Sunday, September 30, 2007

How did the French and Indian War alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies?

***The French and Indian War alter the political, economic, and ideological relations between the Britain and its colonies by being in debt that lead to tax laws, mercantilism and the way people felt about Britain's control over its colonies.
***After the French and Indian War, the colonizing of the North America changed greatly. The English took over most of the North America land. English colonies had dominated the new world(Doc. A). This took a toll on the political relationship between the American colonists and Britain because this lead to the Proclamation of 1763. Britain believed they owned every land that they touched and this made conflict with the Native Americans. The Native Americans believed that they "had no right to settle" and they must " insist on removing them"(Doc A). The Britain created the Proclamation of 1763 thinking of decreasing the conflict but this added on to resentment in colonists' hearts.
***Some political changes that included Britain's abandonment were their salutary neglect policy. After the French and Indian War, England was seriously in debt and needed new ways to increase their status. England began to regulate trade and create tax laws on commonly used items. Even though Britain made these changes to 'increase in territory"(Doc F), the colonists felt as if they were treated unfairly.
*** Since of the taxation, the colonists and Britain's relationship decreased rapidly. Some Acts that the Britain created forced the Americans to ship their raw materials to Britain and also buy the finish products only from their mother land. This encountered mercantilism which made Britain rich. At this point, colonists were fed up and decided to fight back. The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonists. As Benjamin Franklin claims, the colonists wanted to "set it repeal'd' which meant the colonists were eager to put a stop in Britain's footsteps. As the colonists practiced non- consumption and non- importation and boycotted destroyed the economic relationship between the Britain and its American colonies even more.
***Colonial ideological values changed enormously toward the Britain because of their greed and the colonists proven that they could unite as one during their boycotting rival and stand up for what they believed in. As a soldier wrote, "we are debarred Englishmen's liberty"(Doc D). From this dairy, this showed that Americans had resentment in their hearts toward Britain.
***Britain's greed of land, controllment, and royalty destroyed many relationships along the way. The Native Americans feelings toward Britain were if they should've not been there in the first place. The American colonies felt as if Britain needed a stop in their footsteps and unite as one to fight off Britain's crown.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Discuss the positions of the three factions and explain which was the most persuasive and effective in achieving its goals

*** The First and Second Continental Congress were shaped by differing opinions from the three parties. each faction provided convincing arguments for their positions. However, the one that was most persuasive and effective in achieving its goals were the radicals due to their beliefs about the Stamp Act, having independence, Boston Tea Party and the Galloway's Plan.
***The Stamp Act were one of the first laws to ever pass by the Parliament. Its main concept was to tax American colonists for items that had a daily usage. The Parliament would tax on all printed materials, from newspaper and will to marriage licenses, tea and even playing cards. At first, many Americans did not have a problem with that taxation until Patrick Henry declared British was simply taxing without representation. Colonists who had position of attorneys and businessmen where affected massively. Radicals already believed in achieving independence from Britain and this was one of the few problems that led the radicals to complete their dream. The delegates issued Declaration of Rights because lack of representation in Parliament. The Radicals responded to this act by boycotting items that were being taxed. British government realized that the Stamp Act was a political and economic debacle so they repealed it.
***The first Continental Congress was develop as a response to the Intolerable Acts. The Congress had three factions, the Radicals, Moderates and Conservatives. The most persuasive were the radicals. The radicals were straight forward and tire of the Parliament with their taxation and strict laws. They believed that the colonies relationship with Britain had already passed will not receive any grants or advantage while being under their crown. The radicals force Britain to proceed to change laws or they wanted independence. The Parliament did not take in the beliefs of the radicals and along came the Tea Act.
***Many colonists continued to boycott British tax items, especially the tea. Some colonists began to smuggle tea but fail to realized that paying for British tea would be cheaper because the British East India Company had enormous amount. The colonists could purchase tea at a lower cost than ever, but they believed that the British government was making them pay for the tea tax. The radicals response to this scheme was violence and some continued to boycott more. This eventually led to the Boston Tea Party. The Radicals response was to board the ships and dump every cargo of tea in sight. The British government had enough of Boston and decide to challenge the colonists with the Intolerable Acts. These acts showed the colonists who was still in charge of the colonies.
***Lastly, the Galloway's Plan were another achieving goal for the radicals plans. The Galloway's Plan were to veto the British's Acts without violence taken place. The conservatives wanted the British and its colonies to have the relationship of the French and Indian. Their relationship was a hand in hand relationship, but the Parliament was to greedy for that. The Galloway's Plan was defeated and this lead the radicals to take charge and become closer to their dreams of independence.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

What role did religion play in the establishment of English colonies in North America?

