Surviving the Civil War.

By: Sabrina, Kyle, Cameron, and Jace.

It is the year 1861, you are a young slave in Virginia named Theodore Leeroy Jenkins. You were bought a few years ago, when you were just fifteen years old, by a rich white man named, Ezra Kensington. You work on a huge plantation, along with other slaves. By February, Alabama and a few other states seceded from the Union because they wanted their own state rights, as well as wanting to keep slavery. President Abraham Lincoln was just inaugurated on the 4th of March. He was officially the sixteenth president of the United States of America. You’ve heard stories that people were out to assassinate him before he got a chance to take control of the United States government. He had to be surrounded by military force in Washington, D.C., led by Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott. You hope this means he will fight for the end of slavery, as well as bring the states back together again. Master Kensington is very against Lincoln being president, he says that Lincoln's beliefs may lead to a war since the country seems to be divided. He also says Lincoln is against slavery and he wants a strong federal government, which is what the South does not want. He believes the use of slaves builds the economy, it keeps the flow of cotton and other agricultural going.
Today is April 14th. The state you are currently in, Virginia, has just seceded from the Union on the 4th of April. You hear Master Kensington and his wife, Annie Kensington, talking about an attack on Fort Sumter in North Carolina just a few days before by the Confederate States Army. The Southern States have officially started the Civil War. "The war has officially started, dividing our country," you hear Mrs. Kensington say, "Who knows what could happen now.” You begin to have a little hope, could this bring change to the country? Master Kensington says, “I am glad we started this war, we need to fight for our rights as states.”
It is now July 23rd. You are working in the field and you overhear two other young slaves talking. You notice they’re talking about the war, so you decide to listen in. “I thought Lincoln would bring a change to our country and possibly free us,” you hear one say, you think his name is Kitch. “Are you not still hopeful? This war might be good for us!” says the other one, Isaac. “You didn’t hear? Just yesterday Congress passed a resolution saying that the war isn’t to abolish slavery, but to preserve the Union! Maybe they aren’t even thinking about our freedom, they aren’t fighting for us.” You stop what you’re doing and think for a second, they aren’t going to free you. You will be owned for the rest of your life. A few minutes later, “Hey, hey,” you hear someone say as you look up, it’s one of the guys who was just talking. His voice turns into a low whisper, as he looks around to make sure no one else can hear, “Did you hear about the resolution?” You nod. He continues, “Some other slaves on the plantation and I decided we should try to escape to the North. It might be our only chance at some freedom. We leave in two days, you in?”
Two days later, it is almost sunset and you know the slaves leave at nightfall. You continuously work, and you think about your decision. What could happen? You decide to run away, then you get caught and brought back to the plantation just to get beaten? How will you pass as a free man? Is it worth it? On the other hand, if you stay on the plantation you might never get a taste of freedom, which you so desperately crave. This might be a huge decision for you, but you only have a few hours to make it. What will you do?
Chance to escape.
Stay as a slave.