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[[American History Lecture Seven|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Seven|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Seven Answers|Student Answers]]

[[American History Lecture Seven|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Seven|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Seven Answers|Student Answers]]

We will have our midterm exam next week, which covers everything through Reconstruction.  That means Lectures One through Six, but not Lecture Seven.  Our exam will consist of ''about'' 30 questions (the total will be different for the boys' and girls' tests).

We will have our midterm exam next week, which covers everything through Reconstruction.  That means Lectures One through Six.  Our exam will consist of about 30 questions.

There are three ingredients to success on any exam:

There are three ingredients to success on any exam:

View an exam as a fun challenge, like participating in a contest.  Your performance in the race or game depends on your time spent preparing, how effectively you prepared, and how effectively you tried during the contest itself.   

View an exam as a fun challenge, like participating in a contest.  Your performance in the race or game depends on your time spent preparing, how effectively you prepared, and how effectively you tried during the contest itself.   

If this were a sporting event, then everyone would recognize and honor the winners, just as we do in the Olympics, the World Series, and the Super Bowl.  We will also honor the winners (top scorers) with awards.  At the end of our course we will also give awards to the most improved students.  This friendly competition is intended to bring out the best in everyone, and motivate all to do better than we might otherwise.   

If this were a sporting event, then everyone would recognize and honor the winners, just as we do in the Olympics, the World Series, and the Super Bowl.  We will also honor the winners (top scorers) with special recognition.  At the end of our course we will also recognize the most improved students.  This friendly competition is intended to bring out the best in everyone, and motivate all to do better than we might otherwise.   

Do not think it is impossible to know every event in the list at the end of this Lecture; we will likely see top scorers on next week's exam who are able to learn nearly every event.  A student "who hustles while he waits," as Thomas Edison said, can find a ton of extra time for preparing that he did not realize existed before.

Do not think it is impossible to know every event in the list at the end of this Lecture; we will likely see top scorers on next week's exam who are able to learn nearly every event.

Recall how the homeschoolers Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison approached the challenges in their life.  They saw challenge as opportunity, and gave it their best shot.  They knew that success in life is due almost entirely to "perspiration" (work) rather than inborn traits like IQ.  Lincoln and Edison would have given this exam their best shot, and so can you.  Be one of the students who wins an award for scoring among the highest in the class.

Success in life is due almost entirely to "perspiration" (work) rather than inborn traits like IQ.  Be one of the students who wins an award for scoring among the highest in the class.

 

Several students have informed me that they will be taking the CLEP American History exam in order to earn college credit.  Congratulations to those students for showing initiative, and hopefully others will consider attempting to earn college credit also.

== Midterm Exam ==

== Midterm Exam ==

Because several students are taking the CLEP exam, and because it is the best of the College Board exams, we will follow its format.  The CLEP exam divides American history into two periods.  The first CLEP American History exam covers through Reconstruction (Lectures One through Six, but not Seven), just like our midterm exam.  Our midterm exam will follow the CLEP's subject matter breakdown for questions:

Because several students will probably take the CLEP exam, and because it is the best of the College Board exams, we will follow its format.  The CLEP exam divides American history into two periods.  The first CLEP American History exam covers through Reconstruction (Lectures One through Six), just like our midterm exam.  Our midterm exam will follow the CLEP's subject matter breakdown for questions:

:35% of questions are on politics, such as the President, Congress and government policy

:35% of questions are on politics, such as the President, Congress and government policy

"Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying.  The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money.  Wasted time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer.  Also, wasted time is often less enjoyable than time spent working on something you believe in.

"Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying.  The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money.  Wasted time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer.  Also, wasted time is often less enjoyable than time spent working on something you believe in.

A concept similar to "time is money" applies to studying for exams.  You will spend a certain amount of time preparing for the midterm exam.  Call that total amount of time "x".  How you allocate that time to different areas of the overall time period (1500-1877) will make a difference on how well you do on the exam.  If you spend 90% of x on the period between 1500 and 1700, then you will do poorly on 90% of the questions, because they will be from the period 1700 to 1877.  You would have done far better to spend the 90% of x on the time period that will have 90% of the questions.

