As we study the founding of our nation, consider what it must have been like to be a delegate to the Constitutional Convention during the hot summer months of 1787. This week's assignment requires you to follow the link http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/themes/ and research the major themes addressed by the delegates. Give a report (200 word minimum) that addresses two of the issues - one of which you agree with the decision reached by the delegates, and one of which you disagree. Explain why you agree or disagree. For example, on July 26 the convention voted that a president should serve a seven year term of office, but then would be ineligible for reelection. Later this decision was changed, of course, but do you agree with the original plan? How would it affect politics in the U.S. today?
I am very impressed with your posts from the previous two weeks! Great job guys - keep it up!
On The Slave Trade and the Rule of Secrecy:
ReplyDeleteToward the beginning of the independent America, Slave trade was not only permitted, but it was common, especially in the southern states. It seemed as though Congress was completely for slavery, and if any were opposed then they didn’t say anything. I don’t see how they could be for slavery when you were putting a fellow man bellow yourself and treating them like animals. Things change, though, and Congress later chose to end all importing of slaves in the year 1808 and discourage it by taxation until that year came. Abraham Lincoln later ended slavery with the Civil War. I am very thankful that we live in a country where all men are created equal.
The rule of secrecy has been around since our founding and may remain long after. The rule of secrecy, to put it plainly, means that what happens in Congress stays in Congress. All of the issues discussed are public, but the voting and debates are done behind closed doors. I agree with this because if everything were public, then some of the representatives might be swayed by outside influences. This could also pose a problem to those who voted in an unpopular manner, and who later, if the votes were known, would receive public mockery. Some things are best kept behind closed doors.
Slave Trade. I couldn’t even imagine how it would make me feel if I were a slave and then were traded. I put myself in slave’s shoes and see how I would like it, and I can tell you I know I wouldn’t like it. Slavery itself is wrong and awful, but then trading the slaves! That is even more awful and more wrong. Slave trade is exactly that is the trading of one slave from one place to another. For every bad situation, there is a good that comes out of it. Wars are not a very happy thought or idea, but I am glad that there was one that when on that made slavery abolished.The Rule of Secrecy.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the dictionary secrecy is the state of keeping something secret. That’s what these men were voting on is to keep this secrecy a secret. If something is very important we don’t want the whole world to know and they did their best by not letting that happen. It’s a great idea to shut all doors and make sure no one who is not liable to hear the important things not hear them. They felt and were right that those important things were to be just between those men that had the right to be there. It was their duty and their right to keep everything important silent until obligated to tell.
Slave trade. Slave trade is a terrible thing, what was once normal for people. Slave trade is very old and has been operated around the world. Today it is an offense to operate the slave trade, which I think is good. The slaves were humiliated and treated very cruelly. But maybe America would be without slaves never became what we know. I believe that the slave is a lot to thank. Nevertheless, the slave trade is not good, people are treated as assets and, depending on gender, age or body sold. Nobody can not imagine this today.
ReplyDeleteThe rule of secrecy. It was much kept secret in the history, what was possibly not the worst. There were certain reasons why the public should not hear it. Maybe they wanted to avoid a mass panic or riots. Today, the secrecy is still in use. For example, in the judiciary, medicine, and yet another. One problem with secrecy is that rumors emerge quickly. This happens even today and it is not very good. One reason for the secrecy was the safety of the people. They wanted to protect the people by telling them nothing about what is happening. My opinion is, that is very important, that the people think everything would be fine. And many times it is good that we do not know everything.
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ReplyDeleteSlave trading: Slave trading was a horrible but common occurrence in the colonies. Slave traders would sell them to southern plantation owners to work in the field. Most slaves knew how to cultivate crops unlike the Europeans who never had to before. The slaves were usually treated horribly and had no respect from other humans. Southern plantation owners would whip and sometimes kill there slaves like useless animals. Slave trading is something I’m glad we don’t have to worry about today. If it wasn’t for the 13th amendment slavery might have lasted a lot longer. The Rule of Secrecy: The rule of secrecy stated, "That nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave." This means that anything that was secret stayed secret unless approved to leave. This would help protect our country from other countries. I think that the government keeps some things from us for our safety. If we knew everything there would probably be a lot of worrying, rumors, panic, and possibly riots or people going against the government. I think a part of why our country is so successful and unique is because our government keeps our ideas and plans secret from others.
