Slave Narrative

The state of Kansas where Bill Simms moved.

In the Kansas Narratives, VI an ex-slave named Bill Simms talks about his life as a slave in Missouri. Mr. Simms tells about his family on the plantation and what crops were on the plantation. He briefly discusses the selling of his sister and her children and that his family is all dead with him being the only one still alive. Mr. Simms mentions that his master was offered $1,500 several times for him but refused because Mr. Simms was a "good, husky slave." Mr. Simms explains that his master, whose name was Simms, was a good master and sent him to work for the Confederate army when the Civil War started. He recounts that he worked for three years "hauling cannons, driving mules, hauling ammunition, and provisions" for the Confederate army and when the Union army came close, he ran off. He tells that he "drove six-mule team and worked at wagon work,driving ammunition and all kinds of provisions until the war ended" for the Union army. He verbosely tells of his life after the war including his marriage and moving to Kansas. He concludes by mentioning his kids and their accomplishments, and his wife's death.

The first page of Bill Simms narrative

Mr. Bill Simms had a rough life despite the fact that he had a kind master. He was grateful for the land that his master sold him before his master was killed. After Master Simms was killed his slaves fled to neighboring counties. Mr. Simms was so determined to see Kansas he left with no one and nothing. Mr. Simms narrative tells of a kind master, rough life and ambition.

The state of Missouri where Bill Simms was originally from.

Tecumseh Speech

There are many themes evident in Tecumseh's speech such as determination and taking a stand. One theme is determination. Tecumseh says "...they will drink the blood of the white people." Tecumseh is talking about how his men are determined to fight against what the white men are doing to them. Another theme is taking a stand. Tecumseh states "If we all unite we will cause the rivers to stain the great waters with their blood." Tecumseh is saying that if they all take a stand together against the white men, they will be able to defeat them. In conclusion, determination and taking a stand are evident themes in Tecumseh's speech.

Tecumseh

"Roar" by Katy Perry incorporates the theme of taking a stand. In the song Katy Perry sings "I got the eye of the tiger, the fighter, dancing through the fire." This relates to Tecumseh's speech because Katy Perry is talking about a stand against someone who has pushed her down. In the song Katy Perry sings "You held me down, but I got up already brushing off the dust." Again, this relates to the theme in Tecumseh's speech since she is talking about rising up from being pushed around by someone else. The song "Roar" by Katy Perry and Tecumseh's speech contain a similar theme of taking a stand.

The cover art for "Roar"

Slavery in America

Slavery in America~Timeline

1619~ First slaves arrive in America

1817~ Fredrick Douglass is born

1831~ Nat Turners rebellion

1849~ Harriet Tubman is freed by the Underground Railroad

1857~ Dred Scott vs. Sanford case causes a set back in the abolitionist movement

1859~ John Brown led a group into an artillery in Harpers Ferry raid

1860~ Abraham Lincoln is elected President

1861~ The first 7 states secede and the Civil War starts at Fort Sumter

1865~ Slavery is abolished

1867~ Congress is fed up with Andrew Johnson and reconstruction starts

Harpers Ferry in 1859

The attack at Fort Sumter

An engraving of Nat Turners Rebellion

Religion in the Early 1800s

This map shows 6 of the most popular religions in the U.S.
including Baptist, Methodist and Mormon.

             The Second Great Awakening was a revival movement for Christianity during the early 19th century. Beginning around 1800 the Second Great Awakening attracted hundreds of converts to new Protestant faiths before its decline around 1870 gaining momentum around 1820. The Second Great Awakening revived Christian religions such as Baptist, Methodist, Unitarian, and Mormon. The most popular Christian religions before the Second Great Awakening were Presbyterian and Congregationalist.


Baptists

• The Baptist religion was founded in 1608
• Baptists believe that only believers should be baptized
• Baptists believe that people should be baptized by immersion NOT by pouring or sprinkling water 
• Baptists do not have an established church
• Baptists believe there is no human founder, no human authority, and no human creed

In the Baptist religion believers are baptized by
immersion similar to these people.

Congregationalists

• The Congregationalist religion was founded in the 16th century
• Congregationalists accept the Bible as a rule in matters of faith and practice
• Congregationalists base church organization on biblical foundation
• Congregationalists are autonomous people
• Congregationalists foundation principles are faith, freedom, and fellowship

Methodist

• The Methodist religion was founded in the 18th century
• The Methodist religion is the result of the teachings of John Wesley
• Methodists believe that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, the creator of all things, possess infinite love and goodness, has always existed and always will, is three persons in one (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)
• Methodists use logic and reason in all matters of faith
• Methodists believe that prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace are blessings of the Holy Spirit at different times

