Upfront Magazine: Gettysburg Battle and Address(Isabel Learis)

     In the article "Gettysburg: The Battle and Address" by Adam Goodheart, it talks about the cause and effects of the bloodiest battle in the Civil war. It also talks about the Gettysburg address, which  talks about a wide variety of topics in a mere 300 words.

In the          Civil war, the North and South were fighting about there different opinions on topics. One of those topics was slavery. The South strongly believed in slavery, and wanted to be able to have slaves working for them on plantations. Plantations were the main source of business in the South, which was how they made most their money, so you can understand why they would want to keep slaves. In the text it says, "Most white Southerners wished to form an independent nation, the Confederate States of America, that would enshrine slavery at its very core." This proves that the Southerners believed and wanted to keep slavery. It also shows that they wanted to be there own country. They thought that their ideas were too different from the Northerners and that they should be able to make their own laws, therefore have their own country.

   

     The North although had their own ideas. The North was anti-slavery. Northerners had less of a use for slaves, and didn't need them as much as the South did. This made them either be anti-slavery, or have not as much of an opinion on it. The text reads, "Most white Northerners wanted to preserve the Union- and many didn't care if that meant preserving slavery too." although they would make an acceptation for slavery to preserve the Union, President Lincoln did not agree with slavery. But mainly, the Northerners wanted to preserve the Union, meaning keeping the country together as one. Also the text says, "Many Northern families had also lost fathers, sons, and brothers in the war and questioned whether the struggle was worth greater bloodshed." They were loosing there loved ones, and they didn't have as much commitment as the Confederacy. They just wanted they people they loved to be safe. 

    Slaves also had a big part in the war. They were the main reason the two sides were fighting. But slaves were very unsure who would win the battle, and were considering what would happen if either side won. Most slaves, obviously, wanted the North to become victorious, in which case they would be free. Although President Lincoln did announce after the battle of Antietam that all slaves in the south were free. But this wasn't enough, because there was still the question, will slavery be a problem later. The text proves this point because it says, "4 million black americans, most of them slaves, saw the war as a moment of thrilling and terrifying possibilities: an event that could either destroy slavery or ensure its survival for centuries to come." The decision of slavery, was one of the reason the war even started. 

    As you can see the decision of slavery was one of the main reasons the country had a war. The North and South had very different ideas though. 

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Inquiry Question by Isabel Learis

In the book “Perk of Being a Wallflower,” the main character Charlie has an unexplained conflict within himself. This conflict causes Charlie to get depressed, and also go a little crazy sometimes. I think his family and friends have a big impact on his problem. They cause it, but they also help him get through it.

            Charlie’s family and friends can sometimes cause his problem. It’s mainly that they can make him feel crappy or depressed, which then causes it. For example, normally Sam and Patrick make Charlie feel very happy and make him not think about sad things, but over winter break Charlie wasn’t with them so he says, “And I wish my Aunt Helen were here. I miss my Aunt Helen like this. Reading this book isn’t helping either.” Charlie missed his Aunt a lot throughout the book, but he can’t do anything about it because she is dead. Also, when Charlie’s friends weren’t talking to him, he got really upset, and starting doing drugs. It says, “A few days ago, I went to see Bob to buy more pot.” This is while his other friends aren’t talking to him. Without them he makes mistakes, and soon this turns into a larger problem. It turns into something bigger.

            Even thought Charlie’s family and friends can cause the problem sometimes, they also try to steer from the problem and try to make him feel better. For example after Charlie went to the hospital and therapist for his situation, his parents were being very nice, they even missed watching his brothers football game on TV. The book says, “WE got home, and my mom made me some tea, and my dad asked me if I wanted to sit and watch the game, and I said yes… and my mom said a lot of encouraging things about how I was doing so well this school year and maybe the doctor would help me sort things out.” His family is caring for him and his problem, trying to help. Also, when his friends are mad at him and stop talking to him it gets really bad, but then when they start talking again Charlie stops smoking pot and he gets a lot better.

            As you can see, Charlie’s family and friends cause and solve his problems. Its like they have positive and negative affects on him. But even if they are negative, Charlie’s family and friends are all very important to him.