 Killing the Messenger
November 7, 1837 -
Elijah Parish Lovejoy Was Killed By a Pro-slavery Mob
On November 7, 1837, Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a
pro-slavery mob while defending the site of his anti-slavery
newspaper, The Saint Louis Observer. His death deeply
affected many Northerners and greatly strengthened the
abolitionist (anti-slavery) cause. Who was Lovejoy and why
did his death cause such a strong reaction around the
country?
Lovejoy, born in 1802, in Albion, Maine, sought his fortune
in the Midwest after his college graduation. Over time, he
became editor and part-owner of The St. Louis Times.
In 1832, caught up in the powerful religious revival
movement sweeping the U.S., Lovejoy sold his business and
went back East to study religion. There, a group of St.
Louis businessmen recruited Lovejoy to return to St. Louis
as editor of a new paper, The Saint Louis Observer, designed
to promote religious and moral education. Supported by
abolitionist friends such as Edward Beecher (the brother of
Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin), he
wrote anti-slavery editorials. Over time, Lovejoy's writing
against slavery and in support of abolition became more
strongly worded.
By 1837, Lovejoy called for immediate universal emancipation
(complete freedom from slavery). While national circulation
of the paper increased, locals who supported slavery became
angry. Mob violence increased over the slavery issue,
several times destroying Lovejoy's presses. As a husband and
father, Lovejoy feared for his family's safety, so they
moved to Alton, in the free state of Illinois, hoping to
cool the fires. When a new press arrived in November 1837,
violence escalated.
No sooner was the press off-loaded from the steamboat than a
drunken mob formed and tried to set fire to the warehouse
where it was stored. When Lovejoy ran out to push them away,
someone shot him. Throughout the North and West, more people
joined anti-slavery societies following Lovejoy's death.
Officials in Illinois said almost nothing about the
incident, with the exception of a young state representative
named Abraham Lincoln, who spoke out against the crime. |
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You May Fire When Ready, Gridley
December 26, 1837 -
Commodore George Dewey Was Born
Do you have a hero? Many Americans around 1900 called the
naval commander of the Spanish-American War, Commodore
George Dewey, a hero. Born on December 26, 1837, the brave
sea captain inspired great admiration when he went to battle
with the Spanish fleet in the Pacific. Departing for the
Philippines on April 25, 1898, the day the U.S. declared war
on Spain, he was well prepared for the fight. Just before 6
a.m., on the morning of May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey
commenced the Battle of Manila Bay, uttering the famous
command: "You may fire when ready, Gridley."
Within six hours, Dewey's squadron of six ships, including
the flagship U.S.S. Olympia with Captain Gridley at the
helm, had sunk every ship in the Spanish fleet. There were
few casualties and no loss of lives on the American side. On
August 13, 1898, U.S. troops occupied Manila, bringing the
United States closer to an ultimate victory in the
Spanish-American War. Dewey brought the U.S. recognition as
a major naval power. The acquisition of the Philippines gave
the United States a strong presence in the Pacific.
Commodore Dewey became a national hero.
With parades on water and land, Dewey fans celebrated with
wild enthusiasm when he made his triumphant homecoming in
1899. How do you describe your hero? In one flowery tribute
at a reception put on for Admiral and Mrs. Dewey, an admirer
declared, "From out of the din and smoke of battle there
arose a colossal figure, calm and majestic, cool and
self-reliant . . . a naval hero, the splendor and brilliancy
of whose achievement have written on the eternal tablet of
fame." The speaker, Josiah T. Settle, also described the New
York homecoming as an "unlimited display of loyal affection
. . . greater than was ever shown before to any other man."
Do you feel this way about your hero? |
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Live Free or Die!
March 9, 1841 -
Amistad Mutiny Survivors Freed
Would you rather die than lose your freedom? More than 150
years ago, a group of people from the West African country
of Sierra Leone answered yes to that question. After being
abducted from their home country by Portuguese slave traders
and placed on the schooner Amistad, 53 of the Africans
followed the lead of Joseph Cinqué in a revolt against the
ship's crew. Cinqué was a member of the Mende tribe. He
lived in the Mende territory of Sierra Leone on the West
Coast of Africa. He was the son of a chief.
On March 9, 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court freed the 35
Africans who survived the mutiny and cleared the way for
their return home.
Under Cinqué's leadership, the mutineers spared the life of
the Amistad navigator, ordering him to sail the ship back to
Africa. Instead, the navigator guided the schooner
northward, where it was discovered drifting off the coast of
Long Island and was then dragged into New London,
Connecticut, by the U.S. Navy.
President Martin Van Buren, who wanted to gain the political
support of pro-slavery voters, wanted Cinqué and his
followers to stand trial for mutiny, but a judge disagreed
and ordered the government to escort the Africans back to
their home country.
The fight between Cinqué mutineers and President Van Buren
didn't end there. In an appeal before the U.S. Supreme
Court, former President John Quincy Adams argued that the
Africans on the Amistad were illegally enslaved and "were
entitled to all the kindness and good offices due from a
humane and Christian nation."
The court agreed, and Adams's victory in the Amistad case
was a significant success for the movement to abolish
slavery. Have you seen or heard about the movie "Amistad"
that was made about this case? |
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Dot, Dot, Dash, Dot, Dash
May 24, 1844 -
Samuel F.B. Morse Sent the First Telegraphic Message
What was the first telegraph message? Sent by inventor
Samuel F.B. Morse on May 24, 1844, over an experimental line
from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, the message said: "What
hath God wrought?" Taken from the Bible, Numbers 23:23, and
recorded on a paper tape, the phrase had been suggested to
Morse by Annie Ellsworth, the young daughter of a friend.
The success of the experiment would change forever the
national communication system. But Morse wasn't just
interested in the telegraph.
Morse was also well respected for his paintings of people,
like the self-portrait on the previous screen and this one
of Mrs. David C. De Forest. He painted his subjects with
honesty and insight. It was while returning from Europe to
take his position as an arts professor at New York
University that Morse came up with the idea of a
communications system using the electro-magnet and a series
of relays through a network of telegraph stations. In order
to transmit messages in this system, he invented Morse Code,
an alphabet of electronic dots and dashes. The system made
communication across the country faster than ever before.
Western Union completed the first transcontinental telegraph
line in 1861, dooming the Pony Express, but aiding forces in
the Civil War. Mobile telegraph stations, like this one with
hastily strung wires, connected scattered military units.
President Lincoln kept up with events of the war through
frequent dispatches from General George McClellan. One
Confederate attack failed when soldiers became tangled up in
Union telegraph wires strung from tree stump to tree stump.
Morse probably never expected telegraph wires to be a
booby-trap!
A generation or two ago, people would send telegrams to
announce important news such as a new birth in the family.
