History of Checkpoint Charlie

by Kayla Harrell, Period 4

The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 by the East German government. Shortly after the wall was built, President John F. Kennedy ordered the U.S. forces to build three checkpoints at different points in the wall through which diplomatic corps and allied forces could enter West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie became the most famous. Checkpoint Charlie got its name from the American alphabet. The others were Alpha and Bravo…a, b, c. By 1962, this checkpoint was the only place that foreigners visiting Berlin could cross from West to East and back again. Checkpoint Charlie was removed in June of 1990, when German reunification was finally complete and nearly a year after the Wall came down. Today, a line of bricks traces the path where the Berlin Wall once stood and visitors will find a replica of the Checkpoint Charlie booth and sign at the original site. The original booth is in the Allied Museum in Zehlendorf. The watchtower, also part of the original checkpoint, was removed in 2000 to make way for stores and offices even though, there currently is no commercial buildings occupying the space.

To view the news articles from the time of Checkpoint Charlie visit here (or click on link):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1062037.stm

For more on the Wall and Checkpoint Charlie (or click on the link):
http://www.dhm.de/ENGLISH/ausstellungen/breakthrough/S4.htm

For extra credit:
*What was the reason the Wall came down? (first person to comment correctly, be sure to identify self and period number)
*Why was Checkpoint Charlie the most famous? (first person to comment correctly, be sure to identify self and period number) Also, if you did the first question, please let someone else answer this one :)


The sticker on the Berlin Wall artifact reads: "Original Berliner Mauer, Checkpoint Charlie, The Wall-Le Mur, 13.8.1961-9.11.1989."

New Presidents Song?

Given the following song it gives you a quirky way of remembering the order and a little fact of the presidents, but it only goes to 43 George Bush. Does anyone have any ideas to add our 44th president? I want you to post your verse of Barack Obama; it can include just texts or you can even include a video if your an overachiever. Teacher's note: You will not be able to post a video, unless you bring it in on a flash-drive. This would bring in more extra credit than a text post, as it requires more effort. GREAT IDEA NATE!


Nate Reichenbach
History period 3

Mike Mansfield Scholarship Opportunity

Colleagues: Please take some time to announce this to your Juniors and Seniors. We are extending the deadline of this essay contest until May 29th, 2009. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions (406-243-2988). Thank you for your help with this.


Mansfield Essay Competition
For Montana High School Juniors & Seniors


In a life spanning nearly a century, Mike Mansfield left enduring marks on Montana, the U.S. Senate, and international diplomacy. Born in humble circumstances, Mansfield emerged from the copper mines of Butte to lead the U.S. Senate and serve as America’s envoy to Japan, bridging the administrations of six presidents in the process. However, Mike Mansfield was admired as much for what he stood for as what he achieved, serving as a respected symbol of modesty, personal integrity, ethical behavior, and bipartisanship. He was also respected for his broad cultural vision. His love for the people and cultures of East Asia, in particular, led him to develop expertise on that region that he shared first as a professor of East Asian history at The University of Montana and then as an enlightened force in U.S. policy toward the region during his government service.

Despite his extraordinary contributions, however, Mansfield’s name and deeds are fading from public consciousness in Montana. Through the generosity of two good friends of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, we hope to remind young people of the Mansfield legacy through a public essay contest for Montana high school students.

The competition: Montana students in grades 11-12 are invited to submit essays focusing either on 1) the important ethical and other personal attributes that Mike Mansfield displayed during his life and distinguished government career, or 2) the significance of Mansfield’s commitment to East Asia. Students must note in each case how Mansfield’s legacy has influenced his or her own life or thinking.

The essay that readers judge to be the most impressive will win an award of $500, with the runner up being awarded $300 and the second runner up $200. You either e-mail your essay to Christopher Marlow at Christopher.marlow@mso.umt.edu or mail it to:

Mansfield Center
Essay Contest
MLIB 4th Floor
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

The essay needs to be 12 fonts, double-spaced and no longer than 10 pages. If e-mailed, please include your contact information. Essays will not be accepted after May 29, 2009. Questions can be e-mailed to the above address or called into (406) 243-2988.


Christopher Marlow
Program Coordinator
Mansfield Center
MLIB 4th Floor
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
P: (406) 243-2988
F: (406) 243-2181

Frost/Nixon a pleasant surprise

Frost/Nixon a pleasant surprise

By Ryan Donovan, Period 4

I sat down to watch what I thought was going to be a boring movie. This movie was Frost/Nixon. Frost/Nixon is about the four part interviews between David Frost, a night time talk show host in Australia, and the former president of the United States Richard Nixon. The movie takes place in 1974 right after President Nixon resigned from the presidency for the Watergate scandal. Many Americans were outraged to hear their beloved president had broken into the Democratic offices in the Watergate Hotel. They were even more furious when President Ford pardoned Nixon of all charges against him. The movie comes in the night of the resignation, it shows Nixon giving his speech and also shows Frost watching it at the same time. The movie is basically a flashback, with different characters telling different parts of the story. One of the most surprising moments of this movie was the beginning credits because I found how many big name actors are in this. Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, and Frank Langella all have big parts in the movie. I also was not aware that Academy Award winning director Ron Howard was at the helm of this film. All the actors did an amazing job, especially Frank Langella, who was dead on as the former president Nixon and Michael Sheen as the quick witted David Frost. Kevin Bacon and Sam Rockwell also did amazing jobs. Kevin Bacon as the right hand man to the president and Sam Rockwell as the reporter helping Frost bring Nixon down. Oliver Platt was funny, but he didn’t really shine in this movie, but I think that was the point. Ron Howard did an amazing job as director, using great lighting techniques and dramatic angles really set the mood for the story. The screenplay written by Academy Award nominated writer Peter Morgan was also stunning. Even though the movie seems like a drama, there is a lot of comedy in this, including one scene when Nixon asks Frost if he had fornicated the night before right as the interview begins taping. If you check out my trailer, that scene is in it. All in all this movie was highly underrated. The acting was magnificent along with the direction and the writing. If you have not seen this movie yet, please check it out, it is informational and entertaining.

Get a free sms student response system at Poll Everywhere

The Role of Women in World War II

In our American History class, we studied WWII and the American Home Front. For further knowledge, we had the honor of a couple of historians from the Women's Museum to come into our early morning class and tell about their museum. The beginning of their speech, the women told our class about the history of women's rights. According to them, Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote. It wasn't until years later when the United States granted women's rights. The powerpoint presentation revolved around the significant roles women played on the war.

Before WWII, women carried out chores around the house including cleaning, farming, and cooking. When the United States entered into the war, numerous men went over seas to fight for the nation. With the men gone off to war, many companies were short workers and were in need of employees. Women would see the ads saying that work was needed and they took advantage of the opportunity. Even though they were being paid less than men and were working long hours, women were proud to be apart of the work force. During the war women did numerous jobs that aided the war. For example, many women workers helped built planes and planes and more countless supplies. During the presentation, an interview on a parachute worker. The interview described what kind of work she delt with and under what conditions.

After the dropping of the atomic bomb, thousands of Japanese citizens died. Towards the end of the powerpoint presentation, the women who worked at the museum interviewed a Japanese woman. In the clip on the bottom of the page, one of the historians describe the interview to our class.

When the war ended, surviving soldiers returned home, taking the women's jobs. Due to the war and the assistance of the women in the work force, the United States won the war and saved the country from depression.

As extra credit, our class is wondering on your thoughts about the role of women in WWII. Our question to you, the reader, is how do you think the United States and the world would be different if the women were not apart of the working force during World War II?

Kendra D.
Anica K.
Josh E.
Period 0