On April 27, 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts a baby was born that would change the world of communication. His name was Samuel Finley Breese Morse, although his parents called him Finley. Strangely, his mother called Samuel and his two brothers Sidney and Richard, her "dear boys." Even if he got into mischief they were always one of her "dear boys." This is not meaning to say Samuel's parents let him do what he pleased. However they had high hopes for him. Loyal to their country, Samuel's parents were proud Americans. For example Mr. Morse was a friend George Washington, who was a general in the American revolution. Although Samuel's father wanted him to be a bookseller Samuel still desired to study as an artist in England. In 1811,
Richard Rodriguez author and journalist wrote a short piece “Scholarship Boy” to explain to his audience of underprivileged children wanting a better future, the scarifies he endured as a young child: the loss of family ties and knowing himself in order to succeed a better self. Another great author who faced huge sacrifices is known as none other than abolitionist leader Fredrick Douglass, “Learning to Read and Write” giving his found audience a look into the various dangerous tasks he took to give himself a better chance of survival. The two pieces show how one boy sacrificed so much in order to free himself and the other coming from less harsh circumstances but understand sacrifices just as well. All to be able to have a better and brighter future.
T. Thomas Fortune is an African American speaker, journalist, civil rights leader, publisher, and editor who were born into slavery on October 3, 1856 in Marianna, Florida. T. Thomas Fortune was also known as Timothy Thomas. Fortune’s parents, Emanuel Fortune and Sarah Jane Fortune, were both slaves of Ely P. Moore. Timothy was their first son, but had one older sister and one younger sister along with a baby brother. Emanuel, Fortune’s father, was born from a slave mother and “who was the daughter of a mulatto slave mother and a Seminole Indian.” Emanuel’s father name was Thomas Fortune, and he was an Irishman who was killed in a duel when he was little. Emanuel was owned to a family named Russ. The Russ family’s had a son named Joseph, which was about the same age as Emanuel, who eventually became very close to Emanuel. Emanuel was given the chance to learn how to read due to his friendship with Joseph, but then he was sold Ely P. Moore which allowed him to marry Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane also was a mixed nationality. Jane’s mother had a white father and a slave mother, and Jane’s mother was an Indian. Jane was born in Richmond Virginia, in 1832, and later moved to Florida.
Born into slavery and fathered by an unknown white man, “Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey” was born in Maryland around 1818. He was raised by his grandparents and with an Aunt, having seen his mother only a handful of times before she died. It was during this time that he witnessed firsthand the cruelty of the institution of slavery: lashings, exposure to the elements and hunger. When he was eight years old he left for Baltimore, and it was there that his master’s sympathetic wife taught him to read and write. When he recounted the move later in his life he said, “Going to live at Baltimore, laid the foundation, and opened the gateway, to all my subsequent prosperity.” Typically slaveholders would prevent slaves from becoming literate. And Douglass’ master would often punish his wife for teaching the slaves the alphabet because he would make them disobedient. Slavery means you are to remain ignorant but freedom means that you were enlightened. He would struggle, but he knew that knowledge was more than power, it was freedom. After he escaped slavery September 3, 1838 and fled to New York, he joined various abolitionist groups and in 1841 he met the white abolitionist leader William Lloyd Garrison, who went on to become his mentor. Despite many apprehensions that releasing his story would endanger his life as a free man, Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written By Himself in 1845. After becoming more independent from Garrison, he spoke against his belief that the Constitution was pro-slavery, and argued that it may “be wielded in behalf of emancipation,” where the federal government had exclusive jurisdiction. Douglass d...
I began the research for this paper looking to write about Frederick Douglass’ drive to start his abolitionist paper The North Star. What I then found in my research was the writings of a man I had never before heard of, Martin R. Delaney. Delaney and Douglass were co-editors of the paper for its first four years, therefore partners in the abolitionist battle. Yet I found that despite this partnership these men actually held many differing opinions that ultimately drove them apart.
