Class Summary 12.18.12

As we continue looking at the events following the succession of the lower south. Yesterday, we used technology, and our legs! And went on a scavenger hunt throughout the school looking for QR codes that held facts to important civil war battles. Today, we looked at Habeas Corpus and president Lincoln's decision to suspend the right during the war in order to imprison or charge those who were against the war effort. I find the argument whether it is okay to limits people's freedoms in order to do the right thing. And also, find Lincoln's idea that those who are willing to take freedoms away from others do not deserve it for themselves. I have found to be a big believe and advocate for that ideal.

Class Summary 12.14.12

Today, we went to the computer lab to make a Google docs presentation. We split into three groups and focused on finding the economic balance between the north and the south. Each person was responsible for looking at different parts of industry. There was: wealth, manufacturing, agricultural production, cotton production, railroads,slaves, and immigrants. After finding and understanding the differences between the north and the south's industries, it became apparent this would not be an easy fight.

Class Summary 12.11.12

As we move on from our slavery unit, we are looking further into the actions and words of Abraham Lincoln and also the succession of the Lower South. Yesterday we started by looking at a section of the Declaration of Independence and Lincolns reference and reliance on this document to support his beliefs on the slavery issue. Next we studied Lincoln's "Fragment on the Constitution and Union," and got an overall view of his perspective and thoughts on the issue. Also displayed here is his reasoning behind his thoughts, such as the foundation of our country: "Liberty to all." Today, we focused on the succession of the Lower South and their reasoning behind their separation. First we read excerpts from South Carolina's Secession Declaration. They establish their idea on the base that all states are free and independent, and have the right to abolish a government when it becomes destructive. Also, the fundamental support for their argument is the idea that, by the law of compact, that when the United States government failed to fulfill their obligations (at least in their opinion), or started to ignore part of their agreement, the fugitive slave law, the contract is nullified or rendered void.

Class Summary 12.4.12

As we are moving through our slavery unit and approaching the 1860's, we have been taking a look at what was occurring on the political front. After the "Bleeding Kansas" debacle and the 1858 Illinois election between Stephen Douglass a democrat who whole-heartedly believes in popular sovereignty; against Abraham Lincoln, a republican who wanted to halt the expansion of slavery. This was followed by the raid at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. These events accumulated to the election of 1860 for president. A race between four candidates each representing vastly differing parties.

Timeline Events for the 1850's