Were Southern politicians more or les...

1. Were Southern politicians more or less likely to own slaves than other White Southerners?
Yes, the statistics show that politicians own more than just white families. 

2. Were higher level politicians more likely to own slaves than other politicians?

Yes. I think they felt that because they have more power in the government they should own a large amount of slaves. 

3. What do these facts suggest to you about the nature of the Southern political system?

The government officials aren't doing their job in listening to the people. Instead of stopping the Slave Trade, they are a huge part of it.

4. How uniform were the proportion of slaves in the population and the proportion of whites owning slaves across the South?

The amount of slaves in the populations aren't widespread but instead the percents are in the same range (40-60), except for Texas. The proportion of whites owning slaves across the South is pretty uniform because all except for Texas are in the range of 30-50%.

5. Was there a relationship between the number of slaves in a state's population and whether and when it seceded from the Union? 

There was a relationship. The higher the number of slaves in a state's population decided when it seceded from the Union because the white owners could not keep control. The higher number of slaves in a state's population meant that that state depended on the labor of the slaves. The northern states were able to keep their slaves because there were low percents of slaves in their population and their income didn't depend on their labor. 

6. What material advantages did the North possess on the eve of the Civil War?

The North was able to keep their slaves, thus they could make more railroads, farm more crops, and their output was higher. 

7. Do you think material advantages are decisive in the outcome of wars? Why or why not?

Definitely, because if one country has more guns and more ammo than the other, I think its self-explanatory as to who would win that fight. Maybe some countries have good strategies, but if they don't have the firepower they most likely won't kill anyone. Having more railroads and more mileage of railroads means easier transportation and capability to get to more places faster.

8. Why did troop strength peak in 1863?

Cannot be determined by the information given. 

9. Do you think that the differences in troop strength were responsible for the war's outcome?

Yes I do, because not only do wars need fire power, but they need soldiers. One man isn't going to win a fight against two unless he's like Jackie Chan or something. 

10. How does the cost of the Civil War--in casualties and expense--compare to the cost of other American wars?

It is probably the 3rd cheapest War compared to others. Plus people killed each other more and there were more diseases to kill soldiers.

11. Why do you think that the Civil War was so lethal?

I think the Civil War was so lethal because people weren't being wounded and sick, instead they were being killed in combat. Our medical science was not well equipped at the time. 

12. What was the radical Republican program for reconstructing the Union?

inflict punishment on rebel belligerents, confiscate all estate of every rebel's estate that was worth $10,000 or their land that exceeded 200 acres, then that land would go to each adult male freedman, changing "the whole fabric of southern society", the property of the rebels will pay for the national debt and indemnify freedmen and loyal sufferers, Rebel States will be divided into military districts and will be subject to military authority; 

13. What were the goals of the radical Republican program?

Get rid of "low white trash", and change the whole southern society. 

14. Why was the program unacceptable to President Andrew Johnson?

"The power... given to the commanding officer over all the people of each district is that of an absolute monarch." It can "reduce the whole population of the ten states to the most abject and degrading slavery." President Johnson doesn't like the fact that one officer is being given power over all the people, "his mere will is to take the place of all law."

15. Why do you think the North failed to follow through with policies that would have secured the rights and economic status of the freedmen?

I think they failed because their policies were tough. The North wanted to basically annihilate the southerners. Plus their authoritative figures were just one man. A big group of people can take down one man. 

16. What were the major political and social achievements of Reconstruction?

I don't think that anything immediately came out of the Reconstruction, but later in time, their amendments were considered effective. Slavery was eventually prohibited, so thats a win on their part. Also, citizenship was given nation wide and so was voting. 

Imperialism Essay

Imperialism vs. Humanitarianism

oil, resources, push gov style/ beliefs, pro kill, Racism

educate, infrastructure, democracy, sacrificing

Thesis: The period of American history in the late 19th century and early 20th century exemplifies the United States attempt to export it's beliefs and ideals in an imperialistic way by Example 1, Example 2, and Example 3.

Outline

"And so, by these Provinces of God -- and the phrase is the government's, not mine -- we are a World Power."

    Push culture/style on them

        a.  "There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos and uplift and civilize and Christianize them by God's grace do the very best we could by them..." President McKinely

        b. "My own belief is that there are not 100 men among the who comprehend what Anglo-Saxon self-government even means" Senator Albert Beveridge

        c. 

    Racism

        a. "1889-1903; 2 black americans every week (on average) were lynched by mobs- hanged, burned mutilated."

        b. "Dealing with Orientals"

        c. "our fighting blood was up, and we all wanted to kill (n-word)... This shooting human beings beats rabbit hunting all to pieces."

