The purpose of this assignment is so that you can identify some of the strategic advantages to Union Victories, ultimately turning the tide of the Civil War in their favor and helping them to win. In your groups that I will assign below, you will use Google Earth and will each be responsible for identifying ONE major geographical feature (location, a river, a hill, it's near a specific important city, ect.) OR one reason why an already mentioned feature would be important to your assigned battle. On Tuesday I will give you 10 minutes to get with your groups and discuss what you found, and then you will present your findings to the class as well as a brief overview of the battle.

In your analysis of the geography, use what you already know about the Union army's objectives and war plans. If you don't already have google earth installed on your computer, please go to googleearth.com and install it. YOU WILL NEED IT FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Be sure to zoom out and get a bigger picture of surrounding areas. Think about directions the armies were headed as well. Use your text book as a reference book if you need any help.

Group 1

Clara, Micheal, Paul, Elenore, Nathaniel, Napoleon, Aisha

Enter "Vicksburg" into your Google Earth search engine

Group 2

Allison, Christopher, Keri, Ashleigh, Carl, Tom, Davey

Type "Ghettysburg, PA" in your Google Earth search engine

Group 3

Arnold, Amelia, Emily, Laura, Mario, Jamal, Patrick

Type "New Orleans" into your Google Earth search engine

Group 4

Fred, Sally, Billy, Chuck, Ariel, Brandon, Patricia


Type in "Fort Donelson" into your Google Earth search

ASSIGNMENT!

This week's assignment is to view the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. I have posted them all on this blog preceeding this post. Once you have read through ALL 10 of the amendments, chose one that you think is the MOST important. Think about it this way: if you could only chose one of those amendments to have and all the others would disappear, which would you like to have to protect you?
Write a paragraph on why you chose that particular amendment as a comment to the post containing the amendment of your choice. Then go online and find a recent news story (within the last 5 years) that deals with this amendment. Make sure you use a credible news source, such as cnn.com, foxnews.com, or a major newspaper website. DO NO USE fake news websites like theonion.com.
DO NOT USE THE SAME STORY AS SOMEONE ELSE. Paste the link to the news story after your paragraph. We will debate in class on Friday, so be ready to defend your choice!

BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN YOUR POST OR YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT!

Also, it is important to check on the amendment you chose, because others who chose the same amendment will be in your group on Friday. Each group will debate with the rest of the class why their amendment would be the most important, using their own knowledge and ideas as well as ideas presented in the news stories of you and others who agree with you. Use the comment section to post ideas on what you could argue. Tip: look at what othr people are posting on other amendments. This may help you argue against it in class!

IMPORTANT!!!!! NO MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE PER AMENDMENT! If there are already 10 people who chose it, chose another one. If you chose one that nobody else choses, be prepared to debate alone! Or you can switch your choice to be in a group.You will be graded based on your submission and participation in the comment feeds and in class debate. The winner of the debate (whoever presents the most convincing argument or is the most prepared) gets a prize, involving EXTRA CREDIT!

Amendment information below courtesy of wikipedia.org

1

First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

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.

2

Second Amendment – Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3

Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

4

Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

5

Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6

Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel


In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

7

Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

8

Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9

Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10

Tenth Amendment – Powers of states and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.