CDL: Transatlantic Abolition

1.  How/why did Americans view slavery as acceptable during the early decades of the republic?

The African slaves were cheap labor for the Americans on their farms.  Americans viewed slavery as acceptable in the early decades of the republic because they had a view that anyone with darkened skin was a lesser being and therefore could be enslaved.

2. If the end of the slave trade was considered a critical first step in abolishing slavery, why were the southern states in favor of banning the slave trade?

The southern states favored banning the slave trade because it increased the value of the naturally born slaves in the U.S. that were sold and transported west. 

3. What were some future consequences of banning the importation of slaves into America?

One positive consequence was that the ban of slaves into America was a cooperative effort with multiple nations.   One negative consequence was that the southern slave owner were profiting with an increased value for natural born slaves being sold and transported west. 

This was a very big step in equality in America and even though it would take decades for all U.S. citizens to have equal rights it was a step in the correct moral direction for our country. 

How Did Washington, D.C., Become the Federal Capital?

1.     Why was not an existing city like Boston, NYC, or Charleston chosen for the national capital?

An existing city was not chosen due to the fact there were jealousies, problems with access, private interests.  The decision to put the capital in place that was not within a state avoided all of those issues.

2. How did political struggles of the time--the "assumption bill" debate--influence the decision to place the capital on the Potomac?

The assumption bill votes were the trade off for the votes to put the capital on the Potomac River.  Hamilton went to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and the three agreed to the deal.  Madison rounded up enough votes in the southern states for assumption in exchange for the Potomac River site which was closer to those southern states and that is what they were interested in.

3. What was significant about the location chosen for Washington, DC?

The location of Washington D.C. was significant because it was located on a site which was rural and the land could be purchased from Maryland farmers.  The location was strategic to the rivers and mountains in the area.  George Washington also liked the site because of his own interests being located near it. 

4. Explain George Washington’s obvious conflict of interest over the site for the capital. Why didn’t this conflict of interest raise any concerns back in the 1790s?

George Washington owned the Potomac Company which built canals and he was the president and principal investor who would benefit the Potomac River site for the capital.  Washington owned an extensive amount of land near this site.  This location for the capital could be potentially a great investment for the President.  This probably did not raise any conflict of interest concerns because he was the first President and there was no previous history of this sort of problem and because George Washington was very well liked no one thought it was any problem. 

CDL: France, England, & Women’s Rights in the 1790s

1.        What reasons did the people have against women’s rights in this time period?

Women did not have many rights in this time period.  Women had a duty to their husband and were deemed to be not intelligent enough to have positions of authority or vote.  Women were to take care of the home and the children and be submissive to their husbands.

2.        Why did Mary Wollstonecraft call marriage legalized prostitution?

Mary Wollstonecraft called marriage legalized prostitution because women had to marry a man in order to survive financially.  The wealthier the potential husband the better so that the wife could be taken care of.

3.        Why was the idea of having rights to a formal education so important to women who supported feminist ideas?  How could having a formal education give women a better sense of equality?

Rights to a formal education were important to the women who supported feminist ideas be the education would open the door to positions of authority.  Women with education would be more intelligent and there would be more respect from men which would make them feel like they are more equal to men. 

4.        Why did most women of the 1790’s prefer a moderate stance rather than an influential stance when it came to Women’s Rights?

Women wanted a more moderate stance on Women’s Rights because they wanted it to be more family focused.  Most women wanted to not have a radical stance like the French with situations like single mother living situations.  Women wanted the family unit to stay intact but in addition to their role within the home they wanted to be heard politically and to be able to share and express their ideas. 

CDL: Was the New United States a Christian Country?

1. Why did Madison want the Constitution to say little about religion, and how did people react to it?

 Madison wanted the Constitution to say little about religion because he did not want the government to have the power to choose for the people one religion over another.  Madison wanted to take the ideas of Thomas Jefferson in that people had the right to choose their religion.  Some people were very confused that the constitution did not use language of religion and at one point Alexander Hamilton said jokingly that they had just forgotten it. 

2. Why does the first amendment grant equal rights to all religion?

 The first amendment grants equal rights to all people that they can be free to choose their choice of religious belief and the U.S. Government would not be able to force citizens to a specific religious following.

3. If a substantial majority of the individual states had constitutions that assumed the primacy of Protestantism why doesn't the Constitution of the United States invoke Christianity as the State Religion?

 Invoking Christianity as the state religion would take away the religious free right of the people to have faith in whichever they choose and this would cause the U.S. Government to meddle in the private affairs of citizens and they needed to be concerned only with governing not religious views.

4. The first amendment says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” Why did the founding fathers feel they needed to enumerate Freedom of religion. (In addition to speech, press, peaceable assemble, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.)?

The founding fathers probably had in mind the religious bickering that had occurred over the years between the British .The founding fathers also I am sure thought of the people that had settled in the U.S. and of the many different religious faiths. The founding fathers wanted a government that was not about religion but that was about maintaining laws and freedoms which could include all people of all faiths and backgrounds equally. 

CDL: How Long Did the Seven Years' War Last in Indian Country?