Mormons

• The Mormon religion was founded in 1830
• Mormons are also known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and the Son of God
• Mormons abstain from alcoholic drinks, tobacco, coffee, tea, and other addictive substances
• The Mormon religion allows polygamy (the practice of having more than one spouse at a time)

Presbyterians

• The Presbyterian religion was founded in the 16th century
• The Presbyterian Doctrine includes the authority of Scripture, justification by grace through faith, the Priesthood of all believers, and the Sovereignty of God
• Presbyterians believe that the Holy Spirit lives inside them, giving them their energy to continue Christ's mission
• Presbyterians believe that they are "chosen by God's grace"
• Presbyterians believe in the Bible and use "it as the unique and authoritative guide for how to live and what to believe"

Unitarians

• The Unitarian religion was founded in the 16th century
• Unitarians believe that God exists in one person
• The Unitarian religion encourages its followers to "search for truth in their own way, at their own pace"
• Unitarians are diverse in how they practice their religion
• The Unitarian religion does not have a creed or "doctrinal requirements"

A Unitarian gathering.

Letter to Family from West

November 7, 1850

Dearest Family,

       I hope everyone is well in Boston. Oh how I miss the bright flowers and busy bees in the summer and the cold crisp morning air that takes my breath away each winter morning. You would not believe where I am while I write this. I sit among my fellow travelers West, and my new family finally in California. The travelers we have met along the difficult way have shared that they hope to find god in California much like my family and I.

      I remember months ago, when we were all resting, a story of a hunter named Jedediah Smith that had been attacked by a grizzly bear. People said that he was only twenty four years old and had survived! His head was sliced open and some of his ribs were broken. I remember seeing open prairies that stretched for miles until the earth meets the sky as so many of our Indian friends have told us. Other travelers that we met along the way told us that the prairies were miles wide and that any farmer would have a good life with tons of money. On our travels we saw so many beavers and I remembered the wealthy people in Boston flaunting their pelts around.

Prairie plants that we saw on the journey to the West.

Jedediah Smith and the grizzly bear that attacked him.

     As we traveled we heard even more stories, some adapted and some new. The story of the Donner party struck me the most. As we traveled, we heard a few people mumbling about the Donner's and I remember wondering who they were. Upon arriving in California we heard more people talking and telling the story of the Donner party. While crossing the Sierra Nevada in the harsh cold in 1846, the Donner party was stranded in five feet of snow and after three weeks had nothing left to eat. They then started to eat their animals, then charred bones. On Christmas, the Donner party ate their first human. By the time the Donner party was found, their was only one member left. After hearing this story I was glad that nothing extreme like that had happened to us on our journey to California.

The Donner party in a blizzard.

     Well dearest family, we will not meet again. I hope you will not miss me too much. Remember that I still love you and I regret leaving although not nearly as much as I should. I have made it to the West safely and I will try to send money. Maybe we will move to the prairies to farm and make more money. The future is unclear but I will always write.

                                                                                                              Farewell my family,
                                                                                                                         Kate

Map of the Donner Pass. 

Election Day

The flag of Massachusetts

Election Day is the "Tuesday after the first Monday in November." It is the day in which the citizens of the United States vote for the federal officials. Election day is a civic holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. Election day is held on a Tuesday so that voters didn't have to travel on market day and so it didn't interfere with the Sabbath.

The 3 branches of the federal government.

In the House of Representatives Niki Tsongas (Democrat) represents the 3rd district of Massachusetts.

MA's 3rd district.

The Senators that represent Massachusetts in Washington D.C. are Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, both Democrats. The elected officials that represent Massachusetts in Boston are David M. Nangle in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Eileen M. Donoghue in the Massachusetts Senate, both Democrats.

Charlie Baker is the new governor of Massachusetts.

The War of 1812 & Star-Spangled Banner

The War of 1812 was fought because trade issues, British support of Indians, and the impressment of American sailors by British ships. The war was fought from June 18, 1812 to December 24, 1814. The war consisted o many battles and three failed attempts of invading Canada. In January of 1813, British and Indian allies repelled American forces during the Battle of Frenchtown. On August 24 and 25 of 1814, British troops burned Washington D.C. In September of 1814, the Battle of Fort McHenry took place where Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner." When the war ended, Britain lifted its trade restrictions, and their impressment laws. The Americans were able to live under the Constitution as they wished.

Map of the War of 1812

The "Star Spangled Banner" was originally a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. It was written about the battle at Fort McHenry. The "Star Spangled Banner" was originally called "The Defence of Fort McHenry." 

Rewrite:

Can you see by the sun's early blaze,

Oh so honorably we hailed by the sunset's last glowing,

Whose sweeping stripes and beaming stars through the hazardous fight,

Over the forts we watched were so bravely streaming?

And the rockets' red flare, the bombs breaking in air,

Gave fact that our flag still stood.

Oh say does that banner still wave

Over the land of the free and the home of the bold?

