Monday, December 15, 2014

Chapter 5 Test

All Classes
Chapter 5 Test on Friday, December 19th

Geography Bee

Congratulations to The Thunderbird Classroom Geography Bee Winners!
Green Armando Barragan 
Red Jared Hague
Blue Craig Bucci
Yellow Mike Boscia
The winner of the Thunderbird Team Geography Bee will be announced before December 23rd.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

All Classes - Complete Key Terms and questions 1-3 on page 118

Friday, November 14, 2014


Chapter 4 Test Monday November 17
Study Guide
Heritage- traditions passe down from generation to generation
Direct democracy - government in which laws are made directly by citizens
Ratification - approval
Tyranny- abuse of power
Legislature - a group of people chosen to make laws
Separation of powers - dividing government power among three branches of government
Charter - a document granting permission to set up a colonial government
Compact - a written agreement to make and obey laws for the group's welfare
Natural rights - people are born with these, and the government cannot take them away
Shays' Rebellion - an uprising in Massachusetts
Declaration of Independence - the document that outlined the reasons for separation for Britain
Articles of Confederation - created a loose alliance of 13 states
John Locke - believed that all men had natural rights and that the people had to right to alter or abolish their government
Baron de Montesquieu - separation of powers
What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Where did direct democracy begin?


Monday, November 3, 2014

Today we began writing our 5 paragraph essay on the ideals of the Declaration.
No Homework

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Homework all Classes 
page 101 Section 3 Assessment (no writing activity)
All classes will be working on the first Document Based Question Activity of the year this week called The Ideals of the Declaration: Which is most important?

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

All Classes

Today we discussed the events that led up to the American Revolution
No Homework

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Blue and Red 
World Government Charts are due on Friday 10/17
Yellow and Green 
World Government Charts are due on 10/21

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Blue and Red
Study the vocabulary words for Chapter 4 Sections 1 & 2 for the quiz tomorrow. Make sure you know who John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu are, as well as, the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights

Green and Yellow
Page 94 (no writing activity)
Quiz Thursday on Chapter 4 Sec 1&2

Friday, October 10, 2014

Today we began our Governments Around the World Assignment which requires students to research five countries on different continents to determine what type of governments they have.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Red Section Assessment (all) page 94
Quiz Wednesday October 15 
Chapter 4 Sec 1&2

Blue Section Assessment (no writing activity) page 94
Quiz Wednesday October 15
Chapter 4 Sec 1&2

Green and Yellow
Quiz Wednesday October 15
Chapter 4 Sec 1&2

Friday, October 3, 2014

Today we discussed the impact of the Zenger case
Have a great weekend!!!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Today we discussed the John Peter Zenger Trail and freedom of the press

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Quiz Tomorrow on Jamestown and Plymouth
Study Guide

Jamestown – the first permanent English settlement in America

Sir Walter Raleigh – financed the colony of Roanoke

Lost Colonyearly English settlement on Roanoke Island, that mysteriously disappeared between the time of its founding (1587) and the return of the expedition’s leader in 1590.

John Smith – English adventurer who told colonists “to work or starve”

John Rolfe – Virginia colonist who introduced tobacco

charter – a legal document granting permission to settle a certain area

House of Burgesses – the first representative assembly in the English colonies

burgess- elected representatives in Virginia

Powhatan – the leader of the Native Americans in the Jamestown area

Pilgrims – the English settlers that left England for Plymouth

Separatists – people who wanted to separate from the Church of England

Mayflower – the ship the Pilgrims sailed on to reach Plymouth

Mayflower Compact – the document signed by 41 men aboard the Mayflower because the charter was not valid

established church – the national church as determined by the monarch

William Bradford – the first governor of Plymouth colony

Miles Standish – He led the exploration for a suitable site for a settlement

Squanto – Native American who helped the Pilgrims plant Indian corn, pumpkins, and squash.

Thanksgiving – harvest celebration held in Plymouth
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What did the Jamestown colony almost fail?

Where did the Pilgrims live before coming to America?





Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Today we discussed the Jamestown settlement
No Homework tonight
BYOD tomorrow

Monday, September 15, 2014

Working on the USA Patriot Act in groups today.
No Homework tonight!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Study for the Chapter 2 test that will be given tomorrow!
There is a study guide below!
                                               Chapter 2                                                         
Study Guide

Socialization – the process of learning how to participate in a group
Social institutions – systems of values and rules that determine how a society is organized
Rules – specific expectations for people’s behavior
Family- the most basic of social institutions in any society
Blended families – families made up of adults and their children from previous marriages
Economy – a system for producing and distributing goods and services to fulfill people’s wants
Consumer – a person who uses, or consumes, goods and services to satisfy his or her wants
Price – the amount you must pay for a good or service in a market
Money – anything that is generally accepted as payment for a good or service
Market – a place or situation in which an exchange of goods or services takes place, such as stores, shops, or stock exchanges
Monarchy – a form of government in which all or most of the power is in the hands of one individual, the monarch, whose authority is hereditary
Dictatorship – a government controlled by one person, called a dictator, who usually takes power by force, rather than by inheriting it
Democracy – a system of government in which the power is shared by all the people
Patriotism – the demonstration of love and devotion to one’s country
Political socialization – the process of learning how to behave politically

Tuesday, September 9, 2014



Today is Election Day in Rhode Island 
Be sure to check out the election results for class discussion tomorrow

Thursday, September 4, 2014


All Classes
 Complete the Section Assessment on page 39

Monday, May 19, 2014

Blue

Answer questions 1-4 on page 389
Quiz Wednesday on Chapter 13 Sections 1&2

Red

Answer questions 1-5 on page 393
Study for quiz on Chapter 13 Sections 1&2

Yellow and Green

Answer questions 1-4 on page 393
Study for quiz on Chapter 13 Sections 1&2
Use your homework as your study guide

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Quiz Friday on Chapter 11 Sections 2 & 3 and the Monroe Doctrine

Monday, March 31, 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Chapter 10 Test Thursday

Blue and Green

Chapter 10
Study Guide


democratic- ensuring that all people have the same rights

laissez faire- idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs

free market – economic system in which individuals, rather than the government, decide what and how much to produce and sell

judicial review – power of the Supreme Court to decide whether acts of a President or laws passed by Congress are constitutional

Albert Gallatin – Secretary of the Treasury underJefferson who reduced government spending through careful management

John Marshall – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who established the precedent of judicial review

Marbury v Madison –1803 court case in which the Supreme Court ruled that in had the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional and to reject laws that it considered unconstitutional

Pinckney Treaty – treaty signed by theUnited States andSpain that allowed Americans to ship their goods down the Mississippi River and store them inNew Orleans

Napoleon Bonaparte – ruler ofFrance who sold theLouisianaTerritory to theUnited States

Toussaint L’Ouverture – leader of the revolution inHaiti

Louisiana Purchase – vast territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, purchased fromFrance in 1803 for $15 million

Lewis and Clark – explored theLouisiana Purchase

Sacagawea – Native American woman who led Lewis and Clark across theRocky Mountains

Zebulon Pike – explored the upper Mississippi River, the Arkansas River, and parts of present-dayColorado andNew Mexico

expedition – long voyage of exploration

continental divide – mountain ridge that separates river systems flowing toward opposite sides of a continent

Empress of China  the first American ship to trade withChina

Stephen Decatur – American naval officer who led his crew to set the captured American vessel the Philadelphia on fire

Embargo Act – an 1807 law that imposed a total ban on foreign trade

Nonintercourse Act – an 1809 law that allowed Americans to carry on trade with all nations exceptBritain andFrance

tribute - bribe

impressment – practice of forcing people into military service

embargo – ban on trade

smuggling – importing or exporting goods in violation of trade laws

Treaty of Greenville – treaty signed by some Native Americans in 1795, giving up land that would later become part ofOhio in exchange for $20,000 and a promise of more money if they kept the peace

Tecumseh – Native American leader who tried to organize a confederation of Indian nations to stop white settlers from taking their lands.

