LAD #21

Carnegie wrote this excerpt from Wealth on how the wealthy can and should distribute their money.  He begins by describing how distribution of wealth has always been an issue of mankind, and that the current methods are much better for both the wealthy and the laborers.  The next section describes how the wealthy can use their wealth.  They can either leave it to family when they die, leave it to public when they die, or while alive they can donate it for charitable purposes.  It then says that history shows that leaving excessive sums for descendants, particularly sons, has shown to prove detrimental to the continuance of the family wealth.  It then says that leaving it to the public after death is merely a selfish way of disposing the money hoarded during your lifetime, and that this money should have been put into circulation years earlier.  This leaves donating money as the best option, which can also help to significantly decrease the gap between the wealthy and poor and create a society close to Communism. Carnegie concludes by saying it is the duty of the wealthy to give back to the poor to help them do things and function in ways they would not be able to do so themselves

LAD #20

After the battle of Antietam Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation.  In this speech Lincoln freed all slaves in Confederate States.  He said that they would be protected by the Union army and if they wished they could serve in the army as well.  However slaves were not freed in slave states that were fighting for the Union because they were not under martial law and Lincoln did not have that authority, and he also did not want to lose the support of those states.

LAD #19

In Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address he addressed the issues of the Civil War.  He stated that while neither side wanted to go to war it became the only option in preserving peace.  He acknowledged that slavery was the main cause of the war, and that the South wished to spread it and the North wished to abolish it.  He also vows that the Union will not stop fighting until the country is reunited and sectionalism is ended.

LAD #18

The Dred Scott v. Sanford court case was monumental in deciding issues surrounding slavery. In February 1857 the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, reviewed whether the black slave Dred Scott was a free citizen or still property of his owner. He had crossed into a free-state with his owner and believed that this meant he was no longer a slave to his master. Taney decided that Dred Scott was not allowed to even bring this to court because he was not a citizen, but instead "property" of his owner. This decision meant that all slaves were considered property, regardless of what individual states viewed them as, and they can not be represented in a court. Taney also declared that Congress does not have the right to abolish slavery within the states. He concluded his decision by saying that slaves could not be taken from their owners without due process.

LAD #17

Despite not gaining the right to vote until the 1900s, there was a good amount of women's right movements in the mid-1800s.  It was also most famously a time of much conflict over the issue of slavery.  In 1851 Sojourner Truth delivered a speech about women's rights and the respect of men towards women, especially slaves.  In her speech Truth says that society is inhumane, especially towards women and slaves.  She says that while white men generally try to treat women with respect they barely even recognize slave women as people, let alone women.  She says that the reasons men use to justify their superiority are false and that they should be treated as equals.  She says religion is something both blacks and whites, males and females, have in common and they shouldn't be treated differently for those reasons.  She concludes by saying that white men need to reevaluate their reasoning for discriminating against both blacks and women.

LAD #16

The mid-1800s were a volatile and crucial time period in American History.  At the center of the conflict was the issue of slavery.  One of the leading abolitionist was Frederick Douglas, who was a runaway slave. On Independence Day in 1852 Douglas issued a speech questioning the importance of the Declaration of Independence as it does not apply to blacks.  He says he wishes he knew why it did not apply to those of his race, but says he does not have an answer.  He also says that his freedom does not do as much for him as one might think because he is still burdened by the fact that many are still enslaved.  He also says that they need to remember those who could not gain their freedom.  Douglas then says that the nation is in great upheaval and that it has never been darker.

He continues by saying that all the reasons for slavery are shameful to America.  He says that blacks are equal to whites and they are capable and have held the same jobs as them and believe in God as well.  He describes several other cruelties of slavery and leads up to his key question of what is the Fourth of July to a slave?
He says that for a slave it is a mockery and a reminder of the injustices and deprivations of freedoms.  Douglas concludes his speech by saying that slavery makes America one of the most Hypocritical nations in the world.

LAD #15

The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the deadliest battles in American history. After the battle Lincoln delivered his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address on the location.

