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.

Modern Marvels: The Erie Canal & The National Road

As we discussed in class today, the early 19th century was a time of major evolution in the lives of Americans.  Technology was rapidly bringing convenience and efficiency into the lives of everyday citizens.  Read these two articles, one on the Erie Canal and the other on the National Road, to get an eyewitness perspective on two major developments in America's transportation network.

As you read these stories, put yourself in the place of a "common citizen" who was watching these events unfold.  Would you be excited? Scared of the "new way of life"? Worried about government taking up more land for future projects?  Looking to get in on the ground floor of these new construction projects?  For the comment section, pretend to write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.  Give your thoughts on either the canal or the road.  What do you think people would have said back then?  Is "progress" always a good thing?

The War of 1812: America's Second War For Independence

By now you probably realize the American victory over the British in the War for Independence did not really change America's situation that significantly.  Yes, we established the principle of self-government and wrote the now legendary Constitution, but other than that....

Britain (and France) were still major thorns in our side.  We got little respect on the world stage or in our own territories.  The natives were being supplied with weapons and encouraged to fight any and all western settlers and settlements.  We were in rough shape financially, and the Jefferson Embargo had hurt us even worse.  The natives, as the saying goes, were growing restless.  Something had to change.

So...let's fight! Madison asked Congress to declare war against England in the summer of 1812.  Unfortunately for him, the British Parliament had decided to stop impressing our ships and sailors (which was one of the major reasons we were declaring war) but by the time we got the news that England had changed her mind it was too late.

Please visit this website and read the nine essays (be sure to click the blue "continue" link so you get the whole story) to gain insight into what different groups of people were thinking about the war.  In the comments section, discuss which essay you thought was the most interesting and why.

The Duel: Hamilton vs. Burr

In what may be the deadliest example of the early political disagreements facing our young nation, Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in July 1804.  Read this primary source, read this article and watch this video (which is supposed to be a mix of comedy and history) to learn more about this incident. In the comment section, discuss your reaction to this episode and whether and why dueling was a popular conflict-resolution strategy centuries ago but no longer is acceptable.

Louisiana Purchase: When Jefferson Breaks His Own Rule & Totally Changes America

The Louisiana Purchase (1803) blindsided President Jefferson and left him with quite a predicament.  We had offered to purchase ownership of New Orleans from France for $10,000,000 and their counter-offer was to sell their entire Louisiana Territory for a mere $15,000,000.  U.S. Ambassador to France Robert Livingston made Jefferson aware of this offer and told him to act quickly before the French changed their mind.  This land purchase would double our country's size and vastly improve our ability to expand territoriality, politically and economically.  The problem was nowhere in the Constitution did it allow the president purchase land from foreign nations. And as I am sure you will recall, Jefferson was a strict interpreter of the Constitution...meaning if the Constitution did not specifically say the president could do something then it was illegal for the president to do it anyway.

Jefferson was facing a classic ethical dilemma: should he break his own rule, risk his integrity and purchase the land to benefit the nation OR should he stick with D-R beliefs and let Congress approve the purchase risking that it might take too long and the deal would be off the table.  Well, obviously he chose to buy the land without Congressional approval and that's how we got the Louisiana Territory.  Funny how Jefferson criticized Adams for "over-stepping the Constitution" but as soon as he became president he did the same thing!

For this week's blog, you are going to visit a website where the Lewis & Clark Expedition (also known as the "Corps of Discovery") is explained.  You are also going to play an online game making decisions along with Lewis & Clark.  Here is the link to the article and here is the link to the game.  After you have completed the reading and the game, in the comment section write your reaction to the Corps of Discovery.  You could include challenges they faced, what it would have been like to have been with them, what you would have done differently or anything else that seems significant about this journey.

John Adams: America's First Dictator?

John Adams had a miserable presidency. I honestly feel bad for him.  He was an excellent public servant leading up to, and during, the Revolutionary War, but sadly his legacy is tarnished with his time as president. His personality was not well suited to be an executive (he was short-tempered, easily offended and too smart for his own good) and he was constantly being compared to Washington.  Following in Washington's footsteps led to constant, and unfair, criticism that he was not able to handle.

Two things define Adams' presidency: The XYZ Affair and the Alien/Sedition Acts.  Of those two, the most damaging incident was the Alien/Sedition Acts.  Rather than explain them to you, I want you to explore these two websites: Website A and Website B.  On Website A, be sure to click the link for the "Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions" at the end of the reading because you need to read that as well.

For the comment section, give your thoughts on the following questions: Was Adams justified in passing these acts? Did these acts violate the Bill of Rights?  If they did, should he have been impeached? Should the government ever be allowed to "overstep their boundaries" in the name of "public protection"?

George Washington: Father Of Our Nation or Deity?

George Washington was our first president. You know this. Heck, Caedmon probably knows this. So, what's the big deal about Washington? Was he really that smart and great?

For this week's blog, you are going to read an eyewitness account of George Washington's inauguration and analyze a piece of art called "The Apotheosis of Washington" which is painted on the ceiling in the U.S. Capital Building. Be sure to read the accompanying explanation of the painting on that website.

For the comments section, please complete the following:
1-Write 50 words on your reaction to the inauguration story.  What do you think the "feeling in the air" was on that day?
2-Write 50 words on your reaction to the art.  What does this art say about how Americans view Washington?