ReplyDeleteSlave trade…..
ReplyDeleteSlave trade to me is the dumbest thing ever to be honest; I think it was a completely stupid and lazy thing to do. You would have to be so lazy to not do your own work or make your own food, or even to clean your own house!! I think it is a very selfish thing to do, by ruining someone’s life and all to make then do what you want because frankly, most Americans are lazy! (Saying it bluntly) I think that everyone should be able to live their life the way they want to. But of course that’s not the way things rolled back then I think it was just not right and I don’t think anyone was in there right mind not to see that slavery was wrong. But trading the slaves?!?! How could you even try to think about what kind of life that would be to have to be a slave and then get traded just so you can go work for someone else?
The rule of secrecy: states that "That nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave." Obviously since a secret means “something that is not to be told” so the conversations or meetings they had were not to be talked about anywhere else than there. I would say they did that so things in the towns wouldn’t go chaotic (sp). And I can see why they would do that because a lot of things that they said were probably not ready to hit public until they knew further or other types of situations.
Lydia:
ReplyDeleteI really liked your report because it was well-spoken and informative. The only problem is that I have no clue what the Virginia and New Jersey Plans are. Your report was good, and I completely agree with you that we should have representation based on population as well as equal representation.
Bethany:
Your essay was very good because you put yourself in the shoes of a slave; I wrote about the same thing but saw it from an aspect of morals. It really made me think of how far we’ve come since the start of our country and how things have changed since then.
Patricia:
I agree with your essay because if the public knew everything that was discussed politically, then the country would be enveloped in chaos. Riots would occur because of something a representative said that not everyone agrees with, or maybe because someone said something racially discriminatory. Honestly, no one really needs to know everything that happens in our country, including us.
Bethany..
ReplyDeletei really liked reading your essay because it actually made me think, "wow" what if i were a slave how would i go about life how would i go throughout each day. i have no clue what i would do and your essay really put me in the slaves shoes and made me think about it!
Lydia,
ReplyDeleteI liked your essay because as catelyn said it was very well spoken and informative. I love the way that you put your essays because they are well written and you take a complicated topic and turn it in to something easily understandable! :) Great Job!
This week for my essay in history I choose to do it on the slavery and the judicial review and power. I agree that the slavery was the absolute worst thing that there ever has been. It has caused so much conflict, pain, and suffering. Today it is not as heard of, but from what has happened in the past it has made people every where now not like each other. Yes some get along and even marry different races and even have family’s. But there is still many who don’t not except someone different from them and there are even still murders cause of different colors. As for what I don’t agree with is the judicial review and power. I believe that to pass laws they should people the right to vote for the laws that they want passed. I think it’s the people it affect there for we should vote on what passes and does not pass. The people just decide and then side back and wait for action on it. I think we deserve to vote on them. I believe that would make better laws pass more and help better. Because we know what we need as a country.
ReplyDeleteThe Rule of Secrecy:
ReplyDeletefirst and for most this is probably one of the things that I single handedly disagree with most... but only to an extent. There are a very large majority of things discussed in government that I believe we the people have a right to know about. No body wants to live in a country where they are uninformed. If that was the case no one would know what to expect and could cause extreme chaos. Now to some degree there are things that are extremely on a need to know basis and frankly we just don't need to know... Because letting us know something would do more bad than good.
On the other hand there is that in which can somewhat agree and that was the Necessary and Proper Clause... This compromise allowed each side to have what they wanted to a reasonable degree. All in all this mainly gave way for peace and happiness among the people. And honestly I don't think the government would be the same today without it. I wonder what our government would be like today if it hadn't had the history that it does... would it be better? would it be worse? I guess we will never really know but none the less it's a puzzling thought.
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your essay you made a very good point and I agree with you fully. We most definitely should have the right too give our opinion on the laws which are passed in the country which we live. The people that make up our government are human like the rest of us... making it physically impossible for them to see and experience everything that happens in each state with each people group.. with out our input the country's people wouldn't be happy. So good job.
