Communist View

1. This text book gives a Communist view of the Constitution to the Soviet students. This view is saying that the Constitution has more power over the people rather than being power for the people. It is also emphasizes the fact that upper class has total domination over the lower class.

2. Two examples of of facts from the excerpt is one, when the article recognizes that the Constitution was supplemented by the Bill of Rights and that this law recognizes the rights of the citizens. Another fact that this excerpt shows is, that the members of the Supreme Court are appointed for life, even if the president is in a different political party than they are in. There are also examples of opinions shown in this excerpt as well. One is, when the article states: "The American Constitution reinforced the domination of the large upper class and slave holders." This meaning the constitution gives more power to the upper class rather than the lower class. One other opinion is when the article states: "So-called bourgeois democracy was established in North America under the name "popular sovereignty" (democracy), but it is actually the rule of the bourgeoisie." This excerpt reflects a bias against the United States because it is saying that our Constitution completely takes advantage of the people and their rights. This says that the upper class has total authority over the lower class, which can be true in some cases, but not completely.


3. I disagree with the communist view of the constitution, I believe the Constitution helps make our government strong and keeps order and rule equal. This communist article was blown out of proportion and I do not agree with a majority of what they say.

Bill of Rights: students

Some students may think that the Bill of Rights is far too much of an important and large document to affect what they do in school, but they are wrong. As far as freedom of expression goes, we are pretty limited as to what students can do once they walk into the doors of the school. As well as with everything else, but at the same time we do have some freedom inside of the school, as long as it is not disruptive in any way. The Bill of Rights may be extremely powerful and seem out of our reach for us, but it affects us and what we are able and not able to do when we are on school grounds. Without the Bill of Rights, schools would not have as much order or organization as far as the rules go. The schools most likely base the rules they make in the handbook off of the Bill of Rights, but on a different level.

View on the Electoral College

The Electoral College has it's positive and negative effects on the government and the people. Many people debate as to whether we should keep this in our voting system or not, as this seems to have more negative effects to it than anything. This is because it's been around for so long, it's easy to criticize. Some strength's of this system is that it creates balance between the national and state government and is also just one huge vote, instead of a million smaller votes. This also creates influence and power, which is very important because it gives the state power instead of individual power. One other strength is that it is constitutionally based and dismisses popular election. With those many strengths, there are also many weaknesses. One is only a few states get all the attention, preferably the larger states because if one can take 11 certain states, they win the election. Also, one state can change the entire election, which doesn't seem fair and only Maine and Nebraska can split votes which is not fair either. Seeing the the large number of pros and cons, my opinion is that we should keep, but modify the Electoral College. I believe that we should keep it because it's based on our original government document, the constitution. I think we should change that one state can switch around the entire election and also that only Maine and Nebraska can split votes. I think that if two states can split votes, other states should have that opportunity as well. I also think that getting 11 states and winning is unfair, that should be eliminated from the rules. This helps keep balance between the national and state governments, therefore it shouldn't be removed all together, just modified to make more people happier with it.

Liberty, The American Revolution part 2

Throughout the Revolution alliances made a huge impact on the success of the two sides. The British had the German's on their side from the beginning which made them stronger than they were before. The German's helped Britain with supplies, soldiers and any other important necessities they needed for the war. Unlike the British the American's did have the brilliant Benjamin Franklin, without him they would not have ended up with France as an alliance. With the French on their side it helped them reach the large number of the British army which was greater than 8000 plus 400 of the greatest Natives.

Natives had decided to take side of the British as well, because they had been trying to protect their land against the American's. The Natives not only knew the land very well, but they also knew the best places to hunt and hide. Having the Natives on their side gave the British even more of an advantage and caught the American's off guard.

At this point it seemed the British were leading the war, until a British woman, Jay Mcray was brutally murdered by an unknown suspect. These hostile actions were blamed on a Native. This action frightened the colonist's very much as it made them think about what the Natives would do to them. Therefore this pursued many American's to join the army to protect not only themselves, but their families.

The murdering of this women lead to the American army growing larger and larger, which was quiet unfortunate for the British. After the American's surprise attack on the British, they start to use their great number to their advantage since the British were out-numbered 2:1. Burgoyne had then began to panic and sent a frantic notice to General Howe in New York. Although Howe had taken Philadelphia, the American army began to get stronger and win more battles. There was many lost on both side after the win at Brandywine Creek as well. That was one of the British army's last wins over the American's for a while. At Freeman's Farm the American's won taking Burgoynes army hostage, this was only the beginning of the American armies success.

Liberty, The American Revolution

Before the war even started, it was quiet obvious that the American's had a tough battle ahead of them. England, being much more prepared and ready to fight than the American's have set off the largest sea bound attack in the 20th century. One soldier has said it's like all of London was approaching them with their 30,000 troops, 10,000 sailors, 300 supply ships, and 30 battle ships containing 1,200 cannon's. The British army has also recruited already trained German soldiers or in other words, the Hessian's for 7 pounds a head. At this point it did not look like the American's had much of a chance in this war.

