Heather

=Sarah Emma Edmonds Seelye =

(Franklin Thompson)
Birthday: December, 1841 Hometown: New Brunswick Relationship: Married to Linus Seelye Profession: Book seller, Nurse, Union Spy School: Home Favorite Books: Bible Religious Views: Anglican Political Views: the Union Like: the Union, Canada, the US Dislikes: the Confederacy, slavery

About me: I was born in Canada to a family who would have rather that I was a boy. I ran away to the United States to escape an arranged marriage. Then I changed my name to Franklin Thompson and disguised my gender. I tried to enroll in the army twice as a nurse. After I was enrolled in the army as a nurse, I then became a spy. I made it across to the confederate side more than 10 times, all successfully.

Quotes: "I am naturally fond of adventure, a little ambitious, and a good deal romantic - but patriotism was the true secret of my success." -Sarah Emma Edmonds Seelye “The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world; I am like a snowball -- the further I am rolled the more I gain.”-Susan B. Anthony “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them”- Clara Barton

=Status Updates=
 * 1850:** The Compromise of 1850 was made today. California is now a free state! But there is still Fugitive Slave Act keeping California from really being free. In my personal opinion, I would think even California would still be more free than at home.


 * 1851:** The Canadian postal service is no longer under the British control. Now I have to pay 3 pence per letter! I am very upset to say that I will not be sending any letters to my cousin anytime soon. Which will means I will not be as updated with the events happening in the United States.


 * 1852:** I heard that Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and published it. I hope I get the chance to read it sometime in the future.


 * 1853:** I hear that President Fillmore died a few days ago. I still have not yet heard of who will take over. I do worry for the fate of the United States. Depending on the fate of the United States, I think I shall make it my new home.


 * 1854:** My cousin told me about the Kansas-Nebraska Act. There has been a lot of change in the United States of America. Much of the land is being passed around between the North and South.


 * 1855:** The suspension bridge connecting Canada to the United States has been built in Niagara Falls. I think my dream of running away to America will soon be in reach.


 * 1856:** I have successfully made it to the United States. I will soon be selling Bibles so that I can make some money. But I do worry for how long I will last here, and whether my father will find me and drag me back.


 * 1857:** I find it so unfair that the Supreme Court did not free Dred Scott. It was a very biased decision in my opinion. I wonder how the Northerners and abolitionist will respond to this decision...


 * 1858:** I have heard from my cousin in Illinois, that Abraham Lincoln has accepted the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. I believe that he could bring a great change to the United States of America, gradual, but great.


 * 1859:** Oregon is now a part of the United States of America. The United States just keeps getting bigger. But now the North and South will be fighting over Oregon...


 * 1860:** Abraham Lincoln was elected to be the president of the United States of America today. He is the very first Republican ever to be elected! How will this shift in political groups effect the United States? I fear that a war maybe be coming.


 * 1861:** At the beginning of the year, I became Franklin Thompson, a male nurse for the Union. I have just participated in the Battle of Bull Run. So much else has happened already! I wonder how much longer I will last until I am found out? http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_bullrun_001a.htm


 * 1862:** I have been part of McClellans staff, gaining information from the Confederate side undercover for the Union. But now I am to be transferred to the Ninth Corps. I wonder how long I will last this time?


 * 1863:** Today the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. How will the Confederacy react to this? After all, it was a very bold move. I have also just found out that Franklin Thompson has been listed as a deserter. What will I do now?


 * 1864:** I have just heard news that Abraham Lincoln was just re-elected! I feel that the country will be making much more progress over these next years.


 * 1865:** The war is over. Thank goodness the Union won! Imaging the havoc there would if the Confederacy won. I am currently in the process of writing my autobiography.


 * 1866:** Even though the war is over, the prejudice over race is not. There has been a large race riot in New Orleans, and many other race oriented conflicts.


 * 1867:** In a few short weeks I will be married to Linus Seeyle. We are then planning to move to the United States. I do wonder what else the future has in store.


 * 1868:** The 14th amendment in the U.S. Constitution is now in act. Now my future children will be legal U.S. citizens.


 * 1869:** There have been much progress in the way of development in the United States. Indoor bathrooms, Root bear!


 * 1870**: The United States of America has changed so much since the beginning of the war. African Americans now have the right to vote due to the 15th amendment.

