notes for december 18

Presidential Reconstruction
Lincoln's Plan:
-quick reconciliation
-south wasn't secede, no need for it to be readmitted to the union.
-Lincoln's 10% plan meant that when 10% of the voters in senate in 1860 took an oath of allegiance and received presidential pardon, the state could reconstitute its government and be restored, which was the easy way.

Johnson's Plan
-Like Lincoln, he tried to go without congress support.
-he wanted quick restoration, but he still wanted to punish the southerners
-he pardoned all the southerners except the highest ranked government officials, senior military officers, and ex-confederates with more the $20,000.
-10% of white men who received pardon and took oath could vote on new state constitution.

Wade-Davis Bill
-congress got into action
-required 50% of voters to take the oath of allegiance
-stronger safeguards for emancipation than Lincoln.
-showed congress' concern that Lincoln's 10% plan could return the planter aristocracy and possibly lead to re-enslavement of blacks.

President Johnson
-recognized Lincoln's 10% government upon becoming president.
-overtime, began issuing pardons to ex-confederates, restoring property and voting rights.
-watched southerners elect hundreds of ex-confederates to state offices and congress
-states passed Black Codes to keep slaves near slavery
--they couldn't serve in juries.
--they were denied voting privileges
--they couldn't testify in court
--interracial marriage was banned
--unemployed blacks were declared "vagrants" and hired out to planters.

Land and Labor problems
-south agricultural economy in shambles
-no more black slaves
--some worked the land for wages or shares of crops
--many refused to work for former owners

free people on the move
-many signed on at farms
-others moved to town in hopes of getting jobs
-some went in search of their relatives
-and others were just wanderers

The Freedman's bureau
-crated by congress to oversee relations between former slaves and owners
-supervised free-labor wages contracts between landowners and freed people
-issued food by rations
-system of "sharecropping: evolved with a black family working a specific piece of land in return for a share of the crop farmed on it
-biggest succession in education
--trained black teachers
--taught reading and writing
--black colleges found

Congressional reconstruction
-congress really wanted to control reconstruction
-refused to admit representatives and senators elected by former confederate states under Johnson's reconstruction policy
-congress passed two laws to protect money and civil rights of freed people
--1. extend life of the freedman's bureau and extend its power
--2. define freed people as citizens with equal rights and give federal courts power to enforce rights
-Johnson rejected both
-congress overrode Johnson and passed laws

14th amendment
-specialized committee to draft 14th amendment
--designed to encourage southern states to allow blacks to vote
--defined native born/naturalized persons, including blacks as citizens
--prohibited states from denying anyone's rights.
--states could enfranchise black males or lose seats and electoral votes in congress
--disqualified large number of ex-confederates from holding federal state office.
--guaranteed national debt, repudiated confederate debts
--empowered congress to enforce 14th amendment with legislation
-President Johnson urged south states to not ratify 14th amendment
--only Tennessee ratified it.

Reconstruction act of 1867/military reconstruction act
-over Johnson's veto, congress enacted 2 laws prescribing new procedures for admitting former confederate states (minus Tennessee).
-reconstruction act of 1867
--divided 10 southern states into 5 military districts
--directed army officers to register voters
--enfranchised males 21 and older, including blacks
--disfranchised ex-confederates disqualified from holding office under 14th amendment (which wasn't ratified yet)
--required states to adopt new constitution, guaranteed equal civil and political rights regardless of race, to ratify 14th amendment.

President Johnson tried everything he could to block reconstruction.

Impeachment
-ten former confederate states write new constitutions
--granted male suffrage
--mandate state wide public schools

7 states ratify constitution and elect new legislatures that ratify 14th amendment

the remaining 3 states complete reconstruction

15th amendment
-prohibit states from denying right to vote on grounds of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
-applied to former border states as well as north and south
-didn't give women right to vote
--caused Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to oppose 15th amendment and to form American Equal rights association

Notes for Thursday December 7th

Sorry that these notes are so late. I forgot about it last Thursday and then when I remembered I couldn't find my notes but now I have them so here they are:

