Reconstruction

The Reconstruction Era in the United States was the period of time after the Civil War during which they were ‘reconstructing’ the Southern states. It began at the end of the war in 1865, and ended twelve years later in 1877 with the Compromise of 1877.

After the Civil War, Lincoln’s plan of action was based upon the belief that the states hadn’t actually seceded, and therefore shouldn’t be punished. He thought they ought to pardon Southerners who had participated in the war if they swore allegiance to the United States, and that the states would be reinstated into the Union if 10% of said states population swore allegiance.

The 13^th amendment was passed in 1865, abolishing slavery in the States. Lincoln was assassinated at the Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth, and Andrew Johnson succeeded him as President. He began reconstruction with a plan based upon Lincoln’s.

The last slaves in the United States were emancipated on June 19^th, 1865, but Mississippi created black codes, which limited the rights of freed blacks, and this became common through-out the Southern states.

In 1866, the 14^th amendment was passed, which ensured equal protection to all people, but the majority of Southern States rejected it. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed as well, which granted full citizenship and civil rights to all blacks. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee during 1866 as well, and would go on to extend through-out the whole of the South by 1868. The first Transatlantic cable was completed during 66 as well.

In 1867, The Military Reconstruction Act divided the previous Confederacy into five military districts, which were policed by Union generals. The Tenure of Office Act was passed in 67, which made it so that Congress approval was required before the President could remove appointees. Johnson ignored this act, and removed Republican Edwin Stanton from his position as Secretary of War, which very much so irritated Congress, as he had been one of the people the Act had been issued to protect. Also in 67, the US purchased Alaska from Russia in what was named Stewards Folly.

In 1868, Johnson was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. The 14^th amendment was ratified by the states, Ulysses S. Grant became President, and an eight hour workday became law for federal workers.

In 1869, Wyoming became the first state to grant suffrage to women. In 1870, the 15^th amendment was ratified to give black males the right to vote, and the last four states on the Confederate side were readmitted (Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, & Georgia). The first black Senator, Hiram E. Revels, took the seat of Jefferson Davis. The Enforcement Act was passed, allowing for government intervention with the KKK, and a Californian case White vs. Flood got segregation of schools by race started.

In 1871, The Indian Appropriation Act was passed, making all Native Americans wards of the state, the Great Chicago Fire occurred, and England paid 15.5mil in damages from them helping the Confederates during the War.

In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant was reelected as President, Democrats reclaimed control of Southern state governments in a process called Redemption, and the Yellowstone Park was established. In 1873, the Panic of 1873 happened, caused by railroad speculation. In 1874, The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was founded.

In 75, the Whiskey Ring Scandal occurred during Grants term, and many of his associates were prosecuted. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed, establishing penalties to those who denied equal rights, the usage of hotels, theaters, stores, etc., to any citizen.

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden (The former republican, the latter democrat) ran against each other in the Presidential election. Tilden won the popularity vote, but the electoral vote was disputed. An electoral commission intervened and gave Hayes all the votes. The democratic party agreed to this, if all federal troops were removed from the Southern states. They agreed upon these terms, troops were removed from the Southern states in 1877, and Hayes became President. This is called the Compromise of 1877, and is was the end of Reconstruction.

Role Models

 Prompt: Can people who are not famous be better role models than people who are famous?

Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard was to be the kind of person you wish you could meet. What fills your mind when you think about that? I get messy artists who have posters all over everywhere and travel to galleries and conventions all over the place, and who play drums like a boss and go for runs with their dog and have crazy hair and have parties and are inspiring and leave an impression and change lives and sing in public places and can actually draw a crowd. Like, that’s what I want to be like. Now, see, those people are imaginary, meaning even people who aren’t necessarily real can be role models, also meaning there is no certain amount of fame a person must hold to be a role model.

I find the prompt to be a stupid question. Can they? Yes, they can. Duh. Famous people tend to be role models because they have money and can put themselves out there and get a message across because.. well, they’re famous. People want to be as well known and successful as whatever-famous-person-they-admire, and plus famous people are like, household names. Everyone knows who they are, and what they’ve done, and so others can understand what you’re trying to achieve if its close to what the famous person achieved. Now, non-famous people can totally be role-models too. Like, every person can accomplish admirable things and be proud of who and what they are, and if you’re around them and develop a relationship and they’ve done something you strive for, BAM they are a role model. Just because they aren’t on tv doesn’t mean jack.

Who your role models are depends on you and who you want to be, and I’m struggling with the prompt and the thought that people need to think about this. I feel like most of the prompts the teacher gives are stereotypes, or something. I mean, do people actually think like this.? Do people really have to think about whether or not some 20 something who works at walmart can be a role model or not.? I mean, are people out there seriously so shallow.? The ability to be a role model does not stem from having money. It stems from being something people can look up to. And even then it’s not that, it’s being something people can connect to. Not relate, that’s to stuck up sounding, like something in english class where “oh, this and this are similar, they must relate” that makes it the stuff in the middle section of a Venn diagram, and that makes them look up to soembody. I mean connect. Like you feel it in your gut, like theres a string attaching your hearts together. THAT there is something to feel, and I think being able to feel that makes it work. I don’t know if I’m really making sense, but you shouldn’t relate to them, you should feel them. (not like actual touching, but like.. you know.?)