Religion played as a significant role in establishing English colonies in North America. Among these significance were Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.
The Pilgrims longed to find a haven where they could live and die under their own rules. The Pilgrims did not initially land in Plymouth, but decided to stay. Pilgrims could not establish a government because the area that was chosen was the domain of the Virginia Company. This lead to the Mayflower Compact, which simply stated that the Pilgrims could make settlements but under their regulation until they were strong enough to run a self-government colony. The Pilgrims felt as if the Company was unfair and feared that the Englishmen would corrupt their godly experiment in the colony. This disagreement led the Pilgrims to settle north of Plymouth which was closer to Massachusetts Bay where people were much interested in god as much as them.
Maryland was another colony that was establish for religion reasons. Lord Baltimore, the founder of Maryland wanted to reap financial profits and partly to create a haven for his fellow Catholics. Protestant England was discriminating strongly toward Catholics that they would not let marriage happen by a Catholic priest in the colony. The Protestants and Catholics rebelled and Baltimore lost his proprietary rights but soon gain them back under the Act of Toleration. The act was passed and Maryland's new religion status guaranteed toleration to all Christians and Catholics and there was no more threats from the Protestants or in England.
In Massachusetts Bay Colony, Puritans were known as the " visible saints" and were eligible for church membership only or could be freemen. Puritans had religious freedom here. They strongly believed the whole purpose of government was to enforce God's Laws which applied to non believers and believers. Everyone paid taxes for government-supported Church. Under this government, there were religious rules to follow. To follow through with the rules, John Cotton would preach for six hours a day. The laws were pass to aim at making sure pleasure stayed simple but making sure laws were still followed.
This contrast with Rhode Island colony because even though this was founded for religious reasons, this was a self-governing colony. Rodger Williams made this colony have complete freedom of religion for everyone, no oaths regarding religious beliefs and no taxes to support a state church. From this, Rhode Island became strongly individualistic and stubbornly independent.
In Pennsylvania, William Penn, a Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania decided that it was finally time to have a tolerated religious freedom colony. William Penn was referred as the " First American Advertising Man" because he sent out countless pamphlets printed in many languages to attract all kinds of people who where forward looking spirits. His land was attracting heavy follow of immigrants. There was no restrictions placed on immigrants, no tax-supported state-church and freedom of worship was guaranteed to all residents. Pennsylvania was the opposite of all colonies that were found in American History.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

My Response: The Radicalism of the American Revolution

In this book, Monarchy is basically no freedom. In a Monarchy society, everyone is subjects of the king. That means whatever the king says or rules happens without your say or belief. The meaning of being involved in the Monarchy society is being a dependent being, weak and inferior, having no independence and easily cowed.
I strongly believe that I could not live during the Monarchy period of time. Having no say in your society isn't right to me. I believed that if people had say in their society things could be better off. If I lived in a society where people were able to say what they believed in would make me feel like I'm actually part of a society where the king (higher rank) cared about its people.
One topic that was so significant was the meaning of the word "gentlemen." Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Gray said being a gentlemen means that you know left from right, good from bad and black from white. They also stated that being a gentlemen is on the same level as a lawyer or doctor. That's because their job consist of labor or hardworking. They also stated that a gentlemen is born to eat, sleep, die and to be forgotten.
Being a gentlemen is someone who has class and respected by others. Being a gentlemen shows people that you have respect for yourself and others. I wonder how the word gentlemen became what it is today. In this book it just make the word sound low class and worthless.
Some topics that were shocking was the "Warning Out" laws. Both the New England towns with their ancient believed that everyone is expected to be in a certain category. Under these laws, towns were could legally eject "strangers" and have them convey to different places until they're in their right home.
When I came across this passage, I could not believe it. How could someone export someone else just because they did not live in that colony? Another part of the book that confused me were people saying where someone else belonged. Everyone were new settlements so how would the high rank say that someone belonged somewhere else? I guess money and fame is power until the end of time.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Why did I sign up for A.P U.S History?

I signed up for this class because I know that it will help my gpa very well and it challenge me to my fullest ability to learn. I also choose this class because I truly think if I give my all I will be average in the class and have a decent overall grade. Also having this class would look good on my transcript when I apply to colleges..and I want to get enrolled in a very well off college. If I don't understand everything in class then I will just try harder in this class without interfering with my other class work and ASK for help!