LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

In 1796, George Washington announced his retirement from office in The Independent Chronicle. He states his reasons for not running for his third term; he wants to leave the office and lead a more relaxed life. He also speaks of the importance and greatness of the federal government, praising it's stability. An extremely important point he mentions is his warning against the party system. He had the foresight to see that political parties and conflicting interests could split America apart. He also warns against the formation of permanent alliances with foreign countries. Additionally, he believes the United States should stay neutral in foreign affairs. Finally he recommends that the government does not build up their army too much, as is not necessary. George Washington set many precedents with his terms and this speech, which presidents still follow today.

Republican Motherhood Blog

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The Revolutionary War transformed housewifery to Republican Motherhood because during the Revolution women were expected to be not only good wives, mothers and homemakers, but also convey to their children the importance of being good citizens and "train up good citizens, just, humane, and enlightened legislators" (Document A). Benjamin Rush also states that women should be educated to instruct their sons in the principles of liberty and government. Without the Revolutionary War there wouldn't have been all this talk about liberty and being good citizens, so the Revolutionary War really had a great influence over this transformation.

2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
The consequences of Republican Motherhood on women was that although women were given educations for the purpose of educating their children (Document B), they were still restrained to the home (Document A). In Document B, Benjamin Rush supports the education of women in order for them to teach their sons. Also Jonathan F. Stearns believes that the destiny of the United States is on the women. This statement contains high expectations for womenkind, which could have inspired women to make sure they were teaching as best they could. However, In Document A Mrs. A.J. Graves states that home is a woman's appropriate sphere, and that her domestic duties are superior to all other duties. Although the women did get education and a somewhat higher status, they were still looked upon as homemakers and were under lots of pressure to teach republican ideas.

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of woman's socialization?
The significance of Republican Motherhood on the process of woman's socialization was that women were expected to teach their children republican ideas, and this gave them a role in society other than being a housewife. Republican Motherhood inspired many women to think that "the reformation of a world is in your power" (Document C). This movement brought women together and gave them an identity and purpose.

1. Describe the setting.

This portrait is of Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons, done by Charles Wilson Peale in 1789. The setting of this picture is in America after the American revolution. A mother holds her two young boys on her lap, and it looks as though the family is relatively upper class based on the fact they could afford to have a portrait done and the class of all their clothes.

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 sitting in the middle of the portrait, as the focal point. She looks like a figure of authority, not just a weak woman. She is dressed nicely, but not in the overdone, showy way the aristocracy did. She is "republican" rather than aristocratic because she isn't showing off her wealth and stature, but instead demands attention because of how plain yet graceful she looks.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

Her sons are both sitting for a portrait, which says a lot because it takes a lot of sitting still to get a portrait done, and is extremely difficult for small children to do so. Both of the children are also dressed well; not underdressed and shabby, but not overdressed and gaudy. 

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

There is a significance because her arm is placed on the lap of her child, somewhat restraining him from reaching out to his brother. She is a mother that demands that her children obey her, and does not let them misbehave. This shows that she has a role as a Republican Mother and is teaching her children how to act in society. 

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Washington acknowledges the war between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands against France, but proclaims that the United States has adopted a neutral policy. He also warns United States citizens to avoid acts and proceedings which may intervene with the policy of neutrality, and considers that the citizens are liable to punishment for not adhering to this policy. Finally, he states that any citizen that goes against the proclamation will not be protected by the United States, and that officers have received orders to prosecute suspected transgressors.

LAD #5: The Federalist #10

1. Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?
Factions are so difficult to eliminate because they are formed by the difference of opinions. Factions are political parties of sorts, and in politics there are going to be people who have opposing opinions on issues. This leads to tension between factions, which leads to the destruction of a republic.

2. If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?
Factions can be controlled by removing the causes of the faction or to control its effects. By removing the faction, liberty is also being removed. By controlling its effects, a society with all the same ideas and opinions would form, which is not desirable. It is possible to control a faction in a large republic, with a great number of voters and candidates.

Blog #4- Revolution Article

Please read the article "Rethinking the Revolution" by John Ferling and list 5 things that you learned after reading it.

