LAD/Blog #26: William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech

Summary:

• "the most famous political speech in American history"
• the speech was delivered on July 9, 1896 at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago
• Bryan- 36 at the time, former Congressman from Nebraska
• used drama and rhetoric to gain the support of the people, which later got him on the Presidential ballot
• states his cause to be humanity
• seems to believe in the people as a whole, instead of just individuals against each other
• "the man who is employed for wages is as much as businessman as his employer"
• speaks of peace and unity
• race is a matter of principle
• supports the Democratic income tax law
• supports the struggling mass of workers who support the US economy

• 

  Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth is very similar to William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech.  Both of these men talked about their opinions on the difference between the social and economic classes, and how the gap existing should be made smaller.  Both believed in unity, and influenced Americans with their economic opinions.

LAD/Blog #25: The Dawes Act

General Allotment Act/Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

• passed under President Grover Cleveland's first term
• allowed Cleveland to survey and divide up lands in reservations in "severalty" to any Indian on the land
• Cleveland was allowed to do this whenever he felt the land could be useful for agricultural purposes
• also gave him the power to redistribute land, so nothing was set in stone
• in some cases, the head of an Indian family could choose the land
• granted US citizen rights to some Indian tribes
• the amount of land a family gets is based on the head of the family's gender, age, and family status
• act of assimilation, excluded the 5 Civilized Tribes
• further allowed the government to purchase any excess Indian land and sell it to American settlers
• the act failed due to the poor quality of the land, and lack of Indian's experience with a farming lifestyle

The Morrill Act/Land-Grant College Act of 1862 was very similar to the Dawes Act of 1887.  The Land-Grant provided grants of land to states so that they could finance the establishment of colleges that would specialize in "agriculture and the mechanical arts."  Both acts allotted specific pieces of land, but to different groups of people, for different reasons.  This promoted education within the country, and also elevated the quality of education.  The act provided each state with 30,000 acres of Federal land for each member in their Congressional delegation.

LAD/Blog #24: Populist (People's) Party Platform

THE POPULIST PARTY (1892)

1.  The Preamble:

• created during a time of corruption and upheaval for the country
• period of increased censorship by government
• two great classes: tramps and millionaires 
• the value of silver has been decreased in order to form a solely gold-based currency
• the country has lost sight of many things due to the constant rivalry between the two political parties 
• party seeks to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the ''plain people'' (the original class)
• many similar core values to the original preamble of the Constitution
• believed in increasing the power of both the government and the people

2.  The Platform:

• Omaha Platform was drafted by Ignatius Donnelly of Minnesota
• declared union labor forces should be permanent from that day forward
• believed people need to work to earn things, "if any will not work, neither shall he eat"
• favored strict civil-service regulation
• demanded a national safe, sound, and flexible currency
• believed the government should alter transportation (the railroads) to favor the common man
• land is the heritage of the people, and therefore should not be monopolized

3.  The Resolutions that made up the Expression of Sentiments:

• demanded a free ballot and fair count in all elections
• supported fair and liberal pensions to ex-Union soldiers/sailors
• demanded enforcement of the exiting eight-hour labor law
• wanted to limit both the President and Vice President to one term only

As the current President of the United States, Donald Trump is a great example of a modern populist candidate, even though the party was created in 1892.  He ha lots of appeal to the center, and the broadness of which help him win the election in 2016.  Trump was greatly supported by the South and Midwest, both of which are mainly populist areas.  Trump is indifferent to the issues of sexual orientation that animate the declining religious right, even to the point of defending Planned Parenthood.

LAD/Blog #23: McKinley's War Message

Summary:
William McKinley starts his message by saying how this is his response towards the Cuban Revolution (against Spain).  He also explains that he chose to get further involved in ending this conflict due to the connection between it and the Union.  Trade has suffered greatly during this conflict, money provided by the US has been lost, and Americans are becoming tired of this lifestyle.  All of these things convince McKinley to ask Congress for the declaration of war, in order to put an end to the conflict sooner.  He tries his best to convince Congress to either make a treaty or compromise, or promote one side over the other in order to speed up the process.  Later on, though, McKinley states how he would rather still remain quite neutral throughout this whole process, instead of siding against Cuba.  He stresses the importance of the alliance between Cuba and the US, and how both countries rely on each other for different things (interdependence).

