Panic vs. Recession

It is always amazing to me when learning or teaching about history how much that is going on today are problems that we have faced before. In light of what we have been learning and what is going on in the world today I want you to find out the similarities and differences between the Panic of 1873 and today's Recession. What caused the Panic of 1873 and what caused today's Recession? What happened during the Panic of 1873 and what is happening now (i.e. bank failures, stock market crash, etc.)? How long did the Panic of 1873 last? How did the nation recover from this Panic?

Current political cartoon about the Recession


Political Cartoon from 1873

Plessy vs. Ferguson

In the landmark Supreme Court case of Plessy vs. Ferguson segregation laws were upheld. These laws, commonly called Jim Crow Laws were not overturned until the 1960's. Briefly explain Plessy vs. Ferguson (try to do it in two sentences or less) and find out what landmark Supreme Court case overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson AND explain that case (again, in two sentences or less).

Modern Humor

I saw this political cartoon today and it totally cracked me up. Take a look at it (laugh, hopefully) and analyze it. What elements of a political cartoon does it contain? To aid you, the aspects of a political cartoon are the following: Satire, Caricature, Symbolism, Metaphor, Irony, Sarcasm, and Stereotype. Remember, this political cartoons contains AT LEAST three of these aspects.

School Name

It has come to my attention that Vail Ranch is thinking about renaming the school (not really, just for purposes of this blog). The two names they are thinking about are Abraham Lincoln Middle School and Robert E Lee Middle School. Write a proposal to the Principal explaining your thoughts. Make sure to back up your opinion with facts about these two men and why or why not the school should be named in their honor. Your comment should be at least one paragraph long.

Election of 1860

Using your knowledge of the Constitution and the Causes of the Civil War analyze the map of the Election of 1860 (link). What states were the most populous? What states had slaves? Why do you think Lincoln was so popular? Did Lincoln win in any states that had slaves? Here is a link to a map of the Election of 2008, did those states that voted for Lincoln in 1860 vote for Obama in 2008? Why is this (or is this not) ironic?

A House Divided

Lincoln gave a very important (some would say prescient which means perceiving the significance of events before they occur) speech before the beginning of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. The speech is long and rather flowery but the most important part of the speech was:

In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.

I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

It will become all one thing or all the other.

I would like you to analyze that part of the speech. What is the "crisis?" What does he mean when he says "A House divided against itself cannot stand?" Where does this phrase come from? In your opinion does this excerpt clearly show his opinion of slavery? How?

OR

Relate this excerpt to today's "crisis" (that is, our economy). Imagine that Barack Obama has come to you and wants to use this excerpt in an upcoming speech. Re-write this excerpt to reflect today's "crisis."

Women's Rights

In the 1800's the Women's Rights Movement gained steam because a group of Women came together at the Seneca Falls Convention. While there these women drafted a document called the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. I have provided a LINK for you. Please peruse this document and tell me the following: How is this similar to the Declaration of Independence? What were some of the rights the women wanted? Who was the Declaration of Sentiments directed at? How effective do YOU think this document is/was?