The Prophet – brother of Tecumseh, he built a village called Prophetstown on Tippecanoe Creek

William Henry Harrison – Led the attack against Prophetstown by

Battle of Tippecanoe – In 1811, battle over white settlement in theIndianaTerritory

War Hawks – members of Congress from the South and the West who called for war withBritain prior to the War of 1812

Henry Clay – leader of the War Hawks. He wanted to punish the British for seizing American ships. He hoped to conquerCanada during the War of 1812

confederation – league of independent states or nations

nationalism – devotion to one’s country

Oliver Hazard Perry – American naval officer who defeated the British onLake Erie

Battle of Lake Erie – in the War of 1812, an American victory led by Oliver Hazard Perry against the British

Andrew Jackson – leader of American forces atNew Orleans who defeated the British

Dolley Madison – First Lady saved important presidential papers and a portrait of George Washington when the British burned the White House

Battle of New Orleans – At the end of the War of 1812, a battle between British and American forces that ended in American victory.

Hartford Convention – gathering of New England delegates during the War of 1812 to protest the war by threatening to secede from theUnion

Treaty of Ghent – peace treaty signed byBritain and theUnited States at the end of the War of 1812

Francis Scott Key – American lawyer that witnesses the battle at Fort McHenry, author of The Star Spangled Banner

Fort McHenry – fort that protected the port of Baltimore, site of the battle Francis Scott Key witnessed that inspired The Star Spangled Banner

USS Constitution – United States naval vessel that defeated the HMS Guerriere off the coast of Newfoundland in August 1812, nicknamed Old Ironsides
What were the causes of the War of 1812?
Why did Tecumseh want to organize a confederation?
What is the significance of Marbury  v. Madison?
What was the effect of the Lewis and Clark expedition?

Friday, March 7, 2014

All Students

Money for the Civil War Beat Field Trip was due today!! If you have not returned your field trip permission slip please do so asap.

All Classes

Chapter 10 Summary
The presidential election of 1800 was a tie. The House of Representatives had to decide the election. Republican Thomas Jefferson became president, and Federalist Aaron Burr became vice president.
• Jefferson believed in limiting the size and power of the federal government. He stopped most federal taxes and only taxed imports. 
• The Judiciary Act of 1801 set up courts for the United States. Outgoing president Adams appointed most of the judges. 
• The case of Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review. It also established two other principles: The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and the Constitution must be followed when there is a conflict with any other law. 
• In major cases, the court broadened federal power and lessened state power. 
• In the 1800s, American pioneers moved westward into the Louisiana Territory. They wanted land and adventure. It was a difficult journey. 
• Settlers shipped goods by river to New Orleans. In 1802, Spain stopped allowing American goods to move through New Orleans. Spain had secretly agreed to give the Louisiana Territory to France.
• Napoleon of France wanted to control an American empire. He needed the port of Santo Domingo as a naval base. A revolt in Santo Domingo ended Napoleon’s dream.
• Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States. This doubled the size of the United States.
• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition to learn more about the new territory and find a Northwest Passage. Their group included Sacagawea, a Shoshone interpreter and guide. Zebulon Pike explored a more southern part of the new land.

Federalists in the Northeast worried about the westward expansion. They were afraid they would lose power if new states were Republican. 
• American trade grew, and more American ships were on the seas. North African pirates demanded tribute and seized American ships. America went to war with Tripoli.
• Great Britain and France were at war. The United States stayed neutral, but France and Britain seized and searched American ships. 
• In response, Jefferson banned trade with all foreign countries. The Embargo Act hurt the American economy and did not stop the British. 
• James Madison became president during a difficult time. Tensions grew inside and outside of the country.
• Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, built a confederacy of Native American nations. William Henry Harrison successfully attacked Prophetstown in the battle of Tippecanoe. Tecumseh joined forces with the British. 
• Young Republicans, called War Hawks, pushed for war with Britain. In June 1812, Madison asked Congress for a declaration of war. He did not know Britain had decided to end search and seizure until it was too late. 
• America was not prepared for war. It misjudged the strength of its enemies. General Hull and William Henry Harrison were unsuccessful in their attempts to invade Canada. 
• The U.S. Navy defeated the British on Lake Erie, which helped American morale. Andrew Jackson was successful against the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. 
• The British took and burned much of Washington, D.C. Then they moved on to Baltimore. Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” while watching the battle there at Fort McHenry. 
• The U.S. Navy defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain. After this battle, Britain decided the war was not worth the cost or the effort. The War of 1812 ended in December 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent.
• The Battle of New Orleans was bloody and short. Andrew Jackson became a hero in this victory for the United States.  
• After the war, the Federalists lost power. American nationalism and patriotism rose. The United States gained a stronger reputation in the world.


