LAD/Blog #9: "Jefferson's First Inaugural Address"

Summarize Jefferson's First Inaugural Address
Paragraphs:
1.) Jefferson starts out by being humble about the fact that he has been elected to a great place of power, admitting that this role was above his talents, but would work hard to help the country reach its greatest potential, under his governing. He also stated that he would govern the people according to the Constitution and refer to it under any circumstances.
2.) He then moves on to the rights of the people. He points out that the nation will be governed according to the rules of the Constitution and that the people will unite in common efforts for the common good. Also, the will of the majority was to prevail in all cases, but the minority would have equal rights protected by equal laws and any violation of those laws would be considered oppression. He also points out that religious freedom was of great importance, and that "every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle." He also claims his belief that Federalism/Republicanism is the strongest government on earth.
3.) Jefferson then discussed how Federal and Republican principles are their "attachment to union and representative government." He also said that America had benefits from being naturally separated from other countries (by oceans, etc.), and would be able to keep their principles strong, without the presence of degradations of others. He also stated various blessings that the country possesses, such as freedoms and rights as well as being united as one nation. He believed that much more good would come from their good government.
4.) He moves on to discussing the most essential properties and principles of the government, specifically stating that it was not limited to these:

• Equal and exact justice to all men (no matter what their standing be, religiously or politically)
• Peace
• Commerce
• Honest friendship with all nations (entangling alliances with none)
• The support of State governments in all their rights
• The preservation of general government (in its whole, Constitutional vigor)
• A jealous care of the right of election by the people
• Absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority (the vital principle of the Republics)
• A well-disciplined militia (keep the peace)
• Supremacy of the civil over the military authority
• Economy in the public expense
• Honest payment of debts
• Sacred preservation of the public faith
• Encouragement of agriculture
• Diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public reason
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of the person under habaes corpus
• Trial by juries impartially selected

5.) He concludes by asking ahead of time for the mistakes he will make by defect of judgement, and asks for support against the errors of others (who would condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts). He also said that he hoped to maintain the respect and good opinion of the people who believed in him from the start and to be instrumental to the happiness and freedom of all.

LAD/Blog #8: "Columbus, Hero or Villain?"

 

Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
Columbus came to the Americas in 1492, with aid from Spain's fine crewmen and three sturdy ships (The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria). In elementary schools, kids are taught songs about Columbus, and how he discovered America (as well as great his discovery was). But, these teachers failed to teach his whole story. Columbus, in searching for a new trade route to Asia, only stumbled upon the Americas and its inhabitants. He mistreated these natives, conquering their land and taking advantage of them, as well as spreading diseases among these peoples, that had developed in Europe but not in the Americas (so the Natives didn't have immunity against them). Columbus also enslaved many natives, using them to his advantage, and not caring for their general needs and/or well-beings. Because of this, Columbus can be seen as a villain.

CBS provides an excellent article on this very topic:
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-5377741.html
AND
History Today provides an article as well:
http://www.historytoday.com/felipe-armesto/columbus-hero-or-villain

LAD/Blog #7: "The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793/Washington's Farewell Address 1796"

The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793

In this Proclamation, Washington addressed the war that was occurring between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain and the United Netherlands versus France. He stated that all citizens of the U.S. should avoid all actions that may contravene such disposition in any way, and that if they do commit such actions, they will not receive the protection of the United States. Anyone to commit those actions would also be prosecuted as a betrayer under the law of United States government.