=Photo Album=





















=Notes=

The Evolution of Slavery in America
I doubt the first slaves would even have been able to imagine what slavery has come to now. I know I would not have. It was in 1619 when the first slave ship landed in Virginia. Twenty Africans were sold by a Dutch captain. With that slave ship, America became newly aquatinted with the power of owning and forcing labor, instead of indentured servitude. Most of the indentured servants came from Europe, mainly Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. They came to the Colonies to start a new life, for a chance to work, and thrive. The indentured servants made a contract with their employer; they worked for their employers and then were cared for. When the contract ran out, the indentured servant would become free. They had the chance to start a life in a higher social class, or go back to work as an indentured servant. When indentured servants were the people who worked for the large plantations and wealthy families there were few problems. But as time went on, the demand for indentured servants decreased as the need for slaves increased. Indentured servants were still used in some places in the North, but the Southern demand was to extreme for the use of indentured servitude. It is an odd question whether slavery caused prejudice or vice versa, because of the Africans difference in appearance, some are being unfairly treated and have to suffer under these conditions for their whole life as slaves. Why did slave catchers take the people from Africa is beyond me. There were many other people they could have taken as slaves. I guess they took them from Africa because they are different. They have darker skin, and different hair texture from those of the European descent. The slave owners must have had some sympathy for the slaves or they would have used anyone. But owning someone who looks just like you must have been too much. I disagree with that though. A persons a person now matter how small, no matter the color of their skin. They have feelings just as you or me. It is inconceivable that someone would ever hold that against them. When I first learned about hereditary slavery law in Virginia, I was in shock. Becoming a slave just because your mother was? I know I would not want to be the wife of a farmer, like my mother is. The people of Virginia come up with some pretty ridiculous rules. I currently live in New Brunswick, but I am considering going to America. My father constantly is resenting the fact that I am a girl, instead of a boy like he wish I were. And my mother, she wishes I were a boy as well, but she is much more caring than my father. She is the one who first suggested that I go to America. But I think she fears that I will get too caught up in the north politics and culture. I would go to the United States to escape my fathers abuse, and start a new life, maybe share a few of my opinions on slavery and the politics of the United States. If I do go to America, I would be mindful to stay away from the people of the South. They are too content on keeping their slaves for my comfort. They use them to increase the amount of power they have by decreasing their slave’s power. Ever since the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the southern plantation owners have increased their property and they have amassed more slaves to work the fields. The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney, to maximize the effectiveness of separating the seeds from the cotton itself. Before this job was done by slaves. But since there was no more need for them, they were put in the fields, and the land size increased. I do wonder whether they know what they are doing. Are they aware of the brutal work they are having their slaves do? I was told that before you decide to be prejudice towards someone and harm them, you should walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I doubt that someone has ever told any of the plantation owners that. And I can tell you, that I never ever want to walk a mile in their cruel shining shoes, the shoes that even if you look down you can still see the overseers beating the slaves until there is no life left.

Written in 1852

Anything for Power
Wars have always begun over the struggle for power. But why do men thirst for so much power in the first place? And why do they go to such drastic measures to achieve that power? In 1775, the Revolutionary War begun. The war was between the Patriots and the Loyalists, or what is known as Colonies and Great Britain. Britain once had control over the people in the Colonies, just like they had control over the people in Canada. The people in Britain wanted more power over the Colonies, but so did the people in the Colonies. Thomas Hutchinson, the royal governor of Massachusetts, once said “No middle ground exists. Between the supreme authority of Parliament and the total dependence of the colonies: it is impossible there should be two independent legislatures in one and the same state." And I have to say, that is a lie. In Canada, the British and the Canadians made an agreement in 1774 called the Quebec Act. This gave the canadians the right to believe in the Roman Catholic religion, practice it, and allowed westward expansion in Canada. The act also allowed the french civil law. In return the British did impose some of their ideas, such as the British criminal law which was practiced and enforced. This was the middle ground for the people of Canada. Although Britain still had the majority of control over Canada, the agreement gave Canada more freedom. I suppose what Britain gave us was not enough for those in the Colonies. I do wonder if the people in the Colonies ever really thought to try and seek out an agreement with Britain. I personally do believe that the Revolutionary War was not necessary. Although I may not personally have the freedom to live my life the way I would choose too. Or have any liberty with in my family, and pursue the happiness of being a girl without needing to over come many personal obstacles. For many people though, they do have those rights. I do believe that it is important to have those rights, and there are few things I would not to to achieve them. But one of the things I would not do is go so far and cause a war. I am not trying to say that the Patriots were wrong. Their reasons for separating from Britain were fair. I however do not believe war was the way to go about accomplishing power and freedom.

