Dear Dr. Rhinehart,
I believe that we should not "deny" high school students history for a few reasons. History is something that we need to know, it is how we learn about the past; a people's past, your country's past, and most importantly, your past. A piece of history might just be information to some, but to others, it could be the whole of one's generation, waiting to be discovered. We may not know it yet, but we were all once connected so some piece of significant history. Some subjects sure may seem a bit, "too much" such as the Rape of Nanking, but remember, we are young adults, 15-18 year olds mature enough to handle these kinds of information. If you still think that some aren't mature enough to be learning this kind of history, you can pull them out but I assure you, the rest of us, are mature enough and are actually very interested in learning about these significant historic events. It just doesn't seem right to be denied information or the privilege of learning something because it is nothing but beneficial to the young student's mind to be fed new information everyday.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A Reflection of Our Past Gangsters
Bonnie & Clyde were a couple part of a well known gang of outlaws, robbers, and criminals. Their crime spree occurred during the Great Depression and were responsible for quite a few murders.
John Dillinger was an American Gangster and bank robber during the Depression era. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations; he escaped from prison twice, and the FBI was even formed to help capture him.
Babyface Nelson partnered with Dillinger helping with their escape. He was later raised to public enemy number one and is responsible for a number of killings of FBI agents.
Machine Gun Kelly, a notorious American criminal during the prohibition era. His favorite weapon was the Thompson submachine gun, thus the origin of his name; he is famously known for the kidnapping of Charles Urschel in July '33. Other crimes included bootlegging & robbery.
Pretty Boy Floyd was a bank robber in the '30s. He and Adam Richetti became primary suspects of the Kansas City Massacre in 1933 but claims they were never involved.
Kate "Ma" Barker & Sons::The four sons: Herman, Lloyd, Arthur, and Fred; Ma was the leader and criminal mastermind of the gang. The group committed a spree of crimes between 1931 and 1935; Ma was never charged with committing but did whatever to get bail money for sons. Herman was shot in 1927. Kate and Fred were gunned down in a four hour shoot-out with the FBI in 1935. Arthur was shot in 1939 and Lloyd ten years later.
John Dillinger was an American Gangster and bank robber during the Depression era. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations; he escaped from prison twice, and the FBI was even formed to help capture him.
Babyface Nelson partnered with Dillinger helping with their escape. He was later raised to public enemy number one and is responsible for a number of killings of FBI agents.
Machine Gun Kelly, a notorious American criminal during the prohibition era. His favorite weapon was the Thompson submachine gun, thus the origin of his name; he is famously known for the kidnapping of Charles Urschel in July '33. Other crimes included bootlegging & robbery.
Pretty Boy Floyd was a bank robber in the '30s. He and Adam Richetti became primary suspects of the Kansas City Massacre in 1933 but claims they were never involved.
Kate "Ma" Barker & Sons::The four sons: Herman, Lloyd, Arthur, and Fred; Ma was the leader and criminal mastermind of the gang. The group committed a spree of crimes between 1931 and 1935; Ma was never charged with committing but did whatever to get bail money for sons. Herman was shot in 1927. Kate and Fred were gunned down in a four hour shoot-out with the FBI in 1935. Arthur was shot in 1939 and Lloyd ten years later.
Topic.07 !
Scopes Trial: John T. Scopes, a Tennessee high school biology teacher, was arrested and charged with teaching evolution, violating the Butler Act. Scopes was found guilty and charged with $100 but the verdict was overturned on a technicality, was never brought back to trial, and had his $100 fine returned.
Prohibition: Jan. 1920; Was pushed by women's organizations because of domestic violence and child abuse. 18th Amendment prohibited manufacture & sales of "intoxicating liquor" but however, it DID NOT ban consumptions, possession, or transportation of liquors. Speakeasies,started to appear. In 1932, FDR ran for president and used repealing 18th amendment as his platform and created the 22nd amendment, which got rid of the 18th.
