LAD #10: Monroe Doctrine

In the Monroe Doctrine, President Monroe declared that the American Continents, in accordance with the agreements made with the governments of imperial Russia and Britain, have been declared free and independent to any belief of colonization. Next, Monroe discusses international alliances (because of the impending Civil War occurring in Spain). Sympathizing with the rebels' claims to independence yet also noticing they are not an official government by themselves, the United States must again adopt and stand by a policy of neutrality, so as not interfere with the concers of "de facto" governments. This act of neutrality will ensure that the United States does not become enthralled by the allied system of the major European Powers suchas as Britain, Spain, and France -- The policies of the western hemisphere are incompatible with those of the eastearn.  America has taken a position which requires action only when the rights of its citizens are effected on their side of the Atlantic and shall only make preparation for their defense in expectation of such injuries. Lastly, Monroe asserts that any affiliation with the allied European system will result in unhappiness and conflict (making neutrality the only acceptable option).

LAD #9: Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

In his first inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson first presents the nation with a modest acceptance of the task that is "too great for his talents." However, he assures the people that he will find resources of virtue, wisdom, and zeal.  Once found, he can use these principles to resolve the problems facing the commercial, physical, and industrial expansion of the nation. He then explains that in order for this union to fully thrive and become prosperous, the people must "unite in common efforts for the common good." He attests that as a tolerant republic, the people will have the same idealistic principles, even though they may not have the same opinions. Jefferson is still able to unquestionably support the dissenters of Republicanism (as with any minority).  He blatantly supports their equal rights to freedom of opinions and religion as he does for the majority, letting common sense and the lessons of history be their sole arguers. The nation is therefore left to develop and progress their views of Federalism and Republicanism, unhindered by the the social torrents of a Europe. Void of their destructive influence, America has developed their own political "religion," which includes honesty, truth, temperance, gratitude, and love of man (civic virtue).  Every man has "equal rights to the use of their faculties," and that honor and confidence are not manners of birth right but of our actions to carry out such civic virtues. After describing these public virtues, Jefferson expresses his own political priorities which include: equal justice to all men regardless of views or background; support of State's rights for domestic policy (hand in hand with the support for the Federal Government for peace abroad) -- foreign policy; full agreement with the will of the majority; the maintenance of a well trained militia until "regulars" are employed; supremacy of agriculture; freedoms of speech, press, trial by jury etc.  Jefferson concludes by saying that he will uphold these priorities to the best of his abilities, and asks the people to forgive him of unintentional defects of judgment on his quest to uphold the happiness and liberty of the people.

LAD #8: Columbus Blog

All Americans know the day of October 12, 1492 to be the very day the Christopher Columbus discovered America.  It is a national holiday and celebrated all over the country as one of the most important days in American history.  Everyone praises Columbus for this singular task and view him as a world renowned hero.  However, people seem to forget all of the atrocities and violence that was involved in his discovery and establishment.  When the Arawak people saw the foreign ship with "alien" people, they were more than generous and giving.  They shared everything that they could, and more, with Columbus and his men.  They provided food, shelter, water, gifts, and anything else that the Spaniards needed.  And how did Columbus react?  He completely annihilated the native population causing mass genocide, that's what.  He enslaved the Indians by the thousands, shipping them all back to Europe as slaves, promising more and more each time he came back to Spain with "Indians": which he called them because he was oblivious to the actual size of the Earth and miscalculated his journey.  The thing is, a considerable amount of the Indians would die on the journey overseas.  As Howard Zinn explains, one of the ships carried 500 of the strongest and best fit natives, and by the end of the journey 200 were dead.  Not only did the natives die from travel, but thousands were massacred in the Americas as well.  For all the Indians that did not cooperate with the Spanish rule, severe punishment -- that almost always resulted in death -- was imminent.  When the Spaniards bounced around the Caribbean islands, any native population that would not voluntarily listen to the Spanish demands were destroyed.  The biggest Spanish weapon that Columbus unleashed was disease.  Not only did the new European illnesses that Columbus as his men brought over instantly affect the immediate population, but over time 90% of the Native American population would fall to European disease.  Grant it, bringing disease and spreading death was not Columbus's primary goal for the Americas.  His intention was to find the wealth and riches of gold and glory.  He originally meant no harm to any native beings, he just greedily sought the power that he would gain through discovery, and the riches he would unleash.  Yet it was his greed that was his downfall.  No matter how innocent his original intentions may have been, nothing could be used to defend the atrocities that he and his men showed the Arawak Indians.  Even though that might have been the custom treatment at the time, the things that he and his men did to the Arawak people is inhumane and just plain old wrong.  Furthermore, Columbus's actions were mirrored by later adventurers (Cortes, Pizarro, and the English settlers), who ravaged violence and war instead of seeking peace and a sense of  respect.  It is as if he set a precedent for others to follow.  Being the first to settle in the Americas, he needed to set a good example for people to follow, but just as he was blinded by superiority and glory, future conquerors became entangled in war and strife between themselves and the natives.  So all in all, even though there are legitimate cases to portray Columbus as either a hero or a villain, my personal viewpoint stands that he is drastically more of a villain than the hero that people portray him to be.

LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

In his Farewell Address, Washington not only thanks the American people for their support for his policies, but also stipulates many political virtues and warnings against their subordinates that, if left unimpeded, will plague the union, unravelling it like a ball of yarn. He expresses the idea that the American people are one, singular body, held together by their love of liberty and their shared political beliefs. Washington claims that the multiple sects of America's frontier (the North, South, Western frontier, and Atlantic) are interconnected through communication and economic lines.  In no way are even the strictest of alliances between them stronger than their unity under one body of government. While promoting unity he also warns against foreign influence that can easily sway and bias the factions of the American people. The factions should also be checked, for zealous leaders can use the peoples' support to control the government and repeal the liberties that they used to usurp their power. Washington also speaks his fears that the Constitution could be radically altered by the passions of inflamed groups of men (notably dominant political parties that will act in revenge) resulting in dissension. To combat these vices Washington calls for the spread of knowledge and religious piety, promoting national morality and reason, which he believes are key in the preservation of liberty and union.

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

To prevent any participation from any United States citizen (be it government or regular civilians) in the wars that pitted the "belligerent powers" of Britain, Sardinia, Prussia, Austria, and the Netherlands against revolutionary France, Washington declared that the country should be passive and neutral to such muddles of chaos. He warns the American people that any citizens who decides to engage in hostilities with any of the European nations at war will lose their protection of the United States, and will be prosecuted.  They will become liable to forfeit and punishment by the law of nations.

Republican Motherhood Blog

1.  What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
"Republican Motherhood" centered on the belief that children should be raised to uphold the ideals of republicanism, making them the ideal citizens of the new nation.  After the Revolutionary War, people began believing that it was the mother's 'civic duty' to uphold the republican beliefs within the household (Document B).  Mother's were supposed to encourage their sons to pursue liberty and roles in government, while their daughters would perpetuate the domestic sphere of the next generation.  As opposed to before the Revolution, women's rights afterwards greatly increased (Document D).


2.  What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
Women had the essential role of instilling their children with values conducive to a healthy republic.  They were supposed to make sure that the next generation would be able to uphold the republican zeal that was created during the revolution (Document A).  Not only did this show a growing respect for the intellect of women, but it also began slightly opening the gates to more women's rights.  Not only was their education and religious affiliations strengthened, but the relationship with their husband also became more liberal (Document C).   Love and affection instead of obedience and subservience began to characterize the ideal marital relationship.


3.  What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
The belief of "Republican Motherhood" was one of the first major bricks that would bridge the gap to the equality of men and women.  Its significance is that it was one of the first major signs that showed a growing respect of men towards women.  Not only were they encouraged to become more educated and knowledgeable, but they were also given the extremely important responsibility of withholding the republican belief within society (Document D).   




1.  Describe the setting.
The setting of this portrait seems to be in a living room or family room environment within a home.  There is a red couch in the background as well as a bland blueish-grey wallpaper.  Also, there appears to be a mirror or painting in the upper right hand corner of the portrait.


2.  Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?
The mother (Mary Gibson Tilghman) is in the center of the portrait.  I believe that she is in the center because that was the mother's role in society as the belief of the "Republican Motherhood" grew.  The mother was supposed to be the one to lead her children down the right path to beliefs of liberty and republicanism.  She looks happy and content to be in the center of the family.  Her clothes seem laid back (not too laid back nor too dressed up).  The way she is dressed indicates that she is not aristocratic -- she is not wearing any extravagant or 'up tight' clothing.  She seems to be dressed modestly and is actually showing care towards her son (paintings did not show this family closeness in aristocratic beliefs).


3.  What values do her sons exhibit?
The values that her sons exhibit are happiness, innocence, freedom, and lovingness.  They appear to have no worries and are happily sitting with their mother (they appear to show great affection to).  By portraying these values, the painter is able to illustrate a good sign for republicanism.


4.  Is the significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
The significance of Mrs. Tighman's arm placement is due to the fact that it is in the lap of one of her children.  Generally, women were not usually known to show such great affection and closeness towards their children.  She is basically eluding that she cares for her children and is leading them down the right path... to liberty.

LAD #5: Federalist #10

1. 

Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?

A: Factions are difficult to be eliminated because they are a natural and unavoidable part of civilization. Unless each man is given equal rights, treatement, and circumstances, the different needs and desires of the people will form their perceptions and ideals with which others will connect in empathy.  This creates multiple parties (i.e. Factions) in society. These factions can be formed by any means among the people: be it between rich and poor, landed and landless, mercantilists, manufacturing interests, or any other interest. The only ways to destroy these factions are to either rescind their liberties (which would contradict everything for which the American Revolution was fought for -- making the federal government hypocritical) or give each citizen the same options (this would never happen because each individual is shaped by their own experiences).

2.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?
A: Since the people themselves are never abled judges of actions connected to their personal lives (they are often biased), a pure democracy in which the people make up the government is blatantly ineffective in controlling teh inflamed factions.  On the other hand, a representative democracy would ensure that the candidate for the representation is sufficiently separate from the zeal of the faction and is able to operate in a rational way that is best for the state.  Given that resting the political power in the hands of a meager few is a recipe for disaster, the extensive republic will consist of an established number of officials (large enough to cobat corruption, small enough to prevent confusion) that will be elected by a number of people that will ensure the official is neither too little nor too involved with the ideals of the people.  Furthermore, the prevention of one dominant faction is prevented by the fact that the United States as a whole consists of numerous different factions that will not have the strength to completely overpower the others.  Thus, each faction is equally represented without fear that one will impede on the liberties of the others.