Amanda,
Awesome job on your essay and if I do say so myself it was very nicely worded... And being blunt is the best way to do it! I found your essay to be extremely interesting and it was very informative for sure. So anyways great job!!
Bethany,
Amazing job on your essay, you made it really easy for me to put myself in the slaves place and it really made me realize how hard things were for them. I agree it's all very inhumane and disgusting the way slaves were treated instead of people they were looked at as being less than animals and that breaks my heart. Great, great job.
The Slave Trade:
ReplyDeleteIn seventeen century, the slavery was so bad and so common. A common-law marriage made poor people always stayed poor. And never stood up. Never! It made feel we are so lucky to live in a century with less slavery. Even you did a wonderful thing, or you made a big change, or maybe you presented a program not only to stabilize national finances but also to shape the future of the country as a powerful like Alexander Hamilton; you still hard to change your life that this world gave it to you. This was horrible! How could they treat people like this? It was so unfair. We are so blessed to live in this time, that with more peace and less slavery.
The Rule Of Secrecy:
"That nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave." Most times, I’m totally agreed with it. If we don’t have a rule, nothing can work out, things need rules. If the rule is not right, then it might get worse. And this rule kept the things in, so it is very nice. And a lot of stuff we need to keep it to be a secret, it can never be like everything is public; it can never be, so that’s why I agree.
Catelyn,
ReplyDeleteI’m totally agreed with you, it is so lucky that we live in a century with less slavery. God blessed us. I couldn’t even think about how bad it was, everyone is human, we are no big difference. I just feel we are so lucky.
Bethany,
Me too. It was so horrible. I couldn’t imagine that too. I’m so glad the world changed, it changed a lot of better. I still feel we are so lucky. And I am totally agreed with you.
The slave trades:
ReplyDeleteWhen I’m thinking of slavery, I think of poor kids, mums and dads, doing their best to get some food on the table. They are hard working people who don’t get much appreciation for what they do or have done. They’re working for some wealthy, greedy man so he can earn money. It is kind of sad that it was possible to trade slaves in so many years. I wouldn’t like being a slave, and I don’t think anyone would like that. I think slave trade and slavery is an awful thing and I’m glad it was prohibited. I’m glad you don’t see slavery much anymore.
The rule of secrecy:
I like there was kept some secrets for the public. It is not everything that everybody needs to know. They still do it today. Have secrets for the public. I think the ministry or government, the judges and lawyers, scientists and so on has secrets today. I think, that if the people got to know some of the secrets that the government might have, there would be a lot of frustration, panic, demonstration, opinions from all over the world instead of just from the inside of the government.
- Josephine Pedersen.
Agree:
ReplyDeleteI agree with “The Rule of Secrecy” because I think it is a good rule. The rule is good, because the people who make important decisions could not get under the influence of the public or could get corrupt, because nobody from the outside know what they are talking about. I think it is also good, because the people only could judge polities after what they did and not what they not did. On the other hand is it not so good for the democracy that nobody know what they are talking about. It would change toadies politic a lot, the news had not so much to talk about and the congress had more power.
Disagree:
I totally disagree with number 7 “The Slave Trade” it is good for everybody, that humanity won over greed and that the people in the Congress change their first opinion. I think it is also very, very good that the Congress changed the definition of slaves from property to humans. America would be a total different country when the Congress had another opinion, it would be a country with freedom for only some persons and not everybody. Many people especially from Africa were not come to the United States and the idea of freedom after the revolution were not successful.
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ReplyDelete“Slave Trade”- disagree
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about the "Slave trade".. I think that slavery is one of the worst thing that the man could invent. With slavery people aren't free and can't decide about their life. There's something strange in that. It's right for a person to choose that to do in their life, what religion chosen or stuff like that. Luckly after August 25 the slave trade was abolished. If the Congress wouldn't decide to change their idea now America it would be another country, completely different from the country that everyone know.
“Rule of Secrecy”- agree
I agree with “Rule of secrecy”. With this rule a people can tell what he thinks. If you listen to all the people, those people can influence you and you can took the wrong choice.
