The Spanish-American War, Just Or Unjust?

Vocabulary: Just- meaning war must be the last resort if all means have failed,must be declared to correct violated rights, must be legally and openly declared by legal governments; means used in war must be in proportion to their ending goals and the war must not be fought to satisfy national pride or to further economic and territorial gain.

On April 21, 1898 America declared war on Spain. this war is known as the Spanish-American War. The question i will be trying to persuasively answer is "was the Spanish-American war a 'just' or 'unjust' war?" Although this question does not only qualify to be answered about during the war, but as well as before the war, suggesting to America's decision to go to war and after the war also suggesting to what America decided to do.

The Spanish-American war was not just. We, America has made many bad choices in the past and still do, but in 1898 it was cool to be an Imperialist, to dictate weaker countries and gain the most territory. News papers in America were competing to sell the most papers and at the time yellow journalism was running high with juicy topics. The most talked about topic was the U.S.S. Maine.

A ship sent straight from America the beautiful to aid Cuba in their revolution. The Maine, a ship loaded with 260 Anglo-Saxon American men suddenly exploded near the Cuban shore line; a island that was dictated by Spain, a enemy of the U.S. Back on the mainland American news papers caught wind of what was happening in Cuba.

Just as suspected America blamed Spain. Americans were told an exaggerated lie of Spain blowing their ship up. I would have been confused because all Spain did was help and try to befriend us, especially after our loss. God bless America, we work in mysterious ways.

There are many ways to view this war if we are deciding whether its just or not, but first we have to know what triggered the decision to go to war. A conflict between Cuba and Spain, that was not involved with the U.S. in any way, was what started the decision of consideration to get involved with Cuba's rebellion. America believed that Spain's dictatorship over Cuba will ruin their rich trade with Cuba's natural resources, such as sugar and tobacco. America also believed that it was their duty to protect other countries being dictated against their will and to relieve countries of European manpower. America especially wanted Europeans to clear out of 'American' hemisphere. We as a country made up many excuses to go to war with Spain. America was angry at Spain for blowing their ship up, why wouldn't we be? Or was this another excuse to get American citizens upset and begging to go to war, because in reality Spain did not blow us up, we accidentally blew ourselves up. We wanted to be a powerful dictating country.

There were two very different sides of the Spanish-American War in America, the Imperialist and the Anti-Imperialist. Personally I side with the Anti-Imperialist. They believed imperialist were like thieves who directed their hits to those who are weak. They also believed our country has a duty that entitles us to follow certain morals such as liberty and freedom of speech.

How America began the Spanish-American war was some what just, except for the minor detail of the Maine. Although after they won they began to turn their victory unjust. They went back on their main goal which was to help Cuba gain independence, going against what just means. Briefly summarizing my post the Spanish-American war was unjust and I disagree with the whole concept of America's decision during the war.

The Spanish-American War Was Not a "Just" War

Many people have different ideas on what a "just" war is. I believe a just war means the war has to be for the right reasons and it has to be last resort. To me the Spanish American War was not a just war. I don't feel the U.S foreign policy was justified following to war because the U.S used the foreign policy of imperialism when the should have use isolationism. This war was not their war they should have stood out of it.

This war all started when the small island of Cuba wanted independence from Spain. This was a conflict of Cuba and Spain, NOT America. But the United States felt the need to interfere and "help" Cuba. Of course the United States had its own reasons for going in like sugar and the fact that they didn't want Spain in the Norther Hemisphere. See, at the time all or almost all nations were being imperial. Almost as if every man for himself. Every nation wanted to expand their land and spread there cutler; be imperial. I consider my self an anti-imperialist because to me going into other weaker and poor nations just seems wrong. Now, if America weren't so caught up in being imperial they would have never gotten into this war at all. They wouldn't care about getting into Cuba and Spain's conflict to keep Spain out of the Northern Hemisphere or to keep Cuba for themselves.

