Wednesday 26-10-2011

Today we have started the class a little bit late because someone broke the jack of the projector and we couldn't see the powerpoint about the 18th century; but Paqui has uploaded it on the blog.

Then we have started checking exercises 14 and 15. Silvia has corrected exercise 14 about the Boston Tea Party. This act of the Boston colonists was strongly repressed by the British army.

This led to more revolts and in 1776 the representatives of the 13 colonies decided to break their ties with Great Britain. On the 4th of July 1776 was the declaration of independence. As the government didn't respect the rights of the colonists and they didn't have representation in the British Parliament they decided to separate the colonies from Great Britain.It was written by Thomas Jefferson.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

http://blogsdelagente.com/blogfiles/around/benjamin-franklin.jpg

In exercise 15 we have learnt that Great Britain didn't accept the independence and a war started. The colonists led by George Washington won in the battles of Saratoga(1776) and

Yorktown(1781). In 1783 King George III accepted the independence of the USA. This declaration was signed in the treaty of Versailles in the Palace of Versailles by David Hartley, who represented king George III, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay.

Paqui has told us that the support of Spain to the independence of the USA led to revolts on his colonies, which last one in became independent was Cuba.

GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE BANKNOTE OF 1 DOLLAR

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I1VUuVhu7JU/TLj6TQDlyKI/AAAAAAAAAP4/7Hrj7hgZO6M/s1600/Portraits+George+Washington+(5).jpg

George Washington was the first president of the United states. In 1787 the representatives of the U.S.A. wrote the first constitution in history. Paqui has said that in a region of Switzerland there was like a type of constitution but this wasn't for all the country.

Then we have copied a scheme about the first constitution:

- It was the first written constitution in history

- It was a Federal republic; the citizens choose the head of the state, there was a division of powers, it was divided into states with their governments and the federal state controls the economic policy, the currency...

- It included the principles of political liberalism: representative government, rights of the citizens...

-Later it included the Bill of rights

- But the downside was that women, black slaves and Amerindians were excluded.

Today we have learnt new words as:

-Amendment: enmienda, changes in constitution.

-Bill of Rights: Declaración de derechos.

THOMAS JEFFERSON THE 3RD PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A.

http://www.radiomenteabierta.com/emprendedor/wp-content/uploads/Thomas-Jefferson.jpg

Then Yolanda has asked paqui what was la Conchinchina and Silvia was always saying that it was called the Conchinchilla. Paqui has solved this "discussion"; la Conchinchina is the region of Asia occupied now by Vietnam, Laos...

At the end of the class Paqui has told us to search for a date of the exam. She has said that she doesn't mind the date and I'm thinking about delaying it as much as possible maybe 16 of November, but all the class has to vote it.

In the powerpoint Paqui has uploaded appear in the slide 19 the 10 first amendments and in the last slide appear amendments like the vote for women and black people, the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of Alcohol.

Bye see you tomorrow.

Presentation about the 18th century

Here you have the PowerPoint presentation we are using in this unit. It includes the following contents:

- The Ancien Régime

- Enlightenment

- The independence of the 13 British colonies of North America and the foundation of the USA.

Review it if you need to complete some exercise or scheme you didn´t copy during the lessons.

England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom

Today we have also commented on the correct way of naming a country throughout different historial periods. This was the case of England and Great Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries. Here you have a more detailed explanation:

- England existed as a unified kingdom from the 10th century to the beginning of the 18th century. 

The Kingdom of England in the 17h century:

J.Jansson, Atlas Novus (1646)

Source: http://www.copperplate.co.uk/mapImages/Maps/BIS%20887.jpg

- The Kingdom of Great Britain existed from 1707 to 1801: it resulted from the unification of the kingdoms of Scotland and England (including Wales). 

Late 18th century hand coloured map of Great Britain (including Scotland and Wales)

Source: http://www.antiquehelper.com/item/341179

- In 1801 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created, after the repression of the Irish Rebellion in 1798 and the suppression of the Irish autonomy.

Source: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/map-united-kingdom-great-britain-and-ireland-1914

- In 1922 the partition of Ireland resulted in the creation of the Irish Free State, which became the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland remained as a part of the United Kingdom. Since then, the official name of the country is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Map of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland, including regions of England

Source: https://files.nyu.edu/raa302/public/england/geography.html

As you may remember, something similar happens with the different names our country has had: Spain wasn´t a unified kingdom until the beginning of the 18th century. This is why we use the name "Hispanic Monarchy" during most of the Modern Age. 

What was Prussia?

In blue colour, the Kingdom of Prussia at its greatest extent in 1876

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Prussia

Today some of you have asked about Prussia several times. Here you have a map where you will be able to learn its location in the past. Prussia was one of the most powerful German states and it had a very important role in the unification of Germany in the 19th century. We´ll study this in Unit 4. As a consequence of the two World Wars its former territories are distributed between Germany, Poland, Denmark, Russia and Lithuania at present. 