    Resources

        a. "No land in America surpasses fertility the plains and valleys of Luzon. Rice and coffee, sugar and coconuts, hemp and tobacco.... The wood of the Philippines can supply the furniture of the world for a century to come. At Cebu the best informed man on the island told me that 40 miles of Cebu's mountain chain are practically mountains of coal."

        b. "What we want is a market for our surplus"

        c. "And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets... Where shall we turn for our consumers of our surplus? Geography answers the question. China is our natural customer... The Philippines give us a base at the door of all the East."

    Conclusion answers questions doesn't put more out there.

Essay

    

    History has proven imperialist countries has advantages and disadvantages but also a rough road. Being imperialist may come with with good ends, but the ends don't always justify the means. America is an imperialist power. It has gone about getting the things it wants through harmful ways. To be an imperialist country is to do things for self benefit only. It would do things like push it's own government and culture on the other country, racism against the opponent would spread across the country, America is an imperialist country because we have done all these things. 

    The United States has shown its imperialist ways through resources. "No land in America surpasses fertility the plains and valleys of Luzon. Rice and coffee, sugar and coconuts, hemp and tobacco.... The wood of the Philippines can supply the furniture of the world for a century to come. At Cebu the best informed man on the island told me that 40 miles of Cebu's mountain chain are practically mountains of coal." From this statement anyone can tell that taking over the Philippines is not for their own good but for America's and what America can benefit from it. "What we want is a market for our surplus", this statement pretty much defines America as an Imperialist country. Being Imperialist, the goal is add on to what one already has. This statement also shows that America had no intentions of helping the Philippines. You can that the products the USA would sell in their market would be the abundant resources they get from the Philippines. "And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets... Where shall we turn for our consumers of our surplus? Geography answers the question. China is our natural customer... The Philippines give us a base at the door of all the East." This is another statement that shows America's goal for controlling the Philippines was for their own personal gains like making more money. 

    

     People see America as an imperialist country through it's racism. During the war with the Philippines there was immense racism that spread all around the country. At the end of his speech, Senator Albert Beveridge said, "Senators must remember that we are not dealing with Americans or Europeans. We are dealing with Orientals." Here he is comparing Americans and their ancestors, Europeans, to Orientals like they are some lower kind of human being. During the war against the Philippines, that is what people of America thought. "In the years between 1889 and 1903, on the average, every week, two black americans were lynched by mobs -- hanged, burned, mutilated." A humanitarian country would not be doing those kinds of things to people that are different than them. "Our fighting blood was up, and we all wanted to kill (n-word)... This shooting human beings beats rabbit hunting all to pieces."That just shows the kind of people Americans are. It got to a point where American soldiers didn't think of the war as a war but something related to game hunting and thought it was fun. Being a racist country during that war shows America is an imperialist power. 

    A most important attribute of imperialism is pushing government and culture onto another country. America's leader, President McKinley said, "There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos and uplift and civilize and Christianize them by God's grace do the very best we could by them..." He wants to make it sound like America has the best of intentions, but they are forcing their culture on the Filipinos. Through racist eyes that only see resources to be held and sold America makes it their business to force their form of government, religion, and education. They don't see that the Filipinos have their own way of living and were doing a fine job at it until Theodore Roosevelt decided, "I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one.", and an American soldier fired the first shot. "My own belief is that there are not 100 men among the who comprehend what Anglo-Saxon self-government even means", said Senator Albert Beveridge during the debate about whether or not to take the Philippines. So not only do Americans think Filipinos are lesser than them but they don't even think they are capable of governing themselves. Thus they feel the need to go into the Philippines and force their government on them. 

    There isn't any question that America is an imperialistic country. It has sought to take the Philippines for their resources and not to help them. It has put it's people in a higher ranking, thinking less of others who are different. America had also forced its own way of life onto the Filipinos. All of these reasons show self interest and self gain in an imperialist way. Mark Twain once commented on the Philippine war. He said, "And so, by these Provinces of God -- and the phrase is the government's, not mine -- we are a World Power."

    

4th Q. Research Project

Try to get 10,000 views on youtube with my Did You Know video. I'll fix my video by working on the details.

"Civil" War assignment

1. Use evidence to describe the economic impact of casino ownership and gambling on Native American tribes.
"Only 48 tribes earn more than $10 million a year on gaming." That's 48 tribes out of 557 in America. A "more typical" casino for a gambling hall owned by tribes includes 3 trailers far from an urban market and they barely earn $1 million a year. This $1 million is supposed to feed a community of people. It is no wonder that Indians have the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and disease. $1 million couldn't feed a town of Americans.