Civil War-

Draft issues
North/south passed draft laws in 1862(south) and 1863(north)
All white men ages 18-35 were subject to the draft
The Second law raised the age to 45 with only one exception if you have more than 20 slaves
In the north males 20-45 had to enroll
Men who were called were allowed to hire subs but they had to pay them $300 per draft call
Draft riots in the north
Bread riots in the south
This was a rich man’s war but the poor men had to fight
Wealthy were taxed
The southern planters and northern middle class were over represented in military
Homestead act granted farmers 160 acres of land after living on a piece of property for 5 years
Pacific railroad granted land and loans to rail road companies


Role of Women
Civil war brought women into the factories and farms
Women also entered into teaching and civil service
Medicine at this time was women’s greatest field


Turning battle points
Lincolns issue with the emancipation proclamation
Gettysburg- south never regained the offensive
Vicksburg- Confederacy cut in 2; north controlled most of the entire Mississippi area


African Americans
Union commanders in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Missouri organize black regiments in 1862
Emancipation proclamation legitimized this policy
1st African Americans were not in combat, they were paid less
Congress enacted equal pay for the military in 1864
45th Massachusetts infantry led the assault on Fort Wagner
Not until march 1865 did confederate congress pass a bill to formally accept African Americans into confederate army (one month before the end of the war)
Some African Americans had actually fought earlier


Prisoner of war camps
Conditions in north and south were wretched
Quick prisoner of war exchanges would alleviate this but north’s use of blacks and southern refusal to treat blacks as soldiers were not as rebelling as slaves
Made POW camps necessary
16% of union soldiers in the south died, 12% of confederate held in north and also died
Andersonville in south was the most infamous camp


I hope these notes help and once again I apologize that these are so late considering that the test was today.

*~*Stephanie*~*

VERY VERY Late Response to article

Alrighty, so this article is very fascinating! I keep learning more and more about Stafford and how important it is to history and historical events. I find it amazing that Stafford was used as a major Union Camp site during the Civil War. It's also kind of ironic that Stafford was one of the most populous cities in America. That's kind of wierd because, through living the last six years of my life here, I feel like I live in the sticks. Then again, I guess I should also note that the state of Virginia is very vital in its' roles in the history of the United States. Sorry this is so late!

Liz Ziek

Camp Article

I guess better late than never. I had no idea that Stafford was that improtant to the Civil war. But it wasn't a surpise to know that the area held some historical importance, it is Virginia. The effort of saving the camps is crucial to presevering the war in our life time and not just the class. The war helped shape the US to the counry it is today, why destroy the camps or let it be bull dosed. The Board working together with CT Parkwas highly praised in the article. The camps would be benefical to Stafford county as a tourist destination and the ideal field trip. It seems like the people involved are really dedicated to the camps and its refreshing to know that American history is still as important as pop culture.

Notes December 7, 2006

Sorry for the late post, but I was having some troubles.
Draft Laws
North and South needed man power for the war
Both go to a draft

South
All white men 18-35 are subject to draft
Eventually raises the draft age to 45
Also say that one white male with over 20 slaves is allowed to stay home

North
All males 20-45
Could hire a substitute for $300 per draft call

Reactions included riots in NYC and bread riots in the South

Laws
Homestead Act
Someone that wanted farm land moved west and was given
160 acres to build on it and in 5 years was allowed to own it

Morril Land Grant
Given thousands of acres if you helped establish colleges

Pacific Railroad Act
Land and loans given to railroad companies to build a railroad from Omiha to Sacromento

Role for Women in the Civil War
Bring woman to factory and farm workforce
Enter teaching profession
Medicine, formed associations to make supplies for the men in the Civil War

The Turning Points in the Civil War
Antidum-let Lincoln issue Emancipation Proclamation
Gettysburg- South never regains offense
Vicksburg-confederacy cut in two, North controls the Mississippi River

Afican Americans
With the Union
1862-We begin to organize black regiment
Payed less and under white officers
Equal Pay Act
1863-Blacks were now payed the same as any other soldier in the Union

Post for Friday Dec. 8
Notes
Review of DBQs
Documents can be a variety of things
1. pictures
2. newspaper articles
3. government documents
4. speeches
5. letters
Standard 10 documents
Recognize time frame
to what extent
Topics and catagories
Scoring
2-4
major errors
not much outside information
briefly stating or quoting documents
limited, undeveloped thesis
little outside information
5-7
supports thesis with some outside information
effectively used 3-4 of the documents
thesis mentions aspects of question
limited analysis of documents
deal with 2-3 effects
8-9
minor errors
well developed thesis
some imbalance of topics allowed
effectivley used 5-7 documents
sustantial outside information

5th period- Personalities and Corrections

Today we went an assignment on choosing historical character personalities which range from Henry Clay to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Students will prepare historically
relevant questions examining the causes of the Civil War for their character to
ask of at least five other personalities and be prepared to answer questions of them/their character. The lesson will begin with one character asking a question of another and continue until the teacher closes the lesson.

dfdfdfdfdfdfdfdfdfdfdfd

Mr. G also had remarks over the Indian Removal Act in relation to the Trail of tears, and Both the Panics of 1819 and 1837. Just so you know...

