Link to virtual Central Park, NYC - SCROLL DOWN FOR BLOG 20

Since we're studying the changes in cities around the turn of the 20th Century, here is the link to Virtual Central Park, NYC.

http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/virtualpark_main

Also, here's an interesting article from CNN about a woman's purse that had been stolen and then tossed into a hollow cherry tree back in 1982. The woman and her wallet were reunited this summer in July 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/06/newyork.wallet.cherry.tree/index.html

And here is a link to the history of Central Park: http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/aboutpark_history_cp_history_150yrs

Makes for interesting reading about Fred Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and their fights over what to do with the park and its designs.

Blog #20 - The Great Wall of America?

In this unit, we will be studying our immigration history, but specifically, we'll look at the time period of 1880s - 1924 when a huge influx of Eastern and Southern European immigrants arrived on our shores looking for work, land, the American Dream and freedom.

One question that swirls around the recent immigration debate is whether or not a 700-mile wall should be built along the 1,952-mile border w/ Mexico. The House approved $2.2 billion for the wall back in December 2005 to "build a double set of steel walls with floodlights, surveillance cameras and motion detectors along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border." 1 The Senate approved the bill shortly afterwards.

On Thursday, October 26, 2006, President Bush signed this bill into law. "Unfortunately the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise," Bush said at a signing ceremony. He called the fence bill "an important step in our nation's efforts to secure our borders." 3 (What's interesting to note about the Yahoo article that I found back in 2006 is that it can't even figure out how long the southern border of the U.S. is. One part of the article says it's a "nearly 2,000-mile border" while another part of the article refers to the "fence project covering one-third of the 2,100-mile border." Last time I checked, we haven't changed our southern border with Mexico since the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.)

Since the signing of that bill, the Senate killed President Bush's amnesty bill for illegal aliens in June 2007 which would have gotten an estimated 12 million illegal aliens into the tax system. Apparently, the "American people won today. They care enough to get mad and fight enough for it," said Republican Senator Jim DeMint, though I'm not exactly sure why he'd be mad that MORE people are paying taxes 4. In retrospect, two years later, the country could definitely use that tax money as our federal deficits continue to soar. And I'd ask the senator what the country actually won.

So, what do you think? Does America need this wall? Why or why not? Read the articles on illegal immigration and decide before answering. Check on the links below to read some opinions.

Your answer should be 150 words or more.

Due Tuesday, Sept. 29

1. Article from the San Fransico Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/26/BORDERFENCE.TMP

3. Yahoo article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061026/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_immigration_8
4. BBC News "Vote Dashes Bush Immigration Plan" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6250756.stm

5. Different views on illegal immigration: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4989248.stm

6. An immigrant's story - why she's fighting to stay in America - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7346003.stm

7. Divided views as US fence goes up - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7212827.stm

Blog #19 - Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

We saw the clip from the documentary, New York, that gave us a glimpse into the terrifying fire that consumed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in March 1911. Many things went wrong, from the locked doors, to the collapsing fire escape, and insufficient fire fighting equipment (failing water pressure and ladders that only reached the 6th floor).



There was a strike two years earlier at that factory where 400 workers spontaneously walked off the job led by a young lady named Clara Lemlich b/c of awful working conditions. The next year, 16 year old Pauline Newman led thousands of seamstresses on strike, and an unprecendented agreement was made w/ the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union which set up a system of grievances. Unfortunately, greedy garment owners didn't honor the agreement (as evidenced by the deadly fire in 1911).


After the fire, the New York legislature formed a factory commission to investigate the awful working conditions throughout factories in the state. By the end of the commission's search, they recommended and the legislature passed many factory reforms which became blueprints for many others states to copy. So, out of tragedy comes something good.

My questions for you are: 1. Why does it appear that we make significant changes (changes that many people acknowledge need to be made) only after a major tragedy has occurred?
For instance, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, our airline security was finally improved.
2. What keeps us from making the changes / reforms before a big catastrophe occurs?



Due Tuesday, Sept. 22, Minimum 150 words.



Girls who died in the fire aged 16 and under:
1. Anna Altman, 16
2. Vincenza Beletta, 16
3. Ida Brodsky, 16
4. Jennie Franco, 16
5. Kate Leone, 14
6. Rosalie Maltese, 14
7. Gaetana Midolo, 16
8. Antonietta Pasqualicca, 16
9. Sarah Sabasowitz, 14
10. Jennie Stellino, 16
11. Bessie Vivlania, 15



Sweatshops - Yesterday and Today - An online exhibit http://www.unitehere.org/sweatshops/photos/photos.html

Profile on Pauline Newman from the Jewish Women's Archive - http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/newman-pauline

Blog #18 - Groves in 1959 and America in 2059

Since Sept. 9, 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Groves High School, we’ll discuss how you think your life will be different in fifty years (and also, how your life is similar to the kids who lived back in 1959).


Please answer the following questions:
1. What will people remember of America in fifty years (2059)? Why?
2. How will life be different than it is today? (try not to focus on technology but look at other things too – work, politics, religion, business, leisure time, art, school, etc.)
3. Based upon our class discussion, how did it seem that your life was similar to teenagers back in 1959? Use a couple of specific examples.

200 word minimum - Due Friday, Sept. 11.