On the opposing side, the American's George Washington the head general had only 1500 soldiers when the British had attacked Long Island. The British out-numbered them 2:1, therefore leaving the American soldier's with one choice, to flee for their lives as the British army nearly slaughter them. Round 1 of the war had then gone to the British. The American's have now crossed the Hudson River and Washington has realized that his troops are cowardly.

Battle after Battle just means defeat after defeat for the American's. Washington has asked congress for troops that are eligible to fight over and over again, yet they cannot give them to him. Left with cowardly troops Washington has to bring his knowledge to the fight if they want to survive and have any chances of winning. The number of soldiers is dwindling as the American's move on and General Howe has given Washington one more chance to surrender, although New Jersey has gone to the hands of the British Washington denies this offer.

The British army is the largest empire in the world, not only that, but they were also relentless. Washington is now in his own personal battle for survival along with the other troops as they suffer without food and blankets. The fate of the United States now rests in the hands of Washington and his 6,000 troops. Thomas Paine, a brilliant writer helps put hope behind the troops after he writes the "American Crisis" and all troops around America read it. Washington then uses his great knowledge and comes up with a brilliant, but very risky plan. Because he is going to be left with just about no army on December 31st, on the night of Christmas him and his troops have crossed the half-frozen Delaware River to set a sneak attack on the drunk and confused British. They make the almost impossible cross and their attack is successful as they kill commander Raul and take 1,200 troops prisoner. That was only the beginning of the American's success over the British.

Who cause Revolution paper

my paper

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcwk39jp_4gbxrwwdr

Olive Branch Petition

The Olive Branch Petition written to the King was filled with an unnecessary amount of admirable comments directed towards the King. Also, a repetitive comment about how "faithful" the colonists are to the King. If I was the King I would have been insulted as I read this, thinking to myself why would they ever think I would believe this petition. The colonist's were quiet persuasive towards the King as well, telling him what he should do. If I was the King I would not have appreciated this document.

Who was justified?

The Boston Massacre

I feel that the Boston colonist's as well as the British soldiers acted disrespectfully towards each other. First off, the British soldiers intruded where they were not welcomed, and to add to that they were also extremely rude to the colonist's. The British are not the only guilty ones in this situation; the colonist's acted as instigators towards the soldiers, also being very rude. Reading the Boston Massacre and all the facts to go along with it, it is very easy to point fingers at the British soldiers saying they wounded and killed innocent colonist's. Although the soldiers shot and killed innocent colonist's, the colonist's provoked the British to do so, therefor neither party is justified.


Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a great step for the Boston colonist's. They got to prove that they could out-smart the British as they did by pouring 342 chests of tea into the ocean. The colonist's acted against the British in a very subtle, non violent way. Although the British attempted to trick the colonist's by lowering the tax on tea, colonist's did not buy the cheaper tea either. During the colonist's act against the British there were no intentions on having violence in any way, the only object broken was a lock which was replaced. No one got hurt, nothing got broken that couldn't be immediately replaced, and the colonist's got to prove their point to the British; making the colonist's justified in this situation.


The Intolerable Acts

The Intolerable Acts was created by the British because they had felt weak, not one colony wants to feel weak; therefor they created this ridiculous act for the Boston colonist's. The British were very unjustified in this situation as they made very strict, unreasonable rules for the colonist's. This act was so unreasonable and unnecessary that I think the British are unjustified for making it so strict.

News during the French and Indian War

During the French and Indian war the newspaper was a very important asset for the colonists. The newspaper provided the colonists with important and the latest news of the war. Without the news paper the colonists would not have any idea as to what is happening in the war. Colonists were very interested as to what was happening around them, considering the war was near their homes. The colonists looked forward to reading the articles about the war, as many readers were spouses of a soldier they either heard bad news or great news about the war. This news could either crush them or ease their nervous thoughts. Reading the newspaper helped the colonists feel like they were there themselves maybe easing the morn of loss or emptiness of someone who is missing or fighting. Thanks to the newspaper, colonists were provided with all the needed information and had their questions answered about the war.

Join or Die

1. Franklin beleived the French were going to win the war for many different reasons. The colonist's were not united and they were being ruled by someone from British over 3,000 miles away. The British were unstable compared to the French. The French were united as one nation and work together, as well as ruled by themselves.

2. The French threatened to kill, seize and imprison the British. Also, murder and scalp their wives and children as well as take all the British land and destroy British Interest, Trade, and Plantations in America.

1. This cartoon was created to suggest to the colonies that they need to work/bind together if they want to succeed.

2. Although it is unclear as to why Franklin used a snake as an animal the colonies had a very narrow shape in which fitted the formation of a snake. They suggest that the outside edge represents the Atlantic coast. The eight segments definitely represent the eight colonies, the division of the segments showing that the colonies were divided throughout the war.

3. There are eight colonies included because that is the number of colonies that were divided and trying to survive at that time.

4. The cartoon was also used by Paul Reveer in the Massachusetts Spy news paper. The cartoon also appeared during the American Civil War; having one version for the Union and one for the Confederacy.

