Article Attempt #2

Dear You,
           Hey! It's been a while! Oh, did I mention earlier that I was recently in Nova Scotia (visiting of course)? I met this famous guy there. His story is incredible! Behold, my second attempt at a good article!

Hero, Lieutenant Moody, comes to Nova Scotia


Loyalist, James Moody has arrived in Sissiboo, Nova Scotia after war with the Thirteen Colonies. Moody is a brave man who will finally rest in Nova Scotia, his new home. He will join thousands of other British citizen who have sided with Britain to be ridiculed and be kicked out of their homes.


Moody is a man of many adventures. He grew up in New Jersey. He was a farmer who refused to take part in the revolution and pledge loyalty. Later, rebels attacked him at his farm.He then joined the New Jersey Volunteers. They are the largest Loyalist regiment in the war. He freed many British supporters from American prisons. He had even freed himself from jail. 


1780, Moody was arrested. Two months later, he broke free of his shackles, stole his guard's musket and ran. When he escaped, the alarm was raised. He then shouldered is musket and joined the police in looking for him. He lived on berries and nuts until he can rejoin his regiment.


Moody will receive half pay as a captain. This higher pay is reward fro his extraordinary bravery. We would like to welcome this exceptional man into our community.


See! I can still write a good article! Well see you next time!

Love
Catherine

They're Coming!

Dear You,
          Hey! Long time no see! Anyways a lot of Loyalists are coming to Quebec. YAY! I know I should not be happy about people being kicked out of their homes but I can't help being excited for our new neighbours. At least they will be welcomed. Anyways, many (and I mean a lot of people) had arrived in the little village in Quebec that I am residing in. It is always nice to have new people (new people= new scoop!) .

          I heard of how they were treated before in the Thirteen Colonies! They were ridiculed, tormented and treated like trash! They're still people with different opinions than the Patriots. That doesn't mean they should be treated like scum and then forced to leave their home AND possessions! Gosh, I wish they left for Quebec earlier so that they would not have to endure that kind of punishment.

            Hmph, those Thirteen Colonies are so smug that they won the war. Oh yeah, they won a war with a POOR country that's trying to help those cheapskates. Congratulations! I mean, I know that a tea and/or paper tax is kind of a stupid idea but if the profits went to protecting myself and our country, I wouldn't mind! Ugh, they still get angry! Those colonists!

           Well, here in Quebec, the Loyalists are being treated very well but there still are many problems. The Black loyalists. Here Loyalists are treated well but the Black ones are not treated as well. Like, honestly! When they (the Loyalists) get supplies to build shelters, the Black Loyalists were almost ALWAYS the last ones to receive supplies. What makes it worse is that there were never enough tools and nails for everybody! I don't think the lack of supplies is really fair for anybody! Especially the people that just gave up everything they had!

Well I'm still upset. Anyways soon I'm going to go to Nova Scotia for like a vacation like thing. I also hear that there's big news there so I MUST see!

Love
Catherine

Interview with a Loyalist

Hello. It has been a long time since I had written an article. It has been even LONGER time since I had interviewed someone and my reporter instincts are as strong as ever. In this exclusive interview with a Loyalist, we speak of the hardships of simply supporting Britain and the discrimination and fear of your neighbours who believe you are a traitor to your own country. Without further ado, my latest masterpiece (the text in italic):

The American Revolution: Supporting Britain

Supporting Britain have caused many colonists their homes. Not supporting the rebellion was all they had done but they had already been labelled as traitors. They had become Loyalists. They had been humiliated for simply believing Britain had done nothing wrong. Loyalist, William Brown, now living in Quebec, gives us an exclusive interview about the hardships of living in the Thirteen Colonies siding with the British.

C: Good afternoon, William. Thank you for letting me conduct this interview. This means a lot to me. Lets start off this interview with a simple question, Why did you support the British?

WB: I felt that my people were giving the British a hard time. They were simply trying to raise funds to protect us when they had passed the Stamp Act and with the Ohio Valley incident, the First Nations were already living there. We had been selfish. I know we could use the land and I was angry at first but now I have calmed down but my people are still not happy. I could not agree with their opinions about the British.

C: How interesting. In New Jersey, 1775, a man by the name of Thomas was accused as an enemy of the country and was humiliated in the most cruellest ways. How did you feel about that?

WB: If the Colonists believed he was a traitor, they should of kicked him out of the village or country into Quebec or Nova Scotia. That way he could of left with his pride but instead they strip him of everything including his dignity until he apologized. He had apologized for believing that the British had done nothing wrong. That was low of the Thirteen Colonies.

