Book portfolio

My brother Sam is dead

The title of this book is "MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD." The author of this book is James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. The publication date of this book is 1974. This book is about a boy named Timmy Meeker and his brother Sam Meeker. Timmy has a hard time choosing which side of the war he wants to be on because his parents are on the Tories side and his brother is on the Rebels side. The theme of this book is conflict. The importance of the theme would be conflict is sometimes necessary in life.

The theme of this book is conflict and conflict is sometimes necessary in life. Timmy's brother Sam had most of the conflicts going on in the book. He disagreed a lot with his parents. His parents didn't want him going to war but Sam did. No matter what happened, he would still do what ever he could to go to the Revolutionary war. Sam is a rebel and the rest of his family are Tories except for Tim. Tim is nether on either side of the war, he tries to pick which side he is on but he doesn't want his mom and dad or his brother Sam getting mad at him. The importance of the theme of the book which is conflict, is told between Americans and English, Tim and Sam, Sam and his parents. This book would not be interesting if there were no conflicts between anybody.

The theme of conflict has always been in history. There were many conflicts in history, and one of them would be the Revolutionary war. The Americans wanted to be free from England, because we didn't want to be under the English rules. We should be able to control our own country so that is what caused the war between the Americans and England. World war II for example was in part, a conflict between U.S.A and Japan. One part of W.W.II would be Pearl Harbor. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The U.S.A brought the conflict with Japan to an end by dropping the nuclear bombs on Japan. Another example of a conflict in history would be racism. Racism has been a problem in history, because the whites used the black people as slaves, until Abraham Lincoln said that slavery must stop. The importance of the theme "conflict in history" is that conflict is needed in life.

The theme of conflict is important, because conflict is a part of life. Everybody has an opinion so somebody must have a reason to fight for what they stand for. The importance of the theme in the book would be that almost every body stood up for what they believed in. The importance of the theme in history would be that there were a lot of wars between the U.S.A its self and wars with other countries. The book does show a lot of conflicts, between countries and individuals. The reason why it is important to understand the theme is because you and everything in the world are always going to be for or against something.

Valley Forge essay

March 15, 1778

Dear Father,
I'm in Valley Forge, living with 12 people in a really small room. Its very cold right now, because there are lots of snow on the ground and we don't have very much warmth. Our cabin is drafty, damp, smoky and terribly unhealthy. We don't have enough food, but just fire cakes, because don't come and drop off supplies, because the roads are so bad. I spend most of my time keeping warm and dry. Many of the soldiers are getting ill, maybe from water from the river because people and animals are peeing and dumping upstream. People are either too sick to fight or dying. About 3,000 soldiers have died at camp or in the hospitals.
I joined the army because I wanted to fight the Britain's so that we can control our own colonies. This army isn't really prepared to fight the Britain's because we didn't get much training and we didn't know how to march in ranks or maneuver on the battle fields. Baron Von Steuben is going to get us to beat the Britain's but he does not speak English. Steuben speak very few words and we have to try figuring out what he is saying.
In the begging of the war Washington was not a very good leader, because we lost all of the battles with the British, but in the end Washington emerged stronger than ever, because we "soldiers" worship Washington, this army did not fall apart. The French will send us uniforms and gear to help us with the war.
Since I joined this war I felt like a real soldier until it got to the point of everything getting bad, but after quite a while everything turn out to be much better, because of the French helping us. We also got extra months pay for sticking throughout the winter.

Sincerely, Joe

Propaganda Essay

I am an American Colonist, and I think we should fight for our freedom against Britain. The king has no right to take our money and control us. We should govern our self and make our own law. We need to prove Britain that we are stronger. The king is to far away to govern us and we should make our own government.

I think the future in america would be alot more freedom once we beat the Britains. Americans will be free and will take over the leader of the world. America will grow and become rich, because americans are creative and inventive.