To begin the speech Abe Lincoln reminds the crowd that not long ago our founding fathers developed a new nation based on liberty and freedom. He then states that the Civil War is a test to see if this nation can endure a war or not. Lincoln then says that he is dedicating a piece of the Gettysburg battlefield to act as a graveyard for those men who fought to preserve that nation. He then says that the men who fought and died on this field have made it sacred, and that we can do nothing to make it more or less so. Lincoln closes the short speech by saying that the men who died will not have died in vain. That they died for a "nation, under God, (that) shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

LAD #14

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address was an essential speech in the sense that it would set the tone of Lincoln’s presidency in the years to follow. He begins his speech by reassuring the South that they need not to worry because he has no intentions of abolishing slavery in places where it has already existed. Lincoln’s main objective in the address was establishing his goal, preservation of the Union. Lincoln thought the secession was un-American and unconstitutional. Lincoln knew that the Constitution was unclear on some issues like slavery and secession but stated that how these things would be solved would determine the fate of the Union. Lincoln concludes the address by stressing the fact that the states of the nation should be friends , not enemies, so that unity and nationality could be restored to our great land.

LAD#12

In 1850 John Calhoun delivered a speech about a necessary compromise between the Northern and Southern states.  In it he began by saying that he thinks slavery will ultimately be the cause of disunion of the nation.  He questions what possible solutions can be made to preserve that unity and to what extent the country is already separated.  He says the dissatisfaction of the south will ultimately lead to their secession.  He says that it is because the north is becoming too powerful and less willing to give up power, especially in the area of slavery.  He said that when the number of free and slave states were equal this was not an issue, but now that there were going to be more free states the balance would be upset.  Calhoun then says that the North will have to give the South some of what they want and make concessions because the South has already given much up already.  He says that this can start by giving Missouri the right to slavery.  Calhoun concludes by saying that the responsibility of preservation lies in the North and not in the South.

LAD#12

Polk's War message
President James Polk delivered a speech in 1846 addressing the conflict with Mexico and their poor treatment of American citizens.  President Polk states that despite their poor treatment he still would like to attempt to resolve these issues peacefully.  Polk states that both the Mexican and American governments want to have an even negotiation and don't want the other one to dominate the treaty.  Polk states that America already tried to peacefully resolve these issues when John Sliddel was sent to try and purcahase some territory, in particular California and New Mexico, but the Mexicans sent him home without any attempts at negotiation.  Polk also states that he had already built up a small force of troops near the border in the event of an attack, which was a good thing because the Mexicans did attack and a few American soldiers lost their lives.  Polk concludes by saying that the government will continue to work towards a peaceful resolution, but he says that America must prepare for what appears to be an inevitable war.

LAD#11

In July of 1848 a revolutionary movement was started in Seneca Falls.  A group of women and male supporters got together and created the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.  The beginning of the document started out similar to that of the Declaration of Independence, except instead of rights denied by Britain to men it was rights denied to women by men.  The document then lists several grievances, most of which were focused around the inferiority of women in marriage.  They say that in marriage the wife is subservient to the husband, and she has no say in the relationship, and in essence is property to him.  The women also claim that the laws which dictate this were made without their say since they are not allowed to vote and therefore they have no say in government.  Following their list of grievances the women list resolutions that can be used to solve these issues.  For the most part these grievances center around equality with men, that in marriage they have more rights and they have the right to vote.  They also request the right to education and to participate in business practices if they please.
They conclude by saying that they were made in equality with man by the Creator, and it is their right to promote equality with men within righteous means.

LAD #10

President Monroe issued his famous Monroe Doctrine in December of 1823.  The Monroe Doctrine states that the United States has remained neutral in European affairs during the short history of the nation.  He says that the only reason for America to go to war is to protect the rights of its people when they are in danger.  Monroe says that America will maintain this policy towards the nations that have recently gained their independence from colonization of  other European countries, saying that it is up to them to make their destiny.  He finishes by saying that the European nations should stay out of the new countries and allow them to build themselves up, and that they are not to form any more new colonies in the Americas.

