Cam

1.  In the article Biological Warfare in the Eighteenth Century by Elizabeth Fenn the issue of biological means being used as weapons as brought into the question. In the article the author draws upon many sources and poses the question of whether the people had the knowledge of technology at the time to use biological means as an advantage over their foe. The biological weapon  that she is referring to as small pox. In the article she discussed in detail amny events and happenings that took place that may point to a general conclusion.

2. The author of the article is a history professor at George Washington University. For her sources she uses a number of journals and primary source documents. As well as the help of her colleagues. In addition to these being used as sources, she draws from historical books written upon related material.

3. The main points of Fenn’s article is that small pox played a very large role in many of the Indians dying in the 18th century. Though there is no definite proof, there is evidence to suggest that small pox was used as a weapon in order to eliminate indian foes who had no natural immunity to the disease. Fenn makes the point and stresses the issue if had the new settlers of American known that small pox could be used as weapon and intentionally used to kill, would it be morally justifiable? Her main point of the article is to make these points and put the idea of small pox being used as a weapon into context. Her conclusion is that it may not be proved for sure based off of the data but it can be put into context historically so one can understand both sides of the arguement.

4. I believe that the author did prove her point in the article. “It is clear, however, that while Native Americans suffered most from smallpox, they were neither the only targets of its use on the battlefield nor the only ones who leveled the charge against others.” she makes her point that small pox was devastating. “Biological warfare was therefore a reality in eighteenth-century.” in this quote she is making her point that biological warfare was a very real thing.

5. This article is very important in terms of understanding early american history. Small pox was devastating to all the the indians living North America. It is important that we understand how great the magnitude of the desaase was in order to understand warfare at the time.

Blog Assignment #2

1. T.H. Breen, in his article, examines the effect of commercial life in regards to trade with the British that eventually lead to the American Revolution. Breen asserts that in a rapidly changing political environment, colonists were forced to deal within a consumer marketplace. In these political and economically strenuous times strong commercial and secular interests motivated both English and American agenda. With heavy taxes being levied upon British imports, Americans rallied together and boycotted English imports. In this atmosphere came “the development of a concept of virtue that included any man or woman capable of economic restraint”(Breen, 501). The unintentional results of these commercial decisions being the American Revolution, Breen stresses the truly revolutionary aspects of this new capitalistic consumer market place.
2. In his article Breen places strong emphasis upon the effect of British politics regarding commerce. He describes how during the 7 Years war, British soldiers returned to England with reports of great luxuries and lavish lifestyle among the colonies. Facing  a national debt, Britain levied serious taxes and trade restrictions in order to exploit the Americans. In response, the Americans began to boycott British imports. Breen states: “the most striking aspect if the Revolutionary boycott is their utter novelty. No previous popular rebellion had organized itself so centrally around the consumer”(Breen, 486).  Breen attempts to explain the united front Americans presented to the British regarding commerce.  He  leads to the point that these acts by the British and Americans eventually lead up to what caused the American Revolution itself.
3. T.H. Breen uses many different sources in this article. He quotes pamphlets, letters, journals, newspapers, and articles as primary sources in his article. The majority of his information comes from newspapers of the time including: the Boston Gazette, the South Carolina Gazette, and the Pennsylvania Chronicle.

4. Breen’s article refutes the claim in Out of Many that “the glue that held the Americans together during this long struggle was the sense of National community that emerged in places like Valley Forge during the winter of 1777”(pg.166). Breen attests that Americans were bonded though a common distrust of the British Government and opposition to their commercial commerce ideals. They were united under the secular issue involving economical interests. Their opposition to severe taxes lead to their decision to boycott British imports and this united them as Americans in a struggle against the British.

5. I found Breen’s article to be persuasive on the argument of Commercial issues leading to the revolution. Breen was very concise in his writing and used my sources in order to back up his claims. In describing American colonists and their lavish displays of wealth to British soldiers, Breen states: “Self indulgence had been the colonists’ undoing”(Breen, 475). Breen changed the way in which I perceived the revolution and brought my attention to the strong economic issues that lead to a division between Britain and their colonies. Breen says that “Historians have failed to give the commercial perspective proper interpretive standing”(Breen, 476). I found this quote to be though provoking as Breen is saying these issues of commerce should be looked at with much more seriousness than most historians give them.

Blog Assignment #3

1. In the article by Campbell, the historical question the author is examining is the role of women in the Civil War in specific, the events surrounding the massacre of Columbia, South Carolina.  Campbell argues that “women of the South shared the components that made up the will to fight” (Campbell, 54). The essay is a case study, which examines the destruction of Columbia, the nature of women and honor, and their relationship to the Confederacy. All of these points are drawn together in a clear and concise manner draws light to the way in which women of the South were able to contribute to the war effort.
2. In the introduction, Campbell states that in the essay she wishes to highlight the bravery of the women in the South(in specific those of Columbia) and describe how they were able to resist Sherman’s soldiers through bravery and honor. The main points of her essay are that women “recognized the broader goal of the war, saw themselves as political actors, and shared the cultural mores of men of the same age and class”(Campbell, 66).  Men gained respect for their wives and their bravery.  Their authority over their wives was reclaimed after the war, but during the battle at Columbia they were able to assert their own autonomy and will to fight.
3. The main source of Campbell’s writing is primary sources from those who were present at the fighting a Columbia, South Carolina. She also cites historians such as James McPherson. She also uses several sources from Union troops and what they witnessed at the battle a Columbia. These personal accounts as well as opinions from historians who have studied the subject in detail help add to her essay. Campbell cites numerous women who helped with the effort in opposing the Union troops. In particular, Emma Leconte is used several times. She accounts her experiences in the massacre of the city of Columbia, ad she describes it as the “most diabolical act”(Campbell, 63). I believe that this use of sources does of a great job of portraying to the reader how real and horrifying the events were. Campbell is more credible as a writer due to her numerous sources.
4. In relation to Constructing the American Past, and Out of Many, Campbell elaborates on some of their points and detracts from others. In her essay she addresses the atrocity of the events surrounding a specific event as well as the role Southern women played in the Civil war.  The women put up with verbal and sometimes physical abuse but their strong will and bravery sent a message to the Union soldiers. Campbell addresses the idea of “True Womanhood” with their strong will to protect their families and work hard for the Confederacy’s cause. In Constructing, time is spent in describing how Southern women shared strong value in family and that is in fighting for the Confederacy they were protecting their family.  Also, there is mention of how the upper class women were allowed to flourish while the middle and lower often suffered greatly. Therefore views towards women are the same in both sources.  In Sherman’s March to the sea in Out of Many, it focuses on the entirety of the march and its effect on the war. Campbell’s article focuses on the specific event and elaborates on how the women were able to oppose the Union soldiers and contribute to the war effort in a way not anticipated.

5. In Campbell’s article she is able to introduce two ideals of “true womanhood” and “female honor.” She includes these in her argument by presenting how these strong willed women were able to show courage in opposing the Union army. With specific reference to women such as Emma Leconte who in private correspondence wrote: “the more they suffered the more determined they must be, disabusing the Yankees of the notion they were subdued”(Campbell, 63) Campbell disagrees with commentaries such as Faust that claim that the reason or the South’s defeat was the disillusionment of women from the war. This is evidenced by Campbell’s numerous citings of women sacrificing themselves for their families and Country. Sherman’s march to sea and destruction of Columbia is a definite example of “total war.” Sherman and his troops showed no mercy is the destruction of the city and had every intention of causing unnecessary damage. This seen with his destruction of livestock and food sources to the people. A example if Total War in American history is the destruction of Washington