LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

Summary
Washington politely declines the proposition that he's to be among the people considered to lead their new government. He emphasizes that it wasn't because he didn't care about them or because he wasn't grateful for what they'd done, but because he thought it would be in their better interest for the future. He says he didn't really want to come out of retirement anyway, but the foreign situation and the fact people wanted him as a leader made him feel obligated to do it. He wants to leave politics and lead a relaxed life. He praises the stability and effectiveness of the federal government. He also issues several warnings: one, that a political party system might divide America because of conflicting interests; two, that the United States should remain neutral in foreign issues and shouldn't form permanent alliances, lest it lead to war; and three, that a large army isn't necessary to the preservation of the nation. He asks for forgiveness of any mistakes he may have made while in office, and closes with a remark on his anticipation of the relaxation he would be able to have under the new, good federal government.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Summary
Washington said that while Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands were at war with France, the U.S. should remain neutral and act respectful towards all those powers. He instructed against aiding either side in the war. He also made it clear that if they were caught aiding any power, they would be subject to punishment from the opposing power and would not receive the protection of the U.S.

LAD #5: Federalist #10

An advertisement for The Federalist newspaper.

1.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

They're strong forces built of people united with by a common impulse of passion. They can theoretically be eliminated by removing its causes (by destroying the liberty it needs to exist, or by giving every citizen the same passions, opinions, or interests); however, these are impossible to achieve, as liberty is essential to political life, and it's in the nature of humans to develop their own independent thoughts on things.

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

The effects of factions must be controlled. This can be achieved by outvoting them, if they are a minority. It is harder to control them if they are a majority, so the prevention of the same passion in a majority of people is preferable. If they do constitute a majority of the population, the people in it "must be rendered, by their number and local situation, unable to concert and carry into effect their various schemes of oppression." Basically, they need to be prevented from having a say.

Republican Motherhood Blog

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

Some believed that the service men paid during the Revolutionary War, protecting the rights of the people of America, would be forgotten since the war was so long. They said that, while raiding their sons, a Republican mother should "[watch] the gradual openings of their minds" and teach them about the values the American soldiers defended and thus prepare him to be fit for the next generation of men (Document C).

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

They were presented as vital to the family, saying that the men couldn't get jobs "without the assistance of the female members of the community" (Document B). However, they were normally confined to the house, as many people believed their duties lay strictly in the home and that it would be the place she could best serve the country, and they believed that nature dictated that home was her "appropriate and appointed sphere of action" (Document A).

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

They were encouraged to be educated in English and literature, and to be knowledgeable about republicanism, to be able to raise their sons properly and be the "stewards and guardians of their husbands' property." As they were the ones who would raise their children and educate them well about values, they were given more respect since the next generation of men depended on them. Their supposed role was in the home, which was considered the "cradle of the human race," where they bolstered the population with educated sons (Document A).

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons; painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1789

1. Describe the setting.

There is a woman on a sofa with her two young sons sitting on her lap / near her. The room is lit and it looks as if they're posing for a picture.

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the woman look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?

Mary Gibson Tilghman is at the center of the portrait because she's the main subject of the piece, and she's being presented as a mother to her two young sons. She looks proud to be a mother, with a small smile. She doesn't appear to be dressed as a wealthy aristocrat would; instead, she is dressed modestly.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

They both have good posture and appear to be well behaved. Like their mother, they look proud, but are dressed in simpler clothes.

4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?

It is placed across her younger son's lap, holding him back gently. It shows the role of women to bring up their sons to be responsible and well-behaved.

Blog #4: Revolution Article

 

The violent Battle of Saratoga

1. A little more than 1% of the American population died in the American Revolution (30,000 out of 2.5 million), about 1 in 4 who fought in the Continental Army. 50,000 British soldiers died, about 1 in 4 who fought.

2. There are many misconceptions about historical events because someone influential remembered it a certain way, influencing others to believe they remembered it that way as well. For example, many believe that Washington "won the war single-handedly."