2. What is the most significant problem of trying to understand the condition of the modern Native American population?

The most significant problem of trying to understand the condition of the modern Native American population is that people try to "generalize 2 million people who belong to more than 500 different tribes, each with its own history, each living in different circumstances --" The only thing all Native Americans share is a relationship with the United States government.


3. In what ways are Native Americans a unique minority group in the United States? Do these reasons seem justified?

Native Americans are a unique minority group because they are; "distinct independent political communities retaining their original natural rights", "the only minority group in America that has signed peace treaties with the U.S government" and "the only ethnic group with a government agency specifically devoted to its well-being." These reasons do seem justified in that they have taken the routes to ensure their safety in America.

4. Please find 4 specific examples of the sorts of events generalized in this paragraph. For each specific example, include a hyperlink to a website explaining the specific event, and a summary of that event.
Making treaties

They were a primary mechanism for creating reservations and to secure alliances and acquire land.

forcing them onto/off reservations

It "provided Americans of European descent with a legal justification for depriving Indians of most of the continent and confining them to remote areas considered less desirable by whites."

dispatching children to boarding schools

It was a way to assimilate Native Americans. Army officer Richard Pratt said, "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man." Thus was the prime reason.

outlawing practice of their religion

White Americans thought that by doing this it was "... unquestionably a great assistance to the Indians in learning habits of self-government and in preparing themselves for citizenship." (quote from the site)

5. What is meant by the phrase 'diseases of the poor'? What is the relationship between economics and health implied by that phrase?

"Indians earn only a little more than hals as much money as the average American...a third of Native Americans live in poverty, which is more than twice the rate for Americans in general."

6. Is John McCain correct in his assessment of the treatment of Native Americans? Why?

Yes, his assessment is correct. He is correct because he stated facts and those facts make the USA look and sound terrible. To think that White Americans have pushed these smaller nations so much that they have to succumb to "poor" diseases is a "national disgrace".

7. Please define each of the following terms in the context of Native American policy:

* removal : doing whatever necessary, including killing and laws, to acquire what is wanted/ needed.

* allotment : Setting aside pieces of land to seclude owners.

* termination : 1950's way to "deal with the Indians", Congress should sever any ties with the Indians. It was supposedly intended to help Indians become self-sufficient but instead Indians were forced to survive on bare necessities.

* relocation : moving out of the home to foreign places.

* assimilation : to look, smell, and act like an "American" and do "American" things and be a part of the "American" culture

* self determination : "greater Indian control of reservations, less dependence on the BIA."

8. Finally, give a paragraph summary on what self determination means, and why it either is, or is not, the appropriate policy for Native American people with respect to the Federal government.

Self determination means to live however you choose and not having to consult someone else. It obviously wasn't the appropriate way for the Native Americans because they were slaughtered over the course of 500 years. I wouldn't blame them for wanting to be self determined. As a teenager I sometimes don't like consulting my parents for things I want to do, but if it involves life and death then I could give self determination up.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html
indian removal
http://www.indianlandtenure.org/ILTFallotment/introduction/introI.htm