Here you have a map of Central Europe, where you can see which countries the former Prussian territories belong to now: 

Source: http://ghblanchette.com/central_europe.htm

If you want to learn more about this kingdom, visit the following link: 

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

The Encyclopaedia and the Independence

Diderot

Jean D'Alembert

Today in social sciences we have started the class with the beginning of the Encyclopaedia, they created it because they wanted to show more than translations. The first encyclopaedia had 35 volumes. Also the Chinnese had an encyclopaedia in the XV century. In this encyclopaedia they had ideas about ethics, the moral, things related without religion, scientific subjects... And we have it thanks to D'Alembert and Diderot, but some religious people wanted to forbid the Encyclopaedia beacause it contained moral subjects without containing religion. So they added it to the Index of Forbbiden Books.

After that, Yolanda Rubio correct the exercise 11.

And we have started again today with the Enlightened Despotism or, in Spanish: “Despotismo Ilustrado”. Paqui explained us in a scheme: Ideas of the Enlightenment influenced some european monarchs (Charles II, Frederic II of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia) now that they made many reforms: administrative reforms, economic reforms and educational reforms. The reforms were only considered necessary for their subjects. The Enlightened Despotim's Slogan was: "Evertything for the people, but without the people". Because they considered (the monarchs) the subjects didn't know nothing about this and they couldn't know it because if they realised of it, it could be many big problems. In spite of the monarchs did changes with the reform, they didn't change their absolute power or they didn't eliminate their privileges. Paqui has told us the monarchs didn't want to give to their subjects a better education because they could realise they were really unfair.

Paqui also explained us what is Prussia, and where it's situated; it's a territory between Germany and Poland, which was middle of Germany and middle of Poland; and she has drawn it the blackboard. She has had to repeat it many times.

Afterwards, we started a new point: The Independence of the 13 colonies of North America and the foundation of the U.S.A. Mariluz has started reading it. Then, Paqui has told us in the 17th century they talked about England and English, but in the 18th century they started talking about Great Britain and the British.

Reasons of North America to do the Independence:

-The North American colonists didn't have representatives in the British Parliament and they couldn't oppose the laws that damaged their interests.

-The British government constantly increased the taxes they had to pay for different products.

-The British government had the monopoly of trade with North America and the colonists couldn't buy or sell their products to other countries, except with Great Britain.

The concept of the Boston Tea Party: protest of the Boston colonists against the constant tax increase they suffered. They dressed as Indians and threw all the tea cargo of a ship of the East India Company away to the sea (1773). The British army strongly reppressed the revolt and discontent increased in the colonists.

Paqui has told us: “Now, in the news, sometimes they talk about the Tea Party” and about Sarah Palin: They compare their revolt and opposition against Obama's administration with the colonists against the British.Persons for the Republican party will participate in the election from 2012 against Obama.

Today the class was a little revoluzionited, Paqui was angry and she screamed many times: Silence!

But, anyway, today has been a good day.

Breaking and good news: the end of terrorism in Spain

Source: El País, 22/03/2006

After more than forty years of violence, the terrorist organization ETA has communicated the definitive end of their "armed activity". At 19:00 Gara, a Basque independentist newspaper, has published ETA´s statement. All the media were waiting for this announcement, which could mean the beginning of the end of bombings, murders and threats. Although experience advises prudence, many people will sleep better tonight. 

Here you have the statement in English: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15395157

And this is a brief history of ETA: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11183574

2011-2012 Challenges. Number 5

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diderot_-_Encyclopedie_1ere_edition_tome_4.djvu

Let´s learn a little more about the Encyclopedia, one of the most important Enlightenment legacies. Two French philosophers, Denis Diderot and Jean Rond D´Alembert had the idea of compiling all world´s knowledge in one book. This was the origin of the Encyclopedia as we knew it, before Wikipedia appeared. 

QUESTION 1

What does the word "Encyclopedia" mean?

QUESTION 2

Prior to the French Encyclopedia, there were some other projects of compiling knowledge in the past. What was the first of these projects, during the Roman Empire?

QUESTION 3

In the 7th century a Visigothic bishop wrote a 20 volume work that included all the knowledge of that period. Who was this wise man? What was the title of his work?

QUESTION 4

The Chinese also wrote their own encyclopedic book in the 15th century. How many volumes did this reference book have? How many copies of this book were made? What happened to this work?

QUESTION 5

What was the origin of the project of the French Encyclopedia?


QUESTION 6
Why was the publication of the Encycopledia so controversial?


QUESTION 7
Why was the Encyclopedia included in the Index of Forbidden Books in 1759?


QUESTION 8
Diderot and D´Alembert got the support of some important figures in the French court. One of them was the king´s mistress. She promoted culture and art and there is a legend that tells that she loved taking a specific drink and she was involved in the design of a piece of crockery. Who was this woman? What piece of crockery was inspired on her?

