LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

Washington's Farewell Address:  Washington's first point it to help the American people understand why he must retire.  He believes it is time for someone else to contribute his ideas to the country and maybe someone with more experience and education than him.  He also tries to tell citizens that he has done everything to better the country in office that he could have done.  This is followed by a very sincere thank you for the opportunity he was given to be leader of this new country.He then moves on to his recommendations and warnings for the future, beginning with that of the importance of unity.  Washington says that the unity of this nation is the key to individual happiness and that patriotism must be continued for the good of the US.  He then goes on to warn the states that without each other they could not prosper, or really even function.  The most important thing in the future is that the North, South, East and West remain united.  A government for all of the states is necessary, the country will not survive with alliances between different areas.  He also stresses that the Constitution must be obeyed by all citizens because although the people have the power, they were the ones to establish the government, so all must respect the government.  In addition he warns citizens to thoroughly think through any changes that they may choose to make to the Constitution.  Washington's biggest warning though is probably that which addresses political factions.  HE believes that political factions will lead to men thinking for the benefit of themselves which will lead to the destruction of the sense of unity that holds the country together.  He also stresses the importance of keeping a balance of power in government.  Another warning he gives citizens is to cherish public credit but to use it sparingly.  He talks about how maintaining peace and harmony with other nations is very important to the US's survival.  His belief is that the US should not become politically involved with other countries, but they should become commercially involved with many countries to further the economy.  In giving the citizens this advice Washington hopes that they will carry on with peace and prosperity even when a new president is put in office.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality:  In this document Washington focuses on what the US policy will be in response to war in Europe between many powerful countries.  He states that the US will adopt a policy of neutrality and that all US citizens should avoid any action that interferes with this policy.  He also makes clear that any citizen who does take action against any of the countries at war will not be protected by the US from then on.  This along with the fact that there will be punishments for interfering led to many citizens quickly abiding by this new policy.

Republican Motherhood Blog

Republican Motherhood:

1.  The Revolutionary War brought about a period of great pride in the American people.  This led them to start to worry about later generations as shown in Document A.  Americans needed to be sure that this sense of pride in America was passed on to later generations.  This task was left to the American women and without the Revolutionary sense of patriotism women may have never gained this important duty.

2.  The Republican Motherhood led to a lot more pressure and responsibility for women in the US.  In document A it is made clear that a woman's domestic duties come before everything else.  A woman's only duty in life is to raise and enlighten children to become patriotic Americans.  According to Document B they were also now expected to have a certain degree of education to qualify them to raise good American citizens.  To be looked at as qualified to be an American women they had to have a knowledge of language, geography, figures, bookkeeping and good handwriting. Women were not used to having to be so educated so this was an important change.  To make it even more intimidating, in Document D Jonathan Stearns explains that the destiny of the nation depends on the women.

3.  Republican Motherhood helped to socialize women first by educating them more than ever before.  Due to their new level of knowledge they were looked at differently in society, in a better light. Men were more comfortable talking to them about important issues.  In Document D it actually states that a woman's power is not contained in the house.  In the document it is brought up that women also have complete control over society and social life.

 

 



1.  The setting in this portrait is very neutral and looks like it may be furniture from a living room.  Although it looks somewhat like a home it also looks as if the woman has become important and has moved on from the home.

 

2.  The woman is in the center of the portrait because she is the head of the household and she has control of the family.  The woman looks important and also not overly made up.  She is showing a more natural and everyday look.  This also makes her look less aristocratic, she has little make up and is wear a fairly average dress.  

 

3.  Her sons show a love for brotherhood, especially the boy on the left.  The boy on the left also shows a respect for living things and they both show poise.

 

4.  Yes, her arm looks almost as if it is protecting the boys which represents her position of importance in their lives and education.

 



LAD #5: Federalist #10

Federalist #10                                                                    

1. Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?  It is human nature to form opinions on different issues, and these opinions often become filled with passion.  This leads people to find other people who have the same opinions and discuss with them, thus creating political factions.  One topic that has often led to disagreement in the past is the uneven distribution of property.   Men who do not own property will almost always have different opinions then men who do.  This also leads to the questioning of legislature.  If men want things that will be of good to themselves and people like them, then if there is a majority of people who live one way the laws passed will often go to help people like them.

2.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?  One way to control factions is to not let a faction with the majority have all the power.  Keep power balanced even if there is an obvious majority in one faction.  Some politicians believe that if all men were equal in right then there would be no factions because they would have the same opinions and passions.  Also, such opinions filled with so much passion are very unlikely to spread throughout a country or even a state.  Most opinions do not take over an area larger than a county or district.

Blog #4- Revolution Article

                                                                                 
Revolution Article:                                                                        Battle of King's Mountain

1.) After the Revolution, in Boston, the Elite tried to downplay the role of the city's peoples roles in majors revolts leading to the revolution.  They were confronted by labor movement by the working class, so they gave a false history that minimized the role of the Boston working class in a protest against the Stamp Act and also the Boston Tea Party.

2.)  Washington did little to commemorate the cruelty of the war and the many deaths that it brought.  He unlike Lincoln never really said anything remarkable regarding the war and he also never requested a date or anything to be remembered in honor of the war or it's battles.

