Foreign Aid From France And Friends

French aid, began in 1778 with a treaty came in the form of GUNS and other much needed supplies. These supplies proved vital in the American push to extend the war. French troops joined the war in 1778 in an attack on Newport, Rhode Island.










The Spanish joined in 1779 over a dispute with Britain over the Gibraltar. The Dutch joined following a dispute over terms of neutrality with the British.

























The Spanish contributed mainly in the form of their powerful navy. They helped by causing the British to divert troops to other locations such as Gibraltar where they sieged it for 4 years though unsuccessfully. Spain also contributed gold and silver.













The Dutch also contributed in the form of their navy. Their contibutions were mainly in India. They, along with the French fought the British because all three had outposts there. The Dutch also contributed goods and money.



















In 1780 the Armed Neutrality was formed by Catherine the Great, it included Denmark-Norway, Sweden, the Holy Roman Empire, Prussia, Portugal, and the Two Siciles.















In 1781, Admiral De Grasse and Rochambeau of the French helped defeat the British at the Battle of Yorktown. This was the most important French contribution.
















Both France and Spain received territorial gains when America won its independence.
France gained Tobago, Saint Lucia, the Senegal River area, and fishing rights in Terra Nova. Spain gained Minorca and Florida.

Overall, the French made the biggest contributions to the Americans lending them money, men, and supplies. They also contributed ships and helped the Americans build up their meager navy. They made telling contributions on all fronts of the war. The Spanish helped with their navy and movey and contributed in the South and in Minorca. The Dutch contributed their navy, goods, and money and fought the British in India. Contributions by the Spanish and the Dutch have sadly been overlooked. The Spanish played a pretty crucial role in our independence. As is common, British stupidity is evident here. They forced both the Spanish and the Dutch to join up with the French in the cause of American Independence.

Frantic French Find Flimsy Foothold For New France

Samuel De Champlain, the "Father of New France."

Quebec, founded in 1608 becomes capital of French empire in the New World.

French make fateful alliance with the Huron Indians, aiding them in their war against the Iroqouis.

King Louis XIV (not actually shown, though possibly better looking...) began French interests in the New World.

French peasants already in the English colonies or back in France had no economic motive to move to Canada. French Huguenots were not allowed there either.

Despite its size, New France had a population of only 60,000 including its Canadian territories. France's attempt to turn its North American holdings into a successful colonizing venture like those of the Britain failed and despite its grandeur it lost its North American holdings.

AP Essay Prompt

The Great Awakening was a religious movement that occurred in the 1730s and 1740s. It began following a time of lows in religious conversions, a lack of religious fervor, and was spurred on by the challenges presented by liberal ideas to the old-religions. It was characterized by the thundering, emotion evoking homilies of Jonathan Edwards, the orator George Whitefield, and the growth of emotion in religion. The Great Awakening, occurring in the 1730s and 40s, was a time of rebirth and renewed fervor for religion in the colonies. It was ultimately successful, bringing an awakening for religion in America and began to bring about the seperation of church and state.

The Great Awakening was period of renewed vigor and fervor for religion in the colonies. Preachers like Whitefield and Edwards brought emotion into religion and a change from the "dead dogs" - though in different ways and the idea of emotion in religion became a problem. Schisms occurred with many small churches popping up and competition between American churches grew. As a result of the the new wave of fervor and emotion new waves of missionaries were sent out to both Indians and black slaves. Colleges like Dartmouth and Rutgers were established too. It also represented a monstrous movement of the masses in America, foreshadowing the Revolutionary War.

The Great Awakening also encouraged and moved America closer to the seperation of the church and state. The schisms among the churches that occurred, creating more churches and more denominations made it harder to have a church of the colony. There were so many denominations that it was difficult for the government to enforce the religion as was previously intended. Also, colonies based on a religion and for people of a certain religion were diversified. The governments of theses colonies could no longer uphold and enforce their religion, there were more people of differing denominations.

