thanksgiving and america

Thanksgiving 

I am thankful for the game of soccer. Throughout the years this sport has taught me many lessons. It has not only taught me lessons but has brought my family and i closer together. The sport has taught me to be a leader, and to never give up, and for that I am thankful. 

uswnt

I am also thankful for opportunity for all. The belief in opportunity is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born, or what class they were born into can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for anyone and everyone. I am thankful that I have as well a chance as anyone else to make it in this world if i work hard and strive to be the best i can.

:)

Electoral votes 1876-1888 and 2008- 2012

Massachusetts electoral votes

• 1876- Rutherford B. Hayes- Republican
• 1880-James A. Garfield- Republican
• 1884- James G. Blaine- Republican
• 1888- Benjamin Harrison- Republican

Mass. Voted republican. The majority of New England also voted republican (As a bloc) with minor resistance from Connecticut and parts of New Hampshire. 

• 2008- Barack Obama- Democrat
• 2012- Barack Obama- Democrat  

Prezzzz Obama :)

Mass. Voted Democrat. In the two previous elections mass became a Democratic state. Through out the years The meaning of republican and democrat changed. This is the reason that ma became a democratic state. Some of the presidents that were republican back in the day would now be known as democrats. People in more recent elections (the general public) have been better informed about the candidates and more educated in what they believe in in order to vote for the candidate they believe will be right for the country. 

map of votes :p

Oil Boom

Oil Boom

oil discovery

one of the first ways of mining oil

old oil mining

Short term effects of Oil

Henry Ford did not invent the automobile , however he was responsible for transforming the automobile from an invention of unknown utility to an innovation that shaped the 20th century and continues to effect 21st century. 

In the 1920s auto production had become a pillar of the United States economy. By the end of the decade, American factories were churning out 5 million cars a year which was more than any other industry. 

Automobiles created new business and cars gave people freedom in several aspects of their lives. 

Although cars had many benefits, automobiles caused accidents, pollution, noise, and they also decreased the natural environment. 

December 1st 1913 Henry Ford installed the first moving assembly line for the mass production of an entire automobile. His invention reduced the time it took to build a car from 12 hours to 2 and a half hours. 

first assembly line

first model car

long term

Oil forms one of the pillars of the global economy. It is absolutely critical to the functioning of the globalized world. Everything from making machinery move to plastics can be traced to oil or some byproduct. Oil makes its impact felt on almost every individual's life, and sends ripples through the stock market. 

chart

exporter of oil


5 products that use or are made of petroleum
Ink
Floor Wax
Ballpoint Pens
Football Cleats
Boats

Election Day

Election Day

Why is election day the first Tuesday in November?

For much of our history, America was a predominantly agrarian society. Law makers therefore took into account that November was perhaps the most convenient month for farmers and rural workers to be able to travel to the polls. The fall harvest was over, but in the majority of the nation the weather was still mild enough to permit travel over unimproved roads. Because many Americans had to travel a significant distance to the county seat in order to vote, Monday was not considered reasonable because many people would need to begin travel on Sunday.If they had to travel on Sunday that would conflict with church. Lawmakers wanted to prevent election day from falling on the first of November for two reasons. November 1st is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics, and most merchants were in the habit of doing their books from the preceding month on the 1st. Apparently, Congress was worried that the economic success or failure of the previous month might prove an undue influence on the vote.

Election day is a holiday in:

• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Montana
• West Virginia

Niki Tsongas

Democrat 

district she represents

Senators: 
Sen. Edward Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ; both democrats

Massachusetts House of Representatives
Thomas A. Golden Jr.
Nicola Tsongas
Massachusetts Senate
Eileen M. Donoghue 

Governor

federal government

MA flag

FAR AND AWAY

The movie Far and Away provides a fairly accurate portrayal of the experience of immigrants arriving in America at the turn of the 19th century.

Industrial Revolution and immigration

young factory worker

During the 1890s when irish immigrants came to the United States looking for work.

During the mid to late 1800’s over 2 million Irish immigrants traveled to America. The majority of these Irish immigrants were tenant farmers (farmers who did not own, but paid rent for land) driven from their homeland by potato crop failures and a devastating famine in the 1840’s.

Joseph Donnelly, a young Irishman, lives with his father and two brothers as tenant farmers paying rent to their wealthy landlord Daniel Christie. The land, however, is very unfertile and, though Joseph does his best, the family cannot grow enough crops to pay their rent. As a result of this he decides to go to the United States in search of work and land. Upon his arrival to Boston Joseph has to find work. Throughout his journey Joseph works his way through the system by making connections with people and making a name for himself. By doing this Joseph is able to make a living. He works in a factory cleaning the chickens. This part of the movie shows how poorly the factory workers were treated and how unsanitary the working conditions were in the 1800s.

The movie Far an Away shows how immigrants that were not rich had trouble finding jobs and getting land.

immigrants coming to america in the late 1800s