Christine+C.+-+Historical+Fiction+Character

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Colonial Life
Historical Fiction Character Standing a near five feet five inches is the always-hard working Elle Baker. Wither thick dark hair, dazzling hazel eyes, and a few freckles here and there on her face. Although she’s only fourteen years old she could pass for someone three years older. She helps nine other family members by doing things such cooking, making clothing, caring for the younger children, and giving a hand in the fields time to time. Her mother and father came to Connecticut as Puritans who seeked a place where they could farm and raise a family. Being the eldest child in the house she helps her mother by cooking and feeding her four younger siblings. Lucy is two and the youngest child of the family. She has curly strawberry blonde hair and likes to giggle and play with Elle. Nathaniel is six and is the second youngest child. With dark brown hair and hazel eyes he resembles Elle the most. Mary is eight years old and likes to spend her time in the garden behind the house playing with the flowers. The second eldest child in the house is eleven-year-old Ben. He can be found practicing his reading near the fireplace quietly. All the children in the Baker household go to school daily until the age of ten so they know all of the basics of reading and writing. Ethan and Ed are twenty two year old twins who live with their wives in town, and the eldest child Thomas lives with his wife and is expecting a baby in the coming months. The Baker’s live within a 2 days travel to the ocean where they go once during the summer every year. Their farm is also less than a mile away from the Connecticut River. The family has a decently sized farm for a middle class family, and owns various livestock such as horses, cows, pigs, chickens, geese, and goats. Elle’s favorite things to do are horseback riding, swimming in the river, and tending to the garden. She turns 15 on November 21st.

Revolution

 * Source:**

Hart, Diane, and Bert Bower. //History alive!: The United States through industrialism.// Palo Alto, Calif.: Teacher’s Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Urwin, Gregory J. W. "Yorktown, Siege of." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.


 * Topic**: Siege at Yorktown

General Sir Henry Clinton thought that Cornwallis’s campaign would fail

Cornwallis then moved to Yorktown “ ….France had sent nearly 5,000 troops to join Washington’s army in New York. In August, Washington learned that another 3,000 troops were scheduled to arrive in 29 French warships.” (96)

Washington set a trap for Cornwallis by moving all of his troops to Yorktown

The troops on land and sea surrounded Cornwallis with no way to escape

“Cornwallis received a message from Clinton, informing him that the British were planning on sending reinforcements from New York.” (Urwin)

Cornwallis stayed put in Yorktown to wait for the reinforcements

After abandoning many of his trenches the American troops took hold of them

“….Cornwallis attempted to ferry his soldiers across the York river to Gloucester. He hoped to unite with his troops there, and defeat the small French and American force, and then join Clinton, but the weather drove him back.” (Urwin)

Cornwallis had no other choice but to surrender due to lack of supplies

The reinforcements never came to Cornwallis’s aid

Hart, Diane, and Bert Bower. //History alive!: The United States through industrialism.// Palo Alto, Calif.: Teacher’s Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.
 * Source:**


 * Topic:** Cornwallis Surrenders

“…. Cornwallis clung to the hope that the British navy would come to him rescue. When no ships arrived, he finally agreed to surrender.” (97)

“On October 19, 1781… troops formed tow long lines… French on one side, the Americans on the other… Not all of the American’s had uniforms… The French were dressed in elegant uniforms…” (97)

Many civilians came to watch the event

“….8,000 British troops left Yorktown to lay down their arms… moved “with a slow and solemn step.”… slow sad tune called “The World Turned Upside Down” was played.” (97)

Cornwallis refused to come saying he was ill He didn’t want to be humiliated knowing that his army had lost to “a contemptible and undisciplined mob.” (97)

After surrendering their arms soldiers wept

American’s were very happy with the win, and was glad that the war would soon be over.

Story Plot


 * Exposition**- Elle is responding to a letter sent to her from her father by candlelight. He writes about setting a trap for Cornwallis.


 * Rising Action**- A couple days later Elle is doing errands around the town when she is told that there is a siege at Yorktown.


 * Crisis**- Elle is responding to a letter from her father. He tells her to tell the family that if he is killed that he loves them, and that his troops are moving in.


 * Climax**- People in town are talking about the reinforcements being sent to Cornwallis’s aid. A fight breaks out between a loyalist and patriot. A mob ensues and Elle runs home to inform her family. Elle and her family become worried for their father.


 * Falling Action**- Elle receives a letter from her father. He writes about how the siege was a victory and that Cornwallis surrendered. He would be home soon.


 * Dénouement** - Elle and her family stand among the onlookers. Her father stands proudly in the lines of men as the British soldiers lay down their arms.

My story will help the reader understand the social/cultural impact because it shows the tension between loyalists and patriots.