Civil War Assignment for Social Studies

^Civil War Battle Map^

(Sorry, the battles are hard to see! You might have to click the picture to see it.)

One Major Battle:

The Battle at Antietam Creek:

a. McClellan's troops attack Lee's larger army on September 17th, 1862, at Antietam Creek, Maryland.

b. There were an estimated 12,000 casualties from the Union alone. Lee's army suffered an even more stunning 14,000--almost a third of his army.

c. Neither side had a clear win, but Lee ordered a retreat so the North claimed the victory.

d. This battle was very important because it was the bloodiest battle the war suffered. September 17th was the bloodiest day of the war. It proved to U.S. citizens just how serious the war was.

The End of the Civil War:

The Civil War ended with the final surrender of the Confederate army on April 18, 1865. On April 2, 1865, Grant's troops at Petersburg, Virginia, broke through Confederate lines. Richmond was in Union hands. Lee's army retreated. A week later on April 9, 1865, President Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee signed surrender terms in Virginia. Lee had surrendered the Confederate army.

"Trail of Tears Journal Entry"-- Social Studies 1st Hour

This is some random journal entry that we had to do fo social studies and pretend to be some Native American on the Trail of Tears. Don't laugh at the names... I have no idea what any other Native American names are! Ha-ha (:


December 21st, 1832

Today is the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year. I think it is also the coldest day of the year. I think it is also the coldest day we have had so far on this long journey. I try to keep my spirits up in front of my sisters to keep them happy without our parents. My best friend, Shy Beaver, is ill with a fever. I’m hoping we don’t have to leave her behind. I want to comfort her, but it is too dangerous to get near, for I cannot risk getting sick. Shy Beaver is becoming very weak, so the Medicine Man is trying to heal her as soon as possible. My shawl that I have been using to keep warm is tearing to shreds. The wind and weather has worn it to rags. My fingers are turning purple, and my bare feet are raw from walking on the ice and snow. I sacrificed my shoes to my little sister, Little Rainbow, who obviously needed them more than me. Now the group has stopped to rest. My sisters and I are huddled under a tree with our bedraggled shawls around us. I can see Shy Beaver a few lengths away receiving her treatment. I worry for her. I ask the gods for her healing every day. I know the rest of my Choctaw people are, too. We will get up soon and continue walking to out unknown destination. Nobody really knows where we are going, and we don’t know when we’ll get there. All my Choctaw people have is faith in the gods to guide us.

Until next time,
Happy Rabbit

Social Studies Review: Chapter 9- The Era of Thomas Jefferson

Section One: Jefferson Takes Office
-Thomas Jefferson, a Republican is inaugurated March 4, 1801. He believed in laissez faire, meaning government should not interfere with the economy.
-Jefferson wanted to reduce federal government's power, so first, he fired government workers. Then he shrunk the military, eliminated the U.S.'s taxes (except import taxes), and realeased those imprisoned under the Sedition Act.
-Federalist judge William Marbury sued Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state, James Madison, for ceasing his appointment, citing the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court ruled that the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional and they could not help Marbury gain his commission.

Section Two: The Louisiana Purchase
-In 1795, the United States negotiated Pickney Treaty with Spain to guarentee U.S.'s rights to ship goods to New Orleans down the Mississippi. Until 1801, when Spain secretly gave France New Orleans and the rest of the Louisiana Territory, U.S. shipped down the Mississippi peacefully.
-When Spain withdrew America's right to ship thorugh New Orleans, Jefferson sent Monroe to make a deal with France to buy New Orleans. Realizing France needed money to support the war with Britain effort, Napoleon Bonaparte sold not only New Orleans, but the whole Louisiana Territory for $15 million, or about 4 cents an acre.
-In January 1803, Jefferson convinced Congress to spend $2,5oo for a group to explore West before more settlers went over there. Jefferson chose an army captain, Meriwether Lewis, and his friend, William Clark, to explore and lead the expedition of 40 men and come back with a detailed report.

Section Three: A Time of Conflict
- Pirates from the Barbary States raided ships taking goods from America to Europe, taking property and enslaving sailors. To stop this, Jefferson sent warships to the Mediterranean to protect the ships, many of which were still captured until American troops marched and captured Tripoli.
-When Britain and France continue fighting, American ships were seized by both countries, challenging America's neutrality. Jefferson finally passed an embargo in 1807 to stop trading with any foreign countries, but America lost a lot of money.
- After 1805, Tecomseh and his brother urged Native American resistance of western settlement. At the Battle of Tippecanoe, William Henry Harrison and his soldiers defeated the Native Americans, who continued to struggle.

Section Four: The War of 1812
- In the beginning of the war, America lost many battles with the mere 7,000 men and 16 warships. The British had blockaded many of the U.S. ports, so we could not ship goods out, or receive them!
- The British captured 2,000 soldiers under William Hull, but they were defeated by the U.S. at Put-In-Bay with Oliver Hazard Perry. The Creek warriors were also defeated in the south by Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
- After the British attacked Washington D.C. and Baltimore, they had become tired of war, so on Christmas Eve 1814, America and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Ghent, Belgium. The treaty returned foreign relations back to "normal".

Louisiana Purchase Newscast

Here's a news report we made for Social Studies class. Enjoy! :)

SAVE THE MONKEYS!

Hey y'all! So according to the news, half of the world's primate species are endangered. The species are threatened by rain forest deforestation, which is destroying the cute creatures' homes. Approximatly 48% of primate species are endangered. Many species only have less than 100 animals! Primates are humans' closest relatives to mankind. So support organizations saving the rain forests and monkeys! SAVE THE MONKEYS! :D