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Trench Warfare at Petersburg

Trench Warfare at Petersburg

Ulysses S. Grant

      The American civil war was the bloodiest war in American history with the greatest deaths yet recorded, it was initiated on April 12, 1861 and finally concluded on May 10, 1865. Growing issues between the Northern and Southern states involving tariffs, railroad taxes, and especially slavery were what caused this war. the Southern states felt that as an independent nation they would succeed and decided to secede, they were known as the Confederate states and had Robert E. Lee as their military general. The northern states however, were known as the Union and had Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederate capital was Richmond and Ulysses S. Grant thought that if his army could take over Petersburg ( an important supply center for 

Robert E. Lee 

the capital which had 5 railroads and various roadways ) then they could destroy Richmond. They fought for four days starting June 15th but when Grant realized that it was useless, he ordered his army to siege operations (this was the longest siege in American war history). Grant ordered the roadways to be destroyed but the siege lasted a total of ten months. finally on April 2nd, Grant ordered an attack on Lee's men, which were then destroyed. Luckily for Lee, he was able to escape on time. The Petersburg siege and battle went on from June 15, 1864 to April 6, 1865, it had the involvement of over 180,000 soldiers, 8,150 Union casualties, and 3,236 casualties for the Confederate states.

      The Battle of Petersburg was such a significant one because it basically resulted in the destruction of roadways that supplied Richmond, the Confederate capital. Robert E. Lee was able to escape Petersburg along with his soldiers the night the battle ended. this meant that Petersburg was left in the hands of the Union. Additionally, since the Union was now in charge of the most important supply center for the confederate capital, there was only a certain amount of time until the South would finally surrender. On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. 

Siege of Petersburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkE3v5dyKYU

Journey through Slavery part 4 - Judgement Day

Journey through Slavery part 4 - Judgement Day 

      Today Pierce Butler is commemorates as one of the founding fathers. He was born on July 11^th in

Pierce Butler

1744. He was a soldier, planter and statesman. He was the representative for South Carolina during the Continental Congress, Constituitonal Convention and for the US Senate. He publicly spoke out in favor of slavery for both personal and political reasons. He also introduced the Fugitive Slave Clause during the Constitutional Convention. The Butler Island Plantation was one of the largest rice plantations in the South. More than 500 enslaved African Americans worked the plantations which fundamentally made the Butler family one of the riches in the United States. During this time it was thought that the demoncracy was in the hands of the white men, slave owners of course. More money was being spent on slavery than any other investment in the Unites states. There were over two million enslaved blacks and were worth approximately a billion dollars in total. Most of the cotton, worldwide, was being proeduced and exported from the south. This required labor, hard labor, all done by the slaves. Cotton production was the basis and foundation of ship building, shipping, and even factories, etc.

Harriet Ann Jacobs was born on February 11^th in 1813, in North Carolina. She underwent the

Harriet Ann Jacobs

hardship of being a slave including sexual abuse by her owner since the young age of fifteen. Despite the fact that the owner had the government on his side, she had he will, desire, and determination to be freed from slavery. When Jacobs was twenty-one years old she finally decided to run. She first hid in the Cabarrus Pocosin swamp then ran to her Grandmother’s shed. She believed that hiding in a shed habituated by rodents was better than undergoing the cruel life she had as a slave. She hid in her grandmother’s shed for seven years. Through a small hole she used as a window she saw her cruel owner and even her children, whom she couldn’t speak to but didn’t dare leave behind.  During this time slaves disappeared overnight and it was a great disadvantage to the slave owners, they lost a great amount of money. After all, they were losing their free labor. Additionally, any attempt to escape slavery was considered an act of rebellion.

David Walker

During this crucial time period in history free blacks were a great threat to slavery. There was a total of 182,000 free blacks living in the South and a total of 137,000 living in the north. Not only was slavery a growing issue but so was abolitionism, at least to most of the white population it was. Slavery in the South had a unforgettable impact on every black person in the country where ever it was that they were. Even if they weren’t enslaved, most free blacks were greatly discriminated but also segregated. In the north, segregation was a major issue in schools and even in churches that claimed to support the abolitionist movement. Laws even prohibited intermarriage between blacks and whites. David Walker was born on September 27, 1797 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was an outspoken African America, but had never been enslaved, unlike his own father. In 1829 he started his own private war, which was fought to condemn both racism and its foundation, slavery. He fought in favor of all African Americans and their right to be free and treated as citizens of the United States. 

PRIMARY SOURCE: http://www.yale.edu/glc/harriet/15.htm

Journey through Slavery part 3 - Brotherly Love

Journey through Slavery part 3 - Brotherly Love 

Journey through Slavery part 3 covered the obstacles that Africans and African Americans underwent during the late 18^th century as well as the 19^th century. The age of Enlightenment was introduced during this time and it basically gave people faith that the human race could be improved or even perfected. I personally agree with the historians that express the idea that slavery was a contradiction to this crucial time in history. The American Revolution (1763-1787) was a time during which Americans yearned and fought for their liberty from British rule. When the revolutionary war ended in 1787, Britain no longer had control over America, Americans were free. However, 19.3% of the American population was African American with a total of 757,208. There were 697, 681 slaves with a total of 92% of slaves.

Thomas Jefferson

On September 29, 1789 George Washington which then held presidency elected Thomas Jefferson as the first Secretary of State. At that time Jefferson was Minister to France. He was well-known as the author of the Declaration of Independence and gained fame by laying the foundation of the American democracy. During the revolutionary war Jefferson stated and claimed, "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL". He believed that it was invalid/immoral for one man to own another as property. Despite his words and beliefs, Jefferson himself owned approximately 130 slaves. His excuse was that blacks were naturally inferior to whites and that is why it was his duty to stand on their side and protect them. Because they were like children, they could not protect themselves. I believe that even though Jefferson owned slaves his excuse might have been justifiable if thinking from a historical point of view. Additionally, he was one of the first to write about the idea that blacks and whites could not live together in equality. He even warned that slavery could result in rebellions.

Banjamin Rush

Richard Allen was born into Slavery on February 14, 1790, in Delaware. Luckily for him, he successfully bought his freedom. As a free black man, Allen dram of founding his own church. He wanted to prove that despite their color and the segregation they underwent, blacks had the capability of succeeding just like the whites. In 1794 he was able to found the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is now known as a minister, educator and writer. Not only were blacks able to prove themselves as capable to succeed thanks to individuals such as Richard Allen but also during the Yellow fever epidemic of 1973. Sanitation was so horrible that the death rates increased dramatically. Benjamin Rush, a significant physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence was known as a friend of the Blacks. He contributed in helping Allen found his church. During the epidemic he introduced the idea that blacks were immune to the fever which is when they
came to be handy to the whites. They cared for and nursed the ill; however, in the end the plague ended up killing off both the white and black population.

PRIMARY SOURCES:
Testimonies from three of Jefferson's slaves.
1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/cron/1873march.html
2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/cron/1873israel.html
3. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/slaves/memoir.html

Susan B. Anthony - Feminism

      Susan Brownell Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts on February 15th in 1820. Her parents were Daniel Anthony, a Quaker and abolitionist, and Lucy Read, a Baptist. Susan was the second oldest child in her family and one of her siblings was Daniel Read Anthony. Today she is commemorated for having been a crucially important civil rights leader and feminist. During the nineteenth century Woman's Rights Movement, Susan B. Anthony fought for approximately 50 years only to achieve her ambitious goal: to introduce Woman's suffrage to the United States. in 1826, at age six, Susan's family moved to New York. At age sixteen, Susan began to attend a Quaker boarding school in Philadelphia named Debora Moulson's Female Seminary. She strongly disliked her school but luckily for her she didn't stay there for long due to her family's financial issues. Before 1849, when Susan agreed to run her family's farm, she was a teacher, but soon came to dislike her occupation. in 1848, she was a supporter of the Temperance movement, a movement designed to restrain the use of alcohol, she even joined the Daughters of Temperance that year. During a temperance rally in Albany, Susan encountered an obstacle that would influence her later life. She was not allowed to speak at the rally and later initiated the Woman's New York State Temperance Society. In 1850 she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton at Senaca Falls, which is when she became significantly interested in women's rights. As she fought for and supported the education, labor and temperance movements, Susan B. Anthony made sure to always incorporate the women's rights.

