Uncle Toms Cabin

Hello my name is Tom, and I am a former slave living in Greenville, South Carolina. I was brought over here by the white people. I'm a son of slaves and for many years now I have seen what the white people have done to us time after time. My life on this plantation has been awful as far back as I can remember. I used to work for a wealthy plantation owner but then I was bought by master Simon Legree. In my life I had been whipped several times but this master would whip me for no reason, no reason at all. I would wait all day for the sun to fall back and the sky so me and my friends could have us a good old time, singing and dancing to those african drums. That was the only freedom that I would ever see when it came to living life on the plantation. Everyday was hard and there wasn't no breaks. From dawn till dusk we worked those fields of cotton and only dreamed about escaping to another land far from here. One day my dream became a reality when I realized that my friend Eliza had escaped to freedom up north. I say it was my dream because I knew that I would never see or smell freedom, so I lived my life through those young people who still had a chance. I thought it would be a hard journey for her, and from what I heard it was. With the Fugitive Slave Act being put into place I would think she wouldn't make it but old Lize did and I have to admit that I'm proud.

I think that slaves during this period we're realizing more and more the power that they had. Not only we're they starting to speak freely but the thought of escaping and putting it into practice was becoming no longer a dream but an reality. Uncle Tom's Cabin was an inspiration to slaves and it showed northern white people just what they we're up against. These southern slave owners could care less about the feelings of their slaves. As long as they got the work done without any mouth they we're ok. When Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this book I do believe that she went through great controversy about it. In the end I believe that she was happy at what she had done. She had gave America a different perspective on the way that they saw blacks during this time and for some that was all that was needed. Through this piece of work Stowe gave the blacks credit that had never been given before and to me that's what makes this book so great. The fact that someone was willing to stand for what was right and not for what everyone else was doing.

Lincolns Assassination

I was two houses down when Lincoln was taken from Ford theatre to a nearby house. I wasn't really sure what was going on until I saw them coming across the street with Lincoln. I was sure what to do. I didn't even knew what had happened. It turned out that Lincoln was shot by a man named John Wilkes Booth. I was devastated when I heard what had happened. I didn't even know what to think. Sadly the President did not survive. The country surely will have to pull itself together to fix this tragedy. This is a sad day in America. I don't know what to do hopefully the new president will make the right decisions.

Poor Lincoln

Hello Fellows. I wish this latest entry could be cheerful, but I struggle now to hold back the tears that are stinging my eyes. Yesterday on April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. I guess it is my duty to tell the tale, though I know not if I will be able to finish it. I was in Ford's Theatre watching the play Our American Cousin. I sat close to the stage and President Lincoln with his wife was behind me. in the theatre's balcony. All the sudden I heard the sound of a gunshot, I will never forget it, and I looked behind me to see Mr. Lincoln slumped forward in his chair. A man that I later learned was named Mr. Booth jumped from the stage but his foot was caught in the Treasury flag and he fell right behind me. He jumped up and yelled something about avenging the south and ran out. I am now on a horse in a group with some union soldiers searching for Mr. Booth, and I promise, we will find him.

All this thought of death and politics has caused me to think of a question. I am now pondering this question over with a Union solider. I wonder if the use of force can preserve a nation. My union solider friend, being involved with the army, naturally said yes. He says if you can point a gun at someone they will do what you want. But that is where I disagree. I believe that you cannot force someone to do something that they truly do not want to do. For this reason I believe that free will and opportunity are what can preserve a nation not force. The members in our nation must be able to make their own decisions if this nation is going to be preserved.

The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln. It was to honor the men that had died for our country. This even proves that military does affect the nation and preserves it.
In the speech Abraham uses a statement, " these dead shall not die in vain", this statement is explaining that the men that fought for us should be honored, and not forgotten. The Gettysburg address was an important and significant event in our history. In the was 9,000 men from the South and 5,000 from the North died. This amount of people was a great decrease in our nation at the time, it not only was a loss of husbands, fathers, and men; but a loss of fighters and population. This speech not only showed people how important these men were, but also what a great loss it was to our nation; it helped them see how we should take care of our nation and preserve it.

Without Lincoln delivering the speech, I don't believe it would of had the effect on our nation as it did. Lincoln was a great leader and friend. People respected him and his words. From his first speech to his last Lincoln and The Gettysburg Address will never be forgotten. It had a great impact on our nation, and to answer the question, yes. I think that this event along with the military does help preserve our nation. These events are what make us who we are today. We have not only become stronger, but more aware of what may come. We've had many great leaders, and that's what you need to have a strong nation.

Carpetbaggers.
Now I must admit that when I first stumbled upon the term carpetbagger I was greatly mistaken in my understanding of its definition.
I had just finished a gunslingin raid when I heard tell of carpetbaggers commin to the south!
I immediately set out for to see this sight for my own eyes - after all it had been a while since I'd seen anyone successfully put an entire carpet into a bag.
Upon my arrival I was mildy dissapointed

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

The 13th amendment was created after the Emancipation Proclamation was passed stating the slaves being free. This amendment let the slaves be free but the problem was that once the are freed what will the south do. Who will work the land? The rich was no longer rich, the poor was still poor. The slaves had no where go. Then there is the 14th amendment giving the African American the right to be a citizen in the U.S. Now that they are citizens where do they go. All they know how to do is farm.

The African Americans now has the right to vote also thanks to the 15th amendment. This voting right is not as easy as it seems because they must know how to read and they cant because the were refused the right to learn as a slave so really have any education. This amendment really is defeating the purpose because the white people at time intimidated the blacks and it made the not want to vote. These rights really don't help at all.

The Gettysburgh Adress ( forever remembered)

Can the use of force (military and political) preserve a nation, actually yes it can in more ways then one. For example, the Gettysburgh Adress which is a speech that was given by Abraham Lincoln to dedicate the burial of men whomhave given their life to our nation. The speech itself is full of emotion and honesty the speech truly shows the wide range of respect of all men whom have given their life to our nation. " these dead shall not die in vain" is a memorable quote from the speech, it is pretty much saying that it means alot that the men died for such a cause. The Gettysburgh Adress occured around the year 1863 and is still in effect in our history.

Its not common to hear that in a war 9,000 men from the south and 5,000 men from the south have died. The Gettysburgh Adress, a political force can most definatly preserve a nation because its presenting an issue, arising a solution, and leting others know. As to wether others agree or not its still molding, shaping, and preserving the nation all on its own. Thanks to a simple speech delivered by someone so valuable our very own Abraham Lincoln we now proudly respect and care so deeply for the men who die living the lives of a soldier. Live on soldier, may your souls rest in peace, you will be forever remembered and honored.


Aubrey Jackson
Period 4th