Ask your family if they have ever sent a telegram. |
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A Dark-Horse Democrat
November 5, 1844 -
James K. Polk Is Elected 11th President of the United States
When James K. Polk accepted the Democratic Party's
nomination for the presidency, he was not very well known.
The Whig opposition party played on his obscurity, sniping,
"Who is James K. Polk?" An experienced speaker, Polk
surprised everyone when he campaigned vigorously and won the
presidency on November 5, 1844. He was called a "dark horse"
candidate because he was not expected to beat his opponent,
Henry Clay of the Whig Party, to become the 11th president
of the United States.
Winning by a narrow margin, Polk campaigned on his strong
support for westward expansion, a hotly debated issue that
was dodged by other candidates. After taking office, Polk
acted swiftly to fulfill his campaign promises, as he
intended to serve only one term. In four years, he oversaw
the addition of Texas, the reestablishment of an independent
treasury system, and the acquisition of territory from
Mexico. This new land from Mexico eventually became
California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Colorado
and Wyoming. This new land came just in time for the
discovery of gold in California in 1848.
But Polk's considerable political accomplishments took their
toll on his health. Full of enthusiasm and vigor when he
entered office, Polk left the White House at the age of 53,
exhausted. He died less than four months later at his new
home, "Polk Place," in Nashville, Tennessee, the state he
had served as governor. Polk's wife, Sarah Childress Polk,
lived there another 42 years, hosting many visitors. During
the Civil War, she welcomed both Union and Confederate
leaders. "Polk Place" became a pilgrimage destination and
was respected as neutral ground, even during the bloody
Battle of Nashville. James and Sarah Polk left an important
legacy to a greatly expanded United States. |
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Shiver Me Timbers, Pirates Ahoy!
October 10, 1845 -
U.S. Naval Academy Was Formed
If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer when you get older,
you need to attend a special school after college. But what
if you want to be in the U.S. military? It isn't required
that persons in the military go to a special school, but
many of them do, especially if they want to be an officer.
You probably know that there are four different branches of
the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
On October 10, 1845, President James Polk formed a special
school to train officers for the Navy, the U.S. Naval School
in Annapolis, Maryland. Five years later, the school was
renamed the U.S. Naval Academy.
The United States first organized its naval forces during
the Revolutionary War. After the war, the Navy was
disbanded, but less than 10 years later, President George
Washington ordered that a fleet of ships be constructed to
protect merchant vessels from--believe it or not--pirates on
the high seas. Among the ships in that first Navy were the
Constellation, the Constitution, and the United States.
When the Naval Academy first opened in 1845, some of the
Navy's old-timers weren't sure that the school was really
necessary. What can a sailor learn in school, they wondered?
One senior officer, Admiral David Farragut, who had received
his training "on shipboard," before the Academy opened,
remarked to a young graduate, "Now how the devil do you
spell Apalachicola? Some of these educated young fellows
from Annapolis must know!" |
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In What Year was the First Election Day?
November 4, 1845 -
Americans Observed the First Uniform Election Day
In some countries around the world, the people do not get to
elect their leader. As late as 1816, the citizens of nine
states in the U.S. were not able to vote in presidential
elections. Americans observed the first uniform Election Day
on November 4, 1845. That means that all states voted,
selecting their presidents on the same day. This increased
the power of political parties, like the Democrats and
Republicans, and strengthened the democracy of the process.
What are electors?
Electors are people who represent their state and vote for a
president. They are informed citizens chosen by the
political parties. Every state has a different number of
electors, depending on the size of its population. For
example, California has 54 electoral votes while New Mexico
has only five. A state's electors usually vote the same way
as the state's citizens. However, only white male citizens
could vote for many decades.
African American men earned the right to vote in 1870 with
the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, and all women earned
the right to vote in 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth
Amendment. People all through the world fought, and continue
to fight, for the right to vote. Why is it so important to
be able to vote? Try discussing this question with friends
and family. |
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Scraping The Skies
September 4, 1846 -
Architect Daniel H. Burnham Was Born
What makes you walk by one building without noticing it
while another compels you to stare in wonder and welcomes
you to explore the rooms inside? Daniel H. Burnham might
tell you the answer has something to do with a grand vision,
"Make no little plans; they have not magic to stir men's
blood . . . Make big plans; aim high in hope and work . . ."
Born September 4, 1846, Burnham joined architect John
Wellborn Root to establish one of the most famous
architectural firms in U.S. history. Together they changed
the shape of our cities' skylines by aiming higher than
anyone dreamed.
What is the tallest building that you have been in? Burnham
and Root pioneered the construction methods that made modern
skyscrapers possible.
After Root died, Burnham took over Root's job as chief
architect of Chicago's 1893 World's Colombian Exposition, a
kind of world's fair He created a temporary city with grand
boulevards, lush gardens, and classical building exteriors.
U.S. architects were so inspired that they incorporated
similar elements into their own designs.
Burnham, along with architect Edward Bennett, also developed
plans for a real city. The Plan of Chicago in 1909, with its
system of parks and recreation areas, set the standard for
urban design. Walk through your own town or city and find
the buildings that were created with "magic to stir men's
(and women's) blood." |
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Invention Patented
November 4, 1846 -
The Artificial Leg is Invented
Benjamin Franklin Palmer of Meredith, New Hampshire, was not
related to founder Benjamin Franklin, but the two shared a
talent for invention. On November 4, 1846, Palmer received
patent number 4,834 for the artificial leg. The artificial
leg uses springs and metal tendons. The springs and tendons
act like joints. They allow for bending and flexibility. Do
you know what people used before artificial legs?
Before Palmer invented the artificial leg, people used peg
legs like the ones seen in this picture. Do you know anyone
with an artificial leg? If so, you would probably see that
this invention allows for more normal movement than the peg
leg. The artificial leg helps many people to live active
lives. Some people with artificial legs compete in athletic
events like track and field and marathons. Thankfully,
Benjamin Franklin Palmer created and patented his invention,
which is still being improved to this day. Do you know what
a “patent” is?
A patent is a legal document giving an inventor full rights
over his or her own creation. The Patent Act of 1790 created
this system. It allows the American government to give
patents for new inventions. Anyone who creates something can
apply for a patent. Anyone who improves an existing object
can also apply for a patent. A patent protects the inventor
from being copied. Have you invented anything that no one
else has? |
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Cannon Ball Dodge
February 23, 1847 -
The Battle of Buena Vista
On February 23, 1847, more than 15,000 Mexican troops
charged General Zachary Taylor's small command of soldiers.
Using heavy artillery, the general's 5,000 men turned back
the Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
By nightfall, the Mexican army retreated, ending the Battle
of Buena Vista, but not the Mexican-American War.
The Battle of Buena Vista was fought near Monterrey in
northern Mexico. The American war with Mexico was not for
independence or for political reasons but to obtain more
land. General Taylor was just the man to fight that sort of
war.
