Well, not only have I birthed a new blog, Georgia On My Mind, I have also birthed a carnival…..The Carnival of Georgia Bloggers. You can find the first edition of the Georgia Carnival here. |
1. Who won the first battle of the War of Independence? The Massachusetts Militiamen won the Battle of Lexington and Concord when they forced the British to retreat from Concord back to Boston. The British were trying to confiscate colonial arms from a depot at Concord. The battle, which took place on the night of April 18-19, 1775, was the first military encounter of the American Revolution (1775-83) 2.On what hill did the Battle of Bunker Hill take place? It took place not on Bunker Hill but on Breed's Hill, on June 17, 1775. The opposing forces were supposed to engage on Bunker Hill, but for unknown reasons the soldiers dug in on the smaller sight, about 2,000 feet away. To straighten things out for visitors, Breed's Hill was later renamed Bunker Hill. 3.What did John Hancock (1737-93) do to earn his place as president of the Continental Congress? His most distinctive contribution to the rebel cause was the money. Hancock was a merchant who had inherited a fortune from a smuggler uncle. He used his wealth to help finance the revolution. He is best remembered now for his flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence in 1776. After the war, Hancock became governor of Massachusetts. 4. How many grievances against the king were named in the Declaration of Independence? The document cited 27 separate grievances against the king of Great Britain, George III. These grievances included refusing his assent to "wholesom" laws, making judges dependent on "his will alone," and bringing in foreign mercenaries to wage war on the colonies in a way "totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation." 5. Was Paul Revere of British decent? The Revolutionary War patriot (1735-1818) was only 50 percent British. Revere's father was French silversmith Apollos Rivoire, a Huguenot (Portestant) refugee from the persecution by the Catholic authorities in france. Revere's mother, Deborah Hitchbourn, was of English descent. 6. How cold was it at Valley Forge? Overall, the winter was fairly mild in 1777-78 when George Washington and his Continental Army were encamped at this site 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia. There was heavy snow and freezing weather in Christmas week but a thaw in January. What made conditions miserable was lack of adquate food, clothing, and shelter due to negligence and mismanagement by the Continental Congress and the commissary department. It is estimated that 2,500 of 10,000 soldiers died of disease and exposure during this period. 7. Who was Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier? He was the French nobleman better known to history as the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834). In 1777, at the age of 19, Lafayette came to America to volunteer in the Revolutionary War. Idealistic and adventurous, he was appointed a major-general and helped to secure military assistance from France. 8. Long Island, White Plains, Bennington, Monmouth, and Cowpens are all battles of the American Revolution. Which battles from this list did the Americans win? The Americans won the battles at Bennington and Cowpens. 9. Who was Molly Pitcher? She was Mary McCauley Hays, (1754-1832), heroine of the American Revolution. She entered her nickname during the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, when she fetched water for her husband and his gun crew. After her husband suffered a wound, she took over for him, helping the gun crew do its job. Afget the war, she was given a yearly pension of $40 by the Pennsylvania Assembly. 10. How many countries did the British fight during the American War of Independence? By 1780, the British were fighting not only to the United States and its ally France, but also Spain, the Netherlands, and the ruler of Mysore in India. The conflicts were not all related to American independence, but they did keep the British busy on many fronts, aiding the U.S. cause. 11. What became of British general Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805)? In the U.S., Cornwallis's main claim to fame was his surrender to the Americans and French at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, a turning point that effectively ended the war. But Cornwallis's career of enforcing British imperial rule was far from over. He went on to become Governor General of India (1786-94, 1805) and viceroy of Ireland (1798-1801). 12. Who were the American diplomats who negotiated the treaty that ended the Revolutionry War? Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated for the United States. The Treaty of Paris, ending the war and recognizing American independence, was signed on February 3, 1783. 13. Who was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence? Charles Caroll of Carrollton, Maryland. Born in 1737, he was 95 years old when he died in 1832. These questions and answers have not been totally verified for accuracy by EHT. There were taken directly from the book Questions From American History, The New York Public Library Book of Answers by Melinda Corey and George Ochoa Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
I AM THE NEW YEAR
I am the New Year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,Waiting, for you to search it out with more determination and passion.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,all the faith that you claimed but did not have --
These slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity.
-- Author Unknown
The New Year is a time of reflection, goal setting, and new beginnings. While I'm working on the reflecting and goal setting I have already had a new beginning of sorts.
History Is Elementary has given birth to a four post (so far) baby blog called Georgia On My Mind. So far in the TTLB ecosystem my baby blog is lower than an insignificant microbe.
