Class Update: 12/20 & 12/21

On Thursday, we researched the Battle of Vicksburg. The battle was fought near the Mississippi River between the Union and the Confederacy. The Union wanted control of the river for transportation and so they would control the economy. After losing multiple times while trying to break into the city, the Union eventually laid siege to Vicksburg. Life became difficult for Confederate soldiers and citizens, and they eventually surrendered. The battle affected the result of the war by giving the Union a major advantage in the control of the Mississippi River. We then created a "billboard sign" about the battle explaining its importance.

Today, I was performing in the in-school concert and did not attend class. We have a writing assignment due tonight, though.

Class Update: 12/18 & 12/19

Yesterday, we discussed the unwritten law of habeas corpus. It protects citizens from the powers of the government by preventing imprisonment without a reason and explanation. This law can be suspended, or ignored, if the public is endangered during a rebellion. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War, causing many people to be arrested just for speaking out against Lincoln. They were exercising their Constitutional rights, but still arrested anyways. Lincoln felt it was necessary to do so as a measure to keep people from splitting the country apart and ruining his hope of "Liberty to all."

Today, we reviewed some major battles in the Civil War. The Union was not well trained and expected a short war, but found the reality to be otherwise. At the First Battle of Bull Run, the Union seemed to break enemy lines, but was defeated while retreating. The Confederate army won many battles, and eventually decided to take a more offensive tactic. Shortly after a battle at Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a military measure. It freed slaves in all states in rebellion, but not in border states. The class was then given a worksheet on the document as homework.

Class Update: 12/14 & 12/17

Last Friday, we went to the computer lab to create a GoogleDocs Powerpoint about whether the North or the South had the advantage at the start of the Civil War. I had to find information about the training of the military commanders on both sides. All of the Confederate commanders attended West Point for training, while only 7 out of 10 Union commanders attended West Point. The Confederate commanders also ranked better in their class overall. I believe this gives the Confederacy an advantage going into the war, because their military leaders would have more experience and training.

Today, we did a scavenger hunt with QR codes about the battles of the Civil War. I was surprised that not many of the battles occurred in New England, or the northern parts of the Union. I know that New York had the best farmland in the Union and there were many factories in the North, so I was surprised that the Confederacy would not target those areas first to weaken the economy in the North. I am interested to learn more about the battles to see if any advantages at the beginning of the war played into the victories and losses of each side.

Class Update: 12/11 & 12/12

Yesterday, we discussed why South Carolina felt they were justified in seceding from the Union. They argued that they had made an agreement with all the other states, but the other states were breaking the agreement to follow the Constitution. Because some parties were not keeping their agreement, South Carolina was no longer obligated to be part of the Union because they were allowed to be a "free, independent state."

Today, we expanded on this concept by comparing the views from the Constitution and the New Orleans Newspaper. The Constitution required the president to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution." The New Orleans Newspaper attacked Republicans and President Lincoln by saying that they only worked to demolish slavery and control the government, giving the Lower South reason to secede. Lincoln believed that the states could not secede, because he needed to spread his concept of  "Liberty to all." The Constitution did not give the states a right to secede, because a government would not include ways for its territories to end the rule of the government. I agree with Lincoln about this because South Carolina and all the other states signed the Constitution. Their agreement to become part of the Union cannot be cancelled just because their state's vote was the minority. This disagreement over the right to secede added to the conflict brewing in the US.

Class Update: 12/7 & 12/10

Last Friday, we did not have class due to the half day. Today, we started the unit on the Civil War. We read documents about the "unalienable rights" that all Americans are given, and how President Lincoln viewed the rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." He compared this concept to a proverb about golden apples and silver settings. The natural rights were like a golden apple. The founding documents of the US (Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) were like silver settings to protect and preserve the golden apple of "Liberty for all." The concept of "Liberty for all" gave Americans the gift of opportunity. To some extent, that principle is still alive today. For example, all American children are given the opportunity and privilege to attend school. This gives them possible opportunities for the future, if they have the initiative to take this advantage. Maybe some Americans did not believe in "Liberty for all," contributing to the conflict that would lead to the Civil War.

Class & Goal Update: 12/5 & 12/6

This week, we have been wrapping up the Civil Rights 1850s unit. Yesterday, we had an EdCafe about significant people during that period. I thought this EdCafe went very well because we all had background information on the topics because we had watched the VoiceThreads. I agree with the class that Abraham Lincoln was the most significant person of the 1850s. It is impressive that he became an important person in such a short period of time, even though he came from a poor background. Though his election caused secession of the Confederate States, he still played his role well in a controversial time.

Today, we took a unit test. I think it went well, but my hand was very tired from writing!

Yesterday, I finished the last day of my goal. I never missed a day of writing in the journal. Though it was a good habit, I will not consistently continue the goal - it took up a lot of time!

Class & Goal Update: 11/30 & 12/3

Over the past two days in class, we have been discussing the events leading up to the secession of the Confederate states from the Union. On Friday, we had a substitute and we were left a packet to complete. It discussed political issues that may have cause the "lower South" to break away. Today, we looked at a political cartoon of the presidential election of 1860. It showed candidates Lincoln and Douglas fighting over a map of the western states, while Bell tried to glue the states back together and Breckinridge held onto the Southern states. I think this not only represents the regional voting in 1860, but also the divisons between the citizens of each area. I am not surprised that the Southern states seceded, because even the leaders of the country were on hostile terms. These events must have added to the hostility that led to the Civil War.

My 30 day goal is still working out. I think it ends on Wednesday, so in 3 days I will have one less thing to remember every day!

1850s Timeline