Challenges Facing the Adam's Administration

John Adams was at the front of the American Revolution, advocated for the Declaration of Independence and served as George Washington's Vice President. Elected as our 2nd President in 1796 he failed to win re-election in 1800. Considering the end of our Chapter 6 readings, answer the "Do Now" style question below on this Blog. 

What was the most difficult challenge faced by President Adams, leading to him being a single term president? Defend your response 

with details that include key terms. 

As is our practice, reply briefly to the comments of two others.

Sacrificing Liberty for a Little Bit of Security

 The Federalists remade the young republic's government with a new centralized national constitution in 1787. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, feared that the new constitution would lead to tyranny. Pulling examples from your Chapter 6 reading notes, share a response to this question in the comments below:

Based upon the actions of President Washington and President Adams do the Federalists appear to value stability over liberty? (Use examples!)

As is our practice, we will reply to the comments of two others as well.

Checks and Balances

  We are familiar with the separation of powers in out nation's constitution. No single branch of our government is all powerful. We are often less familiar with the checks placed upon state power and the checks placed upon our voice in decision making, checks on the voice of the people.

Look over the attached pdf in the Google Classroom instructions. Select one of the checks that is listed and share in the comments why you think that this power was given to the national government. Why did the founders want the national government to have this power instead of the states or the people?

As is our practice, please reply to two other comments.

Sample Comment:

·       "Article I, Section 10 - The states cannot tax exports or imports" - This is most likely included in our constitution to avoid inconsistent trade policies between the many states and other nations. John Adams attempted to negotiate trade deals during the confederation period and he was asked by Great Britain/England if he represented one state or all 13. While this power resembles the controversial navigation acts of the 1760s, the young United States sees this power as a priority in 1787.

Qualifications

Take a look at our Constitution, specifically Article One, Section Eight, which describe the powers granted to Congress, our national legislative branch.

Based upon these 18 powers/responsibilities please share what qualifications or experience do you believe members of our legislative branch should have in order to carry out these powers well.

As is our practice, comment below and then reply to the comments of two others.

Trippin'

  This is the time of year that our Frosh overnight trip usually occurs! I WILL find a way to recreate that experience, somehow, some way : )

In the meantime, I'd like to hear about school excursions that you participated in that were more memorable than not. You may share:

- An anecdote/brief moment that  you experienced.

- Just the location your class visited.

- Or... simply list three adjectives that describe the experience.

No need to reply to others on this blogger entry...

I look forward to reading through your responses!

Our Constitution's Goals

Respond to the following question/prompt in the comment section below.

Why may the Preamble (introduction) of the Constitution be important to understanding the direction our nation will take?

As is our practice we will reply to two of your classmates.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Preamble Song

Organizing the North West Territory

 With the American Revolution over and the Proclamation Line of 1763 now removed, Americans wish to begin encroaching upon the western lands that belong to First Nations' people. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 set up a number of guidelines for territories to have in place before they can qualify as actual states. Look at those requirements mentioned in our readings and respond to this prompt in the comments section. If our notes missed this, feel free to look back at the textbook itself:

Which requirement to become a state that was placed upon a territory do you see as important, maybe even the most important? 

Tell us why you think that requirement mattered.

As is our practice, we will reply to the comments of two others.

Our Nation's First Attempt

 During the American Revolution our nation governed itself using the Articles of Confederation. Take a moment to look over our readings and follow these instructions when commenting in the section below:

Identify a specific flaw or shortcoming in the Articles of Confederation that kept the government from being efficient (This will be your opinion). Then offer a guess at why they included that shortcoming in their government. What was their priority? 

As is our practice we will reply and give feedback to two other commenters. It is totally expected that we will have similar ideas, don't worry about that at all. Simply we wish to attempt to offer as many unique perspectives on this topic. 

So They Won The War... What Comes Next?

With the Continental Army's victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, the American Revolution ends with a British withdrawal. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 grants the new nation a significant claim to territories in the Americas. Governing this large nation is a real challenge with not many models to follow. 

