Mia+P.+-+Historical+Fiction+Character

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Colonial Life
The familiar splashing noise of another dead body echoed through my mind as I slammed my eyes shut. I had heard that unmistakably, sickening splashing noise so many times, I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole ocean was filled with millions of pale, dead bodies, just floating around like pieces of drift wood. But today it was my little brother Sam and two weeks ago it was my younger sister Elizabeth. The rest of my siblings and family had died back in England, so now it was just Abigail and I, the last of the Baker’s.

Moans of pain surrounded the ship. I knew what everyone was thinking. Why am I even here? That question haunted me ever waking second. But there was no God to pray to, no, all of that was meaningless and worth nothing. Some people were down on there knees, praying to some god that they didn’t believe in. All so desperate to think that if they switch from their true atheist religion, this superior “God” would relieve hunger or cure illness.

But I kept Abigail close to my chest squeezing her abnormal, frail and weak ten year old body. Abigail looked as if she wanted to pray to some god and see if there was even a hint of some miraculous miracle that we could be blessed with. But Abigail sighed, knowing it wasn’t true. I felt sorry for her, with only a mere memory of having a childhood, then our parents dying, and the rest of the family too. It was as if luck slapped us in the face or punctured us with needles.

However, Abigail was a quiet mature girl, with only a small possession of clothes and a small rabbit made by scraps of cloth.

I squeezed Abigail even harder, never wanting to release her. I needed to tend for her unlike my failure with the rest of the family. Abigail winced, and I immediately let go, guilty for even hurting her the slightest bit.

Night cloaked the sky as the boat soon fell silent with only the unbearable stench and rhythmic creaking noise. A small blanket was thrown across Abigail and I as we huddled for warmth, both of us silently crying to sleep.

The sun blazed above me as Abigail shook me awake, a small smile upon her face as if she were holding a secret close to her heart. “Catherine! Wake up!” I made a small, un-lady like grunt. “I can see land!” she tried again. My eyes opened immediately and I sprinted to the side of the ship to find a silhouette of land. As the dock came into clearing people cheered, but nobody was there to greet us. It was as if we weren’t worthy enough to properly shake hands and converse between another human being.

The city of Baltimore reeked of ash and filthy sewage, and animals wandered around the cobble stone streets. However the city was busy with various noises that came from taverns and shops all aligned together. But as we came from the boats, people strolling amongst the streets seemed to stop and give us a look like we didn’t belong there. I wanted to return the death glare but I held Abigail’s hand firmly and walked straight past the city.

Honestly, I had no idea where we were walking to, but half hour passed, and we came across a small abandoned shack, so small, it could have been half of a bathroom, but that didn’t matter. So far, it was the best that we could find.

Revolution
HFC-Research-American Revolution Source: Hart, Diane, and Bert Boer. // History alive!: the United States through industrialism. // Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Topic : Winter at Valley Forge

“…nothing to eat for two or three days previous…It gave…every man a gill [a few ounces] of rice and a tablespoon of vinegar! The army was not only starved…but destitute of [without] …clothing, especially, blankets.” (94)

-Farmers sold food to British not to Americans (94) -British paid in gold -Congress paid in paper money -Baron Friedrich von Steuben (from Prussia) volunteered to train soldiers. The Prussian method made soldiers stronger each day. (95)

-Marquis de Lafayette (French volunteer) shared his wealth to buy the soldiers stock (supplies). (95)

Source: "The Winter At Valley Forge." // americanrevwar //. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2010.  Topic : Winter at Valley Forge

"Some were still boys -- as young as 12 -- others in their 50s and 60s. They were described as fair, pale, freckled, brown, swarthy and black. While the majority were white, the army included both Negroes and American Indians."

Some of the diseases were the fever, the itch, diarrhea, dysentery, and rheumatism.

“The officers liked to play cricket (known also as wicket)…”

Source: "Valley Forge." // America the Beautiful. // Grolier Online, 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

**Topic**: Winter at Valley Forge

Soldiers huddled with each other in huts made from sticks, logs, and mud.

“…ate flour and water baked into tasteless ‘fire cakes’”

Over 2,000 soldiers died of disease.

“Some…men gave up and went home…but those who stayed…were determined patriots.”