I look up to Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, and my people I wish I could meet, and Hayley Williams and people who aren’t afraid to do and try new stuff and Johnny Depp and techies and people who already are who they are and charismatic strangers and Augustus Waters and people with pretty smiles. I’m not like, picky about it. If I like it, I like it, and I’ll try to be something such as. Like, I wish I could be a female Augustus Waters, because, come on, he’s amazing and charming and attractive and puts the killing thing between his teeth but doesn’t give it the power to kill him. What it is you want to be is all in your head, and it isn’t so hard as people like to make it seem to figure out.

The Civil War

“He hates what he believes and loves it at the same time,” -Kitchen Sink by TOP

This week I’ve been studying the American Civil War. From the Battle of Bull Run to the Battle of Cold Harbor, to the Siege of Petersburg, and many bloody battles in between, the whole thing was a viscous mess.

The prompt says to tell what my favorite part about this weeks’ lessons. I quite liked the fact that I didn’t have a PDF worksheet. I like the map, I think mostly for the fact that I used sharpies, which I love.

What I found most interesting about studying the Civil War was the fact that I’m human, that they were human. Me and you and them and us, as a species, we did that. Even though we weren’t alive then, and we had nothing to do with it, we did that. And life as we know it now is a product of what people did then.

Can you imagine it? Not being a specific person or anything, but just being there, apart of it? Fighting for what you believe in, sometimes to the death, fighting for your rights and your freedom. Killing people. That’s the bit that gets me; people killed people. I mean it’s completely downplayed from what it was, made softer for the public’s consumption, but it was brutal and bloody and violent. And that’s the thing. Violence is sick. Its freaking disgusting. BUT at the same time, I get it because I’ve got some freakish, violent fantasies, and I’ll cheer when someone gets a popped in the face, and I love horror movies and oh my gosh. And then I guess that’s human nature, right? We are violent and murderous, but at the same time loving and caring and sweet. I can’t think about any of this without twisting it into a pressing psychological matter, which I find disturbing in myself, and along with the fact that apparently “everyone goes through stuff like this”, I find people in general disturbing. After this thought process, I go back to the matter at hand, the Civil War, and basically I decide that everyone involved just cared so much about what they believed and what they thought was right, that they would defend it with everything they had, crossing psychological lines and mental borders and moral boundaries, killing and maiming and destroying those who stood in the way.

Slavery was one of the baseline causes of the Civil War. You could say it was THE cause, but that wouldn’t be necessarily true. The area the Southern states occupied were more equipped with the natural resources and good soil and such to grow crops such as cotton and tobacco, so they grew and developed and a great many plantations popped up, and as they used slaves for laborers on plantations, slaves were more employed in the Southern area rather than the Northern area, and Southerners relied more heavily upon slaves for their income. The boss-men of the country tried to tell the states what they could do and what they couldn’t slave-wise, saying that this state or the other would be a slave state or a non-slave state, which freaked the Southerners out because a lot of them had became prissy gentlemen who couldn’t work like the slaves had done. They wished to secede, to make their own country were slavery was perfectly legal and they couldn’t be told they could own slaves. Now, Abraham Lincoln thought that secession was illegal, although he didn’t really have a position on slavery at the beginning; he said he wouldn’t get into that because it wasn’t his business. But he did think secession was wrong, as I said, and that was what the fight was about. These states had every right to secede, even if they had shoddy reasons for wanting to do so. And the people believed that they did have this right, even those against slavery. It doesn’t make sense for them to not have it. Lincoln was going against what the people believed, and he realized it. He changed his stance. He changed it from anti-secession to anti-slavery, and this grabbed the people. Many thought slavery was wrong, possibly a by-product of not relying on the slaves to keep food on the table, possibly pity, possibly its just they thought it was wrong to treat other humans like defecation. Lincoln gained a following with this new stance, enough so that the Union side was able to beat the rebel side. There was no secession, slavery was abolished, the war officially ended.

This is the Civil War to my understanding. Battles took place that were bloody and vicious, and things were gained that aren’t so much material as emotional… And people became free. The notion that a human could own another human was abrogated.

A Tale Of Two Cities vs. The Scarlet Pimpernel

Coffee<3. I almost punched the computer screen out typing this.

Today, I shall be doing a compare/contrast book review. Both book are set during the French Revolution, although they were written in totally different styles and by different people. A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy.

A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is arguably one of his most famous works, although it can’t possibly beat A Christmas Carol. I haven’t actually read any of his other books, so I don’t have an opinion as to if this could be considered good or bad in contrast to the others.

