Teacups in the Garden

• Sep. 22, 2008 - Learning about Duels

Posted in TOG Y3U1

     This week our history study focuses on President Jefferson's second term in office.  One infamous event we'll be studying will be the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.  Over the course of our history studies, we have learned how men of different eras fought for honor.  Although knights usually jousted for fun with blunt instruments, there were times when heated words led to one on one combant while on horseback with sharp lances. Then there's the wonderful story of The Three Musketeers.  Who can forget D'Artagnan being challenged to separate duels with Athos, Aramis and Porthos, one after the other on the same day!  Fortunately, this led to a long friendship which inspired my son to portray D'Artagnan at our  Year 2 Unit 2 celebration last year.

    While we previewed this week's information, my son was certain he knew exactly how the Hamilton/Burr duel was done.  So I told him to act it out with his sister.  They successfully acted out an Old West shoot out!   I showed them a slide show of the infamous Burk Duel portrayed by actor/interpreters from Colonial Williamsburg.  After going through the slide show, I read aloud the commentary from the CW Journal (linked in the "Burk Duel" above).  It was a wonderful opportunity for the kids to make lots of connections with the various topics they've been studying the last few weeks. 

     John Daly Burk was a radical Irishman who created conflict wherever he went.  He came to America, to the relief of Great Britain, in 1796.  Settling in Boston, he fervently wore his politics on his sleeve.  Burk was an ardent supporter of Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, who believed in freedom for the peoples at all costs, arguing for America's whole hearted backing in the French Revolution.  John Adams attended one of Burk's plays in Boston, which was about General Warren and his death at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  If anyone has seen the movie, "Johnny Tremain", you'll remember Dr. Warren, one of the masterminds behind the beginning of American Independence in Boston, who surgically frees Johnny's fingers.  Yes, Dr. Warren died at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  John Adams did not like the play.  "My friend, General Warren, was a scholar and a gentleman...Your author has made him a bully and a blackguard."  My son immediately spoke up and said that the Alien and Sedition Acts were going to be the downfall of John Burk.  (I just love it when one of my kids make these connections!)  And yes, we got to that later in the article.  

     We have studied President John Adams' impassioned justification for the Alien and Sedition Acts, which most historians agree, were unconstitutional.  Adams, like Washington, wanted to keep America out of war with other countries, feeling that America was too fragile to survive another war.  When Adams was president, he put the Alien and Sedition Acts into effect, punishing anyone with fines, imprisonment and exportation who printed slander against the government. (More particularly he was trying to calm all the "hotheads" who were trying to inspire America to go to war and help the French with their revolution.) Adams felt the acts were necessary to protect America from getting caught up in foreign wars, and in the process, being destroyed.  During this time, Thomas Jefferson was Adam's vice-president and he ardently disagreed with Adams.  Their tatterred relationship came to a bitter end, as Jefferson's Democratic-Republican ideas contrasted with Adam's Federalist ideas.   

    Indeed, Burk's Anti-Federalist newspaper articles, that protested America's lack of support of the French Revolution and slandered President Adams, nearly put him in prison under the Sedition Acts.  Burk's friend, Aaron Burr, tried to help him avoid prison and leave the country instead.  In the end, Burk fled to Virginia to hide.  He found a new home in one of Virginia's anti-Federalist towns, where Burk continued to be outspoken.  While in a tavern in 1808, a frenchman by the name of Monsieur Felix Coquebert overheard Burk defame the French as "a pack of rascals."  For the sake of honor, Coquebert made his prescence known.  Angry words led to the challenge of a duel...and Burk met his demise.

   Today, the kids are reading about the events leading up to the Burr/Hamilton Duel and the aftermath which led to Burr's trial for treason. Apparently he was trying to take over the Lousiana Territory so that he could rule it as king.  The kids will be evaluating Jefferson's response to the Burr Controversy.  Hmmm,  didn't some of his actions go against the very beliefs he held when he debated President Adams? We will also evaluate Supreme Court justice John Marshall and his decision in the Burr Treason Trial.  Will the kids agree with his decision or disagree?  We should have an interesting discussion on Wednesday!   

    Update posted 8-19-09 This morning my kids and I listened to the latest Colonial Williamsburg podcast on The Code Duello, which is about the history of duels.  This presentation is done with excellence!  Even though it's been nearly a year since we've studied about the Hamilton/Burr duel, this adds another layer to my kids' understanding of this historic tradition. Through the podcast, duels were explained to be quite common not only in Europe, but also in the course of history. During our TOG studies, we got a smattering of reading time on duels in Year 2 (Middle Ages-1800).  Our Year 3 studies (19th century) reverberated with duel after duel after duel. This supplemental podcast helps to cement the concept.    Be sure to check the podcast, dated August 17, 2009, called "The Code Duello". 

Update posted 9-24-09 This morning the new week's podcast continues the theme of duels, focusing on the infamous Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton duel. The podcast ends with some highly unusual duels from the pages of history. I know that Wishbone would have been impressed with the last story! Be sure to check the podcast, dated August 24, 2009, called "History's Most Famous Duel".  