We Are America

This picture tells a lot about America. America is an advanced country as shown in the picture with the train and the industrial center. Also like the picture we are beautiful and unique. Since the beginning, America has been special with its different and experimental views of religious toleration and our political system. The train and the industrial center also represent that we are hardworking. All of these have foundations in our modest beginnings during the times of the first settlers like the Pilgrims. America since the beginning, has comprised hard working people, has been unique/special, and has been America the Beautiful.

AP Begins

Yeah, I'm done...at least until next week.

AP US Mayflower Questions

1.) The Pilgrims were typified by their religion, which played a huge role in their survival and was a motivator. When the going got tough, the Pilgrim's religion justified the events as happening for a reason and as the will of God. The Pilgrim's also persevered, had courage, and were completely devoted to their faith - which was their reason for leaving Europe to head for the promise of religious freedom in the New World. Of these qualities, their religion limited them the most but they were also limited by their experiences in Europe and their European point of view. Though life in Europe taught the Pilgrims many skills, such as how to adapt to a new home, Europe also gave them a stereotypical view of the New World and its inhabitants. This view showed the New World as savage and rough, and filled with cruel, bloodthirsty Indians. These views, along with their religion caused the Pilgrims to be cautious and tentative. Their religion also restricted what the Pilgrims could do to survive. Their restriction on work on Sundays limited the progress that could be made in the settlement. When haste was needed to cure the sick, to find food, and to build shelters and protection, the Pilgrims were limited to working 6 days out of the week. Their views of the Indians as well as their single minded religious community attitude (from Leiden) limited initial contact with the natives and hindered their relations with them.

3.) The real events, the truth that is, is not as romantic. Their wold not be the same view of the beginning of America if the story about the fighting, the massacre, and the bloodletting was taught to little children everywhere. Plus, it does not fit into our politically correct society. America has led the people away from the truth to mislead them to think of it as a romantic country based on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America changes the truth because the truth is ugly, but it would prefer to be seen as "America the Beautiful." America does not want the past to be seen as it is, bloody and full of brutality. They want the citizens to see the Pilgrims in a good light because it is our past. Plus, you can't have a holiday for the massacring of thousands of people, it wouldn't sell. It is the same concept of the Easter holiday, it is made to sell and make everyone remember it. Their weren't bunnies and chicks and Peeps in Easter and there wasn't a nice little group of Pilgrims and Indians holding hands at a nice table with a white table cloth and turkey, ham, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and bread dressing. Its highly fictionalized in order to give everyone a good feeling about it and is erased for the same reasons things like the Holocaust (though not as bad) are erased and not taught, its because it is unsightly and it is a stain on what some want to be seen as a clean history.

4.) The tradition of peaceful coexistence between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans that was previously held for 50 years collapsed in the 1670's. It began to fall apart as the second generation of Pilgrims came to power. They saw the Indians as a roadblock in their path to prosperity and profitability because of the land they owned. This second generation viewed the Indians with indifference and lost their parent's respect towards them because they no longer relied on them for survival. They lost touch with their history, they no longer noticed the notable par the Indians played in their parent's survival during that first winter in the New World. As the Pilgrims expanded, they began to depend on the Indians' aid less, and, this growth caused a need for land to live on and farm (which the Indians just happened to own.) The Pilgrims also sought to obtain the Indians' land because of the potential held by the Mount Hope Bay to grow into a huge trade port such as Boston. To get the land, the Pilgrims traded the Indians supplies they needed and purchased it for unfair prices. The Indians rightfully saw this as being taken advantage of and responded accordingly. The Pilgrims and Indians could have lived together in a shared and combined community that included the Bay and the colony and shared the prosperity brought by the trade in the Bay (but they didn't really trust each other.) Or, in a more realistic though unfair view, the Pilgrims could have payed the Indians a just amount for the land and set aside another reservation for them.

