Alright, we are back!

Sorry for the hiatus of the APUSH blog. I was being a blogging slob but it is back and in full affect! Hope you are all enjoying the current unit and you aren't getting too depressed. It is a time period that will try the nation but also bring families and communities closer together. As we end this unit, I would like you to look at one more important cultural "leader" from the time period, Woody Guthrie. Do some "googling" and figure out what this man was all about. What was his profession? Political beliefs? Topics he wrote about? If he were the final Jeopardy question, what would you need to know about him to win? Once you have done your research, post your interesting stories, random trivia, and other tidbits found about this man under the comment section. Let's see what you can dig up! Bragging rights, APUSH glory, and Student of the Week are at stake.
Good luck!
~Ms. Major
P.S. Here is a song of his to get you going. Read to find out what happened to his gal. Poor guy!

Dust Bowl Blues by Woody Guthrie
I just blowed in, and I got them dust bowl blues,
I just blowed in, and I got them dust bowl blues,
I just blowed in, and I'll blow back out again.
I guess you've heard about ev'ry kind of blues,
I guess you've heard about ev'ry kind of blues,
But when the dust gets high, you can't even see the sky.

I've seen the dust so black that I couldn't see a thing,
I've seen the dust so black that I couldn't see a thing,
And the wind so cold, boy, it nearly cut your water off.

I seen the wind so high that it blowed my fences down,
I've seen the wind so high that it blowed my fences down,
Buried my tractor six feet underground.

Well, it turned my farm into a pile of sand,
Yes, it turned my farm into a pile of sand,
I had to hit that road with a bottle in my hand.

I spent ten years down in that old dust bowl,
I spent ten years down in that old dust bowl,
When you get that dust pneumony, boy, it's time to go.

I had a gal, and she was young and sweet,
I had a gal, and she was young and sweet,
But a dust storm buried her sixteen hundred feet.

She was a good gal, long, tall and stout,
Yes, she was a good gal, long, tall and stout,
I had to get a steam shovel just to dig my darlin' out.

These dusty blues are the dustiest ones I know,
These dusty blues are the dustiest ones I know,
Buried head over heels in the black old dust, I had to pack up and go.
An' I just blowed in, an' I'll soon blow out again.

Would you rather?

Hello APUSHers!
Hope you enjoyed the snow day and you spent the day frolicking in the snow and building snowman assembly lines. Now that would be quite the sight.
Now, I know all of you have probably played this game before but I would like you to reflect on the following, "Would you rather..." question.

Would you rather spend your WHOLE LIFE in a job that you loved with good co-workers, a decent boss, and comfortable working conditions but live in a shack OR live in a beautiful mansion with all the amenities you could possibly imagine but have a job that you hated doing, a boss that constantly screamed at you, and co-workers who made you absolutely batty?

Discuss.
~Ms. Major

Statue of Liberty

Major Point Bonus Questions:
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886 to the United States as a present from another country. In 1902 the following quote was added:

Statue Of Liberty inscription, "Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

Questions:
Who gave the U.S. the Statue of Liberty and why?
Who was the sculptor and what was is the true name of the monument?
Where else can this quote be found?

Bring your answers to class on Thursday!

Ancestors

Since America is relatively new in the grand scheme of history, most Americans think of themselves as American but also of some other heritage to which they know they have connections. Most families are able to explain where they "came from". I was thinking it would be interesting to see what awesome culture differences we have in our very own APUSH class. So, if you feel comfortable, please comment on your background.

Free Response Question

Hello APUSHers!
Alright, here is the much anticipated essay question. Again, you can either type or hand write the essay but make sure it is all your own, original work. The essay is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, November 20th. Also due in class on that day are your notecards for the key terms and people as well as the Ghost Dance extra credit assignment.
Remember with the Free Response Question you still want an introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs as well as a thesis.
Good luck!
~Ms. Major

Free Response Question (essay)

How were lives of the Plains Indians in the second half of the nineteenth century affected by technological developments and government actions?

Tatanka

Forgot to give you some buffalo or tatanka statistics. So here they are:
-It is estimated that in 1870 there were over 30 million buffalo roaming freely on the Plains.
-By 1900 there were fewer than 1,000. Talk about destruction of a culture and a people!!!
-William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) killed 4,280 buffalo. The buffalo he killed were sold to feed the construction crews of the Union Pacific railroad.

Have a happy Friday and I will be sending the essay your way tomorrow!
~Ms.Major

Mission Accomplished!

Awesome job today with our westward expansion activity. You all worked very well as a team and you had some great ideas on how to make it to "the other side". Great team work and creative thinking.
Sorry the sign in for the website was confusing but I did figure it out. I sent you all an e-mail so hopefully you can try to sign in before next class.
Good luck on your PSATs. I know you will all do great. See you back in APUSH on Thursday as we dive right into the meat of westward expansion.