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The War of 1812 - Crash Course US History #11

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Thomas Jefferson & His Democracy: Crash Course US History #10

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The Electoral College Explained | History & Voting Process

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School PBS American Experience & Duel Hamilton Vs Burr

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Alexander Hamilton VS Aaron Burr: New Jersey is for Dueling | Laughing Historically

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American Founder Alexander Hamilton pushes Vice-President Aaron Burr to the breaking point leading to a duel to the death in where else, but New Jersey. Don't miss history, SUBSCRIBE ►http://bit.ly/1U0izNE Follow us on TWITTER ► http://www.twitter.com/laughhistory Like on FACEBOOK ► http://www.facebook.com/laughinghistorically --- ABOUT US: Join brothers Brandon and Nevin on their crazy trip through time as they dive into some of the weirdest (but true!)

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War of 1812

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I recently spent one of the last weeks of my summer vacation in Toledo, Ohio learning about the War of 1812 through an NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) Landmarks of History Workshop. I learned a lot and made some new friends while having some interesting immersion experiences in the western theater of the "Forgotten War." I'd like to share some of those experiences, information I gained from lectures, and a few fun resources helpful to revamping my teaching the War of 1812. Wait! There's a war in our history that is forgotten? Who won? OK, let's just get this clear, I live under the assumption that
all of my students remember EVERYTHING about history and therefore all Americans should too, right? Apparently the answer is no, because, well...just check this out.

"WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS TIME?!?!"

Let's hope this is not your story of the War of 1812 at the conclusion of your 8th grade US History experience. C'mon, anyone up for a revamped movie trailer as an answer to this? I really think we need to take this seriously because while Americans seem spacey at best on this war, Canadians have this thing down, but that is probably because they thought they won...(maybe also because their government spent $28 million dollars to commemorate the bicentennial and the U.S. spent $0)
CBC News on War of 1812 Commemoration Spending

"The War of 1812" by the Arrogant Worms

(Can you find the inaccuracies of the song?)

"The Fight for Canada--The War of 1812" Canadian commercial aired by Canadian government during the Olympics.

OK, are you all ready to go invade Canada? Because according to Canadians that was what this war was all about--and if that is so, then didn't we fail? What happened at this time?!?! Does anyone need to have some reassuring images of the Star Spangled Banner and listen to Whitney Houston sing the best anthem ever? It might help heal the pain and anger you are feeling, seriously, let's take 5 minutes.

Does everyone feel calm and collected now, or if not do you feel vindicated in that we succeeded in kicking those darn Brits out a second time, making this War of 1812 thing kind of like a second American Revolution? Ah-Ha! Perhaps that is what this War is all about...just continuing the Revolution...you remember that, right (Lexington and Concord, Valley Forge, G.W. and B.F BFF's, Treaty of Paris 1783)? I'll cry if you say no, so please reassure me that my life has meaning.

OK, I can't resist throwing another wrench into your story...ask someone from Great Britain why they find our anthem humorous...or if you are short on British friends and can't dial up the Queen, check this out...

OK PEOPLE! Enough with the British and Canadians knowing more than we do about the War of 1812! Let's get started figuring this out...and more than just the war alone, how does this war change American history, why do we choose to forget it, and how does it tie into our yearly WEB of history? DID WE WIN? I mean really, that is a really hard question to answer!

The War of 1812 is about the borderlands between Canada, the United States, and the "west"and who would control that land: Great Britain, The United States, or Native Americans (well, throw the "Canadians" in there too, but they are not a country yet). "The West" at this time is right were we live right now, Ohio and the rest of the Great Lakes Region. Oh, and we have to throw in that it is also about operations on the high seas (What does that even mean? I think it sounds cool...) and how the British just don't RESPECT US! Typically, when Americans actually remember this war (which is not often--we don't even have a bicentennial committee for it in our country!) the popular memory is of several key events or people that help build our national identity.

Can you think of some of the famous people, places, events or things that help create our national identity that come out of the War of 1812?

Now, what is a borderlands? Is that different than a border? Why or why not? Why does this all matter, and when can I go to lunch? I mean really, sometimes that was going through my head when I was the student this week, so I won't lie and pretend it didn't...and I know it's in your head to. (Feel free to insert home, friend's house, library, or mall for lunch--it still works) *those of you who picked library are ROCK STARS!

THE D.L. on BORDERLANDS: Borderlands are...

Around boundaries

Are areas of mixed culture

Places where no one has clear control up to the boundary line

Places or zones of an expanding society of people interacting with Native peoples

Back in my day they called this the frontier and since textbook companies are slow to catch up to the times you'll probably know it as that too. But why do you think the word frontier might be misleading when learning about American expansion?

So why the big deal about the borderlands? Its just a bunch of land that is not settled, animals, and lakes/rivers, right? WRONG! It is the most valuable land in THE WORLD at this time (late 18th and early 19th centuries). Why do you think so? P.S. what is the craziness about UPPER Canada and LOWER Canada? (I know the answer, but would love to see if you can use your big 8th grade brains to figure it out...TRY IT FIRST WITHOUT GOING TO GOOGLE...please? I promise it is more fun and rewarding!) BTW, where do you think the borderlands are in this map? Would there be other borderlands if there was more shown on the map?