In the beginning President McKinley didn't even want to go to war! The United States sent a boat called the U.S.S Maine to Cuba to help Cuba get independence from Spain. When the U.S.S Maine exploded the United States quickly accused the Spanish for blowing up the Maine. That's when the media started to play a huge role in this war. The media influenced the U.S public opinion by using yellow journalism to make the American people believe that Spain blew up the Maine. Yellow journalism is a type of reporting that is not always true and uses eye checking writing to sell more newspapers. All the newspapers had written articles on what happened with the U.S.S Maine but those articles were using yellow journalism. An example of how they used yellow journalism is that the newspapers had headlines like "Work of Enemy." And Because at the time all people got their news from newspaper, everyone believed Spain blew up the Maine.


After all this happen with the Maine it gave America more reasons to interfere with Spain and Cuba's conflict, not only for imperialism but now America thinks Spain blew up the Maine. Her Majesty sent a letter to the U.S concerning what happened with the U.S.S Maine and in this letter it stated how Spain had nothing to do with what happened with the Maine and it said "As for the question of who destroyed the Maine, the Spanish government has declared itself ready to submit the issue to the judgment of impartial and disinterested experts." Spain pretty much wanted to solve this problem it now had with America. President McKinley then wrote a letter to congress declaring war on Spain with out taking the problem to judges to figure out whether or not Spain blew up the U.S.S Maine. 78 years later we found out Spain did NOT blow up the U.S.S Maine.

President McKinley was pressured into war. He had a difficult decision to make. He did not want war. He once said "I fought in our Civil War. I saw dead piled up. I do not want to see it again." But he knew many Americans wanted war and if he didn't go to war he would lose Republican support. Also he felt America related to Cuba because when the colonies wanted freedom from England they also rebelled. He also felt bad for Cubans, Cubans were being put into consideration camps by Spain. Cubans were dieing quickly from starvation and deises.

Imperialist believed expanding our nation was a good thing. That even included going into other weaker, poorer nations and taking over. Imperialist supported foreign policy. They agree with the position we took on going in and helping Cuba. America helped free Cuba from the Spanish. But once Cuba was free they went into chaos so America went in and took over. America set up a government in Cuba. Cuba then became U.S territory, today Cuba is not U.S territory anymore. Imperialist believed even though we helped Cuba get free from Spain, its OK that we go in and take over later. See, at the time all nations were trying to expand. All nations wanted more land , more power and they wanted to influence other places to believe what they believe. So for the U.S to gain Cuba would be a big plus.

Anti-imperialist did not support foreign policy. They believed it was wrong to want to be better then everyone else. Places that nations tried to take over liked their ways not other peoples way so why should the be forced to follow ways the don't like. "Now the great reason why saying to someone else 'We know what is good for you better then you know yourself and we are going to make you do it' is false and wrong is that it violates liberty; or to turn the same statement into other words, the reason why liberty, of which we Americans talk so much of, is a good thing is that it means leaving people to live out their own lives in their own way, while we do the same."

After- Once the war ending Cuba was set free along with Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and other small islands. Once Cuba was set free it went into chaos without a government so The United States took control over Cuba and set up a government there. Puerto Rico became a U.S territory; not a state but this island belongs to the U.S.

The Spanish American war shows me how shady thing were back in the 1900's. It shows the ways of imperialism and unfair war. This war shaped the U.S because it was the nations first step on the pathway to becoming a world power.

-Kaitlyn Rivera

Cashing for Fashion

What do we really get when we buy from clothing and shoe name brand companies? We definitely know the price, but is the price we pay worth it? Although it's not only the price, it's the choice we are making when buying these clothes. I mean do we have a choice or are we pressured in to buying the expensive and "in style" clothes by everyday society and Hollywood? Of course we are, think about it. Why else would I have bought that eighty dollar bedazzled, bejeweled? Ed Hardy tattoo style shirt? Oh, now I know why. That shirt was the same one the Jersey Shore guys were wearing. Or I had to buy it because all the kids at school wear Ed Hardy and if I didn't have it they would think I'm pops ( pops meaning poor as they would actually say in my school, yeah i didn't get it either.) That is the mentality of our generation now a days, children think that if you don't have expensive and overpriced shoes or clothes then you are poor, but most people with money don't exactly go flashing it around. I truly don't get how owning a pair of so called cool Nikes can impress kids, there are things more important in the world, like how those shoes were probably made in sweat shops, or even how you got cheated in to paying $250 for the shoes just for the name of the brand. I also don't get how children get so worked up on criticizing other kids on how they dress. If someone showed me their shoes to try and intimidate or impress me they wouldn't be getting very far because, well in the end guess who would get the last laugh, the Nike company and I.

