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?