Citing Websites

When using online resources, like I did in many of my blogs, it is crucial to make sure all sources are cited. Here are the steps when citing an online sources:

1. List the author or organization in charge of the website.
2. The title needs to be in quotation marks and web site title in needs to be in italics.
3. Separate each of these items by a comma.
4. List the URL and place the date accessed in parentheses.
5. Place a period at the end.

For example:

The Ohio State University Libraries, Thomas Nast, http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/index.htm, (Accessed March 13, 2009).

I simply just put the URL when I was citing all of my sources which should not be done.

Child Lit Wiki

href=”http://www.childlit.info/index.php?title=Streams_to_the_River%2C_River_to_the_Sea”>

Through the Eyes of a Cartoonist

Thomas Nast,  a German native born in 1840, is now famous for his work as a cartoonist. His drawings illustrated such things from prize fights , political ideas, wars, and individuals. With a pen and paper he captured the attention of many.  Below are some examples of his cartoons.

Amphitheatrum Johnsonian

Pictured in this cartoon are president of the time Andrew Johnson as the emperor, and the Mayor of New Orleans, John Monroe.  This picture is supposed to represent The New Orleans Massacre of 1866.

Merry Old Santa Clause

In 1881 Nast created an image of a jolly old man that we now know as Santa Clause.  His first image of Santa Clause appeared in an issue of Harper’s Weekly to honor a Union family going through the disastrous  days of the Civil War.  His character was based off of a German bishop who was sweet and kind hearted.

The American River Ganges

This cartoon of 1871 is meant to represent the results of immigration on the US school systems.  We see children being dumped into a river of crocodiles who just happen to be dressed up as bishops.  The flag is hung upside down as a sign of distress.

A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion

The Off Year

Nast also helped to keep the legacy of the Democrat “Donkey” and the Republican “Elephant” alive with his art work.

Through the years Nast helped people all over the world see political views and ideas in a new light.  Not only was he known for his cartoons but also illustrated such books as “The Sacarifice”. At the age of 62 Nast died of yellow fever.  His body was placed at Woodlaun Cemetery in New York.

Main Source:
http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/bio.htm

Comments

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Indian Girl Turned Tour Guide

As one would examine the history of influential woman in the United States, a vast array would come to mind. There was Rosa Parks who stood her ground, causing a bus boycott for equal rights. There was Harriet Tubman who aided in slave freedom. We remember Susan B. Anthony who spoke out for woman’s rights, Eleanor Roosevelt who used her first lady status to make her name known around the world, and Harriet Beecher Stowe who’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin opened the heart’s of many to equal rights in the Civil War Era. All of these women are known for their impact on society. Sacajawea, although her story differs, can also be added to the list of influential American women. Although this young Indian girl was not aiming for greatness it was simply achieved with her efforts in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. With a babe in arms she helped the people of America become closer to a new land.

To many the beginning details of Sacajawea’s life are very unclear and difficult to decipher. She is believed to have been born around the year of 1788 as the chief of the Shoshone tribe’s daughter. In the early stages of her teenage years she was taken captive by the Hista Indian tribe. All contact was broken with her family and friends and Sacajawea then had to associate herself with a group of individuals who she had known her whole life to be her enemies. Later she was sold to a French fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneau who pronounced her as one of his wives. Together they lived among the Hista Indians in what we would call modern day North Dakota. In the year of 1804 Sacajawea’s path crossed with two men exploring the states as a mission from President Thomas Jefferson. When these men, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, entered the land where Sacajawea resided her life would be changed forever. Because of these men her name will forever be inscribed in U.S. History.

In 1804 when Lewis and Clark set foot onto the land of the Mandan Indians they decided to place a fort there and stay for the winter. When a contract was made with Toussaint Charbonneau, Sacajawea’s husband, he was hired on as an interpreter for the exploration. Although Sacajawea was with child she was also taken on the journey. For her knowledge of the land could later be useful to the “Corps of Discovery.” As the group continued through the lands Sacajawea proved to be of great importance. She was able to distinguish edible plants for food and when a boat turned over she was able to recover some items of great importance such as documents and supplies. Later the group came upon some people of the Shoshone tribe where she discovered her long lost brother. Horses were able to be purchased which allowed the Corps. to cross the Rocky Mountains. Later Sacajawea had another child who was raised by Lewis. It is believed that she passed away of a fever at the age of 22, but details of her death are still uncertain. Although she has passed her legacy will always be remembered for her involvement in the explorations of Lewis and Clark.

One source that describes the life of Sacajawea is the novel Streams to the River, River to the Sea written by Scott O’Dell. When reading the book one can tell that he makes an effort in keeping the life of Sacajawea accurate but adds interesting details to make her history relate to the common reader.  Many of the events, such as the kidnapping of Sacajawea by an enemy tribe, her marriage, and Lewis and Clark are described by O’Dell in his novel.