5.) One of Squanto's biggest assets was his ability to speak English. It allowed him to act as a mediator and middleman between the Pilgrims and the Indians. A weakness of his was a common one. When he gained power, he was corrupted by it and went for even more. He used his powers as the interpreter to try to play the Pokanokets and the Pilgrims off on one another in order to overthrow Massasoit as the supreme sachem. Squanto played such a huge role in history because of the part he played in the survival and well being of the Pilgrims. He taught the Pilgrims the basics needed to survive the winter. Squanto taught them the Indian method for planting the corn and pointed out the presence of herring in the water. He also convinced Massasoit to befriend the Pilgrims instead of attacking them. These two events could have changed the course of American history. Without his aid, the Pilgrims would have died of starvation that winter and then would have been killed by Massasoit' warriors. Without Squanto, Plymouth would not have become one of the first successful settlements in the area and settlement may not have occurred so quickly in the New England area. He also was an interpreter between both parties and played a huge role in healthy Pilgrim-Indian relations of the time.

6.) The second generation received the reputation of being "the degenerate plant of a strange vine" because of their lack of religious fervor and devotion shown by the "Old Comers." Instead of focusing on the future (the afterlife) the second generation preferred to focus on the now. This included things like land and they showed no concern for the ways of their parents. I think the name was earned but was a little harsh. I think they should have honored their parents' ways and it is surprising that the apple fell so far from the tree. The name was pretty much accepted and along with it, a change of ways was accepted. Not only was the religion altered, their ways and traditions were altered. They became more greedy, which came along with their lack of religion, and this greed caused them to encroach on their goodwill with the Indians. The reputation was a self fulling prophecy, with it the second generation shunned the Old Comer's ways and with it their religion, views, and values.

8.) Hollywood often portrays the Indians in a bad light. It shows them as brutal, savage, and cruel. This, in some sense is true, but does not show the whole story. Though some Indians fit this description, not all did. Indians varied as much as the Europeans did. Hollywood made a stereotype of all Indians and made them all cruel and bloodthirsty. Hollywood also portrays Pilgrims and other settlers as nice, religious innocent people who were the victims. The Mayflower helped explain both of these views. It explained that though some Indians were cruel, not all were and it came as a reaction to the actions of the Pilgrims. It also explained that the Pilgrims did not fir the Hollywood bill. They fought, scalped, and maimed too. Atrocities occurred on both sides and were brought responses to the actions of the other side. Hollywood does show that some Indians did scalp people, and they were spiritual. Hollywood often shows the Indians dancing around a fire, beating drums, and dancing. This did happen. There is also some truth to the Hollywood view of the Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims and the Indians did meet for a peaceful meal. It did not however include ham, pie, or bread dressing. It instead consisted of striped bass, deer, corn, and other native foods (including turkey.)

9.) Benjamin Church is the only one on either side to even come close to becoming a hero. He had the making of a great leader, ingenuity, practicality, and brains. He was the only one with enough sense to use friendly Indians to help capture others and to fight in the war. He was also compassionate. He opposed the enslavement of local Indians and sought to assure the safety of the Indians he had known.

10.) Misconceptions concerning different tribes made the war worse than it was. The English viewed the Indians as one group and integrated this into their war plan. though they were at war with one tribe, the English attacked multiple tribes driving them into the war too. This view of one Indian nationality caused the war to be more widespread. It caused tribes that were indifferent to, or neutral to fight. One such tribe was the Naragansetts, who were neutral up to the brutal attacks they faced. The English's racial misconceptions muddied the water in the war and instead of facing one or two tribes and befriending a few others, they slated themselves up against a Pan-Indian force (at least initially.)

11.) I think that the Indians that sided with the English were being smart. The English had superior technology and had goods such as coffee and other desired items. I think that it made sense to side with the English because they were not going anywhere and from a rational standpoint it made sense to side with them. I see the Indians who sided with the English as sensible as well as opportunistic. Siding with the English was sensible because they supposedly had the plague, they had the latest guns, and they had goods. The Indians were also opportunistic because siding with the English brought trade and as a result goods like coffee, tobacco, and numerous other goods. If I had been a native I would have sided with the English because it made sense. They had better technology (which i would not want to face), the plague (I wouldn't want it set on me), and there was lot of opportunity to get desired goods from the English in return.

12.) No side in King Phillip's War could make a legitimate claim to having moral superiority. Morals had nothing to do with the war. It was brutal and full of needless blood spilling as well as needless cruelty. It went beyond war, which is fighting for protection. it involved maiming, torturing, and the keeping of body parts of one's enemies. Both sides did it and were guilty of it. Whether it was quartering or scalping, both were wrong and immoral.