Born February 7^th, 1812, Charles John Huffam Dickens is considered one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian period. He wrote nearly forty five books over his lifetime, some of which are short stories, others of which are full-blown novels. He was married to Catherine Dickens, and had six children; Charles Jr., Kate, Mary, Henry, Edward, and Dora.

A Historical Fiction, Social Criticism type book, it can be compared to a great many other books. As a Historical Fiction, it can be and is compared to literally millions of other books. There are centuries of history recorded, studied, and written about, now and long ago, as well as in the future. Social Criticism, I’m not so sure about. Plenty of books go into this category, I’m sure, but I wouldn’t know which to name. I’m quite positive that every book has some form of social criticism contained within. Every single one. People are not capable of living without contempt towards some people, ideas, beliefs, doings… It’s impossible. You cannot like everything.

A Tale Of Two Cities is a third person narration, as in an unknown character who seems to know all and see all, using words like they, them, she, he, him, etc. The theme is the ‘ever-present possibility of resurrection’ and the ‘necessity of sacrifice’. (spark notes) Dickens inserts his belief that in resurrection, rebirth, whatever you wish to call it, that we may be redone to be better, both on a personal and societal level. He seems to believe that sacrifice is necessary to achieve happiness.

The book deals with light and dark, good and bad, rich and poor… multiple contradictions that work together to seam into a beautiful story. “It was the best of times, It was the worst of times…”

It even starts with a contradiction. Two cities… a contradiction.

In 1775, one Mr. Jarvis Lorry, a Tellsons Bank official. He accompanies Lucy Manette to Paris on word that her father, who has been missing for the past 18 years, is alive. He had been unjustifiably imprisoned in the Bastille; he now lives under the care of the wine-maker Monsieur Defarge. Dr. Manette has aged quite terribly, suffering severe memory loss and spending his time making shoes in a dark room. They gather up Dr. Manette and his things, and head back to London where Lucie shall bring his health back to par. Five years later, a young Frenchman named Charles Darnay is accused of being a traitorous spy. Lucie and Dr. Manette are witnesses in his trial, as they had met him whilst traveling. They argue that he is innocent, but there is much evidence to the contrary and it is believed that he will receive the death penalty, until a proponent in the courtroom named Sydney Carton points out the similarities between himself and the accused, and the jury realizes this might be a case of mistaken identity. Darnay is pardoned. As the years pass, both Darnay and Carton fall in love with Lucie. Lucie wants nothing to with Carton, at least not in that sense, and she marries Darnay. Darnay is a French aristocrat, who has disowned his family and inheritance and now lives in London under a false name working as a tutor. His uncle is the Marquis St. Evermonde, who is known for his cruelty. Now, fast forward. Charles and Lucie have been married eleven years, and have a young daughter. Charles hears that his lackey back in France has been wrongly arrested, he sneaks back into the country to try to save him, but he is arrested as well, as he is from an aristocratic family. Lucie hears of his capture, and her, her father, their daughter, and Mr. Lorry all travel to France to retrieve him. Dr. Manette, who is well respected in France, convinces the people of his son-in-laws innocence, and Darnay is released. However, Madame Defarge has a personal vendetta against Darnay, as his uncle, the Marquis, committed multiple wrongs to her family. She causes Charles to become arrested once more, and he is sentenced to death. The story ends in a surprising twist, but I shan’t tell you that, as it’d ruin the story.

I quite enjoyed this book, although it was a bit hard to follow. Dickens was writing it for a paper (it was published in 31 installments), and he strung it out, being redundant and such, as he got paid by word. I really did like it though. It’s like a sick pleasure with me… I love the madness and the drama.

Baroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála “Emmuska” Orczy de Orci, aka Baroness Emma Orczy, was a Hungarian born British novelist, artist, and playwright of a fairly noble origin. She was born on September 23^rd, 1865, was married to Montagu Barstow, had a son named John, and died on November 12^th, 1947. She wrote about forty books, many of which included the Scarlet Pimpernel.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a Historical Fiction, as well as an adventure book. Historical Fictions, like I said, can be compared to soooo many other Historical Fictions that it’s ridiculous. The same can be said for adventure stories.

A third person narrative, told by an unseen character, who just knows everything that’s going on. Theme-wise, this book is about ‘guilt vs. redemption’, ‘loyalty’, and ‘disguise’. Lady Blakeney knows her husband despises her because he thinks she convicted the St. Cyrs to die savagely, when in fact she feels quite guilty about it and she becomes determined to redeem herself and atone for her sins so he might love her once again. Percy feels guilty about not revealing his identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel to his wife, although not enough to confess it even when she confesses her guilt about the Cyr accident. Again, she feels guilt as to whether she should save her brother Armand, or the Scarlet Pimpernel, whom she considers noble and just. But when it is revealed that the Pimpernel is her husband… She has to deal with enormous amounts of guilt no matter which way she chooses. Disguise… The Scarlet Pimpernel relies on disguise heavily as he would be executed is he were simply arrested. He dresses as peasants, old Jews.. anything that might be a part of the anti-aristocrat movement, so that he might save innocent nobles from death.

