...Around the time America was declaring independence from Great Britain, our founding fathers of took a great risk in signing their names at the bottom of this document. Being under the control of Great Britain, these men were essentially signing away their lives if this had not gone accordingly. Of those men, Thomas Paine, was not only a contributor to the document, but also played a role in persuading the push in the army to declare our nations independence. Being from England and coming to America, Paine had a good understanding of what was going on around him. Paine was a free thinker who wasn’t afraid to speak out for what was right. After meeting with delegates from the Second Continental Congress, he went on to write the pamphlet “Common Sense.” The pamphlet consisted of many reasons and arguments simply put as to why the...
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...A discussion of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ article Qn.1 All men are equal Paine begins his argument by asserting the natural order of things that God ordained in men; that is, all men are equal. He, therefore, questions the way the British Empire could believe themselves to be extraordinary beings to the extent of subjecting the Americans to slavery by making all their important life decisions. Paine further notes that men and women are distinguished by nature, the good, and evil by faith. However, he wonders what kind of distinction assigns some human beings to be the rulers, in other words, the kings while the rest remain the subjects. According to Paine, it is unnatural and unfair for some human beings to believe themselves to be of more importance than the others. In his argument, Paine holds that hereditary monarchy through which the British exercise its political power obstructs the natural justice since no man should have preferential treatment over others. Paine further argues that Americas was focused on a higher calling. The main aim of such a calling was liberating the entire human race from slavery and affliction of self-imposed ‘earthly kings’. Americas Independence does her better than harm Paine suggests that America could be better without their colonial masters. He claims that England did not colonize America to protect it nor to make it flourish but to safeguard its interests. Paine criticizes those opposed to America’s independence by giving an example...
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...A discussion of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ article Qn.1 All men are equal Paine begins his argument by asserting the natural order of things that God ordained in men; that is, all men are equal. He, therefore, questions the way the British Empire could believe themselves to be extraordinary beings to the extent of subjecting the Americans to slavery by making all their important life decisions. Paine further notes that men and women are distinguished by nature, the good, and evil by faith. However, he wonders what kind of distinction assigns some human beings to be the rulers, in other words, the kings while the rest remain the subjects. According to Paine, it is unnatural and unfair for some human beings to believe themselves to be of more importance than the others. In his argument, Paine holds that hereditary monarchy through which the British exercise its political power obstructs the natural justice since no man should have preferential treatment over others. Paine further argues that Americas was focused on a higher calling. The main aim of such a calling was liberating the entire human race from slavery and affliction of self-imposed ‘earthly kings’. Americas Independence does her better than harm Paine suggests that America could be better without their colonial masters. He claims that England did not colonize America to protect it nor to make it flourish but to safeguard its interests. Paine criticizes those opposed to America’s independence by giving an example...
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...When the Light Shines on Literature The Enlightenment Era is a period of philosophic and scholarly excitement which took place globally in the early eighteenth century. In a historical context, the American Enlightenment led to the American Revolution, American Independence, and the creation of the Constitutional Republic of the United States America (Bailyn 26-27). Influenced by those of the European Enlightenment, such as John Locke and Isaac Newton, and fueled by the colonist’s growing frustrations with the English Crown, the literary soil of the New World was a fertile garden. From this newly enriched land sprung both flowers of poetry and the nutritious fruits of the realistic pen that were deeply inspired by the American Enlightenment. The literature of the Enlightenment period was powerful indeed, as it motivated people to think and to take action. Two superlative examples of American Literature and the influences of the Enlightenment Era are Philip Freneau’s poetry and Thomas Paine’s prose. The influence of enlightenment ideas is in the works of both of these important literary figures. Philip Freneau was the poet of the American Revolution (Bowen 213). From Freneau’s naturalistic poetry, such as “The Wild Honeysuckle, we can see the Enlightenment idea that nature is a revelation of God that holds instructions for mankind. “The Wild Honeysuckle" was America's first major poetic account on the themes of life and death. The poem begins by discussing the types of death...
