In the first part of this Historical Topic Discussion, you examined political cartoons from the 19th Century.  Read just the first paragraph on "modern political cartoons" from WikiPedia.

These cartoons often involve exaggerations (of the truth) in order to make their point, and they require the viewer to already "know something about" what is being depicted in order for it to make any sense.

But how do you (the student) personally respond to these exaggerations, or more correctly, falsehoods, when the media form changes, to Hollywood movies (Amistad) and what children learn in school textbooks (about the Underground Railroad)?  

Watch the two video clips on the HTD Materials page and read the article on the Amistad movie by historian Eric Foner. Are you concerned when historical truth has been either kept from you, either by spreading/persistant mythology or by outright manipulation?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_cartoons




Hello students.

This is the start of week four of the term.  Remember your Chapter 13 Quiz that is due today by 5pm.

Nice job so far from the minority of students who have already posted and replied in the Historical Topic Discussion assignment.  You will now notice that the assignment has expanded to "part 2".  Taking what you learned and discussed from the political cartoons, you are now asked to build on that as you examine more examples of American "history".  

That's all for now.

P.S.
Unfortunately, more than 50% of the class has not yet participated in the Historical Topic Discussion which officially began last Wednesday.  Your online grade for this ongoing, two-and-a-half-week assignment is MUCH MORE substantial than simply missing a weekly opinion poll.