Civil War Letters

Letter 1 - JLC to Fannie, 1/1/1863

Chamberlain wrote this letter to his wife after suffering horrendous defeat at Fredericksburg, Gen. He wanted her to know how much he loves and worries about her. He was expecting to go back home, but he won't be a good condition because his works or situations are hard and not easy to stand and figure out. In addition, he disappointed by himself since he and his wife had a terrible fight and he foolishly looked for a letter from her. He wanted to apologize and comfort her with this letter, and let her know he loves her so much.   

Letter 2 - JLC to Fannie, 1/5/ 1863

Chamberlain was so exciting because thousands of armed even all hushed to peace that night he wrote this letter. He described the night is wondrous, has balmy southern air and high calm flooding moonlight that silence so vast so deep. He wanted to let his wife know that he is okay and feel peaceful.

Factors of Historical Analysis - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - A New Birth of Freedom: the Civil War

Social fact

1. "The expansion of the activities of the national government opened new jobs for women as clerks in government offices." p 537

- For many northern women in nineteenth century, took advantage of the wartime labor shortage to move into jobs in factories or nursing. They took a direct part in military campaigns or in organizations that gathered money and medical supplies for soldiers.   

2. "After a growing clamor for action by republican newspapers, members of Congress, and increasingly impatient Lincoln, did McDlellan lead his army of more than 100,000 men into Virginia." p 517

- In 1862, general Lee blunted McClellan's attacks and forced him to withdraw back to the vicinity of Washington, D.C. Successful of the defensive, Lee now launched an invasion of the North. 

3. "while the Union accomplished little in the East in the first two years of the war, events in the West followed a different course." p 518

- In February 1862, grant won the Union's first sighificant victory when he captured Fort Henry and Fort Donlson in Tennessee. At the same time, Grant withstood a surprise Confederate attack at Shiloh, Tennessee.

Cultural fact

1. "'No negro who has ever been a soldier,' wrote a northern official in 1865,'can again be imposed upon; they have learned what it is to be free and they will infuse their feelings into others." p 527

- For black soldiers themselves, military service proved to be a liverating experience. Service in army established men as community leaders and opened a door to political advancement.

2. "Even as the war produced unprecedented casualties, the northern protestant clergy strove to provide it with a religious justification and to reassure their congrations that the dead had not died in vain." p 530

- The religious press now devoted more space to military and political developments than to spiritual matters. Christianity and patriotism were joined in a civic religion that saw the war as God's mechanism for ridding the United States of slavery and enabling it to become what if had never been a land of freedom.

3. "It is sometimes said that the American Civil War was part of a broader nineteenth-century process of nation building." p 529

- The U.S. Civil War took place as modern states around the world consolidated their power and reduced local autonomy. 

Political fact

1. "The intense new nationalism made criticism of the war effort or of the policies of the Lincoln administration seem to Republicans equivalent to treason." p 531

- Republicans saw criticism of the war effort, and Lincoln consolidated executive power and twice suspended the writ of habeas corpus throughout the entire Union for those accused of "disloyal activities".

2. "Repulbicans laveled those oppesed to the war Coperheads, after a poisonous snake that strikes without warning. Mounting caualties and rapid societal changes divided the North." p 539

- Despite Lincoln's political skills, the war and his adinistration's policies divided northern society. It heightened existing social tenses and created new ones.

3. "Essentially, the Confederacy adopted a defensive strategy, with occasional thrusts into the North." p 516

- Lincoln's early generals found it impossible to bring the Union's advantages in manpower and technology to bear on the battlefield. In 1861, the North suffered from narrowness of military vision and its generals initially concentrated on occupying southern territory and attempting to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Economic fact

1. "The Civil War was the first major conflict in which the railroad transported troops and supplies and the first to see railroad junctions such as Atlanta and Petersburg become major military objectives." p 513

- Railroad were vital to the war effort. The war saw the use of the telegraph for military communication, the introductio of observation baloons to view enemy lines, and primitive hand grenades and submarines. 

2. "The economic crisis, which stood in glaring contrast to the North's boom, was an unvoidable result of the war, but Confederate policies exggerated its effects." p 541

- The South's economic, unlike the North's, was in crisis during the war. Numerous yeoman families, many of whom had gone to war to preserve their economic independence, sank into proverty and debt. 

3. "To raise money, the government increased the tariff to unpresedented heights, imposed new taxes on the production and consumption of goods, and enacted the nation's frist income tax." p 536

- The government borrowed more than $2 billion by selling interest-bearing bonds, thus creating an immense national debt. To rationalize the banking system, Congress established a system of nationally charaterd banks which were required to purchase government bonds.

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Chapter 11 -The Peculiar Institution

1.How did enslaved people create community and a culture that allowed them to survive in an oppressive society?
- They gathered around with other slaves and they had the same dream and same goal. To be free and be with their families. Their connections created community of them and they also created their own culture of living. Their living styles might be different but it was not so far different. They were almost treated the same way as other slaves. By being with people who are going through the same time as you helped them go through the oppressive society. Socializing with people that has a lot of similarity as them helped survive.

