Buffalo Soldiers

After the Civil War, the United States government wanted to expand the growing nation northwest, especially with he gold rush occurring. However, already living in the northwest were the Native Indians.  This caused tension between the Indians and the United States. The government sent the Buffalo Soldiers to fight and solve the issue with the Indians. Sadly, the Buffalo Soldiers were not treated the same as other soldiers. In fact, the Buffalo Soldiers, who were mostly African Americans, were discriminated against. This led to our class's essential question. It was, in what ways did the U.S. Government discriminate against buffalo soldiers and native Americans accidentally? And in what ways did they purposely discriminate?

The Nez Perce were a Native Indian tribe that was relocated and fought against the Buffalo soldiers.

The government was discriminatory to the Indians accidentally. They were accidentally discriminatory to the Indians because they did not want to force the Indians to relocate originally. The government gave the Indians land in the northwest of the nation in an attempt to avoid confrontation with them. But when with the discovery of gold on the west coast, settlers quickly started migrating into he Natives' land. This caused the Indians to look at the events as a discriminatory act by the government towards them. However, the government did not plan this and it was just an unfortunate coincidence.

Buffalo Soldiers

The government was purposely discriminatory to both the Natives and the Buffalo soldiers. They were discriminatory to the Indians because they caused them to migrate to a new home that the government chose. After invading their land, the government decided that the Natives would be moved and live in present day Oklahoma. However, during the migration from their old home to what would become their new home, the United States government harassed the Natives and shot at them killing some. Also the government attempted to force the Natives to leave their homes by getting rid of their food source on purpose and causing them to starve. They purposely discriminated against the Buffalo Soldiers in many ways. The government purposely gave the Buffalo soldiers horses that should have not been ridden by soldiers, guns that were in poor condition and would malfunction, old scrappy uniforms, and not very nutritional food or proper supplies. Also they would purposely send the Buffalo soldiers to fight in the worst conditions and the camps they would stay in were very poor.

In my opinion the government was trying to discriminate the Buffalo Soldiers and at first they were not trying to discriminate the Natives, but once they invaded their territory they became discriminatory. The government from the very beginning made sure the Buffalo Soldiers had the absolute worst supplies and preparation they could give. However, until the gold rush the United States government wanted to leave the Indians to be on their own and live in peace with them. But, greed took over and they wanted all of their land.

Did the Freedom of Slaves Come From Above or Below?

The Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history. Thousands of people, from both the north and the south, died for one reason. That reason was the freedom of slaves. Although, in the beginning  the north and Abraham Lincoln insisted it was not about slavery many people knew it was.  Then when the 13th amendment was a passed in 1865 by congress the public wondered who really influenced the amendment getting passed. Was it from above (Lincoln and the government) or from below(slaves and public)? This led to our class lesson we analyzed documents, pictures, and videos to try and determine who 'gave' freedom to the enslaved Americans? Did freedom come from above or below? To what extent were Abraham Lincoln's actions influenced by the actions of enslaved Americans?

Freedom came from above in many ways. The obvious one is they are the ones who established the 13th amendment.  Also they gave support to the slaves from the very beginning even though they never fully admitted it. One individual, specifically, who was cautious about admitting how he felt was Abraham Lincoln. However, in his second inaugural address he finally stated that the slaves were and always were the cause of the war.  In the address he states, "These slaves constituted a powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of war". By stating this, Lincoln told the Union, the Confederacy, and the whole world that he and Washington were 100% supportive of freeing the slaves and he would do everything in his power to make African Americans no longer suffered from slavery.

Slaves arriving at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi

Freedom also came from below, but in other ways. One way they fought against the South was they would pillage towns. In a letter written by a Union general about what he saw while walking through a town in the South he wrote, " after the enemy & citizens fled from the town, were committed by the negroes, before our troops reached the city— They seemed to be wild with excitement and delight" The slaves would run through cities after everyone left and take things for themselves and cause a raucous. Another example is the painting of slaves arriving at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi. The vast numbers of slaves caused trouble for the Union soldiers because they did not know what to do with all of the ex-slaves. All these acts caused the government to have to work to find a solution of what to do with all the slaves quicker.