“Sacagawea Biography.” 2007.http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9468731 (accessed 2-26-2009).

Maps of Discovery

In preparation for the Lewis and Clark journeys, several hurdles had to be accomplished to make the ending of their expedition beneficial and worthwhile. Certain precautions had to be observed. A great advantage to Lewis, Clark, and their crew was the helpful insights of the Indian Tribes. Native Americans such as Sacajawea greatly aided in the survival of “The Corps of Discovery.” Not only would their background of the land be helpful when choosing foods, medicine, transportation, and shelter, but they also had very strong knowledge of their surroundings. With the help of tribes Lewis and Clark would draw out maps of things around them. These maps where an extremely useful tool for journeying west: For they laid out an idea of what was to come.  Below is an map drawn out from the actual expedition.  If you look very closely one can observe all of the detail that went into these maps.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark. A Glimpse into the Unknown.

In the early years of the 1800s much of the land of the United States had been unexplored and still remained extremely mysterious to the United States Government and the citizens contained within it. Therefore President Thomas Jefferson recruited two men to mesh with the indigenous people of the United States and make the land that was so unclear a little bit more familiar. These men, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, illustrated their journey with pages among pages of journals. These journals portrayed their fascinating path through the West.

Below is an excerpt of an entry from the Lewis and Clark journals.

[Lewis]

Wednesday May 1st 1805.

Set out this morning at an early, the wind being favourable we used our sales which carried us on at a good pace untill about 12 OCk. when the wind became so high that the small canoes were unable to proceed    one of them which seperated from us just befor the wind became so violent, is now lying on the opposite side of the river, [1] being unable to rejoin us in consequence of the waves, which during those gusts run several feet high.    we came too on the Lard. shore in a handsome bottom well stocked with cottonwood timber; here the wind compelled us to spend the ballance of the day. [2] we sent out some hunters who killed a buffaloe, an Elk, a goat and two beaver.    game is now abundant.    the country appears much more pleasant and fertile than that we have passed for several days; the hills are lower, the bottoms wider, and better stocked with timber, which consists principally of cottonwood, not however of large size; the under-growth willow on the verge of the river and sandbars, rose bushes, red willow and the broad leafed willow in the bottom lands; the high country on either side of the river is one vast plain, intirely destitute of timber, but is apparently fertile, consisting of a dark rich mellow looking lome. John Shields sick today with the rheumatism. Shannon killed a bird of the plover kind. [3] weight one pound.    it measured from the tip of the toe, to the extremity of the beak, 1 foot 10 inches; from tip to tip of wings when extended 2 F. 5 I.; Beak 3⅝ inches; tale 3⅛ inches; leg and toe 10 Ins.—    the eye black, piercing, prominent and moderately large.    the legs are flat thin, slightly imbricated and of a pale sky blue colour, being covered with feathers as far as the mustle extends down it, which is about half it’s length.    it has four toes on each foot, three of which, are connected by a web, the fourth is small and placed at the heel about the ⅛ of an inch up the leg.    the nails are black and short, that of the middle toe is extreemly singular, consisting of two nails the one laping on or overlaying the other, the upper one somewhat the longest and sharpest.    the tale contains eleven feathers of equal length, & of a bluish white colour.    the boddy and underside of the wings, except the large feathers of the 1st & 2cd joints of the same, are white; as are also the feathers of the upper part of the 4th joint of the wing and part of those of the 3rd adjacent thereto, the large feathers of the 1st or pinion and the 2cd joint are black; a part of the larger feathers of the 3rd joint on the upper side and all the small feathers which cover the upper part of the wings are black, as are also the tuft of long feathers on each side of the body above the joining of the wing, leaving however a stripe of white betwen them on the back.    the head and neck are shaped much like the grey plover, and are of a light brickdust <colour> brown; the beak is black and flat, largest where it joins the head, and from thence becoming thiner and tapering to a very sharp point, the upper chap being ⅛ of an inch the longest <and> turns down at the point and forms a little hook.    the nostrils, which commence near the head are long, narrow, connected, and parallel with the beak; the beak is much curved, the curvature being upwards in stead of downwards as is common with most birds; the substance of the beak precisely resembles whalebone at a little distance, and is quite as flexable as that substance their note resembles that of the grey plover, tho’ is reather louder and more varied, their habits appear also to be the same, with this difference; that it sometimes rests on the water and swims which I do not recollect having seen the plover do.    this bird which I shall henceforth stile the Missouri plover, generally feeds about the shallow bars of the river; to collect it’s food which consists of [blank], it immerces it’s beak in the water and throws it’s head and beak from side to side at every step it takes.

