Cherokee Nation in the 1820s

John Ross (pictured to the right) and Major Ridge were Cherokee leaders who felt that the best way for the Cherokee nation to remain independent and strong was to adopt parts of white culture. Click on the link to find out more about these leaders, and respond to the following two prompts:

1. Why do you think that many of the Cherokee opposed the ideas of Ross and Ridge. If you had been a Cherokee in the 1820s, which side would you have been on, and why?

2. Why do you think John Ross, who was only one-eighth Cherokee and raised and educated in the white community, might have felt so strongly about his Indian heritage?

Who really invented the cotton gin?

As you know, every history book says that Eli Whitney "invented" the cotton gin. And while it is true that Whitney received the patent for the cotton gin, your research from the Smithsonian Institution showed the real story about the cotton gin's invention might not be so simple. So, who really invented the cotton gin?

Nat Turner's Rebellion

1. Explain what is happening in the picture. Are there religious connections in the picture? What are they?

Document 1 --   The Richmond Enquirer, August 30, 1831:

We cannot say how long they were organizing themselves, but they turned out on last Monday morning early (the 22nd) upon their nefarious [sinful] expedition. They were mounted to the number of 40 or 50, and with knives and axes, knocking on the heads or cutting the throats of their victims. They had few firearms among them, scarcely one, if one, was fit for use. But as they went from house to house, they drank ardent spirits [alcohol] and it is supposed, that in consequence of their being intoxicated, or from mere fatigue, they paused in their murderous career about 12 o'clock on Monday.

2. How many slaves took part in the rebellion?

3. The census of 1830 shows that there were 7,756 slaves in Southampton County where the rebellion occurred. Why do you think such a small percentage of slaves participated in the rebellion?

4. Do you think that the author of this article was biased in favor or against the slaves? Why?

Document 2 -- Harriet Ann Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself:

Not far from this time Nat Turner's insurrection [rebellion] broke out, and the news threw our town into great commotion..... By sunrise, people were pouring in from every quarter within twenty miles of the town. I knew the houses were to be searched, and I expected it would be done by country bullies and poor whites. I knew that nothing annoyed them so much as to see colored people living in comfort and respectability. Those who never witnessed such scenes can hardly believe what I know was inflicted at this time on innocent men, women and children, against whom there was not the slightest ground for suspicion. Colored people and slaves who lived in remote parts of the town suffered in an especial manner. In some cases the searchers scattered powder and shot among their clothes, and then sent other parties to find them, and bring them forward as proof that they were plotting insurrection. Everywhere men, women and children were whipped till the blood stood in puddles at their feet. Some received five hundred lashes.

5. Why do you think that the "country bullies and poor whites" were allowed to harass the Africans?

Marbury vs. Madison Cartoon Analysis

1. Make a list of everything you see in the cartoon. Include all people and objects.

2. Which items in question 1 are symbols? What does each of the symbols stand for?

3. What is happening in the cartoon?

4. What is the cartoonist's message?

5. Do you agree or disagree with the message? Explain your answer.

(Lesson from www.landmarkcases.org)

Sedition Act

1) In your own words, explain why three of the Congressmen were in favor of the Sedition Act, and three were against it; 2) Who was right, the proponents of the Sedition Act or the opponents? Explain your answer; 3) Which political party seemed to support the Sedition Act? Which political party opposed it? 

Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's Farewell Address contains his advice to the citizens of the newly independent United States when he retired in 1797. For each of the four quotes below, put each piece of advice in your own words, and explain whether you feel that the advice would still hold true for us in 2008, and explain why, or why not 

1. "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is.... to have with them as little political connection as possible. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances [friendships] with any portion of the foreign world"

2. "As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense."

3. "Let me now .... warn you .... against the baneful [troubling] effects of the spirit of party. This spirit, unfortunately, is truly our worst enemy. The domination of one faction [political party] over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, is frightful. It leads to .... the ruin of public liberty."

4. ".... religion and morality [good behavior] are essential ... morality [can not] be maintained without religion .... It is true that virtue [goodness] and morality are a necessary part of [good] government."

Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

For each of the rules your group is assigned, write (1) the rule number and rule; (2) what it means in your own words; and (3) how Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior might be useful today in getting along with others.