Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Class & Goal Update: 11/28 & 11/29
Yesterday, I was not in class because I went on a field trip for Student Council. So, I got notes and a handout from Emily. According to the papers, the class learned about the incident with John Brown at Harper's Ferry, VA. Brown attemped to seize the federal arsenal so he could arm black men with weapons to fight for the abolition. This showed the violent time period in America.
Today, we filled out a chart about eyewitnesses at Harper's Ferry. These people included John Starry, Robert E. Lee, and John Brown. The first two believed that Brown was not justified in his actions. I was surprised that Brown claimed to have no intention of violently killing people. It would be expected that his motive for seizing weapons would be to harm others.
My goal is still continuing well. I will be happy when the 30 days are over so I don't have to be concerned with remembering to journal every night.
Today, we filled out a chart about eyewitnesses at Harper's Ferry. These people included John Starry, Robert E. Lee, and John Brown. The first two believed that Brown was not justified in his actions. I was surprised that Brown claimed to have no intention of violently killing people. It would be expected that his motive for seizing weapons would be to harm others.
My goal is still continuing well. I will be happy when the 30 days are over so I don't have to be concerned with remembering to journal every night.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Class and Goal Update: 11/26 & 11/27
Yesterday, we took a look at the Dred Scott vs. Sandford case of 1857. Dred Scott, a slave, had been moved by his master to a free state, but was then moved back to the slave state of Missouri. He took the case to court because he believed he should be free after living in one free state. He lost the case because he was not considered a person, and slavery was becoming a bigger problem at the time. Though Scott lost the case, I believe his lawsuit caused greater actions from abolitionists because they realized slavery could occur anywhere.
Today, we watched a video clip about the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, which occured in Illinois during the senate election. Douglas supported popular sovereignty and that natural rights applied only to white men. Lincoln promoted giving slaves natural rights, even though he did not want to be around them in a social or political setting, as he almost viewed black people as a different species. Though I do not agree with the racism either candidate displayed, I think Lincoln is more correct in recognizing the immediate need for rights, or else the country would become divided.
My goal has been extremely successful. Even over the vacation, I remembered to journal every day. I think my goal only continues until December 5th, so I am getting close!
Today, we watched a video clip about the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, which occured in Illinois during the senate election. Douglas supported popular sovereignty and that natural rights applied only to white men. Lincoln promoted giving slaves natural rights, even though he did not want to be around them in a social or political setting, as he almost viewed black people as a different species. Though I do not agree with the racism either candidate displayed, I think Lincoln is more correct in recognizing the immediate need for rights, or else the country would become divided.
My goal has been extremely successful. Even over the vacation, I remembered to journal every day. I think my goal only continues until December 5th, so I am getting close!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Class and Goal Update: 11/19 & 11/20
Yesterday, we followed up on our reading of Uncle Tom's Cabin to discuss its purpose in the Civil Rights period. When Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the novel, her goal was to bring awareness to slavery and make Americans relate to and sympathize with the slaves. I did not know that the novel was also performed as a play. I wonder if the storyline has been included in any other works of literature or drama.
Today, we learned about the Kansas Nebraska Act, which organized the territories in the west by allowing them to decide their standpoint on slavery, which was known as "popular sovereignty." This caused many violent conflicts in Kansas between anti-slavery and slavery supporters as they tried to gain support in Congress. There was even an attack in the Senate. I think each of these "battles" should be included as part of the Civil War, because Americans were forcefully fighting each other over the issue of freedom.
I have still been keeping my goal of writing in a journal every day. It has been fairly easy to form a good habit, but I do not think it would be as easy to break a bad habit. Most of my habits have been formed over a long period of time, and I'm not sure I could break them!
Today, we learned about the Kansas Nebraska Act, which organized the territories in the west by allowing them to decide their standpoint on slavery, which was known as "popular sovereignty." This caused many violent conflicts in Kansas between anti-slavery and slavery supporters as they tried to gain support in Congress. There was even an attack in the Senate. I think each of these "battles" should be included as part of the Civil War, because Americans were forcefully fighting each other over the issue of freedom.
