LAD #10 Monroe Doctrine

Monroe Doctrine

    Basically, the Monroe Doctrine basically defines American foreign policy and states that America will stay out of European affairs, but if Europe tries to colonize or influence the American continents, it will be seen as a threat to American national security, and the U.S. will respond accordingly. 

     In the introduction of Monroe's message, he says that upon talks with Russia and Britain the time is right to establish that the in matters of European colonization involving U.S interests, the U.S is to maintain as "free and independent". 

     Monroe says that Spain and Portugal were trying to improve the lives of the people in their colonized nations, but the result the U.S anticipated was very different. Monroe says the U.S has always been "anxious and interested spectators", but stayed out of war involving European conflicts and interests, except when our rights are hindered. Monroe then says that the U.S owes some of the countries happiness, wisdom, and devotion is owed to relations between them and the U.S. However, if any of the powers try to colonize part of the newly independent Western Americas, then the U.S will see it as a threat to their peace and safety. The U.S will not interfere with colonies that are still under European control.The Latin American's independence shows that Europe is unsettled. Despite this, the policy of the U.S will remain the same, which is to not interfere with the internal concerns of European nations, and to "preserve those relations by a frank, firm, and manly policy, meeting in all instances the just claims of every power, submitting to injuries from none."
     He concludes by re-iterating that the U.S do not want powers in Latin America that would be a potential threat to the U.S. He hopes that the European nations will leave the newly independent nations alone, like the U.S.

   

Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villian?

Christopher Columbus went back to spain with wealth and glory for discovering the new world, but was he really a hero?

He can be viewed in both ways, but the evidence seems to lean to him being a villian rather than a hero. Here's why.

He...

• didn't really discover it, there were already people living there
• actually set out to find India
• misjudged the inhabitants as Indians
• called them simple, said they lacked religion
• set the stage for genocide
• brought and enslaved people
• brought disease from Spain
• got other people started on exploring and finding new lands
• led to the killing of the aztecs and the incas

LAD #9

Summary of Jefferson's first inaugural address (1801)

• thanks the people for voting for him
• he says that it's more than he's qualified for
• american people should unite behind him and the will of the majority
• even though people have differences, it's good as long as we stick to the same principles and do what we do for the good of the United States.
• US should focus on domestic issues
• a good government will protect the rights and safety of the people while still giving them freedom to control the economy and other aspects of society
• he lists his basic beliefs that will shape his administration's policies
• Equality
• Justice
• Neutrality
• peace with all nations without alliances
• people retain rights to vote
• decisions will be based on will of majority
• America will pay off debts
• Jefferson closes by saying that he believes that he is prepared for the Presidency because of his previous political experience
• He will do the best job possible in order to lead the United States successfully.