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality can be used a synthesis for McKinley's War Message because both deal with the US's struggle to remain neutral when various obstacles in the war.  Washington's proclamation introduces the idea of neutrality, stating its importance for the future of America.  McKinley believes in his, saying that the best way to resolve this conflict would be to remain mainly neutral, in order to ensure the conflict doesn't get any worse.

LAD/Blog #22: Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth

Summary:
Andrew Carnegie starts off by discussing the issues in the economy regarding the relationship between the different classes.  The gap between the upper and lower class had gotten much larger due to the changing economy.  However, he also thought that this change was necessary and beneficial, for progress within the nation.  One of the major problems was that wealth was not being distributed equally, but was rather allotted by the government to a small group of citizens.   Carnegie stated that in an effort to remove, or belittle surpluses of wealth, methods such as giving to charity, personal spending, inheritance (passing it down to the next generation), or donating the money for public uses, could not be viable options.  Because he disproved of these methods, he then suggested imposing death taxes as a means to provide state proper share of the fortune, while at the same time allowing many people to have a lot of wealth.  Andrew finishes by declaring that it is the responsibility of the upper class to set good examples and do what is best for the people and the economy as a whole.

The Bank of the United States (the BUS) was very similar to Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth.  For example, both obviously dealt with money, but more importantly, the unequal distribution and benefits of money.  Carnegie explained in his book how a lot of money was given by the government to a select few citizens, instead of being distributed equally throughout the country.  Similarly, the BUS benefited the North more than the South during the 19th century, with more of the deposits being made by the North.  The North was more industrialized, and therefore had a stronger economy and flow of money than the South, which relied more on crops and slave labor.  Because of this, it was argued that the BUS did not support the South enough, and this actually played a role in the causes of the Civil War.

LAD/Blog #21: Emancipation Proclamation

Summary:
Lincoln's proclamation was made on January 1, 1863.  He proclaims that all slaves in the states rebelling against the Union are now free, and that it is now the government's duty to preserve and maintain their freedom if anyone refuses to acknowledge it.  These slaves have now been given their freedom back, and can and will be treated as such people.  Lincoln also makes it clear that these free slaves can join the army if they so desire, to fight back and help preserve the Union.  With more rights, now these former slaves can live their lives and earn wages for themselves from a job.  Lincoln even lists several states that the proclamation applies to, as to avoid any confusion or controversy by the people and the government.  He does lay down some limits though, saying that these now free slaves should not be involved in any unnecessary violent unless it is for their own defense.  Lincoln firmly believes in this decision of his, saying that this was a step in the right direction for the US, and that it would be carried out immediately.

Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was actually quite similar to the Declaration of Independence of 1776.  For example, both of these significant documents dealt with issues of freedoms and the will of the people.  In the Declaration of Independence, the people of America declared themselves as free from Great Britain, because they believed this was the best choice for them, given the circumstances.  Similarly, Lincoln's proclamation stated that slaves in rebelling states were now free, and he made this decision with the best interest of the Union in mind, as the Civil War was still raging on at this time. 

LAD/Blog #20: Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

 

Summary: 

Lincoln's 2nd inaugural address was shorter than the first one, since the initial oath had already taken place.  He reflects on how previously, four years ago, all focus and attention went towards the potential of civil war.  Lincoln explains how he viewed everyone to be on the same page, trying to avoid the potential of upcoming war.  Both parties seemed to be against the war, but ultimately were further against keeping the nation together the way it was, and so the war went on.  With one eighth of the country's population belonging to slaves, it was unsurprising that there was conflict, mainly in the South.  Both parties, while against the Union in some way, also looked for a different way to solve the conflict, though, one that did not involve war.  Lincoln explains how the previous prayers to God seem to have been ignored, yet he still has faith that this war will not end in two separate countries, and that God continues to listen to their pleas.  The president ends his speech by saying that he believes God will allow them to continue their fight for unity, and help them establish national peace.  

