fandomhigh | US History (Wednesday, February 15, 7th period)

Josh, slightly dumber for having wasted an hour of his life watching Doctor Phil, sat at his desk as the US History class arrived.

"Today we move on to the discussion of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. After Adams became the first incumbent president to lose, Jefferson became the first President to be elected by the House of Representatives because the Electoral College was stupid. This was the first time people had been really running as a ticket, you see. Originally, it had been whoever got the most votes became President and the number two became Vice President." He raised an eyebrow. "You can see the problems in that particular system. But the political parties formed a new problem. Jefferson and Burr--who were running as Democratic-Republicans--got the exact same number of votes, even though Burr was supposed to be the VP candidate." Josh shrugged. "When Burr realized he could be the President instead, he thought that sounded like a pretty good idea. Hamilton convinced the Members of the House that Jefferson was the lesser of two evils, thereby endearing himself to Burr forever. Except not."

He looked down at his notes. "So Jefferson becomes President and Adams leaves the White House rather than calling up his heavily armed buddies and refusing to move as has happened in more than a few countries, let me just say, and then Jefferson went on to be one of the greatest Presidents we've ever had." Josh smiled, a little embarrassed. "Sorry. This is one of my favorite Presidents--I get a little into it. Jefferson was the original Big Cheese--literally. A group of Massachusetts Baptists liked him some much they named a 1600 pound cheese after him." Josh looked around. "This is, sadly, not the last cheese-related story I will be telling you during this class."

He cleared his throat. "Anyway. One of the biggest deals, um, literally, during Jefferson's time as President was the Louisiana Purchase--he bought two-thirds of the United States for $15 million--a steal at four times the price. He sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to map it all. That's the Lewis & Clark expedition, of course. They started in Saint Louis--um, not named after Lewis, and then explored all the way to the Pacific Ocean."

He sat down. "Okay. Our discussion question for the day. You're packing for an expedition of unknown length across unexplored terrain full of potentially hostile people. What do you pack?"

You're on the Lewis & Clark expedition. Or some other expedition. What do you pack?

"I'd make sure to have a good supply of materials for building fires and food supplies. Also blankets and some sort of tradable commodity."

"Stuff," Cally says. "All the stuff I'd need to survive without life sucking a whole lot."

"I'd pack necessary food and some medical supplies."

"Blankets, pillows, food, a nail file... lots of socks."

"The boat. Or if it's a land expedition, the cart." It seems obvious to him. You clearly wouldn't be packing the car back then.

"Pens." Blair bounced happily. "Also notebook paper and pencils. And pens."

"Supplies - food, clothing, basic medical equipment - and the means to get other necessities while on the journey. People who could track and hunt - maybe someone who had some experience with the area to begin with."

"Stylish but comfortable shoes, cute long-sleeved stuff to keep any little bloodsuckers away, a good moisturizer, and some kind of good food that won't go bad or something. Because eating berries in the wilderness is bad," Quinn says. "Trust me."

Chloe starts ticking things off on her fingers. "Clothes, socks, lots of clean underwear, bug spray, flashlights and batteries, my camera, food, and an extra battery for my cell phone. I'm sure I'm forgetting something though."

Sign in (History, February 15)

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During the lecture

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After class

OOC