-Mikiko

Big Fat Liar

Nowadays most of the advertising we see and hear on television, the radio, and even on the streets are all about fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, and Popeye's. And a lot of the time in these commercials they like to say that they use "real" and "fresh" ingredients. Fast food restaurants like to compete with their oh so fattening burgers, saying that they are flame grilled or that they are not frozen when they are thrown on the grill (meaning they are "fresh"). They like to show athletes eating their products and having the narrator say "It's a fresh start to your day", but the truth is that people who eat their foods end up obese or lethargic. Most people can tell they are just big fat liars or exaggerating, but sometimes these commercials with their in shape beautiful people can get to you and change our minds; making us want to believe or even believe them.

These lies are not only being brainwashed into adults, but also to children. Actually it's being mostly directed towards children. These fast food restaurants have happy meals that come with toy characters from the most popular and latest TV shows and movies which make kids want the food more. They have commercials where children are having lots of fun at McDonald's and playing with Ronald McDonald. McDonald's often has playgrounds or TVs in their restaurants to make them seem kid friendly. Their commercials consist of anything from children, family, sports, and popular movies to lure in customers. These companies go far and wide, all over the world to spread the meaning of Super-Sized (a.k.a fat).

So when you eat these foods know when big chain companies are misleading you, but don't think only fast food companies are lying to you because even grocery store products lie to you as well. There was a quote once said by Ray Kroc the founder of the McDonald's corporation, he said "Look after the customer and business will take care of itself." The question is "Do these fast food companies really care for us or is it just propaganda that's sentencing us to an extra-large coffin?"
-Mikiko

A Sequal to The Uglier Truth

Yes, every time you look in to products concerning animals there is always going to be cruelty, but what about us human beings, how are we treated? We are supposed to have rights, but the right of free speech is being denied some because of unsophisticated laws such as the Food Disparagement Laws. In which these laws declare that food companies are not to be publicly criticized. These laws were said to be created to "protect" farmers and food companies, but they might as well be made to protect the money these companies and their owners are receiving.

As consumers we have a right to know about our food, where it comes from, and what's in it. Even if it takes a little criticism of the food to get there and have people listen. We need to speak of our minds otherwise the government, other consumers, and industries won't listen to us. Not that the government or industries are helping out much in the first place.

Sometimes we overlook the fact that some workers and producers (a.k.a farmers for big companies like Tyson Chicken) are being denied just like us, more or less blackmailed as well. They are put in to great debt by the large corporations demands for live stock grown a certain way the corporations chooses, which is definitely not the pretty way. They are not always treated with respect or allowed to show people how the livestock is treated or their contracts will be broken and they will immediately be fired. Producers should have a right to raise livestock the way they want (not cruelly), be treated with respect, and not blackmailed in to staying with the industries.

These companies have a lot of secrets and it just takes a couple of people to speak the truth and a bit more to spread it. Most of all we need to understand these truths and listen.
- Mikiko

Food Research Project: White Roasted Sesame Seeds

I have been doing a research project in my 8th grade humanities class on food products brought in by us students. We were searching for information about the products we have brought in, to be specific how much control companies have over what goes on the nutrition label and how advertising affects what consumers buy. This project has come up very interesting, frustrating, and disappointing.

My research project was white roasted sesame seeds from a company called JFC. I approached this project with an open-ended research that got me no where. Yet with this open-ended research I did have some questions when I started. But before all this began I first started with an examination of the product casing. What caught my eye was the logo, not to mention the Japanese writing on the front. The Japanese writing only said goma which means sesame seeds or at least the part I could read. On average these sesame seeds seemed pretty healthy from the looks of the nutrition label, I mean what is there to hide about plain old seeds?

Being plain old seeds there must be no dirty little secrets on them, but I was going to go deeper in to this investigation. I was going to ask questions; being it's my nature to be stubborn and non accepting. Thinking that by my nature I just might get somewhere. The questions I had were "is there any fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical of any kind used on the sesame seeds?", "who picks them?", and "where are they grown and who grows them?"