This story takes place during the French Revolution, when the ‘common-folk’ of France condemned their leaders to death for being unjust to them. An Englishman, called the Scarlet Pimpernel, feels he must save these nobles, and he helps them to escape the country to safety in England. He is known as the Scarlet Pimpernel because upon escaping the French soldiers and guards, he would leave a note describing the escapade, signing it with a small red flower which the English called the Scarlet Pimpernel. French soldiers increase in numbers at the Paris gates, as the number of French aristocrats that have escaped have increased as well. One of the most popular things in France at this time is the guillotine. Huge crowds are drawn to watch the executions of French nobles. Now, as so many aristocrats are escaping, a decree is made stating that any soldiers who let nobles pass will be beheaded as well. One guard, Sergeant Bibot, is famous for his ability to catch any aristocrat, no matter how great of a disguise they have.

Lady Blakeney is a French woman married to an Englishman, and she is approached by a French agent in need of her help discovering who the Scarlet Pimpernel really is. At first she refuses. But she then learns that her brother is involved with helping the Pimpernel, and that he may be arrested and executed for his crimes against France. She agrees to help capture the Pimpernel in exchange for her brother’s safe return to England. When she learns the true identity of The Scarlet Pimpernel, she is forced to choose between her brother and the man she loves.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a book that plays with emotions, politics, romance, action, and conspiracy, twisting into an intricate web of complexities. I found it to be a good story, written quite well and fast paced without rushing things to much.

Both stories deal with the French Revolution, although different aspects of it, told from different perspectives with different ideals. Our main characters from both stories believe that the aristocrats should have a chance for freedom, as they aren’t all bad people and deserve a chance to live. One is told from the perspective of those who are emotionally involved with one charged, and their fight to save him. The other from the point of view of one who is simply sympathetic, but has the power to get them out.

Personally, I like A Tale Of Two Cities better. I thinks it’s more romantic and grabbed me more emotionally. I like the fact that its one of those stories where you have to read parts over again to get it, and like I said I like the madness that plagues them. Nothing against The Scarlet Pimpernel, it is well written and complex and all that, but I’d recommend the Dickens book over it, no doubt.

A Tale Of Two Cities deals with the more mental and emotional aspects of what was going on at the time. While The Scarlet Pimpernel deals with these subjects too, its not as obvious and I think its more political than anything. Both well written stories by great authors, both about the French Revolution, both amazing in their own way. Many similarities and differences, much to compare and much to read deeper into.

The Gold Rush

During the California Gold Rush, miners extracted more than seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of gold. That’s about twelve million ounces, and currently an ounce is about one thousand two hundred sixty USD, which, if my math is right, means that the gold from the Gold Rush is worth $15,120,000,00. Yeah, soak that in.

The whole thing starts in January, on the 24^th of the year 1848. Close to what is now Coloma, CA, John Sutter had hired men to construct a saw mill. One man, James Marshall, noticed gold bits in the runoff water. He immediately told Sutter, and they swore an oath of secrecy.

In spite of this promise, news of the gold got out. The first to arrive were those from San Francisco (Thanks to one Samuel Brannon parading the streets with a jar of gold from Sutter’s Creek), Oregon, and Hawaii(then known as the Sandwich Islands). While it did take a while (NO INTERNET) to get to the East, it did. Eventually. The New York Herald published an article on the discovery in August. The story became so large that President James Polk announced the positive results of a report by Colonel Richard Mason in his inaugural address, causing the knowledge of the gold to spread to practically everyone.

Now, it’s 1849. Tens of thousands of 49ers (as in the year they set out) left for California, borrowing money and mortgaging their properties to pay for the journey. Migrants from ’49 numbered close to eighty thousand.

At first, gold was found real easy like. Nuggets could be found practically anywhere you stepped, if you sifted through a few inches of dirt. Panning in streams and creek-beds was a preferred method, as the gold would drift along in the current and basically come to you.

Many mining towns popped up in California, filled with stores carrying mining equipment, provisions, ropes, picks, shovels… Anything that might have been needed. Many schools, churches, and stores started to show up. Bars, hotels, warehouses and such things would be built around mining areas. Business was good.

Now, the amount of gold has started dwindling. It’s harder and harder to find. New prospectors are still showing up. They have to work harder, longer hours to acquire as much gold as they had been before, but even so, what they were finding was greatly decreased form what it had been at the start. Needing places to settle, many miners displaced, or even killed, many Native Americans. Many spent much money in the hopes of becoming rich off gold, but never found any, and drifted off into debt or poverty.

As The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo (which officially ended the war) didn’t go into effect until Feb 2^nd, after the gold was discovered, technically for a bit it was legally Mexico’s property. After, the area was under control of the US Military, although no troops ever actually walked the gold fields. The areas were self policed, meaning any rules might as well have been crap. Violent, drunken bandit men assaulted many, stole from many, and killed many.

Gold mining reached peak in 1852, when close to $81mil was mined. Afterwards was when the decline began. Many ex-miners, still miners, farmers, and other such people continued settling the area. By 1860, the population was about 380,000 people.