The Trail of Tears was when a minority of the Cherokee tribe, despite the protest of the majority, had surrendered their Georgia land in the 1835 Treaty of New Echota. During the winter of 1838 - 1839, troops under General Winfield Scott evicted them from their homes in Georgia and moved them to Oklahoma Indian country. Many died on the trail; the journey became known as the "Trail of Tears".

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the transport of the southern tribes, Cherokee, Creek, Chocktaw, Chicksaw, and Seminole (many of whom adopted white customs), to the Oklahoma Indian country. The Indian removal opened up land for Southern planting.

The Panic of 1819 was a natural post-war depression caused by overproduction and the reduced demand for goods after the war. However, it was generally blamed on the National Bank.

The Panic of 1837 happened when Jackson was president. During his presidency, many state banks received government money that had been withdrawn from the Bank of the U.S. These banks issued paper money and financed wild speculation, especially in federal lands. Jackson issued the Specie Circular to force the payment for federal lands with gold or silver. Many state banks collapsed as a result. A panic ensued (1837). Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and distress.

DSDSDSSFSFSEE

About those camps...

I went ahead and did this anyway even if you end up omitting it G. Now about the camps. Stafford continues to impress me as being a sleepy little county rich in historical significance. I knew there had been some Civil War activity associated with the immediate area (Battle of Fredericksburg and Bull Run) but i was unaware of Stafford's significance to this important time in American history, especially regarding the Union campsites. When I think about, however, this interesting little factoid should come as no surprise, being that Virginia, and especially this area, was host to a substantial number of the important battles of the war. And given Stafford's relative location to the both opposing capitals, it is then no surprise that this are would be considered a strategic staging ground for the troops during the winter. I also found it a bit funny that Stafford's "population" soared due to the influx of military personel at the campsites. Perhaps this was an early indication that the growing population of today's Stafford would largely be the result of military personel moving into the area.

12/5/06 Notes Period 6

Today in class we watched a movie that spanned from the early 1800s to right before the Civil War. Here are a few key points:

North was for the most part industrialized. In the early 1800s, the North had multiple internal improvements, transportation investments, and was involved in trade. Steam engine boats and railroads proved to be major sources of transportation.

The South was predominately agriculturally based. Relied on the cash crops tobacco, rice, and cotton. Slavery contributed greatly to the revenue of the South. Slavery was expected to decline until the release of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin. South becomes major exporter of cotton worldwide.

The slaves maintained their own connection with one another thru music, dance, Christianity, family, and other private affairs. Running away, burning of houses/barns, breaking of tools, and revolts were a few of the ways slaves went against slavery. A famous rebellion was that of Nat Turners. Slaves made up 1/3 of the south's population. Since slaves made up a mass majority, laws were passed to prevent slaves to learn to read and write, thus trying to stint communication.

The abolitionist movement was also featured in the film and discussed the Liberator (abolitionist paper), famous people in the movement such as Sojourner Truth, Box Brown, the Grimke Sisters, and of course Frederick Douglas.

Lastly, the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and the political contest between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were depicted. So pretty much, from the 1800s to the attack on Fort Sumter was covered in the video.

12/5/06 Notes Period Five

Today in class we viewed a video called "Causes of the Civil War". It was largely a review of the material we've covered leading up to the Civil War. Events of note

• The North and South split was due to differences in slavery, the North was pro and the South against.
  
• The Northerners wanted slavery to expire on its own, but the introduction of Eli Whitney's cotton gin caused its resurgence.
• Abolitionists led the fight against slavery. William Lloyd Garrison protested its practice publicly, and Frederick Douglas as an ex slave wrote a widespread memoir.
  
• Nat Turner's Rebellion killed 61 whites, and was the start of paranoia of Southerners fearing a slave attack.
  