The First Nations' empire of the Iroquois will be the first model that the new nation looks to and that Confederation style of government is attempted by the United States.

The key issue is of course is not replacing British Rule with something that is just as oppressive.

Answer this question in the comments and is our practice, reply to two others:

What is the easiest way to guarantee that a new national government can never become oppressive? What choices can be made in its design? (Name One and defend your point)

Our Declaration?

 Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence will undergo several dozen deletions and edits before it was agreed upon unanimously in 1776. The portion that we were given that begins "He has waged cruel war..." was the one change Jefferson fought against harder than any other suggestion made by his colleagues in the Second Continental Congress.

Share in the comments why you believe that Thomas Jefferson, a captor of enslaved Americans himself, fought to keep this alleged grievance against the King of England in the Declaration of Independence. 

As is our practice well will respond to at least two of our classmates.

The 1619 Project

As we read in the Autumn, 1619 is the year that the first kidnapped men, women and children, abducted from Africa, arrived in the English colony of Virginia. To acknowledge the 400th anniversary of this violent act that would be followed by the enslavement of millions, the New York Times played a role in creating The 1619 Project. 

Look through the titles of the articles that appear at this link and choose one to read. Then share as a comment one thing that you did not know before reading the piece that you learned from the article that you chose.

As is our practice... reply to the comments others, minimally twice.

Unity That Creates a Community

 Share in an event in your recent memory that had an unifying effect on your community. Offer a brief description and focus on how the event that you recall brought people together. We may define community anyway that we wish, from our city, neighborhood, our block to a camp or school group that we belonged. The event could have been planned or "just happened".

We will not reply to one another this time... make your entry as personal or as general as you wish... 

Our Republic in The News

 Over the last two weeks we may have caught wind of a number of developments in our nation's current events. Take a moment to share a link of a news story that you wish others to know about. The only criteria I ask for is that it be something that appears credible. : )

Please reply to two others' links with comments.

Jamestown Re-Examined

    The first permanent English American settlement, Jamestown, was only a success if we compare it to Roanoke, which as we recall disappeared. The popular theory is that maybe the colonials at Jamestown were completely unprepared and thus the colony failed. The attached links in google classroom offer an alternative theory.

  After viewing only the 1st 14 minutes of the video (0:00 to 14:00) and reading the two links, respond as a comment to this prompt:

Does the evidence about the colony being sabotaged through poisoning appear convincing?

Share why or why not?

Reply to two others as is our practice with a quick question that the commenter can consider but will not answer. (ex. Do you think?... Have you considered?...)

First Nations' Heritage Day

 As we roll back into our rhythm this week it is worth our time to reflect upon the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. Especially since the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620 overlaps with our current readings. The day after Thanksgiving is officially designated as Native American Heritage Day, though few Americans are aware of this fact. Looking at how the millions of First Nations' people in the United States today view this portion of our story is vital.

Last week we read the first hand account of William Bradford (1620) as he recounted the arrival of his community in Plymouth. We also saw an animated depiction based upon Bradford's writings. We of course make an error as young historians if we assume that any primary source document is ever the whole story. 

Below is a link to a speech that Wamsutta James, a Wampanoag, was banned from delivering at a Plymouth Thanksgiving commemoration in 1970. Hearing his voice as a descendant of the people the Pilgrims encountered and contrasting it with that of Bradford's voice is a minimum requirement of  any historian.

Like Bradford's account, Wamsutta's words are from his perspective.

Read the article at this link and then comment below. 

TASK: Share why you believe that this speech was banned by the organizers of the event. Offer a brief quote to support your argument. (as is our practice reply to two others.)

Note: We are not sharing whether we agree with Bradford or Wamsutta. We are only guessing why it was that his speech was banned.

Pilgrims Promise

The document written by the Pilgrim leader William Bradford that we read and the animated video that we watched offer an introduction to the very small group of migrants that in 1620 built one of the few lasting English American settlements, Plymouth Plantation.