I called the JFC head office and their New York Branch, but I didn't catch them on their business hours. I also went on their web site, http://www.jfc.com/, which was no use because it was set up to show other products they distribute, recipes, and contact numbers. But I'm not stopping there, I'm determined to catch them off guard (during their business hours) and answer my questions. So when I get the time to call them, I will add on the answers to this post.

-Mikiko

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity makes for an early grave. (States ABC News and Health)

Child Obesity is a very scary thing. Why is it so easy to gain weight and so hard to lose it? Many kids are suffering a hard life of being overweight. Usually if a child is overweight someone in their family is facing the same problem. Most children don't understand moderation in food. They don't know when to say stop, I've had enough. This is excessive eating, or more likely know as over eating. People over eat for many reason, stressed, habitual overeating, comfort overeating and even boredom. Excessive eating can lead to many problems like diabetes or becoming overweight.

Its not only over eating that's causing children to be overweight it lack of exercise. Children aren't as active as they used to be. With this new modernize America most kids are always home playing video games or on the computer. Kids are supposed to be getting fresh air and running around with friends.

So do what you can to help prevent your child from being obese? Make sure they have a healthy balanced diet and that they get enough exercise everyday.

-Kaitlyn Rivera

Kentucky Fried Cruelty!

Sadly animal cruelty happens all over the world, but today, its happening in our food system. Many adults, teens and even young kids know and love the fast food restaurant KFC ( Kentucky Fried Chicken). Yet as much as we love them they don't love their chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken abuses their chickens from the time their in the sheds to the time their ready to be cooked and put on your plate. Food industries should not be allowed to be abusing their animals. If KFC or any other food industry were doing this to cats or dogs they would have been arrested. So whats the difference with chickens or cows? People get arrested everyday for abusing cats and dogs. So why isn't Kentucky Fried Chicken getting shut down for abusing chickens?

Where are our heath inspectors? Aren't they supposed to be the ones shutting places down for the unsanitary conditions? Kentucky Fried Chicken's chicken have no room to walk, cramped up in sheds of thousands, and breathing air filled of fumes. PETA has asked KFC to make simple changes to the way they treat their chickens yet KFC refuses to do the minimum to spare the chickens suffering. It's scary to think that animal abuse is not only going on in our slaughterhouses but also in our fast food companies.

*For more information concerning PETA's work against Kentucky Fried Cruelty Click Here.

-Kaitlyn Rivera

Food Research Project

The whole class was told to bring in a food product that you would like to do some research on. So I brought in Lance Captain Wafers Cream Cheese and Chives.

Before we started:

1. Project=Fun
2. Product=Interesting
3. Style of Finding Information= Wow

Over All Score: Awesome

Once We Finished:

1. Project= Could have been better
2. Product=Terrible
3. Style of Finding Information= Didn't work for me
   

Over All Score: Disappointing


My product like almost every other product has a website. My website was very disappointing. The thing that really made it disappointing was the Contact Us section. I went to the website hoping to find a number to contact the company to see if they would like the answer some of my questions. Sadly once I reached the website the only option of contacting Lance was to send them an email. I did so twice and received nothing back.
(http://www.lance.com/)

As I continued to research answers to my questions every link I clicked on lead me back to the same website. This made it extremely difficult almost impossible to find valid answers. I find its very strange that when you look up Lance almost all links lead you back to the same site. Even when I thought I was getting lucky when I found an telephone number to lance bakery, not exactly what I was looking for but close enough, once I called it was all just a bunch of press this and dial that extension and I never even got to speak to a real person it was just machine after machine.

Although Captain Wafers is extremely tasty I never got to know if their hiding something about their product that we should know about.

-Kaitlyn Rivera

The Uglier Truth

Food Inc. shows one of the real horrors of the world. Sure it's a minor one, or at least some would think, but it all adds up in the end. The message this documentary tells is the truth. The ugly truth.

