This week we will be discussing slavery, sectionalism, and state’s rights, leading up to the US Civil War.

Here are our terms for the week:

Slavery- the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labor.

Indentured Servitude- a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. After 7 years, the person was freed from servitude.

Cotton-the most produced cash crop in the US during the 1800’s.  Used for making textiles(a fiber or filament used in making cloth).

Cotton gin-a machine made by Eli Whitney to separate cotton from the seeds.  It greatly sped up the process.

Sectionalism–loyalty to one’s own region or section of the country, rather than to the country as a whole.

Bleeding Kansas- A series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and pro-abolition people in the Kansas territory between 1854-1859.

States rights-All rights not given to the federal government by the Constitution and not forbidden to the States.

 

 

Our 3 new terms for the week are:

Treaty of Velasco-Publicly, Mexico agreed to cease all hostilities against the Texans, and his forces would retreat back across the Rio Grande.  In secret, Santa Anna agreed to use his influence to guarantee Texas its independence.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo-Mexico gave up all its claims to Texas, and recognized the Rio Grande as the boundary between Mexico and Texas.

The Mexican cession-Mexico sold California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and most of Colorado and Arizona for $15 million to the United States.

This week we are finishing our study of early Texas history.

We will be discussing these battles:

Battle of the Alamo

Battle of Goliad

Battle of Coleto Creek

Battle of San Jacinto

Here is a video that goes along with our studies this week:

Afterward we will be discussing the Mexican-American War, and its effect on the completion of westward expansion of the United States.

Today was kindness day at White Oak Intermediate, so we worked on team building and how to be kind to your classmates.  We did games outside and had exercises inside that focused on working as a team.  Great fun!

 

I so enjoyed meeting all the parents at the Valentine party yesterday.  Thank you to all the parents who brought delicious treats and plates, napkins, and other things that made it a success.

My favorite was the picture with all my homeroom kids.  I’ll treasure it forever, and you can tell I’m the happiest kid in the bunch!

Feast your eyes on my fantastic Valentine box and all the treats from the kids.  Thank you so much for all my gifts.   I”m overwhelmed!

“Character is doing what you don’t want to do but know you should do”.

We also discussed the importance of helping around the house with a helpful heart as a sign of character.

This week will be a little different with half days on Tuesday and Wednesday, due to Valentine’s Day and a teacher workday, but we will continue to recognize all the great early Texans who gave us  our independence from Mexico.

Here are our vocabulary terms for the week:

Battle of Gonzales-the first battle of the Texas Revolution.

Siege-surrounding a city with an army to capture it.

William B. Travis-Commander of Texan forces at the Alamo.  Was killed defending the Alamo against the Mexican forces.

“Victory or Death”-William Travis’ letter to Texans and the world during the siege of the Alamo.  Travis refused to surrender to Santa Anna, and asked for reinforcements to help them fight.  No reinforcements came.

Massacre at Goliad-Santa After the battle of Coleto Creek, Anna’s forces executed around 425 Texian prisoners who had surrendered.

Texas Declaration of Independence-In 1836, 60 Texians signed the formal declaration of independence from Mexico. It was based on Thomas Jefferson’s writings and said that Mexico had failed to “Protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people”.

Battle of San Jacinto-Fought on April 21, 1836.  The final battle of the Texas revolution.  Sam Houston’s Texas army defeated Mexican general Santa Anna’s forces in just 18 minutes.

“Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad”-the battle cry of Texan forces at the Battle of San Jacinto.