1.        How was the relationship between the British and American colonists during the war?

The colonists fought with the British soldiers against the Indians but the British leaders treated them badly with torture and executions.  The American Colonists volunteered in great number to fight the Indians and the French and the colonists were grateful for the British military presence.  At the end of the war the British took credit for all of the winning the battle and the American Colonists felt as if they had been the ones who had actually sacrificed with lost lives. There were some colonists who attacked Indians putting aside the British leadership; this large group of colonists was never punished for their attack by the British.

2.        Explain the tension between the British and Americans, on one side, and Indians, on the other side.  For what reasons were these three groups—the British, the colonists, and Indians—fighting?  Why did more Indian tribes side with the French than with the British?

The tension between the American Colonists and the Indians was over their continually moving westward onto Indian land.    The tension between the British and Indians was because for one thing the British could not seem to communicate with the Indians well.  The French understood the Indians and their need to exchange gifts as a sign of respect.  The British were very stubborn and seen the Indian gift exchange as a weakness.  The Indians sided with the French more than the British because the French communicated well with the Indians and were more respectful of the Indian traditions of communication. 

3.        How did Indians, led by Pontiac, justify their “rebellion” again British forces and forts?

The Indians were tiring of the French backing off and the British taking over; they felt as if the French had deserted them.  The Indians made a pact to fight for Indian tradition and for the land their ancestors had left them. 

4.       What were the outcomes of the Seven Years’ War and how was that result important to British colonists and Indians?

The war left the Indians out of ammunition to fight and left the British broke.  The British military leader who had scoffed at Indian tradition and had been unwilling to attempt meaningful communication with the Indians was sent back to England and a new leader was sent who gave many gifts to the Indians in an attempt to be able to have more of a friendship with them.  For the Indians this probably was not really and end of the war but more of a break since the fighting continued for many years later.

CDL: Newspapers: “The Spring of Knowledge”

CDL:  Newspapers: “The Spring of Knowledge”

1.        Why would the governor want the colonial’s newspaper copy submitted for “official approval: and what did the colonists gain by not yielding to that demand?

The governor wanted the newspaper submitted for “official approval” to hold power over the publishers and watch the content to not have any information they might deem unfit for publication.  The colonists gained more freedom of press which would enable the publishers to write about government officials and politics in general which kept them more informed of what was happening with their leaders and neighbors. 

2.        Why was the New England Courant paper successful even though it turned its nose up at the religious and government institutions that the majority of the people followed?

The New England Courant paper was successful because it was a new form of communication that dazzled and excited the people with its rumors, criticisms, and news of the community.  The papers were printing things that in the past had only been shared in private conversations which was astounding to the people.

3.        List some of the influences these newspapers or printings had on the population?

Some of the influences the news papers or printings had were spreading of gossip and rumors among the people, political opinions expressed, and a new awakening to a world of things they may not have been aware of.  What also started to change with the printing of news was the ability for information to reach the population in a timelier effective manner. 

4.        How did what James Franklin do by starting another paper help what is published in the news now?

James Franklin publishing a newspaper that was open and humorous in regards to writing about the government and religious institutions was the beginning of the free press that we have today.  Today the press is free in the United States to write about whatever they wish whether that information is opinion, the truth, or even if it is not a proven fact.  The press has the ability to inform the world today of events that are taking place within seconds of it occurring and has a lot of control over society, this is especially true when you consider political campaigns or natural disasters occurring. 

Text Analysis - Preface to the Frame of Goverment of Pennsylvania, William Penn, 1682

Text Analysis – Preface to the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, William Penn, 1682

William Penn has written a very heartfelt document giving an opinion of what he sees as the correct way for man to govern Pennsylvania and is showing hope in the power god has given man.  Penn states in the preface that he believes god has given man the intelligence and capability to govern well and make good laws.  It seems that Penn is pressing the idea that men that govern are to be of the utmost obedient to God and if they are then will be given the guidance to govern well and protect the people from those that are evil.  Penn also speaks of no government being perfect that he has seen and one is to do his best to provide a stable government making sound choices for the people with constructive arguments amongst each other.  Penn speaks about it is up to men to either govern good or bad that it is in their hands and can go either way.  There is text in several places noting the need for people to have liberty and freedom but to adhere to the laws created by the government.

The historical significance of this document is that it shows the feelings of a man who lived in this time and place and foreseen with hope a great prosperous free state of Pennsylvania.  Penn wished to see the people of his region be lawful, work hard, and obey god. 

Penn was a very intuitive to what lawmakers will be accomplishing with their choices, good and bad, and the effects those can have on people.  Penn was logical and seemed to have a very strong sense of how people are all different and we should respect everyone in their choices but do our best to see the good in everyone.  Penn seems like a righteous person who speaks with compassion and dignity.  He writes as if to send a message to future lawmakers and people of Pennsylvania land hope and an idea of the goodness they should bring to the table when making laws to govern the people.  He writes an idea of how lawmakers should consider those in their care and protect them. 

I found William Penn’s writing to be very convincing that he thought deeply of his religion, of his fellow man, and he wanted a descent government created for future generations.