2.Compare slaves in the Old South with those elsewhere in the world, focusing on health, diet, and opportunities for freedom.
- Slaves were not fat because they do not eat as much as people do in the world. By not eating enough forces them to be skinny where other people in the world takes pills or workout to become skinny. Also, slaves were not health because the food they eat are not health at all. They are dirty and not clean. By eating that they are not as health as other people. In the world, there are a lot of health food you could eat such as gourmet cooks and fruits. Also, slaves have limited freedom. They have limited space to travel or move but other people have many opportunities to do other things. They could learn anything that they want. They could eat anything they want. They could buy anything they want so people in the world has far more freedom than slaves in the Old South.

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Chapter 11 of Voices of Freedom

1. Why does Barrow think that slaves have greater obligations to their owners than free laborers do to their employers?

- The have greater obligation because they are not just working for the owners. Their lives depends on the owners. Their freedom is depended on the owners. They might have terrible living because they were not following his rules. They might be in danger because they did not following his law. Free laborers has more rights and freedom to the owner.

2. Why does Barrow think it so import to prevent "any man" from speaking with his slaves?

- Another rich men might talk to slave from leaving the owner and work for them. Slaves are important to plantation and if one of them leaves then other slaves might follow them. He thinks they own slaves so they have to keep them private to themselves

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Chapter 10 - Democracy in America 

1. what were the major economic, humanitarian, political, and social arguments for and against Indian removal?

 The major arguments for Indian removal were to increase in cotton production because cotton farmers needed more land for their plantations. the White Americans needed the land and they thought they could make better using of the land than Indians. Most Americans felt that they were superior to the Indians because of their skin tone and ethnicity so they thought they could kick Indians out from their land. However, the opponents of Indian removal disagreed. They pointed that Indians should be taught "civilization". After the Cherokee had became a leader, they said Indians should be civilized, not removed.   

2. Explain the causes and effects of the Panic of 1837.

  The economic policies of President Jackson, created the Specie Circular by executive order and refused to renew the charter of Second Bank of the United State. Therefore, the government funds were withdrawn from the bank. Jackson was motivated by the concern that the government was selling land for state bank notes and that the bank was issuing excessive paper money. The bank demanded that American merchants pay their creditors in London in gold or silver. Then, an economic downturn in Britain dampened demand for American cotton, the country's major export. Because of these economy collapse, people lost their jobs, land, and nine states had defaulted on their debts.   

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Chapter 6 of give me liberty! page 245

1. How did revolutionary America see both improvements and 
limitations in women's roles and rights?

    Before, women did not have much choice in politics such as voting. In household, male are in charge of everything and all women did was clean and take care of the children but as american revolution happen, they have more rights, more jobs, different role. Now, they aren't just mother or wives. They are one of the biggest support in the family. American Revolution increased women's limits.

2. What was the impact of the American Revolution on Native Americans?

    First, the way Americans live is totally different from Native Americans. As American Revolution happened Native Americans started to loose their territories. They were moved further west as Americans pushed them with weapons. Native Americans were forced to live to state. It changed Native Americans life. At one point, they did get along and they celebrated (Thanksgiving) but their life style was not same as before. The tradition changed, the way they dressed changed, and how to live changed a lot.

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Chapter 6 of Voices of Freedom

1.  What practical reason does the notice give for eliminating indentured servitude?
     That caused even greater distinction between freedom and slavery, and between south and north, the north economy was relying on what was called "free labor" (that is working for wages or owning a farm or shop) and a south had even more heavy dependent on the labor of slaves.

2. Why do you think the notices singles out the sale of "White people" as contrary to liberty?
     They were still some segregation in the country. People (white) did not wanted to use the same things as African American such as using the same water fountain, bathroom, and same waiting room. That is why they put up a sign says White people. They still wanted to be separated from other colors.

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Chapter 5- The American Revolution, 1763-178A

1. why do you think the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted the first four resolutions but rejected the final three?

    I think the first four passed because it was fair for everyone but the last three was kind of too specific and not fair. For example, the seventh resolution said, That any person who shall, by speaking or writing, assert or maintain that any person or persons other than General Assembly of this Colony, have any right or power to impose or lay any taxation on the people here, shall be deemed an enemy to his Majesty's Colony.

2. what would be the difference between resting the resolutions' arguments on "British freedom" and appealing to a more universal concept of liberty?
    It seems to me that "British freedom" is more of a law than freedom. Concept of liberty has to be fair for everyone and it has to give some kind of good effect on people but some of British freedom arguments were not fair to everyone.

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Chapter 5 - The American Revolution, 1763-1783

1. How did new ideas of liberty contribute to tensions between the social classes in the American colonies?

- New ideas and issues affected the social classes, customs, gender and racial roles in the American colonies. Higher classes in many colonists wanted to keep their nobility without dismantling the social class. they didn't like a new government because they considered everyone as equals except for slavery. There was no titled nobility that dominated society from on high and no underclass that threatened it from below.  

