Summary:
When Thomas Jefferson first took office in 1801, he was knew of the power and responsibilities he would be granted upon doing so. Although there other problems and issues arising in his country -which was still in the developmental state-, he spoke with such ingenuity and awareness that he appeared well prepared to become its third President. Jefferson observed the honor and happiness in what would be his citizens, and hoped to maintain these aspects of their lives through his Presidency. He looked to the other men involved in the government- namely legislation and the Congress- for what aid he needed, along with support to undertake future conflicts. He relented to the Constitution, saying that all would "arrange themselves under the will of the law." Jefferson asked that all Americans come together to protect their unity, claiming that they all had a common goal in mind, and were both Republicans and Federalists, therefore Americans. He called The United States' political body the strongest government on Earth due to the representation it allowed to its people. The third President of the United States asked that they set an example for following generations, whether through their morals or the rights granted by the government.
Upon entering his presidency, Thomas Jefferson promised to abide by the regulations administered by the government and Constitution, deeming them essential to his country and the peoples' rights -his favorites being freedom of the press and religion, alongside freedom of a person under 'habeas corpus'. Jefferson had gained governmental experience while working toward American independence decades earlier, and told Americans that while there would often be times when his judgment may not be impartial, he claimed that any errors on his behalf would never be intentional. In his closing he wrote that if ever seen as necessary, the people had the right to remove his from office due to the power they themselves held as individuals.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Columbus Blog #8
-Should Christopher Columbus be considered a hero or a villain?
While he was thought to have 'discovered' the Americas in the year 1492 -despite the fact that there were already people leaving there- Christopher Columbus' character was not without flaws. Granted, no one man is perfect, but there are some actions or traits are a bit more than unnecessary in a person.
Upon his arrival to the Caribbean isles, Columbus encountered a great deal of people native to these lands, and despite appearances, this event seemed to throw him off a bit, though he had expected to arrive in India or China. The initial response between the two was fairly warm, as trade was prosperous, yet took a turn when Columbus began demanding gold. Due to the short supply of the desired metal, Columbus and his men quickly began enslaving the Indian people, shipping them back to Spain as compensation for failing to find gold. What little gold was acquired was by the labor of the slaves held captive back in the Caribbean, and even then, those who failed to do so were either bled to death or killed. Columbus used religion a great deal to defend their pursuit in the islands, and due to the desire for gold and glory furthered by Columbus, Indians died by the thousands at the hands of Spaniards. Any of their attempts to flee resulted in their demise. While his conquest was not as gruesome as that of Hernando Cortes toward the Aztecs Columbus did establish a pattern of bloodshed and ignorance toward the Natives that was followed all through the development of the Spanish, English, and American colonies.
Contrary to information taught to children in elementary schools and the celebration of the so-called 'Columbus Day', Christopher Columbus was not the hero he was made out to be. As Howard Zinn even questioned, "Was all this bloodshed and deceit a necessity for the human race to progress from savagery to civilization?" It is a misfortune that this appears to have been the thought during Columbus' initial discovery, and although he was not the only man to wage violence against the Indians, he definitely did little to stop it.
While he was thought to have 'discovered' the Americas in the year 1492 -despite the fact that there were already people leaving there- Christopher Columbus' character was not without flaws. Granted, no one man is perfect, but there are some actions or traits are a bit more than unnecessary in a person.
Upon his arrival to the Caribbean isles, Columbus encountered a great deal of people native to these lands, and despite appearances, this event seemed to throw him off a bit, though he had expected to arrive in India or China. The initial response between the two was fairly warm, as trade was prosperous, yet took a turn when Columbus began demanding gold. Due to the short supply of the desired metal, Columbus and his men quickly began enslaving the Indian people, shipping them back to Spain as compensation for failing to find gold. What little gold was acquired was by the labor of the slaves held captive back in the Caribbean, and even then, those who failed to do so were either bled to death or killed. Columbus used religion a great deal to defend their pursuit in the islands, and due to the desire for gold and glory furthered by Columbus, Indians died by the thousands at the hands of Spaniards. Any of their attempts to flee resulted in their demise. While his conquest was not as gruesome as that of Hernando Cortes toward the Aztecs Columbus did establish a pattern of bloodshed and ignorance toward the Natives that was followed all through the development of the Spanish, English, and American colonies.
Contrary to information taught to children in elementary schools and the celebration of the so-called 'Columbus Day', Christopher Columbus was not the hero he was made out to be. As Howard Zinn even questioned, "Was all this bloodshed and deceit a necessity for the human race to progress from savagery to civilization?" It is a misfortune that this appears to have been the thought during Columbus' initial discovery, and although he was not the only man to wage violence against the Indians, he definitely did little to stop it.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address
Summary of:
Washington's Farewell Address 1796
Washington wrote his Farewell Address while his final term was coming to a close and thought it was only decent to give the people of the United States a proper farewell. He thought it was necessary for him to step down at the time, but also included that he was grateful for the kindness he had been offered and said that there had been no negative influences forcing him to leave his title. Washington stated that he had already been preparing his Farewell Address before he was elected to a second term, but decided against it when the problems of foreign affairs had been brought up at the time. In his address, he also asks that the American citizens not to disapprove of his decision to retire.
