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fandomhigh2006-03-29 12:38 pm
professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-03-29 12:38 pm
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US History (Wednesday, March 29, 7th period)
"Today we talk about westward expansion," Josh said, pointing at a map of the United States he had pulled down over the chalkboard.
"We had been expanding since the Northwest Territories, out into the Louisiana Purchase, and all the way across the continent. As you remember from your reading on what led up to the Civil War, new states deciding whether to come into the United States as slave or free was a huge, huge deal." He shrugged. "But traditionally, we talk about exploring the West after Reconstruction. Mostly because there isn't anything interesting happening in this particular period of history unless you have a strange fascination with the Garfield Administration."
He wrinkled his nose. "Which I don't. So. Moving on."
He looked down at his notes. "This is a good point -- although it was pretty much a continual thing, sadly -- to stop and acknowledge that, yeah, the US government kind of completely screwed the Native Americans." He pointed to the map again, gesturing with his hands. "This map? Shows Native lands in 1824, the year that the Bureau of Indian Affairs was established." He flipped to another map, showing significantly less land. "This? Native lands in 1890."
He continued talking about the Homestead Act, the Gold Rush, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, and the battles of Wounded Knee and Little Bighorn for half of the class time.
He then pointed to several computers set up in the classroom. "Now you can have some experience pretending to travel West."
Why yes, he's letting you play Oregon Trail. Try not to die of a snake bite.
"We had been expanding since the Northwest Territories, out into the Louisiana Purchase, and all the way across the continent. As you remember from your reading on what led up to the Civil War, new states deciding whether to come into the United States as slave or free was a huge, huge deal." He shrugged. "But traditionally, we talk about exploring the West after Reconstruction. Mostly because there isn't anything interesting happening in this particular period of history unless you have a strange fascination with the Garfield Administration."
He wrinkled his nose. "Which I don't. So. Moving on."
He looked down at his notes. "This is a good point -- although it was pretty much a continual thing, sadly -- to stop and acknowledge that, yeah, the US government kind of completely screwed the Native Americans." He pointed to the map again, gesturing with his hands. "This map? Shows Native lands in 1824, the year that the Bureau of Indian Affairs was established." He flipped to another map, showing significantly less land. "This? Native lands in 1890."
He continued talking about the Homestead Act, the Gold Rush, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, and the battles of Wounded Knee and Little Bighorn for half of the class time.
He then pointed to several computers set up in the classroom. "Now you can have some experience pretending to travel West."
Why yes, he's letting you play Oregon Trail. Try not to die of a snake bite.