2. Why did people in other countries believe that the american revolution was important to them or their own countries?

-  The people of the colonies were tired of being kicked around by the British and they decided to stand up. and this Ameican revolution influenced big movements around the world. most people feel that there wouldn't have French revolution, but it happened and inspired the European movements and also Russian revolution. all of these began with the ideals of liberty and a self determination fought for in the american revolution.

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Chapter 3-  Creating Anglo-America

P127  1. What impact did the family's being the center of economic life have on gender relations and the roles of women?
    As the population grew and the death rate declined, family life stabilized and more marriages became lifetime commitments. Free women were expected to devote their lives to being good wives and mothers. As the time passed, consumer revolution reduced the demands on many women by making available store-brought goods previously produced at home, women;s work seemed to increase. Now, they are not just mothers or wives, they have a job which they could provides goods to family which it wasn't possible before.

2. What experiences caused people in the colonies to be like people in England and what experiences served to make them different?
    They were access to vote, prospects of acquiring land, the right to worship as the pleased, and an escape from oppressive government. Free colonists enjoyed the highest per capita income in the world the colonies economic growth contributed to a high birthrate, long life expectancy, and expanding demand for consumer goods.

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An Apprentice's Indenture Contract (1718), pp. 55-56

1. what obligation does each party assume in this document?

      Apprentice must follow the master's rule and apprentice shall not do anything illegal or anything without his master's agreement. Apprentice has to respect his master. In return, the master has to supply food, shelter, clothes. They are making the agreement to make their relationship better.

2. how is the liberty of the apprentice limited by the indenture? 

     Apprentice can not play any games such as cards, dice or, any other unlawful game without his master's permission. Apprentice shall not allow to reveal his master's secret. Apprentice shall follow whatever master tells him or her what to do. Apprentice has to respect his master and obey his commands in any places. Apprentice is not allow to damage his master. Apprentice shall not commit fornication. Apprentice is not allow to buy or sell during this term. Apprentice shall not be absent day or night from his master's service without his permission. Apprentice shall behave during his term.

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Chapter 1- A New World

43-44 
1. Describe why the "discovery" of america was one of the "most important events recorded in the history of mankind,"according to Adam Smith.

- I think it's because people suffered a series of devastating epidemics, the greatest population catastrophe in human history. and people created an american of the imagination and projecting onto it their hopes for a better life.

Chapter 2- Beginning of English America

86-87
2. How did the tobacco economy draw the Chesapeake colonies into the greater Atlantic world?

- Tobacco was the first cash crop and people in those time loved it and they used it like a gold. As spreading of tobacco farming, produced a dispersed society with few towns and little social unity. 

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Sending Women to Virginia (1622), pp. 25-27.

1. What advantages does the Virginia Company see in the promotion of family life in the colony?

• The Virginia Company promote immigration of women and send them to the colony and forces them to arrange marry with other guy. Then, husband has to give a payment in tobacco to his wife. Also, they have to complete their terms of service before marrying so it takes a time to start a family. When the company forces immigrated women to arrange marry someone it decreases number of the women in Virginia. Company rather have single men, widows, and orphans than happy family.

2. Why does the company prefer that the women marry landowning men rather than servants?

• First, landowning men are rich. They have a large amount of land where they hire people to farm. By hiring people they make more money by selling things from the farm. Landowning men does not have to do anything but they still make a lot of money out of it. Servants are not as rich as landowners. They do not all the free time they have. When women marry landowning men they also get someone their properties and men sends a gift. In the story, they received 120 lbs of tobacco from the landowner.

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    Thomas Morton, The Native Americans of New England (1637), pp. 4 – 7

1. What does Morton admire in the life of Native American, and what does he condemn?

• "He admired their generously and the fact that they weren’t obsessed with acquiring superfluous commonities". p 4 
• "He condemned some aspect of Indians life that claim their religious beliefs amounted to devil-work ship". p 4

- First of all, I think he was surprised how they weren't rich or anything they hunt and gather to survive but when they see someone who are starving they share their meal. When they see someone who is sleeping without a cover then they would put a leather on top of them to keep them warm. In addition, he was quite impressed with their skill of building. The way how they bend wood to make an roof and put animal fur on the ground to stay warm. Secondly, He condemned because Indians live different than New England people. They don't dress fancy or stay clean. They hunt and they are not clean at all. Moreover, He thinks their religion is total joke because England people believe in different God than Native Americans.

2.  What does he write that the Indians leads a “freer life” than Europeans? 

- Europeans can't do everything they want. Sometimes, they have to get a permission from their King or Queen to do something and if you do something wrong you will get punished. They also have to follow certain rule they can't just live however they want to. Indians could do whatever they want. They might have a leader but they are not stopped by a rule. They don't have to dress fancy or nice. Their clothes doesn't have to stay clean. They have to smell nice because nobody cares how they dress. In Europe, if people were dress poorly and smelling bad then they will be judged.