Indian allotment

Local History proposal 4th Q

A collaborative page on the 60's using pages on pbworks.com

Research Project 3rd Quarter

Mind Map New Deal

Great Depression Mind Map

WW 2 Presentation Assignment #3

Assignment #2 World War 2

opinion

Facts

The Descision to Use Atomic Weapons
from

A People's War?
Howard Zinn

Still, the vast bulk of the American population was mobilized, in the army, and in civilian life, to fight the war, and the atmosphere of war enveloped more and more Americans. Public opinion polls show large majorities of soldiers favoring the draft for the postwar period. This is an opinion because it says "Public opinion". I don't know how to agree or disagree to this. I don't understand why the public would favor the draft -Steph stone 3/4/10 9:37 AM Hatred against the enemy, against the Japanese particularly, became widespread. Racism was clearly at work. Time magazine, reporting the battle of Iwo Jima, said: "The ordinary unreasoning Jap is ignorant. Perhaps he is human. Nothing .. . indicates it." .... This is coming from people who are at war with them. Obviously they are going to judge the Japanese, thus making it an opinion. I would disagree, I don't think Japanese people are ignorant or inhuman. Although my opinion of this probably would have been different had I been alive during that war. -Steph stone 3/4/10 9:38 AM
The bombing of Japanese cities continued the strategy of saturation bombing to destroy civilian morale; one nighttime fire-bombing of Tokyo took 80,000 lives. And then, on August 6, 1945, came the lone American plane in the sky over Hiroshima, dropping the first atomic bomb, leaving perhaps 100,000 Japanese dead, and tens of thousands more slowly dying from radiation poisoning. Twelve U.S. navy fliers in the Hiroshima city jail were killed in the bombing, a fact that the U.S. government has never officially acknowledged, according to historian Martin Sherwin (A World Destroyed). Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, with perhaps 50,000 killed.
The justification for these atrocities was that this would end the war quickly, making unnecessary an invasion of Japan. Such an invasion would cost a huge number of lives, the government said-a million, according to Secretary of State Byrnes; half a million, Truman claimed was the figure given him by General George Marshall. (When the papers of the Manhattan Project-the project to build the atom bomb- were released years later, they showed that Marshall urged a warning to the Japanese about the bomb, so people could be removed and only military targets hit.) These estimates of invasion losses were not realistic, and seem to have been pulled out of the air to justify bombings which, as their effects became known, horrified more and more people. Japan, by August 1945, was in desperate shape and ready to surrender.New York Times military analyst Hanson Baldwin wrote, shortly after the war:

The enemy, in a military sense, was in a hopeless strategic position by the time the Potsdam demand for unconditional surrender was made on July 26.
Such then, was the situation when we wiped out Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Need we have done it? No one can, of course, be positive, but the answer is almost certainly negative.

The United States Strategic Bombing Survey, set up by the War Department in 1944 to study the results of aerial attacks in the war, interviewed hundreds of Japanese civilian and military leaders after Japan surrendered, and reported just after the war:

Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated. I think this is an opinion because it can't be proven. We will never know if they were going to surrender. I disagree because its war. No one is going to surrender just because they are scared. I don't think I ever have recalled a war in which that has happened. -Steph stone 3/4/10 9:45 AM

But could American leaders have known this in August 1945? The answer is, clearly, yes. The Japanese code had been broken, and Japan's messages were being intercepted. It was known the Japanese had instructed their ambassador in Moscow to work on peace negotiations with the Allies. Japanese leaders had begun talking of surrender a year before this, and the Emperor himself had begun to suggest, in June 1945, that alternatives to fighting to the end be considered. On July 13, Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo wired his ambassador in Moscow: "Unconditional surrender is the only obstacle to peace.. .." Martin Sherwin, after an exhaustive study of the relevant historical documents, concludes: "Having broken the Japanese code before the war, American Intelligence was able to-and did-relay this message to the President, but it had no effect whatever on efforts to bring the war to a conclusion."
If only the Americans had not insisted on unconditional surrender- that is, if they were willing to accept one condition to the surrender, that the Emperor, a holy figure to the Japanese, remain in place-the Japanese would have agreed to stop the war. I think this is an opinion because we will never know. I'm sure they would have considered it more, but there are still things they wouldn't agree with, so maybe they would have kept pushing their luck to see what they could get out of the surrender. Although I agree with this opinion, some countries are more centrally religious than the U.S. and if they are allowed their religion or their God, they are more than willing to be under someone else's rule. -Steph stone 3/4/10 9:46 AM
Why did the United States not take that small step to save both American and Japanese lives? Was it because too much money and effort had been invested in the atomic bomb not to drop it? General Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project, described Truman as a man on a toboggan, the momentum too great to stop it. Or was it, as British scientist P. M. S. Blackett suggested (Fear, War, and the Bomb), that the United States was anxious to drop the bomb before the Russians entered the war against Japan? Definitely an opinion because he is voicing it. I have a feeling that Russia entering this war would have been some kind of factor in the timing of the bombs, so I guess I agree with it. -Steph stone 3/4/10 9:50 AM
The Russians had secretly agreed (they were officially not at war with Japan) they would come into the war ninety days after the end of the European war. That turned out to be May 8, and so, on August 8, the Russians were due to declare war on Japan, But by then the big bomb had been dropped, and the next day a second one would be dropped on Nagasaki; the Japanese would surrender to the United States, not the Russians, and the United States would be the occupier of postwar Japan. In other words, Blackett says, the dropping of the bomb was "the first major operation of the cold diplomatic war with Russia.. .." Blackett is supported by American historian Gar Alperovitz i think this is an opinion because other people could say that it wasn't the major operation of the war. I think I agree with this mainly because it was the first major operation. -Steph stone 3/4/10 3:33 PM (Atomic Diplomacy), who notes a diary entry for July 28, 1945, by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, describing Secretary of State James F. Byrnes as "most anxious to get the Japanese affair over with before the Russians got in."
Truman had said, "The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians." It was a preposterous statement. Those 100,000 killed in Hiroshima were almost all civilians. The U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey said in its official report: "Hiroshima and Nagasaki were chosen as targets because of their concentration of activities and population."
The dropping of the second bomb on Nagasaki seems to have been scheduled in advance, and no one has ever been able to explain why it was dropped. Was it because this was a plutonium bomb whereas the Hiroshima bomb was a uranium bomb? Were the dead and irradiated of Nagasaki victims of a scientific experiment? Martin Shenvin says that among the Nagasaki dead were probably American prisoners of war. He notes a message of July 31 from Headquarters, U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces, Guam, to the War Department:

