The American Revolution
Do you ever think to yourself, “How did we get, to what we are today?” One of the main things that impacted America was the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War was fought to give us freedom and independence from Britain, so that we could become our own nation.
The colonies, under Britain’s rule, were starting to suffer through many different ways. After the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War ended in 1763, Britain needed money to pay for the war. Their idea to pay for the war was to use the colonies. Britain raised taxes and made additional taxes in the colonies. The people in the colonies started to get frustrated by the taxes and everything that Britain was doing to them. They started to boycott the English’s goods. Later, it started developing into protests and fights. The Boston Massacre was a conflict between a workman and a soldier and in the end, three colonists were dead and two were wounded. This started the people to want to stop obeying Britain’s Acts and to start arming their own people. The colonies started collecting their own colonial taxes which they used to support themselves.
The people started to have an idea of what was going to happen. Certain militia men (“Minutemen”) were beginning to get organized to be ready at any time to fight. Britain knew what was starting to happen. They ordered soldiers to control the people in the colonies and to confiscate the gun powder in Massachusetts, so the colonies would not have the ability to fight against Britain’s forces.
In 1775, on March 23rd, Patrick Henry gave a speech to the Virginia Convention. “I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.” He says. “And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House.” Through his speech, it is giving the idea of the history that Britain has had on the people of the colonies. How they have taken control and raised the taxes on their goods. How they have refused to pass the laws that accommodate the people. How Britain had made us dependent on them for everything that we do. “Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years.” He says. “We have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on.” He continues. “If we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-we must fight!” Henry knows that there is no other way than to fight. If they don’t, they will always be under Britain’s power and will have to suffer with that burden for generations.
The colonies, under Britain’s rule, were starting to suffer through many different ways. After the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War ended in 1763, Britain needed money to pay for the war. Their idea to pay for the war was to use the colonies. Britain raised taxes and made additional taxes in the colonies. The people in the colonies started to get frustrated by the taxes and everything that Britain was doing to them. They started to boycott the English’s goods. Later, it started developing into protests and fights. The Boston Massacre was a conflict between a workman and a soldier and in the end, three colonists were dead and two were wounded. This started the people to want to stop obeying Britain’s Acts and to start arming their own people. The colonies started collecting their own colonial taxes which they used to support themselves.
The people started to have an idea of what was going to happen. Certain militia men (“Minutemen”) were beginning to get organized to be ready at any time to fight. Britain knew what was starting to happen. They ordered soldiers to control the people in the colonies and to confiscate the gun powder in Massachusetts, so the colonies would not have the ability to fight against Britain’s forces.
In 1775, on March 23rd, Patrick Henry gave a speech to the Virginia Convention. “I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.” He says. “And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House.” Through his speech, it is giving the idea of the history that Britain has had on the people of the colonies. How they have taken control and raised the taxes on their goods. How they have refused to pass the laws that accommodate the people. How Britain had made us dependent on them for everything that we do. “Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years.” He says. “We have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on.” He continues. “If we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-we must fight!” Henry knows that there is no other way than to fight. If they don’t, they will always be under Britain’s power and will have to suffer with that burden for generations.
Racism Pre-Write
1) What is your perception of the current state of racism in the United States?
In the United States, there isn’t as much racism as there once was, but it is still there. It is kind of hard to say, because I am usually only in Durango. I don’t really know what it is like in other places of the United States very well. I can say that in Durango, I do not see it very often, but I know it is still there, whether somebody is serious about it or even if it is just a joke.
2) Is racism natural?
I would say that to some people racism is pretty natural. Lots of people believe or think that they are better than someone else and racism is a way they do that. I think that to some people, not as many, it isn’t natural. They know what they believe and are against racism or for it and it is up to them to make that decision of what they believe.
3) What would it take to end racism in our culture?
