HIST 120

Post #13: Where Was I?

I didn't know the World Trade Towers had been destroyed until later that evening of Septemer 11, 2001. The moment the towers were hit, I was in bed still fast asleep. It was still 6 in the morning my time. I lived in Boise, Idaho; thousands of miles away. By the time my classmates and I got to school, the last plane had crashed in Pennsllyvania. We didn't see any live shots of the planes hitting the towers. Everything was old news by the time we got it. Even when we did watch the news, what was happening didn't really hit home. No one really took the events seriously. We didn't understand that the planes weren't just accidents.

We had class as usual. The teachers didn't play the news for more than 10 minutes each class period. There wasn't much discussion about the crashes. Boise is a very isolated moutain city and news takes a little longer to travel there. Our conversations were also restricted by our conservative government and school system. We didn't really express our feelings about it. I can remember being horrified, however, when I heard two girls discussing the New York/Washington DC trip that was supposed to take place that spring. They said "I suppose this means that everyone is going to freak out and cancel the trip. It's all just going to go back to normal by then but adults always ruin things." I knew that this was much bigger than a school trip. I had seen the people jumping out the windows trying to escape a slow death. That was also when I heard a girl say "Wow! Look at those people! That's so cool that they're jumping!" It was so surreal that my classmates didn't understand that thousands of people were about to die. It was just all too far away.

After awhile the teachers had discussions with us and encouraged us to share our feelings. As the waves of information began flooding the news sources it became more confusing to understand where the rumours lay. We started the typical high school fundraiser of collecting coins, holding bake sales and the like, thinking we were such heroes to raise money for a cause we didn't even understand fully. 

Obviously today Boise better understands what happened. The biggest air force base in the west is an hour south of Boise and many airmen left their families within the next few months. The impact 9/11 had on my town wasn't huge; things are pretty much the same as they were 5 years ago. But little reminders are still there: the first military death in the war was from Mt. Home Air Force Base in Idaho. It's amazing how mountains can still isolate people from the world even in this modern day age.

1950

This is my photo album of the 50's. Originaly posted Tuesday before break, now updated.

For some reason, not all the pictures have all the caption, the introduction paragraph is missing, and my "citings" and some pictures are missing. I tried to get all the information here but bits of information keep disappearing. I will try to keep updating it but for now, this is the most I can get posted.

#9 - I thought so

My thoughts exactly.

#1

#2

#3

#8 - Guilty!

In the late 19th century a typical man and women would get married and have children. They would raise their children with the father playing the role of disciplinarian, and the mother played the role of nurturer. “Most had a house for the rancher and his family, a bunkhouse for the hired hands, and about 30 to 40 acres per animal.”(Davidson, 511) The Rehberg family that resided in Helena, Montana in 1885 was not a perfect example of a typical family in the 19th centurey because there was the addition of the step mother. But they were close. Edward Rehberg was charged and found guilty with murder of his daughter Clara in the State of Montana vs. Rehberg (1885). The jury consisted of only white, male, and well off (better word) in the late 19th century. We believe he was an innocent man, because the testimony from his eldest daughter, the workman, and the deathbed statement from Clara point out that he was a)too busy that day to have been near Clara and b) that there was tension between the stepmother and the children. Would this verdict still be upheld in modern 21st century? No, we know for a fact the verdict would not be the same. He may have been found guilty still but the reasoning behind it would be different.

Families are structured units. Each piece of the structure plays a role in the family. In a stereotypical 19th century family the father would have been the bread winner and the mother would stay at home. The father would be the leader of the family and everyone else would follow his word. Being that the father is the man of the house it would be the manly duty to discipline the children. Women were seen as weak and frail therefore would not be fit to discipline. The jury’s only reasoning to finding Edward guilty would be just that. Clara was beaten to death by another human being, and who disciplined the children? The finger of the jury pointed directly at Edward. The jury simply saw the Rehbergs as a lower class family that had issues.

Without any concrete evidence, Edward was found guilty. In fact there were several testimonies that would prove his innocence. Several testimonies clearly stated that Edward never left their sight long enough to beat his child. He was working all day with Joe Tiebow (who testified that Edward was with him the whole day), hired help for the Rehbergs, on the hay stack leaves no time for him to commit the crime. Most importantly Clara’s last words even cleared her father’s name.