Reports prisoner of war sources, not verified by photos, give location of Allied prisoner of war camp one mile north of center of city of Nagasaki. Does this influence the choice of this target for initial Centerboard operation? Request immediate reply.

The reply: "Targets previously assigned for Centerboard remain unchanged."
True, the war then ended quickly. Italy had been defeated a year earlier. Germany had recently surrendered, crushed primarily by the armies of the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front, aided by the Allied armies on the West. Now Japan surrendered.

Assignment #1 World War II

James "Horse Collar" Smith

On September 27, the 1st Raider Battalion would help launch an attack near the mouth of the Matanikau River. Poor intelligence greatly underestimated the strength of the Japanese defenses facing them, turning the operation into a disaster. The Japanese halted the Raiders and 5th Marines' advance at the mouth of the river and nearly wiped out the amphibious landings by another Marine battalion at Point Cruz. Jim "Horse Collar" Smith recalls the battle.

We were on this narrow trail along the east side of the Matanikau River, a steep cliff on the other side. As we snaked up the side of the trail, a guy named Ed Mertz had a kidney stone. And here we are plastered alongside the trail with Japs on the other side of the river and this guy Mertz goes down screaming, clutching his gut. I remember thinking, "Oh, God, we are going to get it." It was just a little farther along there that C Company was just a little ahead of us. Ken Bailey [the battalion executive officer and Medal of Honor recipient for his actions on Bloody Ridge], with his runner right behind him, was dashing across a log footbridge, caught a Nambu [machine gun] between the eyes and went down. I would probably sit down and start crying right then and there, because I know that there isn't anyone who would be wiling -Steph stone 2/24/10 9:57 AM If I ever saw anyone get shot like that I would break down and cry too. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. -julie smith 3/4/10 9:07 AM I am pretty sure I would be traumatized for life if I haven't been already. That is so unreal to think about, something dying or getting shot right in front of your face. How are you supposed to live your life normally after watching something like that? -Brittany Gurr 3/4/10 9:10 AM

A little later in the day -- I guess we were still heading south -- Sam Griffith got shot in the shoulder at about 300 meters. That left us with a bunch of young 1st lieutenants (who had just made 1st lieutenant), and there was actually a discussion at the CP as to who was the senior officer. I would feel like I had to step up and be a leader because all the other ones got shot. Then again, I would be scared to because all the other leaders are dead. -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:16 AM I agree with you because you have the responcibility to be the leader but who would want to lead a group of the dead? Plus that would make you fear pretty much everything. -julie smith 3/4/10 9:05 AM Sounds like these men are inexperienced and that is scary if you were part of that army. Having an inexperienced soldier as a leader isn't really the best option, but what more can you do? like you said, the others are dead-Brittany Gurr 3/4/10 9:11 AM Edson was in a state of shock after Bailey was killed. It affected [Bailey's runner] more than anything else. He had been Major Bob Brown's runner until the ridge, and Brown was killed coming off the ridge. Someone said to him, "You must be a jinx, because this was the second major you lost." Oh my word!!! Thats awful, I understand from emotion of the situation why he said that. If I was Brown I'd want to kill myself because of the but also because I would believe it and I wouldn't want anyone else being shot.-Steph stone 3/2/10 9:18 AM I could never say anything like that to someone. I understand heat of the moment but in situations like that people would really freak out. -julie smith 3/4/10 9:08 AM This man can not actually blame the soldier for his leader's death. Come on! Make the man feel worse than he already does. That's the way to do it! Obviously, I am being sarcastic. -Brittany Gurr 3/4/10 9:12 AM The poor kid became unglued. It was a terrible thing to say.

