Willowcreek Mrs. Ness United States History, AP Human Geography & Spanish
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Online Essay: Geography & the story of mankind are interconnected

Physical and Political Geography shape the history and culture of the United States, one cannot understand the one without understanding the other.  Please choose ONE of the three blogs below to post your theories and evidence to support the statement posted above, i.e. "Geography & the story of mankind are interconnected" 

Please use the following guidelines:
1) Identify which essay you would prefer to research and write about.
2) Create/ write your hypothesis or theory.  Whatever you create should be unique to you. 
3) Use the information shared in class (open note) and/or additional evidence to support your theory. 
4)  Follow the template provided on the right to write your outline (due 11/8) 
5)  Use your outline to type and share a google rough draft shared w/teacher on 11/11. 
5) Published Posts Blogs due 11/13

Political & Physical Geography

Political Geography Shapes the story of the United States

9/21/2017

108 Comments

 
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During this unit we have studied the Political Geography of the United States,  including the Political systems of the United States.  This essay asks you to explain the Constitutional practice of Federalism and then based on what you have learned about the 50 States, determine and explain which States would benefit and therefore be willing to support either the Farm Act Bill 2021 or the Trump administration's hoped for automotive tariff policy. Once you have identified the bill you will be analyzing, determine which states might benefit and therefore support the bill conversely identify which state might be opposed to those same bills. Lastly, based on your analysis of the state's cultures and economies create a plan for coming up with the legislative votes to pass the bill you have chosen.  Be sure to explain your answer.  REMEMBER YOUR JOB IS NOT TO ARGUE FOR OR AGAINST EITHER BILL, RATHER IT IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WHAT STATES HAVE TO BE ON BOARD TO PASS THE LEGISLATION YOU CHOOSE.

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United States Census Bureau
Number of Congressman/Senators
There are a total of 535 Members of Congress.
100 serve in the U.S. Senate. 
435 serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

​How Laws are Made

Representatives sponsor a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. Again, a simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill. Finally, a conference committee made of House and Senate members works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval. The Government Printing Office prints the revised bill in a process called enrolling. The President has 10 days to sign or veto the enrolled bill.

Farm Act Bill 2021
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​In the United States, the farm bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government. The comprehensive omnibus bill is passed every 5 years or so by the United States Congress and deals with both agriculture and all other affairs under the purview of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Beginning in 1933, farm bills have included titles on commodity programs, trade, rural development, farm credit, conservation, agricultural research, food and nutrition programs, marketing, etc.

Farm bills can impact international trade, environmental conservation, food safety, and the well-being of rural communities. The agricultural subsidy programs mandated by the farm bills are the subject of intense debate both within the U.S. and internationally.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 funds farm programs through 2018. The bill includes approximately $218 billion in annual spending for Department of Agriculture programs, around 80 percent of which is allocated for food stamps and other nutritional programs. It increased subsidies for biofuels.

Approximately 62% of farmers receive no benefit from the FAB and 10% of farmers use 75% of the subsidies. However, food stamps and nutrition remained the largest portion of the bill's cost, amounting to a proposed $768.2 billion over ten years. 
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Readings for Further study: Farm Bill
A Farm Bill Primer
A Brief History of the Farm Bill
Who gets what from the Farm Bill?
State by State Food Stamps
FarmAid: Who gets what from the Farm Bill
Science Today: Why the Farm Bill Matters
The Farm Bill will Hurt Farmers & Consumers
NCIS: Top Ten Reasons to Reject the Farm Bill
Learn More about the Farm Bill Below
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Trump's Proposed Auto/ Auto Parts Tariff Bill
President Donald Trump has proposed a tariff bill that would apply to auto makers globally who import their automobiles into the American market. Countries most impacted by this would be China, Korea, Mexico and Germany.  In essence the bill would place a special tax on vehicles entering the American market from foreign countries.  The purpose of the bill is three fold 1) help fund the cost of a border wall between Mexico and the United States.  2) Help the American auto market and automobile worker and 3) punish what Trump calls "cheating" by those who do not engage in free trade.

President Donald Trump has suggested that a plan for a wall along the Mexican border could be financed through a 20% border tax on all imports from Mexico, a new detail in the evolving saga between the U.S. and Mexico that would have a direct impact on the U.S. automotive industry.

“It clearly provides the funding and does so in a way that the American taxpayer is wholly respected," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. “We are probably the only major country that doesn’t treat imports this way.”

Trump's campaign promise to build a wall along the Mexican border and the president's desire to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement by bringing automotive jobs back to the U.S.

The tariff could cause auto buyers to purchase American made vehicles, the tariff would come at a cost Wall Street analysts estimate a tariff could raise the average prices of vehicles from Mexico by $2,300. Currently Mexico has become the seventh largest vehicle producer in the world. There are currently a number of manufacturers with a presence in Mexico, including GM, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, VW, Mazda and Kia. This manufacturing base produces 42 brands and 500 models in 22 manufacturing plants and has a network of 1,800 dealers, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.  Germany, China and Korea also import billions of dollars annually into the United States

Marchionne said most of the policies that President Donald Trump is proposing would benefit the automotive industry but warned that dismantling NAFTA could have "monumental consequences" for the industry.

