Roe v. Wade (1973)

What is your legal assessment of the Roe v Wade (1973) decision by the United States Supreme Court?

This is due December 9th during your class period.

Weddington is Roe's Lawyer---McCorvey is Roe

Gold Rush

What route would you have taken in 1849 from New York City to the Gold Fields of California during the rush to riches??

The two water routes

The Santa Fe Trail

Oregon Trail

ssa

Answer this question on this blog by Tuesday November 4th.

Social Security

 Should the United States Government use tax revenues to support socially, both legal residents and citizens of the country? Prior to 1933 this was not done, but the "New Deal" of F.D.R.'s administration commenced with programs to offer funding to help those in need. Was this activity constitutional??

Entry due Tuesday November 4th

I copied the below from the Oyez, Oyez web page:

SEARCH: 

STEWARD MACHINE COMPANY v. DAVIS

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Case Basics

Docket No. 

837

Petitioner 

Steward Machine Company

Respondent 

Davis

Decided By 

Hughes Court (1932-1937)

Opinion 

301 U.S. 548 (1937)

Argued 

Thursday, April 8, 1937

Decided 

Monday, May 24, 1937

Term:

• 1901-1939
  
  

  • 1936

Location: Steward Machine Co.

Facts of the Case 

The Steward Machine Company challenged the validity of a tax imposed by the Social Security Act. The Act established a federal payroll tax on employers; however, if employers paid taxes to a state unemployment compensation fund (created by the states subject to federal standards), they were allowed to credit those payments toward the federal tax.

Question 

Did the Act arbitrarily impose taxes in violation of the Fifth Amendment or subvert principles of federalism?

Conclusion 

In a 5-to-4 decision, the Court held that the tax under the Social Security Act was a constitutional exercise of congressional power. The Court found that the tax was uniform throughout the states and did not coerce the states in contravention of the Tenth Amendment. The Court took note of recent unemployment statistics from the years 1929 to 1936, maintaining that "[i]t is too late today for the argument to be heard with tolerance that in a crisis so extreme the use of the moneys of the nation to relieve the unemployed and their dependents is a use for any purpose narrower than the promotion of the general welfare. . .The nation responded to the call of the distressed."

Arrest and Detain Suspected Terrorist?

What measures should the US Gov. take to protect Americans?

The blog entry is due before Saturday's class on 

25 October.

Below you will find the dictionary.com definitions of Illegal Conspiracy, and the rights of American Citizens defined and applied by the fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.    Should US law enforcement by able to stop and detain people they think may be thinking of becoming ISIS soldiers or people who seem to be attempting to join other terrorist organizations?  Do you think we should welcome the monitoring of cell phones and internet traffic of suspected, but not proven terrorists??

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1.

the act of conspiring.

2.

an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surreptitious plan formulated in secret  by two or more persons; plot.

3.

a combination of persons for a secret, unlawful, or evil purpose:

He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government.

4.

Law. an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud,or other wrongful act.

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Fourteenth Amendment: Remember this make the rights listed in the Bill of Rights Applicable to the National and the State Government

Article XIV (Amendment 14 - Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection)

1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

American Revolution

Why did the British Lose the American Revolutionary War??

amendments

Choose one of the 27 United States Constitutional Amendments and explain why it is significant to you.  Have this done by 9/26/2014

Your Malala Moment

Malala had a moment in her life that changed her life and it is one that she could never forget.  A watershed moment of awareness that shapes ones thinking could be witnessing an event, learning a once secret fact, a funeral, discovering a talent, falling in love, or realizing that we as humans are frail mortal beings: life is precious. What is one of the moments in your life that can not be erased from your memory; a moment that  revealed to you a significant truth about yourself.

This assignment is to be written on my WFG blog for all of us to read on by class on Friday for 
A   B   D   and  E period classes.   It is to be on the blog by Saturday for F period class. One great paragraph will be enough, but write more if you desire.  Be ready to speak about your moment in class.

Remember this blog can be read by anyone in the world.  You are writing for an audience that is much bigger than your teacher.

world's faster female ice hockey player

At the senior dinner at Berkshire School this May the quest speaker was Olympic Silver Medalist Kendall Coyne.  I was lucky enough to teach her during her senior year at Berkshire, and then as you can see I was honored to have my picture taken with her.  She and her accomplishments are awesome.

Topics Question due May 9, 2014

   Read the question asked and post your answer by clicking onto the comment section.   Goggle Chrome or Internet Explorer work much better to write on this blog.  It is a goggle blog so the goggle platform will be the easiest for you.

Question:       The first amendment to the US Constitution protects the freedom of religion as well as the freedoms of expression.  Please read this amendment carefully, along with Article IV Section I of the main body of the Constitution, ( full faith and credit clause).  What is your opinion on the constitutionality of same sex marrigage?
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Article IV

Section 1

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.  And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Article [I]¹³

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

time

Finishing my 35th year as a teacher at Berkshire School feels quite different than other years.  As I get older my energy seems to be draining faster, and I find myself wishing I could spend time with my wonderful wife.  I love the kids who are as inspirational as ever, but I am longing to live a less stressful existance.

Should the US have joined the League?

Should the United States of American have joined the League of Nations in 1919?  

President W. Wilson

Senator H. C. Lodge

Sports and Politics Homework

Homework---Write a one paragraph account of a moment in your personal sports history that is special to you.

Put this on the WFG blog at  http://briananddansdad.blogspot.com/
by Tuesday for all of us to read in class.

Behind the Badge Homework

Your homework is to check out one of these organizations in your community and tell us something about the organization.  Write one or two paragraphs explaining the P.D.  or  the F.D. or the E.M.S. in your town.  Submit these paragraphs on the WFG blog at this location by Wednesday for us to read them in class.

Medical Services

Firefighting Services

Law Enforecment

kids

It has occurred to me that the students at Berkshire School where I am a history teacher are the reason I have stayed teaching for 35 years. What great feeling when a student says hello and you can see the genuine happiness in their eyes.  This experience just happened for me as a Post Grad Senior girl saw me in passing and greeted me with friendship.  One of us is 60 and the other 18, yet her expression of friendship was perfect.  Small gestures are not small gestures they are great inspirations to continue on.  Thanks Aly Hall, you made my day.

another example of a former student making it all worth it.

Trivia Night Bonus Question

Tell the crew in Trivia Night Headquarters where the photographer was standing when the picture was snapped--not what the picture is of -- where the person taking it was standing.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

Paper topic ideas

Write two or three sentences that describe your term paper topic and submit it on the WFG blog for our consideration. Be prepared to support your idea in class.
 Topics Must be from 1865 to 2014 and be related to the History of the USA

Reconstruction Plans

Which plan for reconstruction do you feel was superior:  Lincoln's 10% plan or The Wade Davis Bill?

Make sure to give your reasons.

This is due on Thursday, January 9th  2014

President Abe Lincoln

Senator Ben Wade (OH) & Representative Henry Davis (MD)