In my opinion, the freedom of slavery came above more than below. It was Lincoln and the Union who fought against the south and who created the amendment and laws that sanctioned slavery. I think the one thing that he slaves, or below, did to aid with the process of freedom was to make it come sooner. With all the pandemonium created by the slaves, it caused Washington to find a solution for them sooner so the chaos they caused would stop. Today there are many instances where the people from below influence the government and people from above to make decisions and make them quicker. An example is with the controversy of same sex marriage many protests caused the governments of each state to find a solution sooner, Also the solution they created would also have to cause the people from below to stop protesting. The public helps influence decisions made by the government through actions, and it will continue to work that way for as long the United States is a democracy.

Rockefeller and Carnegie, Robbers or Innovators?

Carnegie

          For this lesson and the next two, my class is taking a different approach to learning the material. Instead of the usual where you would listen to the teacher, follow her instructions, and take notes on the material she tells, we are giving the opportunity to learn everything on our own. As a class we watched videos and looked at primary sources about Rockefeller's and Carnegie's contribution to history. We then took notes as a class on a google document. Finally, we came up with an essential question for this unit and we created 40 questions that would eventually be on my classes final exam. The essential question we came up with was, were Carnegie and Rockefeller robber barons or captains of industry?  
In my opinion, both Rockefeller and Carnegie were captains of industry. Also they were men who very generous. Although Rockefeller

Rockefeller

was accused of using illegal tactics and cut throat tactics to get his money, he did do good in the world. One thing he did was cut down the prices of his product. This was good for the economy and had the public crawling to him. So, although many newspapers and people despised Rockefeller, many continued to buy his products because he brought a new type of way to run business. Another good thing he did, is he quietly gave back to the public. While the newspaper industry attacked him, Rockefeller would donate some of his money to charity and educational institutions. Just like Rockefeller, Carnegie did make a lot of money, but he gave back to the public as well. Carnegie gave millions of dollars to advance education. establish public libraries, and promote world peace. Along with that he advanced U.S. economy by coming up with a new more efficient and cost effective way to manufacture steel. Without these men the economy during mid 1800's would have not been merely as important.

Bill Gates

             There is no question that Rockefeller and Carnegie probably made their money without being completely honest or fairly, but they left a positive effect on humanity. They helped out in advancing the economy by cutting prices and creating new efficient way to manufacture products. But, they also helped out society. This shows that it's not how you make the money, but what you do with the money you have. Another rich man, today, who is positively affecting society is Bill Gates. Gates is worth an estimated $65 billion and he has decided to give away all his money to help those less fortunate than him. Already he has given $28.5 billion to multiple charities. One thing he focuses on are diseases that kill people, especially children. One disease that he has focused on recently is polio. Bill and his wife, since 2013, are in the process of investing $1.8 billion over the next six years to foundations looking to find a  cure for polio. Gates is just one example who is using his money to make a difference just like Rockefeller and Carnegie. In a sense, if none of these men had money, they would not be able to contribute to the world what they have. Without Rockefeller and Carnegie, the U.S. we know today would not be the same.



Sources
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/bill-gates/9812672/Bill-Gates-interview-I-have-no-use-for-money.-This-is-Gods-work.html
http://www.edline.net/files/_EfGYe_/f55c55cde748ef0d3745a49013852ec4/John_D_Rockefeller_Bio.pdf
http://www.edline.net/files/_EfGX5_/a11882b861a51a603745a49013852ec4/Andrew_Carnegie_Bio.pdf
http://www.edline.net/files/_EfHIe_/cf8ad07e3892cfd73745a49013852ec4/Doug_Ernst-Inquiry_Lesson-Robber_or_Captain.pdf