Website Spotlight: Massachusetts Historical Society

Website URL: http://www.masshist.org/revolution/

Introductory Note:

Welcome to one in a series of posts which spotlight quality websites that I use with my U.S. History survey course students at Azusa Pacific University to enrich the regular material in our learning modules.

In this post, I limit myself to those specific aspects of the website which I find fit particularly well within our face-to-face class sessions (each student is required to bring a laptop to class) or as the basis for the students' regularly-assigned written reactions.

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How This Site is Structured
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/teachers/about.php#structured

The heart of the website highlights 15 topics: An overview essay puts each topic in context--with links to specific documents.
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/topics.php

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I ask the students to work through the following links:

Sugar Act
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/sugar.php

Stamp Act
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/stamp.php

Formation of the Sons of Liberty
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/sons_of_liberty.php

Townshend Acts
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/townshend.php

Non-Consumption and Non-Importation
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/non_importation.php

Boston Massacre
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/massacre.php

Formation of the Committees of Correspondence
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/committees.php

Boston Tea Party
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/teaparty.php

Coercive Acts
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/coercive.php

First Continental Congress
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/congress1.php

Lexington and Concord
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/lexington.php

Second Continental Congress
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/congress2.php

Battle of Bunker Hill
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/bunkerhill.php

Washington Takes Command of the Continental Army
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/washington.php

Declaration of Independence
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/declarations.php

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Excerpts from John Rowe's Diary (the excerpts are blended into the 15 topics)
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/resources/rowes.php

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Check out these lesson plans:

Forces arguing for conflict versus those hoping to compromise
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/teachers/lessons/lesson_concept_4a.php

History did not have to happen the way it did. Counter-factual
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/teachers/lessons/lesson_concept_8.php

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Useful Links: This is done very completely
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/resources/useful_links.php

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Concluding Note:

I hope you will use this blog post in conjunction with both the modules on my Learning Professor wiki and the numerous other posts in my Website Spotlight series.

1. The website spotlighted in this post fits within the following U.S. History survey course module on the wiki:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Road+to+Revolution

2. The other blog posts in my Website Spotlight series--chronologically displayed by U.S. History survey course module-- can be found on this wiki page:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/WEBSITE+SPOTLIGHT 

Website Spotlight: Benjamin Franklin (PBS)

 

Website URL: http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/ 

Introductory Note:

Welcome to one in a series of posts which spotlight quality websites that I use with my U.S. History survey course students at Azusa Pacific University to enrich the regular material in our learning modules.

In this post, I limit myself to those specific aspects of the website which I find fit particularly well within our face-to-face class sessions (each student is required to bring a laptop to class) or as the basis for the students' regularly-assigned written reactions.

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Begin with this:

~Ben A to Z (Ben's Interests and Achievements)
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/az.html

Then work through each of the following links:

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CITIZEN BEN:
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l2_citizen.html

1. Networker
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_citizen_networker.html

2. Firefighter
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_citizen_firefighter.html

3. Founding Father
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_citizen_founding.html

4. Abolitionist
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_citizen_abolitionist.html

5. Insurance Ben-efactor
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_citizen_insurance.html

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WIT AND WISDOM:
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l2_wit.html

1. Name That Ben: [be sure to click on "Silence Dogood" and read Ben's first Silence Dogood letter]
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_name.html

2. Read All About It [click on "Apology for Printers"]
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_read.html

3. Master Marketer
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_master.html

4. Franklin Funnies
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_franklin.html

5. Self-Improvement
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_self.html

~Take Ben's Virtue Quiz
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/exp_virtue.html

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INQUIRING MIND:
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l2_inquiringmind.html

1. Glass Armonica [click on "Hear a Mozart composition"]
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_inquiring_glass.html

2. Health
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_inquiring_medical.html

3. Weather Wise
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_inquiring_weather.html

4. It's The Little Things [Ben's Various Inventions]
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_inquiring_little.html

5. Mesmer
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_inquiring_mesmer.html

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WORLD OF INFLUENCE:
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l2_world.html

1. Celebrity
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_celebrity.html

2. Agriculture
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_agriculture.html

3. Man of Letters
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_letters.html

4. France
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_france.html

5. Spies
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_spies.html

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Concluding Note:

I hope you will use this blog post in conjunction with both the modules on my Learning Professor wiki and the numerous other posts in my Website Spotlight series.

1. The website spotlighted in this post fits within the following U.S. History survey course modules on the wiki:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Colonial+Era
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Road+to+Revolution
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Revolution
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Constitution

2. The other blog posts in my Website Spotlight series--chronologically displayed by U.S. History survey course module-- can be found on this wiki page:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/WEBSITE+SPOTLIGHT 

Website Spotlight: Revolutionary War Animated Map

 

Website URL: http://www.revolutionarywaranimated.com/

Introductory Note:

Welcome to one in a series of posts which spotlight quality websites that I use with my U.S. History survey course students at Azusa Pacific University to enrich the regular material in our learning modules.

In this post, I limit myself to those specific aspects of the website which I find fit particularly well within our face-to-face class sessions (each student is required to bring a laptop to class) or as the basis for the students' regularly-assigned written reactions.