C: You had mentioned earlier that you now live in Quebec. What had caused this move, your neighbours or yourself? 

WB: I was forced to go by my Patriot neighbours. I had travelled north by land. I was not as wealthy as some of the other Loyalists but thankfully not as poor as some. I had been a farmer before I left for Quebec. One of the things that I felt that Britain had done right was that they gave freedom to black loyalists who had been slaves before.

C: I have one last question. If you were to go back in time, would you keep your decision to side with the British or become a Patriot?

WB: What a difficult question. I think I would become a Loyalist instead of a Patriot. These countries could live without war and I strongly believe that Britain had done nothing wrong to us. These hardships that I had faced were well worth the fight.

C: Thank you for the interview and taking the time out of your day to meet me here.

WB: It was a pleasure.

Well that was an interesting article. I am completely on the Loyalist's side but I'm trying not to be biased in my articles (ohh did I mention, I still write them! I should post one soon. They're much better than the last one...). Anyways that's the latest news there. Many Loyalists came to Quebec. Yay! More people to meet. That means more interviews! That's all the news so far. I'll update you soon.

War ... yet again

Dear You,

It has been a little while! If living in the 1700's taught me something, it taught me that these people sure do love war. The Thirteen Colonies are ticked at the British. Ugh, when I finally think that there will be peace *sigh* but I do see a reason to be angry. But the British are not doing something greedy overall though. In fact, they are helping the Thirteen Colonies in a way. Honestly, I'm on both sides.

The British decided to pass a tax. Taxes are fine unless they're on paper. PAPER! For EVERY piece of printed paper they have to pay a tax. The only reason why I agree with them (the British) slightly is because the money gained goes to defending the colonies. Apparently that's not good enough for the Thirteen Colonies. They organized a boycott of British goods that they had to cancel out the other tax.(protest by rejecting goods or services). Wow. All I have to say is wow. They think a tax for paper is unfair (which it kinda is) even though all of the profits go to protecting THEM.

When Britain's paper tax failed, they decide to make yet ANOTHER tax on tea. My only thought for Britain is that if one paper tax fails, I doubt another tea tax would not be boycotted either. The colonists boarded British ships and dumped crates of tea into the harbour (thank goodness that the British got the idea that the colonists didn't LOVE the idea of taxes). And that's how the Boston Tea Party happened.

Last of all, the Ohio alley. The colonies had wanted Ohio Valley for decades. THE FIRST NATIONS WERE  ALREADY LIVING THERE. GIVE IT UP COLONISTS! Geez, I felt like I really had to say that. That sentence pretty much sums up the reason why I disagree with them. The only problem on the British part was that they were worrying too much about the French and the First Nations that they had not given the Colonists the same amount of land and rights.

All these reasons make sense for a person to be angry at Britain but war? Why is it always war that it ends with!? Well the Thirteen Colonies tried having Quebec and Nova Scotia join them but the colonists had no chance. The British are helping them with their laws so they have no reason to be angry at them right? Soon the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence. Poor Britain. They're still in no position to be in war right now especially them being broke and all ...

Oops! This letter seems a little long but I would of made it longer if i had the time. I have to go soon. I heard that people in the Thirteen Colonies defending Britain are being ... mistreated? Anyways, this will be big scoop. I have to get an interview! You know, just in case. I'll write soon (or soon enough anyways).

Love
Catherine

Quebec

October 17, 1774
Dear You,
Has it been a year already? Sorry I had not blogged in a little while but nothing really happened and I forgot about my phone. He he he....
Anyways, nothing had happened much this year. The French are a little more content with their lives now. The (former) Governor James Murray favoured them. It's hard not to because they are hardworking, brave people who will be very happy with very little. He gave them rights that made their lives easier BUT the shameless English merchants wouldn't stop complaining! Apparently any rights given to French is 'unfair'. I would understand if they viewed it as unfair if they had not already received their rights. NO! They are angry because they thought that because the French lost the war, they should get no rights!
Soon the Governor was sent back to England and Sir Guy Carleton replaced him and even HE favoured the French! The French had caused him less trouble than the merchants. And the merchants STILL manage to complain!
Carleton was afraid that they had to maybe fight the Thirteen Colonies. He thought it would be good if he was able to ally with the French so he recommended that Britain keep the French as happy as possible. And that caused the ... QUEBEC ACT!
OK I had written an article about it in what felt like forever! I might be a little rusty but here it is!

THE QUEBEC ACT

October 7, 1774. The Quebec Act was recently passed by the British Government. It hold many laws that will affect the whole population. This act has also cancelled out a law passed out a year earlier. Some key points of the Quebec Act are :

1. Quebec's boundaries is extended.
2. The colony was to follow French civil/property laws but the British criminal law.
3. French and the Roman Catholic church are allowed in Quebec.
4. The seigneurial land holding system would continue.