15.) I did find that Philbrick did well to keep a neutral perspective throughout the book. As far as morals go i am not sure, but I am sure he would want us to learn about real history, not what is said and portrayed in Hollywood or by one's country. He may want us to learn that what took place between the Indians and the English was wrong, and that the only just war is the one fought to protect others.

We Didn't Start the Fire

This song, written by Billy Joel in 1989 talks about showcase events and people from the history of America. It literally lists these important people, events, and places. The singer/songwriter offers both a current as well as a historic perspective on the events. Some of the events Billy Joel was witness to while to others he was not. I think that the song is telling about the events as a story, kind of like a scrambled not-chronologically accurate timeline (just a list really...) i think the song is alright, but it is a bit annoying. The annoying part is in the format. It is just 4 lists, chorus, 4 lists, chorus, 4 lists, chorus, 4 lists, chorus, 4 lists, and... for the finale (just in case you've forgotten the chorus...) 4 more sets of the chorus. The song allows us to learn of some notable events that occurred in the 20th century as well as a few in the 21st century.

The Hands That Built America

This song by U2 was recorded in 2002, and discusses events that have shaped the history of America. The beginning talks about emigration into America from various places. The second verse talks about the ideals of America, working hard for one's living. The third verse refers to the events on September 11th, "It's early fall, there's a cloud on the New York skyline, Innocence, dragged across a yellow line." The singer/songwriter offers both a current as well as a historic perspective on the events. He did not witness the emigration sinto America, however he did live during the time if September 11th. The song seems to be written as events happen, not as they were participated in. I think it is an alright song, and I like the way is sounds, it is a modern anthem for America. It allows to look back at how diverse America is as well as look at a few events that shaped America profoundly.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

This song was recorded in 1964 and is about social change, and talks about the Civil Rights Movement. This is the social change discussed, a new social order where all are equals. It discusses the change in the way things are, a new mainstream, a new view, and he says that if you don't change with it, you'll be left behind. The story is told in a historic perspective, and I feel that Bob Dylan actively participated in. The way the song is makes it sound like he is participating and appealing to others to join the new "way." The song itself is kind of a metaphor in that it compares the change in social order, to the flow of water and a spinning wheel, and he says they are all gaining momentum, so join before it is too late. I like the song, I can picture him sitting somewhere on a street corner playing this song to tell his message. It is almost like he is proselytizing for his cause. It allows us about how the Civil Rights Movement appealed to many people and how it gained momentum and began to snowball leading to a large following which resulted to large turnouts of people of all ethnicity and from all walks of life at demonstrations for civil change.

Youngstown

This song, released in 1995 on the album The Ghost of Tom Joad, is about the city of Youngstown (hence the name...) that had an economy largely based on the steel industry. The steel industry was important, particularly during times of war, as said "These mills they built the tanks and bombs, That won this country's wars,"
but when economic times worsened, towns based on the steel industry were hard hit. Because of the hard times, steel mills were closed, causing the collapse of the economy in towns such a Youngstown who relied solely on the steel mills for employment and income. As a result of the closings over 50,000 people lost their jobs. The song offers a current perspective on the events in the 70's and before. The song is also written kind of like a story. Jenny, who I first thought was a person is really the name for one of the steel mills. I like the song and I think Springsteen does a good job of singing the song and playing the guitar in a way that fits well with the content of the song. (Glory Days and Born In The USA are good too.) This song allows us to learn about the conditions of the working class as well as the rise of labor unions and the protection of workers that led to higher wages and better conditions.

A Change Is Gonna Come

This song was originally written in 1963 by Sam Cooke. It talks about the hardships faced by African Americans during the Civil Rights' Era. The songwriter offers a historic perspective on the events. The singer of the one on the CD (Seal) does not. This song includes an event from the life of Sam Cooke. The line "I go to the movie and I go downtown, Somebody keep telling me don't hang around" is something that happened to him. He was arrested for "disturbing the peace" for trying to go to an "all whites" motel (pretty dumb...) I think it is a pretty good song. I think Seal's version is a good tribute to Sam Cooke's version. It is extremely similar, I think it captures that vibe and persona that comes from Sam Cooke's 60's version. It allows us to learn of the hardships faced by African Americans during this time period. This is especially true of the parts that talk of being told to leave the movies and of being beaten.

Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit is a powerful song written by Billie Holiday in 1939. It is an anti racist song written in opposition to the lynching of African Americans mainly in the south. It is about the lynchings that frequently occurred in the south. The singer/songwriter offers a historic perspective Pre Civil Rights Movement. She uses a strong metaphor in comparing the lynched men to fruits, which in the South, both hung from trees. She seems to be writing about something she had seen or witnessed, or at the least something she had heard of. Her strong feelings of sadness and disgust at the lynchings is made evident by the emotion she pours into the song. The tone of the song - made by the instruments tells of the sadness, as does the way it is sung, slowly, portray the theme of the song. I liked the song somewhat, but what I like most is despite the potential backlash from the recording of such a song during her time, Billie Holiday stuck to her guns and published her song. People such as her, those with guts and a willingness to have their say, as well as those with a "where there is a will, there is a way" kind of attitude lead to the accomplishment of equal rights for all in America.

Do Re Mi

This song is another song written by Woody Guthrie this one in 1937. It is about the journey of thousands of people to move into California during the Great Depression in order to move away from the Dust Bowl. The song talks about the prevention of people entering California who were fleeing the Dust Bowl. It also says that if people didn't have the money (Do) they could not enter, meaning they had to head back home. The songwriter offers a historic perspective on the events, while the singer of the CD version does not. He lived in Texas, and like the people in this song, he headed west to California. Unlike many, he was successful in his ventures, making it to L.A. where his music career blossomed. (Pretty Cool) Altogether, the version on the CD was okay, I thought it was a good rendition of the song, it had a good beat, and it was dramatic, which suited the meaning of the song well. This teaches us how dire the situation really was in the Great Depression and in the Dust Bowl. People were willing to uproot their lives and families to escape the Dust Bowl and to find a safe haven.

Jesus Christ

This song, written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie talks of various injustices of the time and of the human tendency to look down on people who help those in need, using Jesus' life as an example. It suggests that the same thing (Jesus being killed) would have occurred in his time. The songwriter offers a historical perspective on the condition of life in the 1940's. The songwriter also displays the point in a kind of story form that displays Jesus' life of helping others and then draws a connection between his life and life during the Great Depression as well as in New York City in the 40's. The songwriter draws a connection to the ways of Judas Iscariot and the others that killed Jesus to the ways of people in New York City. I thought the way the message in the song is displayed to be funny. The song and the music itself is kind of silly but the message is serious, he is saying that people need to follow Jesus' ways, not those of Judas and the others.I like the song because the last line presents (I think) a subtle IN YOUR FACE to listeners from the time period. This song presents the listeners with the message, this is how you should be living, and you are not doing it. It allows listeners to learn of the conditions and standards of living for people in this time.

Paddy's Lament

This song was written around the time of the American Civil War. It is about the lamenting of the losses of the Irish who left their home country for America. It also tells of the Irish who participated in the American Civil War. The singer represents a current perspective of the events being a modern singer, but the songwriter offers a historical perspective and seems to write the song more as a story than a piece of historically accurate information. I think the song was okay, but still not a favorite of mine...it won't be on my Top 25 Most Played on my iPod. This song tells us about the hardships faced by immigrants into the country. The Irish immigrants came over uneducated and worked as low pay manual laborers such as miners and railroad workers. It also tells us that America, the seemingly land of plenty, was not quite as good as earlier perceived. Despite this, conditions in America were better than in Ireland where there was the potato famine and low working wages.