I have still been keeping my goal of writing in a journal every day. It has been fairly easy to form a good habit, but I do not think it would be as easy to break a bad habit. Most of my habits have been formed over a long period of time, and I'm not sure I could break them!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Class and Goal Update: 11/15 & 11/16
In class yesterday, we extended our knowledge of the Mexican War to discuss the results in America. A decision had to be made about slavery in the new territories, so we voted as a class over how we would solve the issue. The majority of the class wanted to let the territories choose how they felt about slavery. In actuality, the American leaders chose to do nothing about the issue. Another issue that came up was the Compromise of 1850, which would combine 5 bills about slavery. The class voted to pass the set of bills, but the bills were actually passed one at a time. I was not surprised that the leaders of the country voted this way, as they did not want to create any major conflicts.
Today, we discussed how slaves escaped to freedom. We looked at a drawing of escaping slaves. I was surprised that many of the slaves were smiling. Maybe they were hopeful about becoming free. A Fugitive Slave Law was passed to make escape more difficult. Slaves had to be returned to their owners without trial. We then read an excerpt from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed the evils of slavery. It told how a slave named Eliza made a dangerous escape, and was chased after by slave-catchers. I would not want to be an escaping slave because it would be terrifying to be followed by men and dogs.
My 30 day goal has been successful so far. I am starting to write in my journal daily without having to deliberately remind myself. I don't know if I will continue it after the 30 days, but I think it has been helpful so far. I will be able to form other positive habits after this because it has been fairly easy forming this habit.
Today, we discussed how slaves escaped to freedom. We looked at a drawing of escaping slaves. I was surprised that many of the slaves were smiling. Maybe they were hopeful about becoming free. A Fugitive Slave Law was passed to make escape more difficult. Slaves had to be returned to their owners without trial. We then read an excerpt from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed the evils of slavery. It told how a slave named Eliza made a dangerous escape, and was chased after by slave-catchers. I would not want to be an escaping slave because it would be terrifying to be followed by men and dogs.
My 30 day goal has been successful so far. I am starting to write in my journal daily without having to deliberately remind myself. I don't know if I will continue it after the 30 days, but I think it has been helpful so far. I will be able to form other positive habits after this because it has been fairly easy forming this habit.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Class and Goal Update: 11/13 &11/14
For a change, we spent class in the library yesterday. Using an interactive map online, we researched statistics and facts about the US map in the 1800s. It did not surprise me that there were more black people living in the South than in the North, because slavery was so common in the South. I was surprised that there were more women than men in some Northern states. Maybe this contributed to why Northerners wanted to free slaves. Women did not have a lot of rights, and would have promoted equality for all people. We also learned about the Missouri Compromise and the 36-30 line that prevented slavery in new territories to the North.
Today, we took notes on the Missouri Compromise. I do not agree that it was the best decision to try to balance the number of slave states with free states. Whichever type of state was the majority would accurately represent the country, even if it meant an unbalanced Senate. We also took notes on how the Missouri Compromise led to the Mexican War, because the Southerners needed to look west for a new territory that would allow slavery. At the end of class, we watched a short movie and took a quiz.
As far as my 30 day goal, I haven't missed a day yet in my journal. I'm actually finding this goal to be more difficult than I expected. I don't forget to write in my journal, but sometimes I don't have anything interesting to write about.
Today, we took notes on the Missouri Compromise. I do not agree that it was the best decision to try to balance the number of slave states with free states. Whichever type of state was the majority would accurately represent the country, even if it meant an unbalanced Senate. We also took notes on how the Missouri Compromise led to the Mexican War, because the Southerners needed to look west for a new territory that would allow slavery. At the end of class, we watched a short movie and took a quiz.
As far as my 30 day goal, I haven't missed a day yet in my journal. I'm actually finding this goal to be more difficult than I expected. I don't forget to write in my journal, but sometimes I don't have anything interesting to write about.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Class and Goal Update: 11/7 & 11/8
Yesterday, we took notes on a PowerPoint about slavery in the early United States. We learned how the invention of the cotton gin increased slavery by making production faster and worsening the need for slaves. I did not know that the Industrial Revolution also influence slavery. The clothing factories in the US and England needed cotton to manufacture their products. Slaves in the South either did "gang labor," doing the same job in groups, or "task labor," with single slaves assigned to each job. After this, we each answered questions written on a document by an opponent or defendent of slavery.
Today, we added to our notes with information about the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a series of abolitionists who helped slaves to the North and Canada so they could become free. I thought it was interesting that some slaves used this system to pass through towns in our area. To expand our knowledge on the Underground Railroad, we then read excerpts about the topic from textbooks. It was surprising how some textbooks tried to describe the system as unorganized or as meaningless, considering the number of slaves still in the South. I think the Underground Railroad was actually a brilliant way to help people to safety in secrecy.