Flappers: Women who: had short hair, smoked, showed her gams, shoulders, and cleavage.
Economic Issues (1920s): Credit available to consumers but was dangerous & people couldn't believe it. Low interest rates meaning they were charged money to borrow money. Then "Installment Plan" was introduced where you are on a fixed "plan" of how to pay back borrowed money.
Dust Bowl: A period of severe dust storms which damaged a lot of agriculture across America and Canada. Contributing factors included droughts, over farming, and mechanisation. Mechanism has made it easier to rebuild the farmlands because now it meant no more crop rotating.
Agriculture Issues: Caused by Dust Bowl but was aided by start of mechanism which meant no more crop rotating and made it easier to plant.
Immigration Policies (1920s): Oppositions to quotas disappear due to soldiers returning home from war taking all the jobs available so immigrant workers were less needed. Immigration Act of 1924 was established where 2% limit of each ethnic group from 1890 census would be allowed to migrate to U.S. per year. Asians were banned.
Nativism: Native-born Americans who think they are better than foriegners and blamed everythng on them.
Significant Literary Works (1920s): Jacob Riis: "How The Other Half Lives" - Tells about the living conditions in New York slums in the 1880s. Upton Sinclair: "Jungle" - Where he reveals how processed meat is made. Ralph Nader: "Unsafe At Any Speed" - Where he talks about cars and the safety precautions involved. Langston Hughes: "Ways of White Folks" - He points out the mistakes of people.
The Great Migration: African Americans migrate from the south and more and more places up north are being occupied by African Americans. In some places, they even have their own little community where they own shops, businesses, and services. Harlem Renaissance occurred; But as African populations were growing, new forms of KKK groups were emerging.
Harlem Renaissance: It was the first time African Americans expressed their culture and were proud of it. Jazz was then created.
Sacco & Vanzetti: Italian anarchists convicted of murder and robbery. They were executed on Aug 23, 1927
Labor Issues: A lot of people were unemployed but most were drunks who drank all the time so they didn't look for jobs.
Red Scare: Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin takes Power in Russia, Russia turns in U.S.S.R., People were afraid of "un-american behaviors", examples include being foreign.
Schneck v. The United States: Espionage & Sedition Acts declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court
Prohibition: Jan. 1920; Was pushed by women's organizations because of domestic violence and child abuse. 18th Amendment prohibited manufacture & sales of "intoxicating liquor" but however, it DID NOT ban consumptions, possession, or transportation of liquors. Speakeasies,started to appear. In 1932, FDR ran for president and used repealing 18th amendment as his platform and created the 22nd amendment, which got rid of the 18th.
Flappers: Women who: had short hair, smoked, showed her gams, shoulders, and cleavage.
Economic Issues (1920s): Credit available to consumers but was dangerous & people couldn't believe it. Low interest rates meaning they were charged money to borrow money. Then "Installment Plan" was introduced where you are on a fixed "plan" of how to pay back borrowed money.
Dust Bowl: A period of severe dust storms which damaged a lot of agriculture across America and Canada. Contributing factors included droughts, over farming, and mechanisation. Mechanism has made it easier to rebuild the farmlands because now it meant no more crop rotating.
Agriculture Issues: Caused by Dust Bowl but was aided by start of mechanism which meant no more crop rotating and made it easier to plant.
Immigration Policies (1920s): Oppositions to quotas disappear due to soldiers returning home from war taking all the jobs available so immigrant workers were less needed. Immigration Act of 1924 was established where 2% limit of each ethnic group from 1890 census would be allowed to migrate to U.S. per year. Asians were banned.
Nativism: Native-born Americans who think they are better than foriegners and blamed everythng on them.
Significant Literary Works (1920s): Jacob Riis: "How The Other Half Lives" - Tells about the living conditions in New York slums in the 1880s. Upton Sinclair: "Jungle" - Where he reveals how processed meat is made. Ralph Nader: "Unsafe At Any Speed" - Where he talks about cars and the safety precautions involved. Langston Hughes: "Ways of White Folks" - He points out the mistakes of people.