These laws are going to make positive changes inside a French Canadien's life. Hopefully changes like these will happen more often to make British North America a better place.

Sorry. I am a little out of shape with writing and such. Well that's all that has happened so far. Quite a boring year I suppose. I will update you soon with new news!

Love

Catherine

New Laws

October 8, 1763

Dear You,
How are you? I wonder if you're reading my blog ... Sorry the letter is so long. So much has happened here! Anyways, recently being in British North America is getting exciting. Just yesterday, Britain had issued a proclamation to organize the territories they had gained from the Treaty of Paris.
Britain is not in any better position than my last post (but thankfully the raids on their forts had stopped). Canadiens still not ENTIRELY happy (I found a letter on the ground this morning too. It was written by a young french citizen a little while ago (because it is full of old information). I'll post it at the bottom). They (Britain) have to try to make them content with how they are living right now otherwise it will become war and the British are in no position to have a war. They're still broke and don't have the money for another one.
Luckily for the French and the First Nations, a lot of the laws are good for them. Here are a few that I remembered:

1. British law was to be established in the colonies.
This law is not very good for the French because if they are to follow the British law, they have to give up their own. The promise to the French residents that they can keep their civil laws will be broken.

2. The governor was to organize a general assembly, which could include French Catholics, to help make laws for the colony.
Even though the French are losing rights, the British give them rights to compensate (which I think is totally fair!). In the rest of the British Empire, the Catholic people were not allowed to participate.

3. A large piece of land would be reserved for the First Nations. Only the British Crown would be allowed to negotiate the land. Any non-First Nations people would have to leave.
This law is so-so. I really like how they respected the First Nations (especially after the Ohio Valley incident). But I also didn't like how people who weren't First Nations had to leave. What!? They already lived there for Pete's sake! Can't land be shared anymore! The nerve!

OK. This is the French Canadien's letters (I believe it was a young boy).

Dear Journal,
I am now still in New France (It's name is now British North America but I prefer the old name). It has been a little while since the war has ended (France had lost)but I do not feel as if France was defeated. We still have the majority of people living here. We still have french culture and laws.
But still I am scared. I am worried that my family might have to go back to France and I just finally adjusted to my life in Quebec!
I had also heard about people moving into Ohio Valley. What troubled me was that the First Nations were still living there! *sigh* 
From Pierre


Love,
Catherine

Letters

Dear You,
Hey! I've been here for quite a bit now so I miss writing articles and letters so that's the format of these I guess! Sorry my last post/letter was so short. I had not updated for a little while now too ...

After the French had lost the war, Britain had started to rule over Quebec. I am fluent in French (not bragging or anything) so I spoke with some of the people. Right now I am staying with the French, living their lifestyles (who knows, maybe it will make a good article in the future!) and learning their way of life. But living in the past is still kind of scary.

Everybody here is not very happy. The French people are not quite satisfied with their ways of life right now because of the loss in the war and the new British leaders (but luckily they still get to keep their civil laws and culture and PLUS they outnumber the British) . The British are no better position either. Right now, their country is broke and they are faced with the problem of them having to take charge of thousands of unwelcoming Canadiens.

But they are not the only unhappy people. It also seems that the First Nations people are very ... annoyed? I had visited Ohio Valley earlier and spoke with some First Nations people. A lot of them feel that the British are treating them disrespectfully (which I totally agree too!) and they were expected to give up THEIR OWN lands. Some settlers literally went up to them and said that they were taking over their turf! The nerve! Rumours say that they are becoming allies to the leader of the Odawa First Nation and that together they are taking over British forts.

Well. That's all the news for now. I'll update you all with more news soon.

Love,
Catherine

The Beginning

I have had a horrible day.
It all started when a strange guy asked me if I wanted to travel back in time. It was just so intriguing. If it was a fake, I was strong. I could escape. But if it were to be real .... that would be a GREAT scoop (did I mention I was a reporter?)! I agreed. He took me into this abandoned warehouse and at the end stood this little closet. it was connected to many small wires and a supercomputer. The scary part was, it was glowing. I stepped inside and I felt like my soul was being sucked out of my body. At that moment, I passed out.

I soon gained consiousness. I was still inside the closet. Thank goodness, I thought, He was a fake after all. I stepped outside. That sense of relief lasted for about two seconds. I saw the thing I had expected the least. A war. I had not really payed attention in school during History but I could tell that it was The Seven Years' War. And the French are losing.