I remember when we pulled Bailey into the aid station in a poncho. Aid station [sigh] -- a couple of guys sitting on logs and doctors treating them. There was a kid by the name of Dobson who had been shot right in the groin. His face was absolutely dead white, you couldn't believe it. He just sat there and held his stomach. Everybody knew he was going to die, and he knew he was going to die. Not a murmur out of him; talk about stoicism. I don't know what stoicism means, but darn that takes a lot of guts. I would be so scared and sad. I would feel so awful if I were a doctor in that situation, especially knowing that there is nothing i can do to help him. -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:21 AM I totally agree, he said nothing and was dying and everyone around him knew it. I would feel absolutely awful and so sad. -amber brown 3/2/10 9:36 AM He died shortly after that. He just slid off the log and was dead. A man next to him had a flesh wound and was crying like a baby. Talk about a contrast. Yeah, thats what I said after I read this sentence (Talk about contrast). Even though it is a flesh wound, I have to wonder if what the man is crying about doesn't just involve him being shot, but the results. He has to go back out and shoot more Japanese and hopefully not have to come back to the aid station. -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:24 AM That would be hard to be shot and even though its not going to kill him he has to go back out and fight some more, it would be very hard cause it could onloy get worse. -amber brown 3/2/10 9:39 AM I believe he must be scared, steph. I agree; i do not think he is just crying because of the death. He has to be scared because he has to go back and keep killing. I think maybe he is sad because deep down maybe he wants to be dead rather than having to keep fighting. -Brittany Gurr 3/4/10 9:13 AM

Eventually they pulled us out of there because the Japs were well entrenched on the other side of the footbridge.

Dave Tabor WWII Assignment 1

Dave Taber was one of "Horse Collar" Smith's communicators who fought bravely among Sweeney's men. Six of the seven men were casualties that night.

We were on top of the ridge near the command post. Major Bailey came up and made an eloquent speech. He said something like this: "All you fellows have buddies and friends that have been wounded and killed, and it will all be in vain if we lose the airfield. Now let's get out, hold the line, and save the airfield. If we lose the airfield, we're going to lose the island." That was about the gist of it. It was quite dramatic and got everybody moving. I thought to myself it was almost like something out of a movie.

I was with a close friend of mine, Ike Arnold. (Ike's name was really Herman Arnold, but I called him Ike.) We each had five or six grenades. We went out. I'm not sure what happened, but somehow we got separated from some of the other guys. In fact we were a little too extended, I guess. When the Japs attacked, we were throwing grenades. There was a lot of shooting going on, a lot of action: rifle fire, grenades moving so fast. I would be so nervous and scared hearing all those gun shots going on.  I get nervous when I hear hunters in the woods near my house shooting off their guns. -Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 8:53 AM

I get especially nervous when I head gunshots and my dog is outside. I get in a panic and look for him and if I can't find him from my window I'll go outside and yell to him and search outside until I find him.-Steph stone 3/2/10 9:04 AM

I would be more nervous and scared then anything hearing all that shooting and seeing everyone dying. I would not even know what to do with myself. -amber brown 3/2/10 9:20 AM 

 Anyway, we were throwing grenades down the ridge, and then all the sudden Ike talked to me. [Choking up, Taber said, "I'd rather not go through this," but then continued.] He called me Tabe. He said very calmly, "Tabe, I've been hit." I turned to him. He was off to my side a little, and I said, "Where?" He said, "In the throat." He no more than said that, and he was dead.  I can not imagine having one of my friends die right in front of me. I would be so shocked and feel helpless. I know that if I was in that situation I would not just stand around. I would feel like I can still help them, even though I know that they clearly are never going to be alive again.-Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 8:54 AM  He must have been hit in the jugular vein or an artery. Blood just gushed out. I had my arm underneath him, across his back, and I lowered him down to the ground. [crying] There's nothing you could do. He was a very good friend of mine. I looked around, and I was all by myself. I don't want to imagine one of my friends dying right in front of me. I would probably do the same. (feel like I can still help them when I know that there is nothing I can do) I might start telling him "No", because I don't want to believe that my friend is telling me that he is dying. -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:07 AM  The most difficult thing ever would be, for me, is seeing someone i love, a friend die in front of me. I  would need some serious help after that. -amber brown 3/2/10 9:23 AM 