I think that's really good rule! I think that sometimes there are some stuff that people don't need to know.. That can maybe danger the nation and complicate the relation President-citizens. They are important to be secret and don't permit to destroy a Nation!
Conventional Procedures.
ReplyDeleteI chose to do my research on conventional procedures because it shows just how orderly and complicated our government is. The rules back then were just about as strict as today. Such rules as the first one, which states that 7 states must be represented or they will be dismissed for the day, are still enforced today, but of coarse on a larger scale. They even had rules about speaking. Representatives could only speak twice, unless it was certain conditions. The meetings were also sectioned out into times and were on a tight schedule. Also, each state had an equal vote, which made it fair among the colonies. The only thing bad about these rules was that there were often situations which the rules didnt cover, bringing arguments and debates to the convention. So as you can see, the convention was strict but our government needs to be tight, fair, secure, and smart.
The Connecticut Compromise. I agree with what the delegates concluded with this compromise. To allow all the states equal representation the Compromise supported a set representation in the upper branch and representation based on population in the lower branch. This way Rhode Island would have as big of a voice as Virginia in the upper branch, but in the lower house Virginia would have more representation because of its denser population. I believe that this was fair to the states and their general population. Today, we use this same system in our government. The Connecticut Compromise has proven to be a sound decision over the years. Before the Connecticut Compromise there was the Virginia Plan that called for a "wholly national" system. The Virginia Plan was rejected and at first so was the Connecticut Compromise. The New Jersey Plan was presented after the Compromise was rejected and it was too turned away. On July 16th the Compromise was again presented and was put into action. The vote was five-four-one. The Connecticut Compromise was also known as the Gerry Committee Report. Gerry was believed to have won by not being afraid to "compromise" with the wholly nationalists like Mason.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the slave trade because there should be no question for human beings if they can own other human beings. If we still had slave trade today we would not have an African American president.
Christian:
ReplyDeleteI really liked your agreement on the rules of secrecy because they were correct. I agree when you said that if everyone knew what they were going to vote, it might change their opinion. Also, I liked you slavery essay. I liked how you said you liked that Congress changed their definition of slaves from property to humans! Good Job!!
K. Sellmaier:
I liked you essay; I liked how you agreed that it was good that slavery is abolished today. In you other essay on the rules of secrecy, I liked the statement that you said that the reason why they kept it a secret was because it might cause a riot or some tension problems! I never thought of that. Good Job!!
Amanda:
I enjoyed your essay. You were very blunt but I do have to agree on your ideas and thoughts on slavery because it is a sign of laziness. Great Job!!
Connecticut Compromise
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Connecticut Compromise. The compromise involved the bi-cameral legislation, but they didn’t quite know how to set it up. Then the Connecticut Compromise came into play. This allowed for the upper house to be decided on by set representation and the lower house based on by the population by the state. This is good because it keeps our legislation system balanced. I agree with this because I believe that we as a nation should be able to elect our officials by the Connecticut compromise.
I disagree with the rule of secrecy. I disagree with the rule of secrecy because they said that anything said at the meetings couldn’t be known by the public. I don’t think that this is very fair because if they were “of the people, by the people, and for the people” like they were promoting, why were the people left out. I believe that the public has a right to know what their elected officials are doing and saying in congress sessions because it is one of the main backbones of America.
So overall I think that the Constitutional convention was a very good thing and help shape the America we know and love today.
Thank you,
Rebecca
@ Patricia Smith
ReplyDeleteGood work on your essay, I think you did very good job on describing the things. I also think, that you are right about, that the slave trade had lasted longer when it was an amendment. I think you have some good statements about the rule of secrecy, but I do not agree with you. I think there is a very small line between protecting the own people and try to hide the wrong things.
@ Bethany C.
I like your essay too, you wrote some very good things especially about the slave trading. I think, you are right about the war, that it had some very good things. I really do not want to think about, what would happened if the south won. I do not really agree with your argument why you think the rule of secrecy is important. Maybe other countries do not now what is going on, but the own people too. So it is a very hard job for them to decide how their government is working, good or bad.
Rebecca:
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the Connecticut Compromise. I believe that secrecy is sometimes wrong but sometimes right. I believe that some individuals can't handle government issues.
