People:

Artist: Giotto di Bondone Italian renaissance artist

- Focus: Paintings - Mediums: Tempera, Wood - Subject: Figure, Landscape, Scenery - Able to accurately depict and transfer human emotion into his work - The most sovereign master of painting in his time, who drew all his figures and their postures according to nature. Giovanni Villani (Giottos contemporary) - His people have a sense of three dimensionality and physical presence - Most famous work: Scrovegni Chapel (Arena Chapel) in Padua - Depicts the Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary - Court of Heaven and Judgment Day - Commonly believed that he set the foundation for Italian Renaissance - Religious subjects Summary: Giotto di Bondone was an early Italian Renaissance painter and is believed to have set the foundation for the styles of the Renaissance. His most noteworthy piece is the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua that depicts many religious (Christian) scenes, which is also depicted in many of his other works. Giotto was able to depict human emotions with conviction through gestures and expressions. He brought a new sense of three dimensionality as well as mass and realism to his works, which would influence future renaissance painters.

William B.T. Trego American war painter

- Focus: Paintings - Mediums: NA (though from the looks of the paintings, most likely acrylic or oil paint) - Subject: Military subjects in the American Revolution and Civil War - Become known for his accurate military depictions as well as the honest, yet brutal realism of them - Brought a sense of vitality to his artwork - Precise renderings of figures, charging horses, and military paraphernalia - Declining in popularity of realistic military artwork - Most Famous Painting: The March to Valley Forge of George Washington leading the Continental Army - One of the last military painters - Painted over 200 military paintings - Many history books/textbooks/text/articles all feature his paintings Summary: William B.T Trego was one of the last American war painters. He favored painting the American Revolution and the Civil War and was able to capture the vitality and realism of the scenes that he depicted, especially the ones of the Civil War. Even though his paintings were realistic and accurate, military artwork was declining in popularity which made it hard for him to sell his paintings to make a living. Though nowadays, many historical books, or textbooks, etc. all show his paintings. And his most famous painting The March to Valley Forge, which shows George Washington leading the Continental Army, is located in The American Revolution Center.

Scientist: Edwin Hubble American astronomer

- Discovered that the universe goes beyond the Milky Way - Findings were publish in the New York Times on November 23, 1924 - Hubbles Law: The universe expands at a constant rate. The recessional velocity is proportional to the distance, which turns into an equation using the Hubble constant - He also developed a system for categorizing galaxies, which is still in use today - He also campaigned for astronomy to be part of physics in order for it to be eligible for recognition by the Nobel Prize Committee - The first astronomer to use the famous Hale Telescope in Palomar Observatory in California Summary: Edwin Hubble was a pioneering American astronomer who discovered what many people take as common knowledge nowadays, which is that the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in space, and that the universe in immensely large and continues to expand at a constant rate. He developed a formula for this called Hubbles Law which says that the recessional velocity is proportional to the distance using the Hubble constant. He is well known as an astronomer, and his system for categorizing galaxies is still used today.

Politician: Deborah (Debbie) Stabenow US Senator from Michigan

- Democrat - First woman to preside over the Michigan House of Representatives - Lead the passage of one of the first laws in the US that said that all children up until the age of five needed to sit in car seats - Authored a domestic violence law that increased the punishment - Failed to become Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1994 - Ran for United States House of Representatives in 1996, and successfully made it - She also won a re-election for a second term - Authored first law to ban drilling in the Great Lakes Summary: Deborah Stabenow has been a US Senator representing Michigan since 1996. She was the first woman to preside over the Michigan House of Representatives and have authored and supported the passing of many laws such as a new, harsher domestic violence law and the banning of drilling in the Great Lakes. Even though she wasnt able to represent Michigan as their Lieutenant Governor, she was able to help Michigan as a state through the House of Representatives.