Washington's Inaugural Address was very similar and different to Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address.  For example, both speeches discussed ideals of unity and peace, and potential or existing conflict.  Washington's address warned the country of potential conflicts with other countries outside of the US, saying that the best thing for the country would be to remain neutral.  The irony, within Lincoln's speech, is that the conflict is within the US itself, and this war was not brought on by any foreign affairs.  Both addresses discuss these issues that the US has, and stress the importance of not letting those issues divide the United States.

LAD/Blog #19: The Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott V. Sanford
The Dred Scott case began in 1847.  The case was later taken to the Supreme Court in 1857.  Scott was a slave in the South, mistreated and unable to read.  During his life he married another slave, Harriet Robinson, and had two children.  His owner, John Emerson, was married to Irene Sanford.  When Emerson died, Scott and his family were under the control of Sanford, who often lent them out to other families if she did not have a currently use for them.  The court case was created when Scott and his family filed suit against Sanford for their freedom in 1846.  He had lived in free territories before but had never tried to be completely free, and felt that it was about time he earned his freedom.  With no money or education, it was fairly hard for Scott to achieve this on his own, but he thankfully had the support of his first (previous) owner.  The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that a slave, even in a free state or non-slave territory, would still not be deserving of freedom or citizenship.  Besides this, the Supreme Court also ruled that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which stated that territories west of Missouri and north of 36°30' latitude line were free states, was now unconstitutional.  This decision pushed the US even further towards civil war, bring lots of debates and controversy.  Chief Justice Roger Taney, in making his decision, ignored the written guidelines of the Constitution, and many people believed that he was biased in his ruling and beliefs about African American citizenship.  Nevertheless, Taney stuck to his opinions that a slave remained a slave even in free territories, and that they would never be citizens of the United States. 

The Supreme Court cases Dred Scott V. Sanford and Plessy V. Ferguson were very similar.  Both cases dealt with issues of unequal rights.  Scott fought for his freedom from slavery, but unfortunately did not receive it due to Roger Taney's ruling.  The issue of slavery remained in the US for years to come, bringing on the Civil War and many smaller conflicts as well.  In Plessy V. Ferguson, the idea of "separate but equal" was created, as discrimination grew more prominent in the US.  However, the similarity lies within the reality, that things indeed were separate for white and black people, but they were not equal at all.  Both of these cases were extremely controversial, and revolved around issues regarding civil liberties and rights.

LAD/Blog #18: Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" Speech

Summary:Sojourner Truth delivered her "Ain't I a Woman" speech in 1851 at the Women's Convention at Akron, Ohio.  She starts off her speech by giving examples of how men think women should be treated, like helping them out of carriages.  Then, she goes on to say how no men have ever done something like that for herself, even though she is a woman.  However, Truth isn't complaining.  Instead, she is proving that women like herself, and others, are capable of doing the exact same things as men, without the help of men either.  She argues that women can do whatever men can do, such as eat large amounts of food and do the heavy lifting at work.  It is evident in her speech that Truth speaks with passion, and the injustices in the world drive her to make a change.  She talks about how even though many men use Christ as an example for male superiority, that Christ was created by both a man and a women, whom should have equal rights.  Lastly, Truth states how now is the time for all women to make a change, and the men in the world better be prepared and ready for it, to accept it.

Both Sojourner Truth and Rosa Parks stood against injustices in the world, mainly against women.  Truth delivered a very powerful speech, while Parks fought for her right as a woman and as an African American.  Parks argued that she had the right to sit in the front of the bus, and should not have to give her seat up to someone else just because the color of their skin was light.  Truth argued that all women should have equal rights to those that men have.  Both of these very powerful women took a stand and helped to transform the world into a better place.

