LAD/Blog #8: Washington's Farewell Address

Summary:

Washington's speech is after the American people wanted him to run for a third term for president. He declined, setting a precedent, but in his farewell address, warns the American people about the struggles to come in the future, and some broad goals of America that should always be kept in mind.

Three points:

• Abstain from getting involved with foreign affairs and wars when possible

• Keep religious thought separate from government affairs and ideals

• Allow amendments to the Constitution to occur when necessary, in order to satisfy changing needs in America

Washington's Farewell Address

This reminds me of Andrew Jackson's Farewell Address, as it contains similar warnings found in Washington's Farewell Address.

LAD/Blog #7: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Summary:

The Proclamation of Neutrality (1783), being America's first foreign policy, states that the United States shall stay neutral and passive if two other powers such as Prussia and Great Britain engage in a war and ask for U.S. intervention (pretty much neutral in foreign affairs). Washington also warns against any fellow American trying to help an abroad power, threading criminal punishment as well.

This reminds me of the U.S. policy of neutrality during WWII before the Pearl Harbor attack, as American tried to stay neutral until they were forced to get involved in the war.

Proclamation of Neutrality 

LAD/Blog #6: Federalist Paper #10

1.  What is a faction?

A faction is an organization of people that share the same interest or political belief, in this case, factions are potential hazards to others in the community. Being unified and numerous, they have a voice and power over other organizations and the government, similar to a labor union.

2.  Are factions good or bad? 

A faction can be good in order to protect the rights of the individual and not have the government infringe upon these natural rights, but they can be bad if their interests jeopardize the public safety of others, being radical with destructive methods. They can be for good or for bad, but #10 refers more to the situation a bad faction introduces, and the problems involved with these groups.  

3.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

Factions are difficult to eliminate, as if they have enough followers, this gives them power, and possibly more than what the government can handle for. If the faction is numerous enough, taking out a group of the members won't end the faction at all, just like cutting off the head of a hydra. Also, the act of eliminating a faction can be seen as a violation of the 1st amendment and liberty, within the U.S. constitution. 

4.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?

Controlling the factious leaders could help control the faction as a whole if the leader is a respected figurehead within the organization. If the government can influence the factious leader its proposition, its effects would likely spread well into the organization.

This reminds me of labor unions during the Progressive Era, as both types of groups had to fight to obtain their agenda.

Federalist Paper #10

Blog #5: Republican Motherhood

1.      What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?

The Revolutionary War greatly influenced Republican Motherhood, as after the movement for independence, Women's pride also accompanied this motion. Along with the growing sense of a new identity, women felt a new sense of importance in the household, to raise their children properly, one's containing the American Identity. (C)

2.     What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?

Mothers, with their increased significance, had more pressure imposed on them to raise the next generation of Americans properly, unlike before, with patriotic Republican ideals instilled within them. Hence, if a child did not fit these values, the mother would be chastised and gone after. (D)

3.     What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process women’s socialization?

Republican Motherhood gave mothers a reformed, more valued place in society. With this gain of power, this set the trend in the direction of the women's right movements, as women's socialization increased around this time period, and continued to increase as time went on.

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons by Charles Willson Peale (1789)    

1.      Describe the setting.

A mother (possibly younger) and two of her sons that are dressed in dresses sit on their sofa at home.

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she republican” rather than aristocratic?

Mary Gibson Tilghman is at the center of the portrait, possibly because she is the eldest and wisest, at the center and core of her sons lives. The women seems young and very pale, possibly being somewhat artificial to showcase post-colonial values. She is republican, as she does not wear expensive jewelry, but rather a bland dress.

3.     What values do her sons exhibit?

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Tilghman's sons exhibit dependency on their mother, as the son on the left reaches for his mothers arm. They also seem well-mannored, as they smile and sit in a well presented position for the portrait.

4.     Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham’s arm?

Her arm holds one of her sons secure on her lap, possibly representing his lack of freedom and restraint from his mother, making him more dependent to her in the future. It could also symbolize protection from Tilghman, as she may try to protect their innocence. 

This reminds me of the women's right movement in the 1910's (Alice Paul pictured), as both occurrences gave an increased sense of unity to American Females, and more authority.

Blog #4: Rethinking the Revolution

5 things I learned:

I like the argument this writer is making about how the Revolutionary war was more brutal than the Civil War.

