Refrigerating Ripple Effect

                                                                     

           Why the Evolution of Refrigeration Saved Us

                                                                    By Adam Tyler

Refrigeration used to be just a way to cool your food and drinks so they would taste better, but it has continuously evolved from this. Now, refrigeration helps people become healthier and safer by improving the industrial process. Before we Americans had our fancy new refrigerators, the Chinese stored harvested ice before the 1^stmillennium. Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans placed big amounts of snow into storage pits, covered the cooling agent with insulated material. the Egyptians had to fill up earth-like jars with boiled water from lakes, then they would stick it on the roof so the night's cold air would freeze it. Although these were clever ideas at the time, the water they used probably had some contaminated minerals within it which made some people a little nervous about how much refrigeration helped it. This soon lead to refrigeration evolving to make refrigeration safer for health as well as more secure for the environment. According to FindingDulcinea, this went all the way from iceboxes to electric refrigeration. This also lead to it becoming industrial as it helped the food and liquid business make their product healthier.

In later days, people resorted to preserving food in cellars, window boxes, and even underwater to cool their food and water. Since there became a consumer demand for fresh food, a man named Nathaniel Wyeth soon cheaply and quickly cut down ice blocks, which soon lead to a great ice supply. The first real fridge was made in September 1918 in Detroit. And in 1879, 35 ice plants were created which had developed a new stage in the industrial process with ice. Now people could regularly use ice for their food and drinks instead of storing them in strange places where their items were less likely to become cold (cellars, window boxes, underwater). From the source ASHRAE, there were apparently some complaints about the ice plants being too “deadly” to the environment, so this encouraged Australia to build a new mechanical-like refrigeration unit. Soon, everyone had this wonderful mechanical fridge which had the best chance of keeping food and water safe and secure while being cold. This really improved the industrial process as it was soon used for several types of food and liquids which made the people who ate and drank them healthier.

The Evolution of Refrigeration

The industrial process refrigeration probably helped the most was the meat industry. Although it took a while to improve the meat industry with refrigeration, the payoffs were big. Originally, people didn’t eat too much meat as they couldn’t quite find a way to make it fresh and healthy to eat as they were worried they could get a disease from it. This made people feel paranoid about meat. However, there was soon a way to make cooling meat, fast, safe, and secure with refrigeration in the industry business. A little while after the mechanical fridge was created, there were now storage freezers which according to Danfoss, stored meat in an accurate temperature-controlled and stainless steel (no corrosion) environment. There was also the invention of fridge cars, which could store meat in the fresh cold and get it easily from one place to another. This helped a lot. Because of this, people began buying meat more and eating it since they felt better it was placed into a refrigerator, so now there was a less likely chance of disease or sickness. People would now also have a longer lifespan since meat was now healthier since they could place the meat in their own fridge and eat it as leftovers without it tasting worse.

That's Some Healthy Frozen Meat!

Another thing refrigeration helped with the industrial process was brewing beer. Although this wasn’t exactly healthy from the start, refrigerators made beer safer to drink and more cold so it would taste better. Originally, Germans gave America its very own ale compared to our beer. We liked it so much, we decided to brew this new alcohol in newly refrigerated breweries. According to History Magazine, brewing was also the first activity to use refrigeration in the north, as it had primarily been used in the south until then. The first company to use refrigeration in a brewery started out in Brooklyn, New York. Soon, every brewery had a refrigeration unit to improve their beer quality and business. By being improved by the power of the refrigerator, more people drank beer which although was not healthy at all, lead to healthier things. Since beer improved after refrigeration, people soon decided to use it to improve meat, and that’s where the healthiness of refrigeration truly began to shine.

A State of the Art Fermentation Fridge

In conclusion, refrigeration did improve health by improving the industrial society through making food healthier to consume and drinks healthier (or at least better) to drink. According to the USDA(US Department of Agriculture), people needed to keep their fridges clean to do so and so industrial companies had to occasionally clean fridge trucks and refrigeration storage units to keep the food and drinks fresh and not become contaminated with bacteria in the food, but this was just a minor price to pay. Although, leftovers still don’t taste as good the first time today, refrigeration greatly improved the quality of them which also made us healthier. And if Americans continue to use their fridge, they will be less worried about health risks of the food and become healthier as they are encouraged to eat more food (like meat) thanks to the improvement of industrialization because of refrigeration.