Source: Hart, Diane, and Bert Boer. // History alive!: the United States through industrialism. // Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Topic : The War Goes South

“…British change strategies…to move the war…South” (96)

-The British anticipated that there were many loyalists willing to join the British side. (96)

-Sir Henry Clinton attacked/gained control of Georgia and then attempted on to North and South Carolina. He left Lord Charles in charge of the war in the South. But did not succeed. (96)

Source: Hart, Diane, and Bert Boer. // History alive!: the United States through industrialism. // Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Topic : Saving the South

“Guerrillas—soldiers who are not part of a regular army…” (96)

-Guerillas provoked British with “hit-and-run raids”. (96)

-Washington instructed General Nathaniel Greene to distract the British with his small army. The distraction had Cornwallis’ army march all around. Soon he and his army settled his troops to Yorktown, Virginia. (96)

Source: Hart, Diane, and Bert Boer. // History alive!: the United States through industrialism. // Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Topic : A Trap at Yorktown

October 6, 1781 (96)

While Cornwallis was in Yorktown, “France sent nearly 5,000 troops to join Washington…3,000 troops were…to arrive soon in 29 French warships.” (96)

-Washington trapped Cornwallis by secretly moving his army to Yorktown. Washington’s troops surrounded Cornwallis along with the French troops. (96)

“…the French warships showed up just in time to seal off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay…” (96)

Source: Hart, Diane, and Bert Boer. // History alive!: the United States through industrialism. // Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.

Topic : Cornwallis Surrenders

-Cornwallis surrenders when no rescue arrives. (97)

“October 19, 1781, American and French troops formed two...lines…for more than a mile along the road to Yorktown—French on one side…Americans on the other.” (97)

-People who weren’t soldiers stood amongst the lines, watching the surrender. (97)

“…accompanied by a slow tune…”The World Turned Upside Down”…This…tune had been play at Saratoga after the British surrender.” (97)

-Cornwallis did not participate in this event, claiming he was “sick”, but he couldn’t endure surrendering publicly to an army he looked down on. (97)

Source: "The Battle of Yorktown." // The American Revolutionary War //. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. .

Topic : The Battle of Yorktown

Cornwallis had established “entrenchments” and other protection against the enemy

Source: Sheidley, Nathaniel. "American Revolution." // World Book Student. // World Book, 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

Topic : “Surrender at Yorktown”

“Britain's defeat at Yorktown did not end the Revolutionary War. The fighting dragged on in some areas for two more years.”

In fear of loosing more of their empire, the British considered negotiating peace.

Source: Sheidley, Nathaniel. "American Revolution." // World Book Student. // World Book, 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

Topic : “Treaty of Paris”

Britain and America discussed about peace in April 1782.

“…Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated for the United States.”

Signed on September 3, 1783

“…established…new nation’s borders…United States territory extended…to the Mississippi River, north to Canada, east to the Atlantic Ocean, and south to about Florida…”

Britain permitted fishing rights and also asked the Congress to give back the property taken from Loyalist during the war.


 * PLOT**
 * BEGINNING **


 * Exposition **: Setting: City of Baltimore. Time: August 19, 1777.


 * Rising Action **: The characters (Catherine, Abigail) realize everyone ignores them. (They do not accept Atheists.) Catherine and Abigail decide to walk to Pennsylvania for religious freedom.


 * Climax **: On their way to Pennsylvania, bandits kidnap Abigail. Catherine is knocked unconscious while attempting to save her. Catherine wakes up and finds everything gone.


 * Falling Action **: Next to Catherine she finds a man around her age, named Nathaniel who is beat up and ran away from his parents.


 * Resolution/Denouement **: When he wakes up he invites Catherine to his wealthy Virginian home with his grandparents. Catherine wants to find her sister but Nathaniel promises to search immediately once they get to Virginia.


 * MIDDLE **


 * Exposition **: Setting: Outskirts of Maryland. Time: August 31, 1777


 * Rising Action **: When they reach Virginia, Catherine almost forgets about her sister until she hears about the war. The thought of her sister bothers her more each day.


 * Climax **: Nathaniel is made to fight in the American Revolution by his family (Patriots). He asks Catherine to stay in Virginia and wait for him.


 * Falling Action **: Catherine worries about her sister more and more


 * Resolution/Denouement: ** There is no resolution for this part


 * ENDING **


 * Exposition **: The characters will be switching chapter to chapter. Nathaniel will be at war while Catherine waits in the Virginian house. Time: September 1777-October 1781

Nathaniel is miserable with the deprivation of material
 * Rising Action **: Catherine is angered that she hadn’t even tried to look for Abigail.


 * Climax **: Catherine’s motivation to find her sister over powers her and she finds herself only waiting for a couple of weeks but then running off to find her sister.


 * Falling Action **: To Nathaniel’s disappointment, he returns home to find that Catherine is gone.


 * Resolution **: Due to Nathaniel’s mental abandonment issues, he searches for her.


 * TO BE CONTINUED…. **


 * My story will help the reader understand the economic impact by showing how the troops a major lack of material during the war. My female character, while on her travels, will also overhear several people arguing over what they are going to do, to help, survive, business, etc. (BACK OF A BOOK COVER??) **