• Free blacks and other abolitionists helped to organize the Underground Railroad to help slaves escape the South. Harriet Tubman was one of its main "conductors".
  
• The Missouri Compromise, penned by Henry Clay, stopped the expansion of slavery Northward.
  
• "Bleeding Kansas" brought North and South opposition face to face, as both of them fought to insure that Kansas was a slave/non slave holding state, depending on their position.
  
• The Supreme Court ruling in the Dred Scott Case further divided North and South, as it made slaves "property" and opposed their freedom.
  
• When Lincoln makes the Oval Office, eight states secede, and by Spring 1861, the Confederate States of America had been formed.
  
• The CSA attack on Fort Sumter then was the match that lit the powder keg to start the Civil War.
  

We also received an Essay Data Key Sheet due on Friday 12/8/06.

Camps

Sorry this is so late i just realized today that we had this assignment when I glanced at the grading sheet and noticed that I had completely overlooked something! I found the article interesting especially the part how Stafford was at one time the "biggest' city in America due to the high concentrations of Union troops. This makes complete sense when you think about how many large battles and skirmishes that took place near our town and how it was the midpoint between the two opposing sides' capital's. And no one wants to fight or march in the freezing winter thus they needed somewhere to sit out the cold.

Aricle Response

After reading this article I feel better about Stafford, realizing that it played an important role in the civil war. It is important for people to learn about the soldier's lives here to see the sheer magnitude of the camps. To think that 120,000 soldiers camped in Stafford is incredible even more so that it is larger than the population even today. I'm happy to hear that the board of supervisors is working with developers to preserve the land. We shouldn't forget about the past and let the future steam roll it into a suburb. Hopefully people will come to realize that Stafford isn't so insignificant and boring, or at least it hasn't always been.

12/4 Period 6 Blog

Thanks to Casey for bringing the cookies!

After Fort Sumter

-Lincoln called on the states for 75,000 militia.
-Free states filled their quotas.
-8 slave states rejected Lincoln's call.
-Virginia, Arkansas, Tennesse, and North Carolina soon seceded.

-The Border States
-Delaware remained firmly in the Union
-Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri remained deeply divided.
-Maryland was occupied by federal troops to prevent Washington DC from being surrounded
enemy territory.
-Missouri was treated in the same fashion.

-West Virginia
-West Virginia voted on whether or not to secede most of the delegates from west of the
Shenandoah valley who had voted against secession.
-When Virginia seceded, west of the Shenandoah created the new state of West Virginia in
1863.

Balance Sheet at the start of the War.
-North has twice as many people as the South.
-North also has a stronger industrial economy.
-Southern military leaders were better.
-More proficient in hunting, riding, and outdoor skills.
-To win, the North would have to invade, conquer, and occupy most of the South, destroying
its army.
-The South just needed to stay on the defensive
-The South was fighting on familiar territory and defending its homes.

Financing the War.
-Three choices; taxes, borrow through bonds, or print paper money.
-In the South, people opposed taxes.
-They didn't hace enough capital outside land and slaves to make war bonds a success.
-South chose to make paper money.
-Paper money lost its value and caused runway inflation.
-60% of Condfederate War funding was from printed paper money, less than 40% by war
and 5% from taxes.
-North raised 66% by war bonds, 21% from taxes, and 13% by paper money.

King Cotton Diplomacy
-Lincoln proclaimed a blockade of Southern ports.
-Cotton was vital to British.
-Britain got 3/4 of their raw cotton from the South.
-South assumed if supply was cut off, England would suffer, so they would offer help.
-South held th 1861 crop off the maket to demonstrate to the British that they were needed.
-The strategy failed.
-Britain had a large stockpile of cotton.
-They found other supplieres such as Egypt.
-Southern embargo made it seem as if the Northern naval blockade was effective.
-The South lost potential allies and England held off helping them.

Emancipation
-Lincoln was elected because had a platform against slavery.
-He relied on a fragile coalition of Republicans, Democrats, and Border State Unionists.
-All parties from the Union let it be known that they would fight for the union, but not
slavery.

Others from the North insisted on a war against Slavery.
-Ending it would hurt Southern economy.
-Many slaves fled and escaped to the Union.
-Escaped slaves became known as contaband.
-In Augest,1861, Congess passed a Confiscation Act.
-All property, including slaves being used for Confederate army could be siezed.
-In March, 1862, Congress forbade the return of slaves who had escaped to the Union.