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• Sep. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous
Fascinating Laurie! How cool that they are so excited to study this and are making connections! The Alien and Sedition Acts were so interesting to read about in the John Adams book. At the time he felt they were a necessary evil, but later in life he said they were his biggest regret. And in fact, according to the book, most of the population were in favor of them at the time. They were terrified of French spies. It has reminded me of what has happened in recent years with people in our country forgetting that Congress overwhelmingly agreed with President Bush to invade Iraq 7 years ago, and now they just blame him!

Blessings,
Pam
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• Sep. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lahbluebonnet
Pam, I'm enjoying all of your John Adams comments. I've got to get that book!
Blessings,
Laurie
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• Sep. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by kellieann
History definitely seems like a fun subject to cover at your house. Good job!
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• Sep. 30, 2008 - Dueling over Great-Grandma!

Posted by Lori
I was amused by your post! It brought to remembrance a story my great-grandmother used to tell of two suitors fighting a duel over her in the late 1800s where she grew up in California! I WISH there was some way to research all that, but all my attempts have landed with dead ends! Still a fascinating part of our family tree...It appears in the "wild west" of California duels were still happening as late as the late 1800s! :)
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Gardens thrill my soul. My senses awaken, my soul is refreshed, my mood calms down...and if given time for quiet ponder, I've enjoyed the sound of buzzing bees while collecting pollen, the delightful croak of shy Mr. Toad, the exuberant flutter a hummingbird near my face thanking me for scrumptious flowers, and the gentle touch of the butterfly who settles on my shoulder. I've been known to walk into the house with my hair showered in lavender crepe myrtle blossoms and my clothes covered in blue plumbago blooms. Picture a rustic wrought iron bistro set with floral cushions and gingham pillows under a crepe myrtle dripping in blooms. I've set out some tea. Come and sit with me while I catch you up on the latest of the happenings in my family. Welcome to my garden.


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2009-2010 Curriculum for dd-16

Geometry, Chapter 6
Latin III, chapter 7
Chemistry, Module 4
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Dialectic History, Geography, Worldview
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Rhetoric Literature
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Rhetoric Government
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Rhetoric Philosophy
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Rhetoric Fine Arts
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Piano


Rhetoric Literature

• The Metamorphosis

Rhetoric Government

• National Prohibition Law

Rhetoric Philosophy

• Karl Barth

Writing Assignment

• Cause and Effect of Stock Market Crash

Art

• Surrealism, The Brauhaus
• Depression Scrap Quilt

2009-2010 Curriculum for ds-14

Pre-Algebra, Chapter 7
National Spelling Bee Study
Latin I, chapter 10
Physical Science, Module 5
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Dialectic History, Geography, Worldview, Church History
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Dialectic Literature
Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 Dialectic Fine Arts
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Piano
Fife


Spelling

• Words of Greek Origin

Dialectic Literature

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

History Theme of the Week

• Stock Market Crash, Prohibition, Mobsters, President Hoover, FDR's indiscretion and polio

Writing Assignment

• Cause and Effect of Stock Market Crash

Dialectic Church History

• Eric Liddell

Dialectic Music History

• George Gershwin

Art and Activities

• Track Stock Market
• Empire State Building

Current Read Aloud

By England's Aid: Or, The Freeing of the Netherlands AD 1588


2009-2010 Books Read 16yod

• Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt
• Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor
• The Panama Canal
• Selections from The American Regionalism Reader
• With Daring Faith
• The First World War
• Women's Right to Vote
• The Cherry Orchard
• Billy Sunday: Homerun to Heaven

2009-2010 Books Read 14yos

• The Call of the Wild
• Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt
• Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor
• The Panama Canal
• White Fang
• O'Henry Short Stories
• With Daring Faith
• The First World War
• Women's Right to Vote
• Billy Sunday: Homerun to Heaven
• Shoeless Joe Jackson
• Homesick: My Own Story

Movies of the Era

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• In the Good Old Summertime
• The Seven Little Foys
• Easter Parade
• Christy
• Fiddler on the Roof
• Nicholas and Alexandria
• All Quiet on the Western Front
• Anne of Green Gables III (intrigue and espionage in WWI)
• Sgt. York
• Christy
• Cheaper by the Dozen
• Belles on Their Toes
• Chariots of Fire
• Singing in the Rain
• Spirit of St. Louis

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Tapestry of Grace: Map of the Humanities



Map of the Humanities
Ever wish your kids could see the "big picture" of what they're studying?

The "Map of the Humanities" puts it all on one page: history, literature, government, fine arts and philosophy from Creation to right now!



Tapestry of Grace Year 1: Creation to the

Fall of Rome



Tapestry of Grace Year 2: Middle Ages,

Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration,

Colonial America, American Revolution,

The Constitution



Tapestry of Grace Year 3: 19th Century



Tapestry of Grace Year 4: 20th and 21st Centuries



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