Global+Studies

=Global Studies with Mr. Wilson=


 * Ancient Civilization Project**: We were assigned groups, and then had to choose an ancient civilization we wanted to represent. The prompt was that the world had the first time machine, and we were trying to persuade that time traveler to come to our civilization. Our group's civilization was Ancient China, we all split up to cover the Zhou, Xia, and Shang Dynasty, I worked on the Shang Dynasty with Maya. Our group made a travel brochure, however the down side to a tangible product is not everyone can have it. I'll put a link to the virtual version though. My group members were Maya, Caylie, Sydney, and Matthew.

[|Ancient China Travel Magazine]

[|Group Doc]

[|Shang Dynasty Doc]


 * Transportation:** The project we have been working on lately is the transportation project. Each class is building some form of transportation they used in that time period. We are building a steamboat. We also have 3 different tri-fold boards that are loaded with information and pictures about inventions from 1800-1850, the Mexican American War, territorial acquisitions, and Manifest Destiny.

Below is the research I completed for the project. I probably could have allocated all of my time more effectively, but I feel I still learned A LOT from this project.

Manifest Destiny was the idea that it was the God given rights and obligations of the settlers to expand their territory westward from sea to shining sea.

After Mexico ceded most of the southwest in 1848, James Gadsden, the new Minister to Mexico, made a deal with Mexico for enough territory for his railroad. He bought the territory he needed for 33 cents an acre. The total cost for all 45535 acres was $10,000,000 and eventually resulted in the banishing of Santa Anna from dictator.

My Personal Research:


 * The Alamo**

The Alamo: The Alamo took place in San Antonio Texas, there were 2,400 Mexicans, and around 250 Americans. The Mexicans surrounded the Alamo, and after two weeks the Mexicans finally stormed the Alamo. Americans had cannons that were mounted on the walls to keep back hostile forces. All of the defending Americans were killed, however two women and one child were let go. Over 400 Mexicans were killed in the fight. James Bowie, David Crocket, and John Smith all died in the battle.


 * Aztlan Movement**

The Aztlan/Reconquista Movement is the idea that some of the states taken in the Mexican Cession still belong to Mexico. Those states are Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. Details of the Mexican Cession are sketchy, and some people don’t recognize the treaty as ever happening. So, Mexicans/Latinos are repopulating those areas, (not all legally) and while living in America they are still loyal to Mexico. It sounds crazy, but they are trying to put those states into Mexico.


 * The Siege of Veracruz**

The Siege of Veracruz was a 20 day siege at the seaport of Veracruz. This was the first large scale naval assault by America. 12,000 Americans were present. After selecting key landings the Americans landed at those, and moved inward to the city. A battalion of soldiers cut off the town's water supply. The siege resulted in the Mexicans surrender. It was the longest siege of the Mexican American War, and the first ever naval assault by America.


 * British and Spanish Cession**

The Louisiana purchase bought most of the land in America, but there were two small territories that America bought. The British Cession was a small territory next to the Lake of the Woods (49th parallel) in modern day Canada. We bought it from England for $200,000. It was also known as The Treaty of 1818. The Spanish Cession took place in 1819, and gave parts of west Florida, Louisiana, a small part of Texas, and a strip of Colorado. Seminole Indians had overrun those territories, and so Spain ceded them to America.


 * Congreve Rockets**

Congreve rockets were widely used in the Mexican American War. In the Battle of the Alamo congreve rockets were used by Americans to hold off Mexican infantry. They were also used in the Siege of Veracruz. Americans barraged Mexican bunkers with these rockets from their ships. Once they landed on the shore, congreve rockets were also used to push inward in the city. Congreve Rockets were invented in 1804 by William Congreve as a British infantry weapon. All the rocket consists of an iron casing, with black powder inside and a hollow tip. The rockets are fired by pulling on a string, or chord.


 * Steamboat**

In the 1800s the steamboat was used for transportation of goods, the most famous model from the 1800s was the Clemont. Robert Fulton is credited with the invention of the steamboat. Steamboats were made with flat, and or shallow bottoms which allowed them to float in very shallow water, which was perfect for all the rivers and brooks. The steam engine powers the paddle wheel which then pushes the boat through the water. The paddle wheel was effective in both rough and open waters.


 * My Quiz Questions:** One day Mr. Wilson was gone, and while the substitute was here we wrote 10 quiz questions about our research, he combined the questions he liked best to make a 20 question quiz that the whole class took.

1. What is the Aztlan (reconquista) Movement.

Answer: It is the idea that Mexico never ceded the states in the Mexican Cession to America. Now Mexicans are trying to reclaim those states.

2. What are four states, or parts of states were ceded in the Mexican Cession.

Answer: California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.

3. What ended the Mexican American War?

Answer: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

4. What Mexican city was occupied while the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed?

Answer: Mexico City.

5. Who signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on behalf of America?

Answer: Nicholas Trist

6. What year did the Mexican American War end?

Answer: 1848

7. What did the Mexicans consider the American border?

Answer: The Nueces River.

8. How many Mexicans fought at The Alamo?

Answer: 2,400

9. How many Americans fought at The Alamo?

Answer: 200-300.

10. How many days was the siege of Veracruz.

Answer: 20 days.


 * Current Events Discussion**: Every other Friday we have a current events discussion. We all find stories in the news that we think are interesting and then send them to Mr. Wilson who displays them on the projector. Then we talk about what happened in the article. Every story is placed on a digital map, so we can keep track of all the stories we've talked about.

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 * Scavenger Hunts:** We have had two scavenger hunts this quarter. A scavenger hunt is when he sends us a document with 20-30 questions, and then we have to look up the answers on the internet and send the document back to him. The questions range from all sorts of topics such as geography, history, media, current events, and weather.