Whitney+Z.+-+Historical+Fiction+Character

Colonial Life
toc September 24, 2010

“AMY! REBECCA!” My mother, Sarah, cried from downstairs. Rebecca groaned beside me on our bed we shared in the loft. Thomas and Noah’s bed beside mine was empty. Out my window, I saw my brothers and father working outside on our farm. Rebecca and I normally wake up around sunrise to the sound of them cutting down trees to make fences and tools. I immediately got out of bed and climbed down the ladder and met my mom in the kitchen. Rebecca came down a few minutes later. Every morning, my sister and I wake up before sunrise to feed the animals on our farm, tend to the crops, gather eggs, weave cloth, and other chores. Life on the farm isn’t always easy, but I love living on my family farm in Georgia.

I’m nineteen years old and I’ve lived in North Carolina all my life but my parents and a few of my older brothers are from England. When my oldest brother, Abraham III was 9, my parents moved to the Georgia in the New World to avoid debtors prison. My family found a small piece of land for a good price and built a small, one room house. Then two years later my parents moved to North Carolina and bought the same sizes house and farm. As the family grew, my dad built another room on the side of the house. I was born 3 years after my family moved to America.

“We have a lot of work to do.” My mom told Rebecca and me. “Start by gathering some eggs Rebecca, and Amy I want you to help me with the cooking.” My mom only had me help with cooking on special occasions because cooking could get pretty dangerous. Almost all of my mother’s dresses had burn marks on them from the open fire.

“Your brother, Abraham, is coming to visit tonight.” My mom said and my eyes lit up. “So are Joyce and the kids.”

“Oh great.” I said sarcastically. Joyce is my sister-in-law and she’s nice but she gave birth to two devil twins: Abraham IV and Christopher. The two five year olds do nothing except attack us and get us in trouble for something //they// did.

“Be nice.” My mom scolded Rebecca. “They’re just five. Didn’t I tell you to gather eggs?”

Revolution

 * **Exposition**: New York, 1776. Amy Richardson (30) had settled in two years ago with her husband, Philip (now a ship builder) and 2 kids, William (5) and Hannah (3).
 * **Rising Action**: American Revolution started a year ago, rumors suggest that the British are planning an attack at Saratoga
 * **Crisis**: Amy doesn't want Philip to fight in battle, but after a few arguments, Philip sets of with the Americans to the Hudson river. The Americans lose badly, Philip comes home with only a broken wrist, but with his friend who was shot in the leg.
 * **Climax**: Philip and Amy get in a fight and Philip insists he stays with the army and fights in the Battle of Charleston, 1780. Father and oldest brother, Abraham are killed.
 * **Falling Action**: Philip returns after Battle of Charleston, and he and Amy make up.
 * **Dénouement**: Amy is very homesick, Philip longs to be in the army, so they decide that Amy and the kids will move back to Georgia with Amy's mother, and Philip stays with the army. They decide they will meet up in Georgia someday when the war is over.
 * **Story Theme:** Families can be destroyed when people's lives are on the line/Wars can destroy families

**Topic:** Defeat in Brooklyn, New York- August 27, 1776

**Source:** Hart, Diane, and Bert Bower//. History Alive!: The United States Through Industrialism//. Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

**Research:** “…the inexperienced Americans were no match for the British… the British lost only 377 men, while the Americans lost 1,407” (Hart 91). General Howe ordered the British army not to attack because he knew Washington would surrender. Washington never wished to surrender, but he knew he had to do so in order for his army to survive. “The battle for New York City was the first of many defeats for the Americans” (Hart 91).

**Historical Fiction Character:** Lives in New York, near where the battle happened. She is worried that her husband will want to fight in the American army. ** _ **

__ **Topic:** Battle of Saratoga, October 17, 1777 Hudson River __

__ **Source:** Hart, Diane, and Bert Bower//. History Alive!: The United States Through Industrialism//. Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print. __

__ **Research:** __ __ “By the time the slow-moving Burgoyne finally reached Saratoga Springs on the Hudson River, the area was swarming with militia. Although the rebels outnumbered his army, Burgoyne ordered an attack… On October 17, 1777, Gentleman Johnny (Burgoyne) accepted defeat” (Hart 94). __

__ **Historical Fiction Character:** Hears about the battle. Her two brothers, the twins, are soldiers fighting in the battle. __**_**

**Topic:** Battle of Charleston 1780

**Source:** "The Battle of Charleston." //The American Revolutionary War//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. .

**Research:** “…the British began to shift their strategic focus towards fighting in the southern colonies” (The Battle of Charleston). “In December 1779, Gen. Henry Clinton sailed himself sailed south bound for Charleston from New York City…Because they had been delayed several months in leaving, the fleet now sailed through stormy seas. The first storm hit on December 27 and lasted 3 days” (The Battle of Charleston). Another storm hit on January 1 and lasted for six days. “Clinton had chosen to land his forces thirty miles south of Charleston and approach overland” (The Battle of Charleston). “On April 1, the British had moved down into position to begin their siege works. While the British slowly closed in, naval maneuvering in Charleston Harbor for the Americans was a disaster” (The Battle of Charleston). Four ships from North Carolina and two ships from France had came to help the Americans. “When Whipple saw the size of the British attack fleet, he scuttled the ships at the entrance of the river” (The Battle of Charleston). On April 14, at 3:00 A.M., the British’s attack took the Americans by surprise. On April 29, the British drained some of Georgia’s very important canal. “…by May 6, almost all of the water had drained out of the heavily damaged dam and plans for an assault began. On that same day, Fort Moultrie had surrendered” (The Battle of Charleston).

**Historical Fiction Character:** Father and oldest brother killed ** ___ ** **Topic:** Battle of Charleston 1780

**Source:** " The American Revolution - (The Siege of Charleston)."//The American Revolution - (Home)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. .

**Research:** “General Clinton and the British government back in London believed that if the British controlled the South, Tories would flock to support the British and Clinton would be able to overwhelm General George Washington in Virginia” (The Siege of Charleston). “On April 2nd, siege works were begun about 800 yards from the American fortifications” (The Siege of Charleston). “ On the 21st a parlay was made between Lincoln and Clinton, with Lincoln offering to surrender with honor. That is, with colors flying and marching out fully armed, but Clinton was sure of his position and quickly refused the terms. A heavy artillery exchange followed” (The Siege of Charleston).