Samuel McNeil, an Ohio shoemaker, wrote of General Taylor's
bravery on the battlefield, "I must mention one circumstance
that happened there, which shows the extraordinary coolness
of Gen. Z. Taylor in battle. He saw a small cannon ball
coming directly towards his person. Instead of spurring [his
horse] 'Old Whitey' out of its way, he coolly rose in his
very short stirrups and permitted the ball to pass between
his person and the saddle."
General Taylor did not pursue General Santa Anna after the
Battle of Buena Vista, but General Winfield Scott of the
American Army caught up with the Mexican general a few
months later.
General Scott invaded Mexico from the sea. At the Battle of
Cerro Gordo, he defeated the Mexican army, but, once again,
General Santa Anna escaped capture. Despite strong
resistance, Scott pressed forward and captured the Mexican
capital in September. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in Mexico City, ending the war.
Five years later, the Gadsden Purchase set the current
boundary between the U.S. and Mexico.
Taylor's victories in the war contributed greatly to his
election as president in 1848. Scott also ran for president
but was defeated in 1852 by another veteran of the
Mexican-American War, Franklin Pierce. |
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Settling the Great Salt Lake
July 24, 1847 -
Brigham Young Settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley
They had embarked on a treacherous thousand-mile journey,
looking for a new place to settle the "Promised Land." On
July 24, 1847, an exhausted Brigham Young and his fellow
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
arrived in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley and called it home.
The Mormons, as they were commonly known, had moved west to
escape religious discrimination. After the murder of founder
and prophet Joseph Smith, they knew they had to leave their
old settlement in Illinois. Many Mormons died in the cold,
harsh winter months as they made their way over the Rocky
Mountains to Utah. When they reached the Salt Lake area,
they saw it was remote and wild. So why did they settle
there?
These pioneers wanted an isolated place after the violence
they had experienced, so the Great Salt Lake Valley seemed
ideal. They immediately planted potatoes and turnips, built
a dam, and had a solemn ceremony to dedicate the area as
their "Promised Land." Then they sent word back to their
fellow members describing the two-square-mile city they had
settled. By the end of 1847, nearly 2,000 Mormons had moved
to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The day they arrived in Utah
is still celebrated today.
Every 24th of July, people in Utah and several other Western
states celebrate Pioneer Day. People give speeches, ride in
parades, participate in rodeos, and join with friends and
family for a picnic. These activities honor the bravery,
strength of character, and physical endurance of Brigham
Young and other settlers like him. Have you ever celebrated
Pioneer Day? Have you ever been to Salt Lake City and seen
the Mormon Temple there? Ask your friends and family if they
have. |
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Liberia: From Colony to Country
July 26, 1847 -
Independence for Liberia
A young African American man from Virginia named Joseph
Jenkins Roberts declared the colony of Liberia in West
Africa an independent republic on July 26, 1847. The
following year he became the first elected president of the
new country. Roberts had moved there in 1829 at the age of
twenty from Petersburg, Virginia. At that time, Liberia was
a colony owned by a group of people in the United States.
Who were they, and what did they plan to do with Liberia?
Americans opposed to slavery back in the early 1800s were
divided over the issue of colonization (forming separate
colonies) for African Americans instead of integrating them
into the United States. It was a very controversial notion
among both blacks and whites. A group called the American
Colonization Society was formed in 1816, with members such
as James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Webster, and Francis
Scott Key. They knew the nation would face many difficulties
in becoming a truly integrated country, so they bought a
colony on the West Coast of Africa and named it Liberia. How
did this little colony become an independent country?
In 1822, Reverend Jehundi Ashman led the settlement effort
and negotiated with native people for a piece of land at
Cape Mesurado. The colony grew as it became a home for freed
African Americans, slaves released from the West Indies and
slave ships, and many native tribal people. By 1847, Joseph
Jenkins Roberts had become a leader in the colony and felt
Liberia was ready for independence. Still a country today,
Liberia deals with conflict between descendants of African
Americans and indigenous tribes. Have you heard of Liberia
before? See if you can find it on a map of West Africa. |
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There's Gold in That Creek!
January 24, 1848 -
Gold Discovered in California
Many people in California figured gold was there, but it was
James W. Marshall on January 24, 1848, who saw something
shiny in Sutter Creek near Coloma, California. He had
discovered gold unexpectedly while overseeing construction
of a sawmill on the American River.
Another builder, James S. Brown, heard Marshall say, "Boys,
I have got her now." Brown stepped over to Marshall, who
held his hat in his hand. There in the hat were 10 or 12
pieces of gold.
People had made false claims before that they had discovered
gold, so it wasn't until December of 1848, when President
James Polk backed up the discovery, that the Gold Rush
began.
The thought of becoming rich from picking up gold nuggets
from the ground was like hoping to win the lottery! In 1849,
prospectors came from everywhere to try to make their
fortunes. They became known as the "forty-niners." More than
100,000 people arrived in California, but the gold was
harder to find than people realized. A few made a small
fortune. Others left for home penniless. Many made a living
instead, running stores, saloons, laundries, and boarding
houses, creating towns and cities that still exist in
California.
Would you have been a "forty-niner?" And if you had
discovered gold in a river or under the ground, what would
you have done? |
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Two's a Crowd
January 31, 1848 -
John C. Frémont Was Found Guilty Of Mutiny
What happens when two governors are appointed for one
territory? In Major John C. Frémont's case, he was given a
court-martial.
Major John C. Frémont, admired for his map-making
expeditions to the West, was court-martialed on the grounds
of mutiny and disobeying orders on January 31, 1848. Frémont
was appointed governor of California in 1847 in recognition
of his role in the Mexican war (1846-1848). California had
recently been ceded to the United States by Mexico following
that war.
General Stephen Kearny, however, was sent by the federal
government to govern the state. Tension arose between Kearny
and Frémont over who had governing authority. In August
1847, Kearny ordered Frémont arrested and charged with
insubordination. Frémont was found guilty by a court-martial
and subjected to penalties, including removal from the army.
Although this decision was reversed by President James K.
Polk, Frémont chose to resign his military commission.
In spite of this episode, Frémont remained popular with the
American public. He and his wife, Jesse Benton Frémont,
stayed in California. During the gold rush, Frémont became a
multimillionaire. In 1850 he was elected as one of
California's first senators.
Frémont had established a reputation as an outspoken
abolitionist, speaking out against slavery. The Republican
Party nominated Frémont as its first presidential candidate
in 1856 and wanted him to run again in 1864. He campaigned
as the "Pathfinder" who would lead the country out of the
shame of slavery. Although he never became president,
Frémont did not give up his efforts to free the slaves. |
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New Boundaries, New Territories
February 2, 1848 -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Was
Signed In Mexico City
"There shall be firm and universal peace between the United
States of America and the Mexican Republic, and between
their respective Countries, territories, cities, towns and
people, without exception of places or persons." -- Treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848.