LAD/Blog #17: Frederick Douglass' "5th of July" Speech

Summary:
In his speech on July 5th, Frederick Douglass discusses what the Fourth of July means to slaves, compared to the majority of Americans.  He starts off by acknowledging the greatness of the men who came before him and created the Declaration of Independence.  Douglass was asked to speak about the values within this declaration, and how they relate to the issue of slavery.  He finds it quite unfair that whites are given a day to celebrate their independence while African Americans are still fighting for theirs.  The day may hold celebrations for whites, but holds mourning and loss for slaves.  Moving away from the specific date, Douglass speaks passionately about how he and other slaves have been treated, describing the horrors he has seen and experienced.  He calls the soul of the nation black due to this holiday they celebrate, and even explicitly states how he has not been making any of this up or exaggerating, but rather is telling the truth about the country.  Douglass proudly defends the Negro race, saying that they are the same as any other man.  The declaration already stated that equality was a right to every man, and Douglass reminds people of this and how slavery contradicts it.  To a slave, the celebration of July 4th is just rubbing salt in the wound. 

Frederick Douglass' Fourth of July speech on the Fifth of July is very similar to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.  Both men spoke very passionately about their cause, which led more and more people to see their perspective or change their own opinions.  Both men also talked about the need for equal rights in America.  Douglass talked about the misuse of slavery and how much it contradicted the Declaration of Independence, while King talked about the unfair discrimination still present in the nation where separate but equal was really not equal at all.  Both men fought for their cause, doing their own part to make a change in the world.

LAD/Blog #16: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Summary:
In President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address,  he talks about the Civil War raging on within America.  Tracing back to the beginning, Lincoln reminds the people of why this new nation was created in the first place, and how it was created under a sense of unity and liberty, with all men equal.  He says that this war is just a test of how well a nation really can survive under those claims that may no longer fully exist in the nation.  Lincoln knows that this country has come too far, and that they must not forget those who came before them and fought for that sense of unity and freedom.  He also acknowledges those who have fought so far in the Civil War, saying that their deaths will not be for nothing.  Under this, Lincoln's final statement says that the people here and now must step up and fight for what they believe in, which he believes will ultimately end in the preservation of the union and its initial values.

President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address can be easily related back to the original Declaration of Independence in 1776.  A lot of Lincoln's address is based off of the original declaration, saying that the country really needs to return back to its roots and original beliefs in freedom, unity, and the creation of all men being equal.  He knows that these beliefs are key and essential to the preservation of the union, and his job now is to remind all Americans of this.

LAD/Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Summary:
Right from the beginning, Abraham Lincoln starts off his speech by saying that he sees no need to go through all of the really boring parts of it, like the oath.  Instead, he prefers to talk about the more important things, like the great divide now present between the North and South.  Lincoln clearly states how he does not plan on interfering with the states that currently have slavery.  He believes that he does not actually have the "right" to do this, and would rather focus his energy on the growing issue that slavery causes as the US expands and more new states are added.  Here he thanks those who voted for him, saying that they know who he is and how he is not planning on changing that person.  Lincoln believes in the power of the states, yet never says that they should be superior to the federal government's decisions.  He agrees to protect and carry out the written guidelines of the Constitution, saying he was made president to do so, even mentioning part of the preamble: "to form a more perfect union."  Clearly, Lincoln seems levelheaded and has a plan for how to deal with the current sate of America, as he mentions the Constitution several different times in his address.  He feels that the country absolutely cannot be separated, so there must be a better way to resolve the issue.  Lastly, Lincoln stresses the importance of friendship within the nation, saying that there is no greater bond and that hatred will bring nothing good.

Washington's Inaugural Address was obviously similar to Lincoln's as they were the same event, but the similarities go beyond that, too.  Both men talk about the importance of the Constitution, and support it fully.  They agree on the face that this Constitution is the major guideline for the country, and will be the cause of the country's success.  Additionally, both Lincoln and Washington think that the union should be preserved, although when Washington became president, there weren't nearly as many separately opinions or factions present within the union yet.

