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Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator–a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to improve the understanding of Congress: http://www.webcommunicator.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- People Who Served in Congress
- Congress Defined
- *New* Lesson Plan: Greater Debate Issues #1 – Does the Two-Party System Adequately Represent the People?
- *New* Editorial Cartoons
- *New* Republican Congressional Leadership Meetings
- *New* Video: Weekly Address: Financial Regulations Bill
- *New* Book Review: Changing Citizenship: Democracy and Inclusion in Education
- *New* Video: History of the Holidays, Lawcraft, Thirteen Colonies Word Search & Trivia
- Postscript Information
- PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS
Sketches of famous and not-so-famous Senators and Representatives
Habersham, John (1754-1799), (brother of Joseph Habersham and uncle of Richard Wylly Habersham), a Delegate from Georgia; born at “Beverly,” near Savannah, Ga., December 23, 1754; completed preparatory studies and later attended Princeton College; engaged in mercantile pursuits; served in the Revolutionary War as first lieutenant and brigade major of the First Georgia Continental Regiment; twice a prisoner of war; Member of the Continental Congress in 1785; appointed Indian agent by General Washington; appointed commissioner to the Beaufort convention to adjust the Georgia-South Carolina boundary; member of the first board of trustees to establish the University of Georgia; secretary of the Georgia branch of the Society of the Cincinnati upon its organization; collector of customs at Savannah from 1789 until his death near Savannah, Ga., December 17, 1799; interment in Colonial Park Cemetery. |
Sources:
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000001
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African-Americans in Congress:
Image courtesy of Library of Congress |
Langston, John Mercer (1829-1897), a Representative from Virginia; born in Louisa, Louisa County, Va., December 14, 1829; attended the common schools in Ohio; was graduated from the literary department of Oberlin College in 1849 and from the theological department in 1852; studied law in Elyria, Ohio; was admitted to the bar in 1854 and commenced practice in Oberlin, Ohio; took an active part in recruiting black troops during the Civil War, especially for the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Massachusetts and Fifth Ohio Regiments; member of the council of Oberlin 1865-1867; member of the city board of education in 1867 and 1868; appointed inspector general of the Bureau of Freedmen, Refugees, and Abandoned Lands in 1868; moved to Washington, D.C., and practiced law; dean of the law department of Howard University 1869-1876; appointed and commissioned by President Grant a member of the Board of Health of the District of Columbia in 1871; appointed by President Hayes Minister Resident and consul general to Haiti and Chargé d’Affaires to Santo Domingo; elected vice president and acting president of Howard University in 1872; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876; returned to Virginia, having been elected president of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, Petersburg, Va., in 1885; delegate to the Republican State convention in 1890; successfully contested as a Republican the election of Edward C. Venable to the Fifty-first Congress and served from September 23, 1890, to March 3, 1891; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress; died in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1897; interment in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Sources:
Black Americans in Congress: http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=18
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000074
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Women in Congress:
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress |
Long, Rose McConnell (1892-1970), wife of Huey Pierce Long, mother of Russell B. Long, sister-in-law of George S. Long, and cousin of Gillis W. Long; a Senator from Louisiana; born in Greensburg, Decatur County, Ind., April 8, 1892; moved with her parents to Shreveport, La., in 1901; attended the public schools of Shreveport; appointed on January 31, 1936, and subsequently elected on April 21, 1936, in a special election as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Huey P. Long, and served from January 31, 1936, to January 2, 1937; was not a candidate for reelection in 1936 for the full term; retired from public life to Shreveport, La.; died in Boulder, Colo., May 27, 1970; interment in Forrest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, La.
Sources:
Women in Congress: http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=143
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000427 |
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- CONGRESS DEFINED
Words and phrases that describe congressional processes
Earmark. To set aside funds for a specific purpose, use, or recipient. Virtually every appropriation is earmarked, but the term is often applied to funds set aside for such purposes as research projects, demonstration projects, parks, laboratories, academic grants, and contracts in particular congressional districts or states or for certain specified organizations.
Source: Congressional Quarterly’s American Congressional Dictionary, 3rd edition (2001):87-88.
- * NEW LESSON PLAN * GREATER DEBATE ISSUES #1 – DOES THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM ADEQUATELY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE?
During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop –– http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm –– participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A past participant presented a lesson entitled, Greater Debate Issues #1 – Does the Two-Party System Adequately Represent the People?
Many current issues are debated in government classes, issues that real representatives debate in Congress. Yet, there are larger or “greater” issues that deal with core ideas, philosophies or values behind American government that divide politicians or students of politics. In this lesson, the first of three, students will learn, read, and debate the merits of the two-party system.
Assignments for this and the next two debates will consist of (a) preview reading/journal, (b) reading and recording of points from a “yes” or “no” point of view, (c) meeting with an opposite point of view, recording notes, and discussing, and (d) post-reading journal. An all-class debate will occur for only some topics.
Find Greater Debate Issues #1 – Does the Two-Party System Adequately Represent the People?
at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_greaterdebateissue1.htm
- * NEW * EDITORIAL CARTOONS
The Dirksen Congressional Center recently announced additions to the Editorial Cartoon Collection project: http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/index.htm.
