A+Forty-Niner

=**PROFILE**=

Name: James Richie Age: early 30s Gender: Male Occupation: Previously farmer Social Class: Low class Financial Situation: Poor which prompted him to move to California Appearance: rugged, healthy-appearance to an extent one might describe him as “muscular” Location: -Born and previously lived in: Missouri -Currently residing in Coloma, California Daily Routine: wake up and go to mine. Come back home Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: -Doesn’t like to talk with other people. Instead, he resorts his communication to his diary -Sullen, serious Past/Individual and family history: -Born as the youngest in a very large, poor family. Born under a father impoverished by land forfeit due to overwhelming debt. As a child, James was always abused by his father as well as brothers. -5 brothers above him Family: Single Social relations with others: Religion: No particular strong affiliation Education: have been educated to an extent he is able to read and write, but generally bare minimum education Conflicts/Enemies: Due to his clam and sullen quality, James doesn’t encounter much enemy. But he has definite resentments toward those who are rich and up in the social class. Moreover, he has several quarrels between the Native Americans who were residing in the lands of California.


 * Journal #1** - The time frame is sometime during the year 1850. Consider all of the things that have taken place during the previous five years (Mexican-American War, Mexican Cession, Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act). You are free to write about any one (or more) of these things in your journal entry. Be sure to include your actions in response to one (or more) of these events.

Dear Diary,

While I was working in the mines to possibly find the gold that will turn my fortune upside down, it came to my mind time indeed flies. Things have changed so much in the last two years that I feel like I’m a totally different person with a whole new life style. So I decided I will take my time to write a diary to record such change.

Just before 1849, I was a normal farmer. I was a normal person who always aspired to perhaps have the chance to become rich and prosperous like those up there. Then, magically, I heard that rumor that there was a discovery of gold in Sutter’s Mill of Coloma, California. I didn’t hesitate one bit. This was my chance. This was perhaps the only chance I will ever get to become rich and be famous. I no longer had to be the lowest member of the family, the lowest member of the social class. I could be up above my fathers and brothers who resorted to the life of farming for their whole life. It was time for “my” dream. So I traveled along the California Trail to finally reach the place that I have always dreamed of—the empire of gold. But the way to California wasn’t always so pleasant as I imagined. Many died out of exhaustion and diseases. Some never even reached the place of their dream. One by one the people who traveled with me perished to death. I have to admit I was at times horrified, but I knew I had to move on. I had to move on to reach my ultimate dream to become rich.

When I first arrived to California, there were only few settlers—many with the same dreams that I had. But soon, more and more people rushed in to an extent I could no longer even count the number of heads working in the mines. It was amazing. During my whole lifetime, I’ve never saw that many people. Then, I heard recently that California, through the compromise of 1850, became a free state. When I asked why that’s so important to my peers, many said it was because slavery could not take place. I didn’t care just unless I was able to gain gold and mine gold, it didn’t matter to me if blacks were slaves or not. That being said, if being a free state meant that blacks could do whatever they want and take my job opportunities away, that’ll be a different story.

While many people said compromise of 1850 was a big historical moment, it didn’t come to much importance to me. Inside my mind, I was thinking that treaty that ended the Mexican-American War (was it Hidalgo treaty? — I cannot clearly recall. After all, I don’t really read the newspaper) was much more important. If we haven’t won that Mexican American War, California will still be Mexico’s and most likely I would be farming just like the old days, stripped of hope and money.

So sure, I haven’t got much money as I imagined from these gold mines. But I’m hoping day by day, I will mind more and more gold. Then, everyone will respect me, even my brothers and father. They might one day come and beg me for money and I will be smiling looking down upon them.

Hoping to find more gold tomorrow, //James Richie//

"California gold rush history with photos." //California Hwy 49 Gold Rush Country Mother Lode Business Shopping Restaurant Real Estate Lodging//. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. .

"Manifest Destiny: Westward Expansion and 49er Gold Rush Result in Branch Mints." //Rare Coin Values and Proven Trends: Smart Strategy for Buying Collectible Coins//. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. .


