HIST 101 Survey of American History I M04 Discussion 6

HIST 101 Survey of American History I M04 Discussion 6

Answers must be meaningful and relevant; please do not respond by simply saying "I agree" or "I disagree" without explanation.

George the III Read George the III’s letter. What is his main theme in the letter? What is his determination about the results of the war in terms of commerce? How does the letter differ from what you would expect the monarch of a country that has just lost an important part of its empire to be concerned with? Do you agree with his judgments? Why or Why not?

The Bill of Rights (Links to an external site.) After reading the Bill of Rights discuss the specific articles as to which is the most relevant for the times in which it was written and for today? If they are different why are they different? Which of the Articles do you think should be rewritten to fit the exigencies of the present? Which of the Articles could or should have been left out and why? If you could add an Article to the Bill of Rights what would it be?

George Washington's Farewell Address To the People of the United States (Links to an external site.) Which of Washington's positions as stated in his Farewell Address do you consider the most important for the country at the time? Then think about today. Which of Washington's positions still has validity for the country and should be implemented or possibly is implemented but in a way different from the way Washington believed? How should the government or people of the nation change in order to keep faith with Washington's vision? Use specific quotes from the speech to support your statements.

Marbury v. Madison (Links to an external site.) After reading the Explanation and Background of the Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court decision, discuss the issues of the case and how Marshall used his decision to assert a power for the Supreme Court that was not specifically delegated to it by the Constitution. How was Marshall's decision an ingenious maneuver from between a rock and a hard place, so to speak? You may want to research this issue further, but take care of Internet sites that are not trustworthy.

Which of Washington's positions as stated in his Farewell Address do you consider the most important for the country at the time? Then think about today.

The position stated that seemed to be most important in that time period would probably be keeping a just relation with all nations and no favortism or special hatred towards one or another- this will lead to generations full of issues. In the article Washington states, "Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it - It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence." This segment of his letter exposes the raw truth behind the idea that no thing could go wrong if setting the example then for further generations to understand how to fairly treat each other in government.

Which of Washington's positions still has validity for the country and should be implemented or possibly is implemented but in a way different from the way Washington believed?

The position that I talked about previously is still one that can still be implemented today to further our country to do better. Building and keeping good alliances in fair respect for ourselves and the other nations is the best way to handle this because you never know when emergencies will come and you need some assistance from your neighbors. Washington states, "Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies." He writes a lot about keeping a good posture in respecting other governments and I feel that can still be implemented today and be beneficial.

How should the government or people of the nation change in order to keep faith with Washington's vision? Use specific quotes from the speech to support your statements.

Well the government and nation should be fully invested in restoring our country back to the faith of Washington's vision today because we would have less chaos, debt, and confusion of what is best for our countries success. The country was founded on freedom, respect, justice, and much more. Keeping the faith like Washington would be very impactful for our nation. A big part of keeping our country glued together is bringing back the roots of its start. Here is an excerpt from the letter that briefly talks about the benefit of this, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Whatever we do let's do it with a little more hope and truth in our breath, so that our country can progress daily towards the solid foundations it was founded on.