Washington's Farewell Address 1796

Washington wrote this address to  inform the citizens of the fact that he would not wish to be re-elected for a third term as president, and why he had chosen not to do so. He informed the people that he didn't choose this path out of lack of respect for them, but because he wished to go into retirement. After his first term in office, he was reluctant to run again for the presidency. He had wanted to go into retirement then, instead of now. The reason he didn't go into retirement after his first term, was because he wanted to ensure the nation was in good standings before he left office, and in the state that the country was in, he couldn't stand to abandon his country. Washington also felt that could now retire because he had highly contributed to the organization and administration of the government, and the country was now stable enough to have a new president elected, and still be very successful with what he has laid out for the next leader. He also believed that the country was very strong and secure because each part of the country could depend on one another for trading and success. He also made it clear that he believed in the unity of the states as a whole, and expressed the need for the country to stay united, no matter what may happen. He also believed that if the states stuck with what they believed in, and maintained their good morals, they wouldn't fail. He also portrayed his belief in the quality of the Constitution, and how important he believed it was to follow it. He warned of people who did not beleive in the Constitution, because those people could ruin the country's unity, and become the cause of riots and unrest throughout the states. In the last few lines of his address, he made sure to acknowledge the importance of the country remaining neutral, concluding with his belief in the good laws that had been set under a free government.

LAD/Blog #6: "Republican Motherhood"

1.) The Revolutionary War was important to the development of a Republican Motherhood, because the revolution brought about a strong feeling of pride for their country, or patriotism. Women were given the important job of bringing up their children and giving them a proper education so that future generations would be of the highest quality that they could be. This was referred to in Document A.
2.) The consequences of women because of the Republican Motherhood, were the pressures that women faced in order to raise their children in a 'legitimate sphere' and to educate their children to be the future leaders and soldiers, as referred to in Document A. Also, the women were judged as to to degree of education they were given, to see if they could give a good enough education to their children (Document B). Another pressure put on the women was the fact that Jonathan Stearns believed that the future of the nation now lay in the hands of its women (Document D).
3.) Women's Socialization increased due to the Republican Motherhood, because they were more knowledgeable and could therefore carry on conversation of higher intellect with their male counterparts. In Document D, it is brought about that women had power not only inside the walls of their household, but among society as well. It also became that women had the greatest power of all over society and the people of the Americas.

 

1.) The setting of this piece, is almost that of a home. It seems to be set in the living room of the household because of the togetherness of the family.

2.) The women is the center of this portrait. The women looks relaxed and caring. She doesn't look aristocratic on this painting because she seems more relaxed and less controlling than someone of an aristocracy. She seems that she has been treated with equality, but has not been given total control.

3.) Her sons exhibit knowledge, poise, respect, and a good upbringing. They seem to have been disciplined in a way that made them well behaved, yet not completely unchildlike in the way they are composed. The baby seems more innocent and lively in the movement of his arms, as well as displaying his youth in not knowing correct posture at this point in his life.
4.) Mrs. Tilgham's arm seems to be positioned in order to protect her son. She seems to be securing the baby, so that he won't fall or try to get away, as well as asserting her power over them as a mother. She also displays a sense of pride that she has in her sons, and the high-quality education that she has given to them in their upbringing.

LAD/Blog #5: "The Federalist #10"

1.) Factions are so difficult to eliminate because in order to eliminate them, the liberty of the people would have to be eliminated.
2.) Factions could be controlled by having the government become a Republic.

LAD/Blog #4: "Revolution Article"

5 things I learned from the article: "Rethinking the Revolution"
1.) Today, many see the War of Independence in America as a less demanding/painful/costly/vital war than the Civil War.
2.) Founding Fathers were among the first to recognize that history could be used to manipulate how the past would be remembered.
3.) Supposedly, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin conducted all the policy negotiations, legislatures, and war.
4.) For the Civil War, the most remembered people were military men, whereas in the American Revolution, those most remembered were civilian leaders.
5.) Suffering during the Revolutionary War and WWI was downplayed, because of the much greater amounts of lives lost to WWII and the Civil War.

LAD/Blog #3: "Declaration of Independence"

1.) Some democratic principles included in the Declaration of Independence are: that all men are created equal, that all people have certain unalienable rights, and that governments are instituded among men, while getting those powers from the consent of the governed.
2.) Some grievances listed in Declaration include, "He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" and "He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them."
3.) In the conclusion of the Declaration of Independence, the representatives of the United States of America solemnly published and declared that the United Colonies had the right to be free and independent states and to be removed from the powerful hands of the British crown.