Gone With The Wind Post

"Gone with the Wind" is a film about a woman named Scarlett O'Hara. In the film, she is a strong woman who does not follow the regular rules that other women in society follow during the time. The film takes place in the South during and after the Civil War.

At the beginning of the film, it is seen that Scarlett has feelings for Ashley Wilkes who will be marrying her cousin Melanie. As the film goes on the civil war begins, and Scarlett’s life is completely affected. People in her life pass away, the southern economy dies, And the destruction of Tara which is the family home.

Scarlett also meets a man named Rhett Butler who is attracted to her. In the film, women are depicted as helpless people who shouldn't have opinions, but Scarlett seems to be the complete opposite. While watching the film I thought Scarlett came off as a bratty daughter but when I finished the film it was clear to me that Scarlett O’Hara is much more than that she is an independent woman who does her own thing and follows through with it. 

She also adapts to the challenges that come from the civil war. Within the film, African Americans are depicted using the racial attitudes and stereotypes of the time. The African Americans were slaves who worked on plantations and were loyal to the plantation owners.

Overall, the film Highlights the times in the South both during and before the Civil War. “Gone with the Wind” helps to educate people on the time but also shows how much goes on within the war through the perspective of Scarlett. This film has helped me find an understanding of life in the South during this time and how much actually happened through the eyes of the South. 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcs-rMjvw4

EOTO 1: Dred Scott v. Sandford

The Dred Scott v. Sandford case is a well-remembered case because of the controversy it caused within the country. The opinions of the court of the case have still continued to be thought about to this day. The case did a multitude of harm to slavery and the rights of black people during that time. 

Dred Scott v. Sandford was about a black person named Dred Scott who was a slave. In 1852 he sued to become a free man. Scott argued with the court to say that since he had lived in both free and slave states throughout his life there was reason for him to justify the idea of him becoming free. Since Dred Scott lived for a long period of time in Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory, he believed legally he should be a free man. 

The case ended up reaching the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivered the majority opinion. It was ruled that since Scott was a person of African descent, he was not considered a citizen and therefore did not have the right to bring a lawsuit in federal court. The decision made by the court did not just affect Dred Scott, but it also affected all African Americans who sought hope of becoming free. 

This case advanced slavery in a multitude of ways. One of the biggest advancements from this case is that the decision effectively denied African Americans legal standing in the United States. By denying African Americans the legal rights they needed to have any humane life it ended up invalidating the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Witch had restricted the expansion of slavery into certain territories. 

When this case was overruled, it had been declared that slavery could potentially exist in any federal territory allowed. This decision ultimately opened the door for the expansion of slavery and by doing so it created more of a divide between the Northern and Southern states. While people in the south celebrated this victory, people in the north thought because of this ruling there was a pro-slavery bias in the federal government. 

This case contributed to the overall tensions and division in the United States over the issue of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. Overall, the case of Dredd Scott v. Sandford showed how important the case actually was. The case also confirmed thoughts about how slaves were property under the U.S. Constitution. 

It is important to look at the overall picture of this case to fully understand its importance in the United States. The Dred Scott v. Sandford case will always be remembered in history as the case that urgently affected the thoughts and views of slavery back in 1857. Although this case took away slave's rights and did a lot of harm if this case never got to the supreme court, there would be a chance of not having a Civil War meaning there would be a chance of the North and South staying divided.  

Sources: 

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/dred-scott-v-sandford

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roger-B-Taney

https://supreme.findlaw.com/supreme-court-insights/dred-scott-v--sandford--history--decision--and-impact.html#:~:text=The%20Dred%20Scott%20Decision,-The%20Supreme%20Court's&text=Sandford%20did%20three%20important%20things,slavery%20in%20the%20Wisconsin%20Territory

Trial 1: Reax Post

After listening to both sides of the State v. Mann I would like to talk about the side of the state. I found this site interesting when listening to both sides. 

Some background on this case would be that there was a man named John Mann and he had gotten a fine for beating his slave Lydia for attempting to escape. He argued that she was his property meaning that it did not matter that he had been beating her. He went to court about this to waive the fine since he believed that since a slave is a property, she is not considered a human being. 