Fast food is what people eat when they are in the mood for obesity, heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. And we all know how often that is, right? These big chain companies aim to take your children at a young age in order to get them hooked. These companies use modern day human weaknesses for example money, time ,and taste as an accessory to their little money gain spree.This is where our "great" government comes in. The government gives subsides to these fast food companies to make their products cheap. From there the companies do a lot of advertising which helps lure children in to come eat their food. They manipulate economic weaknesses and other setbacks so people would think they have no other choice then to buy fast food. What you are about to hear in this review will get you thinking "isn't the government supposed to be protecting us?"

Then again it's not only the fast food companies that have a part in this little horror flick. No they are not alone and do take note of this, these "farm fresh" meat companies are just as horrible. Okay, okay so they are not exactly lying about farm fresh, they are just manipulating people's idea of a certain farm fresh. You see, we, as humans automatically imagine or at least I do that farm fresh is a countryside daisy filled green pasture dotted with black and white cows, pretty little clean chicken coops resting under an Oak tree and a kind Mr. Farmer Bill, I'll pop in a little theme song while I'm at it like Old McDonald. Sure it doesn't hurt having that nice old picture on the meat package. Boy, was I wrong about their so called "farm fresh". No, big companies love livestock fresh from farms more like this... huge, gloomy, bare "pastures" suffocating with over crowded cows that are up to their ankles in their own feces eating corn that can cause E. coli, unhealthy chickens that are over crowded in dirty coops where they can't even support their own weight because they are always injected with growth hormones.

What about the slaughtering of the live stock one would ask. Well, yes there is a difference in that too, in specific I would say organic small scale farms are more humane than those huge money racking companies. Who knows small scale farms may even be more sanitary (which I'm pretty sure they are). On small scale farms, livestock is slaughtered quick and clean, but big companies have people doing only one job to cut one cow or pig in record time. So the animal has to go through many steps to be packed. These processes are unsanitary and unsafe for the workers, but because it's unsanitary there may be a chance of bacteria in the meat which means it's unsafe for us.

These companies like to hire workers who are in debt, illegal immigrants, or anyone who won't talk because they are terrified of the chance to be fired or deported. Meat industries blackmail their farmers into staying in the business by making them go into more debt then they already are. Also the companies scare their farmers in to being quiet and not showing anybody the chicken coops when people like the Food Inc. producers come along to spread the truth about how the livestock is treated and where we get our food from. These big food companies like to hire illegal immigrants because they think they have no rights, privileges, or power of any kind, which stops them from talking. Although not everyone agrees with what is going on with these companies so once in a while someone speaks up, and guess what happens to them? They end up getting fired.

Vote with your forks as the movie would say. Thanks to people who speak up we are starting to be more aware and curious about our food, which is a good thing. Next time your shopping at a grocery store or eating out, think about what you buy and start asking questions about what you consume, but most of all get answers. To learn more about these topics watch Food Inc., Super Size Me, or other documentaries and resources concerned with this crisis.

-Mikiko

I Didn't Know That!

For the past week my class has been watching a documentary call Food Inc. This documentary has really gotten me to think, what am I really eating? I see all these food products with pictures of happy cows and happy chickens, or logos like "Farm Fresh" and "Best Meat on Earth." But is it really "Farm Fresh"!? Whenever I thought of where my meat came from I always thought of the farms you see in movies. Acres and acres of land, with lots of grass and cows, you know, "happy cows." But then all those thoughts flew away so fast I wouldn't even dare to try and catch them. This documentary showed me that's almost ALL companies keep their cows in small, overcrowded, unsanitary conditions! It was not only disturbing to watch, it was sad.

This documentary tells you the truth, it shows you behind the scenes of everything that goes on with your meat. Another thing this documentary showed me was that companies have started to feed their cows corn instead of grass. Why corn? Corn is cheaper for the companies to buy and it makes cows fatter quicker. Even though this isn't healthy for the cows companies choose to do it anyway. Well then, what is healthy for the cows? Because you asked, a cow's normal diet consist of grass, grains, fiber and water. A cow's diet must also be a balanced diet. Yet, companies are feeding them corn, and only corn. Feeding the cows corn is one of the ways to increase the likelihood for cows to become infected with E-coli. E-coli is a type of bacteria that can be found in your food. Those infected with E-coli can be treated although that's very unlikely. Most types of E-coli are harmless but some can lead to kidney failure and some even death.