Blog #14: Calhoun's Speech on the Compromise of 1850

John Calhoun's Speech:
In his speech, John Calhoun expresses his feelings about the Compromise of 1850.  The speech is directed at Congress, and starts off with discussing the issue of slavery in America.  He recognizes how slavery had already split the country in two, and claims that there could be no sense of unity until it was resolved.  Calhoun questions how unity could ever be achieved, and explains how he is fully in support of unity across the country.  He also explains how the difference in opinions and beliefs comes from the South's use of slavery, and the North's disapproval.  Calhoun says how he fears the outcome of the creation of new states, and the expansion of America further out west.  Each side was so deeply rooted in their beliefs that it seemed impossible to reach a compromise.  Each side also held hatred against the other for difference in how they were treated by the government, with taxes, tariffs, and various acts.  Additionally, there was an issue of balance between the two sides, and how they tried to keep the amount of land equal between them, including newly acquired territories.  Specifically with the South, they felt that too many states were becoming anti-slavery, and this upset in balance ultimately contributed to their decision to try to secede from the US.  Calhoun questions what can be done about this issue, and also why nothing has been done in the past to stop or prevent the agitation.  He knows that there will come a point where things will go too far and the South may try to break away.  Calhoun's main point is that the country is in great danger, and will continue to be unless something is done, quickly, to stop it.

The Missouri Compromise was very similar to John Calhoun's speech to Congress and the Compromise of 1850.  The Compromise of 1850 amended the Fugitive Slave Act and abolished the slave trade in Washington D.C.  Calhoun's speech went on to express his feelings about the growing divide between the North and the South, and how this lack of unity would only damage the country.  Similarly, the Missouri Compromise, created by Henry Clay in 1820, dealt with the issue of slavery vs. anti-slavery states.  Both the North and South wanted to make sure that there was an equal number of slave and non-slave states.  As a result, Missouri was created as a slave state while Maine was created as a non-slave state. 

LAD/Blog #13: Polk's War Message

Summary:
Polk started his message with an explanation of how the United States had previously been trying hard to maintain peace with Mexico.  He made it clear how America tried to reach out and support Mexico, only to have them fight back, invade the country, and even kill some Americans.  This upset was very unexpected, as Polk had previously sent John Slidell as a diplomat to negotiate terms of peace between the two countries.  The violent actions of the Mexicans led them to ignore Slidell's attempts for peace.  After being rejected multiple times by General Pardedes, Slidell returned to the US to report back to President Polk.  Once he got the news, Polk sent US troops down to the Del Norte River as defense.  Instead, these troops led to the Mexican's thinking the US soldiers were going to launch an attack.  Ultimately, Polk decided that this war was unavoidable, and order the US troops to fight back so the country would not appear weak. 

Polk's War Message was very similar to Madison's declaration in the War of 1812.  Both presidents did not want a war, but they also both thought the war was unavoidable and necessary due to conflicts with other countries that would not respect the US's wishes for neutrality and peace.  Both declarations were passed by Congress, both led to wars, and both wars were declared under the same mind set.

LAD/Blog #12: Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments

1.  Democratic Principles:

• All men and women are created equal
• All humans are given certain inalienable rights by their Creator: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• The government obtains its power through the governed peoples
• If the government fails to give these rights to the people, they have the right to overthrow the government and create a new one

2.  Grievances:

1. Men take away a woman's right to own property
   
2. Men take away a woman's right to their own wages
   
3. Men take away a woman's right to an education at college
   
4. Men take away a woman's right to have a say in government and the law
   
5. Men take away rights from women that are given to all other men
   

3.  Final Resolution:
In this declaration, women argue that they have been deprived of their natural rights for too long, and demand to be given these rights at once, as rightful citizens of the United States.

4.  Names:

1. Frederick Douglas
2. Henry Seymour
   
3. Thomas M'Clintock
   
4. Jacob Mathews
   
5. James Mott

Susan B. Anthony did not sign the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments.

Both the 19th Amendment and the earlier idea of Republican Motherhood were very similar to this Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments.  The declaration was signed by many women and men who were outraged with the lack of women's rights in the United States.  Similarly, the supporters of Republican Motherhood believed that women should not just be kept inside the home, and should be given a higher political status and place in the world.  The 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1920, finally giving women the right to vote, which was a step in the right direction to giving women equal rights that men already had.