Below, share a detail that you learned from the video and/or document that was previously unknown to you. There will be something : )

Reasons for the English Migrating to the Americas

Richard Hakluyt appealed to Queen Elizabeth I (the 1st) to begin financing more exploration and even an immediate English migration to the Americas. The English had not really explored earlier as they were torn by a religious schism for decades. When Queen Elizabeth I consolidated her kingdom with a new Church of England, she created a United Kingdom. Now Great Britain was finally in a position to consider overseas settlements.

Read over the reasons offered by Richard Hakluyt attached in the link. Then choose one reason that you believe was probably going to be the most persuasive of them all and offer a brief complete response as a comment as to why you chose that reason. 

There is no correct response, we just need to substantiate our responses with evidence from our Chapter One readings. As is our pattern, reply to two others and offer feedback to those classmates.

Question: Which of Richard Hakluyt's reasons to begin English expansion appears to be the most persuasive in getting England to want to support exploration and colonization of the Americas?

Note: Our textbook will refer to Great Britain as England and as the United Kingdom. They are the same nation, kinda.

Listening...

 

• Today we are not discussing or debating... we are listening.
• Take a moment to type in three adjectives that describe how you feel right now.
• No replies, no responses and no explanations. Just three words.

Election Day 2020, A Look at Policies

"I could think of no worse example for nations abroad, who for the first time were trying to put free electoral procedures into effect, than that of the United States wrangling over the results of our presidential election, and even suggesting that the presidency itself could be stolen by thievery at the ballot box."

- Richard M. Nixon, following his close loss in the election of 1960.

    In 1801, Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as our republic's third President. The world watched as his predecessor, John Adams, a man arguably as responsible for the nation's founding as any one else, peacefully handed over his position power following a remarkably contentious election. A precedent was set that day in our republic that the preservation of the system that these men had designed would be prioritized over their own interests and ambition.

    Whether it was Nixon's quick concession in 1960, despite election irregularities, or Al Gore's concession in 2000, our elections have been set a part in the planet's history with our priority on preserving our less than perfect system. Our course this year is the study of where this system originated and why the people of our republic have such a deep faith in it. We may come to agree with this faith or we may come away wishing to challenge our two hundred year old system.

    We will also learn this year that our system is frequently administered in significantly different ways depending on who is our President. 

    Leaving alone personalities and behaviors of the men currently running for president, that could be a entire month of blogger posts 😉, I am curious to hear about your thoughts about policy.

    Only focusing on policy, please share one policy that you hope that the person who is our President in 2021 will act upon. You will identify a policy and briefly, only a few sentences, share why you wish to see a President commit to that policy. Here is a list of policies to pick from if you are unsure of what to choose, LIST. 

    There is not a need to share who we may support, only the policies we wish to see enacted and why that policy matters to you. Frequently, we agree way more on policies than do we agree on the candidates.

    As is our practice, please reply to at least two classmates. 

• The words "agree" or "disagree" are insufficient and easily misunderstood. 
• Use this task as an opportunity to ask clarifying questions of one another or share what you may know about that policy. 
• This unusual restriction that I am placing on this blogger post will keep this page as an open forum of exchange.

Western Europeans Question Christianity in the 1500s

    After the collapse of the western Roman Empire in the 400s, most of the conquered European peoples retained the version of the Middle Eastern religion, Christianity, that the Romans had imposed upon them. They called it Roman Catholicism. Following the Renaissance and with the printing press making religious books more accessible, a questioning of this 1500 year old version of the religion began throughout parts of Western Europe.

    We have read about reformers like Martin Luther & John Calvin who challenged the Roman Catholic version of Christianity. Look over your readings and answer the following question in the "comments" section. As is our practice, reply to two of your classmates with a statement or a clarifying question.

Does Martin Luther or John Calvin have a more significant impact?

• Use Key terms from our readings to both briefly describe and then defend your response.
• All responses are valid as long as we support our response with evidence from the readings.
• Look back at our "Rules" for answering questions completely from our classwork on 9/21.