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...was equal. “Colonist were beneficiated by the war and were the least taxed in the British Empire, while the people in England were heavily taxed and were not doing so well.”1 The first form of taxation for the colonist was in 1765, when England established the Stamp Act, this act placed a tax on official documents which required an official seal to be considered valid. The colonist were upset with this new form of taxation and feared that they were losing power to the British. Colonist reacted in a negative form towards this and violence struck out in the colonies as a form of protest against the Stamp Act. After a great amount of violence and rebellion, “the Stamp Act was overturned in 1766.”1 The British attempts to continue the taxation did not diminish, in 1767 a tax was placed on glass, paper, sugar, and tea. This tax was known as the Townshend Acts, along with these acts “parliament increased the military presence in the colonies to try and prevent what happened with the Stamp Act.”1 This act however backfired on the British, the colonist decided to boycott the acts economically by refusing to buy products from British businesses. The Acts were overturned in 1770 because the British businesses complained of business loss. Following this act, England granted monopoly to the East India Trading Company. The tea sold by this company was the cheapest tea in the world, however this tea had a tax, however, the colonist refused to buy this tea because they felt as if England was tricking...
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...Joshua Meadows Nathaniel Widener HIS 131.05E 22 September 2014 How did the Paleo-Indians populate the Americas? The earliest Americans, called Paleo-Indians by archeologists, were the first people to settle America (Boyer 3). It is the popular belief among most archeologists that the Paleo-Indians had spread to most of North America by 13,000 B.C.E. From there, different groups of them migrated south into Mesoamerica and South America (Boyer 1). While the immigration of the Paleo-Indians happened at various times and for various reasons, the populating of the Americas happened because people arrived from northeastern Asia, then interrelated with other bands and tribes, and migrated toward certain desired environments or climates. The first...
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...During the early 1600’s, the British joined the ranks of the French and Spanish by establishing their first American colony in Jamestown, Virginia. As time progressed, so did the numbers of colonies and their respective populations. Initially, the English were hoping to discover gold, but had no success. So the colonies became a means of gathering natural resources and an extension of British trade. Though conditions were harsh and the mortality rate was high, still, colonists were willing to risk their lives for the opportunities the new land promised. These privileges included land, religious freedom, and a political voice. Ideas of individualism and reason from the Enlightenment movement became the fundamental basis and driving factor for...
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...became part of the triangular trade (middle passage) Slaves were captured by other Africans. Journey took 5-8 weeks. Once in America, 80-90% worked in the fields while the others became domestic slaves. Thriving industries in the north were grinding wheat, fishing, and lumber. Port cities grew (Boston, NY, PA). The major cash crops were wheat and corn. Persuasive purpose of a slave narrative is to expose the evils of slavery and turn people against it. Olaudah was kidnapped when he was 11, he was in the west indies then Virginia, enslaved 10 years then bought freedom. Abolitionist was someone that wanted to abolish slavery. The time period of the enlightenment was the 1700’s in Europe. “Scientists began looking beyond religion for answers on how the world worked. The world is governed by fixed math laws rather than souly the will of god” encouraged by the Renaissance. Lead colonists to question British monarchy. Rational though 0 discovery of natural laws & principles of governing the world and human behavior (value scientific method & reason) Key players: Galileo Galilei, Ben Franklin(truth through experiment) Tom Jefferson(born w/ natural rights-Locke), Sir Isaac Newton, Nicolas Cofernicus (pub. edu.) The Great Awakening time period was 1730’s-1750’s in Massachusetts during the colonial religious movement. “Challenged authority of established churches, Revival of religious feeling in 1730’s to 50’s, restoring Puritans. Key players: Pit of hell sermons, John Edwards, George Whitefield...
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...The Declaration of Independence can be divided into four main parts. The first part is an introduction that states the purpose of the document, which was to explain why the American people were declaring independence from the government of Great Britain. The second part is a theory of good government and individual rights generally accepted by Americans from the 1770s until today. In this theory, all individuals are equal in their possession of certain immutable rights. These rights are not granted by the government. Rather, they are inherent to human nature. Therefore, the first purpose of a good government is to secure or protect these rights. Further, a good government is based on the consent of the governed -- the people -- who are the sole source of the government's authority. If their government persistently violates this theory of good government, then the people have the right to overthrow it. The third part of the document is a list of grievances against King George III, who was singled out to represent the actions of the British government. These grievances are examples of actions that violated the criteria for good government stated in the second part of the Declaration of Independence. These grievances, therefore, justify separation from the King's bad government and establishment of a good government to replace it. The fourth and final part of the document is an unqualified assertion of sovereignty by the United States of America. It proclaims the determination of...