The American Flag

Great Journey Through Lowell

Monday October 6, 2014

The shrill of my alarm clock woke me up at 6:00 this morning. After getting ready for school I walked out my back door with my sister. The autumn air filled my lungs. My mom drove my sister and I to my sisters' friends' house to walk to their school. At 7:15, my mom drove me to school taking the normal route. Left onto Chelmsford Street, passed the Lincoln School and the intersection of Westford street and Chelmsford Street, straight through the Lord Overpass onto Appleton Street. Then left onto Gorham Street and straight onto Central Street, passing Market Street, Middle Street, Prescott Street and  the Dunkin Donuts at the corner of Central Street and Merrimack Street. After Dunkin Donuts, we take a left onto Merrimack Street and a right onto Kirk Street where the Old Building is. I walk up the six flights of stairs to the third floor and go to my locker where I drop my violin and unneeded books. Then I head to my first period class.

Pawtucket Canal

Thursday October 9, 2014

Today I left my house at 5:50 pm to go to String Project rehearsals. Sinfonia started at 6 with Derek as Conductor. Upon arriving in the Rehearsal room of Durgin Hall, I took my violin out of its case, attached the shoulder rest and rosined my bow. I took my usual place in the second violin section, third chair. Then I was asked to fill in the seat as assistant section leader since the normal person was absent. We tuned in the golden colored room that has terrible acoustics. We ran through our Nutcracker selections and discussed places that needed cleaning up and work. When 7:00 came, the Sinfonia members left and the LYO members were the only ones left. From 7 to 8:30 we rehearsed in the same wooden room as the Sinfonia kids. Before class starts, we take our 10 minute break. We talk about how our days were and other things that happened that day. As we tuned we listened for overtones and played our "Gloria" by Vivaldi selections. After rehearsal I talk to my friends as we pack up and walk to our parents.

The LYO preforming background music before the Meryl Streep Event in April. (I'm the 11th person from the left.)

Sunday October 12, 2014

Today my mom took my sister, my brother and I to Brandeis University to visit our other sister. After so many phone conversations and late night text messages, it was so good to finally see her again. She showed us her room which is larger than the other rooms on her floor. She also showed us the castle where we took some pictures. Then she showed us the view of Boston from there. The campus grass was still green and the leaves were turning red, orange and yellow. Behind the castle, we took more pictures. At the end of the visit she took us to Dunkin Donuts. The autumn air and foliage made the visit perfect.

The sign at the main entrance of Brandeis University.

I think it would be very hard to keep a detailed journal for a long time because I would rather experience something and enjoy it in the moment than to worry about having to remember every little detail about my day. I also don't pay attention to my surroundings very well which made this very hard. Also, my days usually consist of doing homework all day so I usually don't get to do much. I would not enjoy keeping a detailed journal because it would feel like an obligation. It would feel like I had to do something everyday.

Lewis and Clark

During Lewis and Clark's expedition of the western part of the country, they wrote journal entries. Their missions on this expedition was to map out the land that Jefferson had just bought from France, and to explore what was in the new region.

Map of Lewis and Clark's expedition.

June 26, 1804-William Clark (My Birthday)

After leaving their camp early, the group passed a river. They also killed a snake that was sunning itself and seven deer. The group camped above the Kansas River that day.

Rattle snake (top and middle) and a
hog nose snake (bottom).

July 30, 1804-Meriwether Lewis

On this day, the Corps of Discovery encountered a new animal which the French called a Braro. Lewis said that Joseph Fields killed the new animal and described its eyes as "small black and piercing."

A Braro aka Badger.

October 17, 1804-William Clark

In this entry, Clark says that he walked the shore with the Ricara Chief and an interpreter who told him many stories. He mentions that he killed three deer that day an elk and that the men killed four deer. They observed goats and antelope.

An elk similar to one that Lewis and Clark might have seen.

Constitutional Issues - Boston Marathon Bombing

Two homemade bombs were placed at the end of the Boston Marathon of 2013, causing over two hundred casualties and taking the lives of three. Brothers Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev placed the bombs that day. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was shot and killed in a shoot out with police and his brother was caught after a long manhunt. Many debates over Dzhokhar Tsarnaev constitutional issues have arisen.

The first of which are his Miranda Rights.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev being taken into custody.

As part of the Fifth Amendment, a criminal must be read their Miranda Rights. The Miranda Rights must be read to a criminal before being taken into custody. The Miranda Rights are as follows:

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you."

The Fifth Amendment states that in a criminal case, a grand jury will be present, double jeopardy is prohibited, and the due process of law must be part of anything that denies a citizen their natural rights.

The second issue is the death penalty.

Remnants of a bomb the Tsarnaev brothers placed at the end of the Boston Marathon.