After watching this I was in shock. I would have never known this could be happening in our food system. I would have thought it would be illegal for industries to send out meat with E-coli. E-coli can kill us. And what if it was a small little farm and not a big industry? Would they have shut down the farm because their meat lead to someone's death? What's the difference between the two? What can WE do about it? Where are the heath regulations? What's going on, because I surely didn't know that!

-Kaitlyn Rivera

Modern Day Intergration on American Schools

The Little Rock Nine helped us get to this very big position in our society, as for many other very important people helped in the making. Schools, in specific integration in schools, the demolishing of discrimination. Although there is the big modern question I've been dying to get answered, "Are schools really integrated?", "Is there no more discrimination in schools?", or "Are we ready to be integrated or do we still have a long way to go?" When we look in to it, the answers could be really very disappointing.

Are schools really integrated? To answer this, one would say no, some schools are not entirely integrated. Some are still segregated by the choice of the children because of one's sex, sexual orientation, color, economic status, Achievement Gap, cliques and superficial stereotypes! For example, at Montgomery County High School in Mount Vernon, Ga. the students just had their first integrated prom in 2009! Also Central High School, the very high school the Little Rock Nine attended is still segregated after all that was done to integrate it. There is a documentary about Central High, and in the documentary it shows how Central high is now and how far we still have to go. The kids are separated by race. In the classes African American students are on one side of the classroom and the Caucasian students are on the other, and to see this can be very depressing. Especially the AP classes in Central High are segregated. The AP classes are made up mostly of Caucasian students, although there maybe one or two African American students.

These moments show us how far we have come and how much more we have to go. It is very sad to think about, but we must keep the progress up and some day it will pay off. I have a feeling that these events will be on the time line for a long time, but we are progressing.

-Mikiko

From the Civil War to the Mid 20th Century Timeline Summary

Once the Civil War ended the United States entered "The Reconstruction". This era was to bring the North and South back together after the war. To do this, the United States made the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The South did not like these Amendments, so to get around them they started segregation. Segregation brings us into the Jim Crow Era. Jim Crow Laws were created by the states to enforce segregation, which is the process of isolating and separating people from the main group because of differences. Now it wasn't that easy, not everyone agreed with segregation. But, if you don't agree with a law a state made the only way to change it is to take it to court and prove its unconstitutional. So that's what they did. In the case Plessy v. Ferguson they tried to prove "Separate but equal" was unconstitutional but they failed. About a 100 years later back in the court it was proved separate was NOT equal. Schools were one of the many things that were segregated. So in the case Brown v. Board of education the NAACP ( National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) fought for schools to be integrated. One of there hardest cases they had was trying to integrate nine students into Center High in Little Rock Arkansas, but the succeeded. Those nine children were soon known as Little Rock Nine.

-Kaitlyn

Should Students Be Segergated Based On Learning Levels?

This is a hypothetical two sided conversation on a controversial question:

Well based on experience from the school I go to, my personal answer would sometimes be yes. I'm basically saying yes because to me it will help everyone learn better. With separate classes it would be better because the work won't be too easy for more advanced children and it won't be too hard for those who are behind. Then students could move on to the next level of learning fairly. Sure the answers to this question always comes with a lot of tension, but in the end people should realize what really matters.

No, of course not, that's discrimination and segregation! If you put kids in separate classes they won't learn because they would be with their friends and the teachers won't be able to handle them. Also people vote against it because it's discrimination.

As you can clearly understand these two people are getting nowhere with this conversation. Although I would much like to hear other arguments on this topic, I find it very interesting so please leave an argument in your comment.

-Mikiko

" How Did Segregation Affect The Heart and Minds of Americans?"