I've felt the need for some time for a blog such as Georgia On My Mind simply because Georgia history is so interesting and our current events are worthy of making note of. Georgia is a vast state full of interesting characters, marvelous land formations, and lots of political action.
I've been ferreting out and reading several Georgia blogs of late and I have seen some really great ones. Currently I'm trying to gather up as many Georgia blogs as I can and link to them so they are all listed on one webpage. I also am forging ahead with a blog carnival for Georgia bloggers. Even though many folks are off line this week I've still planned the first blog carnival to be up on Friday, January 5th. Both of my children ate solid food, walked and talked early, so I see no need in waiting with my baby blog. We'll have a carnival even if the only post is mine.:)
It's hard work birthing a new blog so forgive links that don't work and spotty posting over the next few days. If you know a Georgia blogger please contact them and send them my way. Georgia On My Mind is listed on my blogger profile now so you can use that link or you can click here.
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Taken directly from the Atlantic Monthly site: 1. Abraham Lincoln-He saved the Union, freed the slaves, and presided over America’s second founding 2. George Washington-He made the United States possible---not only by defeating a king, but by declining to become one himself. 3. Thomas Jefferson-The author if the five most important words in American history: “All men are created equal.” 4. Franklin Delano Roosevelt-He said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and then he proved it. 5. Alexander Hamilton-Soldier, banker, and political scientist, he set in motion an agrarian nation’s transformation into an industrial power. 6. Benjamin Franklin-The founder-of-all-trades----scientists, printer, writer, diplomat, inventor, and more; like his country, he contained multitudes. 7. John Marshall-the defining chief justice, he established the Supreme Court as the equal of the other two federal branches. 8. Martin Luther King, Jr.-His dream of racial equality is still elusive, but no one did more to make it real 9. Thomas Edison-It wasn’t just the lightbulb; the Wizard of Menlo Park was the most prolific inventor in American history. 10. Woodrow Wilson-He made the world safe for U.S. inverventionism, if not for democracy. 11. John D. Rockefeller-The man behind Standard Oil set the mold for our tycoons---first by making money, then by giving it away 12. Ulysses S. Grant-He was a poor president, but he was the general Lincoln needed; he also wrote the greatest political memoir in American history 13. James Madison-He fathered the Constituition and wrote the Bill of Rights. American Presidents has created a mini-list from the Atlantic list compiling just the presidents on the list. It can be seen here. The most amazing find at the Atlantic site is the list of links to articles written by some of the famous Americans on the list. These writings were actually published in Atlantic Magazine. They include a ballad written by Abraham Lincoln, a letter written by Harry Truman which gives his justification for dropping the bomb on Hiroshima, a nuanced portrait of Churchill by Eleanor Roosevelt, an essay authored by W.E.B. Dubois urging members of his race to achieve “self-respect” and “self-realization”, and an essay written by J. Robert Oppenheimer, inventor of the atomic bomb in which he encourages Americans to take responsibility for the world’s fate. These writings and many more can be found at the Atlantic site here. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
It is amazing to me that it took right at 146 years for this great nation of ours to create a permanent home for our judicial branch of government. The building’s cornerstone was finally put in place in 1932. At that time Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes said, “The Republic endures, and this is a symbol of its faith.” I believe it one of the most beautiful symbols of our proud Republic.
We have President turned Chief Justice, William Howard Taft, to thank for the construction of the magnificent Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. He was instrumental in seeing that Congress authorized the construction.
This week’s Wordless Wednesday is the image from the western pediment.
Thank you for all the wonderful participation in this week’s offering. Angelo was the first to indicate that one of the figures is Lady Liberty. Hootin'Anni correctly identified the location as Washington D.C. while once again A.M. Whittaker was dead on. Teachergirl made a valiant effort in guessing some of the figures are Moses, Confucious, and Solon. She was speaking correctly but they are on the eastern pediment….not the image I posted. Moses, Confucious, and Solon are all three on the eastern pediment to represent the three great Eastern civilizations from which U.S. law was derived. I find it interesting that the tablets Moses holds are empty.
Getting back to the image I posted...
Robert Aitken was given the job of sculptor for the western pediment. He worked in the shed seen below as he carved the figures.
Aitken placed Liberty on her throne in the middle guarded by Order and Authority. Aitken later described Liberty as “looking confidently into the future with the scales of justice across her lap.”
On either side of Order and Authority are three figures which depict Council and Research.