Did you know that a large portion of the Western United
States used to be a part of Mexico? On February 2, 1848,
U.S. and Mexican officials met in Mexico City to sign the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The agreement brought an end to
the Mexican War after nearly two years and extended the U.S.
west to the Pacific Ocean with 525,000 square miles of
former Mexican territory. The new American territory
included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of New
Mexico and Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Along
with the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, this treaty completed the
expansion of the United States to 48 states. Do you know
what events led to the signing of the treaty?
The Mexican War began with a dispute over the addition of
Texas to the United States, since both Mexico and the U.S.
claimed the area between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers as
their own. In January 1846, President James K. Polk ordered
General Zachary Taylor to bring troops into the disputed
area. When Mexican troops attacked Taylor's forces, Congress
approved a declaration of war on Mexico on May 13, 1846.
With the capture of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott on
September 14, 1847, the fighting subsided.
The soldiers in the Mexican War, mostly in their late teens
and early 20s, suffered from the intense heat, dust,
insects, poor rations, low wages, and disease, which perhaps
killed more soldiers than bullets. Mexican soldiers also
encountered poor treatment by officers, who were from a
wealthy class, while most enlisted men were peasants.
In contrast, U.S. General Zachary Taylor, called "Old Rough
and Ready" by the American soldiers, was much more
considerate of his troops. He often wore a straw hat with
his uniform, looking more like an old farmer than a general.
Winfield Scott was nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers" for his
neat and tidy uniform and strict ways. Both officers led the
way to victory, setting the scene for the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo. |
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How Do You Stop Niagara Falls?
March 29, 1848 -
Ice Dam at Niagara's Source
Have you ever heard about people going over Niagara Falls in
a barrel? Well, it would have been even more dangerous on
March 29, 1848; that's the day the Niagara River stopped its
famous 190-foot free fall.
Just after midnight on March 29, 1848, the only thing that
was falling over Niagara Falls was an eerie silence. An
enormous ice dam at the source of the Niagara River blocked
the water. However, by the next evening, the river broke
through the ice, and the water once again continued its
thunderous tumble over the falls. |
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The Fight For Women's Rights
July 20, 1848 -
Second Day of Seneca Falls Convention
Today, women in the United States can vote, own property,
and hold political office, but it wasn't always this way.
One hundred fifty years ago, women did not have the same
privileges as men in many ways, and they had to fight for
their rights. In July 1848, a group of women and men
interested in discussing the position of women in American
society met at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. On
the second day of the convention, July 20, 1848, the people
in attendance discussed Elizabeth Cady Stanton's
"Declaration of Rights and Sentiments," which she had read
the day before.
The assembled group also considered and voted on a number of
resolutions, 11 of which were passed by a large majority and
without much argument. The one point that was met with
strong opposition was the following:
"Resolved, That it is the duty of the women of this country
to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective
franchise [the right to vote]."
In the end, after great debate, "The Declaration of Rights
and Sentiments" passed unanimously and was signed by 68
women and 32 men in attendance. Abolitionist leader
Frederick Douglass, a former slave, stood with Stanton at
the convention and argued forcefully for women's right to
vote.
The fight for women's equal rights was a long, hard battle.
After the signing of "The Declaration of Rights and
Sentiments" in 1848, it took 72 years of organized struggle
before most women won the right to vote when the Nineteenth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1920. (In
some states, women had the right to vote in state and
federal elections before passage of the 19th Amendment in
1920.) How far have women come since then? |
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Taking the Oregon Trail
August 14, 1848 -
Congress Created the Oregon Territory
Have you ever been to the Pacific Northwest? On August 14,
1848, Congress created the Oregon Territory, an area that
includes what is today Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and
western Montana. The Oregon Territory quickly became a
popular place for various groups of immigrants and settlers.
Settlers had been traveling west for years. In 1843, one
Missouri lawyer named Peter Burnett decided to join an
expedition for the Oregon Territory in the hopes that he
would be able to make enough money to repay his debts back
east. Some 40 years later, Burnett recalled, "I saw that a
great American community would grow up, in the space of a
few years, upon the shores of the distant Pacific; and I
felt an ardent desire to aid in this most important
enterprise."
Starting in the 1830s, thousands of people from the Midwest
traveled to the Pacific Northwest in covered wagons like the
one you see in this picture. The first permanent settlement
was established in the Willamette valley by a group of
Methodists, led by Jason Lee. Covered wagons and wagon
trains were regularly making their way along the Oregon
Trail by the early 1840s. What do you think the early
settlers found when they arrived at their destination?
Today's state of Oregon is a land of great geographic
diversity, ranging from rain forests, to mountains, to
valleys, and deserts. The main industry in Oregon is timber
since about one-half of the state is forested. The fishing
industry is another big part of the state's economy. Salmon
fishing, traditional to Native Americans in the Pacific
Northwest (particularly the Chinook) still remains an Oregon
industry. |
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A Forty-Niner Writes Home
November 25, 1849 -
Pioneer Life in Sacramento
Did you ever wonder what it would have been like to head for
California during the Gold Rush? In 1849, after the
announcement that gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill,
thousands of people, called forty-niners, traveled to
California by sea. Thousands more traveled across land. They
were lured by the prospect of finding gold and riches.
Yankee trader Franklin A. Buck was among those who headed
west to seek his fortune. Just 20 years old, Buck left his
job in New York and set sail for California in January 1849.
On November 25, 1849, he wrote a letter to his sister Mary
about his experiences in the boomtown of Sacramento City.
Buck opened a supply store there and business boomed like
the town!
Though homesick, the young forty-niner wrote to his sister,
"I have not come 20,000 miles to turn around and go right
back again like some persons who have been here and gotten
homesick." Young Buck told Mary about the success of his
business. "Week before last," he boasted, "we sold out of
our little store $1,500 worth of goods. All cash trade in
one day. Tell Joseph to beat that . . . The flour that I
bought in San Francisco for $18 per sack (200 lbs) we sold
for $44 and are all out." Among those seeking gold in
California in 1849, many went home again penniless. But
merchants, like Buck, who provided supplies for the miners,
tended to do well in the golden West.
Buck described for Mary the growing town of Sacramento City,
consisting of "more than 800 framed buildings, besides the
tents." The California weather, he told her, was great.
