In 1860 and 1861, eleven southern states decided to secede (break away) from the
United States and form their own government. It was called the Confederate States of
America. Richmond, Virginia was made their capital. Congress declared war on April
14, 1861 for the purposes of preserving the Union. The first shots of the Civil War were
fired two days earlier at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
The war that ensued was long and deadly. Over 500,000 soldiers were killed, by far,
more than any other war in American history. Both the north and the south won many
major victories. Many battles proved inconclusive. The northern side, however, had
more people and supplies. The turning point in the war occurred between July 1-3 of
1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was the only time the south waged a major battle
on northern soil (not including battles fought in border states). The Union (Northern)
army was victorious and drove the Confederates back to Virginia.
In 1864, the Confederate Army was further weakened. Union forces had cut the
Confederacy in two separate parts by taking over the Mississippi River and the port of
New Orleans. Robert E. Lee's army was also under constant attack from Union general
Ulysses S. Grant throughout Virginia. Finally, after Union forces invaded the
Confederate capital of Richmond, the Confederate States of America were forced to
surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The war was over and
the Union was preserved.
Taken from: http://mrnussbaum.com/civil_war_main_idea/
8 Reading "Starfish"
Starfish, sometimes called sea stars, are found in all of the world's oceans, even in the
icy Arctic Ocean. They are a kind of ocean invertebrate, which means they lack
backbones. All starfish have at least five arms, but some have more. Many kinds of
starfish can re-grow arms that are bitten off by predators. Starfish can be dull or
colorful and come in many different sizes. Scientists believe there are more than 1,500
types of starfish.
Starfish attack and eat other invertebrates. Some starfish, however, are harmful to
undersea communities because they eat special kinds of coral or fish. Starfish are
rarely eaten by humans because their bodies are bony and taste bad. Humans often
use them as ornaments or collectibles.
Taken from: http://mrnussbaum.com/starfish-reading-comprehension/
9 Reading “Mother of the Modern-Day Civil
Rights Movement”
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (1913 – 2005) was an African American civil rights activist
and seamstress whom the U.S. Congress dubbed the “Mother of the Modern-Day Civil
Rights Movement”.
Parks is famous for her refusal on December 1, 1955 to obey bus driver James Blake’s
demand that she relinquish her seat to a white man. Her subsequent arrest and trial
for this act of civil disobedience triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the
largest and most successful mass movements against racial segregation in history, and
launched Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the organizers of the boycott, to the forefront
of the civil rights movement. Her role in American history earned her an iconic status
in American culture, and her actions have left an enduring legacy for civil rights
movements around the world.
As a child, Rosa became aware of the segregation which was deeply embedded in
Alabama. She experienced deep rooted racism, and became aware of the different
opportunities faced by white and black children. She also recalls seeing a Klu Klux Klan
march go past her house – where her father stood outside with a shotgun. Due to the
Jim Crow laws, most black voters were effectively disenfranchised.
In 1932, she married Raymond Parks, a barber from Montgomery. He was active in the
NAACP and Rosa Parks became a supporter helping with fund-raising and other
initiatives. She attended meetings defending the rights of black people and seeking to
prevent injustice.
Taken from: http://www.biographyonline.net/people/famous-100.html
Louis Pasteur was born in Dole, Eastern France. He was a conscientious and hard
working student, though not considered exceptional. One of his professors called him
‘mediocre’. He received a doctorate in 1847 and after obtaining posts at Strasbourg,
Lille and Paris he spent much time researching aspects of Chemistry.
His most important discoveries were in the field of germ study. He showed that germs
required certain micro-organisms to develop; using this knowledge he found that the
fermentation of yeast could be delayed. Louis Pasteur then turned to practical ways of
killing bacteria in liquids such as milk. His process of pasteurisation successfully killed
bacteria in milk without destroying milk protein. This was a radical discovery and made
drinking milk safe. The process of pasteurisation was named after him and it saved
many lives.
Louis Pasteur next created a cure for anthrax – a disease that mainly affects cattle. He
found that by giving cattle a weakened form of the illness they were able to develop
immunity to the illness.
This success encouraged him to develop a cure for rabies – a very common disease at
the time.
Louis Pasteur had great faith in the good nature of humans. He worked tirelessly to
deliver real benefits for the treatment of infectious diseases. More than any other
person, Louis Pasteur helped to increase the life expectancy of man in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth Century.
Taken from: http://www.biographyonline.net/people/famous-100.html
14 Reading "Pele"
Pele is the most iconic footballer of the twentieth Century. He epitomised the flair, joy
and passion the Brazilians bought to the game.
Pele’s career spanned throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
In his early career, the young and unknown Pele helped inspire Brazil to victory in the
1958 World Cup. In 1962, Brazil retained the World Cup. In 1966, Brazil were hot
favourites, but, lost out to the home nation England.
His crowing glory was the Brazilian victory in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. In this
world cup, some of the football played by Brazil and Pele was widely considered to the
greatest in the history of the game. Brazil won the final 4-1 against Italy; it was a
genuine advertisement for the ‘beautiful game’ and a fitting pinnacle of Pele’s
international career.
Pele went on to score over 1,000 goals in professional games. (The 1000th goal
coming as a penalty in the US league sparking celebrations around the world). His
strike rate in international games was one of the highest ever. In 92 appearances, he
scored 77 goals.
In the domestic league, Pele made his debut for Santos aged just 16. He played for
Santos in the Brazilian league from until the 1972-73 season.
Pele finished his career in the lucrative US league. In 1975, he signed for New York
Cosmos and played three seasons. He led the New York Cosmos to the US title in 1977
– the year of his retirement.
After retiring has gone onto be a great ambassador for football and sport in general. In
1992, Pelé was appointed a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment. He was
also appointed a UNESCO goodwill ambassador. He is not only one of the most gifted
footballers of his generation, but, also a mild mannered man who used his fame and
prestige for a positive effect.
Taken from: http://www.biographyonline.net/people/famous-100.html