I thought to myself that I better get back and make contact with the others. I didn't know whether to crawl back or walk back because there was danger both ways. We'd been told what to do in these cases. I acted without even thinking. I decided to stay on my feet. It was pitch dark. I was walking a little bit, and all the sudden I heard something behind me and along comes a grenade right through the air and the fuse is burning! Before I knew what I was doing, I fell on my face away from it. As I was going down, I turned to see where the grenade was falling; it fell in between my feet. I had sharpnel between my feet and legs. I was a little stunned but got up. I was in shock, and nothing was bothering me. I would definitely be in shock, I don't know if I'd get up and start walking, I'd probably just lay there.  -Steph stone 3/2/10 8:58 AM  I'm walking along slowly and heard a Japanese voice behind me and he was talking to me. He must have thought I was a Jap going up in front of him. I had a .03 rifle and I swung around and shot,  Killing someone is so unreal. Can you imagine? I am pretty sure, however, that if it came down to my safety, or war for this matter, I would know that it is my duty to do this. The only time I would ever shoot someone was if my family, friends, or myself was in danger.-Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 8:56 AM  Same here. I can't imagine it, but if it came down to it and my life depended on it, and I had just seen my friend die in my arms, I would be filled with rage and feel the instincts to kill them before they killed me.  -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:00 AM I agree with both of you. I think anyone if it came down to the safty of loved ones  or yourself anyone would do the same. But to kill man after man must have been extremly hard. -amber brown 3/2/10 9:26 AM  and he dropped as I kept on going. I finally got back [to the CP], and one of the first people I ran into was Horse Collar Smith, who was wounded.

Ira Gilliand recalls his night on the...

Ira Gilliand recalls his night on the ridge.

It's tough to talk about this stuff. It's been fifty-eight years. It gives me the chills thinking about it.

The Japanese were trying to outflank us and looked like they were going to overrun our position. I remember their screams. They screamed a lot, especially when they were charging. It made you alert in a hurry even after being up for two days and you're ready to fall asleep.Its hard for me to imagine being there and hearing the screams with absolutely no sleep and having to be so alert just to stay alive. -amber brown 3/2/10 8:54 AM  When I am tired, there is no "alerting" me with anything. I just can not stay up if I am exhausted. However, I  understand having to be alert at a critical time like this soldier was in. It is his duty to fight. -Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 8:59 AM 

They kept charging, but that's where the grenades came in. We threw grenades all night long. I remember rolling the grenades down. We were up on the hill and they were below us. They kept feeding us boxes of grenades.I feel that in this situation I would feel bad for killing all those men but you would have to do it to save your own life and I would be scared to death with all that going on around me. -amber brown 3/2/10 8:59 AM  I would also have a hard time killing the Japanese, but I guess we have to remember that these men were probably trained to not feel a sense of sadness for killing them. I mean, I am sure that the men had a hard time dealing with the stress that came from shooting the Japanese, however, it was there job, again. -Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 9:05 AM  I remember the sound of Plante's BAR. He kept it going all night long. A lot of guys spent a terrible night out there.

The 1st Parachute Battalion was with us. I remember one of the paratroopers got shot. The corpsman came over because of his cry for help, and he [the corpsman] got shot right through the heart. His name was Smith, so when I saw Smith go down, I grabbed him and carried him down the hill. I didn't think he was going to die. When I got him down to the first aid station, I saw one of our doctors cry. [chokes up] Old Smitty was my friend, a real nice guy, and I broke down also.This would be the hardest thing for me to deal with watching someone who was my friend get shot and then die right in front of me. And to be in the first aid station and even seeing the doctors cry, it would be very difficult for me.  -amber brown 3/2/10 9:05 AM  It would also be very difficult to me. I mean, Amber, can you imagine seeing me in the hospital dying? I know that I couldn't imagine seeing you in that state. -Brittany Gurr 3/2/10 9:09 AM 

  

Yeah, I don't know if I would be able to function, not sleeping for 2 days and then hearing screams. I think I would break down and sit down where I was and hope I didn't die. I probably couldn't deal with seeing someone being shot right through the heart. I know I wouldn't want to stay at the first aid station, seeing people die.  -Steph stone 3/2/10 8:49 AM 

Ira Gilliand recalls his night on the...

Ira Gilliand recalls his night on the ridge.