            

Resources:

- The Impact of Refrigeration-History Magazine

- Refrigeration and Food Safety-USDA

- Meat Processing-Danfoss

- History of Refrigeration Timeline-ASHRAE

- The History of the Refrigerator: Staying Cool Throughout the Ages-Finding Dulcinea

The Truth About Thanksgiving

Adam Tyler

November 27, 2018

The Truth About Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

            Although many people think of Thanksgiving as a holiday to celebrate arriving at American and making peace with the Natives there, the truth about Thanksgiving is that it was in fact a celebration of triumph, not peace. Some people still think of this theory as “absurd” and “delusional”, while some think of it as truthful to adults. The whole story of the Pilgrims coming to Massachusetts and being greeted by the Natives there and ending up in a grand feast is what we tell the children of society so they will feel comforted and happy that there was not too big of a conflict (besides men dying of disease). Yet, this isn’t particularly true. What probably happened was that in 1914, Tisquantum (Squanto) and some other Natives were captured and taken to Europe where they were sold as slaves from the Plymouth 400. Eventually in the 1830s, England started to think of this as a holiday. Although they didn’t say the term “Thanksgiving”, it was still thought of as special as they viewed themselves as having triumped over the Natives, not so much as making peace with them. So, Europe wasn’t so innocent when it came to Natives, contrary to what kids might think since we teach them false lessons about Thanksgiving in school.

            Also, another thing that differed from how children viewed Thanksgiving was that they were taught that Pilgrims came to Plymouth as they were seeking religious freedom. However, in reality, the Pilgrims mostly came to Plymouth against religious freedom instead of for it because they were not very fond of other people worshipping “false” gods at the time, so some of the Pilgrims travelled to Plymouth to get away from the people they deemed of worshipping “false” gods. This part of the children’s story is mostly cut out or not mentioned whatsoever so kids won’t be “encouraged” to become xenophobic or racist in any way. In fact, before the voyagers were called Pilgrims in 1880, they were originally called Separatists (like some of the bad guys from Star Wars), which made the people sound more sinister after everyone saw Star Wars, making them seem like xenophobic travelers who wanted everyone to becomes exactly like them. So, to get away from people they didn’t like was another reason the Pilgrims had to celebrate Thanksgiving.

            

            Perhaps the most confusing fact of the creation of Thanksgiving is that there was no true evidence that Natives were invited to the feast held by the Pilgrims. There wasn’t even evidence that they acquired turkey or pumpkin pie for the first Thanksgiving. However, in stories we tell to children, the Natives were clearly invited by the Pilgrims and they had a lovely feast together. It’s unknown if this really happened, but some think that the Natives rather just showed up to the feast instead of being formally invited (like the stereotype of the one guy at a party who wasn’t invited). It’s possible that the Pilgrims were planning to just celebrate by themselves and didn’t even care that the Natives supposedly helped them live on Plymouth or it could be that the Pilgrims just somehow adapted themselves and that they didn’t want the Natives’ help. Either way, the Pilgrims triumphed that they had made it this far, with or without help from the Natives, but didn’t seem to show them much gratitude if they weren’t invited.

            The true reason Thanksgiving was made a traditional holiday wasn’t because of peace with Natives, it was because of the victories of war in later years. In 1789, George Washington wanted thanks to celebrate the end of a war and the ratification of the US Constitution, however no formal declarations were issued. Eventually in 1861, Jefferson Davis issued Thanksgiving in Southern states after victories in the South during the Civil War. And in 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued Thanksgiving after Northern victories. Thanksgiving was seen as a great feast for thanks of winning war, not forming peace during the Civil War. If this is what Thanksgiving was for in the Civil War, couldn’t it be for the same purpose in the 1600s on Plymouth? For victory?

