The Donner Party

       The American West is filled with thousands of stories of people attempting to find a better life and new opportunities.  These people were chasing after the elusive "American Dream", but chasing that dream was often dangerous and filled with hardships. 

      One of the most famous and tragic stories to come out of the American West is the tale of the Donner Party.  After traveling over 2,3000 miles, a  group of emigrants became stranded in the Sierra Mountains less then 150 miles from their destination.   This story has captured the American imagination, and served as a warning for future travelers.

      The story of the Donner Party begins in Springfield Illinois, where three families set out in April 1846 to begin a new life in California.  The families of George Donner, his brother Jacob, and James F. Reed all traveled to Independence Missouri.  There they stocked up on supplies and joined a larger wagon train heading to California.

        The families from Illinois stayed with the large wagon train for two months.  They stayed close to schedule crossing through the Great Plains.  The route to California was well known and well traveled.  Wagons wheels had created ruts in the ground, some several feet deep.  Along the trail were assortments of belongings that were left behind by the emigrants.  Men and women walked alongside their wagons, while children and the elderly stayed inside.  On a good day a wagon could travel between eight and ten miles a day. 

   George Donner carried with him "An Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California" by Lansford Hastings.  In  this guidebook, Hastings described a shortcut to California by going south of the Great Salt Lake and through a desert to get to California.  Hastings had never attempted the route himself until after several groups had set out to try his theory.  

      The Donners and several other families decided to split from the larger wagon train and attempt to use the "Hastings Cutoff".  The group elected George Donner captain of the wagon train and became known as the Donner Party.  The "short cut" would add an extra 125 miles, adding an extra three weeks to their journey  The desert that Hastings said could be crossed in two days, was 80 miles and wide and took the Donner Party 5 days to cross.  By the time they crossed the desert, one member of the Party had died and all were suffering from dehydration and some were near death. 

   Following the Humboldt River proved to be a challenge as well.  Several wagons broke down and dozens of oxen, cattle, and mules died or ran away.  By the time the wagons had gotten to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they were all weakened from the journey.  It was decided to rest for five days in the valley before embarking on the final dangerous push up the mountains.

    On the fourth day it began to snow on the summit of the mountains.  The emigrants attempted to scale the summit but over five feet had fallen already and the wagons could not make it up.  It was decided to return to the valley and make a winter camp.  It was October 28th, the snow would not melt until mid-May.  

     By mid-December, supplies were running low, and 15 volunteers (10 men and 5 women) attempted to cross the mountains and find help in California.  They called themselves "The Forelorn Hope".  As members of this group began to die of starvation the surviving members resorted to eating their fallen volunteers.  2 men and all of the women would survive the ordeal and arrived in present day Sacramento on January 18, 1847.

   The First Relief Team set out from California and found  that 14 emigrants had died and that the survivors had been living off of boiled leather, tree bark, and pine needles.  21 survivors set out from the camp on February 22nd.

   Three more Relief Team came to the aid of the Donner Party victims.  Each time a new team arrived they found the camp in further disarray.   As the weeks dragged on between rescues more and more people died and were then eaten by the surviving emigrants.

   By the time the Fourth Relief reached the camp on April 14th, there was only one surviving member of the Donner Party to be found.  He was found alone in a cabin with several partially eaten bodies around him.  

   Of the original 87 members of the Donner Party: 39 died and 48 survived. 

Stories of the Donner Party traveled across the United States.  For a time travel to California slowed down to a trickle, many people back East afraid of meeting a fate like those of the Donners.  It was the discovery of gold in California that would bring back the large groups of emigrants to the West. ntil the discovery of gold that California would begin to have large amounts of people emigrating there. 

    

Political Cartoons

    Political cartoons are one of the oldest forms of propaganda.  They can be funny or serious, either way the artist is trying to convey a message to her or his audience.  The goal of the cartoonist is to share their opinion on a particular topic to the people. In order to really appreciate the cartoon the audience must have some basic background knowledge of current events. That will help you understand the cartoon.

   On of the most famous political cartoonists was Thomas Nast.  Nast worked in New York city over 150 years ago, and gained fame for his cartoons depicting political leaders of his time.  Nast often targeted Boss Tweed, a corrupt New York City politician who was in power for decades.  Tweed eventually gets arrested but manages to escape prison and flees to Europe.  He gets caught however, recognized by a European who liked Nast's cartoons. 

