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.