Boston Massacre Essay

The incident started on King Street in the early evening of March 5, 1770. I saw Gerrish exchanged insults with Private White, who left his post, challenged the boy, and then struck him on the side of the head with a musket. Then i was shocked by when Gerrish cried in pain, so this attracted a larger crowd. The mob grew in size and continued harassing Private White. Private Hugh Montgomery was struck down onto the ground by a club. I was also surprised when he got back to his feet, he fired his musket, later admitting to one of his defense attorneys that he had yelled "Damn you, fire!" However, the protesters in the crowd were taunting the soldiers by yelling "Fire". There was a pause that lasted quite a while then the soldiers fired into the crowd. Their bad aiming had hit eleven men. Three Americans Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, and Crispus Attuck died instantly. Seventeen-year-old Samuel Maverick, struck by a ricocheting musket ball at the back of the crowd, died a few hours later, in the early morning of the next day. Thirty-year-old Irish immigrant Patrick Carr died two weeks later. To keep the peace, the next day royal authorities agreed to remove all troops from the centre of town to a fort on Castle Island in Boston Harbor. On March 27 the soldiers, Captain Preston and four men who were in the Customs House and alleged to have fired shots, were indicted for murder. All of this little battle(massacre) was really quite amazing. I think the consequences for the people that were involved should be going 2 jail or every single war that there will be in the future.

Martha Washington Bio

Martha Washington


Martha was born June 2, 1731 near Williamsburg, Virginia. At the age of eighteen, Martha was married to Daniel Parke Custis. He was wealthy, handsome and twenty years older than her. Martha set up housekeeping on the Custis plantation, while her husband managed the estate which encompassed over 17,000 acres.

Her husband adored his young, pretty bride and pampered her with the finest clothes and gifts imported from England. They had four children, two died in infancy.

John Parke, called "Jacky" and Martha, called "Patsy" were their two surviving children. In 1757, when Martha was twenty-six, Daniel Parke Custis died after a brief illness. Jacky was three and Patsy was less than a year old.

Sometime later, Martha met a young colonel (several months younger than her) in the Virginia Militia at a cotillion in Williamsburg. This young colonel fought for the British in the French and Indian War. His desire was to become a commissioned officer in the Royal Army, but the British never considered it. His name was George Washington. (shylo10.blogspot.com)

Martha fell in love and George found her quite attractive. That she had a good disposition and inherited wealth were an added bonus to the relationship. He had had a crush on a pretty neighbor, Sally Fairfax, but when she married another, he knew he must find a suitable wife for himself. So then George chose Martha and they got married in 1759. (shylo10.blogspot.com) They lived a prosperous and happy life at Washington's Mount Vernon estate in the state of Virginia.

Martha Washington had alot of recognition for being George Washington’s wife. However she didnt get alot of have alot of recognition in her own right. George Washington is very famous because first of all, he was the first president of the United States and secondly he lead us to win the Revolutionary War with Britain. Some of the things she should have been recognition a out are that she was so committed with her family, because she always supports George and she goes with him to the battle fields some times. She has supported the needy. She supported education for girls. One of her quotes was that dependence was "Wretched State."

Martha and George Washington had no children together, but together they raised Martha's two surviving children. Martha followed Washington into the battlefield when he served as Commander in Chief.

Martha Washington and her husband both died at Mount Vernon. George Washington was inaugurated president on April 30, 1789. As the wife of the president, Martha lived with her husband and grandchildren Nelly and Wash in Philadelphia until they returned to Mount Vernon on March 15, 1797. George Washington at Mount Vernon December 14, 1799. Martha was widowed for two and one-half years until she, too, died of a severe fever at Mount Vernon on May 22, 1802.They both died at their Mount Vernon home.