The Great Migration: African Americans migrate from the south and more and more places up north are being occupied by African Americans. In some places, they even have their own little community where they own shops, businesses, and services. Harlem Renaissance occurred; But as African populations were growing, new forms of KKK groups were emerging.
Harlem Renaissance: It was the first time African Americans expressed their culture and were proud of it. Jazz was then created.
Sacco & Vanzetti: Italian anarchists convicted of murder and robbery. They were executed on Aug 23, 1927
Labor Issues: A lot of people were unemployed but most were drunks who drank all the time so they didn't look for jobs.
Red Scare: Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin takes Power in Russia, Russia turns in U.S.S.R., People were afraid of "un-american behaviors", examples include being foreign.
Schneck v. The United States: Espionage & Sedition Acts declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court
Monday, February 7, 2011
Prohibition & Remy's Decade of Success
Prohibition was a time
Roaring with men and their booze but with
Oppositions about drinking at the work place,
Henry Ford became a pro-prohibition,
Insisting that his
Business "cant be as productive with workers drinking".
Illegal bars called speakeasies started emerging
and people drank all night long in there !
These places served bootleggers, moonshine, and even bathtub gin !
In the day they were disguised as regular stores but came nighttime,
One by one they all transform into bars where men drink and gamble.
Nobody could ever enter one without a password. So if you want to enter one, better hope you have the right password !
Remy fell asleep at work one day, & dreamed he met an
Optimistic man in the past named Louis.
As they introduced, Louis spoke of his life dream,
Renovating a Cognac so good, he would sell everywhere and
Imagined himself a very wealthy man.
Now awake and inspired, Remy also wanted to try it too and
Giddy as he was, he ran home & fermented up some champagne.
Trial after trial,
Worn out Remy made one last mix, hoping it'll be good.
Everyone is his family enjoyed it, so he thought
"Now it's onto local bars".
They also liked it but paid little.
Immersed in his small success, he made more and
Eventually became a wealthy French wine maker.
Some of you might have heard of Remy, but only by name.
Do you know who I'm talking about ?
Roaring with men and their booze but with
Oppositions about drinking at the work place,
Henry Ford became a pro-prohibition,
Insisting that his
Business "cant be as productive with workers drinking".
Illegal bars called speakeasies started emerging
and people drank all night long in there !
These places served bootleggers, moonshine, and even bathtub gin !
In the day they were disguised as regular stores but came nighttime,
One by one they all transform into bars where men drink and gamble.
Nobody could ever enter one without a password. So if you want to enter one, better hope you have the right password !
Remy fell asleep at work one day, & dreamed he met an
Optimistic man in the past named Louis.
As they introduced, Louis spoke of his life dream,
Renovating a Cognac so good, he would sell everywhere and
Imagined himself a very wealthy man.
Now awake and inspired, Remy also wanted to try it too and
Giddy as he was, he ran home & fermented up some champagne.
Trial after trial,
Worn out Remy made one last mix, hoping it'll be good.
Everyone is his family enjoyed it, so he thought
"Now it's onto local bars".
They also liked it but paid little.
Immersed in his small success, he made more and
Eventually became a wealthy French wine maker.
Some of you might have heard of Remy, but only by name.
Do you know who I'm talking about ?
Saturday, February 5, 2011
CSI: South Braintree:: Sacco & Vanzetti
Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian anarchists convicted of murder and robbery in Massachusetts in 1920. Although there were many disputes to if they were guilty or innocent and whether or not their trials were even fair. Although there were evidence showing and proving that they were guilty, some of it was questionable and their defense also gave decent reason for their innocence and ineligible eye witnesses. To determine if the result of the trial was fair, I decided to play the role of a CSI Investigator in 1920 and look at the evidence to make a fair conclusion.
