LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

The address begins with Washington thanking everyone for their support. He reveals that he won't be running for president for a third term, a decision that makes a 2 term presidential length the precedent until after FDR. He felt he had done enough for the country, and made the decision based on personal reasons, not political. He had some advice to leave with the people. He spoke about how unity must be held very dear to the Americans. It is the "main pillar...of your real independence." He also warned the people about the dangers of factions and political parties. He believed that they would distract the people and government from the more important matters. They would pit fellow Americans against each other and only cause unrest. Finally, he wished that his Proclamation of Neutrality, published 3 years earlier, continue. He wants the United States to remain neutral during other conflicts going on in Europe.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality, written in 1793, states that the United States will be impartial to all countries, regardless of whether or not they were in war at the time. He also warns the Americans to not aid or hinder these powers. If they do, they "will not receive the protection of the United States." All in all, the proclamation was stating that the United States would remain neutral to all countries, not showing any partiality.

LAD #5: Federalist #10

1.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

Factions are difficult to eliminate because people who have the same set of beliefs and ideas often congregate together. Factions are "sown in the nature of  man." It is difficult for the government to control this natural organization of people, without taking away natural liberties.

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

To control factions, the effects of them must be controlled. Minority factions, being the minority, will not stand against majority factions. To control this, the majority faction should be prevented from oppressing the minority. 

Republican Motherhood Blog

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood? Republican Mothers have the responsibility to raise their sons to be the next generation of men. American soldiers during the Revolutionary War fought to defend their lives and the liberty of the American people. Over time, new generations can often forget what happened over the course of the war, as they were not born to witness it. A Republican Mother's role was to teach her sons about the soldiers that were in the war and how they fought to defend their values (Doc. C).

2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women? Women became more confined to the household as "That woman should regard home as her appropriate domain is not only the dictate of religion, but of enlightened human reason (Doc. A)." It became her duty, not only to God but also to her country, to stay in the home.
 

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women’s socialization?  Setting the stage for the process of women's socialization, Republican Mothers gained much more respect. In order to teach their son's about the history of their country, they could now be educated in those matters as well (Doc. B). "The solidity and stability of the liberties of your country rests with you," as it was believed that without these women, the knowledge of the country being passed on to further generations wouldn't be possible (Doc. C).

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

1. Describe the setting. Mary Gibson Tilghman is sitting on a couch in a mostly plain and empty room. Her two sons are sitting on her lap. 

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 centered in the portrait as she now runs the house. She is in charge of regular household duties along with the education of her sons, giving her some authority. She looks very poised and also proud. It seems as though there is light radiating off her skin. She is more "republican" rather than "aristocratic" because her clothing is more modest and less flashy. She looks more down to earth and homey, rather than being done up with makeup.

3. What values do her sons exhibit? Her sons appear to be very young. Even so, they seem to be very mature. The fact that they are able to sit still, or so it seems, for the painting of this portrait is very impressive. They appear to be well dressed, and like their mother they seem proud.

4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham’s arm? Mrs. Tilgham's arm is draped over her son's lap. This asserts that she has power over him. It also shows that she will be significant in their growing up and learning to be well fit men of society. Her arm also represents her role as a mother in that she will protect him in life.

Blog #4 - Revolution Article

List 5 things you learned after reading "Rethinking the Revolution" by John Ferling

1. The Revolutionary War was not a particularly horrendous war - didn't have an exceedingly large death toll. Few civilians were injured or killed and there wasn't widespread suffering.

2. The Civil War started as a war and became a revolution. The War of Independence started as a revolution and became a war. This is important because to those in the Revolutionary era, war and breaking from the monarchy was unheard of at the start of the Revolution. On the contrary, the Civil War was a fight to save the Union from the beginning.

3. Besides Abe Lincoln, the best remembered members of the Civil War were all military men - Generals Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Stonewall Jackson. That differs completely from the best remembered members of the Revolutionary War - Ben Franklin, Jon Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock.

4. Unconsciously, the next generation of Americans (post Independence era) downplayed the significance of the Revolutionary War because the Civil War had six times as many people perish. This also occurred with the "Great War" (WWI) to WWII. When World War II came around, it was a greater war than  WWI, and many people in the new generation forgot how terrible the first World War truly was.