Business Person: John Willard Marriott

- Founder of Marriott Corporation - started as a small root beer stand in DC - He was diagnosed with cancer and only given up to a year to live, but instead he lived another half century (5o years) - He was completely focused on his company - He created a family like atmosphere with the people that worked for him - He also insisted on personally checking every establishment four times a year - He was a Mormon, and now to this day, every Marriott hotel has a Mormon bible in the room. Summary:

John W. Marriott was the founder and owner of the Marriott hotel chain as well as many others. What started out as a small root beer company in Washington, bloomed into a successful hotel, cruise, and living chain. Marriott was completely dedicated to his company and prided himself with meticulous inspections as well as creating a warm atmosphere for his workers.

Humanitarian: Anthony Leanna Founder of Heavenly Hats

- Heavenly Hats: organization dedicated to collecting/making hats for people of all ages that have cancer, get chemotherapy, and lost their hair in the process. - Give patients extra courage and hope - Started this at the age of 10 - His grandmother had breast cancer -The program has won the 2003 National Jefferson Award for Public Service Summary: After his grandmother suffered from breast cancer, 10 year old Anthony Leanna, being around the hospital so much, realized how many cancer patients there were, and decided to found this program to provide support and hope for the cancer patients. The foundation collects brand new hats, they must be brand new, and send them to hospitals, centers, or individuals who have cancer in order to brighten their spirits.

Bad Person: Ernest Peter Burger German Spy

- Landed in American during WWII - Operation Pastrorius: sending eight German saboteurs by U-boat to America - Goal: damaging United States economic targets - Worked with the Abwehr (Nazi Germanys Intelligence Agency) - One of his comrades lost his nerve and betrayed his comrades - Burger was originally given death by electrocution, but President Franklin commuted it to life in prison - After the war, President Truman deported them back to Germany in 1948 Summary: Ernest Peter Burger was a German spy sent by Abwehr, the Nazi Germanys Intelligence Agency to the United States during WWII in order to damage the United States economic targets. He was sent with seven other comrades, one of which lost his nerve and betrayed the rest. Instead of receiving death by electrocution, Burger was sentences to life in jail by President Franklin since he was cooperative. After the war, he was deported by President Truman back to Germany in 1948.

Events:
Past American Event: Abraham Lincolns First Inaugural Address
- Member of the Republican Party - Delivered on Monday, March 4, 1861 - Took oath of office as the sixteenth president - Set out what he intended to do and his policies, etc. - Took place on the Eve of the Civil war - His speech touched on:

- Promised to "hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government - Claimed the dissolving of the Union was impossible - He wouldnt be the first to attack, but any other attack on the United States would be met with force - He wished to avoid the conflict and ended his speech with: - "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. Summary: The sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, delivered his first inaugural address on March 3, 1861, which also happened to be the Eve of the Civil War. In his speech he insisted on the strength and unity of the Union as well as his hope for a peaceful, non-violent solution. Though his wishes did not come to pass, his speech was well greeted by the supporters of the Union.

Present American Event: Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

- President was George W. Bush and he was a republican - February 1, 2003 - Before it was schedules to finish its 28th mission, it disintegrated over Texas as it tried to re-enter the atmosphere - Piece of foam (the size of a briefcase) broke off from the Space Shuttle external tank - Debris struck the leading edge of the left wing - In the investigation afterwards they found that it had created a small hole on the left wing - Damaged the thermal protection system, which ultimately allowed hot gases to penetrate the ship - All seven members of crew were killed - Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy Space Shuttle NASA had - The first space launch mission of the Space Shuttle program was done with Space Shuttle Columbia Summary: Despite being the first space worthy Space Shuttle NASA had, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas as it tried to re-enter the atmosphere on its 28th mission. It was caused by a piece of foam (the size of a briefcase) that during take off had broken off and struck the leading edge of the left wing. Later on during an investigation, the left wing was found to have a small hole. This allowed the hot gases to penetrate the ship and kill all seven crew members.

Books:
1. In Cold Blood Truman Capote 2. Outliers Malcolm Gladwell 3. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde