Robert Engs and David Waldstreicher lecture

This morning was much more pleasant day. the temperature was about 13 degrees cooler than yesterday. We began this morning by listening to lectures by Engs and Waldstreicher. Waldstreicher talked about how the founding fathers who have been receiving a lot of attention these days are the ones who were against slavery, and the ones who weren’t such as Jefferson come under more and more scrutiny. From what waldstreicher said, I am not so sure that Franklin was as against slavery as he wanted everyone to think. I feel that Franklin was someone who did a lot of self-promotion, and that can be difficult to do if you support slavery. However, according to some records for shoes and hats that were ordered by by Franklin for his “negro boy” or his “man Joseph” and he had these slaves about 15 years prior to the other two that are more well known. Franklin also makes no mention of owning slaves in his diary as it might be embarrassing. Another problem that Franklin had was that 20%-25% of the adds that were in the paper that Franklin published were for the sale of slaves or posting for runaway slaves. This pumped a large amount of money in the business that made Franklin a wealthy man. These types of advertisements are also much more frequent and contribute more to Franklin’s pocketbook than other parts of the paper. Franklin may have only bought slaves when he became wealthy because that is what wealthy people do. This point is arguable though. It wqas also stated today that Franklin used race as a reason to stop slavery, and that we should have a “white” America. I would like to learn more on this subject before I pass any judgement, however. Franklin also blames slavery on the British, saying it is their oppression that forced the colonists into using the institution  of slavery. Eventhough Franklin became the president of the abolishionist society  in 1787, I think his true feelings on the subject should bve questioned. I would imagine that he knew it was wrong, but like the cheeseburger and fries I had yesterday I knew that I shouldn’t have it and it was bad for me, but I ate it anyway. This lecture gave me a broader picture of Franklin, and will help me to take a deeper look into the characters of other important figuresin American history. By doing this I hope to increase the the understanding of the idea that history is open to interpretion to my students.

Next we heard a lecture by Robert Engs. Engs discussed the “Great American Slave Rebellion.” He talked about how Lincoln is given credit for freeing the slaves but he really didn’t, the slaves helped free themselves. He also discussed 4 main questions regarding slavery. 1. Would slaves rebel? 2. Did they want freedom. 3. Would they fight for freedom 4. Would they know what to do with it if they had it? His responses to these questions were very intriguing. However, the most helpful part to me was his response to a question that I had asked. I have read lately that Lincoln is remembered as the “Great Emancipator” but he really didn’t care much about freeing the slaves. His main reason for writing the Emancipation Proclamation was to keep Europe, mainly England, out of the war. He stated that there were three reasons why made the Emancipation Proclamation. First, Lincoln had to be careful about the aims of the war in the beginning. He had to show that the purpose was to keep the Union together, not to end slavery. This kept the border states in the Union, without Kentucky the Union border would have been in the Ohio River Valley. The North could not have won the war without the border states. Second they needed more labor to help with the war effort as laborors and as soldiers. 12%-15% of the soldiers in the Union army were African American. The third reason was as I said previously to keep European countries out of the war. This will help me give the students a clearer and more accurate picture of the Emancipation Proclamation next year.

After lunch we went down to see the museum at Franklin Court. In this museum I saw a picture of Franklin that was not the typical image of him in his Quaker attire. The picture you see above will be a good one to show students so that they can see him in his wig and aristocratic attire. I also saw a sedan chair that was similar to the one Franklin was carried around in. It is difficult to imagine him riding around in it.

We then traveled to Elfeth’s Alley. This was a very neat place. It really gives you an idea of what these places would have looked like in the 18th century. The streets weer very narrow with narrow, tall, houses. It really was like you went back in time.  Notice the British flag hanging from one of the upper windows.

Next I visisted the living history ceneter which is working on artifacts from an archeological dig that took place where the Constitution Center now stands. They discovered the dishes you see here, and many more, about 20 feet below the surface. They were in a privy pit that was located there in the 18th century. In addition to what you see here, they had several large pieces of the redware like the ones that were seen at Valley Forge. I think the students will enjoy seeing how we have been able to piece together most of these artifacts from trash that was thrown into someones privy about 250 years ago.