Homework for 9-24-09...

1. Finish the "Enlightenment Thinkers" worksheet.
2. Make sure you are posting to your blog.
3. Make sure you are responding to question posted on my blog.

Thomas Paine...

Many historians feel that without the popularity of the writings of Thomas Paine, there would not have been the mass based support for independence that made the American Revolution possible.

Here are some links to information about Thomas Paine…

http://www.media-visions.com/tompaine.html

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/tpaine/paine.htm

What was the title of Paine’s famous pamphlet that called on the American colonists to declare independence?

During the revolution, what was the title of Paine’s series of pamphelets which he wrote to support the revolutionary cause?

Where did Paine go after the American Revolution (hint, he went to support another revolution) and why?

Write a three paragraph summary of Paine’s ideas.

Supreme Court Asked to Weigh Redskins Case...

Native American activists are trying to get the Supreme Court involved in its long-running dispute with the Washington Redskins about whether the team's name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection. Read the article here...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/15/AR2009091500973.html?hpid=topnews

1. Why do you think Native Americans still feel very strongly about how they are betrayed in American pop culture?

2. What do you think about Native American names, symbols, etc. being used as sports team mascots?

The real Pocahontas?

In class we watched parts of the film New World. The film is supposed to portray the events surrounding the founding of the Jamestown colony, especially the the life of John Smith, Pocahontas, and John Rolfe. Like most versions of the story, much of it is fictionalized.

What parts of the film are historically accurate?

Which parts of the film are fiction?

How does the film portray the English colonists?

How does it portray the Native Americans?

Does the film have a message or any insights on the English encounter with the Native Americans of North America?

Genocide or not?

We have spent considerable time in the first few weeks of class discussing the way European colonists (Spanish, French & English) interacted with the Native American nations. We have talked about how some consider the resulting decline of Native American population numbers and the disappearance of whole cultures as a form of genocide. Others argue that it was not necessarily the intention of the Europeans to wipe out the Native American nations and therefore lack of intentionality means it can not be considered genocide.

What do you think? Drawing on what you have read and discussed in class, on your own blog, explain your position on this topic.