Border States
-They refused Congress' and Lincoln's offer of compensation to states that had abolished
slavery.
-Lincoln was frustrated but knew he had to be careful so he wouldn't drive them away.

Several Factors created and Emancipation Proclimation
-Recalcitance of Border States.
-The House of Reps. wanted to see border actions.
-Congess passed the 2nd Confiscation Act.
-Army was itching to take off the kid gloves.
-Lincoln harbored a strong dislike for slavery.

North has Three Possible Courses of Action
-Peace Negotiations would force the North to concede and slavery to continue.
-Keep on fighting, hoping the South would concede, but keeping slavery.
-Total war, with no slavery if they were to win.

After deciding that Border States Were a Lost Cause:
-Military intervention was essential.
-The cabinent agreed.
-Lincoln decided not to announce the emancipation until a Union miliatry victory occured.

Emancipation ProclimationCan be Put into Action
-On September 4, 1862, General Lee and his army crossed the Potomac into Maryland to
diplomatic recognition with England and France and to hurt the North.
-September 13, a copy of Lee's battle plans fall into the hands if General McClellan
-He was so cautious that he lost the tremendous advantage he had of knowing the plans.
-Ended up ensuring that the battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in US history.
-North had the upper hand, but did not inflict harsh defeat.
-North didn't follow up vigorously when Confederacy retreated.
-Three favorable North results.
-British Fance with hold diplomatic recognition of Confederacy.
-North democrat fall to get House of Reps.
-Lincoln issues the emancipation proclimation.

The Proclimation was issued in September, but didn't go into until January 1, 1863, giving a chance for the South to the Return.

It Declares:
1. Forever free will be the states still in rebellion.
2. No slaves in loyal border states.
-It wasn't as effective in VA or LA.

-Now the Civil War was also about slavery.

Notes From My Birthday!

Ok, so here's what we did today...You guessed it, NOTES!

After Fort Sumter: Lincoln called for a 75,000 men militia. -the free states filled their quotas. -yet the 8 slave states rejected the call. -VA, AR, TN, and NC secede.

Border States: DE remained firmly in the Union. -MD, KT, and MD were deeply divided. -MD was occupied by Federal Troops to prevent Washington, D.C. from being surrounded by enemy territory, MO had a similar case.

West Virginia: When VA voted on the decision to secede, delegates vote against secession. -When VA secedes, the area west of Shenandoah created WV. -It entered into the union in 1863.

Balance Sheet at the Start of the War: North had two times as many people. -North's industrial company is stronger than the south. -South's military leaders were more experienced.n -Southerners were more proficient in hunting, riding, and outdoor skills. -to win, the north would need to invade, conquer, and occupy the south. -To win, the south would have to take the defensive and hold out until the north gave up.

Financing the War: Three choices were to tax, borrow through war bonds, print paper money. -in South, people oppose tax, war bonds aren't a success because of land and slave expenses. -The south printed paper money. -paper money soon lost value and caused runaway inflation. -60% of Confederate funding for the War was from paper money, less than 40% war bonds, less than 5% were from taxes. -North raises 66% of revenue by selling war bonds, 21% from taxes and 13% from treasury notes.

King Cotton Diplomacy: Lincoln proclaimed blockade of southern imports. -Cotton was vital to the British economy. -Britain got 75% of raw cotton from the U.S. -Southerners thought that if they cut off the supply of cotton to Britain, that their economy would fail and come back as the south's aid in the war because of their need for cotton. -Little does the south know that Britain had stockpile cotton.

Emancipation: Lincoln opposes the spread of slavery to new territories. -Democrats and Border States fight for the Union, but not for slavery. -Other northerners insisted on a war against slavery. -some thought that ending slavery should cripple the southern economy. -slaves fled their owners. -escaped slaves were known as "Contaband." -In agust 1861, The Confiscation Acr is approved by Congress. -States that Slaves used for the militia by the Confederacy would be seized. -Later it was corrected to say that there would be no seizing slaves if they were in the Union.

Border States Problems: Refused Lincoln offer of compensation to states that voluntarily abolished slavery. -Lincoln didn't want them out of the Union.

Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation: Republican party calls for Border Action. -Congress calls for the 2nd Confiscation Act. -Rising settlements in the army. -Lincoln's personal dislike of slavery. -The north thought the war would be short.