LAD #9

Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801, and his first impression as President came during his inaugural address, which came at a time when the nation was a little divided.  In it he declared that while the will of the majority should prevail, the desires must still be righteous, and the rights of the minorites must still be protected.  He also encourages unity by declaring that a difference in opinion is not necessarily a difference in principle, and if someone has a faulty opinion, let them stand there and have reason challenge them.  He responded to those who were against the government by asking how they could wish to dissolve or refomr it after it has kept the people safe for all these years.  He expresses his economic belief that a good government does very little to regulate the economy and to allow free trade, and not take from those who earn.  Jefferson also envisions equality for all men, no matter religion, state, or political affiliation, as well as foreign peace, and civil power over military power.  Jefferson concludes by stating that he will make mistakes, and sometimes he will be right but will be criticized, but to stick with him and not fault him for he too is human.  He says that he is ready to work and it is the people's decision as to when he is no longer able to work

Columbus Blog #8

Christopher Columbus is remembered as being the hero who found the New World.  But what is almost always overlooked is what happened after the New World was discovered, genocide.  Columbus was the leader in the mass murders of millions of Indians.  When he arrived he traded with them, and noted their generosity and willingness to give them goods.  But in return to their kindness he took fifteen of them back to Spain as slaves.  In his second visit to the New World he demanded gold from the Indians, and when he could not find any he took nearly five hundred back to Europe as slaves, and almost two hundred died on the way over.  On his next attempted conquest he demanded that the Indians find gold for him, and when they couldn’t he would have his men cut off their hands.  As a result the Indians would flee to hiding, but when found they would be killed. As a result over half of what was 250,000 Indians on Haiti were killed in two years.  Also, when Spaniards began to settle in the Americas they enslaved the Indians.  Because of the oppressive rule of the Spanish settlers, the Indians were given much too little food, and many died of starvation, as well as the continued brutal nature of the Spanish.  In addition, the Indians were not able to reproduce nearly as frequently as they did before the Spanish came, for the Spanish kept partners separated most of the time.  And when they did have children most of them died because their mothers were too malnourished to provide milk, or the mother drowned them to save them from the cruel life ahead of them.  As a result Bartolome de Las Casas, another Spanish conquistador, estimates that nearly three million Indians were killed, and this genocide was all because of Columbus. Adolf Hitler was responsible for the deaths of about six million Jews, and he is considered one of the evilest men ever.  Why should Columbus not be near him in that category for being responsible for the death of three million Indians?

LAD #7 Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's Farewell Address was his most famous speech.  Here is a summarization of it:
The unity of the federal government is vital to the protection of individual freedoms, safety, and international relations, and the North and South must stay united and in good relations.
Washington also warned against the formation of political parties.  He said that this will split the country and pit the citizens against each other and lead to corruption by members of government.
He stressed the importance of religion, and says that it is key instrument in the Courts of Justice.
Washington also addressed taxes and federal debt, a very touchy subject during that time.  He said that the debt should be kept as low as possible and not allowed to accumulate over time. To pay off these debts it is necessary to create revenue and to create revenue it is necessary to collect taxes.
For foreign relations and military policy Washington advised forming any permanent alliances with anybody in the foreign world, and he said not to keep a strong standing military as this implies hostility towards liberty.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of neutrality

In President Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality he says that the United States is going to remain neutral in the war in Europe and observe the war that is being conducted.  He also said that he will not give protection to any Americans who are hostile to any of the nations in war.

Republican Motherhood

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

After the Revolutionary War people began to believe that women should have a suitable education so that they could educate their sons in the principles of liberty and government (Doc B).  It was also believed that women should learn to write, simple math, and a knowledge of the English language (Doc B).

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

Republican Motherhood increased the respect and recognition of women and their role in society.  Because of their role in the home, women are responsible for the future of the country, as they are the ones who bring up the children and educate them on morals and society (Doc D).  Home also became the place many men thought they could do the most good, to ensure that their children are brought up correctly, as home is “’nursery of the future man and of the undying spirit’; and woman is the nurse and the educator” (Doc A).

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

Women were not expected to leave the house much, but they were supposed to make the home as welcome as possible and to send forth well educated and happy men from it.  While their actual physical presence was not meant to be felt in society, their influence was meant to be of upmost importance (Doc D).