Since Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty, debates over this arose. He will only be charged with using a weapon of mass destruction but, Tsarnaev will be tried in a federal court so "the death penalty is one option on the table", said the Justice Department.

The third issue is unregistered guns.

Armed officers search for the Tsarnaev brothers after one fled in astolen SUV in Watertown, Ma.

After a thorough investigation, officials found that the Tsarnaev brothers had used unregistered guns in the shoot out with police officers. The brothers possessed two hand guns, a rifle and several bombs. Massachusetts has one of the most strictest gun laws in the country and the brothers were found to have possession of ammunition exceeding the states' limit.

The fourth issue that has arose is immigration.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (left) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (right) before the Boston Marathon.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a United States citizen while his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaevs' citizenship was delayed due to a connection in a triple murder in Waltham found by Homeland Security. Their family applied for asylum since their visitor visas would be expiring in the U.S.

The fifth issue that has risen is privacy.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev (front) and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (back) right before the Boston Marathon explosions.

Thermal image of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hiding in a boat in Watertown Ma.

This issue arose in violation of the Fourth Amendment.  The Fourth Amendment states that officials must have a warrant before searching someones' property. Since the police had to look through someones' property  to find Tsarnaev, this issue arises. The police did not have a warrant to search the boat that he was found on.

Compromises of the Constitution

Great Compromise

This was an agreement between the larger states, like New York and Pennsylvania, and the smaller states, like Connecticut and Delaware. It set up the House of Representatives that we have now. It stated that each state would have two representatives in this part of the government to create a balance between all the states. That way each state had the same amount of "power" in the government. Before this compromise was made, larger states had more representatives in the government than smaller states. The smaller states were angry with this since they could not get there vote because there were so few of them. This compromise gave the smaller states an equal fighting chance since the number of representatives for each state would be the same.

Roger Sherman  proposed the
Great Compromise.

Three-Fifths Compromise

This was an agreement between the southern states and the northern states over how the slave population would be counted for state populations.The delegates who were against slavery wanted only the free people to be counted, while delegates who favored slavery wanted to include slaves in the population count to get more power in the government. The result of this dispute was the Three-Fifths Compromise which would only count three-fifths of the slave population in the states.

James Wilson and Roger Sherman
proposed the Three-Fifths
Compromise.

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson

     

King George III

 Thomas Jefferson: Hey!
  I wanna talk to you!

King George III: Hey.
 What's up?

Thomas Jefferson: Ive been thinking.
Its unfair that
 we have to pay you taxes
 for the things we need.And we
 want to be independent from you.

King George III: Yeah
 well we gotta do whats right for
 the economy over here. So what?

Thomas Jefferson: Well im just saying we shouldnt have
 to pay all those taxes.I mean seriously were not rich
you know.

King George III: Well thats your
 problem. You should get another job.

Tomas Jefferson: THERES NOTHING OVER HERE! WHAT
JOBS CAN WE GET? THERES LIKE NO MONEY!
 WERE DONE WITH YOU!

King George III: What are you talking about?
 Theres plenty of
 stuff over there.
 Trees.... water.. you know

Thomas Jefferson: Yeah, no. We dont just want to
 create our own new gov. its a right we have which
 means you cant stop us no matter what.

King George III: You cant do that.

Thomas Jefferson: Yeah we can. You dont let us
 have what we want or what we need.

King George III: What are you talking about?

Thomas Jefferson: You tax us on everything. Tea,
 newspapers, pamphlets,all our legal documents and
 everything else like that. You dont let us hold our
 own meetings when we want, you forced us to house
 your soldiers and give them what they wanted when they
 wanted it.

King George III: Excuse me?

Thomas Jefferson: When we sent you the Olive Branch Petition,

 you refused it. You clearly dont care about us so i dont know

 why youre making this such a big thing. And before that,

 the First Continental Congress addressed you complying

 and requesting that you grasp what was going on over here.

King George III: Whats that

 supposed to mean?

Thomas Jefferson: It means that any further connections

 with you and us are over. Good bye. Oh, and Ill be

 deleting your number. And one more thing, we wrote

 this (and ratified it). It basically says that we are declaring

 our independence from you.

The Declaration of Independence

The French and Indian War

• The French and Indian War began  in 1754. The war ended in 1763.
• The war was between the colonies of Britain and France in America. They were supported by their mother countries and France was also supported by their Native American allies.
• The war was caused by an argument between the British and French colonies over the control of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in 1754. The argument exploded into violence during the Battle of Jumonville Glen in 1754.
• As a result of the war, France gave it's land east of the Mississippi River to Britain and Louisiana to France's ally Spain. The presence of French colonies north of the Caribbean diminished to only the islands of St.Pierre and Miquelon.

This map shows the land gains of Britain and Spain from France after the French and Indian War.

Paltek, Jon.