3. Most people remember it as a revolution and not as a war. They probably wouldn't be able to name any soldiers aside from Washington and a couple others. None of seven famous paintings of the Revolution depict a battle scene. It has been downplayed because it lies between the Revolution/Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Constitution.

4. In the Revolutionary War, weapons were less effective than in the Civil War, so battles were close-range and sometimes led to bayonet charges and close combat rather than just using guns. The casualties were great as they shot from small distances.

5. 0.5% of civilians died because of the war in both the Revolutionary and the Civil War. Loyalists were punished greatly, having their possessions and property taken and sold, and 100,000 went into exile.

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

1. Democratic Principles

The Declaration mainly focuses on the idea that humans should be separate and equal. It states some of the peoples' unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) and that the people have the right to abolish any government they find to be against those rights, and create a new one. It emphasizes how the U.S. suffered under British rule and that they therefore have a right to build themselves a new government. 

2. List of grievances

Some of the complaints made against King George were of his refusal to pass laws the people deemed important, his unfair practices relating to politics and refusal of voting, discouraging things like immigration for his own benefit, attempting to control and suppress the American government, trying to control the population with armed people to whom he gave protection, cutting off their trading, and taxing and trying people without good reason. He's also accused of destroying the lives of many Americans.

3. Conclusion

Their petitions to the king before had only been met with injury, and they label the king a tyrant. Finally, it states that they've warned the king multiple times before of the unfair measures they'd been placing over them and they were getting sick of it, and they declared themselves dissolved from any political relationship with Britain.

LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

Depiction of John Peter Zenger's trial, with Alexander Hamilton defending

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

Zenger was a German immigrant who, after serving an apprenticeship as a printer of the New York Gazette, became a printer of the New York Weekly Journal. He wrote in it in opposition to the colonial governor, William Cosby, who had removed Chief Justice Lewis Morris in favor of James Delaney when he had been unable to agree with him on his salary. His articles criticizing Cosby got him condemned and arrested for seditious libel. 

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

Zenger was arrested for seditious libel. The prosecution said that the fact he published the offending articles should be enough to convict him of libel, but Hamilton argued that, while it was true that Zenger published stories that criticized Cosby, it could not be considered libel since it could in fact be proved true. He was acquitted.

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

It showed that if a statement was true, it could not be considered libel, and established that the truth is "an absolute defense against libel." This affected, and will affect, future cases with similar circumstances.

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

Freedom of the press was affirmed as it promised that articles criticizing someone could be legally published as long as it was true.

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

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The people who wrote it agreed to combine themselves into "a civil Body Politick" to aid in their goal of creating a colony in the northern parts of Virginia and to preserve order. They would enact laws that were agreed upon to be for the good of the colony and promised to abide by these laws.

2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect an attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?

It shows an attachment to the Old World in its loyalty to the drafters' leader, whom they refer to as "our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith." It shows attachment to the New World when it said one body would be formed, which would follow laws they developed, a bit more like democracy. This was different from the monarchy of the Old World.

3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?

The Fundamental Orders outlined how the governor and magistrates would be elected or nominated, as well as requirements and restrictions for their election / nominations, while the Compact just gave a general "civil Body Politick." The Orders are purely for setting up the government of Connecticut and establishing processes and taxes and are considered a constitution (possibly the first).

4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?

They wanted to set up a government for Connecticut without giving too much power to one person but still enough to be effective and not be able to be ignored, so they laid down all restrictions, requirements, and voting / ballot procedures in a written document that was signed to ensure that people stuck to it. This way, it could be used as a reliable set of "rules" and they wouldn't have to give up their democratic ways in the future.

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?

They are in place to ensure that the leaders can't be in charge and carry out whatever they wish without common consent from the people they govern. According to the Orders, all the officials have to be nominated and voted for their positions by the people. If the government officials fail to fulfill their duty, they can be overridden in some situations; for example, if they don't call courts required in the Orders, freemen can petition and call them themselves. This prevents the governor / magistrates from having too much power without repercussions.

The Mayflower Compact

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

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