He wrote that as President his intentions had only been for good, administering the government as best he could, yet after years of working in the government and the people, Washington had begun to welcome the idea of retirement, pleased with what had improved in the nation during his terms. Washington wanted the public to know that nothing much would have been accomplished had it not been for their continued support even among chaos and changing times in the country. The Constitution is all but in the hands of the people and will be taken care of by them and the government bodies, he said. Unity was now important to the country, and liberty should be a given. However, measures must be taken and undergone to maintain this and overcome difficulties.
Washington said that the Americans, while differing in degrees, had a common cause and principles, and will most often had the pride of patriotism embedded within them, even though some convicts are sometimes overshadowed by the idea for self-gain and interest. He brings up the notion that the states will have to work with one another, and will benefit as a whole because of this whether from merely goods or services or from deeper principles gained from unity. Washington wrote that "In this sense it is that your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other," to further support that idea.
He does warn against some of the power of factions as well, claiming that they often turn out to be their own worst enemy, and that there may or may not be hostilities when one faction gains more ground than another. Washington urges that citizens in a free country take caution when electing others into higher roles in the administration of the government, as they ought to be aware of who in fact they are granting power to, while also making sure that one 'department' of the government has not hindered the power another. If one of these branches is deemed 'in the wrong', they may be amended in any way seen fit by the Constitution within reason. Washington offers the idea that the government is also partly in the hands of the very people it governs, thus making it a democracy.
Most of George Washington's Farewell Address was at first offering gratitude for the support he gained while serving as the United States first ever President, yet once he began writing after that, he went on to elaborate on the key aspects of America's new government, saying that the free citizens had just as an important role as those directly involved in the government. He warns his people about foreign affairs, claiming that while it may be perfectly necessary to have commercial relations, political connections should be very few, and a system of neutrality may be a key policy to use. Washington acknowledges that he has made errors, though not intentionally, yet asks that his people and nation not hold these mistakes against him.
George Washington had nothing but pride for his country and his citizens at the end of his Presidency and the beginning of his retirement, wanting them to forever enjoy life under a government by the people and for the people, finally acquired after years of their suffering.
Washington's Farewell Address 1796
Washington wrote his Farewell Address while his final term was coming to a close and thought it was only decent to give the people of the United States a proper farewell. He thought it was necessary for him to step down at the time, but also included that he was grateful for the kindness he had been offered and said that there had been no negative influences forcing him to leave his title. Washington stated that he had already been preparing his Farewell Address before he was elected to a second term, but decided against it when the problems of foreign affairs had been brought up at the time. In his address, he also asks that the American citizens not to disapprove of his decision to retire.
He wrote that as President his intentions had only been for good, administering the government as best he could, yet after years of working in the government and the people, Washington had begun to welcome the idea of retirement, pleased with what had improved in the nation during his terms. Washington wanted the public to know that nothing much would have been accomplished had it not been for their continued support even among chaos and changing times in the country. The Constitution is all but in the hands of the people and will be taken care of by them and the government bodies, he said. Unity was now important to the country, and liberty should be a given. However, measures must be taken and undergone to maintain this and overcome difficulties.
Washington said that the Americans, while differing in degrees, had a common cause and principles, and will most often had the pride of patriotism embedded within them, even though some convicts are sometimes overshadowed by the idea for self-gain and interest. He brings up the notion that the states will have to work with one another, and will benefit as a whole because of this whether from merely goods or services or from deeper principles gained from unity. Washington wrote that "In this sense it is that your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other," to further support that idea.
He does warn against some of the power of factions as well, claiming that they often turn out to be their own worst enemy, and that there may or may not be hostilities when one faction gains more ground than another. Washington urges that citizens in a free country take caution when electing others into higher roles in the administration of the government, as they ought to be aware of who in fact they are granting power to, while also making sure that one 'department' of the government has not hindered the power another. If one of these branches is deemed 'in the wrong', they may be amended in any way seen fit by the Constitution within reason. Washington offers the idea that the government is also partly in the hands of the very people it governs, thus making it a democracy.
Most of George Washington's Farewell Address was at first offering gratitude for the support he gained while serving as the United States first ever President, yet once he began writing after that, he went on to elaborate on the key aspects of America's new government, saying that the free citizens had just as an important role as those directly involved in the government. He warns his people about foreign affairs, claiming that while it may be perfectly necessary to have commercial relations, political connections should be very few, and a system of neutrality may be a key policy to use. Washington acknowledges that he has made errors, though not intentionally, yet asks that his people and nation not hold these mistakes against him.
George Washington had nothing but pride for his country and his citizens at the end of his Presidency and the beginning of his retirement, wanting them to forever enjoy life under a government by the people and for the people, finally acquired after years of their suffering.
LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Summary of:
The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793
The Proclamation of Neutrality was written by George Washington in 1793 during a war in Europe -also known as the War of the First Coalition- between the countries of Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, the Netherlands and France while the new nation of the United States adopted a policy regarding this dispute. Washington declared that America was to remain impartial to the fighting nations, and would take no action against these nations in Europe. American citizens were not to aid or take up arms, creating no alliances and not promising protection to those in the war either. Anyone who did so in the United States would be violating the law and subject to prosecutions in court.
The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793
The Proclamation of Neutrality was written by George Washington in 1793 during a war in Europe -also known as the War of the First Coalition- between the countries of Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, the Netherlands and France while the new nation of the United States adopted a policy regarding this dispute. Washington declared that America was to remain impartial to the fighting nations, and would take no action against these nations in Europe. American citizens were not to aid or take up arms, creating no alliances and not promising protection to those in the war either. Anyone who did so in the United States would be violating the law and subject to prosecutions in court.
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