   If you are a fan of The Simpsons or Family Guy, you are watching two shows that make many references to other aspects of pop culture.  The writers of those shows will throw in refrences to movies or other t.v. shows that they enjoy and know the audience will understand.  If have not been to an Apple Store or not seen an Ipod commercial then you could not appreciate the episode where Lisa goes to the Mapple store. 

Like a carpenter, a cartoonist has several tools that they will use to achieve their goal.  These include:

Exaggeration: making the art and situation seem more extreme than it really is to emphasize an opinion.

Symbolism: use of commonly understood symbols to help you get the point more easily

Analogy: comparing one situation to another to make a point

Irony: Creating a situation where something is the direct opposite of what you might expect..

Some cartoons can use humor to prove a point:

The steroid exploits of A-Rod had provided us with a wide arrange of drawings and cartoons poking fun at the Yankee third basemen.  

Other cartoons can be more serious.

On Father's day of 2001, a fire in Queens killed three members of the FDNY.  Up until that point, it was the single most tragic day for the Fire Department.   This cartoon appeared in my local paper, Newsday the day after the fire. 

The fireman on the left is supposed to be Harry Ford.  Harry grew up on the same street as my dad and they both joined the fire-department around the same time.   The cartoon was later used on a t-shirt that was sold to raise money for the families of the firemen. 

How to read a cartoon: 

Background knowledge of current events helps!

People: Who are they? What are they doing?

Setting: Where is this? Why is it there?

Items: What are they? Why did artist put these in?

Put it together: Does this seem to be a positive or negative message about the person/item/event?

Finish the blank in one sentence: “The cartoonist thinks that..”

Tonight go to Dave Granlund's website and print out a cartoon and just briefly explain why you chose that particular cartoon Maybe you agree or disagree with Dave's opinion, or you remember that event that he was depicting.  I encourage you to scroll around and look at several cartoons, some of them are for a New England audience,   before you choose which one you want to print out.  Bring the cartoon to class.

Saint Patrick's Battalion

     During the Mexican-American War roughly 9,000 American soldiers deserted the army.  Many had only signed up for the promise of free land and an advanced 3 months pay.  Some felt that the war was unjust and wanted no part of it.  The government of the United States imposed harsh punishments for those that left the army before their enlistments expired, and officers were very strict on those that were caught leaving.  

    The conditions in the military during the War were rough.  Thousands of soldiers died from drinking contaminated water.  Cholera and malaria spread very quickly through military camps.  Commanding officers were often well educated men from West Point and the Virginia Military Institute who had difficulties disciplining their men. At times Mexican homes and villages were looted by drunken American soldiers while innocent civilians were murdered and women raped. 

     Irish and German soldiers found military life very challenging.  The immigrants were often persecuted by officers as well as other enlisted men.  Catholics were forbidden to worship while they were serving.  Some immigrants began to feel that the war was only being fought to expand slavery and make the plantation owners of the South richer.  

     The Irish saw the similarities between the treatment of the American treatment of the Mexican and how the British treated the Irish in Ireland.  The British were a Protestant nation like the United States, that took Catholic property and destroyed Catholic Churches in Ireland.  Some Irish and German soldiers felt that they should come to the assistance of Catholic Mexico.

      The Mexican government had been actively seeking support from American deserters.  Mexican soldiers were often militia who were drafted into serving the government.  These men were mostly farmers, not professional soldiers.  The Mexican government also made promises of land and money for those who fought.  Mexican priests had published pamphlets encouraging Catholics to come to Mexico's assistance against the Protestant U.S.

   John Riley, an Irish immigrant from Galway had encouraged his fellow Irishmen to abandon the U.S. and fight for Mexico.  Riley's soldiers became known as the Saint Patrick's Battalion or San Patricos.  The Battalion was considered to be one of the best for the Mexican army, earning a large amount of medals for various battles.  Santa Anna himself was to have said that he could have won the war if he only had 100 more Irish soldiers.   

             The Battalion was captured following the battle of Churubusco, outside Mexico City.  48 men that were captured were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.  General Taylor ordered that the execution take place on September 12th at dawn, just as the American flag was being raised above the city of Churubusco.  Taylor wanted the sight of the American flag to be the last image the traitors would see, brining that image to hell with them.  Typically, soldiers who were found guilty of treason were executed by firing squad, a more honorable death then hanging.  Hanging was only reserved for spies, the worst type of punishment for the lowest class of soldier. The deserters were branded with the letter "D" on their cheek.  A punishment that they were to carry for the rest of their lives. 