As far as the goal I set for the next 30 days, it has been going well. I am enjoying writing in a journal every day because it helps me think about everything that has happened, even if I don't write very much.
Today, we added to our notes with information about the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a series of abolitionists who helped slaves to the North and Canada so they could become free. I thought it was interesting that some slaves used this system to pass through towns in our area. To expand our knowledge on the Underground Railroad, we then read excerpts about the topic from textbooks. It was surprising how some textbooks tried to describe the system as unorganized or as meaningless, considering the number of slaves still in the South. I think the Underground Railroad was actually a brilliant way to help people to safety in secrecy.
As far as the goal I set for the next 30 days, it has been going well. I am enjoying writing in a journal every day because it helps me think about everything that has happened, even if I don't write very much.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Class and 30 Day Goal Update: 11/5 & 11/6
To follow up on the activity we did last week reading documents about slavery, we made Venn diagrams about the readings on Monday. Every document discussed the life of a slave, but one talked about how wonderful the life of a slave was under a kind mistress, while the other talked about how slaves experienced whippings and hardships. After that activity, we filled out tables about the opponents of slavery (William L. Garrison, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass) and the defenders of slavery (John C. Calhoun and James H. Hammond).
Today, we compared the opponents and defendents of slavery. The opponents lived in New England or the Middle Colonies, where slaves were not as common. They had experienced poverty and hardships, and were likely not well educated. The defendents usually had money, were well educated, and held government positions. I was not surprised by these tendencies, as people who suffer from slave-like conditions would be more likely to speak out against slavery rather than educated people who do not experience the harshness of slavery.
We were also told to watch a TedTalk on goals today. The speaker said that a habit can be set in 30 days as long as it is repeated every day. For example, the speaker chose to ride his bike to work every day, and has still kept the habit. The challenge for our class is to choose a goal to better ourselves that we can achieve in 30 days. My goal will be to keep a journal every day for the next 30 days. I have always wanted to keep a journal, but have never committed to it. I think it will help me organize my thoughts about what happens daily in my life. I can't wait to see if I can form a habit over the next 30 days.
Today, we compared the opponents and defendents of slavery. The opponents lived in New England or the Middle Colonies, where slaves were not as common. They had experienced poverty and hardships, and were likely not well educated. The defendents usually had money, were well educated, and held government positions. I was not surprised by these tendencies, as people who suffer from slave-like conditions would be more likely to speak out against slavery rather than educated people who do not experience the harshness of slavery.
We were also told to watch a TedTalk on goals today. The speaker said that a habit can be set in 30 days as long as it is repeated every day. For example, the speaker chose to ride his bike to work every day, and has still kept the habit. The challenge for our class is to choose a goal to better ourselves that we can achieve in 30 days. My goal will be to keep a journal every day for the next 30 days. I have always wanted to keep a journal, but have never committed to it. I think it will help me organize my thoughts about what happens daily in my life. I can't wait to see if I can form a habit over the next 30 days.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Class Update: 11/1 & 11/2
Yesterday, we turned in our integrated projects. We answered a survey about our reactions to the assignment and gave suggestions on how to improve integrated projects in the future. After lunch, we went to the library to look at the projects of all the sophomores. I tried playing one review game that was based on Clue. It was interesting to see how each student took the same assignment and came out with an original project.
Today, we transitioned into the Civil Rights unit with new projects assigned to us. First, we disscussed a TedTalk about modern slavery. Then we took a look at slavery in the 18th century by reading a document, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," which recorded the troubles for a slave on a ship during the slave trade. These horrors included unsanitary conditions, starvation, and whippings. Each group then made a storyboard of their document, representing the main points and ideas with pictures. The reading did not surprise me, but it did surprise me that so many people in that time period did not understand slavery, and were certainly not sympathetic towards the slaves.
Today, we transitioned into the Civil Rights unit with new projects assigned to us. First, we disscussed a TedTalk about modern slavery. Then we took a look at slavery in the 18th century by reading a document, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," which recorded the troubles for a slave on a ship during the slave trade. These horrors included unsanitary conditions, starvation, and whippings. Each group then made a storyboard of their document, representing the main points and ideas with pictures. The reading did not surprise me, but it did surprise me that so many people in that time period did not understand slavery, and were certainly not sympathetic towards the slaves.
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