The U.S. trade deficit with Mexico was $49.2 billion in 2015, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. China and Germany have an even greater trade deficit.
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“Right now our country’s policy is to tax exports and let imports flow freely in, which is ridiculous," Spicer said.
Spicer ran through the math by applying 20% to the difference, coming up with nearly $10 billion a year.
The U.S. could "easily pay for the wall just through that mechanism alone. That’s really going to provide the funding,” he said.

The border tax plan would need congressional approval, But the proposal could face resistance even among Republicans.

"Border security yes, tariffs no," Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter. "Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad."
Learn More about  the Trade Bill Below
New York Times: Mexico, China & Tariffs
USA Today: Tariffs hurt American Economy
Reuters: Tariffs disrupt auto sector
Time: Tariffs and America Auto Industry

Posting Responses

  • Review the three questions/ assignments (see below)  Prior to reading, analyzing and resonding to the threads be certain you understand the purpose of the thread; that is, what was the writer supposed to prove or accomlish.
    • Political Geopraphy Shapes the History of the United States
    • Using Federalism (Pol Geo) to Pass Farm Bill 2021
    • Using Federalism (Pol. Geo) to Pass Trump's Auto Tariff Bill & Build a Wall
  • Read, analzye and respond (on your own paper) to nine posts.  You should read & analyze a minimum of three posts within each thread.... i.e. 
    • Political Geopraphy Shapes the History of the United States
    • Using Federalism (Pol Geo) to Pass Farm Bill 2021
    • Using Federalism (Pol. Geo) to Pass Trump's Auto Tariff Bill & Build a Wall
    • While reading  each essay you should do the following:
      • Identify the thesis and main points of each writer.  Write these on a separate piece of paper
      • Determine whether or not the writer effectively addressed the question.  On your own paper explain why or why not
      • Determine whether or not the writer identified nuanced solutions to complex issues and/ or used multiple and unique examples to explain their thesis and main points.  On your own paper explain why you felt they did nor did not acheive this goal
  • HOMEWORK:  Respond within the student's thread within the blog.  Be sure to express the following:
    • What you appreciate about their thesis and main points.
    • What arguments/ evidence did they provide that was most compelling
    • What is one counter argument or issue that you would like to have seen them address iin their essay
    • Provide at least one compliment related to their formatting and style of wriiting 
108 Comments

Physical Geography shapes the story of the United States

9/21/2017

55 Comments

 
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During this unit we studied the Physical Geography of the United States, while studying we looked at numerous examples of how the story of the US is shaped by the physical geography of it's various regions. Identify three broad ways Physical Geography shapes our story and then give at least three specific and well developed historical evidences, i.e. examples to support each theory. You may use your notes and additional research to compile your answer.

Additional Readings & Videos to supplement your learning and support your answer
physical_geography_2019.ppt
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​North America's physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately. ... Our globalized world has pressed these societies to develop complex ways of interacting with, ... North America's history and development have been shaped by its political geography.
National Geography History & Geography

Fabulous sites to better understand Federalism

Center of Representative Government
Understanding Federalism
55 Comments

    Assignment:

    Choose ONE of the two blog topics on the left to study and write about.

    Review your lecture notes and handouts and brainstorm different ideas related to your subject.
     
    Guidelines & Format of Essay:

    Write an outline for your essay
    1) On the template provided organize your essay in a rough draft of a five paragraph essay, be sure to include:
    a. An introduction (including a powerful thesis & introduction)
    b. Three main points that support your thesis
    c. Three supporting points for each main point.
    d.  Evidence to support each supporting point/
    e.  A clear conclusion
    Completed outlines will be checked 10/11 (A day) 10/12 (B day)

    Outline Writing Template & Outline Rubric

    ​Write a Rough Draft of your essay
    1)  Use your oultine to write your Rough Draft.
    2) Type your essay in google docs within your school provided google account.
    3)  Be sure your Rough Draft includes all of the elements included in your outline.  (see the attached rubric)
    4) Title your Rough Draft, "Period, last name, first name, Political Geography Essay" exp....  A4, Getana, Iwanna, Political Geography Essay
    5)  Share your Rough Draft with the instructor.  Share address cness@alpinedistrict.org.
    Rough drafts are due 1st of class 10/26 (A day) 10/27 (B day)

    ​Polish and Publish your Final Draft

    1)  Use the attached rubric to ensure your paper includes all of the required elements. Make any required changes.
    2) Use the rubric to complete a self-evaluation- this will go on your grade.
    3)  Allow your partner to read your essay.  Have your partner complete a peer evaluation. This in conjunction with the instructor and your own self- evaluation will be reflected in your final grade. 
    4) Copy and paste your completed essay to the website.  You will do this by:
    a) Copy the finished essay, b) open the comment section of the blog on which your wrote.
    c) Go to the bottom of the page where it reads "Leave a Reply", complete the required information and paste your essay.  
    d) Make sure the entire essay was posted.  If missing elements post the un-posted content in the respond section below your comments. 
    5)  Turn in hard copies of your evaluation and your essay to the instructor
    Final Drafts must be published online and hard copied given to the instructor by 11/1 (A day) 11/2 (B day)  PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH YOUR ESSAYS EARLY!

    Grading Rubric Rough Draft & Final Draft

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