 * October 1852**
 * Journal #2 -** The year is now 1852. Continue your story as you began in Journal #1. For this journal entry and all subsequent entries, you must interact with at least two other characters in each journal entry. When you interact with another character, provide a hyperlink to that character's page in your journal entry.

Dear Diary, Things have been going fairly well in the last years. The gold has jumped on its value and now I feel, I have the time to pay attention to the politics more than before. Of course, what I mean by politics are factors that will affect me financially, not that of foolish issues of slavery or something of those sorts that I really don’t feel are important at all. In fact, recently I heard some of my peers that are essentially Northerners criticize about this guy named Lawrence Ethel. My peers rambled that he was a plantation owner who earned lots of money, manipulating his slaves. They went on to explain the cruel treatment he directed towards his 150 or more slaves. When I heard this, I didn’t feel much anger toward this guy, but in fact some respect. In fact, I was jealous. He was almost the same age as me and he was one of the richest men in the South. If I could be like that, I thought to myself, I would do anything. Back to the point, in the end it came to my conclusion: it will be wise for me to talk about the two political events that I’m trying to keep myself updated about in today’s diary entry. You see, I’ve always believed that America as a whole should prosper. Then, I’m guessing the trade will grow and in the end I will be better off with more money! That was why I started to pay attention to this guy named Franklin Pierce. In his campaign, he passionately advocated the idea of manifest destiny. Of course, I didn’t quite understand what this term meant, so I asked one of my better-educated workers. He explained to be it was an idea that pushed for expansion of United States. Having heard this, I liked the guy instantly. I have always believed America needs to extend its boundary even if it takes aggressive acts. I remember, back in the days, I had to fight for my land and my gold against the Native Americans who would not move out. That being said, I knew it was time to show everyone who the boss was in the world. It’s time for America to gain some more land, better trade network, which will mean more money for me.

I’m hoping that Franklin Pierce will get elected, so hopefully I will have a better chance of becoming even richer. I hope to bring some good news in my next diary entry.

//With high hopes,// James Richie

Dear, Diary I remember the very last time I wrote to you, I was talking about my hopes toward this new candidate Franklin Pierce running for president. Luckily, this believer in Manifest Destiny did become Mr. President. Even though I know little about politics, I’ve been paying considerable amount of attention to listen to other people about what’s going on around the nation after Franklin Pierce got elected into office. I was especially glad back in 1854, when I heard that Pierce acquired New Mexican territory through the Gadsden Purchase. I was even happier when the president opened up trade relations to Japan, even though I had no clue where that was. I was sure they would like gold as much as we Americans did and perhaps more! More love for gold, MORE MONEY FOR ME! That’s why I don’t understand when I see fellow Northerners in this town complaining about the president. Recently, a group of them got real angry talking about this so-called “conspiracy” of Stephen Douglas and Franklin Pierce revolving around the Kansas Nebraska Act. Upon hearing the news of he act, they screamed out, “this is outrageous! The government along with Douglas is ignoring the Missouri Compromise and trying to spread the evil of slavery in this sacred country!” I didn’t quite understand why they would be so mad about issues of blacks, but I just stayed quiet for I didn’t want to wind up in a skirmish. I don’t really understand why slavery or blacks is such a big issue in this society. Of course, I wish I had slaves, because that would mean I would have enough money to do so. But besides that, I didn’t care at all. After all, I am too busy to think about my business. Well, talking about my business. I have to inform you that I am steadily becoming richer and richer as the gold value jumps up. I wonder when the day will come in which I will become rich as those guys who owns hundreds of slaves.
 * Journal #3 -** It's 1854... the Kansas-Nebraska Act has passed. Squatters are now moving into Kansas in an attempt to sway the vote. Continue your story...