"Today is Sunday. Gloomy November, probably, with you, but
here the weather is splendid, not cold enough to need a
fire." Despite his enthusiasm, Buck could not conceal his
homesickness, and how he missed his family. "I should like
to be at home on Thanksgiving Day. I suppose you have had or
will have one about this time. (Bake me a turnover!) Be sure
and write me all about it. I look forward with great
pleasure to spending a Thanksgiving with all the family once
more in my life." Have you ever felt homesick? If you were a
forty-niner, would you have felt like Franklin Buck? |
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A Monumental American Sculptor
April 20, 1850 -
American Sculptor Daniel Chester French Was Born
Even if you have not visited the Lincoln Memorial in
Washington, D.C., you've probably seen pictures of the
colossal statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in a chair in the
center of the memorial. American sculptor Daniel Chester
French created that famous statue of Lincoln. Born in
Exeter, New Hampshire, on April 20, 1850, French made many
other monumental statues too.
Brought up in Cambridge and Concord, Massachusetts, French
met fellow Concord resident Louisa May Alcott (author of
Little Women), who encouraged young French to pursue a
career as an artist. He studied in Boston and New York
before receiving his first commission for the 1875 statue
The Minute Man. It stands near the North Bridge in Concord,
Massachusetts, to commemorate the battle of Lexington and
Concord during the Revolutionary War. A famous symbol of
America, images of The Minute Man appeared on defense bonds,
stamps, and posters during World War II.
After studying art in Europe, French returned to Washington,
D.C., where he opened his own studio. There, he created more
ambitious work such as the impressive General Lewis Cass for
the U.S. Capitol in 1888. By the turn of the 20th century,
French was America's leading monumental sculptor. Next time
you see the statue in the Lincoln Memorial or The Minute
Man, you'll know who created those famous American artworks.
Share your new knowledge with your family. |
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Stay Out of Foreign Affairs?!
May 12, 1850 -
Henry Cabot Lodge Was Born
How involved should the U.S. be in international affairs?
Political leaders have hotly debated this issue since the
very beginning of this country. Back in 1919, Republican
statesman Henry Cabot Lodge led a successful fight against
American participation in the League of Nations, the world
peacekeeping organization proposed by President Woodrow
Wilson after World War I. Born on May 12, 1850, in Boston,
Massachusetts, Lodge believed that membership in the
organization would destroy the power of the U.S. by binding
the nation to international obligations it would not--or
could not--keep. He spoke dramatically:
"The United States is the world's best hope," Lodge said.
Entangle her, and "you will destroy her powerful good, and
endanger her very existence." Because of Senator Lodge's
arguments as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the
League of Nations formed without U.S. participation. After
World War II, the League of Nations was replaced by the
United Nations. Times had changed. In 1953, Lodge's
grandson, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., became ambassador to the
U.N. and America has since intervened in many international
situations. Talk with your friends and family about what you
think the proper role of the U.S. should be worldwide. |
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Bird Brain
January 27, 1851 -
John James Audubon Died
When John James Audubon died on January 27, 1851, bird
lovers around the world felt the loss. An ornithologist
(person who studies birds), artist, and naturalist, Audubon
was born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (Haiti), in 1785 and
began drawing birds when he was very young. Birds continued
to fascinate him for the rest of his life.
As an adult, Audubon traveled as far south as the Florida
Keys as well as north to Labrador, Canada, studying and
drawing birds all along the way. He could draw any bird,
down to the tiniest detail. And, lucky for us, he drew and
painted hundreds of them.
Audubon liked to draw birds their actual size. He drew a
hummingbird as small as a real hummingbird and an eagle as
large as a real eagle. Master engravers in England were able
to make 435 reproductions of his drawings for the book
"Birds of America." Many of the drawings in the book are
life-size. The first edition is known as the "elephant
folio" because it is so big. In fact, it's the largest book
in the Library of Congress, at 39.37 inches high. Is there a
bird or animal that you would like to draw? If you drew it
life-size, would it fit on a single sheet of paper? |
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A Book Caused a War?
June 5, 1851 -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Appeared in Serial Form
Have you read the book Uncle Tom's Cabin? Besides being a
good read, this influential book is often included in lists
of "causes of the Civil War" (1861-65). It has been
translated into at least 23 languages, and has been
presented on stage and in film. Harriet Beecher Stowe's
story first appeared on June 5, 1851, in serial form, a
chapter at a time, in a weekly publication called the
National Era. It went on to become one of the nation's
earliest bestsellers.
Harriet Beecher Stowe cared deeply about human rights. Her
family was active in the Underground Railroad, helping
slaves escape to freedom in the North. (The Underground
Railroad was a system formed by a group of people who were
against slavery. These people helped escaped slaves secretly
reach the North.) For 18 years she observed a slave-holding
community in Kentucky just across the Ohio River from where
she lived in Cincinnati. She didn't like what she saw.
Stowe decided to write a fictional story about slavery and
sent it to the editor of an anti-slavery weekly. He paid her
$300 for the right to publish her story, and on June 5,
1851, the first chapter appeared in print. Over the next 10
months, Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly, was
published in 40 installments. People started to discuss
Uncle Tom's Cabin and pass around the story. In 1852, a
Boston publisher issued Uncle Tom's Cabin as a book. It
became an instant bestseller. Three hundred thousand copies
were sold the first year, and about two million copies were
sold by 1857. Before long it seemed that everyone had read
it, including the president of the United States!
President Lincoln invited Harriet Beecher Stowe to the White
House in 1862. According to legend, he is said to have
exclaimed, "So this is the little lady who made this big
war?" Because the book divided people into those who wished
to abolish slavery (abolitionists) and those who wished to
maintain slavery (anti-abolitionists), it is often listed as
one of the causes of the Civil War. Would you say that the
pen is mightier than the sword?
Uncle Tom's Cabin was often produced as a play, so that many
people who did not read the book saw it as a powerful stage
drama. Although, especially at first, white actors usually
played the African American parts in blackface, some
productions starred African-American actors and singers. At
least seven silent-film versions of Uncle Tom's Cabin had
been made by 1927. The 1970 film version stars
African-American actress Eartha Kitt.
The book, with its memorable characters, remains powerful
today. Pick up a copy and read Uncle Tom's Cabin for
yourself. |
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A Race For The Cup
August 22, 1851 -
The Schooner America Won the Hundred Guinea Cup
On August 22, 1851, the low black schooner (2-masted
sailboat) America sailed around the Isle of Wight in a race
to win a silver ewer (pitcher) from the Royal Yacht
Squadron. Beating 14 other yachts to the finish, America won
the contest.
At first, America's crew considered melting down their
prize, valued at £100 (100 English pounds), to make
commemorative medals of their victory. What they did with
the trophy instead laid the foundation for what has become
the longest contested trophy in international sport. Do you
know the name of the sailing race?
The crew donated their trophy to the New York Yacht Club,
under the condition that the cup "be preserved as a
perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between
foreign countries," and the America's Cup race was born.
