Website Spotlight: Religion and the Founding of the American Republic

Website URL: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/overview.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--at the point in the semester when appropriate:

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America as a Religious Refuge: The 17th-Century

Part 1:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01.html

Read the entire screen:

European Persecution
Crossing the Ocean to Keep the Faith: the Puritans
The Bible Commonwealths

Part 2:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html

Read the entire screen:

Persecution in America
Jews Find a Refuge in America
The Quakers
The Pennsylvania Germans
Roman Catholics in Maryland
Virginia

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Religion in 18th-Century America
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel02.html

1. Read the Introduction.

2. You can skip the section entitled "The Appearance of Eighteenth-Century Churches."

3. Deal with "Deism" briefly.

4. Then spend most of your time on the remainder of the page:

"The Emergence of American Evangelicalism: The [First] Great Awakening"

George Whitefield
Jonathan Edwards
The Revival of Northampton
Sinners Warned
Transatlantic Evangelicalism
Criticism of other ministers
The Baptists
Francis Asbury
Beginning of the Methodists
Organization of the Methodists

See also:

Article by professor Christine Heyrman on The First Great Awakening
http://www.nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/grawaken.htm

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Religion and the American Revolution
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel03.html

Read the entire screen:

Religion as Cause of the Revolution
Jonathan Mayhew
Resistance to Tyranny as a Christian Duty
Revolution Understood in Scriptural Terms
The Plot to Land a Bishop
Revolution Justified by God
A Minister in Arms
A Fighting Parson
A Revolutionary Chaplain
Revolutionary Battle Flag
John Witherspoon
A Quaker Schism
Free Quaker Meeting House
The Problems of the American Anglicans

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Religion and the New Republic
2nd Great Awakening
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel07.html

Read the entire screen:

I. Introductory paragraphs:

The Atheist's Bible
Paine Rebuked
The Tree of Life

II. The Camp Meeting:

Outdoor Communion
Camp Meeting Plan
Religious Revival in America

III. The Emergence of the African American Church:

Woman Preacher of the A.M.E. Church
Christian Charity
Absalom Jones
Religious Exuberance
Jerking Exercise
The Shakers

IV. The Mormons:

The Book of Mormon
The Murder of Joseph and Hiram Smith
Migration to Utah

V. Benevolent Societies:

Missions to Sailors
Missionaries' Reports
Circuit Preaching
A Thousand Years of Happiness

See also:

Evangelicalism in Antebellum America
http://investigatinghistory.ashp.cuny.edu/m4.html

Evangelicalism, Revivalism, and the Second Great Awakening
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/nineteen/nkeyinfo/nevanrev.htm

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~~For a review of this overall website:

TeachingHistory.org (National History Education Clearinghouse)
http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/website-reviews/14649

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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 several U.S. History survey course modules on my wiki:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Colonial+Era
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Road+to+Revolution
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Reform

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: LIBERTY (American Experience)

Website URL: http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/

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:

Boston 1774
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_boston1774.html

Philadelphia 1776
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_philadelphia1776.html

Trenton 1776
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_trenton1776.html

Saratoga 1777
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_saratoga1777.html

Yorktown 1781
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_yorktown1781.html

Daily Life in the Colonies
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_daily.html

The Global Village
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_global.html

Military Perspectives
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_military.html

Benedict Arnold's Leg
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_arnoldsleg.html

Marquis de Lafayette
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_delafayette.html

Joseph Plumb Martin
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_plumbmartin.html

Hessians
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_hessians.html

Minutemen, Militia and the Continental Army
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_minutemen.html

The Edenton Ladies Tea Party
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_edentonladies.html

Miraculous Convergence / Yorktown
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_miraculous.html

Educational Reform
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_educational.html

Medicine
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_medicine.html

Songs of the Revolution
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_songs.html

Taxes/Tar and Feathering
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_stampact.html

Your Final Step: The Road to Revolution Game
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road.html

~~For a review of this website:

TeachingHistory.org (National History Education Clearinghouse)
http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/website-reviews/23370
 
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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: 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: John Adams

Website URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/

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:

The Primary Sources section has useful entries, in particular:

Abigail Adams: "Remember the Ladies" letter
Alien Act
Sedition Act

II. Special Features

These special features are wonderful:

Online Poll
The Choice for Revolution
Dearest Friend (letters between John and Abigail Adams)
Adams and Jefferson

III. People & Events

For a quick look at nasty politics in Adams day, check out James Callender:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/peopleevents/p_callender.html

These "Events" work well for a well-rounded view of John Adams:

The Courtship
The Boston Massacre
The Revolutionary War
"Remember the Ladies"
Declaration of Independence
The Presidency
The Alien and Sedition Acts

IV. Maps

The material within these interactive maps (look particularly at Boston and Philadelphia) is terrific. The material is connected to entries from the Adams
diary.

V. Timeline

This timeline is especially well detailed.

VI. Behind the Scenes--you can skip this section

VII. Teacher's Guide

I particularly like using these:

Teacher's Guide: Government
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/tguide/index.html
Question #1

Teacher's Guide: Politics
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/tguide/index.html
Question #1
Question #2

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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

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: Spy Letters of the American Revolution

Website URL: http://www2.si.umich.edu/spies/index-about.html

Major categories are on the left sidebar:

1. Letters

Scan through this Gallery to see which ones interest you.

2. Stories

a. Concentrate on the section "The Infamous Benedict Arnold"

Read each of the articles, particularly the one entitled "Selling West Point"

b. Under "Women Spies," click on "Miss Jenny"

Read the article

3. Methods

Read each of the six items

4. People

Read the bio on Benedict Arnold

5. Routes (skip this section)

6. Timeline (this section is well done)

~~Kudos and Website reviews:

Spy Letters of the American Revolution
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6076/

Spy Letters of the American Revolution
http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/website-reviews/23159

Best of History Web Sites: http://www.besthistorysites.net/


~~On my Learning Professor wiki, this website fits within the following U.S. History survey course module:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Revolution