Martha Washington was one of the few womans at this time with Abigail Adams (britza2010.blogspot.com), Sarah Franklin Bache (campingqueen.blogspot.com) , Betsy Ross amyamm.blogspot.com, And Deborah Samson (punkysblogger.blogspot.com). Also Martha was the first wife of a first president. Some of the first people working with the government are George Washington(President), John Adams (Vice President)(zackstudies.blogspot.com), Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State) (historyamg.blogspot.com), Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury) (marie2010.bogspot.com), Henry Knox (Secretary of War) (brittany92nokomis.blogspot.com), and Edmund Randolph (Attorney General).



http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/mw1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Washington
http://www.history.org/Almanack/people/bios/biomwash.cfm

Revolution and War

Revolution and War

1763-1789

Revolution Notes

1763—Proclamation Act

1764—Grenville Acts (direct tax)

• Sugar (molasses, wine)

• Stamp

• Quartering

• Currency

Virtual/ Direct Representation

1765—Stamp Act Congress

• Sons of Liberty
• Samuel Adams
• Paul Revere
• John Hancock
• Propaganda
• Boycotts
• Lobsters (Lobster-backs, Thomas Lobster)

1766—Declaratory Act

• To erase the Greenville acts and britain can do any they want to the colonies.

1767—Townsend Acts (indirect tax)

• Charles Townsend
• Writs of Assistance (search warrants)
• Revenue used to pay Royal officials in the colonies
• Tea Act (glass, paper, paint) support British East India Company
• second set of acts

1770—Boston Massacre

• Contributes to revolution by useing it as Propaganda
• March 5, 1770
• Local reaction (primarily)
• 5 dead colonists
• John Adams defends British soldiers/5 exonerated-2 convicted
• Convicted men discharged and thumbs branded

1773—Boston Tea Party

• November 30, 1773--Dartmouth sails into Boston Harbor
• December 16, 1773--Tea dumped into harbor
• 340 chests of tea dumped (value of 10,000 British pounds)
• protest against britain and it cost them money

1774—Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts in Britain)

• Close the port of Boston
• Shut down Provincial and Town Governments
• All offices appointed
• Named General Thomas Gage as Governor
• Gave all western lands north of the Ohio R. to Quebec, allowed Catholic Church to practice
• not just about the money, britains want to punish the colonies

1774—1^st Continental Congress

• September to October (7 weeks)
• Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia
• New England—John Adams, Paul Revere, Silas Deane
• Virginia—Washington, Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee
• Pennsylvania—John Dickenson, Joseph Galloway (Plan for American council under Parliament, to avoid war)
• New York—John Jay, James Duane
• Maryland—Samuel Chase (future Supreme Court Justice), Charles Carroll (richest man in Maryland, Catholic)
• Declaration of Rights—rejects Parliamentary authority over internal colonial affairs, colonies manage own defense, united aid to Boston if Intolerable Acts continue, absolute boycott of British goods to be enforced rigidly
• Colonies agree to help each other in a crisis

1775— January

• William Pitt urges Parliament to withdraw troops from America because the idea of managing the colonies through force was “too ridiculous to take up a moment of your lordships’ time”
• Pitts predicts outcome of war before it starts

1775—April 19 Lexington and Concord

• Gen. Gage sends 700 men to Concord to seize the powder supplies
• Paul Revere and William Dawes raise alarm the night before
• Town of Lexington is on the way to Concord
• Minutemen are assembled on the town common
• “Shot heard round the world”
• 18 colonials killed and the rest run away
• British march on to Concord and find the munitions were moved overnight
• Minutemen ambush the British the whole way back to Boston
• 430 Redcoats make it back to Boston
• 30,000 Colonists surround Boston
• 1st battle of revolution

1775—May

• Gen. Howe, Gen. Clinton, Gen. Burgoyne
• 5,000 British troops
• Ethan Allen, “Green Mountain Boys” seize Fort Ticonderoga
• Henry Knox uses canon to lay siege on Boston
• Benedict Arnold (Connecticut) takes Fort Crown Point to impede an invasion from Canada
• War building

1775—May 10, 2^nd Continental Congress

• Sam Adams pushes for Independence
• John Dickenson (Penn.) urges restraint
• Agree to form Colonial Army
• Delegates unanimously agree to Washington as Commander of Continental Army (John Adams suggestion)
• we formed an army(National Army)

1775—June 17, “Battle of Bunker Hill”