From 1870, the next time the race was held, until 1980,
American yachts won the America's Cup race 24 times without
a loss (the race is held irregularly). The Australian yacht
Australia II finally took the cup when it won the race in
1983. Although Americans regained the cup in the next race
(in 1987), non-American challengers have won the cup three
times since 1983. New Zealand just became the first
non-American club to successfully defend the Cup with its
victory in America's Cup 2000. Could you be one of the
future sailors to win the America's Cup for the United
States? |
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Compromising - the Great Clay Way!
June 29, 1852 -
The Day Henry Clay Died
Think about a disagreement you have had with a friend. How
did it turn out? Did one of you win, or were you both able
to talk about what you wanted and come to a compromise?
Before he died on June 29, 1852, Henry Clay was famous for
getting people, and even entire states, to compromise.
Clay was born on a farm in Virginia in 1777. He became a
U.S. representative, a senator, and the Secretary of State
during the early 1800s, when tensions between the North and
South threatened to split the Union. Can you think of what
he did to earn the title "the Great Compromiser?"
Henry Clay became known as "the Great Compromiser" when he
used his skills as a negotiator to maintain a balance
between the free and the slave states. Clay helped to draft
three pieces of legislation that postponed the Civil War,
including "The Missouri Compromise" and "The Compromise of
1850."
Clay worked to keep the Union together even when it hurt his
own career. He might have become president in 1844 if he had
not opposed Texas's entry into the Union. Why didn't Clay
want Texas to join the Union?
Had Texas (a slave-holding state) been allowed into the
Union, it would have upset the balance of slave-holding and
free states. (Texas was eventually admitted into the Union
in late 1845.) In his famous speech on February 6, 1850,
Clay argued for the preservation of the Union. Clay prayed,
"I implore, as the best blessing which Heaven can bestow
upon me upon earth, that if the direful and sad event of the
dissolution of the Union shall happen, I may not survive to
behold the sad and heart-rending spectacle." His prayer was
granted when he died in 1852, nine years before the start of
the Civil War. Even though he could not prevent the war, do
you think Henry Clay still deserves his reputation as a
great compromiser? |
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Happy New Year from Cyrus
Eidlitz
July 27, 1853 -
Architect Cyrus Eidlitz Was Born
Have you ever watched the countdown to the New Year on
television? If you have, you've seen huge, cheering crowds
gathered in New York's Times Square, and above the crowds is
a building with a giant billboard of electric lights. That
building is the Times Building, designed by architect Cyrus
Eidlitz in 1904. Eidlitz was born on July 27, 1853, in New
York City. His father, Prague-born Leopold Eidlitz, was also
an architect. The elder Eidlitz led the American Gothic
revival of the second half of the 19th Century, and formed
the American Institute of Architects. His son followed
closely in his footsteps.
The younger Eidlitz designed numerous public buildings,
including Chicago's Dearborn Station and the Buffalo Public
Library. However, the New York Times Building, a
steel-framed skyscraper with decorative lines and Gothic
details, is probably his most famous work. It filled a
triangle at the base of Longacre Square, later renamed Times
Square for the building and its owner, The New York Times
newspaper. When it opened, it was the second tallest
building in Manhattan and soon became the backdrop for a
lively theater district.
Within ten years, the newspaper outgrew the building and
moved on, but Eidlitz's famous monument still stands,
flashing news and announcements on its giant billboard of
lights. It's the focal point of Times Square and has become
associated all over the world with that familiar countdown
each year: three...two...one...Happy New Year! |
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Going Up?
September 20, 1853 -
Otis Opened Elevator Factory
Skyscrapers could not have been built without Elisha Graves
Otis's invention. Any guesses as to what that was? Otis
opened a small factory on the banks of the Hudson River in
Yonkers, New York, on September 20, 1853, to make elevators,
fully equipped with his newly invented automatic safety
device. Having received an order for two freight elevators
with the new device, Otis abandoned his plans to join the
California Gold Rush. But after six months, he hadn't
received a second order. What do you think he did?
Otis staged a public demonstration. He climbed on top of his
elevator in New York's Crystal Palace exhibition, and while
hoisted to the ceiling, ordered the rope cut. Seeing how his
safety brake kept him from falling, people realized the
importance of his invention. Though in 1856, Otis's sales
totaled just 27 elevators, his performance launched the
passenger elevator industry. The world's first safety
elevator for passengers, installed in 1857 in a New York
store, rose at a speed of 40 feet per minute. How does that
compare to today's elevators?
Today the elevators in Chicago's 1,127-foot John Hancock
Center soar upward at 1,800 feet per minute! With the
introduction of steel frame construction, the skyscraper
became possible. The 10-story Home Insurance Building in
Chicago, built in 1885, was considered the world's first
tall building, requiring four elevators. The 1913 Woolworth
Building (792 feet) boasted 26 elevators; the 1931 Empire
State Building (1,250 feet) required 58. With new and taller
buildings, business at the Otis Elevator Company, later run
by Otis's sons, rose steadily. |
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Great Gadsden Purchase!
December 30, 1853 -
The Gadsden Purchase Was Signed in Mexico City
Meeting in Mexico City on December 30, 1853, James Gadsden,
U.S. Minister to Mexico, and General Antonio López de Santa
Anna, president of Mexico, signed the Gadsden Purchase. The
treaty settled the dispute over the exact location of the
Mexican border west of El Paso, Texas, giving the U.S. claim
to approximately 29,600 square miles of land in what is now
southern New Mexico and Arizona, for the price of $10
million.
U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis influenced the
president to send Gadsden to negotiate with Santa Anna for
the land. Davis valued it, as others did, as the perfect
tract for the construction of the southern transcontinental
railroad. The railroad line would connect western
territories to the east and north, greatly increasing the
accessibility of these new lands. By 1869, the "big four" of
western railroad construction--Collis P. Huntington, Leland
Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker--had pushed the
Central Pacific Railroad line eastward over the Sierra
Nevada Mountains to Utah to join with the Union Pacific,
completing the first transcontinental railroad.
After completing the Central Pacific Railroad from
California to Utah in 1869, the big four started the
Southern Pacific as a branch line into southern California.
The railroad reached the Arizona border in 1877, and in 1883
it was joined to other railroads built west from New Orleans
across Texas and New Mexico, territory that was acquired in
the Gadsden Purchase. This transcontinental system sped up
westward expansion of the U.S.
Still in operation today as the Union Pacific Corporation,
the company controls most of the rail-based shipping in the
western two-thirds of the country. Have you ever ridden a
train through the West? |
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Arctic Dreams
May 6, 1856 -
Arctic Explorer Robert E. Peary Was Born
Even as a boy, Robert E. Peary, born on May 6, 1856, dreamed
of exploring the "roof of the world," the frozen Arctic
north. They had no parkas or space-age fabrics and no cell
phones or advanced navigational devices, but Robert E. Peary
and his assistant, Matt Henson, set out to reach the North
Pole for the first time in 1905. No one had been there
before. Indeed, it took Peary years to put the expedition
together.
