AMERICAN HISTORY – JOURNAL ENTRIES
2nd Semester
Journal Entries (JE) must be a minimum of 3 lines of writing in complete sentences (unless otherwise specified),
and are worth up to 3 points for each entry. Since you are given in-class time to work on these each day, they
will only be accepted for up to one week after their due dates.
Collected 1/18/08 – Will NOT be accepted after 1/25/08
1/7: <none>
1/8: <none>
1/9: <none>
1/10: In the 1800s, thousands went West to “strike it rich” when gold or silver were discovered. Would you
have been one of those people? Why or why not?
1/11: Blue jeans have been around since 1873. Why do you think they have remained popular for more than a
century?
1/14: Do you think railroads are as important today as they were in the late 1800s?
1/15: <none>
1/16: Imagine that you are an older Native American telling your grandchildren about how the white man came
and killed the buffalo. What would you say to them?
1/17: The U.S. government tried to assimilate the Native Americans into the “white man’s” culture. If you had
to assimilate into a different culture, what would be the most difficult thing for you to change or give up?
1/18: How do you think the U.S. government justified moving Native Americans onto reservations?
Collected 2/29/08 – Will NOT be accepted after 3/7/08
1/21: <no school>
1/22: <none>
1/23: Do you know anyone who collects the states’ quarters? Why do you think people collect “special” coins
such as these?
1/24: <none>
1/25: If the amount of money you earn increases, are you more likely to spend more or save more? Why?
1/28: In what ways do you think our lives would be more difficult without standard time zones?
1/29: <none – study for test>
1/30: <none>
1/31: <none>
2/1: <no school>
2/4 – 2/8: <none>
2/11: <none>
2/12 – 2/15: <no school>
2/18: <no school>
2/19: When you inform your friends of events, do you sometimes exaggerate the facts or circumstances? Why
or why not?
2/20: <none>
2/21 – 2/22: <no school>
2/25: How do you think the rapid growth of the economy in the late 1800s influenced American interest in
overseas expansion (imperialism)?
2/26: Wealth and power: can you have one without the other? Why or why not?
2/27: Do you think that most Americans today are “hawks” or “doves”? Why?
2/28: In 1898, Secretary of State John Hay said that the Spanish-American War was a “splendid little war.”
What do you think he meant by that statement?
2/29: Pres. McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Imagine that you lived during this time, and write a journal
entry on how you feel about your president being assassinated. What might be some consequences for the
country?
Collected 4/4/08 – Will NOT be accepted after 4/18/08
3/3: Most Progressives thought that human nature is basically good, and that people will make the right
decisions if they have enough information. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3/4 – 3/5: <no school>
3/6: Teddy Roosevelt often quoted an African proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go
far.” What do you think he meant by this?
3/7: Why do you think that many people like to read comics or cartoons? What can be learned from them?
3/10: Do you think that government interferes with business too much? Why or why not?
3/11 – 3/14: <none>
3/17 – 3/19: <none>
3/20 – 3/21: <spring break>
3/24: <spring break>
3/25 – 3/26: <none>
3/27: Interpret the below political cartoon. What issue is addressed in the cartoon, and what is happening?
3/28: How do you think their wartime effort helped women win the right to vote after the war?
3/31: Fads such as flagpole sitting became popular during the 1920s. What fads have occurred during your
lifetime?
4/1: Why do you think many people in the 1920s were not interested in the U.S. being a super power?
4/2: When the U.S. is in a depression and Americans are starving, do you think it is the responsibility of
government or private citizens and groups to feed the hungry?
4/3: During the Great Depression, many people felt ashamed to accept charity. Do you think most people feel
that way today? Why or why not?
4/4: Many Americans went to the movies to “escape” the hardships of the Great Depression. How do
Americans “escape” from their troubles or hardships today?
4/7: <none>
4/8 – 4/11: <none – MAP testing>
4/14 – 18: <none – MAP testing>
Collected 4/25/08 – Will NOT be accepted after 5/2/08
4/21: <none>
4/22: FDR called for “bold, persistent experimentation.” Do you think experimenting was the best way to
battle the Great Depression? Explain.
4/23: In his Inaugural Address, Franklin Roosevelt said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” What do
you think he meant by this?
4/24: Many believe that it was WWII that brought America out of the Great Depression. Why do you think that
this would be true?
4/25: Americans hated the thought of fighting another war. Why do you think Americans did not realize that
what happened in the rest of the world affected the U.S.?
Collected 5/2/08 – Will NOT be accepted after 5/9/08
4/28: Imagine that you are the leader of a small country with military might. Give at least 3 reasons why you
would invade a larger country – out of necessity or desire.
4/29: If another country attacks or invades your country, is it important to understand why it happened? Will it
make a difference in how your country responds? Explain.
4/30: <none>
5/1: In Tora! Tora! Tora!, Japanese fleet commander Yamamoto said “there can be no victory on land or sea
without control of the air.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
5/2: Why do you think Franklin Roosevelt called December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”?
In progress – not yet collected