Woman's Rights to the Suffrage

http://www.nationalcenter.org/AnthonySuffrage.html

A: Susan B. Anthony
P: 1873
P: In 1872, Susan B. Anthony was tried for voting in the presidential election. She was fined $100 for her action.
A: Susan's intended audience was woman which she was hoping to encourage to speak out for themselves. However, she spoke to the United States as a whole, making sure to address them as "friends and fellow citizens".
R: The reason for which she delivered her speech was to address the issue that women were not allowed to vote in the united States.
T: The main idea of her speech was that if the preamble of the Federal Constitution stated, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, esrablish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America", then she had just as much of a right to vote as any white man did.
S: Susan B. Anthony's speech was of great importance because it made her audience realize that women were never denied the right to vote in the consitution and should therefore be allowed to do so. this meant that she had be tried and fined for no reason. It also made them question whether women were considered human at all.

Horace Mann - Education

      Horace Mann was born on May 4th in 1796 in Franklin, Massachusetts. His parents were Thomas Mannn and Rebecca Stanley Mann. His brother was Stephen man and Louise Mann was his sister. When he was twenty year old, Horace Mann attended Brown University and graduated in only three years. He was even valedictorian for his class. He was elected to the legislature in 1827. Horace was interested greatly in education, charities and laws regarding the elimination of intemperance. He was chosen as he secretary of the board of education of Massachusetts in 1837. He held conventions for teachers, delivered copious lectures, and even physically inspected each school in the state himself. Horace Mann was a man determined to provide his people with school with proper equipment, longer school years and higher paying wages for teachers. in 1843 he went to visit schools in Europe and when he returned he decided to establish the Prussian education system in Massachussetts. This education system was a mandatory schooling system.

The Common School Journal

http://goo.gl/Q6qcYG

A: Horace Mann

P: Massachusetts, 1838

P: Horace Man was elected as the secretary of the board of education of Massachusetts in 1837. He introduced an established the normal school system in Massachusetts. He held conventions for teachers, delivered copious lectures, and even physically inspected each school in the state himself. 

A: Horace's targeted audience was Massachusetts

R: Man wanted to underscore the issues with public schools and their education system. 

T: He developed six main principles that delineated the issues with public education.

     1. citizens can't maintain ignorance and freedom simultaneously

     2. education should be paid for, controlled, and maintained by the public 

     3. education should be provided in schools that have students from differing backrounds
     4. education must be multicultural
     5. education must be taught using faith of a free society
     6. education must be provided by well trained teachers

S: Horace Mann's Common School Journal was of great significance because not only did it highlight the issues with the public education system but it also resulted in his ranking as one of the best American educationalists. 

Mexican American War Characters

Mexican American War Characters

US Army Officer

                                                                         Description:

    I thought the war was going to be a lot of fun.

  How could the Mexicans put up much of a fight when 

they were up against the powerful United States? But

   soon enough the reality of war set in. As we moved

up the Rio Grande, it was incredibly hot, hotter than

I’d ever experienced. The water was bad and many of

my men got diarrhea, dysentery, and other diseases.

It was awful. We lost a thousand men just from sickness.

I watched some men do horrible things. As I

wrote in my diary: “We reached Burrita about 5 p.m.,

many of the Louisiana volunteers were there, a lawless

drunken rabble. They had driven away the inhabitants,

taken possession of their houses, and were

emulating [copying] each other in making beasts of

themselves.” They raped many women there.

PRIMARY SOURCE LINK:

http://www.netstate.com/states/peop/people/ga_jcf.htm

           PRIMARY SOURCE DESCRIPTION:

John Charles Freemont was born on January 31st, 1831 in Georgia. At a young age he attended Charlestown Colllege and later became an explorer traveler, and map maker. He also became and was a teacher in 1833. in 1837 he surveyed the Cherokee lands in Georgia and by 1838 he was commissioned as the US Topographical Corps. He satisfied his yearn to explore when he did so at the Rockies. He explored western of the United States in 1842 as well as land not yet part of the US. 

     

Dona Francesca Vallejo

Description:

   I live in California, a part of Mexico. I am a wealthy woman, a wealthy Mexican woman.

With my husband, I own 175,000 acres. I have numerous servants. I have two for my own personal

service. Four or five servants grind corn for tortillas, for we entertain so many guests that three servants could not feed them all. About six or seven work in the kitchen. Five or six are continually occupied       washing the clothes of my 16 children and the rest are employed in the house; and finally, nearly a dozen attend to the sewing and spinning. This is where my children were born. I have always been very friendly to visitorswho come from the United States, and some even say that I am famous for the hospitality I show my guests. And now there is a war. The United States will try to take California away from Mexico, but they have no right, and we won’t let them.

PRIMARY SOURCE LINK:

http://www.sfmuseum.net/bio/vallejo.html

PRIMARY SOURCE DESCRIPTION:

The man married to Dona Francescca Vallejo was General Mariano G. Vallego (1808-1890). He was born in Monterrey, died in Sonoma, and married in San Diego on March of 1832. He was a military cadet for the Monterrey company in 1824 and in 1838 he was assigned as comandante-general of California. In 1831 he was assigned to be comandante-general yet again after being assigned to the San Fransisco company in 1830. Even though Mariano was from Spain, he served as an officer of Mexico and a California military commander. 

The Chesapeake Leopard Incident

The Chesapeake Leopard Incident

       From 1775-1783 the Americans fought in unison for their independence from Britain. The United States was born when it's independence was officially granted by the Treaty of Paris, which was signed on September 3rd, 1783. However, in 1807, twenty-four years later, The Chesapeake Leopard Incident took place. In short: the HMS Leopard ( a British warship ), fired 3 broadsides at the USS Chesapeake ( a US warship ) because they claimed that four of their men had ran off to the American ship. Consequently, eighteen Americans were wounded and three were killed. 

      The Chesapeake definitely made the right choice in having been determined o fight because, first of all, the British had absolutely no business right off the coast of Virginia. If the Americans had been free of British rule for nearly twenty-five years, with what intentions would Britain send a WARship to the United States? They should not have given up four sailors because, even if it had been to avoid any fight with Britain, it had not been the Americans' fault that BRITISH sailors decided to abandon the BRISTISH warship. It would have made a great difference had the incident occurred farther our at sea because then it would not be easily implied that the British had malicious intentions; however, having it occurred only 10 miles off the coast of Virginia, implies that the British only wanted one thing: war. This incident could and could not have been a significant cause for war. Yes, it could have been a reasonable cause for war simply because Britain implied that they wanted war by bringing a warship so close to the US. However, by going to war with Britain yet again, the US would be putting it's newly-gained independence at stake. If the Chesapeake ship had been more militarily prepare then maybe they should have been the first to fire broadsides an hopefully prevent the 18 casualties and 3 deaths. If the US had been more economically stable and ha decided to declare war with Britain then money would be less of an issue and they would not have been left with a debt ( or as great of a debt ). 

      If the British had been impressing or kidnapping American sailors up and down the eastern sea board since the end of the revolution then that would be a justifiable enough cause for the US to have declared war. If Britain was convinced to fight the US for FOUR sailors, then it would be reasonable for the US to fight for copious sailors. It would make a huge difference if the British had still not abandoned the forts they occupied on the Mississippi Rover since the French and Indian War, which ended in 1763! Having gained independence from the British 25 years earlier, it was far beyond the time in which the British should have abandoned the US. The British DID NOT have the right to demand the return of their sailors if they had abandoned ships and joined the American navy, this is true for 3 reasons. 1) the British were not in an area to have any rights (since the Treaty of Paris defined borders and the United State's independance. 2) life aboard British ships was so miserable that it became known as a floating hell. 3) if the sailors CHOSE to run off to an American ship, then it had been their own decision. If the sailors decided to return to the British ships then it should be their own decision whether or not they wanted to actually go back with Britain. Since it was up to the fugitives as to what they did on any ship they were aboard, then the American navy captain should not be held responsible for harboring fugitives. Overall, this incident was not worth going to war for. However, it was worth some fighting simply because the British had absolutely no reason to send a warship to the US. 

What lasting Impact's were introduced by the executive branch?

What lasting impacts were introduced by the executive branch?

George Washington (April 30, 1789 - March 4, 1797)

      George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22nd, 1732. During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Washington fought along with Virginia's militia, and soon became a colonel and leader. During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), George Washington also played a crucial role, he was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. In 1789, after the birth of the United States' and the Americans' were free of British rule, George Washington was elected as the United States' first president by sixty-nine members of congress. As commander in chief of the continental army, and delegate for both the first and second continental congress, Washington was thought to hold qualifications necessary to succeed as president. 