It's tough to talk about this stuff. It's been fifty-eight years. It gives me the chills thinking about it.It's interesting that after that many years he still gets a weird feeling about that everything that happened -julie smith 2/24/10 9:11 AM 

The Japanese were trying to outflank us and looked like they were going to overrun our position. I remember their screams. They screamed a lot, especially when they were charging. It made you alert in a hurry even after being up for two days and you're ready to fall asleep.I couldn't stay awake for that long and still be ready to battle at anytime. -julie smith 2/24/10 9:15 AM  Me either. I think I would be shaking, from being so tired and scared and nervous from the shots. I would definitely fall down.  -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:14 AM 

They kept charging, but that's where the grenades came in. We threw grenades all night long. I remember rolling the grenades down. Thats amazing that he remembers that kind of thing 58 years later. But I guess I would too if I was in this situation.  -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:15 AM  We were up on the hill and they were below us. They kept feeding us boxes of grenades. I remember the sound of Plante's BAR. He kept it going all night long. A lot of guys spent a terrible night out there.

The 1st Parachute Battalion was with us. I remember one of the paratroopers got shot. The corpsman came over because of his cry for help, and he [the corpsman] got shot right through the heart. His name was Smith, so when I saw Smith go down, I grabbed him and carried him down the hill. I didn't think he was going to die.It shows lots of courage that he would carry him down the hill risk his life to save someone else. -julie smith 2/24/10 9:14 AM  It really does, especially after he saw the guy go down by being shot in the heart, after I saw that I would go and check to see if he's still alive. I don't know if I would carry him. I'm not the brave.   -Steph stone 3/2/10 9:12 AM  When I got him down to the first aid station, I saw one of our doctors cry. [chokes up] Old Smitty was my friend, a real nice guy, and I broke down also.

Assignment #3 JFK Murder

--Hi mimi!

  I have a project for history that requires me to email someone who would have been alive during the JFK shooting. I know it happened in 1963 and Lee Harvey Osmond was the man that shot him. Could you exlpain your memory of what happened. How do you think this event impacted the country?

 

 

lots of love,

Stephanie

--I remember exactly where I was --I was at the doctors office in Worcester, Mass and Ann the rec. heard it on the radio.  I was there for an appointment because i was pregnant with your

dad.  It was a tragic time for America.  Everybody was just stunned, why would this happen to our popular president.  I think on that day we lost our innocence and our society became more negative.  He held so much promise for America and with his death we lost that hope.  If you need more just let me know.

--Thank you so much!!! :) :)

I really do appreciate it. 

Have a good night.

Cold War Assignment #2

Cold War Assignment #1

    The U.S citizens might be afraid of what would happen to them if they were under the rule of Valeriano Weyler. They would certianly be afraid that they would be blown to smithereens because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. A final reason American citizens would be afraid is because Communism is trying to spread and if it catches fire in the U.S they lose their rights. 

3rd Quarter Research project topic

I'm going to do a 'Did You Know?' video on Women in the world and Women Rights.
Get a bunch of statistics and make about a 4 minute video.

Local History Q, 3

I'm going to try and get access to the Corinna Town Hall/ Library. Maybe get access to the jail in the cellar, give a virtual tour. If anyone would have the time, possibly interview someone to see how they like working there. How long they have been there. What they do there. WHat they know about the building. refer me to someone else. who built why built. always used for. always town hall. whered money come from. get added to. pride for ppl of corinna?

Civil Rights Speech

We are young adults! If we don't stand up for ourselves now! Our future will be in a white man's hands! Are we to be treated like our grandmothers that we may or may not even be related to?! NO! I say we stand up now! And fight for our future, now! But before we can fight a war we need to unite ourselves from within. We need to join our fellow teenage enemies in order to reach a happy neighborhood and life. Not only is our ultimate goal our freedom, but also to live in peace with others who aren't of the same skin. Blame is being put everywhere! We should not be blamed for our color! However, as we follow Malcom, we will not put the blame to others. It will end with start of equality! Let us not direct the blame anywhere, especially not to our God! If we believe in Him, He will not lead us down that suicidal path! It is not the whites we need to remove, but the cancer of racism! In order for us to do something now, we need to follow Malcom X and help him, help us.

Civil Rights Speech

We are young adults! If we don't stand up for ourselves now! Our future will be in a white man's hands! Are we to be treated like our grandmothers that we may or may not even be related to?! NO! I say we stand up now! And fight for our future, now! But before we can fight a war we need to unite ourselves from within. We need to join our fellow teenage enemies in order to reach a happy neighborhood and life. Not only is our ultimate goal our freedom, but also to live in peace with others who aren't of the same skin. Blame is being put everywhere! We should not be blamed for our color! However, as we follow Malcom, we will not put the blame to others. It will end with start of equality! Let us not direct the blame anywhere, especially not to our God! If we believe in Him, He will not lead us down that suicidal path! It is not the whites we need to remove, but the cancer of racism! In order for us to do something now, we need to follow Malcom X and help him, help us.