LAD #10: Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine was effective on December 2nd, 1823. The Doctrine was a message from the United States to the European powers in order to control their territory. None of the European countries were to try to imperialize American lands. Britain and Russia agreed, and they claimed that it was time for Europe to stop colonial ventures; their affairs from here on out should be domestic only. The USA said that any attempt at colonization would be considered a threat to America and that the American military would then take appropriate action.

LAD #9: Jefferson's First Innaugural Address

In Jefferson's first Inaugural Address he recognizes that America is a country that is still growing. Jefferson looks forward to serving as President and thanks the people for their support. He says that if the country starts to fail him, he will look to the Constitution and wishes to continue with evergrowing prosperity. He strongly believed that the nation should stay whole and united through thick and thin, knowing that all problems that were overcome would only make the nation stronger. The country united was something sacred and should be kept and glorified. Political parties, stated Jefferson, would  not divide the principles and foundation that the United States was built upon. Jefferson spoke out against problems like slavery and lack of religious tolerance. He would try his hardest to avoid a war with Europe and stay neutral. He voiced his opinions on keeping good values and not letting the bad overpower them. Jefferson wraps up his address by saying that while in office, he will do his best to keep everybody's rights equal and just. He promotes agriculture and trade. Jefferson says that, to the best of his ability, he will do what is best for the nation.

Columbus Blog #8

Christopher Columbus receives a holiday in his honor in America. Columbus was known as the European Explorer who found North America, but others seem to tell a different story. Columbus originally set out to find a new water route to Asia and happened upon America instead. He was supported by Spain in his efforts to sail west to encounter the East Indies islands as well. Although Columbus's voyage to America was the first one that successfully linked America to Europe (the first people to really find America were the Norse, led by Leif Ericson), Columbus was very greedy and there is a whole side of him that people may not know or they choose to overlook; Christopher Columbus was definitely more of a villain than he was a hero.
 Columbus actually thought that America was India when he first arrived, and he incorrectly named the Native Americans "Indians." He waltzed into North America and claimed that the land belonged to Europe even though there were already Natives and Vikings living there. He caused a genocide of the Native Americans, killing hundreds. He forced slavery upon the Caribbean too. Multiple Americans have protested and said that Columbus day should not be a real holiday. One of the men on the Pinta was named Rodrigo de Triana, and he was rumored to have seen land first. He shouted to the other ships that there was land ahead, but Columbus knew that the first man to spot land would receive a hefty sum of money. Columbus lied and said that he had seen the land the night before, making him the first person to spot it and therefore eligible to obtain the money. Columbus was very deceitful and was later jailed for his crimes against humanity.

LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's "Farewell Address" was written for the people of the United States more than it was for himself. He served two terms, but even thought that that was too long. He worked for over 30 years for his country and he was ready for retirement after his second term ended, in which he would move to his house on the tope of Mount Vernon to spend time with his wife, Martha. He would have retired sooner, but felt obligated to his country. He was grateful towards the Unites States and happy that so far, the Constitution was a big success. Washington originally wrote the letter before his second term with the help of James Madison, but didn't end up using it until after his second term because he believed that there was greater troubles rising in the United States and because of this, people needed his help as a leader. Alexander Hamilton helped him revise his address after his second term was finished. Washington tells the people how wonderful the new government is and how it will continue to grow and flourish without him. He felt that his services as both a president and a leader were simply not needed anymore by the people because the nation had become a lot stronger. He also told the people that he never believed that he was truly qualified to be president, but his accomplishments were because of the support of the people. He believed that the states must remain peaceful and help each other. This was the only way for the United States to truly become successful. Similr to his famous Proclamation of Neutrality, Washington said that the United States had to stay neutral and not get into any wars and that the states should trade economically, not politically. This Farewell Address set multiple precedents for future presidents and addressed multiple issues of the time period.

Republican Motherhood

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
Women were expected to work at home, and obly at home. If a woman were to leave her home to go out in public and be social, it was known that she was neglecting her duties as a housewife. This is clearly demonstrated, written "Our chief aim throughout these pages is to prove that her domestic duties had a paramount claim over everything else upon her attention" (Document A). Women's education was no longer just like men's education in the sense that women learned things such as manners, writing, English, and how to run a household (Document B).
2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
Women were required to stay at home everyday and shape the family.  They learned new sets of values in order to make a household and family run smoothly and efficiently (Document B). Women wished to grow in society, but were confined to the household, forever trapped in their gender role (Document D).
3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
Women were the forming factor of the typical American family. Women believed themselves to be very strong and did everything they could to earn respect and honor for their sex (Document C). Women had the power to change the world for the better, and they knew so. Although they had as much potential as men, they chose not to challenge their roles because if they did, they knew that turmoil would befall society (Document D).

1. Describe the setting.
Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons seem to be sitting on a luxurious couch, and their clothing looks to be quite expensive. They may have been in a portrait studio.
2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the woman look? How is she "republican" rather than aritocratic?
Mary is the central focus of the painting because she is the woman of the family and appears to be holding the family together. She looks very serene and calm, as if her job as a mother came naturally to her. She looks very calm, as if she accepts her role as a woman and doesn't want a female uprising, which she would if she were an aristocrat.
3. What values do her sons exhibit?
Her sons exhibit almost barbarity, as we see the one on the left reaching or stuggling out of Mary's grasp and the one on the right shows off a dead bird. The one on the right is also brighter than the one on Mary's lap. Perhaps one of the sons represents order, and the other chaos.
4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
If the reader assumes that the son of the left represents disorder whilst the son on the right represents order, Mary's arm would be the dividing line between the two. Mary stands for all Republican women, and her arm in this position is significant because it implies that without women, life for the early Americans may have been offbalance, eventually ending in destruction.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

In Philadelphia, George Washington wrote his Proclamation of Neutrality. In this Proclamation, he speaks to the people of the United States about the many wars going on outside of the country. He warns the Americans that the wars, under no cicumstances, are not to be interfered with. The United States was to to choose or aid a particular side. If a citizen or group of citizens broke this neutrality and aided a country in battle, it was stated that the United States would not be held accountable. Those people who chose sides were also to be punished in some form.

LAD #5: The Federalist #10

1.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

Factions are so difficult to eliminate for a few reasons. The first reason in that if factions were eliminated, the liberty of the colonial citizens would be abolished as well. The second reason is that the colonials would be forced to conform and have the same thoughts, interests, and passions. Because liberty is the basis of political life and essential to the well being of the colonies and the governments, liberty cannot be taken away with factions. If everyone was forced to have the same thoughts and ideas, the United States would transform into a Communism rather than a democracy. It is impossible to request that men have the same thoughts because having original thoughts is inevitable and man has a liberty to exercise free thought.

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

The factions themselves cannot be removed, but the effects of those factions can be altered. Laws regulating factions were put into place. If a majority of a group vote for something, then that majority defeats the minority in the process. When the faction includes a majority of the population, it can be controlled as well. Another cure for the faction issues is a government in which there is representation and equal delegation of power. Each state is limited to a certain number of delegates so that no one state can overpower another. There must be a large enough group of delegates to get work done, but a small enough group to prevent arguments and be successful.