James Monroe

Born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the famous James Monroe accomplished many great things in his life. He crossed the Delaware with George Washington and studied under Thomas Jefferson. He was the 5^th President and the last Founding Father.

Born to Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones Monroe in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1758, James was the last President in the “Virginia Dynasty” (which was named so because 4 out of the first 5 Presidents were born in Virginia.) Spence was a Scottish planter and carpenter, and Elizabeth a well-educated woman for their time, but nevertheless a housewife. She tutored James at home for a while, then in 1769 to 1774 he went to Campbelltown Academy.

After his father’s death in 1774, James enrolled at Virginia’s College of William and Mary, intending to study law, but dropped out a few months in to fight in the American Revolution. He joined the Continental Army, became an officer in 1776, and fought under George Washington in the Battle of Trenton, where he was severely injured.

After the war, James studied law with Thomas Jefferson. In 1782, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, and from 1783 to 1786 he was a member of the Continental Congress, who were then meeting in New York. While there, he met Elizabeth Kortright. They married on February 16^th, 1786.

He left to practice law, and eventually became a Senator, from 1790 to 1794. Afterwards, he was sent to France as a minister until Washington summoned him back to the States. He was elected governor of Virginia, 1799-1801, and again in 1811. He negotiated the Louisiana purchase in 1803. James Monroe accomplished many things in his career before 1816.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were both backing James Monroe up in the Presidential election of 1816. Rufus King was the other candidate, from the federalist party, who had very little support. Monroe won, with 183 out of 217 votes cast.

He was re-elected in 1820, although he had no opponent, so there really was no campaign. He received all the votes, except one cast by William Plumber for John Quincy Adams.

The time during Monroe’s Presidency was called “The Era of Good Feelings.” The federalist party played hardly any part in either election, so no partisan politics really existed.

While in office, Monroe had to deal with many things, such as our countries first depression. At the time called a Panic, it began in 1819 and lasted until 1821. Monroe made moves to try and ease this Panic.

The two biggest developments that happened during his Presidency were The Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine. The Missouri Compromise was issued in 1820, and it stated that Missouri was a slave state, and that Maine was a free state. It also states that the rest of the Louisiana Purchase above Lat. 36 degrees and 30 minutes was free territory. The Monroe Doctrine was issued in 1823,which stated that America would from then on be freed from all foreign interference in the countries affairs. Europeans weren’t allowed to colonize anywhere in the new world, and any other interference would be considered a hostile act upon the States.

After his Presidency, Monroe retired to Oak Hill, Virginia. When his wife died, he moved to New York City. He died on July 4^th, 1831.

The War of 1812

The war of 1812 was America’s first war as a nation. They fought hard in many battles, and although they war ended in a “status quo antebellum” (state existing before war) , meaning that all territory won in battles was given back and it was as if the war didn’t happen, America still considered it a victory because it showed Britain that they were serious and could stand their ground.

This war decided how much pull America would have in foreign affairs and trade. President Jefferson wanted to find a way to keep shipping goods to foreign countries, but not be involved in foreign wars. As Britain and France were at war with eachother, neither wanted American ships to bring goods to the other country, and both sides would stop American cargo ships to search them. These encounters could get violent, so in 1807 Jefferson issued the Embargo Act, restricting American goods to America only. Goods weren’t to be sent to any foreign country at all. This was done in an effort to make Britain and France realize that they needed American shipments and that they couldn’t just seize cargo ships and attack sailors.

The plan backfired. America lost money, and goods rotted in ships on the docks. Before Jefferson left the office, he signed a bill that canceled the Embargo Act. James Madison, Jefferson’s successor in Presidency, tried to continue shipments to Britain and France without being involved in the war, but the encounters on the ships became more and more violent, and the American people got angrier and angrier. Something had to be done.

War Hawks were those in favor of engaging in the war. The War Hawks were the new, younger generation of America, wanting to fight for their freedom like their forefathers did in the Revolutionary War. This group was led by people such as Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, who persuaded Madison to ask Congress for a Declaration of War in June 1812.

In 1813, the majority of battles won were won by America, until August when the British stormed DC and burned the White House, The War Office, And the Treasury. They retreated soon after.

In September, there were two American victories. One at Lake Champlain, which cut British interference off to North, and the other in Baltimore at Fort McHenry, which was bombed and attacked for a whole 25 hours, and which also was what inspired Francis Scott Henry to write what is now our country’s national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

It is now 1814. Talk of peace begins around August in Europe, as American victories at Plattsburg and in Baltimore had convinced Britain that peace was best. On Christmas Eve, 1814, The Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the war. Except the war didn’t end.

People had to sail across the ocean to get word to both American and British troops in America that a treaty had been signed, and that the war was over. This took weeks, weeks during which the unofficial last battle of the war was going on.

This last battle was The Battle of New Orleans, in which American troops were led by Andrew Jackson. They were led well, with British casualties amounting to 2,000 compared to America’s 13 dead.