5. During the Revolutionary War, the British were never forced to overcome such large hardships as the Patriots had to. For example, when the Americans who invaded Canada ran so short of food, they consumed pet dogs and made a soup form boiled shoes and melted candles. George Washington wrote many times that his men were nearly naked, not having many clothes, and leaving bloody footprints on the snow because they didn't have shoes.

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

1. democratic principles

The Declaration of Independence outlines basic democratic principles, or unalienable rights, that the new nation was going to uphold. All men are created equal and all men have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It states that governments are created in order to secure these rights among the people. The government derives it's power from the "consent of the governed." This means that the people give up some of their rights in order to be governed. If a government becomes too catastrophic, it is the right of the people "to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." 

2. list a handful of grievances

He refused to approve laws necessary for the public good and repeatedly dissolved representative houses. He quartered large bodies of armed troops, cut of trade with the rest of the world, and took away many charters. He protected the quartered troops from any punishment for murders they committed while in the colonies. He plundered their seas, burned their towns, and destroyed the lives of their people. He taxed without their consent. 


3. the conclusion

The conclusion sums up that the colonies have constantly reminded Britain about why they emigrated to the New World, most of them did so for more freedom. Despite the warnings, the British ignored the colonist's pleas. They go on to state that the representatives of the United States of America, in the General Congress, declare that they ought to be "free and independent states." They relieved themselves from all allegiance and any political connection to the British crown. 

"...we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

LAD #2: Zenger Trial

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?
John Peter Zenger was an immigrant to New York City from Germany. In 1733, he began a publishing company to voice his opposition and criticize the policies of the New York governor, William Cosby.


2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.
Zenger was arrested for libel, publishing a false statement that is damaging to someone's reputation. His lawyer for trial was Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton admitted that Zenger published offending stories about the governor, but since they were not false, he could not be charged for libel.


3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?
This set the stage for the First Amendment, adopted in 1791, and included the freedom of the press. This allows people to publish and voice their opinions without having to go on trial or be arrested. If it is true it is not illegal. 


4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.
This trial proved very important to the future country that they were on the brinks of creating. In the United States of America we have the opportunity to speak our minds, voice our opinions, and even publish things, if they are true. In other countries, North Korea and Communist Russia to name a few, they regulate the press and news sources aren't free to speak out for their beliefs. 

LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fund. Orders of CT

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact? Those who traveled to the New World on the Mayflower stated that "having undertaken for the Glory of God...plant the first Colony." It is apparent that they are very religious and include their odes to God in the Compact. This is important to note this because the reason the pilgrims traveled to the New World was because of religious persecution. In this new world they had the freedom to go about their religious life as they wish. They also state that they will organize themselves into a "civil Body Politick" or a governing system to keep order in the new colony. They agreed to live under different laws and acts of the governing body for the greater good of the colony.


2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds? 
The Mayflower Compact reflects the pilgrim's attachment to the "Old" World because they state that they had taken this new journey in the "Honour of our King and Country." This shows that they still view themselves as Englishmen and part of the British Empire, not an independent group. The Compact also reflects many new ideas of the "New" World. They agree to live for the greater good of the people and under the new laws and agreements that will be set in places. They have the ability to govern themselves, free from the monarch and Parliament, a new concept to the British.


3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact? 
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were a more detailed version of the Mayflower Compact. They drew up specifics about how they were to run their new government in the "New" World and how to select a governor. They outlined how voting works, the requirements of the governor, and how often they can vote. The Mayflower Compact was very simple, stating that they were no longer under the control of the monarch and how they wished to run their government in the future.


4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution? 
The colonists of Connecticut realized that they were technically no longer under the control of the monarch, as did the pilgrims, and used their skills to create a written constitution and outline what the new government would be like in their colony.


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?

The Fundamental Orders included a great deal about how voting was to work, how often one can vote, and the requirements of the governor. This reflects the Connecticut colonists fear of a single person with all the power, or a chosen few, running the government. They had just come from England where there was a monarch with King James running the show. In order to not recreate the environment they had just fled from they had to clearly state how they were to choose a leader in their new colonies.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Creating the Mayflower Compact

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