2/5/12

This week in history we began to talk a lot about the Reconstruction of the nation after the Civil War took place. First we talked about Lincoln's plan for reconstruction before he was assasinated. Lincoln's goal was to end slavery completely. Next we talked about the Radical Republican's plan, which was to give African American's the social and Political rights they deserved and punish the south for everything they had done wrong during the Civil War period. Lastly we looked at the 14th Amendment which gave everyone equal rights and equal treatment. This week we also took a quiz where we were required to memorize Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address completely and write it down on a lined half-sheet of paper. I think that I did very good on this quiz because I was very prepared and knew the Address very well. We also had a powerpoint this week on the Reconstruction Act, which made it so states had new  elections to create new constitutions, states had to allow all elligible male citizens to vote, people who supported the confederacy could not vote, these rights had to be garunteed to all people and all states needed to ratify the 14th amendment, and troops had to be stationed in states to ensure that african american people were given these rights.

This week in English we got through a lot of To Kill A Mocking Bird. In chapter 10, we learn that Atticus is truely a very talented shooter when he is forced to shoot Tim Johnson, a neighborhood dog that had gone rabid . When learning this, it made Scout and Jem really look up to their father and feel he had much more value now that he had a major accomplishment. In chapter 11, we get to know the Finch's neighbor Mrs. Dubose, who is a cranky old lady that has a lot to say about Atticus's descision about Tom robinson. After getting in trouble, Jem is forced to read to her until she dies at the end of the chapter. In chapter 12, Scout and Jem accompany Calpurnia to church while Atticus is away. At first they are not excepted at this church but then they are treated very highly. In chapter 13, Aunt Alexandra comes and stays with the finches and she is very bossy and opinionated. She thinks very highly of the finch family history and wants to enforce her veiws upon them. So far I'm actually really enjoying this book. Every chapter is exciting because something new happens in each one unlike some books that just drag on the same thing for multiple chapters.

Aunt Alexandra staying with the Finch's reminded me a lot of the period of reconstrction after the civil war in America. When Aunt Alexandra arrives, she believes there is much to fix in the household, just like the Radical Reppublicans believed about America at this time. Both the Radical Republicans and Aunt Alexandra both tried very hard for change, but whatever they did, the change was opposed. While Scout rebelled against Aunt Alexandra's rules and was careful not to "mind" her, people of the south used any loophole in the system to try and keep slavery.