While the war was officially over, it was still tense between America and Britain. But America had established that it was a force to be reckoned with, and that they won’t back down.

The Declaration of Independance

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” The first paragraph of The Declaration of Independence. It basically states that when it comes to people severing political bonds, as they had come to, they must tell the whys of it in the name of decency.

After the Olive Branch petition failed and King George III declared them to be in full rebellion, the colonists continued to look for a way to be free of taxes the didn’t agree to pay and no representation in Parliament. Most wanted to avoid war, but the King was openly hostile to them, acting as if they had no rights, passing laws that affected them without even an attempt to get their consent, refusing their petitions without reading them, and assembling armies to attack them, so looking for another way out, Thomas Paine published his pamphlet Common Sense.

Common Sense summarized the abuse the King had inflicted upon them, and stated that the colonists had an absolute right to throw British rule off or secede because of Britain’s dictatorial rule. Even Abigail Adams, John Adams wife, thought they should secede. After she heard the King’s refusal, she wrote a letter to her husband saying, “Let us separate, they are unworthy to be our Brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications as formerly for their prosperity and happiness, Let us beseech the almighty to blast their councils and bring to nought all their devices.” (Read the full letter here: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/abigail-adams-letter-to-john-adams-november-12-1775.html )

Influential people and writings such as I just mentioned convinced the colonists that a war and declaring independence was justified. But, a little known fact is that Congress sent one last letter to the King on December 4^th, 1775. In it they reaffirm their loyalty to the King, their wish to avoid war, and their belief that it was the kings ministers that are doing them wrong and it wasn’t the King himself. They sent it to their courier in England, but of course it accomplished nothing and the King retaliated with an act on December 23^rd that would end all trade to the colonies, starting March 1^st, 1776.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was a young and not a very connected member of the Continental Congress in 1775, but he became good friends with the very important John Adams. John made sure Thomas was made part of the committee that wrote the Declaration, and tasked him with writing the first draft. Benjamin Franklin and the others changed a few words, and Congress deleted about a quarter of it, but the majority of it is Jefferson’s original work.

The Declaration is made up of multiple parts, the first of which called the preamble. This is basically introducing the Declaration and giving a prologue to their grievances. Next is the body, which lists all the grievances the colonists have with the King (Not Parliament). Last, the conclusion, a summary afterwhich the delegates signed their names. (Here you can see all their signatures: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/declaration-of-independence-signatures.html )

The Declaration was officially passed by the Continental Congress on July 2^nd, 1776. It was a long process, as people didn’t think they were ready to make such a large step, but the majority vote by the Continental Congress was in favor of it. The document was made public on the 4^th, now nationally known as Independence Day.

American Pie – XD – English

So, I had to write a 3 page essay on apple pie, why it’s the most American pie, and such like that. This took (squints from the sandlot voice) for-ev-or. I swear. Now I need someone to make me one. Anyways, it might have some typos, and it might be a bit ramble-y, but so what.

The crust wasn’t always so flaky. It wasn’t always so sweet, crumbly, or rich. Originally, apples pies didn’t contain sugar, and the coffin bit (aka the pastry) wasn’t meant to be eaten. They used the crust to encase the filling so they could store it or transport it easily.

One of the first recorded apple pie recipes is from the cookbook The Forme of Cury (which means the form of cooking), written by Samuel Pegge around 1390 A.D. The recipe was titled For to make Tartys in Applis, part XXIII. It goes:Tak gode Applys and gode Spryeis and Figys and reyfons and Perys and wan they are wel ybrayed co-lourd wyth Safron wel and do yt in a cofyn and do yt forth to bake well, and as I hope you noticed it is written in Old English, so it’s a tad difficult to understand, and it’s very simple.

Now let’s look at the history of apple pie. In 1545, sugar is more readily available, and the coffins are meant to be eaten. In 1590, Robert Green wrote in his prose (full & grammatically correct sentences, rather than rhythmic and rhyming lines as in traditional poetry) Arcadia, that “They breath is like the steame of apple-pyes,” as he couldn’t think of a greater compliment to describe a beautiful woman.

When the colonists arrived, the only apples to be found were crab apples. Gross, sour crab apples. But praise Jesus, hallelujah, they brought with them tastier varieties of apple. One fact not widely known is that the orchards planted by the colonists didn’t do all that well, as there weren’t honey bees. Bees were shipped from England to the Virginian colony in 1622, and more to Massachusetts around 1630. By the 1640’s, the majority of landowners grew orchards on their property.
One of the most famous apple stories includes a man named John Chapmen. Better known as Johnny Appleseed, this odd man walked the land planting apple seeds. He thought his purpose in life was to heavily plant the country with seeds, so many that when the trees were grown no one would go hungry as there would be such an abundance of apples. It’s estimated that he traveled some 10,000 square miles over 40 years. Also, historians believe that him wearing his pot upon his head is just a legend, as the majority of pots then were handmade of copper or iron, and would be an uncomfortable burden.
Here is an example of an apple pie recipe:

2 9-INCH CRUSTS

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup lard
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in lard with pastry blender until small pea-sized particles are obtained. Mix water and vinegar, then sprinkle onto flour mixture. Mix with fork until flour is moist. Press into a ball and turn out onto a floured board. If making a two-crust pie, divide in half.

