Washington and the Forming of a Nation

As you know, American government was still in its infancy after the ratification of the Constitution.  How that government would work in practice however was (and is still today) still much in question.  Additionally, America was (and is) still defining the values and beliefs that were the foundations of American political and social thought.  Today, you will work to assess how the early nation was doing; how ideas like liberty were being developed; and whether or not, the new nation was accomplishing the goals set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution.

Instructions for class on 9/30/2011:

1) (15 mins.) In your American Reader read George Washington's Farewell address that begins on page 71.
Annotate the reading according to the actions and/or advice Washington offers in response to:

• The potential threat of political parties and interest groups
• The mounting criticism of government and the authority of the executive.
• The proper role of the United States in international politics.

2) (20 mins.) Next you will investigate a person or event that also influenced the early American republic.  Click on this link and find the person or event that corresponds to your assigned number.  Then you will research your term by going to the subscription databases on the Library website.  Using either the American History database, the Salem History database, or American National Biography online, research your assigned person or event.  Take notes about the key facts or details that are necessary to understand the significance of your assigned person or event.  Note-you may need to go to more than one database to get a full understanding.

3) (20 mins.) Write a post that does the following:

• Has a creative title that says something about the significance of your assigned person or event.
• Summarizes enough key details so that someone reading your post will understand your assigned person or event.  This may be written out in paragraph form or a list of bullet points.
• Contains a paragraph that links your assigned event or person to George Washington.  According to his Farewell Address, what would George Washington say about the information you discovered?  In what way did (or didn't ) your person or event reflect the values or ideals that Washington defined in his address? 
• Contains a paragraph with your assessment of this person or event.  How does your person or event match up with what we've been studying so far?  Does your research help to expand any ideas or notions of liberty that you've seen already?  Are there Constitutional questions that arise as a result of your research?  Does this person or event help to accomplish or go against the goals set forth in the Preamble?

4) (15 - 20 mins.) When finished with your post. Spend time exploring the events or people that your classmates have written about on their blogs.  

5) (20 mins.) After reading at least 4 or 5 others, write a final response to this activity in your notebooks.  Based on what you've seen in your research and your classmates' blogs, how would you assess this era?  How is the United States growing as a nation?  Are there any links or connections that you can make between any of the issues that arose then and what you see in the nation today?  Be sure to check your final notebook entry in with Mr. Kramer or Mr. Rigler.