• Actually fought on Breed’s Hill
• Gen. Howe leads assault without canon support (his canon had been matched with wrong-sized cannonballs [Amherst at Ticonderoga])
• Militia waited to within 30 yards (some say 15 yards)
• Militia target British officers
• Militia ran extremely low on ammunition
• On the third assault, led by Gen. Howe, British troops overtake the colonial position
• Britain losses almost 1000 men (about half the attacking force)
• Colonials lose about 500 men
• Convinces colonies that they can win

1776—January, Common Sense

• Written by Thomas Paine
• 120,000 copies sold in three months
• convinces regular people that it is time to fight england Propaganda

1776—March

• Gen. William Howe evacuates Boston
• July 2, lands in Staten Island, New York (Loyalist base)

1776—Declaration of Independence

• June 7, Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) introduces legislation to declare independence from Britain
• Before voting on Lee’s proposal Congress appoints five-man committee to draft a formal Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson, 33, does most of the writing)
• June 28, Declaration presented to Congress
• July 2, Congress approves Lee’s legislation to declare the United States of America independent of Great Britain
• July 4, Congress officially adopts the Declaration of Independence
• The Declaration intended to:

1. Undermine loyalty to King George III
2. Outline basic principles of representative government
3. Establish the “right” of rebellion

• All colonies are united against britain

War

1776—August, Brooklyn Heights, New York

• Largest Naval group Britain will launch until the 20^th century
• British victory, city falls to England
• As winter came “sunshine patriots” left the American Army
• Initial colonial enlistments due to expire
• Washingtons 1st battle, almost gets killed or captured, realizes(washington) he needs to spend most of his time running

1776—December, Battle of Trenton

• Howe believes war almost won
• 1,400 Hessians stationed at Trenton
• Colonel Rall (Hessian) builds no fortifications
• Washington “Crosses the Delaware” Christmas night
• 2,500 men; 18 artillery guns
• Surprise attack at dawn
• 106 Hessians killed, 918 captured
• No colonial casualties
• Washington retreats in secret to avoid Gen. Cornwallis counter-attack
• Washington's 1st victory, because washingtons has run so much he needs this win in order to keep people willing to fight for him or if not win every one will go home and not help Washington

1777—January, Princeton

• Washington ambushes British troops
• Colonial victory establishes this will not be a quick war for Britain
• Washington's 2nd victory (minor)

1777—September-October, Saratoga

• Gen. Burgoyne plans a three-prong attack on colonials at Albany
• Plan does not consider the terrain, forcing British troops to march through swamps, lakes, hills and forests full of rebels
• Two of the three “prongs” never arrive (Howe goes to Philadelphia instead, St. Leger retreats to New York afraid of Benedict Arnold)
• Sept. Burgoyne crosses Hudson River
• Oct. 17, Burgoyne surrenders
• Establishes American Army as real threat
• Helps secure open French Alliance
• Turning Point of the War

1777-1778—Winter at Valley Forge

• Under-funded troops
• Low morale
• 10,000+ troops
• 4,000 troops listed as “unfit for duty” due to poor supplies (boots, blankets, coats, etc.)
• 2,500 troops die of disease (typhus, typhoid fever, dysentery, pneumonia)
• George Washington mentioned a lack of shoes so severe that the men's "marches might be tracked by the blood from their feet”
• Local farmers would sell produce to Brits who could pay cash
• lowest point of war for Washington
• Washington doesnt know if french will help
• Americans don't quit

1779—February, Vincennes

1780—August, Camden

1780—October, Kings Mountain

1781—October, Yorktown

• British Gen. Cornwallis
• American Gen. Washington (also “Mad” Anthony Wayne, Baron von Steuben)
• French Gen. Rochambeau (also Marquis de Lafayette)
• Essentially a French Naval victory
• Last significant battle of the war
• Britist stops fighting, too exspensive and too long, (Pitts was right in 1775)

1783—Sept. 3, Treaty of Paris

• Britain recognizes American independence
• America gets all land from Atlantic coast to Miss. River, Great Lakes to Florida
• Fishing rights to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and off the coast of Newfoundland
• America must pay debts to Britain
• American congress would “earnestly recommend” all Loyalist property returned (States ignore this request)
• Two years to settle because American, French, Spain all argue and want special treatment from Britain

Outline for Plymouth Essay





I. Introduction

A. The founding of English colonies in modern Massachusetts combined a strange mix of idealism and violence.

B. Miles Standish contributed important protection to the early colonies by using violence.

C. Benjamin Church provided vital leadership to protect the colonies during King Philip's War.

D. Despite all of this violence, the colonies were also founded on religious idealism.

E. Significance of Thesis It is important to understand the full history of these areas because this is what Americans generally consider to be our nation's beginning.





