Necessity: The Mother of Invention

Let's take a step in a different direction.  The next set of chapters we'll be discussing deal with the growth and change of America.  After the War of 1812 we finally become recognized as a legitimate country.  Other world powers begin to notice we've defeated/stood up to the British Empire twice and survived.  Our population was growing and our land claims had doubled thanks to the Louisiana Purchase.  We had now entered into an exciting time of "What is America really going to be?" type questions.  One answer to that query is "Innovators".

Beginning around 1790, America slowly became one of the world leaders in new inventions and technological progress.  The early inventions may not seem very cool or exciting, but they greatly changed the lives of people who could afford them/who worked with them.

Notice the title of this week's blog: Necessity: The Mother of Invention.  I want you to watch this video and use the first 50 words of your comment to explain what that phrase means.

For the second half of your comments, do a web search and find an invention created in America between the years 1790-1865.  Describe the invention and how it changed lives.  Here's the catch-you cannot repeat an invention that someone in the class has already posted.  So it is to your benefit to be one of the first commenters this week!  It'd be cool if you posted a picture of your invention as your avatar this week.

Embargo Act 1807: Diplomatic Solution to a Military Problem

If the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent Corps of Discovery were Jefferson's crowning moments as president, the growing agitation with England and France would be his downfall.  Like Washington and Adams before him, Jefferson maintained neutrality was the best course of action for our young nation.  The problem was we already appeared vulnerable (because we were) to the French and British and our neutrality policies made us seem weaker.  Instead of giving us a break and respecting our rights to neutral trade on the seas, Britain and France continued their policy of impressment.  Also, Britain's strong presence in Canada and our western territories, as well as their growing alliances with the natives, made us uneasy as well.  We were facing a two-front war (home and sea) with a country much more powerful than us and this time there was no way France would bail us out again.

Read this website on the Chesapeake Affair, the Embargo and NonIntercourse Acts and their repeals.  In the comments section, answer this question: Would you have done anything differently if you had been Jefferson? (Put yourself in Jefferson's shoes while answering.  That means...don't assume stuff Jefferson would not have known like "We are going to beat the British in the War of 1812 anyway so it doesn't matter what I do" because there is no way he could have known that.)

Corps of Discovery: The Lewis & Clark Expedition

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France ($15 million at $.03 per acre) and the subsequent exploration by the Corps of Discovery is by far the most significant portion of Jefferson's life as president (at least significant in a good way).  You must remember, the money he accrued from Congress to send Lewis & Clark was asked for in secret because he was not sure if he had the power to purchase this land.

As I said in class, this expedition was extremely close to Jefferson's heart.  He was a naturalist (someone who studies nature) as much as he was a politician.  It's kind of like Jefferson lived vicariously through Lewis & Clark.  He wanted to go but he could not so he sent his friends instead.  They had two main goals: document EVERYTHING they saw (nature, geography, climate, rivers, native tribes etc.) and try to find a water passage that connects the Atlantic coast with the Pacific coast.  They did document all they saw but they never found the water passage (because there isn't one!).

For this week's blog two things are required of you.  Spend at least thirty minutes on this website and record the 20 most interesting facts you read.  Be sure to explore every link on the right side of the page EXCEPT "Classroom Resources and A Forum With Ken Burns".  Those parts aren't as critical as the other sections.  Then, write a 100 word response to the following question: "If you were Meriwether Lewis, what would you be the most proud of looking back on your trip once you arrived back in St. Louis in 1806?"

Thomas Jefferson: America's Greatest Mind

Jefferson was an enigma.  Many of his actions did not reflect what he was famous for writing about during his lifetime.  The most glaring contradiction is his ownership of slaves even though he wrote "All Men Are Created Equal" in the Declaration of Independence.  You could excuse it away as "Oh well all wealthy southern planters owned slaves. It was just the way things were" and there might be some validity to that justification.

Another strange contradiction was his hatred of a strong federal government.  Remember, he was the leader of the D-R party who were suspicious of too much power in the hands of a few leaders.  They favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution to make sure people did not just do whatever was convenient while in power.  Trouble is...when he became president he acquired the Louisiana Territory for $15 Million from France even though the Constitution does not mention anything about the president having power to purchase land from a foreign country.  He broke his own rule!

Perhaps the most interesting part of his life was his family.  His wife died after giving birth and soon after he left for France to be our ambassador.  There he had a relationship with a married woman and did not even pick up his daughter when she arrived in France to visit him.  Read these letters he wrote to his daughter while he was in France.  What is your reaction to his fatherly advice?