Class Updates 5/29 and 5/30

Yesterday, May 29th, we reviewed what we've learned so far in the Imperialism Unit. We compared times when the United States acted like a good neighbor (or seemed to be acting as a good neighbor) and when they were acting as an Imperialist power. We went over the Monroe Doctrine, the Platt Amendment, the Roosevelt Corollary, Dollar Diplomacy, and Moral Diplomacy. Most had some imperialist properties, and some good neighbor policies.

Today, May 30th, we had a series of debates over the Bush Doctrine. The Bush Doctrine the United States' foreign policy. It stated that the US will strike an enemy first if they're suspected of holding weapons of max destruction or if they threaten anyone; they would act alone if necessary, and they would spread their ideas. Most people in our class agreed that this is a bad policy; it leads to more war and bad relations, and the people might not want or need our help.

Class Updates 5/23 (with article) and 5/24

Yesterday, May 23rd, we went to the computer lab and did activities on the American intervention in Latin America, Mexico, and Haiti. The USA sent troops into Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Haiti. They also interfered with the Mexican Revolution.

What do many of the Americans in Haiti think of Haitians and how do the Americans treat the Haitians? (2-3 paragraph news article)

The Haitians are viewed as black savages in battle. They are seen as stupid and hungry in the story of King Christophe at Sans Souci.The Haitians are seen as unfit to govern themselves, and "steadily retrograding into barbarism". They are also seen as lazy and dirty. The Haitians are thought to be ignorant and inhospitable. None of these stereotypes were true.

On the contrary, the Haitians are cultured, clean, and well organized. Port-au-Prince is a clean and beautiful city, as are many of the cities and villages in Haiti. The Haitians often sweep their streets until they are cleaner than some places in the US. The Haitians are some of the cleanest people; they import more soap than any other country in the world. Many people work hard, carrying their produce on their heads, and hardly anyone simply sits around. There are no cars, so the people walk. The Haitians are kind and hospitable. There is hardly any crime. The Haitians are intelligent and creative, but illiterate. The Haitians are nearly the opposite that most people believe.

The Americans killed thousands of innocent Haitians. They treated them as hardly even human, and took over every aspect of life. They believed that they made Port-au-prince into the wonderful tropical city that it was, but it was really the Haitians. the only good things that the Americans did were improving the hospitals, enforcing modern sanitation, and building roads. however, hard labor was used to create the great road. The Haitians were taken from home, beaten, and forced to work without going home. The US did not try to improve public education, as they had done in the past with other countries. The Marines treated the Haitians badly, including rape and murder. They hurt and killed many innocents. The American actions and attitude led to fierce prejudice.


Today, May 24th, we continued to work on our Smithsonian Quests.

Breaking Barriers Video

Here is our (Kiersten Flodman, Emily Booth, Scott Buckless, and me) Breaking Barriers video of Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson broke the barrier of AIDS/HIV and the stereotypes of the disease. He created the Magic Johnson Foundation, which tests and provides treatment for many people. He showed that anyone could get HIV/AIDS, not just homosexual men, and proved that it could be beaten back.

Class Updates 5/21 and 5/22

Yesterday, May 21st, we went over the Roosevelt Corollary. We read and analyzed it by paragraph in groups, then rewrote it in our own words. We also talked about how the world looks at the United States.

Today, May 22nd, we finished the Roosevelt Corollary and talked about Dollar Diplomacy. We also talked about upcoming projects and the final.

Class Updates 5/17 and 5/20

Friday, May 17th, we shared our yellow journalism headings and voted on which was best.

Today, May 20th, we looked at political cartoons and talked about President Theodore Roosevelt's actions. There were two political cartoons on the Panama Canal. We read a speech by Roosevelt justifying his actions and discussed whether or not he did the right thing.

Class Update 5/14 and 5/15

Yesterday, May 14th, we continued to work on our quests and projects.

Today, May 15th, we broke into groups to create "yellow journalism" headlines for events. Yellow journalism is using exaggerated headlines to draw the reader in, and having poorly-researched articles, mostly based on assumptions. We created headlines for the 1890s ("The United States Approaches World Domination during the Gay Nineties"), Alaska ("Will Seward's Folly Turn to Seward's Fame?"), Hawaii ("Revolution Started by American Planters leads to American Control"), Cuba Libre (Death by Chocolate: How taxes led to the death of a beloved poet"), Weyler and Reconcentration ("Mad Dog in Power, 100000 innocents butchered"), yellow journalism itself ("How Do You Know You Aren't Being Lied to?"), war fever ("'Weak Bidder' Afraid of War"), the Maine ("Spaniards Sink Our Ship!"), and cautious McKinley ("Rapid American Leaders Hungry for War").

Class Updates 5/10 and 5/13

On Friday, May 10th, we read the short story To Build a Fire by Jack London, set in Alaska. We compared instinct and knowledge, and which was more important to survival.

Today, May 13th, we worked on our Smithsonian Quests and anything else we needed to do for the class.

Class Updates 5/8 and 5/9

Yesterday, May 8th, we learned about Red Cloud. We read primary and secondary sources, then answered questions. Red Cloud was a warrior, diplomatic, and leader of the Lakota tribe. He fought against the USA (especially on the Dawes Act that separated the land into farming sections, much like the Homestead Act), using physical force when necessary and otherwise words.

Today, May 9th, we learned about Sitting Bull; again by reading primary and secondary sources. He was a warrior, spiritual leader, and chief of the Lakota tribe. He had many visions that proved true and helped the Lakota in their battle with the USA. He was the last to surrender, and even after that he was rebellious.

Class Updates 5/3 (Cherokee Poem) and 5/6

Friday, May 3rd, we had a fishbowl debate on what should happen to the Cherokee people, which led up to the Trail of Tears. President Jackson didn't like the Amerindians, and passed the Indian Removal Act. The Cherokee, being one of the civilized tribes, went to court to demand the right to stay on their land. They had a treaty and should have stayed on their land, but Jackson ignored them. He could easily have been impeached for his actions, but many Congress members were with him. Here is a poem I wrote based on the White Man's Burden, changed to be the Cherokee Burden:

"Pile on the Cherokee Burden,
Send them to lands unknown,
Drive them from their homeland,
Through where Winter's breath is blown.

Pile on the Cherokee Burden,
Plunder their few possessions,
Use the land you swindle
To fuel your petty progressions.

Pile on the Cherokee Burden,
No pleasant roads he shall tread;
Exile of the living,
Marked by the dead.

Pile on the Cherokee Burden,
Feed them with your lies.
Yet it shall weigh upon your soul
Whenever one of them dies.

Pile on the Cherokee Burden,
For throughout the future years,
The exile you've commanded
Shall be known as the Trail of Tears."


Today, May 6th, we worked on our Smithsonian quests.

Class Updates 5/1 and 5/2

Yesterday, May 1st, we continued watching the movie/ working on projects.

Today, May 2nd, we studied "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling. This poem viewed imperialism as a responsibility and burden that the white men should take up. Imperialism is dominating another country socially, economically, and politically; the imperialists saw it as "helping" the people by showing them "the better way". We also looked at parodies of "The White Man's Burden" (The Poor Man's Burden" and "The Black Man's Burden"), then created our own. Allie's and my poem (short and somewhat unfinished) on imperialism was:

"Pile on the Burden
To those who suffer in pain.
Pile on the Burden
To those nearest at your door.
Pile on the Burden
To serve your selfish greed."