(a)

In the 21st century a jury would not have given the same verdict as in the 19th century in the Rehberg case. Modern technology such as DNA and prints would most likely give the best possible verdict. Also the jury would not just be upper class white males, the group would be a mixture of his peers. The fact that a woman is just as capable as a man of beating her child is well known today. A major fact the 19th century failed to consider was that the child was beaten with a weapon. A weapon is easy as for woman to inflict the same amount of damage as a man. On that note, we believe that Edward Rehberg was not guilty of the crime and that Louisa was. However that's just not the way things were done in the 19th century.

(a) http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/trial/webopera/images/fury.jpg

I Hope This Works...

Here, hopefully, should be my Civil War photo album.

Post #6: My Turn!

Megan Williams

Alejandro Medrano

Stephanie Gunter

Post #5: The Utopia That is Goodland

(Click on any picture to enlarge.)

The town pictured in these segments above is Goodland, a perfect place nestled in the back of the Appalchian Mountains and settled by a people who wanted to accept the differences that drove them apart in their hometowns whether it was religion, class, race, or sex. The people knew that they could build such a fantasy town if they came to the agreement that all were welcome.

Goodland is a combination of Jacksonian and Jeffersonian theology. The Jacksonian ideology comes into play with the more industrial buildings, such as the blacksmith, and the port on the river. Jeffersonian ideology is apparent in the mass quantities of trees, farms, orchards, and parks. Everything is very green and organized. The first thing a visitor would see when he came to this town would be the farms and the animals. This further emphasizes the natural part of the town. The wide streets and prestine condition of the buildings gives this place a charming, homey look that helps hide the bustle and noise of the markets and builders' shops.

The citizens of Goodland are tightly knit to one another. They survive because they work together. Their unity is the strongest commodity they have here. This helps the town maintain its self-suficient ways. Everyone knows their part in the community and how their part is important in keeping order.

The river that backs Goodland up against the rolling hills helps keep the people in touch with the outside world. They are not too bothered with what goes on outside, as long as trouble is not brought to their world. The river supplies them with things they cannot grow such as corn and wheat, and brings their goods, such as their prized sheep, to other cities. This helps Goodland remain profitable. The guards standing at the gate by the port aren't there for defense as much as they are there to remind everyone of the order that goes on inside. They are merely a precaution.

The church in Goodland is a multi-religious space, something of a rarity in these times, but it is an experiment that is turning out well for those it serves. No one is pressured to attend any of its many services, but all are welcome whenever they choose. The town center next to the church is a gathering place for storage of extra crops and wool and whatever surplus there might be. It also serves as a meeting hall, a place of leisure, a town pub, and whatever the people need. There is also a university down the road that turns out superior farming techniques, new nautical navigational ideas, and anyone who wants to attend can, for a small fee given directly to the professors.

Goodland is ahead of its time, a scientific research center that doubles as home to close to 750 to 1000 citizens. It grows all the time but within boundaries and zones set ahead of time by the fonuding people. These rules allow for expansion, but help keep the delicate balance of nature and city that sets Goodland apart from all the rest.

The town pictured in these segments above is Goodland, a perfect place nestled in the back of the Appalchian Mountains and settled by a people who wanted to accept the differences that drove them apart in their hometowns whether it was religion, class, race, or sex. The people knew that they could build such a fantasy town if they came to the agreement that all were welcome.

Goodland is a combination of Jacksonian and Jeffersonian theology. The Jacksonian ideology comes into play with the more industrial buildings, such as the blacksmith, and the port on the river. Jeffersonian ideology is apparent in the mass quantities of trees, farms, orchards, and parks. Everything is very green and organized. The first thing a visitor would see when he came to this town would be the farms and the animals. This further emphasizes the natural part of the town. The wide streets and prestine condition of the buildings gives this place a charming, homey look that helps hide the bustle and noise of the markets and builders' shops.

The citizens of Goodland are tightly knit to one another. They survive because they work together. Their unity is the strongest commodity they have here. This helps the town maintain its self-suficient ways. Everyone knows their part in the community and how their part is important in keeping order.