It would take a big change to end racism in our culture. I think that it would almost be impossible. We are all human. None of us are perfect and we all have different thoughts and beliefs. Even though we have come a long way from how much racism there used to be, I still don’t think that it is possible. What would have to happen is, there wouldn’t be able to be a person that does too much wrong. When one person does an action and others too, those people have a reputation.
In the United States, there isn’t as much racism as there once was, but it is still there. It is kind of hard to say, because I am usually only in Durango. I don’t really know what it is like in other places of the United States very well. I can say that in Durango, I do not see it very often, but I know it is still there, whether somebody is serious about it or even if it is just a joke.
2) Is racism natural?
I would say that to some people racism is pretty natural. Lots of people believe or think that they are better than someone else and racism is a way they do that. I think that to some people, not as many, it isn’t natural. They know what they believe and are against racism or for it and it is up to them to make that decision of what they believe.
3) What would it take to end racism in our culture?
It would take a big change to end racism in our culture. I think that it would almost be impossible. We are all human. None of us are perfect and we all have different thoughts and beliefs. Even though we have come a long way from how much racism there used to be, I still don’t think that it is possible. What would have to happen is, there wouldn’t be able to be a person that does too much wrong. When one person does an action and others too, those people have a reputation.
Seminar Prep (Montana 1948)
1) Choose one character from the novel and explore his or her moral dilemma. How does this character evolve (or not) over the course of the novel? OR Discuss how one character could be thought to represent something fundamental about America.
Frank could be considered something to represent America. I would say that Frank would represent the bad in America. There are still many things that are very nice and pleasant to be in America, but Frank is part of the bad that shouldn’t be around but is.
2) What is the significance of the setting of this novel?
This book is of the time of 1948. It is still in the cowboy, western era still. It does a well job at describing what life is like where they live. You know that there is still racism going on and how there is still the sheriff of the town instead of a police officer.
3) Is justice served at the end of the story?
I would to say that justice was not entirely served at the end of the story. This is because Frank murdered Marie. I don’t think that Frank entirely got what he deserved.
4) What does this novel seem to imply about history?
This novel implies several things about history. There was still racism towards Indians that went on. Not everyone had as much of equality. The white man had more of a word compared to others.
5) Choose a theme from the list and explore how the novel treats the theme.
There are many themes to this book. One specific theme would be Racism. Throughout this book there are many cases which are full of racism, specifically towards the beginning of the book with David’s dad and uncle. For instance, David’s uncle Frank. Frank could be considered a bad dude. Frank is a doctor and takes advantage of his career with his patience. More specifically, his Indian, female patience. He rapes some and takes advantage of many. I would consider this racism, because it is specifically “Indian” girls that he does this to.
Frank could be considered something to represent America. I would say that Frank would represent the bad in America. There are still many things that are very nice and pleasant to be in America, but Frank is part of the bad that shouldn’t be around but is.
2) What is the significance of the setting of this novel?
This book is of the time of 1948. It is still in the cowboy, western era still. It does a well job at describing what life is like where they live. You know that there is still racism going on and how there is still the sheriff of the town instead of a police officer.
3) Is justice served at the end of the story?
I would to say that justice was not entirely served at the end of the story. This is because Frank murdered Marie. I don’t think that Frank entirely got what he deserved.
4) What does this novel seem to imply about history?
This novel implies several things about history. There was still racism towards Indians that went on. Not everyone had as much of equality. The white man had more of a word compared to others.
5) Choose a theme from the list and explore how the novel treats the theme.
There are many themes to this book. One specific theme would be Racism. Throughout this book there are many cases which are full of racism, specifically towards the beginning of the book with David’s dad and uncle. For instance, David’s uncle Frank. Frank could be considered a bad dude. Frank is a doctor and takes advantage of his career with his patience. More specifically, his Indian, female patience. He rapes some and takes advantage of many. I would consider this racism, because it is specifically “Indian” girls that he does this to.