A concept similar to "time is money" applies to studying for exams.  You will spend a certain amount of time preparing for the midterm exam.  Call that total amount of time "x".  How you allocate that time to different areas of the overall time period (1500-1877) will make a difference on how well you do on the exam.  If you spend 90% of "x" on the period between 1500 and 1700, then you will do poorly on 90% of the questions, because they will be from the period 1700 to 1877.  You would have done far better to spend the 90% of "x" on the time period that will have 90% of the questions.

How hard you try while taking the exam will also count towards your score.  It helps immensely to identify the time period of a history question before trying to answer it.  In doing this, it helps to know which presidents served when.  You can memorize a list of presidents if you prefer.<ref>See [[Presidents of the United States]].</ref>  Or maybe you can figure it out from what you learned in the lectures.  Test yourself: who was president in 1842?<ref>[[John Tyler]]</ref>  Who was the president in 1826?<ref>[[John Quincy Adams]]</ref>

How hard you try while taking the exam will also count towards your score.  It helps immensely to identify the time period of a history question before trying to answer it.  In doing this, it helps to know which presidents served when.  You can memorize a list of presidents if you prefer.<ref>See [[Presidents of the United States]].</ref>  Or maybe you can figure it out from what you learned in the lectures.  Test yourself: who was president in 1842?<ref>[[John Tyler]]</ref>  Who was the president in 1826?<ref>[[John Quincy Adams]]</ref>

There will be several cartoons on the exam.  Realize that cartoons are a way for someone to describe facts with a point of view, in order to make a political statement.  The cartoonist uses caricatures and draws situations in order to express a point of view.  The key to deciphering cartoons is to pay close attention to detail, to pick up all the clues.

There will be a political cartoon on the exam.  Realize that cartoons are a way for someone to describe facts with a point of view, in order to make a political statement.  The cartoonist uses caricatures and draws situations in order to express a point of view.  The key to deciphering cartoons is to pay close attention to detail, to pick up all the clues.

Many students make the mistake of answering a cartoon question too quickly.  A cartoon is a mystery, like an unsolved crime.  As soon as a cop arrives on a crime scene, he does not jump to a conclusion about who committed the crime.  He gathers all the evidence.  He considers possibilities.  He wants an explanation that fits all the facts.  He looks for a motive.  Approach cartoons the same way.

Many students make the mistake of answering a cartoon question too quickly.  A cartoon is a mystery, like an unsolved crime.  As soon as a cop arrives on a crime scene, he does not jump to a conclusion about who committed the crime.  He gathers all the evidence.  He considers possibilities.  He wants an explanation that fits all the facts.  He looks for a motive.  Approach cartoons the same way.

Then John Smith arrived, and he had a simple means of motivation:  those who do not work, do not eat.  Do you think people started working then?  Of course.  And they were much happier and healthier for it.

Then John Smith arrived, and he had a simple means of motivation:  those who do not work, do not eat.  Do you think people started working then?  Of course.  And they were much happier and healthier for it.

Sometimes adults still use that motivation of putting off meals until work is finished.  There are also other effective motivational techniques.  Take something you enjoy, such as watching a sports game, and deprive yourself of it until you finish your work.  You will enjoy the game better that way.  Or, on the most positive side, learn to reward yourself for hard work.

Sometimes adults still use that motivation of putting off meals until work is finished.  There are also other effective motivational techniques.  Take something you enjoy, such as watching a sports game, and deprive yourself of it until you finish your work first.  You will enjoy the game better that way.  Set goals, and then strive to achieve them.

== Key Terms Through Reconstruction ==

== Key Terms Through Reconstruction ==

Listed below are the key terms for the first half of American history (through Reconstruction).  The highlighted terms are the most important, and the ones for students to focus on first. The non-highlighted terms are more for the students in the "honors" portion of this course. 

Listed below are the key terms for the first half of American history (through Reconstruction).  The highlighted terms are the most important, and the ones for students to focus on first.

Any of these terms may appear on the exams in this course.  Several of our students are already planning to take the CLEP exam, and anyone doing that should know as many of these terms as possible.

Any of these terms may appear on the exams in this course.  Several of our students are already planning to take the CLEP exam, and anyone doing that should know as many of these terms as possible.

The list below can be used effectively to quiz yourself.  Pick out any term, and try to identify its time period and who was President.  Does the term refer to foreign policy (e.g., dealings with a foreign country) or domestic policy (e.g., an issue internal to the United States)?  Even if you don't recall immediately the meaning of the term, try to figure it out based on what you do know.