            Before Thanksgiving was here to stay, traditions became very different in New York especially in the late 19^thcentury to the early 20^thcentury. Instead of just being called Thanksgiving, it was called “Ragamuffin Day” or “Thanksgiving Masking”. This was when poor children dressed up in costumes (like a faust, bandit, or sailor) and begged adults for money, candy, or fruit (sound familiar? Halloween?). If you dress up strange and are practically begging people for things, what are you really thankful for? It’s degrading and just sad. If you are thankful for anything on Ragamuffin Day, it’s that you get food or money, which is kinda different from what Thanksgiving’s purpose was supposed to be, spending time with family and friends and being peaceful with each other. Instead. on Ragamuffin Day, you try to get as much as you can beg for and celebrate it, which honestly doesn’t sound that different from celebrating the end of a war on Thanksgiving. Eventually, parents got sick of this and after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was created, Thanksgiving returned and Ragamuffin Day was gone for good.

Sources:

NYTs: Everything You Learned About Thanksgiving is Wrong (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

History.com:  Abraham Lincoln and the "Mother of Thanksgiving" (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Smithsonian:  The Invisible Way That Marketers Set the Menu for Your Thanksgiving Feast (Links to an external site.)

MSN: When Thanksgiving Was Known as Ragamuffin Day!

            

12 Years a Slave Review

12 Years a Slave Review

By Adam Tyler

The critic Mark Kermode from The Guardian praises the dark tone, historical accuracy,  and acting (especially by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o). He said about everything in the movie was done right, even if it was hard to watch. He thought the crew of the film got the historical accuracy of how black people were frequently abused and how many had tragic lives that never got any better. Although Kermode liked nearly everything about the movie, he criticized Brad Pitt's unnecessary acting role as a Canadian worker. "But with the exception of a somewhat distracting third-act cameo by co-producer Brad Pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms of sheer narrative craftsmanship."  12 Years of Slave-review, The Guardian, by Mark Kermode, 2014. Besides this, 12 Years a Slave is a heartbreaking, accurate, and important movie that anyone should see.

Slave Narratives

Slave Narratives

Adam Tyler

From reading On the Master-Slave Relationship, of hearing from slave Frederick Douglas in 1855, I have learned that slaves often wonder in fact why they are slaves, stating that "How did people know God made black people to be slaves?". This interested me as I never thought of it that way before. White people had no proof that blacks should be mistreated or how they should treat them badly. Many slaves hoped that God would send "bad slaveholders" in Hell for treating black people badly, however many slaves eventually doubted this. Douglas even said that he had never seen or heard of a bad slaveholder be punished for their crimes. Most slaves blamed God for there situation of being treated poorly, but eventually saw otherwise and blamed the sin of man, not God that was responsible for mistreatment of slaves. Douglas explains all of this and says that thinking of being a freedman keeps him going. He also says something I find a bit shocking, he says that slaveholders actually sent spies near their slaves to get information about how they were doing their work. Douglas was asked several times if he had a kind master, which he always answered with a "positive reply", so technically, slaves are never left alone. People even thought that Douglas' slaveholder was actually his father, but it wasn't true. Douglas said he might as well have been though as he had no other father figures in his life, making sense that he has no family, which is pretty sad. Some questions on this I have are; Was the slave the master of anything?, Did slaves see themselves as part of any family?, Were any slaveholders considered "good" by slaves?

Lincoln Paraphrasing Practice Review

Lincoln Practice Paraphrasing Review

By Adam Tyler

"On two occasions, we see a flash of anger from the president, when his son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) wants to join the army against his parents' wishes, and when his wife confronts him about the unmentionable subject of their late son, and their unspeakable burden of grief and guilt. Most of the time, Lincoln's emotions and energies are encoded in the opaque language of diplomacy and politics: when he is openly angry, he seems poignantly weak and vulnerable." Lincoln-review, The Guardian, by Peter Bradshaw, 2013.

My paraphrase of this selected passage is, Mr. Lincoln becomes irritated twice because the character Robert (Lincoln's son) who is portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, wishes to become a soldier, much to the dismay of his mother and father. Mrs. Lincoln even confronts her husband about Robert's older brother who died and doesn't want to feel the shame and sorrow again. Whenever Lincoln is mad out in public, he becomes less focused and less powerful of a figure.