Hard Times Come Again No More

This song was written in 1855 by Stephen Foster. It discusses the hardships and troubles as well as the tension in America leading up to the Civil War. Stephen Foster offers a historical perspective on the situation during which the song is placed. After all, he lived in the time and is as likely to have experienced or at least seen someone in the situations described in the song. The song does not really use metaphors and is pretty straight forward with what it says. It describes the hardship of the times, and says that they want the hard times to pass them by. I did not really like this song as much as Brave Wolfe or any of the others, nut it was okay. It was more soul music, which is great, but is not a favorite of mine. The song allows us to learn that not everything in American history was smooth. It shows that there were bumps along the road to the nation we have today. It also shows that there was tension and hardship prior to the Civil War in 1861.

Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier

Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier is a song that dates back from the time of the American Revolution. The song also has Irish influences and is similar to a song called Shule Aroon. It is about the separation of loved ones in war. Johnny goes away to fight the war, while his love stays at home and grieves. With Johnny leaving his love must sell what she owns to provide for herself while Johnny is away at war. The songwriter seems to offer a historic perspective on the events while the singer does not. I thought it was a good song, but a sad one. I also thing the violin in the song is good too, it tells a story on its own and displays the theme of sadness all on its own. It allows you to learn of the American Revolution. It tells the story of the pain, sadness, and sacrifice involved in the American Revolution and in the fight for life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Brave Wolfe

This song was a folk song about the victory on the Plains of Abraham in Canada that secured Canada for the British. It also laments and relives the death of British General Wolfe who led the British to this victory. The song on the CD was an instrumental version of this song. The lyrics of the song show a historic perspective as it seems as though the writer knew of the events, but it seems to have been written as a dramatized story. The singer offers a current perspective(Based on the lyrics of the songs by the Wastersons and Martin Carthy.)I like the combined sound of Wynton Marsalis on the trumpet and Mark O'Connor on the violin. Even without words the song tells its own story, which I like. You can tell that it is telling of a hero, and the song portrays the battle, and later, you can tell of a sad event (General Wolfe's death) as the music becomes slower and more calm. The song allows one to learn how it was that America was won. It tells the beginning of the colonization in the Americas and the battles that ensued to gain control of land in North America.

Shaman's Call (From Earth Spirit)

This song was recorded by R. Carlos Nakai in order to showcase his Navajo-Ute heritage through the use of a traditional Indian instrument, the cedar flute. This song has a strong spiritual and peaceful vibe to it. This song seems to represent the spiritual nature of the indians. This song may have come from the artist's Navajo background. The Navajo indians were a spiritual tribe who believed in the ascendency of the dead's souls to an alternate universe. This song seems to represent a peaceful time in this tribe's history, probably before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors with their guns, religion, and diseases. This song represents, along with Tracks 1 and 2 the time before Europe involvement in the Americas. This is a large period of time and is an important part of the history of our country. This is just before the beginning of the European involvement and influences in America.

Apache Indian Drums (Sedona)

With the placement of this track on the CD, the recording artist may have wanted to display the abilities and traditions as well as to showcase the culture and talents of the Apache Indians of Sedona. This music could date back from as long as 1000 when the Apache first came to the American Southwest, but it is more likely this music comes from later like closer to the late 1500's when the Spanish came to this area of the US. This song may have been written for entertainment purposes, such as to be danced to. I can imagine vividly an Indian tribe dancing and chanting to this drum beat while around a fire. This song could have been used to unwind, release tension, as well as to have a little fun after a long day toiling in the desert.

Anon: Virgen Madre De Dios

This song was performed by SAVAE (San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble) but was written by Tomas Pascual, a Guatemalan composer of the late 1500's and early 1600's. It may have been recorded in order to recreate the song or as a tribute. It may have also been recorded to retell the story that the original songwriter, Tomas Pascual intended to tell in writing the song. Tomas may have been intending the song to be sung in church, following his conversion to Christianity along with other Native Americans. The song could also have been taught to Spanish immigrants to Mexico who were arriving at this time. The song is inspired by the Virgin of Guadelupe. The song comes from a time after the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish and during a period of Spanish immigration and missionary efforts in the area. The song, written on a religious theme represents the effectiveness of the Spanish missionary efforts and the planting of the seeds of growth of America into a Christian country. This song has a very peaceful and relaxing tone, and gives you a feeling of sitting inside of a church. The song also sounds heavenly and angelic and I can almost imagine the song being sung by a chorus of angels.