The river that backs Goodland up against the rolling hills helps keep the people in touch with the outside world. They are not too bothered with what goes on outside, as long as trouble is not brought to their world. The river supplies them with things they cannot grow such as corn and wheat, and brings their goods, such as their prized sheep, to other cities. This helps Goodland remain profitable. The guards standing at the gate by the port aren't there for defense as much as they are there to remind everyone of the order that goes on inside. They are merely a precaution.

Blog #4: Confused and Stuck Between Two Extremes

Catlin really loved studying the Native Americans. He loved to use them as the subjects of his paintings. During the time period he was painting, there was a clash between the Americans and the Native Americans. The N.A. were trying to be more involved with the way the white men were intruding and stealing their lands. In this particular painting, Catlin demonstrates how the N. A. tried to blend in with American culture, but often got ideas mixed up.
The two different directions that the men (who are actually the same man but we’ll refer to them as two separate people for now) are facing are quite symbolic. The man on the left is going towards the Capitol in Washington DC and he is dressed in his traditional outfit. The man on the right is facing his village, represented by the teepees, and he is dressed in “white men’s’” clothing. This shows how he first tried to take part of his culture with him to the Americans and then ended up leaving like one of them.
The changed Indian on the right is obviously confused. He has exchanged his peace pipe for a cigar, and his robe for a suit. His feathered headdress has become a top hat with a feather in it. He is also carrying a cane, something Indians wouldn’t normally do. He was able to fit in as far as looks went, to a point, but it is obvious that he doesn’t completely understand this new culture.
A few last parts to these changes are the gloves and umbrella and the flask. This may be a gentle joke on the part of Catlin at showing just how confused the Indian is. Not only is he wearing the clothing wrong, but he also has feminine characteristics on him now. The flask in his back pocket suggests that he is also drunk, perhaps not literally, but figuratively, and has just made a fool of himself in Washington, trying to fit in.
Catlin takes all of these little details and combines them to describe the way the Indians came to the white men. They tried, and for the most part wanted to ally with the Americans, but the cultures were just so different that the outcome was ridiculous. Catlin was able to capture all this in this one painting.

Post #2 Uncultured Swine

The American Activists were viewed as loose, wild and uncultured people whose "patriotism" was an unproductive waste of time and a distraction from their daily routines society set forth. Further, the British felt that once the women became involved, the colonies would become a dangerous and riotous place, once they lost sight of their womanly duties such as care for personal appearance and raising children. The cartoon clearly shows the distaste and disgust the author had for these women by their dress, the mixing of the races (proper women would never be seen with African Americans in a public setting), the animals running wild; and illusion to the women being no better than animals, and the abundance of gin.

In the British painting "The Women of Edenton," the patriotic women were portrayed as loose and easily manipulated individuals. These women were soon to be the founding cliché of Americans, in Britain. The woman in the middle of the portrait is being groped upon by a man; he has his hand on the woman’s breast, and there is not a trace of shock or embarrassment on the woman’s face. The symbol of the man’s hand, effortlessly rested on the woman’s chest, symbolizes the ease in which each one of these women could be controlled, or so to say “used.” The middle woman also serves a great purpose in the overall portrayal of American society. As you can see the woman is facing towards the man on her right side, rather than her feathered pen. This example shows that the woman isn’t paying much attention to what she is signing, but in fact paying more attention to the man groping her.

While continuing to examine the portrait, you catch on to more of the British views towards patriotic Americans, such as their lack of fine behavior. In the 18th century, African American’s did not have a place in colonial society. Their dark skin marked them as less-than-human, they were slaves not colonials. As slaves, they were not treated as humans but rather as property without compassion or care. In the “Women of Edenton” the British artist portrays uncultured colonists interacting with African Americans. The fact that these patriotic women included the African American woman in their meeting shows that the women have lost sight of their place in society and are truly the “uncultured American colonists.” In fact, the Americans were not depicted correctly by the cartoon in the least. This underestimation of the colonists would lead to the revolutionary war.

The American Patriots are portrayed as wild and careless. They are represented by the "Women of Edenton" cartoon with various symbols carefully inserted into the cartoon. The unattended child with food spilled under the table, and the unhygienic dog licking him show a careless and wild side of women. It is apparent that they have forgotten their basic duties. They are depicted as a bunch of wild people who do not have any idea what they are doing. It also shows the trivial nature of the scene where a group of people are enjoying a wild party, instead of being serious and signing an important document. The most important message that the artist is trying to convey is that the patriots seem to be more focused on having a good time, than in engaging in politics.