Christopher Columbus Hero or Villain
There are two main sides to Christopher Columbus. Was he a hero, like some say? Or was he more on the side of being a villain. Some say what a great hero he was and what a respected man he was. Some say “Columbus, the discoverer, was a great hero and his story is one American boys and girls never tire of hearing.” (http://books.google.com/books?id=Mm0XAAAAIAAJ&dq=columbus+lincoln+reader&q=columbus#v=snippet&q=columbus&f=false) Like he is the legend of the town and they will tell their kids like they were once told. You don’t hear any negative talk about the man and the only thing you hear is the good.
On the other side of the story we hear more of a negative perspective towards Columbus. You hear how cruel Columbus and the other men were to the Natives. Such as, “As for the newly born, they died early because their mothers, overworked and famished, had no milk to nurse them…”
I would agree that in somewhat of a way, Columbus could be considered a great man. He was a great map maker, explorer and could have been the best in his time. This I would agree. I do not believe though that everything Columbus and the other men did was right. They were cruel and harsh to the Indians. “Past forty years, down to the present time, for they are still acting like ravening beasts, killing, terrorizing, afflicting, torturing, and destroying the native peoples, doing all this with the strangest and most varied new methods of cruelty, never seen or heard of before.” (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html)
Christopher Columbus and his men were out of line of what they did and their actions towards the Natives. The natives were welcoming, friendly and they took advantage of them. They took everything from them. Everything they owned, their family their homes, their life.
There is a quote that says “Spaniards who call themselves Christian and who have gone there to extirpate those pitiful nations and wipe them off the earth is by unjustly waging cruel and bloody wars.” (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html) This surprised me that they did consider themselves Christians and the actions that they took, you wouldn’t think would be considered very Christ like at all.
If I were to write this paper back in Columbus’s day, my thoughts might be different and this paper could even be the other way around. That long ago, everyone wanted more land than anyone else and having slaves wasn’t wrong. Having a slave was normal to the people. They didn’t consider taking a different race to work for them was a bad. How we are today, with us all being considered equal it’s hard to think of how they thought what they did was okay and right. It is how different things change over time. Who knows what people in the future will think of what we do now. Looking back on us, I bet people won’t understand certain things that we do today just like we don’t understand everything in the past.
On the other side of the story we hear more of a negative perspective towards Columbus. You hear how cruel Columbus and the other men were to the Natives. Such as, “As for the newly born, they died early because their mothers, overworked and famished, had no milk to nurse them…”
I would agree that in somewhat of a way, Columbus could be considered a great man. He was a great map maker, explorer and could have been the best in his time. This I would agree. I do not believe though that everything Columbus and the other men did was right. They were cruel and harsh to the Indians. “Past forty years, down to the present time, for they are still acting like ravening beasts, killing, terrorizing, afflicting, torturing, and destroying the native peoples, doing all this with the strangest and most varied new methods of cruelty, never seen or heard of before.” (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html)
Christopher Columbus and his men were out of line of what they did and their actions towards the Natives. The natives were welcoming, friendly and they took advantage of them. They took everything from them. Everything they owned, their family their homes, their life.
There is a quote that says “Spaniards who call themselves Christian and who have gone there to extirpate those pitiful nations and wipe them off the earth is by unjustly waging cruel and bloody wars.” (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html) This surprised me that they did consider themselves Christians and the actions that they took, you wouldn’t think would be considered very Christ like at all.
If I were to write this paper back in Columbus’s day, my thoughts might be different and this paper could even be the other way around. That long ago, everyone wanted more land than anyone else and having slaves wasn’t wrong. Having a slave was normal to the people. They didn’t consider taking a different race to work for them was a bad. How we are today, with us all being considered equal it’s hard to think of how they thought what they did was okay and right. It is how different things change over time. Who knows what people in the future will think of what we do now. Looking back on us, I bet people won’t understand certain things that we do today just like we don’t understand everything in the past.