Roll out with rolling pin. Try not to use too much extra flour because it makes the crust tough. Roll out to desired size—usually about 1 inch bigger around than the pie tin. Fold pastry in half and move to pan. Unfold and put pastry into pan. Try not to stretch the pastry because this causes shrinking in baking.

Roll out the remaining dough for the top crust. Chill the pastry.

FILLING AND APPLE PIE

3 pounds apples (preferably Granny Smith)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon mace
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon rosewater
Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Pour the lemon juice into the bottom of a large bowl. Add the lemon zest to the bowl. Peel, halve and core the apples, taking care to remove seeds. Slice them evenly and add to the bowl, coating them with the lemon juice as you go.

In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar and spices. Add them to the apples and mix gently just before baking the pie. Adjust sugar to taste.

Scrape the filling into the bottom crust. Add a lattice top if desired. Trim and crimp the crust, then chill the pie for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator. If desired, sprinkle with sugar or brush the top with egg wash to create a golden sheen when it bakes.

Bake the pie on a baking sheet for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until the crust looks dry, blistered and blonde. Turn the oven down to 375 degrees and bake for at least 45 minutes more or until the crust is golden brown. Visible juices should bubble slowly through the top crust. Check to see if the bottom crust has darkened. If not, bake a little more and cover the top crust to prevent burning.

Cool the pie before cutting. Store uncovered in a cool place for up to 3 days.

Ian Knauer, author and host of Hungry History on history.com, used this recipe in one of his videos. Here’s the link: http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/as-american-as-apple-pie-video
“As American as apple pie.” Such a well known phrase, but do any of us really know where it originated? Firstly, apples aren’t even truly American. They aren’t native to America, but were brought here by the English. Malus sieversii is a wild apple native to Asia, thought to be the true ancestor of the modern-day apple. These dwarf trees aren’t very valuable in terms of producing large amounts of fruit or being ornamental, but they hold a very important place in history as they practically gave birth to that apple sitting on your kitchen counter.

Alexander the Great is said to have found this dwarf apple, bringing it back to Macedonia in 328 BC, but fossil evidence shows apples as far back as the Iron & Stone Ages in Switzerland. It’s believed that the Romans brought apples to England, and the English brought them to America.
A 1902 newspaper article stated that “No pie-eating people can be permanently vanquished.” American soldiers, when asked what they fought for, replied “For America, for mom, and for apple pie.” Quotes like these anchored apple pie into American history, making it “As American as apple pie.”

If you were to ask someone what the most American dessert is, I bet you 20 bucks they’d say apple pie. They’d be right, too. Apple pie is such a well-known staple in our culture, it’s hard to imagine it not existing. Apples kept many out of starvation’s grasp, kept many healthy, and kept many happy. Johnny Appleseed planted the trees to keep people from going hungry. Apples naturally clean teeth and massage gums, and are wonderful for dieting as they fill you up and digest easily. And they keep people happy by being in those delicious pies so many enjoy on July 4^th , Thanksgiving, Christmas, and whenever they feel the urge.

_ByeNow_

The American Revolutionary War :D

BAHAMMM..! I did gooood xD

Why should they control them? Britain has no real power, isn’t able to reach across the ocean, the King’s steely glare can’t meet their eyes. Still bossed about, taxed, and punished.

What would you do if you were the puppets of people you had never even met, your money was taken unfairly, or you were forced to provide food and shelter to a soldier who you don’t know, with money out of your own pocket, never to be repaid. Would you not be angry?

Wouldn’t you rebel?

On December 16^th, 1773, the Boston Tea Party occurred. In the dead of night, a group of Rebel colonists boarded the British tea ships docked in the harbor. 342 chests of tea were dumped into the water. Expensive tea, I would imagine. But no matter how expensive the tea, the action taken after-wards still seems a bit drastic.

The Intolerable Acts were set upon the colonists at this time to punish them for what they had done. The Boston Port act closed the port of Boston until the colonists of Boston agreed to pay the East India Company for the cargo aboard the ship. The Massachusetts Government Act made it so that members of the legislature were to be appointed by the King instead of being elected. The Administration of Justice Act states that no royal official that had committed a capitol offense could be tried in Massachusetts. The Quartering Act requires the colonists to provide housing and sustenance for British soldiers, should it be demanded. The Quebec Act changed the government in Canada, disbanding the assembly of representatives and taking away the right of trial by jury.

The creation of the Intolerable Acts caused the colonists to found the Continental Congress. This group gathered to discuss the Intolerable Acts, and the best way to retaliate. They decided that their first action would be to send a redress to King George, saying all violence would cease to be if he canceled the Intolerable Acts. This redress was called The Olive Branch Petition. King George thought this was ridiculous, that they deserved to be punished, and declared them to be in full rebellion.

