LAD/Blog #11: Monroe Doctrine

In the Monroe Doctrine, President Monroe declares that the American continents are free and independent of any chance to colonize.  He says this in accordance to the agreements made with Russia and Britain.   Although he sympathizes with the rebels in their rightful desire to gain independence, he states that the United States must remain neutral throughout the conflict.  He shows no interest in allowing the United states to interfere with the "de facto" government.   Monroe then states that the policies of the western hemisphere greatly differ from the policies of the eastern hemisphere.  America prepares a defense only when the rights of the citizens on their side of the Atlantic Ocean are being violated.  Finally, Monroe says that any involvement with the European system of alignment will cause nothing but conflict and unrest.  Therefore, neutrality is the only solution.

Woodrow Willson declared neutrality while the world fought in world war one.

LAD/Blog #10: Jefferson's First Inaugural

During Jefferson’s first inaugural address, Jefferson addresses the crowd as “Friends and Fellow Citizens” showing his humble and responsible character as he is about to take up one of the most powerful position in the American government. Promising to abide by the constitution and protect the rights of citizens. Through his campaign Jefferson’s election has been focused on the rivalry between the two political parties John Adams representing the federalists and Jefferson as the candidate for the Republicans. However, during his speech, he refers to the American people as one, saying “we are all republicans, we are all federalists” this statement helped connect his speech to a much larger audience boosting his popularity. Jefferson’s inaugural address also ensures the rights of the people. He safeguards justice, freedom of religion and press, civil over military authority, peace and safety, agriculture and commerce, and the right to election. He states that his beliefs are to have America unite under “one heart and one mind” and therefore would do his best to help preserve and protect the rights of his people. Jefferson ends his speech showing that although his their president he is person and tells the people he will make mistakes and would like to ask for their forgiveness now.

 

Although it was his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln's speech was similar to Jeffersons. at this time the country was in the middle of the civil war. while he spoke about the wrongs of slavery he did not criticize the south. instead he spoke for the people saying that both the North and South are to blame for the war and both are in the wrong. he spoke on the hopes of reconstuction, and that the could come together as a nation. Similar to Jefferson, coming out of a close race with the federalist he did not slander them or bash their beliefs but hoped he could unite the two in support of the nation.

Columbus

Was Cristopher Columbus a hero or a villain?

            Since elementary school, we have been taught that Christopher Columbus was a hero and that he discovered the America we know today. However, these stories are not told through the right point of view. Was not told through the Indians who barely survived his encounter, his story was told by the Spanish, who deemed him a hero, Columbus who pronounced his discovery and actions as progress. Using the word progress to mask the mass genocide he committed when discovering America. Colobus told Spain that the natives were willing to trade everything, when in reality he just stole all their gold and enslaved their people.Once there was no gold left, they were forced on to encomienda’s, large slave estates. Not only did he steal and lie to the natives he killed and enslaved most of the Natives forcing them to work in mines, which also would lead them to their death. And despite his heroic appearance as discovering the New World, our Columbus Day celebration is merely celebrating how Columbus's wrong doings brought us here today.

America went through the same in the Philippines , thinking they were doing right by their country by killing 3 million innocent Filipino children and civilians during the early 1900s.