Blog #11: Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine's purpose was to establish the details of the American foreign policy. It made clear that European powers should respect the U.S. It also stated that the U.S. would not get involved with European foreign conflicts, and did not want Europe to establish more colonies in the West. In addition, it made clear that if Europe tried to mess with America, the U.S. was prepared to defend itself. The U.S. also did not want political systems forced on them, and aimed to stay out of foreign conflict as best they could.

The Monroe Doctrine stated that the U.S. did not want to interfere with foreign nations unless threatened. This political cartoon depicts Uncle Sam with the Monroe Doctrine, telling other nations to keep "hands off" and stay away from the U.S.

The Monroe Doctrine stated that if the U.S. was messed with, it would defend itself. NATO is similar to this because if one nation in NATO was attacked, all nations in NATO would defend. Just like the Monroe Doctrine, it was a means of protecting a nation by establishing some foreign policy.

Blog #10: Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

Thomas Jefferson begins his Address by saying that he is grateful for being nominated President of the United States. He also expresses his relief that there are "other high authorities provided by our Constitution" in which he can find wisdom and help among difficulties. Jefferson then goes on to say that although the will of the majority will have much influence, the minority also has equal rights which the law protects and must not violate. 

Rather than be divided by parties, Jefferson urges people to unite "with one heart and one mind." Concerning partisans, he wisely mentions that "every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle." In other words, American citizens have the love of liberty and unity in common, and although they may be divided by different parties, in the end, that common love can keep everyone together.

Jefferson says that the United States pursues equality and allows for freedom of religion that is practiced in various forms. He then acknowledges that God as has all the power, and notes that God "delights in the happiness of man here and his greater happiness hereafter -- with all these blessings." 

He explains that a wise government is also crucial because it restrains men from harm and leaves them free to pursue their dreams without taking away their hard-earned money.

Jefferson then goes on to explain the essential principles of our government: equal and exact justice for all men; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations (entangling alliances with none); the support of State governments and their rights; preservation of the General Government as our peace at home and safety abroad; freedom of religion; freedom of press, and many more. He says that our country fought for these rights and that people have died to attain these rights. He views these principles as "the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety."

Jefferson closes his Address by saying that people may not like him at the end of his presidency and he may not be as loved as George Washington, but he will try his absolute best and would never do wrong intentionally. He says he will try to "retain the good opinion of those who have bestowed it in advance." He states that he relies on the peoples' good will and that he will retire when it is the best decision for the country. Jefferson then expresses his desire for God to guide the government so it will do what is best for the country, and that the government will highly value America's peace and prosperity.

George W. Bush's 9/11 Address to the nation can be compared to Jefferson's first Inaugural Address if we focus on the very end of Bush's speech. He says, "This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace." As you can see, Bush called for unity in a time of crisis and mentions that we can have unity because most people share the common love of liberty and peace. This is similar to Jefferson's first Inaugural Address because he calls for unity among Americans even though the divisions of political parties are present.

Blog #9: Columbus

Chloe Smith

Mr. DeCarlo

APUSH- 2nd period

8 October 2018

                                                   Was Columbus a Hero or a Villain?

Many people argue that Columbus was a murderer and far from a hero. However, people often change the truth about Columbus, and leave out the many positive things that he did and the heroic traits that he possessed.

Given that Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States is a very biased opinion of Christopher Columbus, using such a resource is difficult to explain the reason why Columbus is a good man. It argues that Columbus is not a hero because he kidnapped, enslaved, and killed countless of the generous Indians without reason. However, many people had slaves in that day, and most of these people didn't quite comprehend the misery that the slaves actually faced. In addition to this, it was a critic of Columbus's (Bartolome de las Casas) that said Indian slaves should be replaced with black slaves because they were stronger and could survive. He too didn't realize the dehumanizing effects of slavery until after his idea was put into action. 

As for the killing and kidnapping, relations actually started out well. Columbus even specifically instructed his crew not to take advantage of the Indians. The Indians he originally met (the Tainos) told Columbus of other violently savage Indian tribes that lived on the Isla de Carib. When the settlers entered some Carib huts, they found cotton rugs and cuts of human flesh. Natives also destroyed the first settlement Columbus created, and they killed some of the Spanish and burned their buildings to the ground. Of course, when Columbus killed Indians it was horrible as well, but certain tribes were extremely savage and cruel to begin with, and Columbus was actually defending himself by fighting back. In fact, in Zinn's book it is mentioned that the Aztecs were only generous to Hernando Cortez because they thought he was a god, and that they killed thousands of people not in defense, but because they believed they were making sacrifices to their god. This is an example of the lives Indians sacrificed every day, so when people say Columbus was a murderer, they should examine the Indian's practices as well.

Finally, let's not forget that Columbus discovered this wonderful country we live in. If it weren't for him, our country would not be what it is today, and the whole course of our history could be different or even non-existant! I would have liked to reference Zinn's book more, but it is extremely biased on the topic of Christopher Columbus and does not fully describe his success of landing upon America or give any support for his many accomplishments. 

Christopher Columbus (dressed as a friar so he would not be killed and eaten by the Carib tribe)

Vaso Nunez de Balboa can be compared to Columbus in a similar way, because both were Spanish conquistadors and discovered something new. Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean, and became the first European to lead an expedition to have reached the Pacific from the new world. He discovered a new route, similar to how Columbus discovered new land.

Politcal Cartoon #2

Chloe Smith

Mr. DeCarlo

APUSH- 2nd period

2 October 2018


                                                                Political Cartoon #2

The “Rise it Will” political cartoon was published in the Massachusetts Centinel in 1788. Each column represents a state in the order that they ratified the Constitution. The two pillars at the end represent North Carolina and Rhode Island, and they are falling down because they had not yet ratified the Constitution like the other states. The poem at the bottom of the cartoon compares the states that had ratified the Constitution as stars within a dome. In other words, those states (represented as pillars in the cartoon) keep the dome (the constitution) stable. The title “Rise it Will” refers to the belief that all of the states would eventually support the Constitution.

The Cartoonist developed this cartoon in order to encourage others that the Constitution would soon be ratified by every state. He acknowledges the fact that only eleven states had ratified the Constitution thus far, but he believes the North Carolina and Rhode Island can still do the same. This is made obvious by the words “The foundation good- it may yet be saved” next to the crumbling pillars, as well as the hand holding North Carolina pillar and preventing it from hitting the ground. The Cartoonist included these details to highlight the fact that the last two states were not completely out of the question concerning the ratification of the Constitution.

The “Rise it Will” cartoon helped encourage hopeful Americans that the Constitution would soon be ratified by all thirteen states. It was correct in predicting that North Carolina and Rhode Island would soon ratify the Constitution. This cartoon also further supported the idea of unified states under one Constitution (pillars supporting one “dome”). This cartoon depicted the Constitution as a crucial step in building a strong country, and viewed the lack of North Carolina and Rhode Island’s ratification as something that would turn around with time.