April 19^th of 1775 marked the beginning of the war. The British soldiers left Boston for Lexington, looking for the rebel leaders Samuel Adams & John Hancock, and for Concord after-wards to destroy the Americans weapons and ammunition stores. Fore-warned by the midnight rider Paul Revere, they were prepared. Sam Adams and John Hancock were able to escape to safety, and the militia in Concord was able to hide the majority of their ammo and weapons.

The battle in Lexington was hardly a fight at all. But as it is where the war started, it is very important. Less than 100 militiamen, led by John Parker in the absence of Samuel Adams & John Hancock, against the much larger British army, led by John Pitcairn. Neither thought a fight would actually commence, but someone fired the famous “Shot heard ’round the world”, and this forced the British to attack. Many of the colonists were killed, and those left fled.

After defeating the colonists in Lexington, the British moved on to Concord. Resistance from the colonists was little, and so they raided the town, looking for the hidden weapons. The Americans had congregated on the outskirts of town, waiting for reinforcements to come. Once their forces became large enough, they decided to cross the North Bridge into Concord. The British met them at the bridge, and the Americans defeated them easily. The British commander realized the Americans were too many, and ordered a retreat.

The British retreated to Boston, and the Americans surrounded them on land. This is called the siege of Boston. It lasted two months after the battle of Concord, and the America militia grew to 15,000 men. The British were a mere 6,000 compared to them. During the Siege of Boston, George Washington was made commander-in-chief of the militiamen.

On June 13^th, the Americans learned that the British were sending out small groups to occupy the small hills surrounding Boston. The night before they were to go, the colonists took to the hills, building earthworks and preparing to fight. When the British advanced on June 17^th, they were surprised to find the hills occupied and defended by the colonists.

The battles took place on Breeds and Bunker Hills. The Americans were able to wreak havoc on the British, even though the British were trained militiamen and the Americans barely had any training. The Americans were able to hold off the British for the majority of the battle, but they eventually retreated. The British had 1054 casualties, compared to the Americans small 367. The British won this battle, as they completed their mission of capturing the hills, but the colonists also had the victory of a great morale boost, as they just learned they could hold their own in a fight against some of the world’s best trained troops.

On July 4^th, 1776, one of the most important documents in history was produced. The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration stated that the 13 colonies were seceding from Britain, that they were to become their own country. This cut off any sliver of help anyone from Britain may have been providing, but gained the full support of France. France outfitted the Americans with supplies and even soldiers, and they sent the Marquis de Lafayette, a great commander of theirs.

But all great things come with a price, and this certainly did. The British were able to capture the city of New York. Now they control both New York and Boston, a terrible blow to the colonists. The Battles of Long Island and White Plains went badly for the colonists, but gave the upper hand to the British. But, just before the end of the year, Washington did something amazing, raising the colonists spirits greatly. He crossed the quite frozen Delaware River over-night on Christmas. The next day, very early, they attacked the city of Trenton, forcing a British retreat, and capturing this important fort.

There were many great leaders in the American Revolution, including Washington, Nathaniel Greene, and Henry Knox. Washington, one of the most well-known leaders, was a great commander-in-chief as he had the ability to manage his troops well, encourage them to do the best they had the ability to do, and he was a brave man, able to stand by them and fight along their side. Nathaniel Greene was one of Washington’s most trusted associates, and he had a very successful campaign in the South that was very valuable to the cause. The Marquis de Lafayette was a French general who was very beneficial to the Americans because he rallied French support for them. Henry Knox helped the cause because he was very skilled in artillery. He became the first Secretary of War, overseeing the artillery division of the military. Francis Marion, nicknamed the “Swamp Fox”, while considered a hero, could also be called sadistic as the tactics he used against the British were cruel and resulted in far more casualties than needed.

The Battle of Capes secured the freedom of the Americans, even though no Americans fought in it. The French Admiral de Grasse led the French, and the British Admiral Thomas Graves led the British soldiers in this battle. This two hour long battle commenced at about 4:15 p.m., with both side heavily firing their cannons at each others ships. Six British ships were damaged, 90 sailors were killed, and they had over 200 wounded. The French lost over 200 men, but only two of their ships were damaged. They paused the fighting to assess the damages, and floated about, not firing at one another, until September 9^th. The British lost sight of de Grasse, who had begun sailing back to Chesapeake Bay to meet de Barres’ fleet. They now had 36 ships.

The British began sailing back to the bay on the 10^th, arriving on the 13^th. Graves knew they couldn’t take that many ships, so he ordered his ships to New York for repair, so he could ship reinforcements to Cornwallis in Yorktown. They were unable to complete this task, and Cornwallis surrendered on October 19^th. The gain of Chesapeake Bay kept Cornwallis from reinforcements, and established a route for Washington to transport soldiers and supplies. If the French hadn’t triumphed in this battle, American independence may well have been impossible.