Voice Thread Steven A Douglass

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https://voicethread.com/share/3810386/

On friday's class we had a substitute teacher. We were assigned a small packet that I completed with Jake Aponas. The packet consisted of questions about the South separating from the North.

The Constitution's Dirty Little Secret

By: Mike Shea

(Due to Google Docs issues, written on Blogger)

The Constitution, is arguably America's most famous and influential document ever created. American's look to this document as a price, a sort of medal to show what this country came from and what it has achieved. Although this document is looked upon with such high regard, there may be hidden details that suggest the Constitution may have a dirty little secret. Lets take a look at the facts. The Constitution was written by white  men, most in which, were slave owners themselves. The Constitution considers a slave to be three fifths of a vote, this gave slave owners a great deal of voting say. Finally, the Constitution also included a section supporting slavery, but this section was taken out after the civil war.

Our founding fathers, the men whos brains and bravery created this great nation, wrote the Constitution. Not all of these men, but most of them were slave owners themselves. Owning slaves and using them as free labor was an extraordinary source of income. These men, as smart and influential as they were, would not be willing to cut themselves off us this income and source of wealth. If they wrote the Constitution in such a way that slavery could strive, so would their income. This hidden agenda of the writers of the Constitution showed that the Document was actually written in a way that would keep slavery alive.

In the Constitution lies the Three-fifths Compromise. This "compromise" was a way for slave owners to have a larger say in the government. Someone who was anti-slavery would have made the Constitution say that a slave did not count for anything. This may sound backwards, but you have to break it down. If a slave counts as a full person  and a slave owner owns one thousand slaves, that slave owners opinion is now really worth one thousand voices in the government. If the slaves vote doesn't count, then that slave owners opinion counts as one vote. When the Constitution put in the three-fifths compromise, it gave slave owners MORE power. Now if that slave owners has one thousand slaves, each worth three fifths, then the slave owners opinion counts as six hundred voices, still much more than they should be given. This "compromise" shows that the Constitution was tiered toward pro-slavery.

The Constitution actually included a section on pro-slavery, but it was not around for long. This slavery promoting section was actually removed from the Constitution after the civil war. As soon the side of the country that opposed slavery won the civil war, the Constitution no longer included this section. It seems much too coincidental. The Constitution clearly wanted slavery to remain in the United States, or else no talk of slavery would have been considered. Once the country was clearly headed into a slavery free way of life, all talk of slavery was pulled from the Constitution. The slave owning writers wanted to keep their businesses alive, but once this was impossible, the Constitution changed its mind.

The Constitution is a wonderful document. One that exemplifies the greatness and success of this great nation. Although this document has done such great things, it is apparent that it had a hidden agenda all along.   The Constitution promoted slavery, but did it in a way that was not apparent, by using words like "compromise." The Constitution was created with the words, "all men are created equal," but obviously the Constitution does consider a slave to be a "man" at all.

Today I complimented Teresa Benoit on her hair. She had her hair up in a long braid that clearly took time and effort in the morning. It must have been nice for her to be rewarded for her hardwork this morning. She smiled when i complimented her and it made me happy to see that.

I have decided to compliment one person a day for the next 30 days. Doing this will not only benefit me, as most 30 days challenges do, unlike most, my challenge will benefit others. This will make me feel good to see smiles on people's faces, but also boost their self-confidence.

https://voicethread.com/?#u2888881.b3512370.i18391797

Scott Brown Civic Value

https://voicethread.com/?#u2888881.b3512202.i18391159

Voice Thread civic value

Mitt Romney

September 26th

Today's class was a very interesting period. We had 10 minute discussions about our assigned first amendment topics. I myself talked and led a discussion about freedom of press. I had my group discussing magazines and other press related subjects and how they sometimes abuse their freedom of press. Lying and if it is okay or not was also discussed briefly.

Mike Shea

Sept 25th

The last few classes have been in my mind, very helpful. We have been discussing the constitution, the writers of it, the bill of rights, and the first few political parties in depth. I have enjoyed the class discussions because I find them a great way to learn. I have also enjoyed the group work that has been assigned in class from time to time. These pieces of work have been great opportunity to learn and discuss topics with my peers.

Mike Shea G

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/events-for-the-constitution--14



Timeline^^

Sept.17 and Sept.18 classes

The past two classes have been, well, what i expect and wish for in a history class. There was a good amount of teacher lecturing, which is how I retain the most information. There was also a lot of worksheets and other activities that were group oriented, which is another great way for me to learn. I was extremely pleased with the direction in which the last two history classes were headed. I look forward to seeing more and more of this because i will succeed in a class taught in such a matter.

http://www.spreaker.com/user/4855987/civic_values

Spreaker URL Civic values ^^^

http://private.rewindy.com/story/BBLsLQ3Z/view/1
Integrity ^^


http://private.rewindy.com/story/ieXScbrh/view/1
Responsibility ^^

Artifacts

Fast forward, it is the year 3000, and some one has dug up a chest. Inside the chest lays three seemingly meaningless objects. What does a family picture, sports equipment, and an iPod have to do with each other?

By themselves, nothing, but together they represent the life of the 1997 born student Michael Shea. The family picture may seem very traditional, family means a lot to everyone right? For Michael, this is no family picture, more of a masterpiece. Too many people too count were toppling over one another as the picture is being taken. From grandmothers to granddaughters, babbling infants to wise elders and everything in between, it was safe to say this picture was anything but ordinary. It was taken on the annual trip taken by Michael and his family every year. This summer trip was Michael's favorite time of the year and was extremely important to him to be surrounded by fun people who loved him, which is why this extraordinary picture was in the chest. Upon opening the chest, one might find a stench beyond belief, that unbearable odor is being unleashed by the hockey pads that lay by the picture. Next to the pads was a golf club and a lacrosse stick. These pieces of sporting equipment represent the three sports Michael played as a student at Triton High school. Sports were a huge part of Michael's daily schedule. Two or even three hours out of everyday were dedicated to sports, and that dedication made these sports quite a challenge. Although these sports were difficult, they were enjoyable and a wonderful experience, and for that, they found a center spot in the chest. Finally, an iPod was found at the bottom of the chest. The iPod represents music and music represents a retreat. A retreat from the good, the bad, and the ugly. It offered a way for Michael to enjoy the happy moments, and an opportunity to get over the disappointing times. From the bus, to hours on end while studying, music was always a part of Michael's life. Due to how to picked him up out of the bad times and into the good ones, it deserved a spot in the chest. These artifacts, the picture, the equipment, and the iPod all represent a different way they meant a lot to Michael's High school career, and from them, a decent overlook of what Michael's life must have been like.