Newspaper Research 2

Newspaper Research 2

Adam Tyler

Death in the 1860s

Murder in the United States in 1860-1880 is very high at about a level of 0.0031% of people being murdered each year. However, the rate of murders mostly stayed the same. Most murders of this time happened in New York, in fact, New York had one year where 45 people were murdered. Usually, the murderer was a man, but at some times the murderer was a woman, usually trying to kill her abusive husband. A man's reasons for murder were mostly family troubles that just got out of hand, but sometimes it was due to uncontrolled anger of jobs, confusion between friends, or they were just mentally ill. A murderer was usually sentenced to death by hanging, but some states outlawed this and they were rather sent to prison, like in Iowa. Unfortunately, a lot of them managed to escape by heading through the sewer system such as two murderers from Pennsylvania...until they were captured again a couple days after. Many women were found not guilty as the thought of them murdering someone would have seemed "impossible", while many men (especially black men) were found guilty. Some innocent men were put to death, proving they didn't have a very good way of telling who the murderer was back then. It was all based on stereotypes, so some of the murderers got away scot-free. So yeah, not a real good way to deal with murderers.

End of Reconstruction

End of Reconstruction

Adam Tyler

President Hayes made a campaign promise to remove troops from the South. This succeeded and resulted in the end of Reconstruction. He had to keep this promise to maintain a good status as the president and to make sure another Civil War with the ex-Confederates didn't happen. The decision was on "May 1st, 1877". This decision to return the rule to ex-Confederates formed the "disenfranchisement" of black people in the South.

Newspaper Research

Newspaper Research

Adam Tyler

From "time traveling" back to the nineteenth century in Memphis, Alabama I've discovered that in newspapers, many "negroes" or "colored people" often tried to run away via the Underground Railroad and were usually brought back to their masters where they were tortured and punished. This was not a very big surprise to me, as I thought this is exactly what would have happened due to slave hunters, but to my surprise, it was mostly hounds that got them. I thought it was interesting that dogs can better look after slaves than people, since whites were supposed to be their masters. Using newspapers to look up information rather than the textbook seems to be more accurate of what actually happened since those newspapers were actually from the time slaves tried to escape while the textbook was made in the later days, so they probably didn't know all the details, so the newspapers are probably more accurate.

Lincoln

Lincoln

By Adam Tyler

Lincoln facing the issue of slavery

1. Lincoln was uncompromising as he refused to do anything about the Civil War until the 13th Amendment was signed, which would free all slaves, and then he would see if the war still continued or not from the Emancipation Proclamation. Thaddeus Stevens was uncompromising as he worried that Lincoln would turn his back on the Emancipation Proclamation and was stubborn in trying to convince others that blacks have just as much rights as whites. In the debate, Stevens eventually agreed that the amendment only represents legal equality and is not a declaration of actual equality, siding with Lincoln. However, Stevens still thought that the Emancipation Proclamation would stand after the war, while Lincoln didn't. Also, Stevens thought that Lincoln should have proposed to allow black people the right to vote (and make a better speech), but Lincoln just wanted to free them.

2. Lincoln's perspective revealed that he thought slavery was not good near the beginning of the film and he becomes more determined to end it at the middle to the end of the movie when he tries to get the House of Representatives to sign the 13th Amendment, similar to his letters stating that he originally just disapproved of slavery, but soon became more and more determined to end it. He even eventually yells at the Radical Republicans when they doubt the 13th Amendment will be passed, proving how far he will go to try to pass the amendment.

3. Lincoln believed that the 13th Amendment was essential since it would give more rights to people overall if slaves were freed, as he discussed with the Radical Republicans, as more people could make a difference in ending the Civil War and making peace with the Confederates. This was eventually accomplished at the end of the film when the Confederate leader takes his hat off to them and then left with his fellow Confederates on their horses.