The trial showed whether it was assault and battery as well as attempted murder. The state argued that even though slaves were considered property it should still be considered assault and because of this it created the chain of events of what would happen to other slaves. Since he believed that it was self-defense there was no wrongdoing according to him. 

I found it interesting how they believed that since the slave was property, the slave did not deserve the right to be considered human. Another big thing within this case was the economic reasoning behind their argument if all the slaves had run away then there would have been no free labor, taking away their access to making cotton and growing crops in an easy way. 

I believe if it had been ruled differently there would be a chance of slavery having to end because of the ability for these slaves to walk out on the idea of doing free labor. This would economically ruin the South's system and ultimately create a course of change with action. 

In conclusion, State v. Man allowed slave owners to always have control and power over their slaves. This decision created an extremely difficult environment for slaves to have rights from not being abused and killed. Something that can be learned from this case is that slavery was a big dilemma back in 1830 and there were many ethical dilemmas that took place in this debate showing the difficulty of the case. 

Town Hall Reax

Today I got the chance to listen from both sides of history, both North and South at the town hall meeting. After listening to everyone's speeches on being pro-slavery and anti-slavery, I learned many new things about being anti-slavery. I was able to learn new and interesting insights that will help me in my future understanding of the history between the North and South. 

To begin I would like to touch on Harriet Tubman. I learned that not only did she begin fighting for freeing slaves at the age of twelve but also continued to fight to free slaves using the underground railroad. Even when there were many coming after her with a big reward for her, she still managed to help so many slaves become free. Another thing I learned about her is that after she was free, she helped in the Civil War by creating remedies for injured soldiers. 

One other person I got the chance to learn about from listening to these speeches was Sarah Parker Remond. She also fought for slavery at the age of twelve. In fact, she gave a lecture on it showing how early she was able to help. Sarah had big feelings about slavery which she would often express through mentioning how they were being treated. Some examples of this include experiencing unfair treatment politically, and socially, through humiliation and through insults. 

Something I have found from watching these speeches is that even though there were a lot of pro-slavery stories there were many anti-slavery speeches that had strong resining for going against slavery. To me, this shows how there is a lot more to proving the wrongs of slavery than the good. I feel that learning from both sides of the town hall meetings can help to find a better understanding of how the thoughts of everyone's beliefs came together.  

Town Hall Post

My name is James Henley Thornwell, and it is my pleasure to introduce myself. December 9, 1812, was the date of my birth in South Carolina. Over the course of my life, I became known as a pastor, theologian, and writer of influence. 

To this day, my thoughts on a variety of subjects, including slavery, are still studied, and debated. The reason for this is the controversy that exists between the North and the South. Some of my notable works include "The Church of Christ" and "The Rights and Duties of Masters." These writings of mine show my theological perspective and my views on the pressing issues of my time. 

The topic of slavery will be the subject of my speech today. I would like to start off by saying if we allow the Abolitionists to free slaves then we are putting the South in danger as doing so may cause a loss of order and stability.

One central aspect of my views on slavery revolves around the idea of racial superiority. I firmly hold the belief that white people are inherently superior to Black people. This served as a basis for justifying the institution of slavery. 

In my writing, I stated, "Every slaveholding State has just ground for secession." This statement was not merely a product of political maneuvering but rather, it reflects a deeply held conviction among many in the South. We believe that we have been wronged by the North, that our way of life, economy, and traditions were under threat, and that secession is a legitimate response to these perceived wrongs. To fix this wrongdoing, it is crucial for the Secession to happen not just because we should follow our political leaders but also because it is what we know is right. 

Slavery is not inherently sinful and is not condemned by the Bible. This viewpoint is grounded in my interpretation of religious doctrines, and it has contributed to my defense of the institution. I believed that the relationship between masters, like me, and slaves could coexist with Christian principles and that it is compatible with our way of life. When I investigate my beliefs, it is clear to me where my standing is about the topic of slavery and its relation to religion as well. It is with my authority to feel this way and show my opinions to hopefully help gain insight and a clear understanding of how I have felt my whole life.