More to come later as I continue to digest my new knowledge, place this in the context of what I already teach, and as I await more of my lame history teacher humor that you all are doomed to endure this year. Look for:

Causes of the War of 1812

Differing beliefs on citizenship--are we citizens or subjects?

Problems in the Borderlands

Tecumseh and The Prophet's Pan-Indian Movement

Impressment and Sovereignty on the High Seas

The 18th century belief of the inevitability of changing borders

Events of the War of 1812

Legacies of the War of 1812

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I recently spent one of the last weeks of my summer vacation in Toledo, Ohio learning about the War of 1812 through an NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) Landmarks of History Workshop. I learned a lot and made some new friends while having some interesting immersion experiences in the western theater of the "Forgotten War."

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Miss Columbia & Uncle Sam

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Hail, Miss Columbia: Once a U.S. symbol, she's lost out to Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty

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You know your Uncle Sam, but do you recognize Miss Columbia? This virtuous goddess in a flowing robe, symbol of liberty and star of political cartoons for ...

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McCullough vs. Maryland

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McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

In 1819, the state of Maryland, angered at the practices of the Bank of the United States sought to levy a tax against it; but bank cashier, James McCulloch refused to pay. In this video Justice John Marshall, in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland, dismisses the notion that states have the right to tax a national entity and in so doing further established the sovereignty of the national government over the states.

Learn more about The Supreme Court.

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In 1819, the state of Maryland, angered at the practices of the Bank of the United States sought to levy a tax against it; but bank cashier, James McCulloch refused to pay. In this video Justice John Marshall, in the case of McCulloch v.

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The Erie Canal

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Introduction

An engineering marvel of its day, the Erie Canal cost more than $7 million to construct, but generated enough toll money to pay for itself within ten years. After the canal opened in 1825, traffic and commerce between the Great Lakes region and the Atlantic seaboard jumped significantly. Transit time between the interior and the east coast decreased dramatically, westward settlement increased, and the economy grew at the most rapid pace in U.S. history. European markets seeking American goods benefited as well. It was the highest period of economic growth in our history! In this lesson, students learn about the Erie Canal, the people who used it, and its economic impact.

Materials

Strategy

Before beginning the lesson:

Read and review the content of the Primary Source of the Month and the Feature Article: "The Erie Canal: A Brief History."

Create a series of stations around the room by placing students' desks in groups of three. [Note: See diagram below. You will need one station for every three students]. Each trio of desks represents New York residents, settlers and merchants, and pioneers. The space between the desks represents the Erie Canal.

Place a complete set of Erie Canal Game Situation Cards at each station, placing the New Yorkers, Settlers/Merchants, and Pioneers card stacks on the appropriate desks [See diagram below.] Important: Make certain the first and last Pioneers cards are in their proper locations in the stack. The cards in between should be shuffled.

1. Divide students into groups of three and seat them at stations set up around the room.

2. Using the information gleaned from the Primary Source of the Month and the Feature Article: "The Erie Canal: A Brief History," conduct a class discussion about the Erie Canal and its importance in American history.

Explain to students that this activity will help them learn more about the Erie Canal and the people who used it. Also explain that, in each group, the three desks represent New York residents, settlers and merchants, and pioneers. The space between the desks represents the Erie Canal.

3. In each group, have students take turns drawing a situation card from their assigned stack, read it aloud to the other members of the group [Note: Cards must be drawn in the following order-1) Pioneers, 2) New Yorkers, and 3) Settlers/Merchants.], and follow the directions. If a student's card indicates travel through the Erie Canal, have him/her walk between the desks to move through the canal in the proper direction-west toward Lake Erie or east toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Game play continues until all of the situation cards have been drawn. Have students retain their game cards for post-game review.

4. Give each student a Erie Canal Game Graphic Organizer. Have students review their stack of Erie Canal situation cards and complete the graphic organizer.

Have each student select one character they learned about while playing the game (e.g. New York resident, pioneer, settler, merchant, or business owner). Then, using the information from their graphic organizers, have them write a series of diary entries from that character's perspective in which they describe the impact of the Erie Canal on them and the United States.

Lesson Extension

Have students explore the geography of the Erie Canal by having them draw a map of New York, place the Erie Canal in its proper location, and label the lock cities.

This lesson was written by Susan Hewitt, elementary school teacher, Lakeside, California.

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colonial williamsburg family vacation packages

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Introduction An engineering marvel of its day, the Erie Canal cost more than $7 million to construct, but generated enough toll money to pay for itself within ten years. After the canal opened in 1825, traffic and commerce between the Great Lakes region and the Atlantic seaboard jumped significantly.

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The Burning of D.C.

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The Burning of Washington DC during the War of 1812

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An excerpt from the History Channel's documentary "First Invasion: the War of 1812".

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Louisiana Purchase and Adams - Onis Treaty

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The United States completes the Louisiana Purchase from France which leads to many changes in Texas including the Adams-Onis Treaty between Spain and the United States.

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How Inventions Change the World

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How inventions change history (for better and for worse) - Kenneth C. Davis