William+Seward

Name:William Seward Age:49 Gender:Male Occupation:Secretary of State, Governor of NY, US senator If in politics, what was your occupation prior to that: lawyer Social Class:high, because his dad was a wealthy doctor/businessman Financial Situation:wealthy Appearance: Location:NY Daily Routine: As a Senator, I wake in the morning, and start thinking about what I should do for this country. I eat breakfast, talk to my kids and wife, and later eat lunch. I study what is happening in the country until dinner, and eat dinner, and rest for a while. after that, I go to bed to prepare for tomorrow. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Hated slavery. Past/Individual and family history: His parents established the S.S Seward institute Family:dad: Samuel Sweezy Seward mom: Mary Jennings Seward wife: Frances Miller child 1: Augustus Henry Seward child 2: Fredrick William Seward child 3: Cornelia Seward child 4: WIlliam Henry Seward Jr. child 5: Frances Adeline Seward child 6: Olive Risley Seward(adopted) Social relations with others:Good enough to become the senator, governor of NY, and secretary state Religion:Christian Education:Studied law at Union College. Conflicts/Enemies:Conflicts with people who supported slavery, because Seward was such a outspoken anti slavery politician. Lewis Powell attempted to assassinate seward

Journal #1 Over the past few days, I have been thinking about what is happening in our nation right now. Over the past five years, there have been series of very important events, including the war with Mexico, Mexican Cession, proposal of Wilmot Proviso, and Compromise of 1850. As a senator from New York, I have a duty to work for the best of this nation and also keep the interest of New York. War with Mexico, I think it was inevitable. It was something that had to happen. Our nation is destined to take possession of the North America, and we, as Americans, fought with the Mexicans. However, the real problem comes after that. The word we somehow changed to describe the northern supporters of anti slavery, and the enemy became the Southern supporters of slavery. For example, when the congress was voting on the issue of Wilmot Proviso, the South stood up against us and said that slavery is necessary. I, as a northerner, believe that slavery is just nonsense. Why can’t the Southerners see that it is just morally and ethically wrong to own slaves? Well, at least California was admitted as a free state, and the rest of lands gained from the war with Mexico will probably become free states, and I am very satisfied with that. Overall, however, I am really not satisfied with the Compromise of 1850, though. The fact that California was admitted as a free state is a good thing, but the fugitive slave act is a huge problem. Just what are the Southerners thinking? It is just a wrong thing to do to own slaves, but now they are trying to take away any chance for the slaves to become free! This just disturbs me to the point where I just can’t think about this anymore. I should probably rest for a while, and start thinking about what I need to do to deal with these evil Southerners.



**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.

Two years have passed since I wrote my journal concerning how our nation is getting divided. During the past two years, I became more familiar with my tasks as a senator. In the year 1850, I was fairly a new member in the Senate, because I was a governor of New York until the year 1842, and did not become a Senator until the year 1849.

As I became more comfortable with my works as senator, I was able to see what was going on in the Senate, and meet some great allies. Charles Sumner ! How can I not talk about him when I talk about my allies in the Senate? Senator Summer, who is the senator of Massachusetts, is opposing slavery like I am. We share common views, and we have lots of similarities. We were both lawyers before we became politicians, and thus we have a common values and knowledge. We are doing our best to stop the evil Southerners from spreading the pernicious practice of slavery. It is our duty as Northern senates to do it. I especially liked that he brought the speech “ Freedom National; Slavery Sectional” It felt like I was talking. He was attacking the Fugitive Slave Law, which I believe is the most ridiculous law, and very unconstitutional. Anyways, enough about senator Summer, although I strongly believe that we will be very close friends. David Wilmot ! He was one interesting man! I met him while he was in DC to see what will happen to the Wilmot Proviso. His ideas in the Wilmot Proviso was, contentious. Although he detested the Abolitionists and the idea of freeing the saves, I liked how he was trying to make the land we gained from Mexico as free states. I tried my best to get the bill passed in the senate like it did in the House of Representatives, but I failed to do so. Now thinking about it, I actually realize that Wilmot is a little different from me and senator Sumner. I and Senator Sumner hate slavery because it is ethically and morally wrong thing to do. However, Wilmot opposes to it because he thinks it is taking away jobs and opportunities from the whites. I understand his concerns, but I believe that is not the right reason to oppose slavery. I think I need to wait a little while to see what will happen to this nation, as the conflict between the South and the North about slavery is becoming more intense, and the Whig party is getting weaker.