1. George Washington authorized Lt. Col. David Humphreys to write his biography, in which Washington revised or left out certain parts of his role in the French and Indian War that he didn't want people to know about. 
2. Before 1820, the fourth of July was celebrated by dwelling on the fallen soldiers and representing the sacrifice and suffering of the war. However, after 1820, the resistance of the colonies to Parliament such as the Boston Tea Party and the Sons of Liberty became more celebrated.
3. The paintings of the American Revolution have wartime feels, but there are none that depict a battle scene.
4. The Revolutionary War was very violent and the soldiers suffered greatly, although it has not been portrayed that way. Many soldiers were almost naked and didn't have shoes, and the American soldiers would steal the clothes off prisoners and the dead.
5. Civilians suffered greatly from the war; many died from disease spread by soldiers, their homes and food was raided by the British, and more than 100,000 Loyalists went into exile afterwards.

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

Summarize the Declaration of Independence in 3 parts: 1. Democratic principles, 2. List a handful of grievances, and 3. The conclusion.

1. Democratic principles in the Declaration of Independence include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the right of the people to overthrow a corrupt government, and that all men are created equal. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are democratic in that the government is granting these rights to all citizens. The right of people to overthrow a corrupt government is extremely democratic, because if the majority of people oppose the government, then the right is given to them to change it. Finally, stating that all men are created equal is very democratic because in a democracy all citizens are given equal rights.

2. Some of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence are that King George III has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing his meddling with the rights of the people, bribed judges to do his bidding, has kept standing armies in times of peace, forced the colonists to quarter armed troops, and cut off the colonies from trade with the rest of the world.

3. The conclusion of the Declaration of Independence states that the colonies are, and have the right to be, free and independent states. It also states that they are absolved from allegiance to the British monarch and they dissolved political connection between the states and England. Finally it declares that the colonies are able to declare war, negotiate peace, gain allies, trade with whom they please, and do all other things that independent states do. This conclusion is extremely patriotic and informed the English that the colonists were very serious about their independence. This also brought the colonists together because they were no longer just dissatisfied with the British rule; they were actually acting on their discontent with their government.

LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

1. Who was Peter Zenger?

Peter Zenger was the apprentice to William Bradford, who was a printer for the New York Gazette in 1710. The New York Weekly Journal hired him as a printer and editor, where he wrote articles critical of Governor Cosby.

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

Zenger was charged with seditious libel, and was defended by Andrew Hamilton. Hamilton conceded that Zenger had published the offending stories, but refused to admit it was libel unless it was false. Zenger was acquitted after the jury quickly found him not guilty.

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

Zenger’s case established freedom of the press in America. By being found not guilty his articles were allowed and people were free to write what they wanted as long as it was true. His case also created a precedent against judicial tyranny in libel suits.

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

The significance of this trial was the establishment of freedom of the press, now in the first amendment in our Bill of Rights. This case is so important because before people were not allowed to publish what they wanted, and were jailed if they published something someone in power didn’t like. By being free to write what they pleased, people began to speak their minds. This led to ideas being published about changing the way things were in the colonies, which definitely helped start the revolution. 

LAD #1 Mayflower Compact and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The concepts included in the Mayflower Compact are that the settlers would form a civil Body Politick that would act for the good of the colony to maintain order, and enact and frame laws and acts.

2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attach to both the “Old” and “New” worlds?

The Mayflower Compact reflects and attaches to both by the colonists declaring themselves “Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James” as well as setting rules for life in the “New” world.  The colonists still identify themselves as under the rule of King James, and they also mention Great Britain, France, and Ireland, all of whom are from the “Old” world. This shows their connection to the “Old” world.  However, they claim that their rules are for the “general Good of the Colony”, which is essentially the colonists setting their own rules for themselves apart from the “Old” world.

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

The Fundamental Orders differed in that King James or even England are not mentioned anywhere. In fact, the only government mentioned is Connecticut’s. In the Mayflower Compact, King James and other European governments are mentioned several times. Also, the Mayflower Compact was essentially just stating majority rule and the government’s appeal to the common welfare, while the Fundamental Orders was a detailed set up for government.

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

The colonists were not satisfied with the pace of English reforms and wanted to form their own rules and regulations. The colonists wrote the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut as a more permanent government.

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 Fundamental Orders reflect a fear of one person or a chosen few seizing control by electing a Magistrate every year by “every person present and qualified for choice”. By holding elections every year the same person cannot stay in power for long periods of time and become a dictator. The Fundamental Orders safeguard against it by holding general elections so that many people can vote instead of a select few with corrupt views.

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