An engineer, Peary was sent on his first job to the warm
tropics rather than the icy northland. In Nicaragua, in
Central America, he brought along his African-American
assistant, Matthew Henson who became such a trusted
companion that the two men traveled together on all of
Peary's expeditions. Together, they took steps toward their
northernmost goal.
Peary and Henson traveled to Greenland to prepare for the
trip, where they learned survival techniques in the sub-zero
temperatures from the Inuit people of Greenland.
The ship they were traveling on failed to make it through
the ice. They tried again in 1908, setting out with 24
companions and 133 dogs. This time, according to their
calculations, they made it to the North Pole on April 6,
1909. But scientists discovered in 1989 that Peary and
Henson were actually just short of the Pole. Still, Peary
and Henson showed that exploration was possible in Arctic
regions and paved the way for future explorers. Have you
ever done something that made it easier for the next person
to do the same thing? |
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Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
May 15, 1856 -
Lyman Frank Baum Was Born
How did you first learn about the story of a cowardly lion,
a scarecrow without a brain and a tin man without a heart?
If your answer is the movie "The Wizard of Oz," you'd be
right. But did you know there was a book before there was a
movie?
Born on May 15, 1856, in Chittenango, New York (not in
Kansas), Lyman Frank Baum wrote the book The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz and created a story about the adventures of a
girl from Kansas that has delighted kids and grownups for
more than a century. That's right: the book was published in
1900 and was enormously popular from the start. In fact, it
was so popular that Baum quit his job as a journalist and
wrote thirteen more books about the land of Oz. Do you know
how old the movie is?
The film version of the book was made in 1939 with Judy
Garland as Dorothy, the girl from Kansas who has a wild
adventure along a yellow brick road. The story is still
loved all over the world and has been translated into many
languages. How many times have you seen the movie? Have you
read the book? |
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A Great American President
December 28, 1856 -
Thomas Woodrow Wilson Was Born
"He is one of the great presidents of American history,"
said Rabbi Stephen A. Wise of Woodrow Wilson. Born on
December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia, Thomas Woodrow
Wilson started his career as a university professor. He went
on to serve as president of Princeton University and then as
governor of New Jersey in 1910. Two years later, he ran for
president on the Democratic ticket and won. Wilson became
the 28th president of the United States, serving two
consecutive terms in the White House, from 1913 to 1921.
During his time in office, Wilson faced many challenges at
home and abroad, and face them he did.
The issue of women's suffrage (right to vote) confronted
Wilson right from the start. The National Women's Party
organized a suffrage parade in Washington, D.C., the day
before Wilson's inauguration. Drawing away the crowds from
inaugural events, leaders hoped to put pressure on the new
president to pay attention to women's rights. It is said
that when Wilson arrived in town he found the streets empty,
instead of full with welcoming crowds, and was told that
everyone was on Pennsylvania Avenue watching the parade.
Before the end of his second term in 1920, Wilson and
Congress approved the 19th Amendment, giving women the right
to vote.
In foreign policy, Wilson faced a greater challenge than any
president since Abraham Lincoln. Deciding whether or not to
involve the U.S. in World War I severely tested his
leadership. Initially reluctant to send soldiers overseas,
Wilson met increased pressure. On April 6, 1917, the United
States went to war with Germany. Less than a year later, on
January 8, 1918, Wilson made his famous "Fourteen Points"
address, introducing the idea of a League of Nations. The
purpose of the international organization was to preserve
peace. Wilson promoted his plan tirelessly, as U.S. troops
contributed to an earlier than expected cease-fire in 1918.
For his efforts, Wilson was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace
Prize, but the award was bittersweet. Congress opposed U.S.
entry into the League. The strain of his campaigning and the
disappointment of Congress's resolution weakened him. He
returned to Washington in a state of collapse and shortly
suffered a thrombosis (a blood clot in a blood vessel) that
impaired control over the left side of his body. Wilson and
his second wife, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson--who continued
work in the White House when Wilson was ill--retired in
Washington, D.C., in 1921. Wilson died three years later,
and he is memorialized in many ways, including this 1918
footage of the president in a New York parade encouraging
Americans to participate in Liberty Loans to support the war
effort. Take a look. |
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A Book for Cooks!
March 23, 1857 -
Fannie Farmer Was Born
Rich chocolate cake, chewy oatmeal cookies, savory meatloaf,
spicy cheese dip--if you're ever looking for one of these
recipes, or any number of delicious food creations, try
looking in the Fannie Farmer Cookbook. Born on March 23,
1857, Bostonian Fannie Merritt Farmer greatly influenced the
way Americans cook through her books and instruction. The
Fannie Farmer Cookbook was an immediate classic when it was
published in 1896. Now in its 13th edition, it's still a
popular cookbook. Do you have one in your kitchen? What
makes this cookbook unique?
In her recipes, Farmer gave exact measurements (like a 1/8
teaspoon of salt instead of a dash of salt), guaranteeing
her readers reliable results. Recipes were not widely
written this way before. She also originated and perfected
recipes at the Boston Cooking School. She started there as a
promising student and quickly became director of the school.
She put together the Fannie Farmer Cookbook while she was
director. Do you like to cook? Fannie Farmer made it easier.
Even if you don't like to cook, you probably like to eat.
Preparing and eating food is an essential part of life for
everyone, but what people eat, the way they eat, and with
whom can differ tremendously from country to country and
even from table to table. Think about the role of food in
your life and what your food habits say about who you are.
What foods and ways of eating do you think are uniquely
American? Ask your family what they think. The conversation
will probably make you hungry! |
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Sinking Fortunes
August 24, 1857 -
The Panic of 1857 Began
A violent hurricane lashed at the Central America, a sailing
vessel carrying passengers and a huge shipment of gold from
California. The year was 1857, and U.S. banks needed that
gold to reach its destination safely.
The banks had invested in businesses that were failing, and
this was causing the American people to panic. Investors
were losing heavily in the stock market and railroads were
unable to pay their debts. Land speculators who had counted
on the construction of new railroad routes were losing
money. People feared financial ruin. They ran to the banks
to withdraw their money, but the banks did not deal in paper
money. They used silver and gold.
Adding to the troubles of the banks, the sailing ship full
of gold lost its battle with the hurricane and sank to the
bottom of the ocean. With their failed investments, it was
impossible for the banks to gather all the gold their
customers demanded.
On August 24, 1857, the New York branch of the Ohio Life
Insurance and Trust Company failed. Soon all across the
nation, banks began to collapse. The Panic of 1857 led to a
severe economic depression in the United States that lasted
three years. Many people lost their jobs. Can you think of
another time in American history when there was another
financial panic? |
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A Taft Act to Follow!
