Judicial Nationalism

The links below are for two half hour videos that recreate court cases that we discuss in chapter twelve. John Marshall used both of these cases to strengthen the federal government.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Gibbons v. Ogden

The "Era of Good Feelings" and Jacksonian America: Book Recommendations

We recommend the following books about the "Era of Good Feelings" or the Jacksonian Period:

John Marshall: The Chief Justice who Saved the Nation by Harlow Giles Unger
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by John Meacham
William Henry Harrison by Gail Collins

St. John's College Advantage Assignment # 3

St. John’s College Advantage Assignment # 3

The Union

Click on the link below and read the following two documents:

“Speech of the Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, January 26 and 27, 1830”

“Speech of Senator Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina, January 27, 1830”

Documents

Also re-read the following two documents from the Great Issues book (These documents are on the Chapter 20 worksheet):

South Carolina, Declaration of the Causes of Secession, December 24, 1860

Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861

Going into the Civil War, most Southerners were adamant that they had the legal justification to secede from the Union. Abraham Lincoln argues just as passionately that the Southern states have no legal basis to secede. Using the documents, the text, your knowledge of history and outside sources, argue in favor of one of these positions. Make sure that as part of your argument you address and refute the other opinion.

The assignment should be double spaced, and it should be at least two pages. It is due by Wednesday June 3^rd.

St. John's College Advantage Assignment # 2

St. John’s College Advantage Assignment # 2

Slavery

Click on the link below and read the following four documents:

1. William Lloyd Garrison, “On the Constitution and the Union” (1832)

2. John C. Calhoun, “Slavery a Positive Good” (1837)

3. George Fitzhugh, “The Universal Law of Slavery” (1857)

4. Abraham Lincoln, “Annual Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society” (1859)

Documents 

Using the documents, your text, your knowledge of history, and outside sources, create a fictional debate between a northern abolitionist and a southern plantation owner. The debate should include economic, moral, political, and social rationale. It should follow a Lincoln-Douglas debate format and consist of an opening argument by the abolitionist, a response by the plantation owner, a rebuttal by the abolitionist, and a rebuttal by the plantation owner.

The assignment should be double spaced, and it should be at least three pages. It is due by Wednesday, April 22^nd.

*** Any students in the College Advantage Program who would like to partner up and do the assignment as an iMovie should see Mr. Anselmo to discuss specifics. Partners can be from two different classes and even have two different teachers. They just both need to be part of College Advantage.

St. John's College Advantage Assignment # 1

St. John’s College Advantage Assignment # 1

Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

Using the four images below, argue either for or against Manifest Destiny and westward expansion from the perspective of three (3) of the following:

1. A southern land speculator

2. A Native American

3. A Latin American government official

4. A northern abolitionist

5. A northern industrialist

Make sure at least one of your choices is against and at least one in favor.

You should do research on the images to provide perspective and understanding.

In addition to the images, use the text, your knowledge of history, and outside sources.

The assignment should be double spaced, and it should be at least two pages. It is due by Wednesday, March 4^th.  

"The Great White Father" depicting Andrew Jackson

An available candidate, the one qualification for a Whig President" 
depicting Zachary Taylor

"Tragic Prelude" depicting John Brown

"American Progress"