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...The American Revolutionary War Consider the words of Thomas Pain when he wrote “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer solider and the sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrinks from the service of his country: but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” The Independence war all started because of tyranny and major British taxation. The Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the outcome of the war were just some the major stances colonists took to a take stand against Great Britain to make the 13 colonies independent. These are the words of a true patriot. He has risked his life to severe this country. He was one of many soldiers in the War of Independence. The Independence War...
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...The Colonial Period and the Fight for Independence David C. Nard Hist 316L – Spring 2015 From the time the nation's first settlers established the colony of Jamestown in 1607 to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, 169 years had passed, meaning settlers established 13 colonies across the eastern seaboard and prospered as farmers, shipbuilders, and merchants. But they were not free, and were bound by British rule on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. For more than one and a half centuries, colonists fought for and perpetuated a system for self governance, but outside forces kept threatening their way of life and liberty. Throughout the Colonial era, settlers of the New World fought against British governing rule and desired self-government. However,...
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...(7%), Pennsylvania-Dutch (6%) 3. What sorts of contributions did the Scots-Irish bring? (see “Makers” section too) They were westward pioneers, and helped make trails for people to follow. 4. What was the Paxton Boys uprising? A group...
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...Five Ideology's assignment Mohammad Kareem Conservatism: In Theory Communism would work and is the best way to form a government, but as this ideology was implemented in different countries and nations the reality has shown it might be very far from being perfect. This system of government as well as economy is also based on trying to create equality. Communism can be related to Socialism which creates equality by essentially sharing all profits and land with the community. Unlike socialism however,Communism believes that there is no need for a profit to be given to the worker or for land to be owned by any workers because it creates inequality and this must be done to ensure social order. A Lot of the communist ideology is totally opposite and against capitalist views. There is no competition in communism and wages and salaries are equal across all carers and work. In Communist theory, government leaders should only be temporary and used only to gear the population towards true order and then step down and let the work cycle continued. Many of the communist ideology is predominantly theory and is highly criticized by many nations. In today's day and age many countries have decided to opt out of the communist social structure because it is unpractical and does not provide true equality as theorized. Communism was a fairly modern ideology founded only about 120 years ago but has lingered throughout history. The majour man honoured with the creation of communism is Karl Marx...
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...ADDRESS OF SUSAN B. ANTHONY [After her arrest on charges of voting illegally in the 1872 federal election, Susan B. Anthony undertook an exhaustive speaking tour of all twenty-nine of the towns and villages of Monroe county, and twenty-one towns Ontario county. The title for her lecture was "Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote?" Her speaking tour was effective enough in winning support for her position that the prosecution sought and obtained an order transferring her trial to the United States Circuit Court at Canandaigua, where it was believed fewer potential jurors would be prejudiced in her favor.] Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote? Friends and Fellow-citizens: I stand before you to-night, under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last Presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's right, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any State to deny. Our democratic-republican government is based on the idea of the natural right of every individual member thereof to a voice and a vote in making and executing the laws. We assert the province of government to be to secure the people in the enjoyment of their unalienable rights. We throw to the winds the old dogma that governments can give rights...
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...Examiners’ report 2011 Examiners’ report 2011 265 0020 Public law – Zone A Introduction As in previous years, the quality of papers ranged from First Class to poor Fails. In this report the Examiners will discuss what constitutes a „good‟ answer and what does not. Extracts from candidates‟ examination scripts are included in relation to Questions 1 and 4, both of which were statistically popular with candidates. Please note that spelling errors and other linguistic problems have been left as they were on the examination script. General remarks As in previous years, irrespective of the actual questions on the examination paper, there are a number of common problems which detract from the quality of the answers given. The first relates to understanding and correctly interpreting the question. Although a number of the same topics will appear on the paper each year, candidates must appreciate that this does not mean that there is a standard answer which will be adequate for the particular question. It is extremely important that you take care in interpreting what the actual question is asking, and adapt your knowledge of the topic accordingly. The Examiners can spot a „rote-learned‟ preprepared answer and it is rarely adequate for more than a bare pass, if that. A related issue concerns relevance. One of the main purposes of the 15-minute reading time is to enable candidates to read and reflect on what the questions require, and a correct interpretation is crucial for success...
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