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Blue Class

Team Sophia scored 440 points
Team Cassie scored  299 points
Team Jenna scored  274 points
Team Emily scored  547 points
Congratulations to Team Emily for winning 5 bonus points on the Chapter 9 test. 
Looks like Team Jenna has stinky feet!!

Yellow Class

Team Lincoln scored 179 points
Team A J scored 345 points
Team Kelly scored 927 points 
Team Ryan scored 152 points
Congratulations to Team Kelly for winning 5 bonus points on the Chapter 9 test!!
Looks like stinky feet for Team Ryan!

Who has stinky feet in the Green class?

Team Shirley scored   37 points
Team Emily scored    770 points
Team Nick scored     616 points 
Team Jeff scored      - 247 points
Congratulations to Team Emily for winning 5 bonus points on the Chapter 9 test!!!!
Does this mean Team Jeff has stinky feet?

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Chapter 9 Study Guide

Chapter 9
Study Guide

inauguration – the ceremony in which the President officially takes the oath of office.

precedent – an act or decision that sets an example for others to follow.

Cabinet – heads of departments that give the President advice.

Judiciary Act – a 1789 law that created the structure of the Supreme Court and set up a system of district courts and circuit courts for the nation.

national debt – the total amount of money that a government owes others

bond – a certificate that promises to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain date.

speculator – a person who invests in a risky venture in the hope of making a large profit.

Bank of the United States – bank set up in 1791 to hold government deposits, to issue paper money to pay government bills, and to make loans to farmers and businesses.

tariff – a tax on foreign goods brought into the country

Whiskey Rebellion – a 1794 protest over a tax on all liquor made and sold in the United States

French Revolution – a 1789 rebellion in France that ended the French monarchy for a time.

foreign policy – the actions that a nation takes in relation to other nations.

neutral – not taking sides.

Neutrality Proclamation – document that stated that the United States would not support either side in the war.

Jay’s Treaty – a 1795 agreement between Britain and the Untied States that called for Britain to pay damages for seized American ships and to give up forts it still held in the West. In exchange, the United States would repay debts owed to British merchants.

Farewell Address – final official speech of Presidents as they leave office.

faction – opposing groups within political parties

unconstitutional – not permitted by the Constitution.

Democratic Republican – supporter of Thomas Jefferson, who favored a decentralized government

Federalist – supporter of the Constitution, who favored a strong federal, or national, government.

XYZ Affair – the French attempt to bribe the United States by demanding payment before talks could begin on the issue of French seizure of neutral American ships.

frigate –fast-sailing ship with many guns.

Alien and Sedition Acts – in 1798, Federalist-supported laws that permitted the President to expel foreigners, made it harder for immigrants to become citizens to be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials.

sedition – stirring up rebellion against a government

nullify – cancel a law passed by the federal government.

Kentucky and Virginia resolutions – declarations passed in 1798 and 1799 that claimed that each state has the right to decide whether a federal law is constitutional and to nullify laws deemed unconstitutional within a state’s borders.

states’ rights – the right of states to limit the power of the federal government.

Leader of the Democratic Republicans – Thomas Jefferson

Leader of the Federalists – Alexander Hamilton.

Maurice de Talleyrand – French foreign minister who sent three agents to demand $250,000 bribe for himself and a $10 million loan for France.

John Jay- first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State in first Cabinet

Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of the Treasury in the first Cabinet

Henry Knox- Secretary of War in the first Cabinet

Edmund Randolph – Attorney General in Washington’s Cabinet


Who won the election of 1796?

What group decided the winner of the election of 1800?

Who won the election?

The 12th amendment was passed as a result of the election of 1800? What did the amendment change?


