your key goals and objectives?
• Japan – Do you feel that you were treated in a manner befitting your nation’s status? Why/Why not?
Italy - I almost forgot about you! Now you know how Italy felt at the Conference. Should you be blamed for your previous alliance with Germany?

Due Monday AM

Monday, February 28, 2011

Imperialism Editorials

Refer to the assignment on the Imperialism page on the Home site. Submit your editorial below. You must respond within the 300-500 word limit.

Due Monday 3/7

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

"Out with the Old"






Readings - "Out w/ the Old"
Considering the "Out with the Old" reading, and the list of significant figures on p#28, who do you feel contributed the most significant thoughts as we approach a new century?

Non-credit question: Whose facial hair rules????

Due 3/4

What do you feel is the most significant legacy of the Napoleonic Era?

Due 3/2

Friday, January 21, 2011

Period 8 Reflection

Please complete the reflection by clicking the link below, copying the document and sharing your response. This is due by Wednesday am.

Thanks.
Period 8 Reflection

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

The Madness of King George

King George III: Mad or misunderstood?

The Madness of King George: the only insanity is Nigel Hawthorne losing out on the Oscar to Forrest Gump

The Madness of King George and the Evolution of British Politics.

Essential Questions:
• What is the relationship between the Crown and parliament in 1780’s Great Britain?
• What is the role of the King in British society at this time?
• What actions did Parliament take to increase it’s power and weaken that of the monarchy?
• How were mental health issues perceived and treated at the time? Had healthcare advanced much since the Middle Ages?
To the French Revolution:
• How does Britain as depicted in MKG compare to France in the 1780’s?
• How does the role of the Monarchy in England compare to that of the French King?
• Why do you think revolution takes place in France and not in Great Britain?

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Bloody Revolutions


"What country before ever existed a century & a half without a rebellion? & what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it's natural manure." Thomas Jefferson. Letter to William Smith.

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

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.
Mahatma Gandhi, 'Satyagraha Leaflet No. 13,' May 3, 1919

Is radical and violent revolution justifiable?

Due Monday 12/6

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pick Your Poison



Any way you look at it, military service for the rank and file soldier was a nasty business in the 18th century, where the lifestyle was as likely to kill you as the cannonballs, bullets and bayonets. Having completing your reading, and drawing specific examples from those readings or other sources, would you rather serve in the British Army on land or the navy at sea?

I will check responses when we return Monday morning from break.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

McCullough Article

There Isn't Any Such Thing as the Past

James Burke - Connections


Is Burke on to something or just, in the words of Tom Esty, "suffering from History ADD." Both? Take a look at the James Burke Institute's Knowledge Web. What does he share in common with David McCullough (Periods 7/8)? (Make the Connections, ha...ha).

One Word Part 1
One Word Part 2
One Word Part 3


Due Friday 10/29

Monday, October 04, 2010

Columbus Day and "Culture Wars"




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

Responses due by Friday 10/15