20th of October 2011

Today in Social Sciences we have cheked the activities that we have to do for homework. The activity number 4 have been corected by Beatriz Antequera this activity was about the enlightenment, activity number 5 have been corected by Yolanda Abad this one was about the precedents of enlightenment and finally the activity number 6 have been corected by Daniel this was about the features of enlightenment.

After that we have talked about the political thinking, the main philosofers were:

-Voltaire: he defended that the power of the king had to limited by the Parliament, a universal tax system, religious tolerance and he strongly criticized the Church.For example a sentence of tolerance is:

" I don't agree with your opinion, but I will always defend your right to say what you think"

Source:http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire

-Montesquie: he defended the division of powers into three institutions, (executive, legislative and judicial).

Source:http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montesquieu

-Rousseau: he defended the social contract and the general will: this means that power lies on the people.

Source:http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rousseau

Then Laura Bustamante have read about the economic thinking. We have talked about the mercantilism that is an economic policy based on :

-accumulation of precious metals

-exporting goods

And also about physiocracy and we have known the most importants physiocrats that were:

-Quesnay that was one of the main physiocrats

-Adam Smith that was the pioneer of economy liberalism.

During this class we also have learned some new words that have been:

-general will that means “voluntad general”

-phisiocracy that means “fisiocracia”

For homework we have to finish to read page 6 and do exercises 11 and 12 of page 11

See you

19th of October, 2011

Today in Social Sciences, we have checked the crossword about the 17th Century: "Absolute Monarchy and Baroque". Paqui has read the definition and then, we have answered it. Alejandro has said that in the "eleven across" there was a mistake, but there wasn't because is in plural "intendants". Paqui has said that Carmen has to change the pyramid image of her journal. Paqui was a little angry with us, because all the class was speaking. During we were checking the crossword, Paqui has pronounced some words in French.

Ana Lucas and Silvia were talking almost all the class. Silvia has said that she like the cover of the new book because, is harder than the other book.

Afterwards, we have checked the exercise 3 on the page 11 and the answer is: "The population increase in the 18th century because, there were less wars, less big epidemics, new crops were introduced (corn and potato). And the population increase led to a bigger demand for all type of products."

Then, we have started the 3rd point (ENLIGHTENMENT) and Paqui has said that is her favourite point of this unit. Paqui has switched the computer on and she has shown a Power Point presentation about the crisis of the Ancien Regime and the bourbon in Spain. Then, she has explained a very interesting pyramid for Carmen.

Rebeca has read on page 5 and Paqui has written on the blackboard a scheme about the "process of secularization": The process started in the 15th century with HUMANISM, in the 16th century with REFORMATION, in the 17th century with SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION and in the 18th century with ENLIGHTENMENT.

Paqui has drawn a picture and Yolanda Rubio has said that is like a woman's bum. Afterwards, Juan Carlos has read some thinkers and scientist that can be precedents of Enlightenment:

- John Locke, was an English philosopher, he criticized absolutism and defended the division of powers.

Source: http://filosofia.laguia2000.com/empirismo-ingles/john-locke

-Isaac Newton, was an English scientist and he created the scientific method based on observing and checking facts.

Source: http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/n/newton.htm

Beatriz Yuste has read the main features of Enlightenment that were:

-Absolute faith in Reason.

-Rejection of everything that couldn't be explained through Reason.

-Optimism and trust in progress.

-Knowledge as the basis of happiness.

-Trust in education cosidered to be the best way to improve.

-Religious tolerance.

-Criticism of absolutism and the estates society.

-Elitist movement, resened to educated people.

They think that education can change the work. Paqui has said that the children have to go to school not work.

One of the most important philosopher is: IMMANUEL KANT: "Dare to know", is a challenge. It is important because you do things by yourself.

Source: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant

Paqui will decorate the class with interesting historical things. Then, she has explained the difference between doing things that by obligation that is more difficult for us and doing things because we want to know things and it is easier.

Afterwards, Paqui has given to us some exercises for tomorrow on the page 11 the exercises 4, 5 and 6.

Some new words that we have learned are: process of secularization (proceso de secularización), enlightened (ilustrado), guarantor (garante), trust (confianza), to trust (confiar) and "Dare to know" (Atrévete a saber).

The bell has rung and Paqui has said that this afternoon she will come to decorate the class with the people of 3rd of ESO.

SEE YOU TOMORROW :)

17th of October

Today in Social Sciences we have started the new unit about " The crisis of the Ancien Régime and the bourbons in Spain ".

Definition: expression used by the French revolutionaries to define all they wanted to change. It refers to the features of Europe before the French Revolution.

We studied this unit we have studied in 2º E.S.O and for that reason we know some things.

Then we have copied the introduction of the unit and a pyramid of society. Afterwards we have read the first point and then Paqui has explained that in politics there were absolute Monarchy.

In economy the predominant activity was the agriculture and most part of the production was destined to self consumption. And Society was divided into estates: privileged, nobles and clergy; and underprivileged where they were the bourgeoris, workers and peasants.

At the end of the class Paqui has given us a crossword and the exercise 3 of page 11.