Slavery is such a depressing subject but throughout the reading I've realized how important freedom really is for people. And most importantly , all people. Every ethnicity strives for freedom, because it is essential for happiness. When I was hearing lecture, and listening to the reasons why slaveholders believed the slaves were happy under their care, although the slaveholders did have some good points, they didn't understand the importence of the slaves' freedom. They owned another human being, and it boggles my mind to think they had to come up with ways in order for them to make that alright in their head. Yes, the slaves did have a roof under their head, food, and some clothes, but they never had respect....and most importantly they never had the independence that every human being should. Reading about the slave era, really makes me appreciate they way I live and the freedoms that I was born with, without question.

As I was reading and gathering information about the differences of the experiences between slave men and women, I found it surprising on how much more information I found on the women rather than the men. I did find information on the men, but when I looked at my list , the women's side was completely full on the hardships they faced. I am not in anyway saying that the men didn't face equal troubles, but the books definitely had more to say about the women's suffering. The worst thing I heard about women slaves was reading about how they would make pregnant women work and how,as a form of punishment they would be burned and sometimes murdered. Also , it disgusted me to hear that slaveowners would by a "pretty" slave for the sole purpose for sex. It is disgusting and horrible for me to think of a life belonging to someone else. I cannot imagine how the slaves could be happy for even a moment living in the situations they were in. So when I read about how they kept their culture alive and how they kept entertained, it amazed me how they made the best out of a horrible situation. They embraced some happiness into a horrible lifestyle , and I definitely think that is admirable.

In 1812 the federalist party was essentially gone and the Republican party took over the government. This fact seemed like a crazy concept to me for many reasons. First of all, how can such a influential party just die off? And second of all, I could not imagine either one of the two political parties now a days ( like the democrats and republicans) dyeing off like the federalists. The system, without two major political parties, seems flawed to me because there would only be one major opinion, and know one to oppose. I think if that would never happen in these times and if it did there would be complete chaos.

During my research on Ford's theatre(for the historical tourism project) it was interesting to read about exactly what happened when Lincoln was assassinated. But while doing my research , I couldn't help but get mad at the fact that they still hold productions. And although , they say they do that as a tribute to Lincoln love of the arts, it still doesn't seem right to have people dancing and singing in the place where one of our president's were assassinated got me mad because shouldn't historical landmarks be preserved? It showed me how time fades away the importance of such tragic events.

One of the people that I've found interesting in our history class would have to be Alexander Hamilton. I am surprised that I find his life and beliefs intriguing because I've heard his name a million times before and never gave it a second thought on why he is in the history books. Reading a section in chapter 8 in our A People and a Nation books it says that he thought of people with " unvarnished cynicism." Which is really interesting to me because when I think about that time period of the nation getting started with our government, I always imagined it with hopeful and optimistic people all ready to selflessly help the needy. I know the optimistic side of me likes to believe that people will sacrifice their selfish needs for the good of other people, but when I think about it more and more , in reality, people are the way Hamilton explains them to be. I think we all do things and work harder for certain things when it benefits us more, rather than someone else. And although the idea does sound cynical, look at how that idea helps our nation today. Big corporations and rich and powerful people start with having their own selfish ambitions. But by serving their own ambitions it often times benefits other people, even though it was started off with self-interested motives.

Like most of us history students, I am relieved and overjoyed the stress of the midterm is over. As I was taking the midterm and reviewing all the history that we had learned about before the test, I found that the Columbian Exchange was actually more interesting than I thought. I was relieved that I found it interstice while reviewing it ,because it helped with the essay portion of the midterm. But, what I found interesting about it was that the Columbian Exchange was necessary for the development of the United States yet in order for the development the consequence was 90% of the Indians dying of smallpox just doesn't seem fair... It doesn't seem fair to me that in order for a nation to begin that thousands upon thousands of people have to suffer. And the Europeans mostly benefited from all the voyages they made. They got land,a better diet, and a whole new world for them to discover. I think it was pretty selfish of them to just take over land knowing that it was already taken. But at the same time, it was because of their selfishness that I am able to live here in the United States.

As I was reading about the Loyalists in chapter 6 in A People and A Nation, I couldn't help but feel a little admiration for them. Although, I strongly disagree with them opposing American independence, I find myself admiring the fact that they believed so strongly in the the cause of staying with Britain. So much so that when the war was over they started a whole new life. It takes a lot of courage and loyalty to be able to go against such a impopular subject and throughout the war they stuck to their beliefs and showed true courage and dedication. And also , I felt sympathetic towards them because I feel they didn't know any better. All they knew was British rule and I think probably they were just scared to try something new. It seemed sad to me almost that they prefered British rule over independence. But then can you blame them? If they took the side of independence, it could of been disastrous...by siding with the British it was safe and familiar.