II. First Major Point

A. Miles Standish contributed important protection to the early colonies by using violence.

B. He stabbed Wituwamat because he thought he was going to harm the Pilgrims.

C. He stabbed Pecksuot because he was Wituwamat's brother.

D. Miles has burst into a family's house yelling wheres "Corbitant?" using guns as a threat to kill them.

E. Miles kills everybody who is in his way.





III. Second Major Point

A. Benjamin Church provided vital leadership to protect the colonies during King Philip's War.

B. He is brave enough to fight any war such as having 6 men verse many others.

C. Church is not afraid to fight for war.

D. Makes sure his group is ready and planed.

E. These are the reason how he is a good leader.



IV. Third Major Point

A. Despite all of this violence, the colonies were also founded on religious idealism.

B. The Pilgrims came here because they wanted land.

C. They did not just come here to kill Indians.

D. They wanted religion freedom.

E. The Pilgrims are trying to have a good home or religion.





V. Conclusion

A. It is important to understand the full history of these areas because this is what Americans generally consider to be our nation's beginning.

B. Miles kills everybody who gets in his way.

C. Benjamin Church is a good leader for his colonies.

D. Pilgrims are trying to have a good home or religion.

E. This paper is important for a good presentation for social studies class.


V-1. Everything in the essay should relate back to, or support, your thesis.



V-2. Do NOT use "I" statements in your paper.



V-3. Always be sure to 'back-up' or support your reasons and statements.



V-4. Be as formal as possible with your language.


Plymouth essay

The founding of English colonies in modern Massachusetts combined a strange mix of idealism and violence. Miles Standish contributed important protection to the early colonies by using violence. Benjamin Church provided vital leadership to protect the colonies during King Philip's War. Despite all of this violence, the colonies were also founded on religious idealism. Significance of Thesis It is important to understand the full history of these areas because this is what Americans generally consider to be our nation's beginning.

Miles Standish contributed important protection to the early colonies by using violence. He stabbed Wituwamat because he thought he was going to harm the Pilgrims. He stabbed Pecksuot because he was Wituwamat's brother. Miles has burst into a family's house yelling wheres "Corbitant?" using guns as a threat to kill them. Miles kills everybody who is in his way.

Benjamin Church provided vital leadership to protect the colonies during King Philip's War. He is brave enough to fight any war such as having 6 men verse many others. Church is not afraid to fight for war. Makes sure his group is ready and planed. These are the reason how he is a good leader.

Despite all of this violence, the colonies were also founded on religious idealism. The Pilgrims came here because they wanted land. They did not just come here to kill Indians. They wanted religion freedom. The Pilgrims are trying to have a good home or religion.

It is important to understand the full history of these areas because this is what Americans generally consider to be our nation's beginning. Miles kills everybody who gets in his way. Benjamin Church is a good leader for his colonies. Pilgrims are trying to have a good home or religion. This paper is important for a good presentation for social studies class.

They are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in all guile and trickery. The words denoting lying, deceit, greed, envy, slander, and forgiveness have never been heard. They have no jealousy, no sense of possession.--John Smith (character)

We shall make a new start. A fresh beginning. Here the blessings of the earth are bestowed upon all. None need grow poor. Here there is good ground for all, and no cost but one's labor. We shall build a true common wealth, hard work and self reliance our virtues. We shall have no landlords to rack us with high rents or extort the fruit of our labor. --John Smith (character)

Wounded Knee illustrates

I. Intro

Wounded Knee illustrates one of the final events in a long series of violent conflicts motivated by racism, disrespect and lack of understanding.