   The U.S. military did not formally acknowledge the Saint Patrick's Battalion until 1916.  The actions of the Irish and German immigrants was considered a black mark in the history of the U.S. army.  The members of the battalion that were not executed disappeared from history.  Appearing only in records regarding the purchase of land.  In Mexico and Ireland they are considered martyrs, dying for a cause.  On September 12th, in Galway, the flag of Mexico is flown above city hall in honor of those that gave their lives for Mexico.  In Mexico City the day is remembered with bagpipes and the laying of a wreath on a memorial dedicated to the Irish martyrs. 

H.W. finish reading and marking up the handout on the Oregon Trail then answer the ten questions on a separate piece of paper. 

This is what you need to print....even you Cosimo

The Mexican-American War shaped a generation of future American leaders.  

Zachary Taylor: nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready".  He was the victorious general at the Battle of Monterrey that had American forces engaged in three days of urban warfare.  He became a national hero after the battle of Buena Vista where 6,000 American troops were able to defeat Santa Anna's forces of 20,000.  Taylor would later be elected President of the United States.

General Winfield Scott: nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers".  Scott was a career military man, involved in every military campaign from the War of 1812 to the Civil War.  Scott led the attack on the Mexican city of Veracruz and eventually marched across Mexico and captured the capital, ending the war. 

John C. Fremont: helped capture California and declared it "The Bear State Republic."  Fremont would later on enter American politics and become the first Republican candidate in the election of 1856.

Stephen Kearney: captured New Mexico and declared it apart of the United States.  Kearney would go on to help capture the city of San Diego and would later serve as the military governor of California. 

Franklin Pierce: served under General Winfield Scott and later rose to the rank of Brigader General.  Pierce would later be elected the 14th President.

Robert E. Lee: was a Colonel under Winfield Scott and one of his top aides.  Lee would earn distinction for his bravery in combat and leadership skills. During the Civil War he would become the commander of the Confederacy.

Ulysses S. Grant: served under Scott with Robert E. Lee and become close friends.  During the war Grant would be rewarded twice for his bravery.   The war had a deep impact on Grant, who would later say that he was morally against it. 

Jefferson Davis:  was a colonel of a volunteer regiment during the war serving under General Zachary Taylor.  Due to his bravery in combat, the Governor of Mississippi would appoint him Senator.  While in the Senate Davis would be a fierce defender of slavery and state's rights.  Davis would later be chosen as the President of the Confederacy. 

"We take nothing by conquest thank God..."

In 1845, a group of American soldiers under General Zachary Taylor was ordered by President Polk to patrol the land bordering the Rio Grande.  As the troops set out to secure the border with Mexico, Polk was well aware that the military presence of the United States might provoke Mexico into fighting.

   In April, Colonel Cross, an assistant to General Taylor was reported missing after he was ordered to ride up the Rio Grande.  Eleven days later, his body was found with severe head wounds.  It was assumed that Mexicans had crossed the river and attacked him.  On April 25th, a patrol was attacked by Mexican soldiers.   Sixteen soldiers died, others were wounded, and all the rest were captured.  General Taylor sent a message to President Polk: "Hostilities may now be considered as commenced."  This attack would be the opening shots of the Mexican-American War, a conflict that would forever alter the histories of Mexico and the United States.  

   The circumstances surrounding the attack on Taylor's troops are suspicious and cloudy.  Did the attack take place on Mexican soil or American soil?  To the Mexicans living in that area, the United States had invaded their territory and started the fighting.  For many Americans, the attack was a sign of open hostility towards the United States and an insult to American integrity and honor.  

I want you to think of the reading as a book or a movie.  The reading was filled with characters who had their own motivations and beliefs.  In class, we took a closer look at some of the people who were living during the Mexican-American War.  Some, like Walt Whitman, were very eager to go to war with Mexico.  Whitman wrote, "Mexico must be throughly chastised (punished)! ...Let our arms now be carried with a spirit which shall teach the world  that, while we are not forward to a quarrel, America knows how to crush as well as how to expand!"

   Whitman, a poet and author, seems very eager for the U.S. to punish Mexico.  He feels that the world will learn that the United States is not going to seek out trouble, but will defend itself if there is the need.  Many Americans were caught up in  this patriotic fever of the time.  

   Some politicians, like Congressman Joshua Giddings were against the war.  Giddings referred to the war as being "unholy, aggressive, and unjust."  Others like Congressman Delano from Ohio were against the war for a much less moral reason. He felt that if the U.S. conquered Mexico, then the citizens of Mexico and the U.S. would intermarry leading to a corrupt race.  Delano felt that the people of Mexico were of African, Spanish, and Native American blood and unfit to mix with the American race. 