By examining this cartoon, “The Women of Edenton,” you soon find out that the British opinion of American patriots was not very uplifting. The British saw the Americans as foolish, vulgar, and unaware of the seriousness of politics. It is obvious how the British felt about the Americans. This condescending attitude and underestimation of the Americans by the British, would be a serious mistake in the future.

In the British painting "The Women of Edenton," the patriotic women were portrayed as loose and easily manipulated individuals. These women were soon to be the founding cliché of Americans, in Britain. The woman in the middle of the portrait is being groped upon by a man; he has his hand on the woman’s breast, and there is not a trace of shock or embarrassment on the woman’s face. The symbol of the man’s hand, effortlessly rested on the woman’s chest, symbolizes the ease in which each one of these women could be controlled, or so to say “used.” The middle woman also serves a great purpose in the overall portrayal of American society. As you can see the woman is facing towards the man on her right side, rather than her feathered pen. This example shows that the woman isn’t paying much attention to what she is signing, but in fact paying more attention to the man groping her.

While continuing to examine the portrait, you catch on to more of the British views towards patriotic Americans, such as their lack of fine behavior. In the 18th century, African American’s did not have a place in colonial society. Their dark skin marked them as less-than-human, they were slaves not colonials. As slaves, they were not treated as humans but rather as property without compassion or care. In the “Women of Edenton” the British artist portrays uncultured colonists interacting with African Americans. The fact that these patriotic women included the African American woman in their meeting shows that the women have lost sight of their place in society and are truly the “uncultured American colonists.” In fact, the Americans were not depicted correctly by the cartoon in the least. This underestimation of the colonists would lead to the revolutionary war.

The American Patriots are portrayed as wild and careless. They are represented by the "Women of Edenton" cartoon with various symbols carefully inserted into the cartoon. The unattended child with food spilled under the table, and the unhygienic dog licking him show a careless and wild side of women. It is apparent that they have forgotten their basic duties. They are depicted as a bunch of wild people who do not have any idea what they are doing. It also shows the trivial nature of the scene where a group of people are enjoying a wild party, instead of being serious and signing an important document. The most important message that the artist is trying to convey is that the patriots seem to be more focused on having a good time, than in engaging in politics.

By examining this cartoon, “The Women of Edenton,” you soon find out that the British opinion of American patriots was not very uplifting. The British saw the Americans as foolish, vulgar, and unaware of the seriousness of politics. It is obvious how the British felt about the Americans. This condescending attitude and underestimation of the Americans by the British, would be a serious mistake in the future.

Post #1:Birds of a Feather: From Doves to Crows

             Every culture has a story to explain how they came to be. Three of these creation stories come from the New Netherlands, the Ottawa, and the Sioux and while they are certainly different, there are common threads running through them such as the role of animals, women, and a supreme being. The stories were old oral traditions the people had passed down among themselves and were unique. After the Europeans made contact with them, the stories showed the influence Christianity had upon the Native Americans.

            The first story has men evolving from animals, a common theory even today. The second story explains things a little differently with the first, true appearance of a supreme being – The Great Hare – who prompted the creation of man from the corpses of animals. The third story clearly shows when Christianity began to take a stronghold on the Native Americans. There is a supreme being who is angry with the world because the men are evil. Therefore he drowned them all in a great flood, an almost identical version of the Noah’s Ark story found in Genesis, Chapter 7. Later in the story a crow is circling around the globe looking for land to rest upon, like the dove that Noah sent out and returned with an olive branch. This evolution of the stories coincides with the settlers coming over from Europe and starting churches and towns where the Native Americans would have had contact with them and heard the stories from the Bible.

            The Native Americans’ stories started out with animals being the creators of man and the different tribes springing from the different species. Later on as the years go by Christian symbols appear and become intertwined with the originals as the Europeans spread their beliefs and tried to convert the natives.

            Out of these three legends, the first story is the purest form of Native American mythology before European corruption. This truly shows the influence nature has on them and the presence of Mother Earth as shown by the woman who gives birth to the three animals, a deer, a bear, and a wolf, which represent certain traits in a man.

            The creation stories retain some of the basic beliefs but the details to explain them are redone by the Christian point of view.