Washington's Rules of Civility

George Washington wrote his "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior" when he was a teenager as an assignment in school, probably to practice his handwriting. Although he didn't invent these rules, respect and proper behavior were important to him, and he tried to live by these rules throughout his life and career as a general of the army and President of the United States.

Your assignment is to put 3 of the rules into your own words, and explain why following them might have helped Washington as a military and political leader. Be sure to "copy-paste" the text of the rule to your response.

Federalist Paper No. 10

In November 1787, Number 10 in a series called the "Federalist Papers" was written in support of the Constitution. James Madison describes the way federalism will overcome disagreements within society:
"A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile [trading] interest, a money interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divides into different classes, moved by different views. The regulation of these interests is the principal task of modern government.

The federal Constitution forms a happy combination; the great interests, being referred to the national [central] government, and the local interests to the state governments. The influence of local leaders may start a flame within their own states, but will be unable to spread through the other states"

Questions:
1. In your own words, what was the problem facing the government?
2. How does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreements?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Madison, and why?

Thomas Jefferson on Slavery

"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the...most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.....Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."

--Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia, 1782

1. In your own words, what are the two points that Jefferson is making about slavery?

2. Do you agree or disagree with his two ideas? Why?

Pioneer Travel Tips

Captain Randolph Marcy was a cavalry officer in the US Army who wrote "The Prairie Traveler" in 1859 to help settlers make it safely to the West. 

Your assignment:

1. Find 5 bits of advice that Captain Marcy gives travelers, put them into your own words so that a modern traveler could understand them. 

2. Would any of the advice given by Captain Marcy in 1859 apply for travelers today? Why or why not?

Be sure to post your class period and first names/last initial so that you get credit. Example: "P5 Jack A & Jill B"

p.s. Follow the link to see the actual text of Captain Marcy's book, "The Prairie Traveler"

Reconstruction Vocabulary

In your own words, explain how these terms and people relate to the Reconstruction era in the United States, 1866-1876:

1. Reconstruction   2. sharecropper   3. scalawag   4. Charles Sumner   5. Andrew Jackson   6. Presidential Reconstruction   7. Congressional Reconstruction   8. Radical Republican   9. carpetbagger   10. "40 acres and a mule"   11. Freedman's Bureau   12. impeachment   13. Black codes   14. Hiram Revels

Black Codes

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Southern states passed a series of "Black Codes" that restricted the rights and opportunities for the freed slaves. With you partner, review the handout containing excerpts from the 1865 Mississippi Black Codes. For each of the sections, put the main idea of the law into your own words.

Andersonville

For soldiers that became prisoners of war, life was harsh. Confederate prisoners in the North suffered because supplies were often deliberately withheld as revenge for the South's actions in causing the Civil War. For Union prisoners in Southern camps, food, shelter and medical care was in short supply for them as well as the citizens of the Confederacy.

Start this assignment by reading the link to "Life as a Prisoner."

After you have learned about being a prisoner, click on the link to Andersonville, the most notorious prison camp of the Civil War, and work with your team to answer the following questions:

1. Why was Andersonville chosen to the the site of a prison camp? 

2. Why did the prison have such a high mortality rate?

3. Who was responsible for the conditions and deaths at Andersonville?

4. "Wirz" was the last casualty of Andersonville." Should Captain Wirz, the officer in charge of the prison,  have been hanged for the deaths that occurred under his administration? Why or why not?