Today we are going to define geography. What does the term include?
You may think this is history class, but there is something called geographic determinism that make geography essential to our history. Does anyone have any ideas what this might mean? I bet you can figure out the meaning if you look really close at the term...the answer is in the word geographic determinism. Think about your Language Arts roots...
Ok, so maps are maps right? Wrong.
Now, did that blow your mind or what?
If you can find a Mercator Projection in our school and be the first 5 people to tell me where one is you can earn a greenback.
Can anyone figure out why Upper Canada is South of Lower Canada? I mean, are these Canadians crazy or is there an actual reason for this?
I recently spent one of the last weeks of my summer vacation in Toledo, Ohio learning about the War of 1812 through an NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) Landmarks of History Workshop. I learned a lot and made some new friends while having some interesting immersion experiences in the western theater of the "Forgotten War." I'd like to share some of those experiences, information I gained from lectures, and a few fun resources helpful to revamping my teaching the War of 1812. Wait! There's a war in our history that is forgotten? Who won? OK, let's just get this clear, I live under the assumption that all of my students remember EVERYTHING about history and therefore all Americans should too, right? Apparently the answer is no, because, well...just check this out.
"WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS TIME?!?!"
Let's hope this is not your story of the War of 1812 at the conclusion of your 8th grade US History experience. C'mon, anyone up for a revamped movie trailer as an answer to this? I really think we need to take this seriously because while Americans seem spacey at best on this war, Canadians have this thing down, but that is probably because they thought they won...(maybe also because their government spent $28 million dollars to commemorate the bicentennial and the U.S. spent $0) CBC News on War of 1812 Commemoration Spending
"The War of 1812" by the Arrogant Worms
(Can you find the inaccuracies of the song?)
"The Fight for Canada--The War of 1812" Canadian commercial aired by Canadian government during the Olympics.
OK, are you all ready to go invade Canada? Because according to Canadians that was what this war was all about--and if that is so, then didn't we fail? What happened at this time?!?! Does anyone need to have some reassuring images of the Star Spangled Banner and listen to Whitney Houston sing the best anthem ever? It might help heal the pain and anger you are feeling, seriously, let's take 5 minutes.
The Flag from Key's Poem--The Original Star -Spangled Banner
Does everyone feel calm and collected now, or if not do you feel vindicated in that we succeeded in kicking those darn Brits out a second time, making this War of 1812 thing kind of like a second American Revolution? Ah-Ha! Perhaps that is what this War is all about...just continuing the Revolution...you remember that, right (Lexington and Concord, Valley Forge, G.W. and B.F BFF's, Treaty of Paris 1783)? I'll cry if you say no, so please reassure me that my life has meaning.
OK, I can't resist throwing another wrench into your story...ask someone from Great Britain why they find our anthem humorous...or if you are short on British friends and can't dial up the Queen, check this out...
OK PEOPLE! Enough with the British and Canadians knowing more than we do about the War of 1812! Let's get started figuring this out...and more than just the war alone, how does this war change American history, why do we choose to forget it, and how does it tie into our yearly WEB of history? DID WE WIN? I mean really, that is a really hard question to answer!
The War of 1812 is about the borderlands between Canada, the United States, and the "west"and who would control that land: Great Britain, The United States, or Native Americans (well, throw the "Canadians" in there too, but they are not a country yet). "The West" at this time is right were we live right now, Ohio and the rest of the Great Lakes Region. Oh, and we have to throw in that it is also about operations on the high seas (What does that even mean? I think it sounds cool...) and how the British just don't RESPECT US! Typically, when Americans actually remember this war (which is not often--we don't even have a bicentennial committee for it in our country!) the popular memory is of several key events or people that help build our national identity.
Can you think of some of the famous people, places, events or things that help create our national identity that come out of the War of 1812?
Now, what is a borderlands? Is that different than a border? Why or why not? Why does this all matter, and when can I go to lunch? I mean really, sometimes that was going through my head when I was the student this week, so I won't lie and pretend it didn't...and I know it's in your head to. (Feel free to insert home, friend's house, library, or mall for lunch--it still works) *those of you who picked library are ROCK STARS!
Northern Theater of the War of 1812
THE D.L. on BORDERLANDS: Borderlands are...
Around boundaries
Disputed
Are areas of mixed culture
Places where no
one has clear control up to the boundary line
Places or zones of an expanding society of people
interacting with Native peoples
Back in my day they called this the frontier and since textbook companies are slow to catch up to the times you'll probably know it as that too. But why do you think the word frontier might be misleading when learning about American expansion?
So why the big deal about the borderlands? Its just a bunch of land that is not settled, animals, and lakes/rivers, right? WRONG! It is the most valuable land in THE WORLD at this time (late 18th and early 19th centuries). Why do you think so? P.S. what is the craziness about UPPER Canada and LOWER Canada? (I know the answer, but would love to see if you can use your big 8th grade brains to figure it out...TRY IT FIRST WITHOUT GOING TO GOOGLE...please? I promise it is more fun and rewarding!) BTW, where do you think the borderlands are in this map? Would there be other borderlands if there was more shown on the map?
More to come later as I continue to digest my new knowledge, place this in the context of what I already teach, and as I await more of my lame history teacher humor that you all are doomed to endure this year. Look for:
Causes of the War of 1812
Americans
Differing beliefs on citizenship--are we citizens or subjects?
Problems in the Borderlands
Tecumseh and The Prophet's Pan-Indian Movement
Impressment and Sovereignty on the High Seas
The 18th century belief of the inevitability of changing borders
