Hello everyone and welcome to Mr. Mazur's United State History I blog!  Throughout the year, homework assignments and discussion will be posted on this blog.  In some instances, you may be required to comment on some of the posts.

It is important to remember that this blog will be heavily monitored.  Therefore, all inappropriate comments will be dealt with in the school.

I have included a list of required materials for the 2012-2013 school year.  Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns that you may have.  I look forward to a great upcoming school year!  Have a great rest of the summer!

~Mr. Mazur

Required School Supplies for the 2012-2013 School Year:
1.)  Pen and Pencil
2.)  Highlighter
3.)  3-ring binder with lined paper
4.)  Flash drive (for school projects)

Trail of Tears

Good afternoon everyone! Today we discussed America's previous policies towards the Native Americans in the beginning of the 19th century. We also discussed the reasons behind forced migration of the Native Americans from the perspectives of Andrew Jackson and from the Cherokee Nation.

For homework, you are to research more about the Trail of Tears in order to create a monologue from the perspective of a Native American participating in the journey or from a sympathetic American soldier. The monologue must be at least 2 minutes long and should be dramatic. It should also be historically accurate and include information learned in class or during your research.

For an extra challenge, prepare to perform the monologue. As theatre majors in the school, try to perform the monologue for the class.

Remember that your test is this upcoming Tuesday. I have handed out the study guide that will be due on Tuesday. Please study and feel free to contact me with any questions that you have.

Have a great afternoon!

~Mr. Mazur

Andrew Jackson

Hello everyone! Today we discussed Andrew Jackson and I explained that by next class, we will be debating whether Jackson was really a "man of the people" or if he greedily exanded the presidential powers for his own means.

In class, we also discussed two of the big issues during Jackson's presidency: the Nullification Crisis and the Bank Wars. We debated the theory of nullification and the effectiveness of the Second Bank of the United States.

For homework, you have two options. Your options are:

1.) Research a Congressional policy that has been a states' rights issue. Explain the policy and argue whether a specific state has the constitutional right to nullify the law.

2.) Imagine that Jackson was living in the present day and he was running for President against a current candidate. Write a speech about the various views that Jackson would have today and what he would say about the views of the other candidate. You must research various issues and a present presidential candidate.

Please email me if you have any questions. Have a great Presidential weekend!

~Mr. Mazur

Elections of 1824 and 1828

Hello everyone! Yesterday we discussed the elections of 1824 and 1828. We analyzed campaign documents for each of the candidates and assessed the use of mudslinging and public images in determining the campaigns. We also analyzed the changes in suffrage rights within the 1820s.

As discussed in class, you have a variety of different options for homework. The homework assignments you can choose from are:

1.) Read the article on Andrew Jackson's inauguration and write a few paragraphs on whether his inauguration showed him to be a "man of the people." Do you believe that this inauguration was evidence of his policies later?

2.) Research the Election of 1824 to develop your opinion on whether there was really a "corrupt bargain" between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. You must use actual evidence such as testimony and letters from people living at the time. Write a few paragraphs on the validity of Jackson's accusations.

3.) Research the current presidential candidates for the moment (Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, etc.). Create a campaign document for a specific candidate by promoting a certain image of your candidate and mudslinging the others. You must research the candidates and be creative with your document. I want specific details on the candidates, which will require a good amount of research on each candidate's background. Also, no mudslinging based on race or religion.

Please email me if you have any questions. Have a great day!

~Mr. Mazur

Missouri Compromise

Hello everybody! Today we discussed details on the life of a typical slave within the South. We also focused on how Southerners justified the institution. For homework, you are going to read the "temporary solution" to the controversy over slavery within the 1810s and 1820s. As I stated in class, the industrialization of the North and the reliance on cotton production and agriculture in the South widened the gap between the North and the South and created controversy over the morality of slavery. By the end of the 1817, there was a delicate balance between slave and free states (10 for each). The controversy over slavery began to appear every time a new state tried to apply for statehood (each side feeling that a majority of the opposing side within Congress would give the North or the South unequaln political power). The admission of Illinois (1818-free) and Alabama (1819-slave) calmed the controversy for a little, but when Missouri applied for statehood, the controversy reopened. Talks of secession became common during the debates on whether Missouri should be slave or free. Thomas Jefferson even said that the controversy "woke him like a firebell in the night," and that the issue would cause the destruction of the Union.

For homework, you are to read the compromise over the Missouri question. Please read and write down the solution to the issue. I then want you to write two full paragraphs on whether the compromise was a good solution to the issue (and explain with details) or whether there was another possible solution that would have ensured the perpetuation of the Union (by using details). Please email me if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Mazur

First Industrial Revolution

Hey everyone! Today we discussed the widening gap between the North and the South during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. We discussed how the North transformed into an area reliant on manufacturing and the South became more reliant on cultivating crops (i.e., cotton).

We also discussed the United States government's role in promoting industry. We discussed the role of the government in creating the Patent Office, helping fund internal improvements (i.e., canals and roads), and in protecting American manufacturing.

For homework, you are to read pp. 274-279 in your textbook and answer #1-5 on p. 279. Please note that although these pages span the 1820s to the 1850s, it is a continuation on the industrialization process and technological change.

Have a great day!

~Mr. Mazur

Lewis and Clark Journals

Good afternoon everyone! Today we began our discussion on the goals of the Corps of Discovery (the group of explorers under the leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark). I then gave you a selection from the journals of the expedition for you to analyze and develop your own interpretations of the events.

As I noticed in class, many were confused with the selections. Therefore, this is what I am going to do next class. As I stated in our previous class, you are to finish your group's selection for homework. Please come to class prepared with any questions you have on your selections. I will call each group up and review with you the events that you have read. This will give you the ability to completely understand the facts of your time period so that you can come up with your historical interpretations.

After we meet in groups, you will be writing your analysis of your journal entries. Now each date in the journal does not have to be one paragraph each, but you should write as many paragraphs that will explain what happened and your interpretation of the events.

After we write our paragraphs, we will present our events to the class and our interpretations. The class will have the ability to ask questions of each group. I will then conclude our discussions of the Lewis and Clark expedition by summarizing the trip and explaining what happened after the expedition.

Please feel free to email me with any questions you have. Have a great day!

~Mr. Mazur