The editorial cartoons and related lesson plans will teach students to identify issues, analyze symbols, acknowledge the need for background knowledge, recognize stereotypes and caricatures, think critically, and appreciate the role of irony and humor.
This month we have posted five new cartoons:
We now have a total of 138 cartoons posted!
- * NEW * REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP MEETINGS
In the April 2010, we announced the completion of a searchable index to the PDF documents of the Joint Senate-House Republican Leadership Minutes, 1961-68.
The Joint Senate-House Republican Leadership Minutes are the minutes of the Republican leadership during the presidential administrations of John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Each session’s minutes generally include attendance, brief summaries of topics discussed, and background “fact sheets” for statements at press conferences following the meetings. These press conferences achieved fame as the “Ev and Charlie” and “Ev and Jerry” shows. For audio samples and curricular materials associated with a small sample of these minutes, please visit “The 1960s: A Multi-Media View from Capitol Hill” at http://www.dirksencenter.org/emd_audio/index.htm
Find the index to the Joint Senate-House Republican Leadership Minutes, 1961-68 at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/guides_emd/Minutes 1961-1968/index.htm
In addition, the Gerald R. Ford Library has digitized nearly 2,000 pages of documents related to Republican congressional leadership meetings with President Richard Nixon, 1969-73. Link to these documents at: http://www.dirksencenterprojects.org/#joint
- * NEW * VIDEO: WEEKLY ADDRESS: FINANCIAL REGULATIONS BILL
C-SPAN officially launched the C-SPAN Video Library, a free, searchable online collection of every C-SPAN program aired since 1987. This means teachers will now have access to over 160,000 hours of searchable digital video. You will also be able to create your own embeddable clips for lessons and presentations in your classroom.
C-SPAN's Video Library easily equips teachers with thousands of free resources to create authentic learning experiences for students that deepen their understanding of U.S. and world history, the workings of governments, the role of the media, and current political events.
This month we will highlight President Obama’s weekly address where he talked about the provisions in the financial regulations bill which include the creation of an independent consumer agency to oversee mortgages, credit card agreements and other financial products.
Find Weekly Address: Financial Regulations Bill at: http://webcommunicator.org/teacher%20topics/newsviews.htm
- * NEW * BOOK REVIEW: CHANGING CITIZENSHIP: DEMOCRACY AND INCLUSION IN EDUCATION
Education Review publishes reviews of recent books in education, covering the entire range of education scholarship and practice.
Michael Ernest Sweet, Concordia University, reviewed Changing Citizenship: Democracy and Inclusion in Education, authored by Osler, Audrey & Starkey, Hugh (2005).
In Sweet’s review he states, “Schools that embrace open dialogue and outward looking cosmopolitan visions, as outlined by the authors, will, undoubtedly, journey toward a more sustainable environment for democratic education. As one concerned with citizenship and democratic education, Changing Citizenship is always on my desk. This book aptly illustrates the very reality of citizenship that transcending boarders – as a cosmopolitan vision. Changing Citizenship: Democracy and Inclusion in Education is well positioned in contemporary citizenship literature, filling most especially the obvious need for an alternative view of cosmopolitanism. Osler and Starkey’s message is poignant – citizenship has changed.”
Find the review of Changing Citizenship: Democracy and Inclusion in Education at: http://www.congressforkids.net/books/bks_Independence_democracy.htm
- * NEW * VIDEO: HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAYS, LAWCRAFT, THIRTEEN COLONIES WORD SEARCH & TRIVIA
* VIDEO: HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAYS * (4:53)
Independence Day, commonly known as July 4th or the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Discover the origin of the 4th of July and its traditional celebrations by watching the History of the Holidays video. Although twelve American colonies declared their independence from Britain on July 2nd, 1976, the 4th of July is the day most remembered.
Link to the History of the Holidays video at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/declofindep_1/2_declofindep.htm
* LAWCRAFT *
Do your students want to make some laws? They can in LawCraft, where they play a member of Congress from the state of their choice.
Find LawCraft at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/makinglaws/2_makinglaws.htm
* THIRTEEN COLONIES WORD SEARCH *
Find all the words before time runs out. Remember that the words can run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards. Select each word by clicking on the first letter and dragging your mouse along the word. When you reach the end of the word, let up on the mouse button. If you find a word on the list then that word will remain circled and the word will be crossed off the list. It takes a keen eye to find them all. Good luck!
Find Thirteen Colonies Word Search at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/thirteencolonies/2_thirteencolonies.htm
* TRIVIA *
To the surprise of many, this wealthy signer of the Declaration of Independence admitted to fathering a daughter out of wedlock with a free black woman. He then raised the girl as his own and sent her to the finest schools in American. Who was this man?
- Charles Carroll
- Thomas Stone
- Samuel Chase
- William Paca
*Find the answer in next month's issue.
Answer to May 2010’s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0510.htm
- POSTSCRIPT INFORMATION
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