June 3

Blog #130 – When Was America Great?

Our current president campaigned on the slogan, Make America Great Again.  It made me wonder, as an historian and almost-30 year teacher of history, what time period do you think he meant that America should go back to?  So, I ask you, as competent, well-versed APUSH students who have studied almost all of American history, when was America great?

Image result for make america great again

The times when America was great, in my opinion, was when America has lived up to its highest ideals like equality, liberty, rule of law (where the law applies to all, rich or poor, weak or powerful), self-government, individualism, freedom of opportunity, diversity of opinions and cultures, and individual rights.  We have lived up to these highest ideals and qualities at different times in our history, but we have also failed at several times to come close to those values.  This has been when we have denied opportunities and freedoms to individuals based upon their ethnicity or race, when we have turned our back on the world, or placed the interests of the rich and powerful over the best interests of the common good.

If you’re like me, you may have a hard time narrowing it down to one specific time period.  I’m thinking of several, but I won’t reveal my answers until you guys are done w/ this blog.

 

Please answer the following questions: 

  1. Give me a time period when you think America was great.  It doesn’t have to be the latest or the best (but it could be), a time in which you think America lived up to its highest ideals and values.  Explain in detail why you think this event or time period makes America great.
  2. Provide an instance where in American history we have not lived up to our highest, most cherished ideals.  Explain in detail why you think we fell short, and if possible, how could we have done things differently?
  3. Since the president didn’t think we were great back in 2016 when he ran for president, why do you think he thought we were not great then (in essence, what made America not great)?  Or, if you disagree with the president, why was America great then?  Explain with specific examples.  (I realize that he has changed his slogan for the 2020 election to Keep America Great, so one thing to think about is what did he do since becoming elected to make America great again in his mind).

Due Monday, June 8 by midnight.  400 words minimum for your total answer.  

Category: Blogs | 47 Comments on Blog #130 – When Was America Great?
September 14

Blog #111 – America, to me…

As part of our Constitution Day celebrations, we’re asked to take a moment to think about what this great country means to us personally.  For some of us, it might be hard to sort through all of the noise and craziness that seems to flood our news outlets and media.  But that shouldn’t stop us from taking a moment to discuss why America is great.

America was the first constitutional democracy in the modern world.  We were founded on principles (taken from the Declaration of Independence) of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  The Constitution was founded in 1787 after our initial government didn’t work.  It was founded on principles of the rule of law (everyone is equal before the law no matter how rich or poor you are), the separation of powers, a representative government (where we elect people to make our laws for us), the separation of powers, federalism (each level – national, state, or local – has a say in how we live our lives), and individual rights as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Our country’s ideals are things like justice, the common good, equality, diversity is our strength, truth, and patriotism.  I feel that sometimes we don’t live up to these values, but as it says in the preamble to the Constitution, “in order to form a more perfect union…”, we as Americans need to continually remind ourselves of our core values and beliefs and hold each other accountable when we fail to live up to those high ideals.  No one is perfect, but we’re trying to get there.

Your job: Tell me what America means to you.  Be specific.

300 words minimum.  Due Tuesday, Sept. 18 by class.  

Image result for America

Category: Blogs | 56 Comments on Blog #111 – America, to me…
November 5

Writing Contest – Bill of Rights Foundation

This is from an email I received over the weekend. 

Hi Geoff,

I am excited to tell you about our BRAND NEW Scholarship Contest for high school students. The We The Students Scholarship Contest runs through November 16, 2012, so encourage your students to enter today.

Students will grapple with the questions: What role do the ideas of the Constitution have today?  What rights should the government protect?

This is similar to the VFW contest that you were asked to do in Blog #41.  The details of the essay are below.  It’s longer and a lot more detailed (20 points max extra credit). 

To participate in the contest, high school students will answer three questions around the ideas of the Constitution and the role of government. One $4,000 prize will be awarded for first place, one $2,000 prize for second place, and one $1,000 prize for third place. Two $500 prizes will be awarded for honorable mentions. 

At the Institute, we know your impact on students’ lives is invaluable – but in an effort to support your hard work, we have set up the contest with teacher prizes. When your students win, you win! The teachers of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will each receive a $100 cash prize.

For more information, visit the We The Students Scholarship Contest page.

– Veronica

Veronica Burchard
Vice President for Education
Bill of Rights Institute
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22203

Questions to answer for the essay:

1.  Abraham Lincoln once said, “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution.  That must be maintained for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”  Please analyze and discuss how ONE of the Founding principles (choose from the list below) found in the Constitution helps preserve liberty, and why that principle is still important today.  (up to 500 words)

  • All men are created equal
  • Limited Government
  • Private Property
  • Representative Government

2.  Most high school students are too young to vote.  However, that doesn’t mean that – as citizens – they can’t actively help to shape our world today.  Based on your beliefs about being an involved citizen, how would you convince an apathetic classmate that they should take an active role in shaping their community and the nation.  Feel free to use personal examples.  (up to 500 words)

3.  Read the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(a) Please provide a critical analysis comparing the United States’ Founding documents and the UN’s Universal Declaration in regard to ONE of the following three categories:  (up to 500 words)

  • The origin of rights
  • The role of government
  • The treatment of property

(b) After comparing the documents, which do you think best protects individual liberty?  Defend your view.  (up to 300 words)
Category: Contests | LEAVE A COMMENT