Aitken modeled these figures after several prominent figures in law or after persons who had a hand in the creation in the Supreme Court Building to include on the far left Chief Justice Taft as a young boy at Yale. He represents Research Present. Look at the image below and examine Taft's reclining figure. To his immediate left can be seen a crown which one Supreme Court website states is the English crown. Taft is also looking towards a Pope's miter and a Bishop's crosier. Second from the left is Secretary of State Elihu Root who introduced Taft’s bill to create Washington’s Fine Arts Commission. He is one of the two figures representing Council. The figure seen third from the left is the building architect, Cass Gilbert.
On the far right is John Marshall, Chief Justice from 1801-1835 representing Research Past. The figure second from the right is the sculptor himself, Robert Aitken, while the third figure from the right is Chief Justice Hughes who succeeded Taft. Hughes is the second figure representing Council and was also chairman of the building commission.
Finally, here is one of my most favorite pictures. The columns are soaring up towards the wonderful coffered ceiling.
The Supreme Court building is simply that....SUPREME!
In light of my low-key Christmas I discussed earlier I received a very needed surprise yesterday. When I wasn’t looking History Is Elementary was added to the top 100 education blogs by the Online Education Database. Many of my blogging friends are there and many new finds (to me) are there as well. Looks like I have plenty of sites to visit. I’m sure many of the unfamiliar will become fast friends in the days ahead. I’m honored to be included and emailed the staff at OED to thank them.
Here are some blogs I’m already familiar with…….A big congrats to them!
Moving at the Speed of Creativity
Eduwonk
This Week in Education
D-Ed Reckoning
Education in Texas
Jenny D.
Are We Doing Anything Today?
Christopher D. Sessums Blog
NYC Educator
Here are three that I look at often, but have been too overwhelmed with items on my “to-do” list to link to them:
The Stingy Scholar
2 Cents Worth
Education Intelligence Agency
Enjoy perusing this lengthy list of sites in the on-line community for education!
Post Update: Firefly has uncovered a very interesting article regarding the whereabouts of the original painting for this week's Wordless Wednesday. I have emailed appropriate curators at the White House and the museums mentioned in the article and hope to hear back from them soon. This is getting interesting....Please read the entire post and make sure you view the comments as well.
Congrats to A.M. Whittaker and Firefly who placed the proper information in the comments section first.
The painting I featured in this week’s Wordless Wednesday seen here was created by American artist, N.C. Wyeth. It was first commissioned in 1930 for the Pennsylvania Railroad where it was used as a patriotic poster. Unfortunately I was unable to discover if any of the poster images survive or where the original painting is today. I have emailed the Wyeth homeplace and studio to see what they can tell me.
The painting does depict President Washington and White House architect, James Hoban inspecting the uncompleted White House in 1798. The site of the White House was chosen by Washington and city planner, Pierre L’Enfant, which we recognize today as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Though Washington never lived in the mansion he did oversee the construction. Wikipedia advises Mr. Hoban resided on the grounds of the White House during construction with his wife, ten children, and nine slaves in a red brick house.
The second purpose for Wyeth’s image came about in 1971, some twenty-six years after Wyeth’s tragic death in a train crossing accident. President Nixon along with his wife, Pat, choose Wyeth’s image for their official White House Christmas Card.
As I researched White House Christmas Cards for my recent post at American Presidents I was struck by the 1971 card and how different the image was compared to other cards. I loved the big, billowy clouds and just the overall painting style made me pause and take notice. Compare this image to other N.C. Wyeth images seen here and here. He had quite a career doing illustrations for children's book and magazines such as Scribners.
Tanya Nichols over at Crafty Girls mentioned in the comments she would come back and print the picture out for her children. This is a great idea. Children need to view art as something to interpret and every painting has more than one meaning.
Inferencing is one of the reading skills I struggle with every year to teach my fourth graders. All of you who commented on my Wordless Wednesday this week did just that…..even if you did it comically….you were inferencing and it is a powerful tool for learning. There is a fantastic N.C. Wyeth painting called The Giant here. It is a great learning tool for kids to experience the “whole” picture. Sometimes you can set your printer to black and white or outline and print a famous painting out for kids to color. They love this.
You can learn more about N.C. Wyeth here.
I'm pleased that some of you seem to be enjoying this little diversion. I had thought about chucking the whole thing, but it would seem it is serving a learning purpose....for ALL of us. :)
1. A place for everything and everything in its place and that everything that needed doing was DONE
Telling me the painting is set in Washington D.C. and the year is 1798 won't cut it.:)
