...Jefferson: A Man of Many Dimensions Thomas Jefferson’s inspirational words proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence have a spine-tingling effect, leaving readers with chills, but yet enlightened and proud. I can imagine Thomas Jefferson sitting at his desk, passion pouring onto the paper with each stroke of his pen as he endlessly works throughout the day, candlelight by night, searching for the perfect words for what would become the nation’s most cherished symbol of liberty. “All men are created equal . . . they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights . . . Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” – extremely powerful words coming from the same man who owned over 180 slaves; the same man who also wrote that Blacks “are inferior to the whites in the endowments of body and mind” (Jefferson 270); the same man who did almost nothing to abolish slavery during his 40 years in the political arena of Virginia and the new republic (Magnis 492). It is clear through Jefferson’s contradictions between his inspirational words declared in the Declaration of Independence and his actions, writings and political behaviors that in his mind “all men” did not include Black men. Surprisingly, Jefferson was not concerned with originality when he wrote the Declaration of Independence and even borrowed language from previous writings. George Mason drafted a form of a declaration of rights for Virginia, in which he declared “all men are born equally free and independent,...
Words: 1697 - Pages: 7
...Senators of the greater populated slave states disputed that slaves should be weighed as humans in deciding representation. Simultaneously they said that slaves ought to be considered a claim if the then modern government were to impose taxes on the states depending on the amount of people in that state. Congressmen from states where slavery had become minimized, of course argued in opposition: that slaves should be accounted for in taxation but not in deciding representation. Senators James Wilson and Robert Sherman suggested the Three-Fifths Compromise, which as you may know the assembly later ratified. The last negotiation settled the action of numerating each of the slaves as only three-fifths of a person. This lowered the strength of the slave states in relation to the primary southern propositions, but increased it over the Northern proposal.The three-fifths proposal was not a new idea; it had come about with a 1783 amendment recommended to the Articles of Confederation. The proposition by a cabinet of the congress had proposed that taxes would be given by most of the colonies in percentage...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...Three Similar but Different Wars Justin P. Wilson Excelsior College Abstract Wars share similarities in cause, though not all are the same. The same goes for effects. The French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812 all share this. Each war had its similarities but each war had its own outcomes and reasons for the start of the war. Each war was a turning point in the history of the newly independent United States. Three Similar but Different Wars The Revolutionary war, War of 1812, and the French and Indian war had similar yet different effects on the new United States. The young United States would learn new ways of fighting and dealing with conflicts. Each war had its similarities but each war had its own outcomes and reasons for the start of the war. Each war was a turning point in the history of the newly independent United States. The French and Indian war was a starting point for the American Revolutionary War. The War of 1812 was a war to expand and verify territory borders. All the wars involved the British, French, and the Americans. The War of 1812 and the French and Indian War involved the Indians. Each war had a different treaty or agreement that settled the disagreement and evolved the way the countries fought and handled disputes. The French and Indian war was composed of three different phases. The leading causes started back in Europe with the King George’s War, which took place in between the years of 1744 and 1748. The first...
Words: 1137 - Pages: 5
...|What is the supreme law of the land? | |The Constitution | |What does the Constitution do? | |It sets up the government | |Defines the government | |Protects basic rights of Americans | |The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? | |We the People | |What is an amendment? | |A change (to the Constitution) | |An addition (to the Constitution) ...
Words: 1907 - Pages: 8
...1) Where is the white house located? 2) Which are the 2 big political parties? 3) Name 2 senators of Virginia? 4) What is the legislative branch of government? 5) What are the beliefs of declaration of independence? 6) When do we inaugurate the new commander in chief? Part A: Principles of American Democracy 1. What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution 2. What does the Constitution do? Sets up the government defines the government protects basic rights of Americans 3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? We the People Free Online US Citizenship Practice Test. 4. What is an amendment? A change (to the Constitution) an addition (to the Constitution) 5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? The Bill of Rights 6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* Speech religion assembly press petition the government 7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? Twenty-seven (27) 8. What did the Declaration of Independence do? Announced our independence (from Great Britain) declared our independence (from Great Britain) said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) 9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? Life liberty pursuit of happiness 10. What is freedom of religion? You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. 11. What is the economic system in the United States?* Capitalist economy market...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...sets up the government A: defines the government A: protects basic rights of Americans 3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? A: We the People 4. What is an amendment? A: a change (to the Constitution) A: an addition (to the Constitution) 5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? A: The Bill of Rights 6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* A: speech A: religion A: assembly A: press A: petition the government 7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? A: twenty-seven (27) 8. What did the Declaration of Independence do? A: announced our independence (from Great Britain) A: declared our independence (from Great Britain) A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) 9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? A: life A: liberty A: pursuit of happiness 10. What is freedom of religion? A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. 11. What is the economic system in the United States?* A: capitalist economy A: market economy 12. What is the "rule of law"? A: Everyone must follow the law. A: Leaders must obey the law. A: Government must obey the law. A: No one is above the law. B. System of Government 13. Name one branch or part of the government.* A: Congress A: legislative A: President A: executive A: the courts A: judicial 14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful...
