Great States but with Problems
by: Maddie McGregor
Contents:
Introduction: All About the Civil War
Chapter 1: Union and Slave States
Chapter 2: The Missouri Compromise
Chapter 3: What Happened with California
Chapter 4: Mad about California (Story)
Chapter 5: Problems with States (Essay)
Introduction
All About the Civil War
Were there 50 states long ago? In the 1800s, there were about 30.
Ok, first we
talk about the Civil war. First of all, the Revolutionary war was before this war. So this is
what the Civil war was about. It’s when C.S.A (Confederate) and U.S.A (Union) had a
war. But don’t worry, USA won. But there were problems when the states joined America.
Chapter 1
Union and Slave States
Why did there have to be free and slave states? The people in the state choose.
There were two kind of states. The union and the slave states. The slave states had slaves
that were black. The union was a free land. Not the free like a folder costs no money. It
meant that you weren’t controlled by someone. Union and slave states were true rivals.
Every slave tried to escape to the free. A famous person called Harriet Tubman who freed
many slaves. And here’s a fun fact, she was a slave! Ok, that’s it about her, remember,
this is about states!
Chapter 2
The Missouri Compromise
There were 22 states until the day came. Missouri came in as a slave state. And
again, it came up in the north. Slave states are supposed to go down in the south. Also,
that meant there are more slave states the free states. So, a guy called Henry Clay made a
line. Not a normal line, a dividing line. No other slave states could pass that line. And let
Maine join as a free state. It worked, until a big state joined.
Chapter 3
What Happened with California
One day, California came in America as a free state. Part of California went all
the way down in slave state territory. South was flipping furious! Couldn’t it be half slave
half free? “I know no south, no north, no west, no east, to which I owe any allegiance. The
union is my country” said Henry Clay. So, Henry Clay made another compromise. It was
called the fugitive slave law. If a slave ran away to the north, that slave, if found, must be
returned. Someone called Harriet Stowe hid slaves. She wrote a story to make people
become abolitionists.
Chapter 4
Mad about California
(Story)
Eddy’s Perspective (A lawmaker)
So one typical day, California joined as a free state. Chip, (my friend), was
guarding his slave until he got my news.
“Chip!” I yelled. “Have you heard? California is a free state!”
“WHAT?!” screamed Chip. “OK, WE ARE GOING TO TELL THE GOVERNOR OF
SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!”
So Chip and I went to see the governor of South Carolina.
“Governor! Governor!” I yelled. I swelled up inside. I might actually meet the
governor. And then, the governor walked in. I yelled: “California joined, free!!!!!”
“WHAT!?” screamed the governor. “TIME FOR REVENGE!!!!”
After a while, I got a newspaper.
“Extra! Extra! Hear all about it! Fugitive Slave Law made! Return slaves!” yelled
the paperboy. All because of me.
Governor's Perspective
So I was lying in bed when all of a sudden-Knock! Knock! Knock!
I was sure that it was the chicken I bought. So I walked through the hallways, but it
wasn’t my chicken. It was two kids. And one was sweaty and red. Then he yelled:
“Governor! Governor! California joined, free!!!!!” said the sweaty kid who I was
sure that he peed in his pants.
“WHAT?!” I yelled. “I AM GOING TO HAVE A MEETING NOW!!!!”
So I was now in a room.
“I’ve got a law!” said a guy called Henry Clay who I thought his name was the
compromiser. “It’s called the fugitive slave law. People have to return runaway slaves.” I
agreed with it. The next day, it was all over the newspaper.
Chapter 5
Problems with States
(Essay)
When the states joined, some came with a price. States can be problems because it
makes sides mad, makes laws or compromises, and sometimes makes things uneven.
My first reason is it can make the sides mad. When Missouri joined, it made the
north made. When California joined, it made the south mad. When some states seceded in
the south, the north got made. That’s when West Virginia joined as a free state.
My second reason is it made laws or compromise. When Missouri joined, the
Missouri compromise was made. When California joined, the fugitive slave law was
made. I am just saying, I’m blaming this all on Henry Clay.
My last reason is it made things uneven. Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland
and Delaware were all up in the north even though they allowed slaves. When Missouri
joined, Henry Clay decided that Maine would be a states. All because of Missouri! And at
one point, there were more slave states. That’s why states can be problems.
All the states are important, though a lot of states caused problems. But it was
good at the same time. Or is it? Those are some questions I can’t answer.
Glossary:
● Abolitionists: Someone who is against slavery. (C3)
● America: Where we live. (C3)
● Confederate: The seceded states when Abraham came president. (Intro)
● Flipping Furious: The most strongest kind of mad in the world. (C3)
● Governor: A state ruler. (C4)
● Rivals: Another word for enemies or nemesis. (C1)
● Slave: A non-cared butler. (C1)
● Territory: An area that hasn’t been claimed. (C3)
● Union: A free place. (Intro)
Soures:
● History Alive by: Bert Bower.
● The Anti-Slavery Movement by: Ann M. Rose
● Cycle of Change:
https://sites.google.com/a/gavoca37.org/cycles-of-change/studying-history
● Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_and_free_states
A map of the United States in 1861.