      As the United States' first president, it was up to Washington to make decisions that would eventually influence the countries' success and stability. On April 30, 1789, Washington delivered his first inaugural address. In his speech he emphasized how he would act morally and highlighted the fact that he would work to preserve freedom, and aid the united States in reaching success. From then until today, it has become a tradition for the president to deliver an inaugural speech after his swearing-in. It also became a tradition for the president to deliver a farewell address once their presidential term was over. Washington delivered his farewell address in 1789. In his letter he warned the United States' and future president to stay away from political parties, keep the country united, and avoid aliences with foreign countries.

      As president, George Washington was capable of making guidelines as to how the President could and could not use his presidenial power. He also estalished the idea that in order for the president to make any decisions he mus first consult with a member of Congress, and receive feedback. Additionally, Washington introduced the idea that there was a limit of two presidential terms. He willingly refused a third term.

PRIMARY SOURCES

First Inaugural Address: http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres13.html

A: George Washington
P: Thursday, April 30, 1789. New York (US Capital back then)P:  In 1789, after the birth of the United States' and the Americans' were free of British rule, George Washington was elected as the United States' first president by sixty-nine members of congress.
A: The United States' and it's citizens. 
R: Washington wanted to discuss plans and goals, and simply wanted to address the nation as their first official president. 
T: George Washington was the United States' first president
S: Washington emphasized that he was a moral man who love the Untied States and yearned to see it grow and prosper. He also highlighted the fact that he was a man of morality who would preserve freedom in his country.

Farewell Address: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

A: George Washington

P: The United states and future president, 1796

P: George Washington refused to have a third presidential term.

A: The people of the United States, an future president.

R: Renounce his service as president .

T: George Washington's presidential service had come to an end.

S: Washington estalished the idea that there could only be a maximum of two consecutive presidential terms, warned that there shouldn't be formation of political parties, and to avoid the allience with any foreign countries.

George Washington (1732-1799)

George Washington

(1732-1799)

                George Washington, born on February 22, 1732, was raised in Westmoreland County, Virginia and grew to be over six feet tall, an odd stature during the colonial times. He is well known for aiding and guiding the Continental Army as they successfully defeated the British in the American Revolution. However, Washington is also commemorated for having been the United States’ first president. On January 6, 1579, he married Martha Dandridge Custis and on June 15, 1775, he was elected to be Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Washington was also elected delegate for the First (1774) and Second Continental Congress (1775).

            In 1789, sixty-nine members of Congress elected George Washington as the United States’ first president, simply because it was thought that he had the qualifications necessary to hold presidency. The fact that he had been Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and delegate for both of the Continental Congresses also made Washington eligible to hold the position as president. Washington delivered his first inaugural address on Thursday, April 30, 1789. In short, Washington stated that he would be an honest and moral president who wished to found a “free government”. He emphasized the fact that he would preserve freedom and wished to see the country grow and prosper.

            In 1793 George Washington was re-elected as the United States’ president. Since he was running against John Adams, and Washington received the most votes, Adams automatically became the vice president, this was true for both presidential terms. Washington delivered his second inaugural address on Monday, March 4, 1793, in Philadelphia and his farewell address in 1796. In his farewell address, he advised that a president not hold more than two presidential terms (he personally refused a third term); however, he also advised that there be no formation of political parties. Even after his second presidential term, n July 4, 1798, he was authorized as Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of the new American army. Unfortunately, on December 14^th, 1799, (at age 67), George Washington died at Mount Vernon.

French and Indian War - Seven Years War

French and Indian War

Seven Years' War

The French and Indian War originated in America during the year 1754; however, the Seven Years War was officially declared in 1756 and continued until the year 1763. Battles were not restricted to America, when the war was officially declared in 1756 the war was extended to be fought in The Philippines, India, Europe and Africa. Battles were even fought overseas; furthermore, The Seven Years War is often considered to have been the first global war. In America, the major powers at battle were the French and the British, which went to war due to New France and British America's rivalry to gain more land. In Europe, all major European powers were at battle including: France, Austria, Spain, and Russia against Britain and Prussia.

During the 1750s, France sent troops out to the Ohio Valley to built and guard Fort Duquesne, one of the best-known forts. In 1754 George Washington sent 150 militiamen to take over the fort, resulting in the unofficial initiation of the war. The British were forced to create and guard Fort Necessity, which was intended to protect Washington, but later taken over by the French. The French sent Washington back to Virginia, and made their stern message clear: the Ohio Valley was French territory. As a result, General Edward Braddock and George Washington marched on Fort Duquesne. In Britain, William Pitt, the prime minister, decided to take over Canada; consequently, Lake Champlain became the central battlefield. In 1759, the British had two great victories, the victory at Fort Niagara and the victory at Quebec.