Marta:
ReplyDeleteI also disagree with slave trade. I can't imagine trading a human being for moneyor in the Africans case alcohol.
Amanda:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the Rule of Secrecy. I believe some people couldn't handle the government issues that they have to deal with. I think a lot of chaos would feel our streets and our communities wouldn't be as safe.
Catelyn:
ReplyDeleteI believe that the rule of secrecy has been profitable to us as a country. If every problem that the government has to deal with was shared with the whole public I believe that there would be many riots. In effect I think this would cause a lot of dangerous behavior near our homes. Without the rule of secrecy I don't think America would be as great a country.
During the founding of our nation, slavery was a very common and accepted thing. Although our founders were fighting for our freedom and protesting for equality, they themselves owned slaves. Slavery wasn’t necessarily existent because people were ‘lazy’, but because they were selfish and greedy. Slave owners/traders wanted work done in larger and faster amounts. Slaves were treated under extreme cruelty; yet, had no control over any aspect of their own life. I come into complete disagreement with a person being the property of and subject to another: slavery.
ReplyDeleteI come into agreement with the rule of secrecy because of the protection it provides. If everything Congress discussed were public not only could that put America in danger, but it would also cause a lot of confusion and frustration before decisions have even been made. It seems pretty obvious to me how the secrecy goes hand in hand with our safety.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/themes/
Slave trading: I feel like slave trading is one of the most horrible things humans have come up with. Treating a person like property instead of like a human being is just disgusting. And then to trade them off like all they are worth is trash? Ridiculous! People with sick and twisted lazy minds must have come up with something as horrible and offensive as this. It’s hard for me to even fathom that people thought this was okay. Smart educated strong leaders such as George Washington had many slaves and saw nothing wrong with it. Something is messed up with this picture. I’m very glad that slave trading was abolished.
ReplyDeleteThe rule of Secrecy: The rule of secrecy is a very good thing. It keeps things private so that we are left with a minimum amount of confusion possible in our nation concerning certain topics. With this rule people can’t be influenced by others. We really don’t need to know EVERYTHING that goes on. That would probably be kind of scary if we know exactly what happened in our nation all the time. So this is a good rule.
Lauren: I come in agreement with everything you said about slave trading and the rule of secrecy. Amen to you.
ReplyDeleteMarta: I agreed with what you said about slave trade being one of the worst things invented by man. It makes me sick just to think about it.
I disagree with the rule of secrecy because i don't think it is fair to the citizens of this country to don't know what's going on in what the government says, i the same government says that we are all equal then why don't they tell us? and if the country is the people and the people choose the government they should tell all the people what they talk in meetings and secrets, nuclear stuff, i think wikileaks.org was a great help for citizens to know what was going on, even though it was illegal at least we could know the secrets of our government. Of course the US did'nt like that and they close that web page.
ReplyDeleteI think slave trading was kinda OK, I'll explain:
i know and i'm more than sure that slavery it's a horrible thing and that nobody should suffer that treat because we are all equal as a humans and nobody have more rights than you because your skin color, religion, or where you come from but without slavery the world now would be worse than if there was no slavery 300 years ago, racism would be a main thing because at least now we can live with other races and know more about other cultures and for instance european countries would look at Africa and South America as wild people without manners and know we are all mixed, and slavery was a real problem for not a long time and now is not a problem at all.
I personally agreed with Madison’s reasoning for ratifying the articles of confederation because if the articles of confederation did not protect us from foreign attacks, secure the harmony between states, if it was incapable of producing certain blessings to the states, defend itself from encroachments, and isn’t superior to the constitution of the United States of America it doesn’t sound like it helped our country too much. The main problem I see in these four reasons is protecting us from foreign attacks. The United States was trying to separate itself from a foreign country and its governing document didn’t protect for foreign attacks? To me that just doesn’t make sense. Secondly I think the decision on slavery was a total mistake! I believe that all men are created equal and that everyone is made in the likeness of God. So I totally disagree with slavery and those who stood for slavery. I know back then the Europeans thought of it as helping the black people, but in my opinion if you would not treat your own family like you are treating someone else you are treating them in a wrong manner and should not be acting the way they did then.
ReplyDelete