Washington's Farewell Address

As George Washington retired from the Presidency in 1796 after serving two terms in office, he wrote a "farewell address" to the American people. Although many people today think that the Farewell Address was a speech, it was actually published in newspapers. Alexander Hamilton, who had been the Secretary of the Treasury, wrote the first draft, and Washington made changes.

Washington made three main points. First, he said that while the newly independent United States should trade with other countries, the US should not make military alliances (agreements) with any foreign country since that could pull us into a war that did not affect us directly. He also warned against having political parties. Washington felt that if there were political parties, voters would follow who the party said to vote for, rather than being informed and voting for the best candidate. Finally, he felt that religion was an important "pillar" for American morals. In others words, if people went to church regularly, they would know the difference between right and wrong, and make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Now it's your turn. Do you believe that Washington's advice in the farewell address is still good advice for the United States in 2009? Write a well written paragraph, and address Washington's three major points:

• The US should avoid foreign military treaties
• Political parties are bad for the country
• Belonging to a church helps make people better citizens since they know right from wrong

Be sure to explain your answers and give reasons to back up your ideas

Washington's Rules of Civility

George Washington wrote his "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior" when he was a teenager as an assignment in school, probably to practice his handwriting. Although he didn't invent these rules, respect and proper behavior were important to him, and he tried to live by these rules throughout his life and career as a general of the army and President of the United States.

Your assignment is to put 3 of the rules into your own words, and explain why following them might have helped Washington as a military and political leader. Be sure to "copy-paste" the text of the rule to your response.

Federalist Paper No. 10

In November 1787, Number 10 in a series called the "Federalist Papers" was written in support of the Constitution. James Madison describes the way federalism will overcome disagreements within society:
"A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile [trading] interest, a money interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divides into different classes, moved by different views. The regulation of these interests is the principal task of modern government.

The federal Constitution forms a happy combination; the great interests, being referred to the national [central] government, and the local interests to the state governments. The influence of local leaders may start a flame within their own states, but will be unable to spread through the other states"

Questions:
1. In your own words, what was the problem facing the government?
2. How does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreements?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Madison, and why?

Thomas Jefferson on Slavery

"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the...most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.....Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."

--Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia, 1782

1. In your own words, what are the two points that Jefferson is making about slavery?

2. Do you agree or disagree with his two ideas? Why?

Pioneer Travel Tips

Captain Randolph Marcy was a cavalry officer in the US Army who wrote "The Prairie Traveler" in 1859 to help settlers make it safely to the West. 

Your assignment:

1. Find 5 bits of advice that Captain Marcy gives travelers, put them into your own words so that a modern traveler could understand them. 

2. Would any of the advice given by Captain Marcy in 1859 apply for travelers today? Why or why not?

Be sure to post your class period and first names/last initial so that you get credit. Example: "P5 Jack A & Jill B"

p.s. Follow the link to see the actual text of Captain Marcy's book, "The Prairie Traveler"

Reconstruction Vocabulary

In your own words, explain how these terms and people relate to the Reconstruction era in the United States, 1866-1876:

1. Reconstruction   2. sharecropper   3. scalawag   4. Charles Sumner   5. Andrew Jackson   6. Presidential Reconstruction   7. Congressional Reconstruction   8. Radical Republican   9. carpetbagger   10. "40 acres and a mule"   11. Freedman's Bureau   12. impeachment   13. Black codes   14. Hiram Revels

Black Codes

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Southern states passed a series of "Black Codes" that restricted the rights and opportunities for the freed slaves. With you partner, review the handout containing excerpts from the 1865 Mississippi Black Codes. For each of the sections, put the main idea of the law into your own words.