Giddings feared that the war will allow the evils of  slavery to expand across the continent.   Author Henry David Thoreau thought that the was unjust as well.  When Massachusetts tax collector approached Thoreau to pay his taxes, he refused because of his opposition to the Mexican-American War. Thoreau was sent to jail for his actions.  Thoreau published an essay entitled Resistance to Civil Government. In his essay, Thoreau believes that a citizen should not allow their beliefs or values be overruled by a government.  

A young politician from Illinois doubted the validity of Polk's claim that the United States was attacked.  He challenged the President to show him the spot where American blood was shed.  His "spot resolutions" gained him some early recognition in his young political career.  While serving in the House of Representatives he would declare that while "the war was unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced" Abraham Lincoln would vote for supplying the American soldiers with supplies.  Not denying those serving of weapons, food, and clothing. 

The Texan Revolution or How to Lose Texas in Four Months

    Six different flags have flown over the Texas: France, Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.  Out of all the states in the Union, Texas has one of the most storied and richest histories.  During the 1820s, many Americans would travel to Texas seeking cheap land and the ability to start a new life. Texas owes a great amount credit for its existence to a person who did not even live there. 

      Moses Austin was born in Dureham Connecticut. Austin owned a lead mine and company in Virginia.  He was not the most business savvy man, and would eventually lose his fortune and be sued by his former partner, his brother.  Austin eventually settled out in Missouri where he tried his luck in lead again.  His business thrived and was very successful and he began to look for a way of investing his money.  

    In 1821, he received special permission from the Spanish crown to establish a colony in Texas.   Austin's goal was to rent the land that he purchased from Spain to Americans and act as a landlord.  Austin would die before his expedition would set out but would give control of the enterprise to his son Stephen.

   Stephen F. Austin had reluctantly agreed to join his father's land business.  His father's contract with Spain was no longer valid, Mexico would gain independence from Spain a few months after Moses Austin died.  Stephen traveled to Mexico and attempted to get the new government to honor the contract that his father had made with Spain.

   Mexico was in a difficult position in 1821.  The new government was facing the challenging task of ruling a nation that was larger then the present day United States.  Many Mexican officials were concerned that Texas would be lost to the British, Comanche Indians, or even taken over by their American neighbors.  In an attempt to populate the area, they began to offer land at a cheap price to anyone who would move there.  These new residents would not have to pay taxes for a few years as an added bonus.

    The Mexican government agreed to let Austin lead some Americans into Texas but they must agree to follow several stipulations.  The three important ones were: 1.) Residents of Texas must become Mexican citizens and pay taxes to Mexico, 2.) They must follow all Mexican laws and 3.) Residents must convert to Catholicism.     Austin and his emigrants agreed to these rules, and by 1825, 300 Americans moved into Texas.

    Over time thousands of Americans, many from the South would travel to Texas.  For many Mexicans this was an un-welcomed sight.  Americans ignored Mexican laws, including the ban on slavery and refused to assimilate.  The Mexican government became concerned that these Americans would begin to dominate Texas.  Mexico passed a law making it illegal for anyone from the U.S. to emigrate to Texas. 

   Mexico became under the control of General Atonio de Padua Maria Severino Lopez de Santa Anna y Perez de Lebron. (or Santa Anna if you do not have the time for all that)  Santa Anna began to crack down on Texas and enforce Mexican laws that had been neglected for a period of time.  When Mexican officials attempted to collect taxes from residents of Texas, many Texans felt that their rights were being trampled on.  

Talks of breaking away from Mexico and joining the United States circulated around Texas.  The U.S. did not want to annex Texas out of fear of fighting a war with Mexico.   If the Texans wanted to break away from Mexico it would have to be done on their own.

After a brief skirmish with Mexican forces at the town of Gonzales, it became clear to many that peace with Mexico could not be achieved. Many saw themselves fighting a war for independence, similar to the conflict between the 13 colonies and Great Britain.  Constitution was written that  included the right of Texans to own slaves

The leaders of the colony met and declared that Sam Houston, the former Senator from Tennessee would be the Commander-in-Chief of the small Texan army. Houston was once a rising political star but due to political differences with Andrew Jackson, saw his prospects fade very quickly.  Like other Texans, Houston hoped to build a new life for himself.  Right away Houston faced the daunting task of leading a group of volunteers against a professional and highly trained military. 

Manifest Destiny

Prior to the Revolution, Americans had already begun  to move West.  In 1775, the west meant moving to parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.  The British government tried to halt these advancements, fearing that Native American tribes would become hostile towards the settlers.  