Learning about my story shows the truths behind the thoughts of the South and how our beliefs are shown within society. In conclusion, my life's journey was marked by a dedication to theology, pastoral ministry, and a perspective on slavery that has left a lasting impact on the historical record. I hope that everyone can look into my opinions and find the clarity that is needed to view my opinions in the correct manner. My views on slavery are deeply controversial and widely rejected today, they provide some valuable insight into the complexities of the past and the moral evolution of societies.  

Sources: 

https://books.google.com/books?id=NN-X2dCrUwQC&pg=PA593&lpg=PA593&dq=%E2%80%9CEvery+slaveholding+State+has+just+ground+for+secession--can+any+man+believe+that+this+is+a+factitious+condition+of+the+public+mind+of+the+South,+produced+by+brawling+politicians+and+disappointed+demagogues+and+not+the+calm,+deliberate,+profound+utterance+of+a+people+who+feel,+in+their+inmost+souls,+that+they+have+been+deeply+and+flagrantly+wronged?%E2%80%9D&source=bl&ots=krgkXWPubH&sig=ACfU3U2P3KIvR8_vtdX49whXm-mbw07cTg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkjLTH7qyBAxWmlGoFHWlDC6MQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/the-regulated-freedom-of-james-henley-thornwell-antebellum-southern-presbyterian/

https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/thornwell-james-henley/

Bible Challenge Post: Worked With Finn Converse

According to the Bible, slavery can be seen as good and bad. Looking over the details of the Bible will prove these ideas from passages. 

It can be said that slavery went with seeing slavery as being a good thing in many ways. Christians would waive the Bible over their slave's head to show that slavery was justified by the Bible. The Bible mentions how doing so would be a welcomed thing and not something that is wrong. 

Another thing according to the Bible that showed slavery as good is in Exodus 21:26. This passage outlines the regulation for allowing people to become a slave to pay off debts but also stipulates that the person should be released after six years of service with the debts forgiven, but even though it says that he/she should be released after six years that wasn't always the case. 

One last thing to mention is In Timothy 6:1-2 the passage encourages slaves to honor their masters and serve them especially if their masters are Christian believers. This shows how the Bible wants slaves to cooperate with their fellow Master’s beliefs. 

While this is all true the Bible also says slavery is bad within the world. The Bible contains the Golden Rule which is found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 it emphasizes treating others like you would want to be treated. In this matter, it shows how the Bible would be against slavery. If you are going to treat others the way you want to be treated then you are not going to treat them as lee of you in Luke 6:31 this can be seen. 

Another thing the Bible states is Exodus 21:26 and 27 where this part of the Bible provides guidelines for the treatment of surface enslaves to the point that if a master hurts a slave the slave must be set free for compensation for the injury. If there were ever any harsh treatment, then there would not be acceptance. 

Overall, the Bible makes points for both sides and it is important to note while people might not agree with it there is something to learn from it.  

 

Sources:

https://time.com/5171819/christianity-slavery-book-excerpt/

https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/the-bible-and-slavery/

Blog Post #1

The Supreme Court has the most Judicial power and is the most important when talking about the law. After watching “Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2,” I was able to identify how important the Supreme Court can be. These aspects of the Supreme Court highlight great details that can help citizens be informed more about their country.

One thing that I was able to learn about the Supreme Court was how they rely on the public faith. Knowing that now I find it interesting how everyone chooses to give their trust to the Supreme Court. This shows how we can all share our support for the government and come together to unite.

I believe that the most important thing to take away from the Supreme Court is how much work goes into this court. Not only do they look through more than one hundred new cases a week but also make sure that all the cases are given equal opportunities to be reviewed. They will go on for weeks going back and forth trying to decide if it is worth taking up the case. With how long it takes to decide on if a case will be taken up it shows just how much work and effort is taking place in the Supreme Court.

This video changed the way I will now think about the Supreme Court because now I see how hardworking the court is. This video has now given me an understanding of how hard it is to work in the Supreme Court. Now that I see the Supreme Court for what it is, I am able to appreciate all it has done for the country. I hope by looking at these videos on the Supreme Court I will be able to use this better understanding in the future.

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qSuWxcG8