When I hear questions like this, I automatically think of African Americans in the Deep South. I feel that this question implies to whom and where segregation had the most impact on. The way segregation affected the hearts and minds of Americans in the Deep South was just incredible. There's just not enough words to describe the way people must have felt. Imagine if you were an African American and had to live your life in fear because there are people who are not of your race trying to hurt you. Waking up everyday with fear, fear for your own life and you families lives. Some people probably didn't want to live at all if it meant living in such fear. Children scared of gangs like KKK coming to their schools to hurt them, when all they wanted to do was get a education like everybody else. What would a mother say to her child when they start asking questions like "Why can't I go past the signs that say Whites only?" or " What does the word negro mean?" - Kaitlyn

Racial Differences Through Out The Years

Civil War Era:

• End of Civil War 1865: North vs. South, the Union wins the war against the Confederates, the victory puts an "end to slavery".

Reconstruction Era 1860-1880:

• 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments were created to bring the North and South back together.

-13th Amendment December 6, 1865: This Amendment was created put an end to slavery.

-14th Amendment July 9, 1868: This Amendment was created to give equal rights to all the citizens of the United States, born or naturalized.

-15th Amendment February 3, 1870: This Amendment was created to give the right to vote to all citizens of the United States.

Jim Crow South Era 1875-1965:

• Jim Crow Laws were created to get around the 13th 14th and 15th Amendments and keep segregation and discrimination in the south. For example, one Jim crow law states that as long as seating on trains and buses were "Separate but equal" they were constitutional. (But was it really equal or did the white people just over look that part in court? -Mikiko)
  
  
• Plessy V.S Ferguson 1895: This court case ruled that "separate but equal" was constitutional. It took 59 years until this was unconstitutional
  
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP: This association was created February 12, 1909. They were created to protect the rights of colored people.

Peek of Civil Rights Movement 1950's-1970's:

• Children's March 1963: A Major non violent act to bring freedom, equal rights, and a to end segregation. This march was organized by Martin Luther King the children in Birmingham, Alabama.
  
  
• Brown v.s board of Education: Fought in the courts that separate was not equal and won!
  
  
  
• Little Rock Nine 1957: The first nine African American students to be integrated in to all white high school. They were integrated into Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas.
  

Present day Integration status:

• American schools 2000-2010: Schools are not segregated by law or force, yet they are still segregated by the Achievement Gap, race, sexual orientation, superficial stereotypes, cliques, and economic differences.

-Kaitlyn & Mikiko

Achievment Gap Response

"Black and Latino students are 2-3 times more likely to have below basic skills in reading and math." - Found from Achievement Gap class statistic sheet.

This statistic is very...... interesting. There are many different theories why this statistic is true. Some people believe that African Americans and Latinos were born with smaller brains. As rude as that may sound many people really did and maybe still do believe that that is the case. Some people may believe it's students life at home or just the differences in race. To me it seems like a domino effect. This goes back to our first post about having a shorter life if you decide to be a high school drop-out and how high school drop-outs are mostly Black and Latino students. Since according to this statistic Blacks and Latinos start off below basic skills, so this means everything is most likely going to be ten times harder. So by the time there in high school they are going to be tired of the struggle, causing them to drop-out and most like wind up with problems with the law, causing them to have a shorter life span.
-Kaitlyn

Equality of Chances for all Mankind?

The Achievement Gap statistics we recently viewed in Humanities class :

"High school graduates live up to 7 years longer than high school dropouts."

This statistic to me would definitely go under surprising, yet I believe it belongs more in the "frightening" category when you look more in to the problem. I mean of course its surprising when you first read it, who would have known you would die early just because you dropped out of school. Although I would get the point after a few minutes of shock because looking back to what I have seen and heard of about dropouts. The thing is it's a bit of a no brainier. I guess what I mean is that in my explanation to this statistic would be that dropouts tend to get in trouble with the law, do drugs, are homeless, can't support themselves, or maybe even depressed and suicidal. Well that last part was just my opinion, but you get the point. Those also go as reason to be frightened. Although there are exceptions to these rules and statistics, like there are to all rules. This, dear readers, is definitely an example of the domino effect of life. One mistake could cause the whole set of dominoes that are perfectly set up by hard work to fall. It’s your choice, you could put your hand out to stop the next one from falling and rebuild, but whats the likelihood of that? Although there is always the question, is dropping out really the start of the effect or is there more to it? -Mikiko

This could be the beginning:

"By 4th grade, Black and Latino students are on average nearly 3 years behind their White and Asian students"

Why is this statistic on average true?-Mikiko