The first piece of evidence against Sacco were the eye witnesses. Several of them put Sacco around Braintree at the time of the crime. However, the defense calls that none of the witnesses were exactly sure of their identification of the criminal as Sacco. Ballistics evidence claims that a bullet found could NOT have been fired from Sacco's gun but after conducting tests at the Mass Police Lab, it's found that the bullet WAS shot from his gun. Sacco also skipped work on the day of the crime but had alimony for being at Boni's restaurant. Seven witnesses testified.
THEN, evidence against Vanzetti are as followed: Eyewitnesses, including Levangie, said he saw Vanzetti driving a car near Braintree after he heard shots. But others testified that Levangie told them he first saw no one, then he saw a light-haired driver (Vanzetti dark-haired). Vanzetti's defense of selling fish in Plymouth. Six witnesses verified they saw him. Last evidence is Vanzetti's gun, a 38 calibre Harrington & Richardson revolver with a repaired hammer, just like the one paymaster guard Berardelli had at the time he was shot. Vanzetti said he bought it from a friend but lied about the cost. He, however, testified he bought the gun from a friend months ago using cash he received from his fish peddling business and was concerned about recent hold-ups. His friend, Falzini, testified he sold him the gun. (Although in 1977 reports reveal Berardelli's revolver was a .32 not .38, it was no use as the trial ended in 1927).
The result of the trial was both Sacco & Vanzetti were executed because they were both found guilty. Now there were some notes regarding the two and the prosecution. It was well shown and noticed that Vanzetti's case was much weaker than Sacco's, and the possibility that Vanzetti could be innocent, the judge had already made his decision and it was final. Much less than Sacco, Vanzetti continually proclaimed his innocence and even Sacco was incensed about it, rather his own conviction. The prosecution also noticed this and even had some doubts of their own as soon as the verdict was set.
My decision, much like the prosecution's is that although all evidence shows Sacco as guilty, Vanzetti might as well be innocent as the evidences put against him don't exactly place him with much to do about the murders. In 1982, Francis Russell was informed in a letter from Giovanni Gamberi's son saying "Sacco was guilty" and "Vanzetti innocent as far as the actual participation in the killing." Now Vanzetti could be charged with the robberies he's done before with Sacco, but certainly NOT charged with murder.
IMG src: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Sacco_e_Vanzetti.PNG
Only Teach What Seems To Fit
In the 1920s, there was an American legal case called the Scopes Trial. The argument was John Scopes accused of teaching evolution to high school students. In my perspective, I think evolution should be taught in public schools because it would one, tie into the teachings of science so it wouldn't completely be out there as its own topic, and two, it would make most people happy, even if a number of fundamentalists are against it. In most cases, majority rules and a majority of people, would go with the theory of evolution. Now for those fundamentalist people who believe in religion and God's creation for everything, it can still and most likely be taught in private or parochial schools.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Extra Credit; Way, Way back in the 1920s,
times are changing and fashion is making an impact as never before. Women still wear skirts but now, they're only down to the knees ! Now, men find women even more attractive and this is a fact because just the other day, I saw a woman in her mid 20's walk out of the store and a couple of drugstore cowboys across the street says to each other, "Daaanngggg man, did you see her gams ?!" "Yea man, but did you see her dogs in them shoes ? Oh lord have mercy !" So as they admired the woman's chassis, I kept on walking as I had to be home in time to get ready for the shindig in the town tonight. It's apparently this big cat's meow that everybody's talking and is going to be bearcat ! So I got home, showered, and got dressed up all spiffy-like and waited for my friend Tiffany to come over with her parents so we can go together because they are the fire extinguishers of the event. As the night went on and we get into the later hours of the night, a visitor of the town brought some giggle water and the adults had an even better time while the youngsters just had juice and water. By the end of the night, the weaker of the adults upchucked their hooch and us youngsters just laughed because we've never seen so many adults threw up at once !
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