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Here are the possibilities:

Prelude to the War

Lexington and Concord

Bunker Hill

The Invasion of Canada

The Battle for New York

Trenton/Princeton

Saratoga/Ticonderoga: The Turning Point

Brandywine and Germantown

The Battle of Monmouth

The Southern Campaign: Cowpens, Camden, Guilford Court House

Yorktown

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Concluding Note:

I hope you will use this blog post in conjunction with both the modules on my Learning Professor wiki and the numerous other posts in my Website Spotlight series.

1. The website spotlighted in this post fits within the following U.S. History survey course modules on the wiki:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Road+to+Revolution
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Revolution

2. The other blog posts in my Website Spotlight series--chronologically displayed by U.S. History survey course module-- can be found on this wiki page:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/WEBSITE+SPOTLIGHT 

Website Spotlight: A Day in the Life of Thomas Jefferson

Website URL: http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/day-life-thomas-jefferson

Procedural Note: In each section below, there will be little black boxes to click on for other neat items: Dig Deeper, At-Home Activity, Fun Fact, Personality Profile, Design and Decor, and Modern Monticello.

Here are the sections:

A. I Rise with the Sun

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/i-rise-sun

Jefferson's alcove bed
Record-keeping
Morning preparations
Mechanical inventions

B. Drudging at the Writing Table

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/drudging-writing-table

A modern office
    Jefferson's copying machine
A full and genuine journal
Stepping away from the table

C. Our Breakfast Table

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/our-breakfast-table

Fresh from the oven
Seated around the table
Jefferson the grandfather

D. To Labour For Another

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/to-labour-another

Mulberry Row
Humming with Activity
Jefferson and Slavery

E. Attending To My Farm

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/attending-to-my-farm

Touring the farm on horseback (be sure to read this section)

F. Museum...in the Entrance to the House

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/museum-entrance-house

Arts and politics (be sure to read this section)

G. Dinner is Served

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/dinner-served

Dined at the Presidents
Half-Virginian, half-French style
Vines and wines
Vegetables...constitute my principal diet

Self-service

H. When the Flowers were in Bloom

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/when-flowers-were-bloom

(Read the parts that interest you)

I. A Delightful Recreation

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/delightful-recreation

Music and games
Little circle of readers
A room for celebration

J. Sanctum Sanctorum

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/sanctum-sanctorum

Architecture
Science
Accounting
Reading (don't miss this section)

K. All My Wishes End...at Monticello

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/all-my-wishes-end-monticello

"I wish most to be remembered" (read this part for sure)

Website Spotlight: Benjamin Franklin

Website URL: http://www.benfranklin300.org/exhibition/_html/0_0/index.htm

Chapter One: Character Matters (1706-1723)

a. A Voracious Reader
b. Silence Dogood

Chapter Two: B. Franklin, Printer (1723-1748)

a. Way to Wealth
b. At Home in Philadelphia

Chapter Three: Civic Visions (1731-1751)

a. Improving the Self and Community

"As a lifelong learner, Franklin taught himself to read French, German, Italian, and Spanish, on top of the Latin he learned as a child."

b. Protecting the Citizens

Chapter Four: Useful Knowledge (1747-1785)

a. A Society of "Ingenious Men"
b. Shipboard Amusements [see "Swimming by Kite"]
c. Electrical Fire

Chapter Five: World Stage (1744-1787)

a. Forging Unification
[Albany Congress!!]
[Glass Armonica]
b. Declaring Independence
c. Forming Alliances
d. Mastering Diplomacy
e. Creating a Constitution

Chapter Six: Seeing Franklin (1787-Today)
His unfinished Autobiography

Website Spotlight: Boston Massacre

Website URL: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/bostonmassacre.html

Introductory Note:

Welcome to one in a series of posts which spotlight quality websites that I use with my U.S. History survey course students at Azusa Pacific University to enrich the regular material in our learning modules.

In this post, I limit myself to those specific aspects of the website which I find fit particularly well within our face-to-face class sessions (each student is required to bring a laptop to class) or as the basis for the students' regularly-assigned written reactions.

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I ask the students to work through the following links:

Overview essay by Douglas Linder: "The Boston Massacre Trials: An Account"
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/bostonaccount.html

Key Figures
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/keyfigures.html

Two Private Hughs: Hugh White and Hugh Montgomery
John Adams
Crispus Attucks
Acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson
Captain Thomas Preston
Samuel Adams
John Hancock

Soldiers' Trial Account
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/soldiersaccount.html

Summation of John Adams for the Defense
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/adamssummation.html

Paul Revere's Engraving of the Massacre
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/massacrereverelarge.jpg

Diary entry of John Adams concerning his involvement in the trial
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/diaryentries.html

~~For reviews of this website:

History Matters (The U.S. Survey Course on the Web)
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/4908/
TeachingHistory.org (National History Education Clearinghouse)
http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/website-reviews/14636

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Concluding Note:

I hope you will use this blog post in conjunction with both the modules on my Learning Professor wiki and the numerous other posts in my Website Spotlight series.

1. The website spotlighted in this post fits within the following U.S. History survey course module on the wiki:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Revolution

2. The other blog posts in my Website Spotlight series--chronologically displayed by U.S. History survey course module-- can be found on this wiki page:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/WEBSITE+SPOTLIGHT