September 15, 1857 -
U.S. President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
William Howard Taft Was Born
Do you think careers sometimes run in a family? William
Howard Taft's father was a politician and his son would be
too. Taft, United States president and chief justice of the
Supreme Court, was born on September 15, 1857, in
Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, a prominent Republican, served
as secretary of war under President Ulysses S. Grant. The
younger Taft would eventually fill the same position. He
started his political career in Ohio, shortly after becoming
a lawyer in 1880.
In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft to
organize a civilian government in the Philippines. The U.S.
had taken possession of this island nation at the close of
the Spanish-American War in 1898. Taft served as the first
non-military governor of the Philippines. President Theodore
Roosevelt named Taft secretary of war in 1904, like his
father. When Teddy Roosevelt prepared to retire his
presidency, this popular and influential politician promoted
Taft as the next Republican president.
Taft was elected president in 1908, serving one term. Later,
from 1921 until 1930, Taft served his country as chief
justice of the Supreme Court. In an effort to make the court
work more efficiently, he helped to pass the 1925 Judges
Act, enabling the Supreme Court to give priority to cases of
national importance. In 1938, only eight years after Taft
retired from the court, his son, Robert A. Taft, was elected
to the Senate and stayed until he died in 1953. Do you know
any other famous families in American politics? |
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The Land of 10,000 Lakes
May 11, 1858 -
Minnesota Became the 32nd State
Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," or “Star of the North,”
Minnesota became the 32nd state in the Union on May 11,
1858. What makes this state important? For one, its
waterways are vital to the state's and the nation's
economies. Besides its quantity of lakes, the Mississippi
River starts there and it is the westernmost point of the
St. Lawrence Seaway, which runs through the Great Lakes to
the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite the convenient access to the state, immigration was
slow until the second half of the 19th century, when people
in the east started to hear about Minnesota's woodlands and
fertile prairie. Between 1850 and 1857, the state population
skyrocketed from 6,077 to more than 150,000. Long before
that, the Ojibwa (Chippewa) and Dakota (Sioux) tribes made
the land their home. For them state borders were
nonexistent, so their territory extended well beyond what is
today Minnesota. The French claimed the territory in the
mid-1600s. It became U.S. territory through the Treaty of
Paris (1783) and the Louisiana Purchase (1803).
Minnesota today is still a leader in farming, lumbering, and
milling, as well as printing and iron production. Have you
visited Minnesota? What do you know about its twin cities,
Minneapolis and St. Paul? Ask your family and friends what
they know about Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." |
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Who Climbs a Mountain in Bloomers?
August 5, 1858 -
Julia Archibald Holmes Reaches Pike's Peak
In 1858, when Julia Archibald Holmes became the first woman
on record to reach the summit of Pike's Peak, she did so
wearing bloomers, a short dress and moccasins and called the
outfit her "American costume." Julia, her husband, and two
others began their trek up the high peak in Colorado on
August 1. Four days later, they had reached the top of the
mountain, 14,110 feet high. Many people told Holmes she
couldn't make it. What's the biggest challenge you've faced?
Here's what Julia Holmes had to say: "I have accomplished
the task which I marked out for myself . . . Nearly everyone
tried to discourage me from attempting it, but I believed
that I should succeed."
Nowadays there is special clothing and gear to help make it
easier to accomplish physical challenges, but the belief
that you can make it is better than any kind of gear you can
have. That goes for all sorts of challenges, not just
climbing mountains. Have you ever done something that others
said you wouldn't be able to do? |
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The Weeping Time
March 3, 1859 -
The Largest Slave Auction
In spite of having inherited two plantations, Pierce M.
Butler owed a great deal of money. Over two days, Butler
auctioned off the human portion of his property to help pay
off his debts. It was the largest sale of slaves on record
in the United States, and it was referred to as "The Weeping
Time."
The 436 men, women, children, and infants, all of whom had
been born on his plantations, were brought to a racetrack in
Savannah, Georgia, and put in the stalls used for horses.
There they waited, some for days, others for weeks, for the
auction to begin on March 3, 1859.
The sale had been advertised for several weeks. Every hotel
in Savannah was filled with potential buyers. In the days
before the auction, potential buyers went to the racetrack
to look over the people for sale. The slaves were humiliated
when the buyers pulled open their mouths to see their teeth
and they pinched their arms and legs to check for muscle
strength. The slaves said nothing, unless they hoped to be
bought by the person examining them. They knew they were to
be sold in families, but "family" was defined as husband and
wife, mother and young child, not brother or sister or
parent. Some tried to convince prospective buyers to
purchase their entire family.
On the first day of the auction, the slaves were brought to
a long room called the "Grand Stand." Pierce Butler walked
among his people, speaking to them and shaking the hands of
his favorite servants. Fierce rains kept many of the
potential buyers away and the auction began two hours late.
The auctioneer, Mr. Walsh, stood on a platform and began the
sale. The first sold were George and Sue, along with their
two boys, George and Harry, for $600 each. Eventually, all
436 people were purchased away from friends and family, and
from the only home they had known. All of their hearts broke
with the knowledge that they would never see each other
again. For many of them, "The Weeping Time" would last a
lifetime. |
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The Raid on Harpers Ferry
October 16, 1859 -
John Brown Took Harpers Ferry Hostage
Late on the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown and 21
armed followers stole into the town of Harpers Ferry,
Virginia (now part of West Virginia), as most of its
residents slept. They took 60 prominent locals hostage and
seized the town's United States arsenal and its rifle works.
Why? The men--among them three free blacks, one freed slave,
and one fugitive slave--hoped to spark a rebellion of freed
slaves and to lead an "army of emancipation." They wanted to
overturn the institution of slavery by force.
With the nighttime surprise, the raiders had the upper hand.
But that didn't last long. By the next evening, the
conspirators were holed-up in an engine house. The next day
Colonel Robert E. Lee's troops stormed the building and
Brown was caught. For his actions, he was quickly tried and
convicted of murder, slave insurrection, and treason against
the state and sentenced to death by hanging. He had lost two
sons in the raid. But John Brown was willing to give
everything, even his life, in the fight against slavery.
Brown said the slave-holding community was, by its nature,
in a state of war; thus drastic actions were necessary and
justified. While helping to liberate slaves over the
previous 10 years, he had become more and more aggressive.
The Harpers Ferry raid inflamed the emotions of parties on
both sides of the conflict.
John Brown's raid was perhaps the final spark that ignited
the Civil War. Certainly the words he spoke at his death
would be remembered:
"Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my
life, for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and MINGLE
MY BLOOD FURTHER WITH THE BLOOD OF MY CHILDREN, and with the
blood of millions in this Slave country, whose rights are
disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments -- I say
LET IT BE DONE." |
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