This
week, the students are analyzing the three major regions of America during the colonial period- New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern
Colonies.More importantly, we are
learning about the distinct economic systems that developed in these regions
and the impact each had on the institution of slavery and beliefs about it.
By
looking closely at how these economies functioned, it becomes clearer why
slavery flourished in the south while the movement to abolish slavery grew
mainly out of the north.
Next
week, we will look closely at the rising conflicts over the spread of slavery in
the expanding U.S.
and the compromises that were made to avoid the unavoidable- the great American
Civil War.
Week
Three:
This week, students are doing a
mini-unit on the Triangle Slave Trade and The Middle Passage experience.
This is preparatory to beginning our Civil War Unit in two weeks.
Next week, we will analyze the
agricultural & plantation economic system of the South and compare it to
the manufacturing economy of the North. We will also learn about the
abolition movement and the rising tensions between the "Slave" and
"Free" states of the growing nation in the mid 1800s.
Week Two:
Before
rushing headlong into a study of American History (starting with the Civil War),
we are taking time this week to focus on group dynamics or “teamwork.”I will be placing students into teams to do “fun”
activities (still getting to know one another) and to practice some of the basic
skills used by historians to examine artifacts, photos, and primary documents.