• I didn't know that the Revolutionary War was America's longest declared war, for eight years. Also the US Military death ratio's surprised me between the Civil and Revolutionary wars, with 1 to 4 from the Revolutionary war and 1 to 5 in the Civil War. Although it is still true that more Americans died in the civil war, compared to the population during the Revolutionary war, the ratio of American deaths was higher, which shocked me. 
• I learned that many of the Revolutionary war paintings gave an inaccurate representation of the war, being censored/sanitized from the actual violence and gore contained in the conflict.
• I am surprised of the harsh treatment the loyalists were faced with at King's mountain. They were forced to march, and it even got to a point where the continental commander had to restrain the slaughtering of the prisoners. Many of the rebel captives were skewered to death, which I found surprising. 
• I am very surprised by the hardships that George Washingtons army faced during winter at Valley Forge. Many of the soldiers were so hungry that they consumed pet dogs, and made a soup from boiled shoes and melted candles. Also, the lack of clothing surprised me, with many men being naked, and in Nathanael Greene's army, around 1/2 to 2/3 were left naked during the struggle for survival.
• The statistic that an American prisoner during the revolutionary war had a 50/50 chance of survival shocked me, as I did not expect that many of the captured prisoners to die. This exceeded any prisoner death count contained in the Civil war.

This reminds me of the Donner party out west, as when nature threw its wrath, they had to resort to cannibalism, like how the Revolutionary army in Valley Forge had to eat shoe candle soup.

Revolutionary War painting of Washington crossing the Delaware

LAD/Blog #3: Declaration of Independence

1.  List the democratic principles discussed in the opening.

The Declaration of Independence states in its opening that all men are created equal, and that the government needs the consent of the governed, so if things were to go to the worse, the people have to right to alter it, and institute a new government. It also states that the unalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Much of what is stated here is based of the enlightenment philosopher John Locke. 

2.  List 5 grievances the colonists were making the King aware of.

• The king quartered armed troops into their homes, violated their personal privacy.
• The king cut off international trade from the colonies.
• The king imposed unjustified taxes upon the colonies.
• The king has overlocked laws for the wholesome public good.
• The king has left standing opposing armies in times of peace.
• The king has taken away the colonies charters.

3.  Summarize what the final paragraph is saying.

The last paragraph states that the US has the right to be a free and independent state from Britain, and that they demand all political connections between the US and Britain to be dissolved. Pretty much, they are demanding their freedom, with God's help, because of the rights violated under British colonial rule.

This reminds me of the confederate states declaration of secession (this one being Mississippi), because both documents contain the same idea of one state declaring independence from its original state.

Image of the original Declaration

LAD/Blog #2: Peter Zenger

1.)    Who was Peter Zenger?

A skilled printer for the New-York Weekly Journal that took part in accusing the corrupt Cosby administration of tyranny and violence. The Governor tried him for seditious libel, but he was later acquitted.

2.)   What was the controversy over his charges?

Zenger was being charged for seditious libel, but many of the facts he published were highly accurate and true, not lies to promote an unjust uprising against Governor Cosby.  Also, judges De Lancey and Philispe were allies of Cosby, possibly being biased towards the trial.

3.)   What influence did his case have on American governmental traditions?

This trial was the foundation of the first amendment, freedom of the press. It also helped progress justice in the court system, as the truth was a substantial defense against seditious libel.

4.)   What is the lasting significance of his trial?

Learnings from the trial are embodied in the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Sedition act of 1798, to protect against corruption in the American political system. To add on, the juries power in the trial became reinforced against the judge, having executive power.

Sketch of Peter Zenger

The Zenger trial reminds me of the Bill of rights, as it incorporates the idea of freedom of the press in its 1st amendment, a key understanding for the trial.

A depiction of the Peter Zenger Trial
 

LAD/Blog #1: Mayflower Compact/Fundamental Orders of CT

What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

An outlying theme on the Compact is its democratic attributes. The Compact emphasizes equal laws and fairness throughout. Also, another theme in the compact is its religious aspects, as the authors of it proclaim the glory of God, and have deep foundations of their beliefs contained in Christianity.

How does the Mayflower Compact reflect an attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?

It reflects the Old World, as they are very attached to their king, being loyal to him, and staying religious with their Christianity. But, the Compact reflects the new world, with its emphasis on equality, and a government with its people's approval.

How did the fundamental orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is an evolved version of the Mayflower Compact. While the Compact is just an agreement between the colonists for cooperation and prosperity, the Fundamental Orders takes the next step up and specifies positions of power in government, and what powers these positions have.

What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written constitution?

The colonists wanted to protect the river towns, and to deter persecution of certain groups, hoping that the fundamental orders would protect each everyone's individual rights.

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?

The Orders limits the power of its political positions, having an early form of checks and balances. For example, the Governor is not allowed to hold his position for more than two years.

Reminds me of U.S. Constitution, having similar democratic elements of the other two documents.

What the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut look like

The signing of the Mayflower Compact

GOOD WORD AL!