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.