This portrait is set in a house on a couch.  The mother, Mary Gibson Tilghman is in the center of the portrait, and she is well dressed and dressed conservatively, but not flamboyantly. 
She has a republican look in her homeliness without extravagance.  Her sons appear to be well dressed and they have good posture, implying that they may have good manners.  Her arms are positioned around the younger child, which shows her care and affection for her son.

LAD #5: Federalist #10

1.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate? Factions are difficult to eliminate because you must either remove liberty, which is essential to political life, or give everybody the same opinions and passions.  To remove liberty would be unwise, and standardize opinions would be impractical. 2.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?

 If the factions are in the minority then the majority can defeat it by vote.  If it is in the majority then either the leader of the majority must be taken out or the passion they have must be rendered so it can’t be carried out into schemes of oppression. Having a republic for government would be the best way to prevent the factions.

Blog #4- Revolution Artical

I learned 5 interesting facts in the article about the American Revolution.
1. American soldiers had to resort to eating dogs, tree bark, and soup made out of boiled shoes and candle wax.
2. Over 100,000 Loyalists fled into exile after the war, which was roughly 5% of the free percent.
3. Civilian casualties were relatively high, as many were infected with disease from battle camps, coastal towns were bombarded by British naval attacks, and frontiersmen were attacked by Indians.
4. Many underplay the actual war because of all the other events that surrounded it, including the Declaration of Independence, Boston Tea Party, and the Constitution.
5. At many times America soldiers were running around and fighting without shoes and sometimes nearly naked with the exception of a blanket or a couple undergarments.

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is the most important in the history of the United States.  It can be broken down into and summarized into three parts, democratic principles, grievances of the king, and the conclusion. 

The Declaration opens up with an introduction that has many democratic principles that the United States government is based off of.  It then says that governments are instituted by men and that they derive their powers from the governed, and if the government violates the people’s rights it is their duty to overthrow the government.  It says that it is the right and duty to alter the old system of government if the government does not alter it themselves. 

After this the Thomas Jefferson lists many grievances of King George III.  Some of them include his refusal to assent his laws which is necessary for the public good.  He also forbade the governors of the colonies from passing laws that had great importance.  Also, the King repeatedly dissolved representative houses for opposition of his invading the rights of the people.  Jefferson also faults the King with cutting off their trade from the rest of the world, imposing taxes without consent, and depriving people of trial by jury.

The final part of the Declaration of Independence is the conclusion.  This states that the colonists tried to petition the King peacefully, but every time they were denied.  They warned Parliament and the King not to continue the tyranny or they will be considered enemies.  And so the colonies declare themselves free and independent from Britain and they maintain the right to levy war, make peace and treaties.

LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

      1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

A German immigrant who printed and edited the New York Weekly Journal, which was created to oppose the governor’s unpopular policies and decisions.

      2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.

The controversy was that the prosecution was accusing Zenger of libel, but Hamilton said that there could not be libel if what he printed was true, so while detrimental to the governor it was not illegal.

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

Zenger’s case influenced American government by establishing the foundation for freedom of press, as well as establishing that even if detrimental, it is not libel if it is true.

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

The lasting significance of Zenger’s trial was that it was one of the first cases of freedom of press.

"LAD #1 Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut:"

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?
Concepts included in the Mayflower Compact included advancement of the Christian Faith, honoring their king and country, and to act as a singular body ruled by popular opinion
2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
The Mayflower Compact has attachment to the “Old” world because it still displays loyalty to their king and country, as well as maintaining a strong religious faith, but it has a “New” world connection because it has rule by the people instead of one powerful king or leader.
3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders differed from the Mayflower compact in that it was established for people to elect people to represent them to make dedisions, but the Mayflower Compact said for rule by the group.  Also the Fundamental orders pertain to a state, but the Mayflower compact only pertained to the pilgrims.
4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?
The towns of Windsor, Hartfor, and Wethersfield were all growing and inhabiting the River of Connectecotte and living in adjoining towns so the towns drafted the Orders to maintain peace amongst the colonists.
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 safeguard against one person obtaining too much power by limiting the term of a governor to one year, candidates are required to have served in some form of General Court, and a person cannot be governor more than once in two years.