4. The North was against slavery and for racial equality but felt that they wouldn't have enough support to make the 13th Amendment and end the war with the South, so some found it too risky to take action, as many argued with Lincoln that he wouldn't be able to do it (especially the Radical Republicans). The South was for slavery and against racial equality, so they wouldn't be too happy if the 13th Amendment was passed and most likely wouldn't stop the Civil War if they refused to the document, but they didn't want to keep fighting. It seemed like no peace would come out of this as they wanted completely opposite things, until they made an agreement at Appomattox Courthouse where it seemed The North got the better deal and freed all slaves.

5. People resisted the end of slavery as they feared this would lead to equality between everyone, and some people liked the power they had, so they didn't want someone "stealing" their power. The film actually depicted this as a matter of concern for power, as the Republicans and Democrats were fighting over it in the debate. However, the 13th Amendment was finally passed and slaves were freed, leading to more equality.

Five Letters

Five Letters

By Adam Tyler

The common theme in these letters is that they were written by Union soldiers, either privates or sergeants, discussing the attacks and battles from the Confederacy.

Private Isaac Oliver:

A Union Letter

This letter was written on October 12, 1862 to Oliver's friend I B Ikeler. Oliver was a private in Company F, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (2nd Bucktails). In the letter, Oliver discusses on how he has had to adapt to his new surroundings and be thankful for what he has got.

Camp Mcneal  Meredian Hill
October the 12.1862

    I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hope that those few line may find you enjoying the same blessing. I started at soldiering beter than two months ago. I inlisted in a company called Co. F 149 Reg. P.B.V.  We are now in a camp called camp McNeal on Meridian hill near the sity of Washington. We are not near all the time in camp. We are the most of the time out to guard hospittle at town and other places part of the regiment has moved there tents to town, I expect that hour company will move before this weak is out, but I do not no for sure; it has bin warm and dry ever since we have bin down here until last fri night about 1 o’clock, it comenced raining and poured it down untill about four. I had to go on guard at four so I got shet of standing in the rain for that night since that night it has fellt like husking corn it is raining this after noon. 

    I am in my tent my seat is a knapsack, my deck is a portfolio this is as good a seat as I ever git. Without it is a chore. It is said that he that is born of Woman  and inlisteth in the 149 Reg Co. F, his days are few and short of rations. He cometh forth tato and retireth at rollcall much soldiering hath made him sharp, yea, even so that the sete of his britches is in danger of being cut through. They are all honest, they take nothing that they cannot reach they capture the most butifull prize packages of paper and walk off rejoicing. 

    The boys are all brothers and work to each others honor. They as grate set of fellows for fun and have all the furnishings able for what one dont know another do and so they have some thing a going all the time. So the time goes I can’t tell whare if it gets wet and mayby it won’t be quite so nice as it has bin since we have bin down here. No more at present. I send my Respects to all inquiring friends. Tell all that inquires after me that I want them to write to and I will answer those leters as soon as I can write and tell me who is there and who has went to war. I want you to write and answer this as soon as you get it and oblige yours, 

Isaac Oliver To I B Ikeler

Direct your letter to

Co F 149 R.P.BV

Camp Mcneal

Washington D.C

in care of

Captain ES Osborne

Sergeant John T. Greer:

A Union Letter

This letter was written to Greer's sister, on April 8, 1862. Greer entered the service as the 7th Corporal of Company G, 4th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. His letter is in Ceredo, West Virginia, which was just Virginia at the time. In the letter, Greer discusses how he wants to go home and hopes that he can eventually.

Ceredo, Virginia 

April 8th, 1862

Dear Sister,

I take my pen in hand to in form you that I am well at present hoping that these few lines may find you all well and enjoying good health. We are all well at present and still here at Ceredo. I received your letters that you sent by Ephram and was glad to here that you was all well. I expected to have been home before this time but things has turned out so that I could not come but I think I will get to come now before long. I cant tell when we will leave here but I expect we will leave be fore long but I think I will get to come home first. The is some of our boys gone home now and I want to try and get a furlow as sune as they get back. Ephram brought me a piese of the wedding cake bak and I thought that it eat very well but the shugar suited my taste the best but the both suited my tast very well. I dont believe if it was not for som one a pasing by once and a while that I would never get a letter from home for I have never got but one letter that come by male yet. I suppose that Sam Love is above a common man or else he would wright once and a while to me. I have rote two or three letters to him and I dont intend to wright any more to him for I dont care for no one that dont care for me for I am jis as independent as any one. I have rote two or three letters to the Rebbs out in Jackson and the never rote any answers so let them git while they are yong and full of secesh let them go the will find out somday which way the money goes it goes the word. So nothing more at present but wright sune, John T Greer