          The Treaty of Paris, signed February 10^th, 1763 by Spain, France, and Great Britain officially terminated the French and Indian War. France was to stop supporting any colonies in America and gave up Canada to Great Britain, and Canada to Spain. Spain also had to give up Florida to Great Britain, since they were France’s ally during the war.  The area north and east of the Missippi River was now under British rule. 

TREATY OF PARIS 1763 - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/paris763.asp

Pennsylvania

              Province of Pennsylvania

      During the seventeenth century a new religion was introduced to England. The followers of the new religious faith were the Religious Society of Friends; however, they were also known as the Quakers. In 1660, sixteen-year-old William Penn, son of Admiral Sir William Penn and Margaret Jasper, was greatly intrigued by the Quaker faith. Despite his father’s disapproval as well as criticism from his society, William decided to allow the Quaker faith to be a part of his life. Penn soon came to the realization that Quakers were undergoing mistreatment by society. He was also aware that in the past, Quakers had traveled to the New World was a refuge.
      King Charles II, was the king of England from 1650 to 1685 and on March 4^th of 1681, he granted William Penn land in the New World. The king owed Admiral sir william Penn, William Penn’s father, an immense amount of money and that is why he named the land Pennsylvania which meant “Penn’s Woodland”. Before the English settlers arrived in Pennsylvania, the land was occupied by several Native tribes including: the Delaware, Susquehannok, Iroquas, Erie, Shawnee, among others.
       Pennsylvania was based on religious tolerance which attracted Dutch and Swedish settlers. In addition to that, William Penn handed out pamphlets in four different languages, determined to attract more and more people. The pamphlet was in English, Dutch and French. Penn was successful and unintentionally attracted settlers which had previously settled in the South, which resulted in the need for Slaves in such areas. Even though William Penn was accepting of slavery the Quakers disapproved; furthermore, the Quakers and Germans were some of the first to dare speak against slavery.

Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama 

     Vasco da Gama, an explorer and navigator, is estimated to have been born around the year 1460 in Sines, Portugal. He was born into a wealthy family, to father Estevao da Gama and mother Isabel Sodré. He had four other male siblings and married Catarina de Ataíde on an unknown date. Unfortunately, little is known of Vasco’s early life, but it is said that Estevao, his father, was an explorer and governor of Sines. Vasco is best known for being the first European to sail from Europe to India by going around Africa.  Vasco da Gama was designated to lead an expedition funded by the Portuguese government in 1497. King Manuel I of Portugal assigned Vasco to find any trading opportunities while on a journey to find a maritime route to India. Indian spices were well known and desired in Europe; unfortunately, the only route to India known by the Portuguese at that time was a very expensive and long overland route.  The Portuguese were eager to gain the desired Indian spices, but if Vasco didn’t find an oversea route to India, it would be a dilemma for them to get such goods.

      On July 8^th of 1497 Vasco da Gama initiated his voyage. He left Lisbon, Portugal accompanied by 170 men, and 4 ships. The ships were: the Sao Gabriel, Sao Rafael, the Berrio, and a fourth ship which was not given a name but was used for storage. Before Gama’s expedition, Bartolemeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape of Good Hope was located at the southern tip of Africa. Vasco and his men passed the Cape of Good Hope on November 22^nd and headed north, towards Africa. In addition, they discovered two trading ports: Malindi and Mombasa. A local navigator who knew how to find India aided them when they stopped in Malindi. In less than a month, they were able to arrive in Calicut, India.

      When Vasco da Gama and his men arrived in Calicut, they came across issues when trying to trade. The local traders became suspicious when realizing that the Portuguese brought very little of value in their ships. They had to leave soon; additionaly and unfortunately, the voyage back to Europe was quite disastrous.  Approximately half of the 170 men that accompanied him died. Despite the fact that the voyage back took longer, Vasco da Gama had succeeded in finding the maritime route to Africa; as a result, he was viewed as a hero by the Portuguese. Some may question whether Vasco da Gama should or should not have been considered a hero when he arrived in Portugal after his voyage. It is crucial to keep in mind that after all, Vasco successfully fulfilled the expedition’s main purpose: to find an unknown water route to India.