LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

Washington's Farewell Address, 1796

In Washington's Farewell Address, he announces that he will be retiring from the position of president in order to lead a calmer life as he gets older. In his address he also warns of things that could be dangerous to the government, like the development of different political parties as it could destroy the unity of the country (especially if certain regions have a tendency to be affiliated with any one party). He also warns against excessive involvement with other countries, forming permanent alliances, and suggests resisting foreign influences. Washington further states that the U.S. should have as little political connection with trading partners as possible, and thinks neutrality is the best option in most situations, recommending that they should "cultivate peace and harmony with all." Washington also recommends that the military be prevented from being "overgrown" since it's unpromising towards liberty.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

The Proclamation of Neutrality, 1793

In his Proclamation of Neutrality, Washington states that the U.S. will "with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers," meaning that the United States won't take any sides and treat each country (Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, the United Netherlands, and France) the same. He also warns the citizens of the U.S. not to take any actions which would contradict those actions., and if they do they could be punished by law.

LAD #5: The Federalist #10

#10 of The Federalist Papers

1. Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

It's nearly impossible to eliminate them because the only ways to do that are to get rid of people's freedom of choice, or to give them the same opinions. Getting rid of liberty would lead to more problems as it's necessary to political life, and giving them the same opinions wouldn't work either because as long as people's reasons vary, usually due to different circumstances and backgrounds, they can form different opinions about the smallest things or become biased.

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

Factions can be controlled by controlling their effects. If the faction is a minority, then it can be controlled by the majority voting against it. If the faction is a majority, the ways to control it are to prevent the existence of the same passion or interest binding it together, or the members must be made unable to put their plan into effect.

Republican Motherhood Blog

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

Women in the Revolutionary War were able to contribute more to the war effort than they had been able to before. With the men gone fighting, women were the ones left to support them from home as well as raise good citizens during the war, preparing them by teaching their children the principles of liberty and government (Document B). They started to have a more active role in society.

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

They were given more responsibility in making sure that their children grew up to be good members of society- it was said that the home was the cradle of humanity and women were to pass along values they had learned  (Document A). It was also deemed important to educate women "in the branches of literature" so they could be effective teachers to their own children. (Document B). This gave them more influence in how society was run (Document D).

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

When women in this time period began to get more responsibility in their lives, it helped them to realize all of the possibilities of what could happen in the future. Their education and increased influence in society served an important role for helping them to push for more responsibility later on, and become much more than just a caretaker of the children.

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her Sons by Charles Wilson Peale, 1789

1. The setting:

Mrs. Tilghman and her sons are sitting on a sofa for this portrait, but her husband isn't with them. They don't seem to be upset about that, though.

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

The mother is at the center, suggesting that she is fundamental to the family and is responsible for many things in the household. She looks moderately wealthy, but could be considered republican rather than aristocratic because she's actively bring up her children and being a part of their lives rather than hiring someone else to take care of them, which is what an aristocratic person might do.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

Her sons seem to have a close bond with her, likely because she spends a lot of time with them and cares for them to have a prominent role in their lives.

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

Mrs. Tilghman is holding her son close to her, showing that she cares for him a lot and has spent time raising her children with affection.

LAD #4- Revolution Article

5 Things Learned from "Rethinking the Revolution" by John Ferling

John Ferling

• In post-revolution Boston, the emergent elite was confronted with a growing labor movement, and tried to downplay the role of the working class in protests against the Stamp Act and in the Boston Tea Party.

• As time went on, the war was remembered for symbols and rebellion, not the actual battles that took place which misleads many people about the nature of the war.

• Historians wrote a lot about the revolution itself, as well as the Constitutional Convention, but skipped over the actual war which conveyed that it wasn't as important.

• Conditions in the war were so bad at one point that the Continental Army tried to make soup out of shoes.

• There was about a 50/50 chance that a Continental soldier would survive captivity during the war, though the odds of dying in battle were closer to 1/10.

LAD #3: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

1. Democratic Principles

The Declaration of Independence states that there are certain rights, a few being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that all men are allowed, and if their government withholds any of these rights from them and becomes oppressive they are able to make a new government that would better serve the people.

2. Grievances

 A few of the grievances the colonists listed included King George III dissolving their representative houses for speaking out about his infractions on  the rights of the citizens. They also had complained that he left standing armies amongst them during times of peace, and for taxing the colonies without their approval. Another grievance the colonists had was with King George III paying judges directly in order to try and influence them to join Britain's side.

3. Conclusion

In the conclusion the colonists clearly and firmly state that they want to be separate from the British crown, with the new united colonies declaring themselves to be free and independent states. They're also sending a very clear message in the hopes that this document won't be ignored like many of the other petitions they had sent to correct grievances.

LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

John Peter Zenger

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

He was a German immigrant who had served an apprenticeship under the printer of the New York Gazette. He later became the printer and editor of the newspaper The New York Weekly Journal, which was established as an opposition newspaper to Governor William Cosby. Zenger published articles that were critical of Cosby and his corrupt actions to gain more political influence, such as replacing the Chief Justice Lewis Morris with someone who agreed more with his views. Cosby condemned these newspaper articles as "scandalous, virulent, false, and seditious reflections."

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

Zenger was arrested and thrown in jail under charges of seditious libel. He went to Philadelphia for his trial, defended by Andrew Hamilton. It was argued that just because these negative articles were published that they would be enough evidence to convict Zenger, but Hamilton appealed directly to the jury that the statements weren't libel if they could be proved. The jury then shortly after acquitted him.

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

The outcome of Zenger's trial displayed that if a certain statement is true, then it can't possibly be libel, and made the truth an effective defense against accusation of being libelous. This would help to change the outcomes of future cases with accusations similar to these.

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

It was a landmark victory for freedom of the press, and guaranteed that newspapers could be allowed to print slanderous articles as long as what they were saying was true. Libel trials were also influenced by changing how libel was categorized.

LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

  

The Mayflower Compact

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The concepts included are the formation of their own government, and making and passing their own laws.

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

It reflects attachments to the Old World by stating the writers were loyal subjects of the king as well as making the colony in honor of the king and their country. It reflects attachments to the New World as well, by demonstrating a more democratic form of government and by making laws themselves in order to govern.

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

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were much more thorough in establishing the rules and laws of the society, and were more detailed in making sure that the government would work for a long time. The Mayflower Compact was more vague and temporary so it didn't give a solid definition of what its government should be like.


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


The colonists wanted to make sure that this government would be able to last a long time without sacrificing the democratic ideals of it as the years went on. They also wanted to make a government that would be strong and effective enough to govern the three towns that were joining together.


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 governor, constables, magistrates, and other officials are all voted into their position by the people, and certain measures are taken to prevent corruption within the government- for example, is the governor or magistrates fail to call necessary courts, the freemen can petition and carry out the duty of the court themselves if they are ignored, preventing the governor or magistrates from trying to take complete control of the government. The colonists write out rules that make sure it's impossible to be in charge of the colony without the consent of the general population.

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