The list below can be used effectively to quiz yourself.  Pick out any term, and try to identify its time period and who was President.  Does the term refer to foreign policy (e.g., dealings with a foreign country) or domestic policy (e.g., an issue internal to the United States)?  Even if you don't recall immediately the meaning of the term, try to figure it out based on what you do know.

Quizzing yourself in this manner will both improve your test-taking skills, and identify for yourself what you need to study more.  Use the short descriptions for these terms that will be handed out in class (and which is also available by email - contact me if you would like an electronic copy), or refer back to the lectures and the model answers.

Quizzing yourself in this manner will both improve your test-taking skills, and identify for yourself what you need to study more.

As in baseball and in sales in business, simply try to improve your percentages.  If you know only 10% of the terms below, try to improve that to 40%.  If you know 50%, then try to improve that to 75%.  If you know 70%, then strive for 90%.  Just as a batter in baseball should not be discouraged by failing 2 out of 3 times at bat, you should not be discouraged by low initial percentages on this key term list.  Try to improve your percentages.  With effort, you'll amaze yourself at how much better you can become.  Your classmates will be working hard on this, and do not let them pass you up!

As in baseball and in sales in business, simply try to improve your percentages.  If you know only 10% of the terms below, try to improve that to 40%.  If you know 50%, then try to improve that to 75%.  If you know 70%, then strive for 90%.  Just as a batter in baseball should not be discouraged by failing 2 out of 3 times at bat, you should not be discouraged by low initial percentages on this key term list.  Try to improve your percentages.  With effort, you'll amaze yourself at how much better you can become.  Your classmates will be working hard on this, and do not let them pass you up!

Our first through sixth Lectures should have covered all of of the following terms, except the Lectures did overlook the Newburgh Conspiracy (or Address).  That was a plot among officers of the Continental Army (the colonial Patriots fighting in the Revolutionary War) to hold a military coup and establish martial law in order to obtain back pay that was owed to them by Congress for their military service.  The plot came to a climax when they angrily met on March 15, 1783, and were surprised by an unexpected appearance by George Washington.  He gave a short speech, but the officers were still still angry, and lacking in the respect that they usually gave to their esteemed leader.  Washington then pulled a letter from his pocket from a member of the Second Continental Congress.  But Washington was unable to read the letter without his reading glasses, and in a miraculous moment of powerful emotion, he declared, "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country."  Many of the officers were suddenly moved to tears in the realization that Washington, like themselves, had sacrificed much for the country.  Washington then read the letter from Congress, and the officers subsequently abided by Congress's own timetable for paying them.

Our first through sixth Lectures should have covered all of of the following terms, except the Lectures did overlook the Newburgh Conspiracy (or Address).  That was a plot among officers of the Continental Army (the colonial Patriots fighting in the Revolutionary War) to hold a military coup and establish martial law in order to obtain back pay that was owed to them by Congress for their military service.  The plot came to a climax when they angrily met on March 15, 1783, and were surprised by an unexpected appearance by George Washington.  He gave a short speech, but the officers were still still angry, and lacking in the respect that they usually gave to their esteemed leader.  Washington then pulled a letter from his pocket from a member of the Second Continental Congress.  But Washington was unable to read the letter without his reading glasses, and in a miraculous moment of powerful emotion, he declared, "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country."  Many of the officers were suddenly moved to tears in the realization that Washington, like themselves, had sacrificed much for the country.  Washington then read the letter from Congress, and the officers subsequently abided by Congress's own timetable for paying them.

The Newburgh Conspiracy is a good story.  But develop a sensitivity or "ear" for the '''historical significance''' of each event or story in history class.  Why is this particular story important in the history of our nation?  The answer is this:  this event confirmed civilian authority over the military.  Congress, a civilian authority, decides if and when to pay the soldiers.  The soldiers have the guns, but they must submit to the civilian authority of Congress.

The Newburgh Conspiracy is a good story.  In addition to enjoying a story in history, also recognize the '''historical significance''' of each event or story in history class.  Why is this particular story important in the history in our nation?  Because this event confirmed civilian authority over the military.  Congress, a civilian authority, decides if and when to pay the soldiers.  The soldiers have the guns, but they must submit to the civilian authority of Congress.

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