LAD #7 Washington's Farewell Address

Summary of Washington's Farewell Address:
In his farewell address, Washington tells American citizens that he does not want to be put into the running pool for another term as president. He wants to make sure that the citizens know that he appreciates their support through his presidency and he wants them to support him as he steps down. He wants to make sure the country won't disapprove of his retirement. He must quit the political scene because of age and exhaustion but not because of patriotism. He is grateful to the United states and all that they have done for him and the awards that he has been given. Washington felt as though he had a successful presidency and that he guided it based on his own moral principles. He is thankful for the support of his country and he hopes that the first president of the United States will have a lasting legacy, which it indeed did.

LAD #6 Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Summary of Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793:
The United States will stay neutral in the war between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands. If any U.S. citizen aids other Powers or commits hostilities towards them, they will not be protected by the United States of America.

LAD #5 The Federalist #10

The Federalist #10

1.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

Factions are difficult to eliminate because abolishing one would be like taking away men's liberty. It also would be taking away their right to opinions, passions and interests. Factions occur due to common interests amongst a group. You can not simply eliminate one's interests and beliefs.

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

Factions can be controlled by principles such as if a faction consists of less than a majority, then the majority can defeat the minority. They can also be controlled by reducing the power of them so that they don't overpower a government. Another way to control a faction would to sway members away from bias which could lead to them changing their beliefs.

Republican Motherhood Blog

1.       What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?The Revolutionary War contributed to the shift from housewifery to Republican Motherhood because women became more appreciated. Women were able to contribute to the war effort "by training up good citizens, just, humane, and enlightened legislators" (Doc A). The war also proved a necessity for women to teach their sons "the principles of liberty and government"(Doc B). With women rearing their children in this way, they were helping prepare younger generations to lead the country in the future.
2.      What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?Women had little opportunities. They were required to learn specific things to teach their children and care for them properly but else was there? They were stuck in their role as Mothers and they didn't have the opportunities to get other jobs or go to schools themselves. Their lives were solely focused around their children.
3.      What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women’s socialization? The significance of the idea of Republican Motherhood in the process of women's socialization is that women were valued. Instead of being stuck at home working for their family with little appreciation, they continued this job with a new attitude. Instead of caring for their children, they were shaping the future America by being sure to teach them properly.

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

1.     Describe the setting. A mother sits with her two sons. It appears that she is sitting in a living room. She and her sons look content.
2.     Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she “republican” rather than aristocratic? The mother serves as the center of the portrait. This is because mothers ruled the family and took care of children. She looks content. Mary Tilghman appear republican rather than aristocratic by the way she is dressed. Everything is very simple and plain from her clothing, to her hair, and even the background. There is no ornate, gold embellishments, everything is plain.
3.     What values do her sons exhibit? Her sons show the value of family. Family is very important to her and her sons are her pride and joy.
4.      Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham’s arm? Her arm is holding back her younger son, who is reaching out to the older son. This shows that the mother has control over her children, teaching them to be civil, obedient citizens.

Blog #4: Rethinking the Revolution

Both the Civil War and the War of Independence had a significant legacy on American history:
                      
Original American Flag                                  Confederate Flag

• 47% of prisoners died in the Revolutionary War while only 27% died in the civil war. 
• The War of Independence also had civil war aspects: the Anglo-Americans fought the British and the Tories fought the Whigs
• 100,000 loyalists exiled after the end of the Revolutionary War and 10,000 confederates exiled after the Civil War
• Both wars fought for freedom from a group: The confederates wanted to secede from the Union and the Americans wanted freedom from the British
• More people died overall from warfare in the Civil War due to the fact that it was more of a modern type of warfare. In the Revolutionary War more people died from the cold Winters that they were unable to survive and diseases. 

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, 1776

1. Democratic Principles:

The American people wanted a government that was made up of men. They wanted to give these men  the right to alter or abolish a government if it becomes corrupt. They may also institute a new government based on moral principles to ensure the countries security. They wanted to acknowledge the fact that all men are created equal.

2.Grievances: 

The American people felt that their history under the King was one of tyranny. The King would refuse to pass laws for large districts, unless they agreed to give up their representation in the legislature. He had dissolved representative houses due to their opposition. He has neglected to elect other officials. He has discouraged people to migrate to America. He has kept standing armies around in times of peace. He has failed to acknowledge American laws like cutting off trade, imposing taxes without consent, depriving citizens of trial by jury. He has gone to war against Americans. 

3. Conclusion:

After reading the long list of grievances that the King inflicted on Americans, it is not surprising that they wanted freedom and independence. The colonists felt that what the King did to them was wrong and that they had a right to be "free and independent states."In order for them to be free and independent they needed to disregard all allegiance to the British crown and dissolve all political connection to them. By doing this they were able to establish their own system based on the democratic principles they had hoped for as listed in the introduction.

LAD #2 John Peter Zenger

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

John Peter Zenger was the printer of the New York Weekly Journal. He was accused for libel for criticizing his governor, William Cosby, in his journal.
2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.
The government's charged Zenger with libel, a false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation. With this charge, all Hamilton had to do to defend Zenger was prove that the statements were indeed true despite how offensive they seemed. Hamilton was able to prove Zenger's statements about Cosby true, causing Zenger to be deemed not guilty.
3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?
This case set an example against the power of authority for future libel cases. It also lead to the freedom of press in America for future cases.
4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.
This trial contributed to freedom of press amongst American publications for the future. In a sense Hamilton's defensive skills embarrassed Governor Cosby because Zenger's statements were true even though they were damaging to his reputation. This set a precedent for future authority figures to let people post what they want because they could look like a coward by charging someone falsely.

LAD #1 Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

                                             The Signing of the Mayflower Compact, 1620

1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

 The Mayflower Compact states that the people present, as listed in the compact, have planted the first colony in northern Virginia. They hope to combine themselves together to form a political system in accordance with the Church of England and the laws of King James. They set up laws to follow so that there could be order in the colony and they promised to be obedient with these laws.
2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect an attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
  The Mayflower Compact reflects an attachment to the Old world by stating, "in the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James." The settlers still showed attachment to their beloved homeland, which is not surprising being in a new place and having to set up their own system of government for the first time alone with no guidance. The compact also showed movement towards a new world by setting up their own "body politik" which is a group system of government, unlike the Parliament system back home in England.
3. How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differed from the Mayflower Compact in that it was more complex and advanced, shifting more towards a "New" world rather than sticking to the same ideas as England. Connecticut came up with a system of electing a governor and others to office rather than having a group, self-governing government like the Mayflower Compact. Connecticut's Orders gave more of a strict constitution having specific plans for how things will play out rather than the vagueness of the Mayflower compact's rules.

The Connecticut Colony, 1639

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

The colonists of Connecticut took this approach to government because they were able to learn from the mistakes of the early colonists at Plymouth. They knew that they needed a more strict and orderly system of government which prompted them to write a specific constitution. This constitution also protected them if any questions arose about how to proceed with law passing, voting and ruling. 

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 tries to not give one person ultimate power, this is shown when talking about the Court Governor: " The Governor or Moderator shall have power to order the Court, to give liberty of speech, and silence unseasonable and disorderly speakings...But none of these Courts shall be adjourned or dissolved without the consent of the major part of the Court." This decree shows that the Connecticut settlers feared putting power in one person, like back home in England, which is not surprising due to the corruption occurring in England with Charles I trying to take control over Parliament.