Written in 1954

Resistance to Slavery in America
At the age of seven I was attempting to learn to read and write. By the age of eight I completed reading my first book. This was one of my greatest achievements for that year. But for my mother and father, it was far from an achievement. My father and mother always resented the fact that I was girl, and not a boy, and my father was constantly reminding me of this. Instead, their highlight of that year was hearing about Henry ‘Box’ Brown, a slave from the South who escaped to the north. I heard that he was called Henry ‘Box’ Brown because he escaped in a box. I wish I could escape in a box. He got the help of a man named Samuel Smith and was shipped from Virginia all the way to Philadelphia! My cousin told me he wrote a book about his escape. He told me that Brown had to overcome many obstacles before he could write his book. He said that Henry ‘Box’ Brown had to work in a tobacco factory at age fifteen. Then he married a slave woman, and they had three children. Unfortunately for him, they were all sold to another owner. I wonder if my parents would be upset if I were sent away to another family. Then in 1849, the year I turned eight, he escaped to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He arrived to the Pennsylvania Antislavery Society, where William Still and many other abolitionist work, and now he is working as a spokesperson for them, telling people of his hardships and his freedom. I hear that the Pennsylvania Antislavery Society has many ex-slaves including Henry ‘Box’ Brown, working with them. It is also made up of free blacks and whites! Including William Still and many Quakers. They are all trying to abolish slavery in the United States of America. I wish I could do something to help abolish slavery. The Pennsylvania Antislavery Society protests against the slave owners and preservers of slavery. They help free the cruelly treated slaves, who dream of their future and the future of their family in freedom. They share their stories, and spread knowledge of the life of a slave. Someday I hope to visit Pennsylvania, and learn about their movement to abolish slavery, and even participate in it. But before that happens, I need to escape the life I am currently living. Maybe when I visit Philadelphia, I will visit the Quakers as well. I hear that they find slavery very cruel as well. Quakers are very peaceful people, but I heard that they made such a large fuss over slavery, that in Philadelphia it has become an even larger issue. And they go beyond fussing, I hear that they help with the Underground Railroad as well. They are mainly the Quakers in the Pennsylvania, for few Quakers do in fact still own slaves. But I doubt that they will for too long. I do wish I aspire to be like Susan B. Anthony. She is fighting for the abolishment of slavery, as well as women's rights. There are many things that black people cannot do, but women also get the rotten end of the stick. I think I will have to make a list of things to do, including read Henry ‘Box’ Brown’s book, visit the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and the Quakers. But first things first, getting to a point that there is hope of achieving those wishes.

Written in 1855

Ain’t I a Woman?
“Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about? That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.” I have had to live with the regret of being a girl throughout my childhood. My father was constantly reminding and punishing me because of my gender. He wanted a son, a son to help him in the fields and run our farm. I often tried to help my father, and I worked very hard, but I was no boy. I do wish my father had the willpower to actually try and notice my work. To be honest I think I work harder that any boy would. I act more like a boy, yet I get treated like neither a boy nor a girl. I do not get the care and attention that a young girl would get from her father, and I do not get the admiration and pride that a father would feel over his son. My father wishes me away, and will try send me away as soon as possible. Recently he had arranged a marriage with a man much more aged than I. My mother has told me that if I want to escape this marriage that I should run away. I do wish I could just say no. I should have the right to refuse or accept, not my father. And I should have the right to receive as much care and admiration as any other boy or girl may receive. I do believe that the tables will change in the future. When, I do not know. What I do know is that Sojourner Truth is a wise woman. I believe she has just as much rights as my father does. And so do I. Women have kept the human race alive and growing, literally. They have cared for the men and children, who then are meant to care for them in return. But Women still have few rights. I hope I live to see women get equal rights as men do. And I think I may have to consider my mothers suggestion. Maybe I will run away. Then maybe I will be treated as I wish.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.html

Written 1855

=Bibliography= Markle, Donald E. "Civil War Biography." N.p., 08/07/2004. Web. 11 Mar 2010. .

Blanton, DeAnne. "Women Soldiers of the Civil War." the National Archives. 25. 1993. Web. .

http://www.revolutionary-war.info/quotes/

"Loyalist (American Revolution)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2010. Web. .

"Why Canada Did Not Join the American Revolution." McGill n. pag. Web. 19 Mar 2010. .

"The Quebec Act 1774." Age of George III (2009): n. pag. Web. 19 Mar 2010. .

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.html

[|And another note I wrote during the Civil War-Battle of the Bull Run]
=Bibliography=

Markle, Donald E. "Civil War Biography." N.p., 08/07/2004. Web. 11 Mar 2010. .

Blanton, DeAnne. "Women Soldiers of the Civil War." the National Archives. 25. 1993. Web. .

http://www.revolutionary-war.info/quotes/

"Loyalist (American Revolution)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2010. Web. .

"Why Canada Did Not Join the American Revolution." McGill n. pag. Web. 19 Mar 2010. .

"The Quebec Act 1774." Age of George III (2009): n. pag. Web. 19 Mar 2010. .

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.html