Head Quarters 

Ceredo, VA

John T Greer of

Company G, 4th Va

Foot Volunteers

When this you sea

Remember me

John T. Greer of Mason

County Virginia, 1862

James Powers:

A Union Letter

This letter was written by Private James Powers to his sister, on December 23rd, 1861. Powers was a member of Company D, 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The letter discusses Powers in the line of war. I think the battle he refers to in the letter is the Battle of Dranesville, Virginia, which took place on December 20, 1861.

Camp Griffon, VA

Dec. 23rd, 1861

Dear Sister Mary

    I take this opportunity of writing these few lines to let you know that I am well and hope you and all the rest are the same. We are still at the same place and not doing much in the fighting line. A part of McCalls division next to us on our right had a Battle with the enemy last friday and the rebels were routed with severe loss. It was not our luck to be in the muss we were drawn up in line of Battle impatiently listening to the cannonading and waiting for our General who was at Washington he came back on full gallop but the fight was then over however he was highly pleased to see us out so ready and such good numbers we gave him three cheers and says he boys you turn out some when there is a prospect of a fight if you dont on drill says he I thought you were a whole Division. The fact is so much drilling is about played out and we play the old Soger(?) all ways to get rid of it.

    We ran out 3 or 4 miles yesterday expecting a fight but we came across no rebels the Majors Orderly saw fifteen rebel Cavalry thats generally our luck we go out cheering and in the best of spirits and come back cussing and swearing we have had very fine weather but to day it is pretty rough and a little snow falling no more at present but remain your Affectionate Brother

James Powers

write soon

 Sergeant Horace B. Morrison:

A Union Letter

This letter was written to Morrison's cousin, on November 3, 1863, during his regiment's involvement in the siege of Fort Sumter. Morrison entered the service as a private in Company D, 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry and was discharged as a sergeant. The letter discusses Morrison's view of the war when his troupe is attacking.

Morris Island, S.C. 

4th Regt, Co D

Cousin Luther,

I am injoying good health and hope this will find you injoying the same. John Sanborn is in the hospital at Beaufort Hospital No 9. I have a letter from him every week he is a getting along first rate. They have promoted John to Corporal he dont know it yet. I am going to write to John to night I am going to direct it Corp. Sanborn he wont know what it means. They have commenced on Fort Sumter again. They have been bombarding it for five days and nights. I was on picket at Fort Gregg yesterday. They shot away the flag on Fort Sumter twice the first time they shot it away a Reb come up on top of the fort and begun to wave it and put the flag up in the afternoon they shot is away again. When the Reb come up to put it up away went our guns at him bang bang bang. I guess that fellow went to his long home. They havnt put up the flag yet. They will charge on it before many days. Fitzgerald has got his discharge and gone home perhaps you will hear about him before you get this. I dont think of anything more to write this time so I will close. 

From your cousin

H. B. Morrison 

William Henry Harrison Canter:

A Union Letter

This letter was written to Canter's mom. Canter enlisted in Company A, 30^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861. He was 6’2-1/2" tall, light hair, light complexion. He was a farmer from Maybees Corner, Jackson County, Ohio. The letter discusses Carter and his troupe becoming overwhelmed by the Confederates.

May 23, 1862 Roller, MD

Deer mother,

Ituk this time tunnite to informe you that iwas well and hope these fieu lines will finde you all well. We are in roller County. Yesteday we went 40 milse back to flat top mountain. If we would stade on the easte river twenty four ours longer we woode aseede Richmonde.