Words: 2497 - Pages: 10
...* 1. The passage above is notable chiefly for c. a literary conceit 2. In The Federalist, No, X, James Madison proposed that the dangers of factions be controlled by a a. republican form of government * 3. Sky Woman, Wolverine, and Turtle are all important figures in which of the following types of literature ? * d. Native American oral tales * 4. In line 1, “offspring” most probably refers to the author’s * b. book of poem * * 5. “My rambling brat” (line 11) is an example of * d. personification * * * 6. Place the name of teach of the Colonial era figures beside the British colony with which he is most closely associated. A. John Smith- The Virginia Colony B. John Winthrop- The Massachusetts Bay Colony * C. Roger Williams- The Colony Of Rhode Island * * * 7. The passage above is an example of a. Puritanism * * 8. Thomas Pain’s Common Sense had a direct influence on which of the following Revolutionary era works? * c. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence * 9. The passage above is from * a. William Bradford’s The History of Plimouth Plantation 10. All of the following are writers of the Colonial era EXCEPT b. Margaret Fuller 11. The passage would best be described as an example of d. Sentimentalism 12. The first paragraph of the passage provides an example of which of the following figures of speech ? c. Apostrophe 13...
Words: 1633 - Pages: 7
... Ms. Lopez English II 5 April 2016 Disillusionment and failure in The Great Gatsby In the book The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the theme of disillusionment, love, lust and failure in order to portray the “American dream”. The American dream is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Many believe that the American dream is “earned”, but what they don't know is that there is a lot of “behind the scenes” money making deals that occur. And these deals put you at the top without even asking. For example Gatsby wasn't the perfect man that he was imagined to be. Jay Gatsby's real name was, James Gatz and the change seemed right when he “reinvented” himself. Gatsby didn't like being the son of farmers and was embarrassed about where he was from. “His imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.” He changed it at the age of 17 because of his transformation when he met Dan Cody. This one of the main reasons he hid his background from people. The other was that in reality Gatsby was indeed an unrepentant criminal, who bootlegged his way through the Prohibition to create his wealth and pursue his dream. The prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages that remained in place from 1920 to 1933. To make his way to the top and to pursue the ...
Words: 1566 - Pages: 7
...Louis D. Brandeis was a United State Supreme Court Justice that fought against monopolies and big business and was a tireless advocate for free speech. Brandeis was best known for publishing his famous article in the Harvard Law Journal, for publishing his book about the banking industry, for upholding laws that protect the publics’ privacy and the freedom of expression and as the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice. Louis Brandeis was born in Kentucky on November 13, 1856 to Adolph Brandeis and Frederika Dembitz. His parents were Bohemian Jews that had a strong belief in culture and encouraged Brandeis’ education. Consequently, Brandeis graduated high school at the young age of 14. He first attended college in Kentucky but later transferred to Germany when his father had to relocate. He went on to study at Harvard Law School and graduated in 1875 as valedictorian at the age of 20. Brandeis started practicing law in St. Louis, Missouri and after a short time, he moved back to Boston to start a law firm with former Harvard classmate, Samuel Warren. The firm of “Warren and Brandeis” spent much of their time arguing against monopolies and large corporations and advocating for free speech. Together Brandeis and Warren published a famous article in The Harvard Law Review, “The Right to Privacy.” This article argued that private citizens should have the right to be left alone and the press should not be permitted to publish their photos or the details of their lives without...
Words: 2167 - Pages: 9
...Fourth of July The Declaration of Independence We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775). And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776). So what did happen on July 4, 1776? The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes. July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776...
Words: 16917 - Pages: 68
...U.S. History U.S. History Unit One Pre-Columbian & Colonial America (Ch. 1-5) * Years- 33,000 B.C.-1763 * Presidents-none * Foreign Policies/Key Events: People migrated from Eurasia across Beringia to Alaska and spread south to the Americas. * Domestic Policies/Key Events 1) Various European settlements were established in the Americas. 2) 16th century, Europeans brougth new staples to the Americas and vice-versa. 3) Spanish exploreres were first Europeans to arrive with Christopher Columbus' second expedition to Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493. 4) First successful English colony was established in 1607, on the James River at Jamestown. 5) The Pilgrims established at Plymouth Colony. 6) Mayflower Compact was established for people to govern themselves. 7) Colonies characterized by religious diversity many congregatinalists in the Middle colonies. 8) First Great Awakening in the 1740s led by Jonathan Edwards. 9) French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a watershed event in the political development of the colonies. 10) Stamp Acts of 1765 was enforced and imposed a tax on the colonies following the Seven Years War. 11) Boston Tea Party in 1773 protest against British taxes and government. * Key Court Cases: Witchcraft trials (1480-1750) executions of innocent people that were accused of being witches or involving with any witchcraft. * Important Documents 1) Mayflower Compact ...