 **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...

This is not good. Two years passed since I wrote my last journal, and now the government is not doing well. The Kansas-Nebraska Act has passed, which basically nullified the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise was supposed to guarantee that the Northwestern territories would be free states, but now, it is not in effect. I have discussed this issue with Senator Sumner, and we both reached the conclusion that the South is just getting greedier by second. The fundamental principle of the Kansas-Nebraska Act lies upon the idea of Popular Sovereignty, but these notorious Southern slave owners are now even trying to take advantage of them. I have heard that a group of squatters illegally moved into the new territories and voted for slavery. This is a fraud, I tell you, a fraud! My wrath about this action is just indescribable, since I believe that slavery is hindering the development of both the Union and the morality of all mankind.

I have also met with John C. Fremont few days ago. It seemed that this man was pretty outraged about the whole Kansas-Nebraska Act, also. I cannot believe that the Union actually passed such an ridiculous law. Everything has been going towards the wrong direction ever since the Wilmot Proviso was rejected in the Senate. If Wilmot Proviso have worked out, then I wouldn’t have to worry about this whole issue of slavery in the west, because then the Southern plantation owners would not even have the chance against the law proposed by a man with ideas of the free soil.

It is getting late, and I should probably go to bed, and prepare for tomorrow. I should get to know a lot more people, since I believe that there would be a storm coming for the politics of this nation. A fine group of man with anti slavery ideas would be enough to save this nation.




 * 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.

The future of the Union does not seem too bright. The whole nation is separating into pieces. The union is, basically, breaking down. I have heard about what happened to Senator Sumner. The fury that I felt after hearing that incident was beyond description. A man named Preston Brooks, apparently someone that I saw few times at Washington as a fellow Congressmen, has beaten up Senator Sumner. The Senator was making a speech, and Brooks became furious, and Brooks, with his cane, started the intolerable beating. Brooks must be punished severely at any cost, considering the weight of his actions. The Union cannot bear these confusion anymore, and punishing Brooks will set up a good example which could teach the knavish Southerners some lesson.

Anyways, there is another crucial event going on these days. Dred Scott trial is near. The decision of the Supreme Court about this issue should affect what would be the future of this Union. However, I have some suspicion about the Supreme Court and the government these days. I, along with many other Northerners, cannot stop thinking that there are few very influential Southern plantation owners, who obviously support slavery, are affecting the government. Some say that this is merely suspicion, but I am pretty sure. Take a look at the Supreme Court Judges. Most of them, including Roger Taney, are supporting slavery. There has been a lot of other incidents that would support my view. One of them would include our new president. He is a guy who is really in the support of slavery. I know that these thoughts would only crack the union apart, so I, with my fellow Republicans, will just have to see what will happen.



**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. I feel lethargic, but also somewhat delighted. I was running for the presidency in this years election, after watching what our former president, Buchanan, has done to our Union. However, I lost, after making some radical statements, to this young man, whom I already knew, from Illinois. I have heard about this young man and his speech, "A House Divided." His debate with Stephen Douglass, a dominant figure in the Democratic party, filled me with thrills. The name of this man is Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln. Although I lost in the election, I do not hate this man, because I perceive that this man can bring a change, a good and significant change, to this Union. I will do my best to support this man whenever possible.

However, I have some concern. Because now we have a president with antislavery view points, I think the Southerners are going to do something. The Southern states, especially South Carolina, seems to rumble. They, although I truly hope is merely my suspicion, might actually break away from this Union. I really hope that would not happen. However, I think there is a good chance that might happen, and that other Southern states might actually cooperate with South Carolina.

I cannot say anything confidently these days about the future of this Union. However, I will say one thing. I, along with other Republicans who support me and the Union, will do anything to preserve this Union. We will not allow some unscrupulous Southerners to break this nation apart. My fellow New Yorkers voted for me as their Senator. I will not let them down, meaning that I will go on a War with the South if necessary. The Union will be preserved, and it is me and the Republican's job to fulfill this goal.



Bibliography:
//William H. Seward.// Wikipedia, 11 Nov. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2009  //The Civil War//. Sparknotes, 11 Nov. 2009. Web 13 Nov. 2009  Wilmot Proviso. Wikipedia, 11 Nov. 2009. Web 13 Nov. 2009  Bleeding Kansas. Sparknotes, 16 Nov. 2009. Web 19 Nov. 2009 