After Border States Don't come around, Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation: Declared it is a "military necessity." -it is essential for the preservation of the Union. Lincoln's cabinet agrees.

-On September 4, 1862, General Robert E. Lee drives Army into Maryland, designed to hurt the North
-On September 13, 1862, a copy of Lee's battle plans fell into the Hands of Union General McClellan. McClellan is too cautious and invokes the Battle of Antiedam, which goes down as the bloodiest day in American history. It was a Union victory, but it could have been a bigger victory. Lee soon retreats. -Britain and France withheld Diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy. -Northern Democrats fail to gain control of the House of Representatives. -Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. -This didn't go into effect until January 1st, 1863. -This time frame gave southern states who seceded a chance to join the Union again. Yet none did.

The Emancipation Proclamation: -Declared "Forever Free." -The slaves with those Confederate states still in rebellion. -The E.P. did not declare all slaves free. War Known as a war against slavery as well for the Union.

That's all I have! Have a good night!
Liz Ziek

Friday's Notes 5th Period

We discussed the quiz. Then we took these notes:

The secession crisis
-by 1860 the Democratic party was one of the few left
-Methodist & Baptist churches split into North and South halves over slavery
-the Whig party had broken down because of sectional differences.
-In 1860, Democrats split North and South over slavery, it was clear that the Republican party would win
-Pro-slavery south saw no way to head off the election of a President and Congress opposed to the spread of slavery
-South->there were no guarantees that a Republican Government wouldn't move to eventually end slavery completely
-Some southern moderates were driven to consider succession
-Lincoln won the election of 1860, 7 southern states seceded
-South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas
-said that states' had not given away their fundamental sovereignty in ratifying the constitution
-any state could withdraw from its "compact" with the other states and reassert its sovereignty
-northerners thought secession was un-constitutional
-President Buchanan says he disagrees with the South position but does nothing about it and exerts little or no leadership toward resolving the situation
Compromise proposals
-In December 1860, before Lincoln had taken office the Crittenden Compromise was proposed with constitutional amendments
*to guarantee slavery in states forever and no federal interference
*prohibit Congress from abolishing slavery in DC or any federal property
*deny Congress the power interfere with interstate slave trade
*compensate slave holders who were prevented from recovering fugitive slaves
*to protect slavery so the 30' 60' line in all territories
-Lincoln could not endorse the Crittenden proposals since he had won the election on a platform to stop the spread of slavery to new territory
-with republicans voting against it, the compromise failed
"Peace Convention" in Washington Feb, 1861.
-VA proposed it
-8 slave states not seceded sent representatives
-7 seceded states did not send representatives
-no workable solution found
-7 seceded states est. the Confederate States of America with a constitution that guaranteed and protected slavery
-Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, was an issue
-South Carolina wanted withdrawal
-Buchanan refused and left it up to Lincoln-Sumter was out of provokes and had to be re-supplied or evacuated
-Lincoln sends unarmed supply ships and advanced warning
-Jefferson Davis (confederate) attacks Sumter before supply ships get there
-Confederacy fired first shots of the Civil War in a bombardment of Fort Sumter which caused the surrender of the Fort
-By 1860 it is unlikely that secession could have been avoided but both sides thought they were constitutionally and theoretically correct and no one expected a long bloody Civil War

Article Response

How is it that Stafford, a place few of us can wait to leave, has so much history? I simply don't understand... between the article about Pocahontas being in Stafford County earlier this year and this article about the Civil War troops, we as people who live here never knew any of this, for the most part. I have read the historic sign out front of the Stafford Courthouse, and I know it talks a lot about the Civil War. The statue outsode the courthouse is in honor of the Virginians who died, I believe. It's definitely important to cherish and preserve these kinds of places and memories of the town everyone here thinks of as the-middle-of-nowhere, USA. History can be fascinating when you stop to think, but it's something all of us take for granted.

Notes for Friday, December 1st

On Friday, fourth period, we spent a good portion of class going over answers to Thursday's quiz, so that was cool and stuff, but after we were done, we got into some really interesting things about the start of the Civil War with the secession of the southern states, who formed the Confederate States of America, and about the battle at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. (Was that really only one sentence?) Anyway, thats what we did... no real news to report... the world is still in tact and all is well. See everyone on Monday.