Words: 2557 - Pages: 11
...U.S. History U.S. History Unit One Pre-Columbian & Colonial America (Ch. 1-5) * Years- 33,000 B.C.-1763 * Presidents-none * Foreign Policies/Key Events: People migrated from Eurasia across Beringia to Alaska and spread south to the Americas. * Domestic Policies/Key Events 1) Various European settlements were established in the Americas. 2) 16th century, Europeans brougth new staples to the Americas and vice-versa. 3) Spanish exploreres were first Europeans to arrive with Christopher Columbus' second expedition to Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493. 4) First successful English colony was established in 1607, on the James River at Jamestown. 5) The Pilgrims established at Plymouth Colony. 6) Mayflower Compact was established for people to govern themselves. 7) Colonies characterized by religious diversity many congregatinalists in the Middle colonies. 8) First Great Awakening in the 1740s led by Jonathan Edwards. 9) French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a watershed event in the political development of the colonies. 10) Stamp Acts of 1765 was enforced and imposed a tax on the colonies following the Seven Years War. 11) Boston Tea Party in 1773 protest against British taxes and government. * Key Court Cases: Witchcraft trials (1480-1750) executions of innocent people that were accused of being witches or involving with any witchcraft. * Important Documents 1) Mayflower...
Words: 2567 - Pages: 11
...The Colonial wars was a bunch of wars that stretched from 1689 until 1763. Many different parties were represented in the wars. Among them were Britain, France, Spain, and various Native American tribes. All of these parties fought to retain control of the Colonies in North America. The Colonial wars can be broken down into four wars; King William's War, which started in 1689 and ended in 1697, Queen Anne's War, which went from 1702 until 1711, King George's War, which went from 1744 until 1748, and The French and Indian War, which started in 1754 and ended in 1763. King William's War, the first of the Colonial Wars chronologically, was a war between the English and French. The main cause of the war was because neither country wanted to give up their land in the newly settled America. The French struck first, along with the Wabanaki Confederacy, and attacked several english colonies in the New York and New England areas. The English repelled the attacks with the aid of the Iroquois tribe and then countered by attacking Port Royal. The English took Port Royal under the leadership of Sir William Phips. Then the war consisted mainly of small raids, skirmishes, and various missions to pilage small colonies on both sides until the battle of Quebec came along. The battle of Quebec was the largest battle of the war where the English attacked the city of Quebec with over 2,000 men. The attack was repelled by the French and lead to the Treaty of Ryswick being signed in 1697...
Words: 1450 - Pages: 6
...U.S. History U.S. History Unit One Pre-Columbian & Colonial America (Ch. 1-5) * Years- 33,000 B.C.-1763 * Presidents-none * Foreign Policies/Key Events: People migrated from Eurasia across Beringia to Alaska and spread south to the Americas. * Domestic Policies/Key Events 1) Various European settlements were established in the Americas. 2) 16th century, Europeans brougth new staples to the Americas and vice-versa. 3) Spanish exploreres were first Europeans to arrive with Christopher Columbus' second expedition to Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493. 4) First successful English colony was established in 1607, on the James River at Jamestown. 5) The Pilgrims established at Plymouth Colony. 6) Mayflower Compact was established for people to govern themselves. 7) Colonies characterized by religious diversity many congregatinalists in the Middle colonies. 8) First Great Awakening in the 1740s led by Jonathan Edwards. 9) French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a watershed event in the political development of the colonies. 10) Stamp Acts of 1765 was enforced and imposed a tax on the colonies following the Seven Years War. 11) Boston Tea Party in 1773 protest against British taxes and government. * Key Court Cases: Witchcraft trials (1480-1750) executions of innocent people that were accused of being witches or involving with any witchcraft. * Important Documents 1) Mayflower...
Words: 2567 - Pages: 11
...Top 100 Essay Upon examining the world, one will find many great people who have shaped the one we live in today. Despite the significance of them all, it is important to be able to narrow them down to a list of one hundred or so. From there, the true test is to be able to tell which person had a bigger effect on our state of being than the other. Starting with a list that has already been compiled, this essay will rank each historical figure by their impact on the world. (Please note that this list was compiled based on a western perspective.) Topping the list at #1 is Muhammad. As the Prophet of Islam, Muhammads, s.a.w, teachings have reached and inspired many societies and their people. His teachings also indicate the best way to think and therefore live. At #2 is Jesus Christ, whose place as the central figure of Christianity has impacted the lives of his believers, all 2 billion of them (give or take). His existence has lead to the many holidays and churches that occupy mainly, western society. At #3 is Gautama Buddha, who is the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism. Lord Buddha has played a large role in the growth of many people of asian descent and offers a religion to the world that can be seen as very peaceful. At #4 is David, King of Israel or rather the Biblical King of Israel. As the founder of Jerusalem, he has empowered the Jewish nation to take on a large amount of influence in various aspects of the world, including the entertainment industry. At #5 is...
Words: 2884 - Pages: 12
