History 121
11/21/07

Oat’s Reader Report

13 - The Duel – By Joseph J. Ellis

        During the election debacle of 1800 in which Thomas Jefferson ran for President and Aaron Burr as his Vice President both ended up having the same amount of electoral votes, because voters put down both Jefferson and Burr on their ballots. To the nation’s surprise Burr did not step down to allow Jefferson to become President, forcing the matter to come to the attention of congress. In congress at the one of the major political parties was the Federalist Party led by Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton expressed his thoughts on the matter by saying that Burr should not be granted the office of President because he is a political weasel. These remarks landed the support of the Federalist Party in congress which helped Jefferson become president. Still angered by Hamilton remarks and loss of the Presidency, Burr challenged Hamilton to a dual. Hamilton accepted Burr’s challenge and faced him on a river bank in New Jersey where Burr ended up killing Hamilton. After Hamilton’s death Burr soon became a wanted man for treason and the murder. Burr was soon captured and brought to justice in Richmond, Virginia. Overall, the death of Hamilton left his creation of the National Bank and his Federalist Party to their slow destructions.

15 – The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion – By Stephen Oates

        In 1831, one of the most violent slave revolts was led by man named Nat Turner. This slave rebellion turned out to be the bloodiest slave revolt in American history, causing fear throughout the southern states. Turner created slave support for this rebellion by using his religious visions, religious signs, and speaking abilities. The rebellion started after Turner had seen a black spot during the day on the sun’s surface. This phenomenon soon was taken as a sign from god to slaves and Turner to be awakened. Turner then gathered his followers and planed attacks throughout the Virginia and North Carolina border. Turner’s attacks were so successful because the white people so panic-stricken that it lead to swift and bloody attacks. After about a few days of these attacks Turner’s band of fighters began to diminish causing Turner to go into hiding. Nearly two months after Turner’s attacks, a man named Benjamin Phipps accidentally discovered him and had Turner surrender to him. Turner was then brought to justice by trial and then hanged for his crimes of insurrection, conspiracy, and treason. In the aftermath of Turner’s rebellion talk among antislavery and proslavery rang throughout legislation, which added to the building tension between the northern states and southern states.  

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17 – Andrew Jackson: Flamboyant Hero of the Common Man – By John F. Marszalek

        Andrew Jackson became a hero in the eyes of the American people because of his wild nature, military persona, and strong ignorance of authority. Jackson gained his fame from the American people because of his victory against the British in the War of 1812 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After the war of 1812, Jackson then went on lead a group of Tennessee militia men to fight against the Indians in the southeast, the British in Florida, and the Spanish in Florida. ...

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