A. On the you tube video that the class watched about the massacre of Wounded Knee, several examples of disrespect were visible.
1. A monument for Native Americans had dog poop beside it which was disrespectful.
2. Many dead people were left on the ground, demonstrating how much violence occurred.

B. As discussed in Mr. Viles essay and other sources shown in class, there were many misunderstandings between the white people and the Indians which show disrespect and violence.

II. Body

A. The battle of Wounded Knee showed the white people attacking innocent Indians.

B. The U.S army took all of the weapons from the Indians.

C. The U.S army tricked the Indians when they told them to come out of where they were hiding. They said if they came out of hiding, then the army won't hurt them, but when they got out they shot and killed them all.

D. Neither side understood each other.

E. It was too hard on the Indians.

III. Conclusion

A. The massacre at Wounded Knee shows the disrespect, racism, and misunderstandings between the Army and the Native Americans.

B. In 1890 the 7th Calvary was sent to North Dakota to round up the Suez Indian tribes.

C. Chief Big foot was sick and he raised a flag of truce, but the American soldiers were ready to fight. All of the men Indians were killed, some of the women and children were injured, only about 20 survived.

D. The indians were unarmed and had surrendered but the army didn't care so they killed them.





Wounded Knee


The massacre at Wounded Knee happened in 1890. Wounded knee was not a battle it was a massacre and slaughter. Wounded Knee illustrates one of the final events in a long series of violent conflicts motivated by racism, disrespect and lack of understanding.

At Wounded Knee in North Dakota the landscapes were not very high hills and most of the lands were flat. As discussed in Mr. Vile's essay and other sources shown in class, there were many misunderstandings between the white people and the Indians which show disrespect and violence. On the you tube video that the class watched about the massacre of Wounded Knee, several examples of disrespect were visible. A monument for Native Americans had dog poop beside it which was disrespectful. Many dead people were left on the ground, demonstrating how much violence occurred. The massacre of Wounded Knee showed the white people attacking innocent Indians. Neither side understood each other.

The massacre at Wounded Knee shows the disrespect, racism, and misunderstandings between the Army and the Native Americans. In 1890 the 7th Calvary was sent to North Dakota to round up the Suez Indian tribes. The U.S army took all of the weapons from the Indians. It was too hard on the Indians to fight. Chief Big Foot was sick and he raised a flag of truce, but the American soldiers were ready to fight.The U.S army tricked the Indians when they told them to come out of where they were hiding. They said if they came out of hiding, then the army won't hurt them, but when they got out they shot and killed them all. The Indians were unarmed and had surrendered but the army didn't care so they killed them. All of the men Indians were killed, some of the women and children were injured, only about 20 survived.

The Fighting Ground

The book The Fighting Ground is about a boy named "Jonathan" who isn’t supposed to fight in a battle Which is called the "Revolutionary War. The war began in April 19, 1775. British soldiers and American patriots fought at Lexington, Massachusetts. The Americans wanted to gain independence for the 13 colonies. In 1783 the Treaty of Paris ended the war. Great Britain was forced to recognize the independence of the 13 colonies of the United States. His father doesn’t want him to go fight in battle because his brother is in battle and they haven’t heard from him in a while. His parents think that his brother might be dead.

So instead of listening to his father he goes with all the men and they give him a gun and he goes and fights. They loaded their guns and waited for the Hessians. They saw the Hessians and they all ran but Jonathan didn’t know they ran and he was there alone and then he got captured. Jonathan has to try to escape or the Hessians will kill him. Jonathan escapes while the Hessians were sleeping and he found his way home through the woods and trails. Jonathan’s parents had thought that he died so when Jonathan got home his parents were so happy.

I liked this book because it was exciting. The boy was thirteen years old and he’s fighting in a battle and he gets captured by the Hessians and he needs to escape from them. I also thought it was scary when the boy was captured. The best part was when the boy came home to his family and they did not expect him to.

I recommend this book for other people to read because it is an exciting book. Who ever likes to read about wars and battles should read this book. It might be better if 13 or 14 years of age or older to read the book because it has a little too much graphic such as blood, guns, killing, and other stuff.