· http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/examples/servlet/transform/tamino/Library/lewisandclarkjournals?&_xmlsrc=http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/lewisandclark/files/xml/1805-05-01.xml&_xslsrc=http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/lewisandclark/LCstyles.xsl

These entries were so beneficial because they explained the land in such vivid detail. For example this entry talks about a certain bird. Lewis’s description is so descriptive that one can almost see the bird in their head while reading about it. He also describes the great amounts of game for hunting and plants and herbs. It is not difficult to conclude why these journals were so beneficial. They gave individuals a glimpse into what they could not see for themselves.

Sojourner Truth. An American Wonder.

When looking back on the life of Isabella Baumfre, better known as Sojourner Truth, one can observe a woman whose heart and determination molded her into an unforgettable name in American history. For her words and thoughts of anti-slavery and women activism will stand the tests of time.

From the beginning of Sojourner Truth’s life slavery was all she had ever known. She was separated from her family and sold to various slave owners. She was harassed, beaten, and raped. She had no home of her own and was shipped from place to place on the land of New York. When freedom was finally in sight it was only obtained when Truth left all but one of her children to escape.

In the year of 1843 the well worn woman changed her name to Sojourner, meaning “the Sprit calls me, and I must go.” Truth became a part of the Methodist faith and joined groups to support woman’s rights and freedom of religion. In the year of 1852 she delivered a speech entitled “Children, I Talks to God and God Talks to Me…” Below is an excerpt of the now famous speech.

“Children, I talks to God and God talks to me. I goes out and talks to God in the field and in the woods. Dis morning I was walking out and I got over da fence. I saw da wheat holding up its head. It was very big. And I goes up to it, and takes hold of it, and you believe it, there was no wheat dere. I says God! What is the matter with this wheat. He says, Sojourner, there is a little weasel in it. Now I’s here’s talking about the Constitution, and da rights of man. I comes up and I takes hold of dis Constitution. It looks mighty big, and I feels for my rights. But there isn’t any dere. Den I says to God, “What Constitution?” And he says to me, “Sojourner, dere is a little weasel in it.”

-http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/sia/truth.htm

This speech most definitely shows her beliefs in a symbolic and real way. She is not afraid to reveal her true feelings. Until the day Truth passed away in 1883 she was an avid abolitionist and follower of the Christian faith.

1816. America Is Growing But Why Do We Still Own Slaves?

In the year of 1816 many events took place in the United States of America. Indiana became an official state of the United States, evidence as a sign of expansion.  It was the “Year With No Summer” that left many dumbfounded because of weather abnormalities.  1816 was also an election year in which James Monroe defeated Rufus King to become the fifth president of the United States.  One thing was for sure, America was still developing. After all the our country was only 40 years old at this point.  People were settling in new lands and making homes for themselves.  Individuals from all over the world were melting together to form one country.  This group also involved slaves who were not given a fresh start in America to experience the new but were given a life that was not their own.

As seen in the advertisement pictured above an 11 year old colored girl is to be sold at an auction.  Also listed to be sold the next day are hardware and dry goods.  One cannot imagine what is going on in the mind of that 11 year old girl.  Instead of the life of a normal child playing jump rope, going to school, or helping her mother bake in the kitchen, most likely she will be sent to the fields for intense labor.  Her home will not be her own and separation from her family is a given.  At eleven years old I would have never dreamed of going through that kind of treatment.  Until the year of 1865 when slavery was officially abolished by the 13th amendment, treatment of slaves was awful.  I can assume freedom was extremely bitter-sweet and highly praised.

The Shoshone People

Streams to the River, River to the Sea, written by Scott O’Dell, describes the life of Native American Sacagawea to be full of trial and anguish.  She was captured and sold as a slave when she is just a teenager, entered into an unwanted arranged marriage to a Frenchman, and then carried his child.  Although Scagawea’s life after being captured was not one where happiness always flourished, I can almost guarantee she did not forget where here roots were firmly planted.  That was with the people of the Shoshone Indian tribe.

Traces of the Shoshone Indian tribe can be found mostly in the Western division of the United States.  Major vicinities where this tribe resided are in California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.  To survive their diets consisted of berries, rabbits, antelope, or whatever else could be found as travels were made.  Buffalo were also hunted by many and was used as a great resource.  Not only could food come from these animals but also clothing and tools.  Skirts, aprons, pants, and jackets were all made with hunted animals.  Bones were also used to make knives and various utensils.  Just like money is of great importance to us, the Shoshone people would use horses to decide who was wealthy.  Although horses made an individual look esteemed, they were usually obtained through robbery.  Shoshone Indians were known to attack tribes and take their horses.  Not only did horses serve as transportation but as a enormous tool for trading.  For trading was nearly impossible until horses were gained.

When one really looks back onto the history of not just the Shoshone tribe, but any Indian tribe, something fascinating should be observed.  For they found ways to live off the land with skills that many could only dream of possessing

Main Source:  http://www.shoshoneindian.com/default.htm