LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

Washington's farewell address starts off with an explanation of why he is not running for a third term. He states how he wanted to step down after his first term, he saw how the country was still in need of his assistance and so stayed for another term. Now that the country is in a relatively ok situation, he feels that it is right to allow someone else to run as president. He thanks the country for its support and adoration, and also has some advice for the country. He states how a unified country is very important, and that other people or nations will try to tear it apart. The South relies on the North, the North on the South, the East on the West, and the West on the East. Thus, it is important to always be aware of this and make sure not to become torn apart. He also states the danger of political parties and how they can harm the unity of the country. One party may gain more power and eventually create tyranny in the country. Because of this, people need to be aware of this, even when parties are supporting popular causes. In addition, he talks about alliances and peace. Alliances should be made only in times of emergency during a defensive war, and on all other occasions the country should not make any alliances, especially when it comes to conflicts in Europe. Peace should be maintained with other countries, and in the end will be the best for the future of the United States.

Washington's Farewell Address

LAD #6: Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

In Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality, Washington acknowledges the fact that there is conflict between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, the United Netherlands, and France. However, Washington also states that the U.S will be neutral during this conflict and that any citizen that is caught assisting these nations would not be protected by the U.S government and will be punished if caught.

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

LAD #5: Federalist #10

1. Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?
Factions are difficult to eliminate because man will always have differing opinions when he has the right to do so. Thus, factions can never be truly eliminated unless the right to do so is revoked. The second option is to give everyone the same opinion, but then that would be contradicting to the rights that the U.S fought for in the Revolutionary War.

2. If factions cannot be removed, then how can they be controlled?
Balancing the powers of the factions and keeping them in check through voting. Although one faction in a state may spark some kind of commotion, keeping the factions in balance would prevent the commotion from spreading to the rest of the state because a minority would not gain any beneficial power due to the election process.

Federalist Papers

Republican Motherhood Blog

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The Revolutionary War affected the role of women by giving them more rights, such as better education, on the premise that they would be teaching future generations of Americans in order to preserve the republic. As Benjamin Rush states, "This cannot be done without the assistance of the female members of the community" (Document B). Mrs. A.J Graves also emphasizes this notion, stating, "Let her employ it, then, in leading those young, inquiring minds, which look up to her for guidance, along the pleasant paths of knowledge" (Document A).

2.  What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?

Women were still expected to stay at home and serve as a maternal figure in the household, and the common consensus was that "home is [women's] appropriate sphere of action; and whenever she neglects these duties, or goes out of this sphere of action to mingle in any great public movements of the day, she is deserting the station which God and nature have assigned to her" (Document A). However, as Jonathan F. Steams states, women are responsible for "the destiny of our country" (Document D), which implies that some "respect" was present towards women of the house. 

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women’s socialization?

This ideology can be seen as a stepping stone towards the larger feminism movement that would take shape later in American history. A more respected view of women could be seen to emerge from this, as people are depending on women to educate and care for the future of the United States of America. As Mary Morris states, "While you thus keep our country virtuous, you maintain its independence" (Document C).

A portrait of Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons by Charles Willson Peale (1789) 

1. Describe the setting.

The portrait depicts a mother (Mary Gibson Tilghman) with her two sons sitting on a coach, one on her lap and the other next to her. 

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she “republican” rather than aristocratic?

The center of the portrait appears to be Mary Gibson Tilghman, the mother of the two sons. This is most likely done in order to promote the idea of republican motherhood. The woman appears to be dressed plainly, with little extravagance. She is more "republican" than aristocratic because of this. The plainness and "everyday-ness" of her attire support that she is, in fact, a woman of a middle class and not of a higher, upper class of the aristocracy. 

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

Her sons seem to be depicted as rather innocent, and dressed rather modestly. The older son's attentive look shows that he is relatively well raised, while the younger one, with his hand outstretched towards the older son, seems to still exhibit the traits characteristic of younger children. 

4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?

Mrs. Tilghman's arm, holding the younger child in place, seems to represent the power she has over her children. The younger child, not yet developed in behavior, must be taught how to properly behave, which the mother is to teach to the child, hence the position of the arm. However, the seemingly older child, who is most likely more behaved than the younger child, does not need the same guidance, and therefore Mrs. Tilghman's arm is not on the older child. This most likely meant to show the perceived role of women at the time, in which women were meant to be the head of the household and raise children.