However, he understands that it is for the common good that he must withhold this information, saying, “such a statement would most undoubtedly induce greater vigilance on the part of slaveholders than has existed heretofore among them; which would, of course, be the means of guarding a door whereby some dear brother bond-man might escape his galling chains” (Douglass 88?). Douglass would not, for the sake of a good story, share details that would enlighten slaveholders and hinder a “dear brother bond-man” from escaping servitude. Like Harriet Tubman, he acknowledges the importance of secrecy in the practice of illegally freeing slaves. Douglass understood that the Underground Railroad was not simply an organized route or action, but instead it was a (magnificent) operation and all over the (country) slaves were attempting escape. He knew that secrecy was the driving force for the railroad’s success and that any detail could drail the movement completely.Without a full understanding, it may seem that The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is fragmented and vague. But after further research, the undetailed writing style tells an even deeper story of the time in which it was written. Douglass’ novel is now read as a classic piece of educational, historical literature, but it was originally written for a different audience. Contemporary readers were abolitionists, slaves and blacks
wrote a pamphlet to the people in England and told about all the good things
When his father died in 1826, ownership of Frederick and the other slaves went to Anthony’s son-in-law Thomas Auld. Thomas sent Frederick to work for his brother Hugh Auld and his wife Sophia, in Baltimore, Maryland. They wanted a companion for their toddler son. Frederick spent his days entertaining and taking care of Thomas. Sophia taught Frederick his ABC’s until her husband discovered what she was doing and ended the lessons. Frederick decided nothing would keep him from learning to read and write. He carried a Webster’s spelling book with him and asked poor white neighbor children to teach him words in exchange for bread.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, the colonial capital of the colony, John Milledge was born into one of the first families to travel to the “New World” in 1757. Milledge served numerous different higher level political leadership positions as well as fighting for independence in the Revolutionary War. Throughout acts of bravery, perseverance, and patriotism, John Milledge became one of the most influential men in the history of the state of Georgia.
At the turn of the 20th century, Herbert Croly – as far as the accelerating world was concerned – was a man without a name. Painfully shy and without many friends, he was admitted to Harvard in 1886 as one of 96 "special students" who would not be eligible for a degree. Perhaps the world should have realized he would one day be reckoned with when was given the former room of newspaperman William Randolph Hearst, who was expelled from Harvard a year before Croly entered its halls. But Croly remained aloof through his long stay at Harvard, which had more promising sons to look after. However, when in 1909 Croly published his first and most remembered book, The Promise of American Life, he was instantly recognized as a great political thinker. Eager to recognize him as one of its own, Harvard gave him his bachelor’s degree soon after the jubilant reviews were printed.
The writer of the world’s most enduring children’s classic did not come from wealth or outstanding intellect; he began his life in Florida, Missouri. Samuel Clemens’ father, educated in law, modeled the motivation that often defines the American dream; with determination and hard work, success can be achieved (Erskine). Unfortunately, Clemens’ father was never able to achieve his dreams, and he died shortly after moving his family to the banks of the Mississippi River (Erskine). Jane Clemens, his mother, became the central influence of his life, and would later influence his choice of a wife (Erskine).
For this research paper, I will be talking about a less known founding father the name of Marquis de Lafayette. He is a French noble who came and helped the colonies, during the revolutionary war. He made many sacrifices for the colonies and this paper will tell you what he did.
John Pierpont Morgan was born in Hartford, Connecticut on April 17, 1837 to his father Junius Spencer Morgan, a successful business man himself, and his mother. Juliet Pierpont. J.P. was an extremely large man with massive shoulders and a purple nose due to rosacea; he was very intimidating and smoked several cigars a day. He came with a gift of immediately meeting people and being able to judge their character and integrity. His idol was Napoleon Bonaparte. Junius expected his son to follow in his footsteps and succeed in the business world and shaped him to do so. In 1854, Morgan’s father became a partner of George Peabody firm and just ten years later to...
On January 11, 1757, a baby was born in the British West Indies. That baby would soon be known as Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers. In the future, he would be known as a federalist, a lawyer, a lieutenant colonel, and a graduate of King’s College, now Columbia University. He would be known largely for his advancements in the American economy, his humble orphan beginning, and, later, his face being printed on the American ten dollar bill. Alexander Hamilton was important to American history for many reasons including, but not limited to, the fiscal policies and a long held feud with Thomas Jefferson.
I find myself on the threshold of a new year. Before me is this mysterious and unknown. As I set out to explore its secret windings I propose to take with me this book in order that I may note more carefully the various objects of interest which the future conceals, and record my own thoughts and feelings by the way. It promises to be an eventful year.
He sailed on a small coasting packet with only a few passengers, among whom was the widow of the Revolutionary general, Nathanael Greene. The Greenes had settled in Savannah after the war. When Whitney arrived in South Carolina, he found that the promised salary was going to be halved. He not only refused to take the position, but decided to give up teaching all together. Coming to his aid, Mrs. Greene invited him to her plantation where he could read law, and also help out the plantation manager, Phineas Miller. Miller, a few years older than Whitney, wa...