1. I think Franklin is still trying to say that the colonies are divided.

2. I think the message he is trying to say is they are worn down from not working as a group because its harder to work divided rather than united

1. Many events occured prior to the French and Indian war that increased tension between the British and the colonists. Mercantilism was one event that occured creating tension between the British and the colonists. The British sold their finished products and gained raw materials through exploitation of the colonies. The Navigation Acts also played a big part in the tension factor, these acts were passed by England's parliament in 1651 forbidding American trade with foreign nations. Making sure all profits were received by England. Sir Edmund Andros being places in charge of the colonies also cause tension. Salutary neglect is the last event that cause tension between the British and colonists.


2.Politically the war split the colonies, as well as made the trust between the colonies dwindle. Economically, many places could not afford to be in the war or support the war, America for example were considered lazy because they were not in the financial state for the war, but gave much of their money to their own army.


3. If the outcome had been different and the French had won the war the boundaries and rules for colonists would be very different. Our society today may be different as well

Beginnings of slavery

Slavery didn't happen in a small amount of time or by just one decision, many things occurred that led to slavery. Everything started in 1619 when the Dutch brought over the first 20 African Americans, they were not slaves, only indentured servants. Indentured servitude was very common throughout the colonies, the servants were not only black, but also white. In 1640 is when everything changed; 3 servants ran away together, yet got different punishments. The two white men only had to finish their contract plus one year, as the black man had to stay a servant for the rest of his life. After this had happened, owners could use this as a reference if their slave tried to free themselves. The motivation as to why this shift had occurred is economically based; people wanted money. Massachusett's was the first state to legalize slavery in 1641, not too long after the other colonies followed the legalization. Soon, it was only Christian's that weren't slaves, then it changed to be any black person alive was a slave. Realizing that you can't tell if someone was a slave or not, they made all black's slaves; including new born babies if their mother was black they became a slave too. There was no difficulting inforcing black slaves because there was no escaping skin color, unfortentely for them. Soon it became illegal to free your black slave, then in 1672 the king granted a charter allowing slavery. Therefor he gave some money, but gained more back.

themes of the colonial period

As all new colonies began to develop throughout America they all ran into obstacles and conflicts they had to overcome to be successful. There are many different themes that occur throughout the colonies as they start to grow. Land Disputes, Exploitation from colonist to colonist as well as colonist to Native, and conflict are three main themes the colonial periods ran into. When the English showed up and planned to make a colony that was successful they were approaching land that was already taken by Natives. Neither the Natives nor the English were interested in sharing their land. They fought over land very often, this fighting led to the exploitation between the colonists and Natives. Most Natives were alcoholics; the colonists took advantage of this by getting them drunk and tricking them into selling their land for less than it was worth. When the colonists first came to the land, they were oblivious to the facts on how to survive. The Natives helped them very much, showing them how to hunt and build and fight. Once the English were stronger or the same strength of the Natives they took advantage of it, by fighting with them for land. The Natives got their own ideas and tactics on how to live used against them. Conflict is one other theme that happened throughout the colonial period. No matter what new colony or who it was there was constant conflict going on. From religious freedom and power to land and money, there was constantly conflict going on during the colonial period. Those are three of many themes that occurred during this time period.

When the colonists arrived they became unwilling participants in being taken captive by the Natives, which is a tradition that is ongoing throughout the Native Americans. The theme of this is fear, there was always a constant fear of being attacked. Therefore the Natives would follow their tradition of taking captivity of the colonists.

I think the activity in the computer lab when we had a class discussion on Twitter is a much more affective way to learn than a regular class discussion because it gives everyone a chance to say something. I feel like I learned and understood more by doing this because I had time to think and write out what I wanted to say and reflect on what others were saying. I think we should try and do these type of class discussions often.

Newspaper Project

Anne Hutchin's response

The purpose of the Mass Bay Colony was so the colonist's could practice free religion and worship without getting punished. John Winthrop was elected as the governor for the Mass Bay Colony, he believed that Anne Huntchin's did not belong in this colony. Anne Hutchin's was put on trial for preaching to men and women about the 'covenant of works', for being a women doing that, and for supposedly criticizing the other ministers teachings.

Anne Hutchin's went against what the governer wanted, she preaches to men and women differently than the any other minister's do. Also, she is a women therefore not aloud to be a minister or preacher in any way. Anne Hutchins is a threat because she not only preaches, but people also follow her. As more and more people follow her it could make the mass bay colony utterly fail. Since this is the 'city upon a hill' they don't have the option to fail. The Mass Bay colony's government is very hipocritical, they came over so they could practice free religion and now they are trying to force everyone to practice the same religion. Thus making thier government the same as the one they left.

Bacon's Rebellion

Bacon's Rebellion started small and had escalated into something very violent. Gov. Berkeley was very unjust, as he forced the poorest colonists to pay very high taxes they could not afford. It was also wrong for him to deny the poor frontier settlers plead for military support. I agree with Nathaniel Bacon's rebel against Berkeley's refusal, he was very justified. Although Bacon did not need to be as harsh with the innocent Native American's, it was wrong for Berkeley to deny him and others.