DelveDigger Blog

Decadence

Will America have the same fate as Rome?
Support your opinion by using  3 or more examples.

If you were a historian advising Pres. Obama, what key lessons of the New Deal would you want
him to understand? What worked well in the New Deal and what didn’t?

If you lived in Ancient Greece, which city-state would you choose to live in?
Democratic Athens or Militaristic Sparta?
Support your choice with 3 specific qualities/attributes of your city-state, as well as one disadvantage to living in the opposing city-state.

Answer both questions 1 & 2 using your book chpt. 7, google searches, and our worksheets from class.

1. Would you have been an imperialist or  anti-imperialist?

Suppose you are an American citizen at the turn of the century, fresh off the Spanish-American war. Support your stance by arguing about the advantages/disadvantages of acquiring new lands. Keep in mind America’s future as a world power and the consequences of land acquisition.

2. Is America still an imperialist power?

Think of the United States role in the world today. In what ways (economically, socially, politically, militarily, etc.) America is or is not an imperial power.

Miracle reminds us how grim it was back in the 80’s, (Gas shortages. Carter’s ”malaise” speech. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Iranian hostage crisis) and what a boost the Olympic victory was to our collective morale. . How does this game signify the political atmoshpere at the time of the 1980 Olympic games and what does it say about the future of America?

Pretend you are either an immigrant coming to America, or a native citizen opposing the influx of immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.
Use your opinion, class notes and chpt 6 section 1 to discuss what your hopes are for yourself and/or the country.

In your informed opinion, after watching Obama’s video & reading Moore’s letter, do you think Obama’s plan for Afghanistan is vital to our National Defense, or a historical blunder? Support you stance with relevant information.

1. How did industry impact society for better or worse?

At the turn of the century America saw a tremendous rise in industry. With abundant natural resources, and a large work force, coupled with some of the world’s greatest inventors, America was ripe for an industrial surge and the seeds of a great national power were planted.

However,  an increasing shift from agriculture to industry meant a rapidly changing society. The average worker’s life changed dramatically, even standardized time changed to accommodate the railroad industry. Wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy robber barons while the workers struggled to get by.

Support your stance using materials from chapter 5, the internet, and your own opinion.

Benjamin Franklin’s Table of Virtues:

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

1. Journal Questions:

a) What virtue did you choose? What improvements did you observe as the week went by?
b) What virtue did you struggle with and why?
c) Which virtue do you think American’s still value most and why? (link)

2. Choose one Quote from Franklin’s book ‘Poor Richard’s Almanac’:

a) Which quote is you favorite & Why?
b) Rephrase quote using your 21st century vocabulary.

3. Choose an event (invention, political career, personal) in Franklin’s life that has somehow impacted America’s future.

a) Explain your choice