LAD/Blog #11: Monroe Doctrine

Overall Message:
In his doctrine, President Madison wanted to be sure that the United States' foreign policy was spelled out clearly for all of the European powers, as to ensure that there would be no surprises in the near future.  He explicitly stated that America's rights when dealing with other countries must be protected, and therefore, his country will never even be considered as a potential colony for any other country in the future.  However, Monroe also explained how the US still had high hopes for other countries, such as Spain and Portugal, and their own personal success.  Any country that was completely independent, with no colonies or dependencies, were seen as okay to interact with.  Basically, this was the US' way of putting themselves first and making sure that the country was stable and flourishing before even starting to think about making allies or coming to the aid of other countries. 

Conditions:
Monroe believed in was in America's best interest to never interfere in future wars between European powers.  The country should only interfere or prepare for defense if Americans' own rights were denied.  Additionally, to ensure all neutrality, Monroe stated that the US would not interfere with colonies of European powers either, as that also would just stir up more trouble.  The main idea here was that America should, and would, remain neutral as it was best for the country and several other countries.  That being said, the policy further stated how European powers were to be held at blame, too, if something happened that jeopardized America's happiness and stability, such as a war.  It wasn't just all on America's shoulders to remain neutral.  

Washington's original Proclamation of Neutrality in 1973 is very similar to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823.  Both of these important documents were scripted under the main idea of neutrality.  Washington, as the first President of the United States, first introduced the idea of neutrality, in order to keep the US safe after their gaining of independence after the Revolutionary War.  However, after several events in history, such as the War of 1812, President Monroe saw it necessary to once again lay out the rules and guidelines of neutrality as the previous proclamation was not enough to keep the US from interacting with other countries.  Thus, the Monroe Doctrine was born, in order to preserve and ensure the nation's neutrality, just like it had been for the first time in Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality. 

LAD/Blog #10: Jefferson's First Inaugural

First and foremost, Jefferson elaborated on how he planned on leading with the people instead of leading the people.  He knew that he could not achieve all of the greatness he had hoped just by acting himself.  Jefferson told the people that he would look to them for "encouragement" and "guidance" during his term as president.  Also, Jefferson believed that his people could truly unite together under their freedoms and rights, which would make the nation stronger as a whole.  He planned on working hard not just in politics but also in the social aspect of his country.  Jefferson explained how he would try his best to accept anyone (no matter their beliefs) and how he willed for his people to do the same.  "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."  "Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle."  Jefferson believed that uniting would make his nation stronger, and make his government successful despite the differences in political parties.  Additionally, Jefferson believed in equal rights for all men, and making friendships but not alliances with foreign nations.  He planned on establishing his term with freedoms of speech, religion, and traits of liberty and peace.  Overall, Jefferson's inaugural address was filled with his beliefs and goals as president, to make his country flourish.

Washington and Jefferson's inaugural addresses were fairly similar, and also are connected in a way.  Both, obviously, were inaugural addresses where each man took an oath and promised to do what was best for the country.  Washington's address warned the country about factions, and he advised the country to stay strong and not let these potential political differences weaken the country and the government.  Ironically, Jefferson's address is important because this was the first election were factions and political differences were present.  The gap between Federalists and Republicans was growing wider and wider, and in his address, Jefferson explained how he believed (similarly to Washington) that it was best for the nation to put aside their differences and work together in order to be successful.

Blog #9: Columbus

Was Columbus a hero or a villain?

When Columbus first arrived in the new world,  he was approached by the natives with gifts of food, water, and other goods of great value.  Even though he was greeted with such acceptance, Columbus took some of their people forcefully, in order to gain information about where the treasures (gold) of the land were.  From the moment he met them, the man had plans for how to control them and take advantage of them by using them for his own purposes.  Since he had managed to secure ships for his journey through promising the king and queen of Spain treasure, Columbus knew that he needed to find the gold that was said to be hidden within the land.  If he brought back what he promised, they would give him 10% of the wealth in return.  This was Columbus' motivation.  This certainly reflected the villain inside of him.  Additionally, he stole the reward (a high yearly pension) from the man who first spotted land by claiming that he saw it hours beforehand.  Since the Arawak Indians were fairly poor and had no gold with them, this led Columbus to take them in as his prisoners until they gave him information about where to find the gold.  A hero would never hurt others to get what he wants.  Beyond that, Columbus even resulted to killing a few of his prisoners, and then left others of them to die when winter came.  Further, he exaggerated his findings and discoveries to the people back home, gaining him a second expedition with even more men and ships.  His aim for gold was increased with a desire for slaves, using women and children for sex and labor.  Columbus may have brought wealth to his country, but the price he paid was terrible.  His desire for gold made him mad, as he grew desperate for the fame and wealth he thought he deserved.  Columbus, when he realized that too many of his slaves were dying while held captive, decided to get his wealth in another way.  If a slave failed to provide him with the gold he sought, its hands would be cut off and the slave would be left to bleed to death.  Columbus' thirst for wealth left him without any moral values.  On the other hand, historians and other accounts from people who knew him may say that Columbus was indeed a hero, because of his faith in God and how much he achieved for Spain.  Given all of the things that Columbus did, good and bad, he was a villain to a greater extent.