Three thousan come in behinde us and tha hapend to be too Companys of the Zouave was there and afieu Cavalry. Tha foute them half aday. The rebles had three thousande againste too hondarde. The too Zouave Companys charged on them and tuk won Cannon from them and tha saw that tha coodent holde the Canon and tha spiked the Cannon.

We come out in the evening and loude to surrounde them. Tha was six thousande rite behinde us. Tha was too meney for us and then tha was after our team of horses but the horses ran away acomen back to us.

Our Cournel he bet ahondard dollars that the wor woode stop in thirty days. I wish hit was over now for iam tierde astayen here in the sirvise.

Imuste stop ritin soon. Direct your leters to roller Md in care of Captain Hayse. He was our lieutenant but he is our Captain.

Tell all to rite to me.


This collection of letters by privates and sergeants of the Union represents what the war can do to people. In all the letters, there is evidence that war makes us closer to friends and family, even if they are not with you at the time. It is also illustrated in the letters that all these men wish to be back home, which makes us think we should be grateful we didn't have to be in a terrible war. How would you react if you had to adapt to the war? Would you choose to?

13th Amendment

13th Amendment

By Adam Tyler

Text

AMENDMENT XIII

Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States and was the first of three Reconstruction Amendments adopted in the five years following the American Civil War. The 13th Amendment was passed by Congress January 31, 1865 as an official end to slavery in the US. Although President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, there were many problems with having it to ensure an end to slavery in the United States. The proclamation was made using Lincoln’s war powers and there was worry it could be seen as temporary. The proclamation also only freed slaves, it did not abolish slavery itself. It also applied only to the states that were in rebellion on January 1, 1863, but it didn't apply to slave-holding border states or to Confederate states already under Union control at the time.

Lincoln's Anti-Slavery Amendment

History of US Flag

History of America's Flag

Adam Tyler

Francis Hopkinson's Original Flag

1. I learned the flag officially originated on June 14, 1777 at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia while discussing the Declaration of Independence.
2. I learned the flag has evolved as the design has changed 26 times. Some of the big changes was the Act of January 13, 1794 which provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795, the Act of April 4, 1818 which provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state which was signed by President Monroe, the Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 which established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each which was a single point of each star to be upward, the Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 which provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each that staggered horizontally and vertically and the Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 which provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. None of these were permanent.

3. Some factors that have shaped the flag are, between 1777 and 1960 Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state. Today the flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, seven red  with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness, white symbolizes innocence, and blue represents justice.

4. The flag is a symbol as it stands for courage (red), liberty (white), and justice (blue), but doesn't seem to be as widespread as people think as many people think that the flag is a big fat lie and that it doesn't represent America as so many people are mistreated because of racism and terrorism. However, I and some people still think that the American Flag does represent those things due to how well we have it over other countries. Some of the flags' nicknames are the Continental Colors, The Grand Union Flag, Stars and Stripes, and Old Glory as they were made by the British who were in union. Popular music tells us that the flag is a symbol of courage in battle. From most music featuring the American Flag, such as Green Day's American Idiot, shows that the American Flag has represented a generation rocked by events such as the Iraq War.

5. I think that people respect and understand the flag as it represents how good their country is. They continue to upgrade the flag like how they continue to upgrade America itself until it reached a good place. They put their hand over their heart and stand up to look at the flag at Randolph School's football game while the band plays Star-Spangled Banner as football is an important event in America (to most people), while in other countries, people don't have American football. The flag represents how lucky we are to have so much and we respect it for that. Also, we burn the flag when it hits the ground, like burying someone who has just died.

6. I think that despite many people liking (or at least tolerating) the flag, some have found it to be a symbol of lies, that America is not great and is unfair. A football player named Colin Kaepernick actually took a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner and refused to put his hand over his heart, stating that people aren't treated well in America. Many people also think the same, that things haven't gotten much better since the flag was invented and that we are still hurtful and mean to people that are different from us (which isn't exactly false).

Sources:

History: Origin of the American Flag=how the American Flag was made according to history and some of its nicknames
USA Flag Site: History of American Flag=how the American Flag was upgraded throughout history and changed
Wikipedia: Frank Hopkinson's Original Flag is up above