   Expansion West continued during the Presidencies of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.  During their terms, farmers began to move into Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.  The Federal government established guidelines to govern the territories and encouraged citizens to move into these areas.  As the populations of territories grew they would become eligible for statehood.  

  Thomas Jefferson did more to encourage westward expansion than most other presidents.  The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the nation.  Jefferson hoped to provide the country with a Pacific shoreline.  He felt that it would take 1,000 years for the U.S. to fully populate the territory.  He was off by 900 years.

Historians call the decades following the War of 1812, "The Era of Good Feelings".  There was widespread nationalism and patriotic pride across the country.  For the second time in the young country's short history, they were able to defeat the powerful army of Great Britain.  For many, this was a sign that God had blessed the country, and the U.S. was destined for greatness. For many Americans the Founding Fathers achieved almost God-like statuses.  Washington's birthday was celebrated as a holiday and the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were revered.    Parties and banquets were held in celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. 

   During the mid 1800s, many Americans felt that their country had a Manifest Destiny, or a destiny from God.  They felt that it would be their destiny to populate the American continent.  Americans were obligated to spread the beliefs of Democracy and Christianity to the Pacific.  

The American West held  the hope for promise of a new and better life for many people.  In 1837, the United States suffered a financial panic that led to many Americans losing their jobs and their farms.  The value and price of land in the East had become very expensive, and the land out West was cheaper and offered a brand new start. 

  People will often credit destiny when something good or wonderful takes place.  Couples might credit destiny for bringing them together.  If your parents met in college, you would not be here right now if your mom decided to attend a different school.  Scientifically speaking you are unique, one of a kind.  There will be nobody else like you ever again, and there was nobody else like you before.  You are a one time deal.  The fact that you are here is pretty amazing.  Think about it, it means that for the past 3.8 billion years all of your direct ancestors were not eaten, drowned, squished, squashed, killed, stabbed, or eaten by a shark before they were able to pass along their DNA.  

However, when things go bad or tragic, destiny does not get the credit.  When a car accident occurs, the doctors do not tell the victims family that it was their destiny to die that day.  Destiny will get credit for giving a person their dream job but not giving them a pink slip.

Our  Manifest Destiny is a high point in American History, but it is a dark period in Mexican history.  Mexico once controlled Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, states that are blessed with a variety of natural resources.  Imagine how much different American history would be if we did not have access to the gold and oil found in California.  How much richer would Mexico be if it had retained control of the American Southwest?  (Where would Brangelina live?)

H.W. tonight is to finish the Alamo letter.

For Tomorrow's Half Day

By Tomorrow you will have either completed your Rough Draft of your essay on Andrew Jackson or be handing in your final copy.  Jackson was one of the most beloved and reviled Presidents that this country has ever had.  That being said, there is a wealth of information regarding the opinions and views of Jackson by his contemporaries and later historians. In the essay you were to decide if Andrew Jackson deserved to be on the $20.00 bill.  At least three reasons were required to support your thesis statement.  

If you believe that Jackson deserves to be on the $20.00, be sure to include some traits or accomplishments that he has made.  Considering that he is in the company of Lincoln and Washington, he must be really important. 

Periods 1, 6, and 7 you are going to be handing in your final copy of the essay.  The essay is to be typed, font Times New Roman, and size 12.  You need to have those requirements in order to be able to earn an A.  

There will also be a quiz for those classes on the Indian Removal Act.

Have your notes in order

Debate Winners

   I am sorry I did not get a chance to put this online earlier but here are the winners for the Indian Removal Debate of 2010 as voted on by your classmates.

Period 1   Sernea. 

 Your classmates all commented on how well prepared you where and how you did an excellent job asking and answering questions.  You did an outstanding job, Congrats. 

Period 3:

Pat 

Everyone enjoyed your enthusiasm during the debate.  You also were very prepared and it showed in your questioning ability.  Great Job!

Period 4

Alanna 

You did an absolute outstanding job answering and asking questions for the Jackson Administration.  Congrats

Period 6

Elizabeth

Many of your classmates pointed out on how well spoken you were during the debate and how well prepared you were.  You did a great job, Congrats.

Period 7

Julia

You consistently performed well each day of the debate.  You did a great job framing your argument and questioning both your allies and your opponents.  Congrats.

Tonight for H.W. 

Periods: 1,6, and 7: have your Rough Draft and Outline of your Jackson Essay in class.

Periods 3 and 4:  Create a Thinking Map or a Chart about Jackson's positives and negatives.