The British policy and belief in mercantilism was similar to Columbus' belief that the native peoples in America existed to benefit his own country (Spain).  For example, Columbus used the Arawak Indians to provide him with information, labor, and gold.  Similarly, Great Britain used the American colonies for more power, natural resources, more people, etc.  In both situations, people were taken advantage of for the good of others.

Presidents LAD/BLog #8: Washington's Farewell Address

Summary:
When Washington retired from office, he made it very clear that he was doing it for the good of the country and that he thought it was time for a new leader to stand up and take his place.  He explained how he always felt supported by the people, and how he hoped that he would still have that even when he left office.  Washington believed that he changed America's government for the better, by making it stronger and organizing its administration.  He proved himself true to his country, and wanted to ensure that he was leaving it in good hands.  One of his biggest points in this address is to remain true to the Constitution and the foundations of government that America built.  Also, Washington stressed the importance of good moral character for the survival of the country.  At the same time, he talked about how the presence of evil is completely natural, but still has to be faced and overcome.  Additionally, the former President mentioned how he believed in being involved politically with outside influences (countries) as little as possible to avoid conflict, but also in maintaining their already made contracts and such to show good faith.  The address, as a whole, is very straightforward, wise, and patriotic.

Warnings:

1.  Washington warned the country to let unity and experience solve its problems.  He knew that being united in the past helped the country to survive, so he thought it best to warn the people to learn from their past and move forward with intelligence.  Washington passed on his wisdom of knowing that his country had a greater chance of survival and growth as long as it stayed united.

2.  Further, Washington warned his country to stay true to the government that he and the other founding fathers worked hard to build and establish.  He reminded everyone that this was the form of government they had decided on, and that he was convinced the government was without flaws.  Therefore, he wanted everyone (especially those involved in politics) to be sensible and remember that the government's power came from the people, not just a single leader.

3. Finally, Washington warned the people to "cherish public credit."  He knew that the country could potentially be doomed if a heavy sum of debt was somehow acquired.  Washington warned his country to preserve public credit by using it as little as possible, for this would ensure that debt was avoided (if debt was acquired, it would lead them down the same road to taxes and rebellions that the country previously faced with Britain).

Harry Truman's farewell to the Oval Office was quite similar to Washington's farewell address.  Both Presidents shared valuable information with America, by reflecting on choices they made during their term, and also by predicting what was to come and how the country should handle it.  For example, Truman talked about his decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, while Washington talked about how he worked very hard to build the democracy that still stands in American today.

LAD/Blog #7: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Washington's proclamation of neutrality states that if the United States is ever involved in a war against multiple world powers, the country will not favor one side more so than the others, and will act justly.  Further, it states that the United States should agree to remain neutral as a country, and be involved in dangerous world matters as little as possible.  Washington warns the people not to act out of good character, for it could upset the balance of power between the countries.  It also states that citizens of the United States should be willing to take blame and responsibility for their actions if they ever commit unjust actions against any other world power.  Anyone that acts out alone hostilely against another country should not rely on having the protection of the United States, for they have betrayed the country by going against what the people as a whole agree on.  Washington's main message here is to make everyone aware of the potential consequences,

During the 1930s (around the time of the Great Depression and World War I), the United States decided to follow a policy of isolationism.  This policy ensured that the US government would not be involved in the ongoing conflicts between the rest of the world.  This is similar to Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality, because they both existed for the purpose of keeping the US out of world affairs.