Green, Yellow, Blue

Study for Thursday's Chapter 9 Test 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Monday, February 10, 2014

Blue, Green, Yellow

Chapter 8
Study Guide

civiliannonmilitary

domestic tranquility – peace and order at home; one of the six goals defined in the Preamble to the Constitution

liberty – freedom to do as you please, as long as you obey the law and respect the rights of others

Articles - the main body of the Constitution divided into seven sections, which established the framework for the United States government.

preamble – introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document

federalism – a principle of the United States Constitution that establishes the division of power between the federal government and the states.

checks and balances – a principle of the United States Constitution that safeguards against abuse of power by giving each branch of government the power to check the other branches.

general welfare – well-being of all the citizens of one nation; one of the six goals defined in the Preamble to the Constitution

override – to set aside a presidential veto

bill – proposed law

veto – reject a proposed law

impeach – to bring a formal charge of wrongdoing against the President or another federal official

unconstitutional – not allowed under the Constitution

electoral college – a group of electors from every state who meet every four years to vote for the President and Vice President of the United States

House of Representatives – the larger of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch of the United States government; representation is based on population.

Senate – the smaller of the two bodies of Congress; based on equal representation with two senators for each state

First Amendment – amendment to the United States Constitution safeguards basic individual liberties including, freedom of religion, speech, and the press

Second Amendment- the right of the people to bear arms is protected

Third Amendment - prohibits soldiers from temporarily residing in private homes during peace time without getting the permission and consent of the owner

Fourth Amendment – protects people from unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment - Ensures that a person will not be required to testify against themselves. It also guarantees that a person will not subject to double jeopardy and will be afforded due process.

Sixth Amendment - guarantees a citizen a speedy trial, a fair jury, an attorney if the accused person wants one, and the chance to confront the witnesses who is accusing the defendant of a crime

Seventh Amendment – guarantees to have a jury hear your case in most civil trials

Eighth Amendment – bail, fines, and punishments must not be excessive

Ninth Amendment – protects rights that are not listed in the Constitution

Tenth Amendment – Powers not given to the federal government or prohibited by it to the states, are reserved for the states or to the people

incriminate – to give evidence against

Civil War Amendments – The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery, guaranteed citizenship to former slaves, and gave African American males the right to vote.

Nineteenth Amendment – 1920 amendment to the United States Constitution that gave women the right to vote

Twenty-sixth Amendment – amendment to the United States Constitution that lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

constitutional initiative – process by which citizens sponsor an amendment

infrastructure – a state’s roads and bridges

local government – government on the county, parish, city, town, village, or district level

popular sovereignty – people have the right to alter or abolish their government

appeal – to ask that a court decision be reviewed by a higher court

civil – non criminal

100 Senators – 2 from each state, serve 6 year terms, must be 30 years of age and 9 years a citizen of the United States

535 Members of House of Representatives – 2 year terms, based on population, must be 25 years of age and 7 years a citizen of the United States

The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House of Representatives – they regulate debates and control the agenda. If the President dies in office, the Speaker of the House is next in line after the Vice President to become President

Powers delegated to Congress
1. Taxes – to collect taxes
2. Borrowing – to borrow money on the credit of the United States
3. Commerce – To regulate commerce (trade) with foreign nations, and between states
4. Naturalization; Bankruptcy – establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform rules of bankruptcy
5. Coin: Weights: and Measures – To coin money, and fix the standards of weights and measures
6. Counterfeiting – to provide punishment for counterfeiting
7. Post Offices – To establish post offices and post roads
8. Copyrights; Patents – To promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries
9. Federal Courts – To create lower federal courts (inferior to the Supreme Court)
10. Piracy- To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations
11. Declaration of War- To declare war and make rules concerning the capture of land and water
12. Army – To raise and support an army
13. Navy – To provide and maintain a navy
14. Rules of the Military – To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces
15. Militia – To provide for calling up the militia to execute the laws of the Union
16. Rules of the Militiato provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia
17. National Capital – To exercise legislation over the district of the (National Capital)
18. Necessary Laws – to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying out the laws

9 Justices on the Supreme Court – 1 chief justice, 8 associate justices, serve for life term

27 Amendments

President must be 35 years of age and a natural-born citizen

Powers of the President
1. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
2. Make Treaties
3. Make Nominations for cabinet members, judges, and ambassadors

The Vice President is president of the Senate, but shall not vote, unless they be equally divided

The Senate will choose a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he will exercise the office of the President