Semester 1:
The US through the 19th Century
Stage One: In Search of American Roots
09/13/00: All things connect
Nick discusses his background and explores both the Native American and Jewish sides of his roots.
09/16/00: Get outta my nest!- The Appalachians and Natural Bridge
Nick visits the Appalachian Mountains and discusses the vast commercialism that has taken over the Natural Bridge/Bridge of God area.
09/20/00: Checking out the "battle royale" over the first humans
Nick and Kevin catch up with archaelogist Mike Johnson at the Cactus Hill excavation site in Cactus Hill, Virginia. There they get down among the rocks and stones of the dig to learn about the first Americans.
09/23/00: Getting in touch with the Native American past through the heart of a woman
Kevin and Nick are fascinated by an interview with Katsi Cook, a Mohawk Indian woman who grew up in a longhouse, and has studied the way of the matrilineal Iroquois nation. Katsi talks about the formation of the Iroquois nation, and the importance of preserving the Iroquois culture.
10/11/00: The Stono Rebellion
Nick recants the history of the Stono Rebellion, and weaves his own personal life into the story as he makes a point about racism and violence.
Stage Two: The Birth of the United States
10/21/00: Shave, grease up, and put on a skirt, there's a war on!
Nick outlines the Loyalist and Patriot positions and describes how a Scottish Loyalist prepares to fight in the Battle at Moore's Creek Bridge.
10/21/00: The real revolutionaries at the battle of Yorktown
Prepare yourself for the Siege of Yorktown and find out who was really on the losing end of this Revolutionary War final battle
Stage Three: Expansion and Reaction
11/04/00: A warrior, a prophet and a general unravel the Creek nation
Nick hunts for arrowheads and learns about the Creek War, Tecumseh, and Andrew Jackson's role in Indian-United States relations in Alabama.
11/04/00: Let's lose Chief Win 'Em All
Nick explores The Cherokee and finds upsetting signs of exploitation. Learns that adapting to the white man's way of life was custom to the Cherokee.
11/04/00: Still walkin' the Trail of Tears
Nick explores the Trail of Tears and expresses his feelings of the trail continuing in Indian life.
11/08/00: A dreamer dodges the Border Patrol
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed more than 150 years ago, but the outcomes still bothers some Mexicans today.
11/08/00: The winning, er, uh, wresting away, of the West
The Mexican American War, Treaty of Guadalupe Hilgado, Manifest Destiny
Stage Four: Civil War and Reconstruction
11/29/00: Sold into Hell
From New York to D.C. to Louisiana, Nick and Becky trace the odyssey of Solomon Northup; a free black man kidnapped and sold into twelve years of slavery
11/29/00: The road to Harpers Ferry
Nick travels to Harpers Ferry to relive the raid on the Armory. Tells about John Brown and his abolitionist cause and his relation to William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Nat Turner and Robert E. Lee
12/02/00: What it means to be a slave: Gabriel's story
Nick explores issues of slavery and tried to get a feel for what it would have been like to be a slave 200 years ago.
12/13/00: The bloodiest square mile in America
The scary Civil War leads to emancipation, and shows no sign of coming to a quick and sudden end.
12/20/00: Sojourner's Truth marches on
Nick tells the story of Sojourner Truth, born as the slave Isabella Baumfree, who became one of the most important activists for women's rights and the abolition of slavery in U.S. history. Her describes her involvement with the Northampton Association, as well as the famous speech in which she asked, "Ain't I a woman?" He shows her important role in linking African Americans' and women's struggles for justice.
1/03/01: You're crazy! You can't do that!!!
The brave march of Sergeant Bates proves southern affection for the Union flag.
Stage Five: The Transformation of the US
1/06/01: Massacres and mayhem: manifest destiny at its worst
Nick describes white settlers' westward movement under a philosophy of Manifest Destiny and the decimation of Native Americans, as well as the Wovoka Messiah and the religion of the Ghost Dance that revived Indians' hope. He recounts the story of Sitting Bull's murder and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, where U.S. troops gunned down almost 300 Lakota Sioux under a white flag of surrender.
1/06/01: Sitting Bull wins one for the Lakota Indians!
|