LAD/Blog #6: Federalist Paper #10

Federalist Paper #10

1.  What is a faction?
 A faction is a group of people with the same interest, often protesting against the government or standing up for their freedoms.  These political factions may be radical and small or even the majority of people.  Factions are fueled by a desire for different liberties. 

2.  Are factions good or bad?
 Factions are typically bad, because when these people with a common goal and interest unite together, their strength in numbers may lead them to commit bad crimes or fight strongly for what they personally believe in.

3.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?
Factions are so difficult to eliminate because they can only be dealt with by removing the causes of the faction, or by controlling its effects.  As a whole though, an entire faction is very hard to remove because all people will never think exactly the same way.  Differences in opinions will always exist, and therefore will always create more factions against the law or other beliefs (such as religion).

4.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?
Factions can be controlled by ensuring that every person is treated the same way, and given the same rights and freedoms.  A second way of controlling a faction is by getting rid of the liberty or freedom that fuels the faction's existence.  Further, factions can be controlled even more by creating a republican form of government, and making the republic large would help to prevent the republic itself from turning into a faction.

The Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers are similar because they both promote certain political ideals, and impacted many even through they were only written by few.  The Federalist Papers were written to promote the ratification of the new constitution, and were used as a tool to persuade the public to support the new constitution.  Likewise, the Declaration of Independence was written to promote independence among the colonies, and to get them all on the same page so that they would be ready to fight against Britain.

Blog #5: Republican Motherhood

1.  What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The Revolutionary War made it so that women became more accomplished and confident in their role in society, with the majority of men out on the battle fronts.  Women became the glue that held the colonies together while the war was going on, and therefore were more supported than ever before (Document C).  With less and less men involved in politics and society, it was up to women to step up into that abandoned role (Document D).

2.  What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
One consequence of Republican Motherhood on women was that they were once again put into a sort of "appropriate and appointed sphere," which designated their place and role in society.  Granted, their role changed for the better, but they women were still being told what they could and could not do (Document A).

3.  What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
Women were given more of a political role in society, which held them up to a higher standard; because of this, women were becoming more significant and respected in societies (Document A).  Also, women were given more equal rights to men.  For example, it became required for women to have a certain level of education, including reading, writing, and a basic understanding of mathematics and geography (Document B).  Additionally, more and more people were coming to the realization that women were not solely useful around the household.  Women were becoming more accepted in society and in politics, and even were looked to as the future of the nation.

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

1.  Describe the setting.
A woman is sitting on a couch and looking directly at the viewer, with two of her children.  One child is on her lap, looking away from the viewer, while the other child is at her side and looking straight at the viewer.  All three appear to be smiling.

2.  Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she "republican" instead of aristocratic?
The woman is at the center of the portrait because she is the focal point of the piece of art.  She is wearing a delicate looking, simple shirt.  The majority of her hair is pulled back from her face, but not in a fancy updo.  The woman is more "republican" than aristocratic because her outfit is fairly plan and simple, instead of elegant and extravagant.  

3.  What values do her sons' exhibit?
Her sons exhibit values of obedience and intelligence.  Both are sitting calmly and straightly, and are dressed fairly moderately.  They seem to be very well behaved and, like their mother, have a respectful and reserved factor to them.

4.  Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
 Mrs. Tilghman's arm is placed in front of the child on her lap, keeping him from squirming or sliding off her lap.  Her arm is loose around the boy, keeping him in place but not hurting him.  The significance of this is that it represents how women were stepping up to be more of a civil role model for their children.

Women's suffrage movements were similar to the Republican Motherhood in that they both dealt with women gaining new freedoms and respect. With the Republican Motherhood, women were given more educational rights and a higher position in society while their husbands were off fighting in the Revolutionary War.  Likewise, women's suffrage movements and protests ultimately led to the 19th amendment (1920), which gave women the right to vote.  Since men already had the right to vote by that time, this new right gave women more equality and a higher status in society.