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BLOG ASSIGNMENT #1- FENN

1.  Elizabeth A. Fenn discusses the accusations of the British intentionally contaminating the Native Americans with smallpox.  Native Americans accused British leader, Jeffery Amherst, of  intentionally infecting the Native Americans with smallpox as a way to kill them off or force them to move so the British can establish civilization.

2. Elizabeth A. Fenn uses many books and journals as sources.  She also quotes Simeon Ecuyer, who was the captain, and officer in charge of Fort Pitt, where all the infections took place.  The British forces made it seem that they were doing the Native Americans a favor by selling them handkerchiefs and blankets, hence the saying “two blankets and a handkerchief.”  However, unbeknownst to the Native Americans, the British forces were helping cure a disease they allegedly infected them with,

3. Elizabeth Fenn dissusses the probability that the British forces indeed, infected the Native Americans with smallpox.  In this mischeivious and shady approach of the forces there has been resourceful information that these accusations are in fact, true.  Fenn believes that this is true because of the extra examples of intentional smallpox formed.  Cases of smallpox were founded later with the French. This only solidifies the accusation that smallpox was intentionally distributed.

4.Fenn proves her point that smallpox was intentionally distributed.”But the accusation may well reflect a Native American perception that since they had caught the disease while fighting for the French, the French were therefore responsible for the devastation it caused.”(Fenn, 28)  Fenn proves her argument by using strong and relevant examples that support her argument.  Accusations aroused again in the future years during the Revolutionary War that the British were purposelly distributing smallpox to weaken the opponent. “At Boston, charges of deliberate smallpox propagation by the British cropped up even before the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord. “The [British] soldiers try all they can to spread the smallpox.” (Fenn, 31)

Blog Assignment #2 — Bouton

1. Terry Bouton interprets and explains the effect that the insurgencies of the farmers in rural Pennsylvania had on the newly founded countries’ economy.  The farmers in Pennsylvania felt that they needed to make a statement to society by blocking roads, highways and creating barriers to ensure that the crops and agriculture would be dispersed more evenly and throughout more areas of the new country.  Bourton discusses the major impact it had on America’s economy by new policies that were implemented and promoted by Robert Morris.  Robert Morris promoted a policy that “benefited the economic interests of the elite was good for the nation, even if it produced widespread hardships for the ordinary citizens.”(864)

2.Due to the farmers choice to build barriers to outlaw local distribution, Bouton discusses the major negative impact this decision had on the economy.  This hurt the economy and created a large debt that was impossible to recover.  Sheriff’s would auction of possessions to gain money back and “92% of the time goods were sold at an auctions, the selling price failed to cover the debt.”(860)  Another main point, Bourton discussed was the new policies society had to cope with. Robert Morris was a firm supporter of an elitist type of society in which the money would be distributed to the wealthy who knew how to “make the most productive use of the money.”(864)  This caused a lot of tension as the Pennsylvanians rightfully so believed that this policy is countered to what the new Revolution of the country stands for.  Their new country which was founded on the principles of “equality” is contradicting itself by dispersing more money to the citizens who are more affluent than the average citizens.

3.Bourton uses great examples and sources to support his arguments. In his essay, he includes a bar graph that clearly illustrates the major effect the exclusion of crops to the country had on the foreclosures of properties.  The graph illustrates how much more amounts of land had to be foreclosed in Western Pennsylvania than Eastern Pennsylvania.  Bourton uses examples from The Constitutions of 1776 an 1790. He uses the document to support his arguments regarding Robert Morris’ theory of changing society from the already established free-will society to an elitist society.

4.Bouton’s article gives examples that are very similar to Shay’s Rebellion. The most significant similar aspect between these two situations is that they pointed out the errors of the constitution. Shay’s Rebellion influenced Massachusetts to ratify the Constitution and Bourton’s example with the farmers showed flaws in the Constitution and eventually led to questioning. Both of these instances made the Constitution and our country stronger as these issues united our country and improved the constitution so future problems would not arise. These instances are also similar because they resemble the issue of monetary system.  In Shay’s rebellion the citizens demanded paper money as a use of currency.  During this essay, the citizens also encouraged paper money as an easier and more precise way of currency.

5.I found Terry Bourton’s article to be very persuasive.  He was able to do this as he provided each statement followed by a relevant example.  He used reliable sources that further supported his article to make the reader truly grasp what author was trying to accomplish. I thought it was very thought-provoking to see how our country responded to Morris’ policy on benefiting the wealthy and taxing the average citizens.  It was interesting to see how the new countries citizens united and protested this policy as it directly conflicted with the principles of the Constitution.

Blog Assignment #3- Jacqueline Campbell

1. Throughout the essay, “The Most Diabolical Act of Barbarous War,” Jacqueline Campbell explains the major impact the women had in defending their homes and families against William Sherman during his infamous “Sherman’s March” in Charleston, South Carolina.  William Sherman believed that his troops would have little trouble in burning and pillaging the town of Colombia with the men at war, however, the wives of soldiers and women were the reason for Sherman’s hardships while attempting to destroy this area  Campbell discusses this event as a symbol for the increased role of feminism in this significant era in United States history.  She uses relevant and specific examples throughout the essay to persuade the audience about the increased and important role the women had during this time.
2. Jacqueline Campbell discusses the relationship between the portrayal of war to men and the portrayal of war to women.  Campbell uses examples in which the women were able to defend their homes and families in a way that would be considered just as successful or more successful than ways men would be able to defend.  “Although elite white women may have lacked the physical strength of menfolk, they were able to call upon other weapons with which to defend their homes and persons.” (Campbell,58)  Campbell’s conclusion was that women were perceived as more masculine and more authoritative after this event not only by the Union army, but also by all citizens of the United States.
3. Campbell’s arguments and ideas become more credible with her specific and reliable sources such as quotations by women during this period as well as examples from Union authorities.  A source that one found interesting and relevant was the quotation from William Simms. “William Simms later praised the women of Columbia for their ‘almost masculine firmness,’ displayed in a spirit of ‘inflexible endurance.’”(Campbell, 58)  This is a very credible source because it completely supports her main arguments and the source comes from an authoritative male during that time.
4. Campbell does a good job of incorporating examples that other sources such as Constructing American Past and Out of Many fail to detail.  Women’s roles during Sherman’s March was much more than maintaining the family activities such as cooking, cleaning and taking care of their children.  Campbell uses strong evidence to support her idea that women were not only fighting to defend their families and homes, but they were also fighting for the same reason as their husbands which was defending their country.  During this time “true womanhood” meant more than cooking, cleaning and upholding the house.
5. Jacqueline Campbell incorporates the notions of “true womanhood” throughout her essay by providing examples that showed bravery in women during this time. “One of his (Sherman) Comrades commented that this so-called ‘tender sex’ were the match of the ‘roughest and most brutal soldier.’ It made it difficult for one Union office to overlook ‘what the women of the South had done to keep up this war.” (Campbell, 58)  A unique example that Campbell used was when discussing ways women were able to defend their homes that were creative and unique to women but nonetheless powerful as well.  She discusses a time in which women were able to stop soldiers by kneeling and signing a loud psalm in the direct path of the soldiers.  This gesture had a “’strange incantation’ that had an immediate influence on the soldiers in question.”(Campbell, 57)  Sherman’s March is considered a total war as it was an attempt to destroy all natural, technological and military resources within a certain area.  I do believe that the Union deciding to “broaden the war so that it directly affected the citizens” was a new tactic in American history.  It was the first time in history that it was used against fellow American citizens to win a battle.  I think it was significant because it made citizens of that area feel stronger and more passionate about their country, which heightened the immense meaning of the war.