Mock Trial - Pro Slavery

 What I learned during our Town Hall meeting - Pro Slavery Side

Reflection

During our Town Hall meeting, we spoke in first person as historical figures and talked about their views on slavery. Half of our class was split into speaking about pro-slavery figures and the other half wad anti-slavery figures. During this activity we learned not only about views of slavery, but the personality and characteristics of these famous historical people. I was Harriet Tubman and spoke about her views on slavery and her story as a slave. Down below are two of the people who were pro-slavery supporters and a little about them and their arguments. 

Andrew Jackson 

Andrew Jackson was one of the biggest slave owners in the United States of America. He was one to not do a single task on his own. Jackson wondered how a white man was supposed to run the land while doing all the labor that goes along with it. Slavery is something that he could never envision the world without. Jackson believed that abolitionists were people who fought against society. He wanted to help benefit and make white men successful by giving them slaves to do all of their work for them. 

William Harper

William Harper wrote all pro slavery arguments. Harper believed slaves had no say in morals, rights, or just. He stated multiple times that slavery was a positive social good. Harper and Jackson had very similar views especially on the economic value of the United States. He felt as if you did not hold slaves such as Great Britain and northern states, you were due for me inequality and more damage to society. Slaves kept the United States steady and slaves were treated equal. If we did not have slaves, Harper said the United States would not be in good shape politically or economically. 

Conclusion

Andrew Jackson and William Harper were two of the most famous slave owners who had very similar beliefs. All slave owners constantly argued that their slaves were treated well. They said slaves were treated as equal as a freed white man. All of these pro-slavery people felt that slaves made the United States as rich and popular as we are from the cotton, tobacco, and rice. As you can see, slavery supporters were convinced that America would not be where we are today and as successful without slavery.

Gone with the Wind Reflection

 About Gone with the Wind 

Gone with the Wind is an extremely famous movie that was created in 1938 and released in 1939. This famous film was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Flemming. This is a historical romance drama film. Gone with the Wind is centered around the Civil War. The main character is a southern belle named Scarlett O’Hara. Scarlett goes through multiple extremely conflicted and confusing love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler. These love affairs she is wrapped up in shows the time period they are in and the situation going on during the war with the women. 

About the Civil War

The Civil War is a war that impacted the United States of America. This horrible war went on from April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865. The Civil War was a war between the North and the South. The North was fighting for reunification while the South was fighting for independence. That was just the beginning until the war really escalated. The war turned into social, economical, and political with consequences. 

Slavery in Gone with the Wind

In the film, slavery is extremely praised in the south. This movie was known for that and that is the reason why it was removed off of multiple viewing platforms such as HBO Max. Gone with the Wind focuses on some of the darkest and deepest stereotypes of slavery. The women in this film were all rich white women looking to find their husbands as they go off to fight in the war. All of their servants had to do everything for them. For example, when all the women got in their beds, the servants helped them take off part of their dresses and tuck them into bed. When the city caught on fire, the slaves were responsible for grabbing all of their belongings and important items. As the audience can see, slavery is shown in a positive light.

Sources

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gone_with_the_wind#:~:text=Epic%20Civil%20War%20drama%20focuses,Ashley%20Wilkes%20and%20Rhett%20Butler.  

https://g.co/kgs/jzqLkv 

https://time.com/5852362/gone-with-the-wind-film-history/

Harriet Tubman

 About Harriet Tubman 

Harriet Tubman was a nurse, scout, and spy for the Civil War. Not only was she all of those, she was a slave who escaped and assisted others in escaping slavery. She was a major freedom defender in the Civil Rights Movement that allowed for slaves to be freed. Her birth name was Araminta Ross. Some wonder how she got her name. Harriet took her mom's first name and her husband's last name. When she was a little kid, her mom called her Minty, short for Araminta. Harriet was born and raised in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1820. She grew up with 8 brothers and 2 sisters. Harriet's family was always the most important thing in her life.

Impact on Slavery

Harriet lost and was separated from her entire family. At the age of 5, she was rented out to be a nursemaid. Doing this job she was whipped whenever the baby would cry. At the age of 7, she was rented out to a planter setting up musket traps. She learned overtime she decided she would rather do plantation work rather than indoor chores. When Harriet turned 12, she realized that she deserved justice and freedom just as much as anyone else. Being a slave at such a young age and growing up in that lifestyle left an emotional and psychical impact on her. 

Escaping 

On September 7th, 1849, Harriet decided that it was time for her to finally be free. Her two brothers, Ben, Harry, and her were supposed to escape, but they turned around and decided not to. She used the Underground Railroad to travel 90 miles north. This took Harriet into Pennsylvania. When she reached Pennsylvania, she searched and found a job as a housekeeper. While pursuing this occupation, Harriet realized that she could not find true peace and happiness being free on her own. She came to a deeper realization that she needed to have her loved ones with her. Harriet’s niece and her children were still stuck and being held captive by their slave owners. She went back to help them escape. Something Harriet would always say is “I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger” (History.com). She helped lead at least 70 enslaved people to reach freedom and also taught dozens how to escape on their own. 

Harriet’s plan to escape was using the underground railroad. She was the conductor of the underground railroad for 8 years. She dedicated every part of her life and soul to this railroad and helping people who have been through what she went through. Today’s day and age, we can all see that she is famous for this and this method. She saved and impacted the lives of many people for the better. 

Impact on the world today 

Harriet Tubman is known to be one of the most famous, successful, and powerful women in the 1800s during slavery. She saved and impacted the lives of many people for the better. Harriet helped abolish slavery in the United States of America and increase equality. As we can all see, she took on multiple responsibilities such as being a nurse, spy, scout, slave, conductor, etc. Harriet Tubman impacted society and where we are today in such a positive way. Without Harriet Tubman, the amount of slaves that escaped and found safety in the world would be decreased.

Sources

- https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harriet-tubman 

- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-harriet-tubman?ms=googlegrant&ms=googlegrant&gclid=CjwKCAjw4JWZBhApEiwAtJUN0K5YnWuuPnb4msvNQ8X118phsiRWIoCdphh_WEuS8gyvNkZr-EOsmxoC8XoQAvD_BwE

- https://www.npca.org/articles/2314-5-facts-you-might-not-know-about-harriet-tubman?gclid=CjwKCAjwsfuYBhAZEiwA5a6CDDmER3Dwck7qtapxa-FKx16q2Tu19EPY55mb2Al1qJ6vUMp40D3N9RoCsQMQAvD_BwE 

- https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/harriet-tubman?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhNRouDsf-eh-nB0iSTZsKMRFj5Efeq6KzF3_JuBrQsTkwyQg-SyCfBoCdNQQAvD_BwE

Bible Team Challenge: Cassie C & Jordan C

 The Bible and Slavery: 

Many ask and wonder, was the bible for or against slavery? The bible was both for and against slavery. Different people had different views. Some felt as if slaves had to obey their masters and do their jobs while others felt if you were caught with a slave you were punished with death.  

For Slavery: 

With Catholicism being a leading religion during slavery, the justification of slavery with Catholics was a given. The biggest reasoning for slavery was that there was no wording that strictly was against slavery. Some even arguing that during those time that these religious figures even owned slaves themselves. These lies were only spread to keep the money in the pocket of the rich property owners down in the south. 

https://www.catholicstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bible-slavery-300x204.jpg 

As uncomfortable as it may seem, the use of slavery was also a way to spread the beliefs of the catholics. The Jesuit Slaveholding story reveals that this priest used slave labor as another way to spread the word of catholicism. He would have these slaves work and used the money they earned to sustain the church.Even the building of the school Georgetown University was built off the backs of slaves and their hard labor.

Slavery played a big roll in the expansion of the Catholic church. These men, women, and children have risked their lives to expand the church for the gain of the priest that own it.Using religion to fuel the need for slavery.

http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/youngamerica/exhibits/show/antislaveryreligion/proslaveryreligion 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/16/us/catholic-church-enslavement.html#:~:text=At%20the%20time%2C%20the%20Catholic,attend%20Mass%2C%20Jesuit%20records%20show. 

Against Slavery: 

There are multiple things the bible states that is against slavery. Exodus 21:16 states, “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” Any slave owner who gets caught will be killed automatically. There is no excuse. Something Deuteronomy 24:7 states, “If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” Slavery was not taken lightly in the bible and those caught with slaves were murdered as punishment. 

https://www.openbible.info/topics/slavery 

In the Christian religion, slave holders are not allowed to be Christian. That would be considered a sin to the bible and to go in the 1850s. In the bible, slavery was known to be immoral to their religion. In the 1800s, slaves started to realize that they had human rights. This caused an abundance of stress that landed on religious groups who were against slavery, like Christians. As a result of this, our nation wound up in a war over emancipation. Slavery is one of the biggest sins one could commit in the Christian religion. 

http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/youngamerica/exhibits/show/antislaveryreligion/antislaveryreligionusa 

Conclusion: 

Slavery was an issue that was spread out between multiple religions. The different religions use different meanings to uphold a horrible trading of humans. Understanding that times have changed and the meaning of words changed as well. The same sentence we may read from the bible today is completely interpreted differently back then. Making justifications of having slaves to not having slaves violently different.

Supreme Court: Talking About Freedom

About the Supreme Court

Many people ask, what exactly does the Supreme Court do? The Supreme Court is the most famous and highest ranking in the Nation. They decide whether a law is applicable to our country and if it should be put into place. The Supreme Court holds extremely powerful people such as the Chief of Justice and Associate Justices. Not only does the Supreme Court take everything into consideration and protects the American people, they reassure Americans that there is equal justice under law. These are words written out front of the Supreme Court. 

About the Supreme Court 

Members of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has 9 current members. John G Roberts is our Junior Chief of Justice. After him, we have 8 Associate Justices starting with Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito (Jr. Associate Justice), Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. There are also 4 retired Associate Justices. Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony M. Kennedy, David H. Souter, and Stephen G. Breyer. These past and present Supreme Court members instill that we live in a safe country. 

Members of the Supreme Court 

Marbury vs. Madison 

One of the most significant and crucial Chief Justices the United has ever had was John Marshall. Marshall is best known for his critical contributions to the early United States. In a hamiltonian/Federalist way, Marshall favored a strong, national, Federal government over states rights. One of Marshall’s most well-known cases was Marbury V. Madison. This 1803 case was a landmark for the United States. The origin of the case occurred after SOT. James Madison did not deliver William Marbury’s pension. In the end, the case gave the Supreme Court the power to apply the principle of ‘judicial review’. In other words, this case gave the Supreme Court the ability to call things unconstitutional. 

Marbury vs. Madison 

Sources of Law

As we can see, the Supreme Court is shaped by many things. One of the most important things that has shaped the Supreme Court is the sources of law. The sources of law are common law, constitutional law, statutory law, and administrative law. The Constitutional, statutory, and administrative laws are federal laws. Common, constitutional, statutory, and administrative laws are state laws. The common law and constitutional law are under the judicial branch. Statutory laws are under the legislative branch and administrative laws are under the executive branch. The Supreme Court runs under the common law.  

Sources of Law 

The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body. During each term, 7,000 cases are brought to the Supreme Court. Cases usually either get accepted, dismissed, or removed. As you can see from all of the information above, it takes a lot to fill and stabilize the Supreme Court. The members do everything in their power to protect the American people.