Wishing to become rich as those slave owners, //James Richie//

It’s bittersweet now that I’ve come back to my hometown of Missouri after having reached my ultimate goal of being rich. People moving into California for gold has died out over the years, especially around 1855 and it came to my mind that I might as well come back to try to find my “own” family. Now that I’m trying to establish myself as a plantation owner, much has changed and I even have a slave of my own. (I have to admit that I’m proud that I have slaves. It’s not like everyone can own slaves: you need money.)
 * Journal #4 -** It's now 1856. Bleeding Kansas has just taken place and John Brown emerged on to the scene. Buchanan was just elected as the US President. Dred Scott is arrested and is about to be brought to trial. Continue your story.

When I came back to my hometown, I noticed one stark difference from the day I left: people were going crazy over slavery. I mean, literally “crazy.” By the time I moved in back to Missouri, thousands of my neighbors were moving into Kansas to vote for slavery in the region. Even though I didn’t cross the lines of Kansas because I had no idea what was going on when I first came back to Missouri, now that I think of it in the perspective of a slave owner, I would have indeed the same. So I was surprised when I heard about the Pottawatomie Massacre from my next-door neighbor. I mean, I knew that there was opposition against Kansas-Nebraska Act from the northerners that worked in the mines with me in California, but I never imagined anyone would think about butchering proslavery settlers in such a barbaric manner. I realized that these abolitionists like John Brown is indeed dangerous and people to look out for. I didn’t quite understand why John Brown would think men are all equal. How can men be all equal when our physical difference, wealth all differed? After much thinking, I concluded that John Brown just as another mad, out of mind man.

Even after the fervor that resulted from the Pottawatomie Massacre, the slavery debate didn’t stop. In 1856, the election dealt much with the ideas of slavery. When the election time came, I still didn’t know much about the candidates so I decided to ask my fellow next-door friend that had more education and he exclaimed, “it just can’t be Fremont! He’s trying to make this whole nation free!” I decided I would listen to my friend and vote for Buchanan. After all, I didn’t want to lose my slaves: they were so useful and I could do anything I want out of them.

Even though the Buchanan guy was elected president, nothing much changed. The crazy slavery debate still continues. I’m hearing from my friends that this slave called Dred Scott has sewed his owner over his freedom. My plantation owner friend cried “what a disgrace!” And I agree. I wonder what I would have done if my slaves sewed against me. I don’t even want to think about it! More and more these anti-slavery trends come to my notice, I think it is necessary for me to make an eye on my slaves in stricter manner. I will never let my wealth go away and my slaves are part of my wealth and means for making wealth.

About to leave to check on my slaves, //James Richie//

Dear Diary, When I wrote my last diary to you after moving back to my hometown, I thought things couldn’t go crazier. However, now I realize I was definitely wrong. Things are getting even madder these days. With the Abraham Lincoln being elected as president, South Carolina has separated itself from the union. Now people are taking sides rather their state should secede. This debate over secession confuses me quite a bit. In one hand, I understand why people like Jefferson Davis will like to secede. I mean as a slavery owner, it’s outrageous to think that my slaves will be granted of freedom. After all, they are INDEED my property: I bought it with my own money! However, I also know that secession might possibly take away the source of my money. My plantation provides raw materials to the industry heavy north and my state doesn’t have enough industry to buy up my materials. Even though I might not be that educated, I am bright enough to know that. It’s obvious! Even though I don’t know much about this Lincoln dude, I don’t think we should secede yet. I mean, if serious threats over slavery are dominating over my state, secession might be an option, but to secede just because of Lincoln, I’m not sure. There are rumors going around that there might be a war. I really, truly hope this doesn’t happen. War means we need to devote money and manpower. And devotion of money basically means they are going to take away my money as well! I can’t just give away my precious money, the collection of every single pennies I put my effort to achieve, for the nation. I mean I might as well just ask people to fight for the nation on my behalf than to give up my money. After all, I don’t know how much more chaos will be brought this country. Will we ever settle down to achieve the economic prosperity I dream of? When will I be living in a prosperous country with economic stability? That’s a question that I will like to know the answer to. Confused and worried, // James Richie //
 * Journal #5** - The year is 1860. Lincoln was just elected as US President, prompting South Carolina to secede. Write the next chapter in your story.