3.)  Many loyalists were taken into brutality following their capture especially at King's Mountain.  There loyalists were marched into captivity but many were murdered on the march.  Once they had arrived several loyalists were executed after being put on trial.

4.)  During the Revolutionary War, the American civilians were deeply affected by disease and battle.  Many civilians died of diseases that were spread throughout the colonies by both British and American troops.  Civilians were also killed by British home invasions that ruined homes, plantations, and other buildings.  Brutal Indian attacks are also to blame for countless civilian lives.

5.)  After the British had surrendered, many loyalists were punished harshly for their betrayal.  State governments confiscated their land and property.  Some states even decided to banish specific loyalists for their actions.

LAD #3: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence                    

1.)  The introduction of the Declaration of Independence centers around the fact that all men are created equal and they all have certain rights that they cannot be denied.  It goes on to explain that if a government is restricted these rights of men that they have a right to dispose of the government.  The people have the right to overthrow a government which does not have their best interests in mind and does not fit their needs.  If this is true of a government the men must overthrow it and replace it with a government that does fit the needs of it's people.  The introduction closes by stating that Britain has taken advantage of the colonies in this manner and it will not be tolerated.

2.)  The Declaration of Independence includes many grievances of the colonists but some are exceptionally important.  They complained that the King did not pass laws that were necessary in the colonies nor did he allow the governors to.  He has interfered with the colonists right to a representative body because of their protest of his actions.  Colonists said that even in times of peace the King kept his standing armies, made colonists provide them a place to stay, and protecting them from murder charges that were committed against Americans.  The King cut off colonists trade with other countries and imposed taxes on them without their consent.  He had taken away the colonist's charters and suspended their legislatures.  The colonists also believe that the King had evoked the Indians to attack colonists and had not done anything to stop it.

3.)  To close the Declaration of Independence they explain that they have tried to end these practices before but they are never addressed by the King and that the King's actions are those of a tyrant.  The colonists explain that they did not want to fight with the British but they have been ignored and therefore they must separate from Britain.  To finish they declare the colonies to be free and independent states with no obligations to the King.  The colonies have the power to rule their own country and they pledge their lives to one another.

LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

John Peter Zenger Trial                                                         
                                                                                              Burning of the New York Weekly Journal

1. Who was John Peter Zenger? John Peter Zenger was a German immigrant living in New York when Governor William Cosby took office.  Zenger soon took interest in Cosby's oppressive nature and, when offered the job, became the printer and editor of the New York Weekly Journal.  This newspaper soon became the voice of opposition to Governor Cosby which led him to arrest Zenger.
2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.  Zenger was charged with Seditious libel by the Governor.  Hamilton did agree that Zenger's stories were seditious seeing as they did criticize Governor Cosby.  But Hamilton argued that Zengers statements were not libel because they were true.  The jury agreed that these statements were true and therefore not libel so they returned with a verdict of not guilty.
3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?  It is likely that this case had an important role in the beginning of free speech.  The verdict showed that American people had the right to share their thoughts with others in a public way.  It also eventually led to the addition of free speech to the constitution and the importance of this concept to the American identity.
4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.  This case proved that people of significant power could not arrest others just because they had something bad to say. It also proved that authority figures could not hide their corruption because the American people had the right to expose their wrongs.  Overall it solidified the right of the common people to express discontent with a superior.

LAD #1 Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of CT

1.)What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?  One concept that the Mayflower Compact contains is that of a united civil body that is established for the good of the people. It is clear that the men who wrote this agreement agreed that they would be better off in the new world if they had the support of each other instead of going about life on their own. Another important concept discussed in the document is that of complete obedience to the mother country, England, and King James.  It is emphasized that everything these settlers do is in honor of the King and their main goal is to please him.

2.)How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?  The Mayflower Compact clearly reflects an attachment to the "Old" world in speaking of the King and their loyalty to England.  This attachment is also shown through the importance of the church in their minds when creating a civilized colony.  The Mayflower Compact also reflects an attachment to the "New" world simply in making a colony that is although partially governed by the king, is somewhat self-governed also. The fact that they include equal rights in the document proves "New" world tendencies.

3.)How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?  The most prominent difference in the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is the much more extensive detail.  This document includes many very specific laws that were of great importance to the people of the colony.  These descriptive laws most likely made it much easier to succeed in establishing a stable colony which may explain why Connecticut was successful while Plymouth was not.

4.)What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?  The colonists believed that in order to maintain peace and please god an orderly government needed to be established.  By forming a written constitution it gave everyone the same set of laws that needed to be obeyed to establish a strong colony.  They also wanted to be sure that not only themselves but their descendants would stand together and be united for the common good of the people.

5.)In what significant way(s) does the Fundamental Orders reflect a fear of and safeguard against the usurping of power by one person or a chosen few?  One way the Fundamental Orders reflected fear of too much power was by restricting governors to only one term every two years. This was established so that no one governor could hold power for an excessive amount of time.  Another way the Fundamental Orders restricted power was by giving the people greater power as a whole than that which was given to the governor and the magistrates. In the case of a disagreement between the authority figures and the freemen, the freemen would have the right to take control and the right to the use of a general court.

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