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| | The Star Spangled Banner | | | | | Friday, March 6, 2009 10:41 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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On March 3rd, 1931, Herbert Hoover declared the Star Spangled Banner to be the nation's national anthem. The nation was in the midst of a depression that would linger for nearly a decade.
Questions:
1. What do you think of the "Star Spangled Banner"? If you don't like the song, suggest an alternative.
2. Do you think we need a National Athem? What is the purpose of it?
2. In a time of economic hardship, how do we promote patriotism?
3. Do you think Americans are proud of our country? Why or why not?
Here are some great stories about the Star Spangled Banner from NPR:
This story is about an African American woman who sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" instead of the "Star Spangled Banner" at a civic event and was criticized.
This story is about a Spanish-language version of the song which is causing controversy:
This story is a commentary by Frank Deford, who argues that the SSB shouldn't be sung at every sporting event...it is losing meaning.
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| The NAACP in historical perspective |
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| Tuesday, February 24, 2009 4:42 PM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| This month marks the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. As we have studied, the organization was created by leaders such as W.E.B. DuBois and Jane Addams following the Springfield Race Riots. I'd li |
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| Darwin and Lincoln |
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| Monday, February 9, 2009 4:36 PM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| It seems incredible that Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, two of the most influential people of the 19th century were born on the same day: February 12th, 1809. Two hundered years later, their contributions to our society are still felt. Last w |
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| Heroism in Historical Perspective |
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| Monday, February 2, 2009 10:08 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Over the last few weeks, many of the Social Studies classes have taken time to examine the role of heroism and heroic acts in history. In our class, we are specifically examining the experiences of farmers in late 19th century America, and you have |
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| Inauguration Day: Reactions and Responses |
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| Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:47 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Inauguration Day has come and gone, and it was a day like no other. An estimated 1.8 million people crowded the mall and the parade route. The mood was upbeat and celebratory, there were no arrests, but the crowd left behind 100 tons of trash. It |
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| Inaugural Address |
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| Wednesday, January 14, 2009 6:56 PM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| The big event is just days away! President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural speech will be one of the most significant speeches of his life. He has the weight of the history of inaugural addresses, plus all of the modern expectations. For this |
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| Civil Liberties in a time of war |
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| Monday, January 5, 2009 3:16 PM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Throughout American history, there have been numerous times when, in a time of war, the President and Congress have passed legislation that intrudes on what many view as civil liberties. We've learned about the Alien and Sedition Acts, and now we ar |
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| Two assignments week of December 8th |
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| Wednesday, December 10, 2008 11:26 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| For Thursday, December 11th, please visit this on-line exhibit about the Lincoln-Douglas debates: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/online/lincolndouglas/index.html By Sunday night, December 14th, please go to pbwiki.com and complete your wiki |
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| Veteran's Day |
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| Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:23 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Each year, November 11th is designated as Veteran's Day. Do you know why? For starters, read this article on the history of Veteran's Day: [ http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp ]http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp Aft |
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| Election 2008 |
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| Tuesday, November 4, 2008 9:51 AM -0500 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| This is it! After nearly two years, the 2008 Presidential Election is here! This week's blog will focus on the election results, so you won't be able to contribute your post until Tuesday night at the earliest. Begin by reading this brief article |
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| Wiki Entries |
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| Monday, October 27, 2008 9:11 AM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| This week, we do not have a blog. Instead, you need to make two entries to the class wiki. First, find your assigned topic on the review sheet and write a complete definition, including the significance. Second, you need to create a multiple choice |
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| Political Campaigns, Part Two |
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| Monday, October 20, 2008 1:33 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| OK, students.  We've had a chance to talk generally about the power and impact of negative campaigning.  This week I would like to look more closely at some of the most famous television commercials from the last 40 or so years of political c |
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| Negative Campaigning: A Force for Good or Evil? |
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| Sunday, October 12, 2008 4:23 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Throughout American Political History, many presidential campaigns have been characterized by the use of so-called "attack ads."  While we often like to think of this phenomenon as relatively modern, as far back as the election of 1800, |
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| Role of the Vice President |
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| Sunday, October 5, 2008 8:12 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| OK, folks:  new week, new blog topic. This week I'd like you to consider the role of the Vice President in American history.  Did you know that initially, the Presidential candidate who came in second in the electoral college |
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| Politicall Debates, 1858 and 2008 |
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| Sunday, September 28, 2008 4:53 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas met for a series of eight debates for a Senate seat. The famous "Lincoln-Douglas Debates" highlighted some of the significant tensions that divided the nation over the issues of slavery, a |
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| Great Depression 2008 |
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| Monday, September 22, 2008 12:43 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| Last week was an extraordinary tumultuous week in the financial markets. Investment firms tumbled, the Feds orchestrated bail-outs, and many economists wrung their hands and proclaimed that we are in the midst of the "worst financial crisis sin |
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| Galveston, Texas |
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| Monday, September 15, 2008 3:32 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| In 1900, Galveston, Texas was hit by a massive hurricane which killed over 6,000 people and destroyed 2/3rds of the homes on the island. In the following years, city officials built a massive seawall and literally raised the height of the town by se |
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| Columbus Discussion |
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| Tuesday, September 9, 2008 4:09 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| We didn't get a chance to finish our discussion about Columbus today in class. Here's a place to weigh in, if you'd like. How should we, as modern students of history, view Christopher Columbus and his voyages to the "New World?" Should |
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| Columbus Discussion |
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| Tuesday, September 9, 2008 4:09 PM -0400 | By: Sara Romeyn |
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| We didn't get a chance to finish our discussion about Columbus today in class. Here's a place to weigh in, if you'd like. How should we, as modern students of history, view Christopher Columbus and his voyages to the "New World?" Should |
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