Abraham Lincoln, by Grace

Abraham Lincoln was born  February 12, 1809 to an uneducated family. When he was young he worked for his neighbors. He was a little lazy though. One time his neighbor asked him "what's going to become of you, Abe?" "Me?" Drawled Lincoln. "I'm going to be president of the United States." Of course that was just in jest, but I guess he didn't know how true that statement was. 
He did decide to go into politics though.
Poor Abe lost his mother, then, soon after, the girl he was going to marry passed away. He always knew grief.
As a child he had written in his notebook: "Abraham Lincoln his hand and pen he will be good but who knows when." Lincoln became quite popular and met his rival for candidate who's name was Douglas. And he also met Mary Todd, who had decided she would marry the president of the United States. She knew she needed to choose between  one of the two so she chose Lincoln thinking him the most likey to become president, and led him to the altar. Sadly theirs was not a happy marriage. She was refined and he was a 'common man'. She would get upset with him for being with them, but he loved them. He also loved his sons. He let them make his office into a playground. His love for people went far. He hated slavery and had dedicated his life to stop it. He made a bill to abolish slavery but it did not pass. He and Douglas both ran for president. Lincoln to abolish slavery and Douglas to encourage it in the South. People talked of splitting the South and North so one would be republicans the other, the South, Democrats. Lincoln said no, that the United States must be and stay United! When he became President he knew there would have to be a way to end slavery. He was right and he did become president fulfilling Mary's ambition. He was so kind and tender even towards the South, which he called the southern gentlemen. 
He never found out which side won. A week before the report he was assassinated at a theater in 1865.

Three of the most pivotal battles of the American Revolution By Lucy

The Revolutionary war changed the world. How did it change the world? Who did it effect? Why was each victory so important?

Three of the most pivotal battles of this great war are these: Battles of Lexington & Concord, the taking over of Fort Ticonderoga, and the Battle of Yorktown. These battles were very pivotal points because a change that took place.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought on April 19, 1775. The battle in Lexington was the first military engagement of the Revolutionary war. About 700 British soldiers were given orders to capture and destroy American military supplies that were reported to be in Concord. Some smart American patriots had been warned of their supplies not being safe and had moved them to different locations weeks before the 19^th of April which was when the British planned to attack and collect them. Word of this attack had been rapidly sent from Boston to the militia by several riders, such as Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott with information about these British plans.

The first shots were fired in Lexington at the break of dawn. Eight Patriots were killed, while the British Regulars only had one casualty. The Patriots were outnumbered, and the Regulars pushed their way to Concord where they split into groups to find the military supplies. One group went to the Concord Bridge where a little battle of its own struck with casualties on both sides. These 100 Regulars addressed 400 Patriots and soon retreated into Concord with the other Regular troops. Some say that the first shot that was heard in this war was in Concord at the North Bridge. (Though there were eight Patriots killed in Lexington earlier that morning, it is said that the event in Lexington was more of a massacre.)

Here is a poem written by Ralf Waldo Emerson. It was sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument on April 19, 1836:    By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set to-day a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first in the war. Surprisingly enough, people were ready for it. They were expecting the war to begin. The American Patriots were able to prepare themselves for this event because they knew it was coming. This battle started something that would soon change not only the world but each of the lives of the people involved. The freedom that was soon demonstrated in the United States of America led many other countries to do the same. For example,  soon after our revolution, the French had one that started in 1789.

Fort Ticonderoga

When the Patriots took over the Fort Ticonderoga there was not one shot fired.

 Fort Ticonderoga was the first French fort to be built in North America. The French built it during 1755 and 1759 to be safe from the British army while the French protected the fur trading routes. During the Seven-year war (also known as the French and Indian War), the British attacked the Fort and tried to take it, but the French easily defeated them. In the following year, the British again attempted to conquer. They laid siege for three months. The French finally retreated up north but before leaving, they burnt and blew up magazines, powder and warehouses.

By the time of the American Revolution, the British still had hold of Fort Ticonderoga. On May 10^th, 1775, the Green Mountain Boys, under the direction of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold brought this fort under American power for the first time.  There were no guns fired the night of the siege. This event has been called the Battle of Ticonderoga but is most often called a Siege because no blood was spilt.

“Allen is said to have told the British commander and his small amount of guards around Ticonderoga to come out ‘By the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.’ “ (Fort Ticonderoga

Revolutionary War and the Battles of Ticonderoga, by Pamela Kline). The British Commander quickly surrendered.

The British thought that things could only go uphill from now on, but they were not able to hold Ticonderoga for long. Even though the Colonist were not able to successfully obtain this Fort for long, the way that had taken it so courageously discouraged the British and gave hope to the Americans.

                                                                                                                                           (Fort Ticonderoga)

               

The Americans had hope after they took over Fort Ticonderoga. The had discouraged the British and that was exactly what needed to be done. After the Battle of Saratoga and the British defeated, the Americans had even more hope for freedom. When the Americans were fighting for Saratoga they gained the trust of the French. The French then joined the Patriots as they continued to fight for American freedom.

Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown (also known as the Siege of Yorktown) was the last, big battle of the American Revolution. General George Washington was leading the Continental Army while Lord Cornwallis led the Red Coats. The Americans had great strategy. General Washington had his spies let out the word that they would be attacking in New York City. All the Red Coats believed that they would. Even some the of American soldiers were confused and were making bets on where they would be marching to in the next few days.

In September, the American troops began marching to Virginia. The Americans went by land and the French went through the water and they met at Chesapeake Bay. They surprised the British and Hessian armies who were camped in Yorktown.

The night that the Americans got there was not a night for sleeping. They dug trenches all night long. In the morning the British army awoke to a surrounded camp. There was a little fighting involved but soon enough General Cornwallis surrendered. The war was over! 

This battle was surely a pivotal point in the American Revolution. They won the War and finally had the freedom that they had fought for, for so many years.

All of three of these battles were pivotal points for the Americans. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were important and life changing because the war was started! After so much anticipation it had finally begun.

Taking over Fort Ticonderoga was a special time for the Americans. Although they ended up losing the Fort, they still had made a strong point to the British.

And lastly, the Battle of Yorktown was a remarkable battle and one that will always be a part of American history. The tricky strategies that were used were important. The great General Washington who was being led by God was a grand general to have. One who fights for God and follows His command with exactness will never fail an army.

The American Patriots fought for freedom. They had God on their side and they won the great war. Not only did they win the war but their devotion and work for the freedom of this Country has blessed the lives of millions of people all over the world, but especially, the Americans.

Discovery of Nitrogen, by Caleb

Today in the Mystery of the Periodic Table, I read about how they separated  oxygen from the other gas, but what was the other gas? A mouse could not breathe in it. It tasted weird, and so they decided it was part of the recipe for the air we breathe, and that phlogiston was just a theory and that when a candle went out under a jar it was cause there was no oxygen, there was only nitrogen left which was the weird gas, and cause there was just nitrogen left that proved there was no phlogiston.

Benjamin Franklin, by Grace

Benjamin Franklin was born in the winter of 1706 in Boston Massachusetts. He came into a family of 16! (Probably where he learned how to get along with people)
Ben was his father's favorite. At five, he could read the Bible. And we'll started thinking seriously when he was 7. One time asked his father, (Josiah) " why waste all this time giving your daily blessing? Why not give one blessing once and for all? I think this would save your time and the Lord's time."
Josiah thought he would make a good clergy man. So he sent him to Boston Latin School for a classical education. But he soon realized that was not for his son. So he transferred him to another school, but it was too expensive when there were 17 mouths to feed. So Ben was offered to be a candle maker but he couldn't stand the smell of tallow. So he found himself age 12, an apprentice his brother's printing shop. He stopped going to church and would stay home and read a good book. He said that a good book more educational then a bad sermon. But he still had a deep reverence for God.
When Ben was 17 he found he couldn't get along with his brother, so snuck away on a boat. He landed in Philadelphia. He was very ragged and had only one dutch dollar. He worked as a printer. Soon he had his own printing shop. He was a very smart man, and besides inventing the lighting rod and finding out what electricity is he was a great founding father. He got France to join us in a critical part of the war, he had the wisest of mind for starting our country. He deserves the love and thanks of man and women.

The Discovery of Oxygen, by Caleb

On August 1st 1774 Priestly put calx of Mercury underneath a glass and it began to give off a gas. The gas was oxygen. Well, this gas was very flammable and he wondered if it was poison so he took a jar and filled it with air then he took another jar with this gas and put a mouse in each one. The mouse with the weird gas lived for 30 minutes but the one with normal air lived half that long. The air we breathe is only 20% oxygen.

Mr Priestly was saying that the reason that when you put a candle in a jar and it goes out is because it puts off phlogiston, but really it just uses up the oxygen.

Later, Lavoisier did an experiment that proved it was burning up all the oxygen, and not really just filling the jar with phlogiston.

Priestly discovered the mysterious unknown gas, but Lavoisier is the one who proved it to be the oxygen we breathe. He also proved the Priestly was backward in his science.

Dr. Joseph Warren, by Lucy

Joseph Warren, by Copely

Dr. Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775) was an American Physician and a valiant patriot. They all loved him. Dr Warren was made a general on June 14, 1775 and was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775).

Dr Warren was a part of two battles. The Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was a great leader and supported his troops.

Robert Boyle, by Caleb

Today, in Mystery of the Periodic Table, I read about Robert Boyle who was the 14^th child. His father was an earl and was very rich. He was about 15 when he started his experiments and Galileo died just that year.

Although there were a lot of kids in his family, he inherited a lot of money but he did not waste it. He used it for experiments and for his lab.