The Way of the War Hawks

The War Hawks—the new wave of Congressmen who had come to power during the first part of Madison’s Presidency—heavily influenced the United States’ decision to attack Canada and to go to war with Great Britain in 1812.  To be sure, the United States of the early 1800’s was facing conflicts with the Indians in the new territory gained in the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and in the Northwest Territory (1785, 1787) and the British supported the Indians to some extent.  Moreover, the British had been directly threatening U.S. ships and sailors with impressment and indirectly threatening the United States’ manufacturers with the far more developed British shipping fleet. The U.S. also still faced the direct threat of the presence of British Loyalists in Canada.  However, the war also resulted in several disastrous battles, wanton destruction on U.S. soil including the burning of Washington D.C., 6,000 Americans wounded or killed, and an initial divide between the political parties and the eventual collapse of the alternative voice of the Federalists.  And all that for a war that ended with both countries returning all of their conquered territory.

With that said, A) do you agree or disagree with the War Hawks’ decision to start a war?  If you agree, why? If you disagree, why? And B) Whatever the case, do you think the War Hawks’ policy was justified? If so, why? If not, why?

Please use your book and cite from it at least twice in using concrete historical examples to support a thoughtful response to these questions in AT LEAST 10 STRONG SENTENCES (10 SENTENCES TOTAL IN ANSWERING BOTH QUESTIONS -- NOT 20).  Posts must be completed by 12:30PM on Wednesday.

Posts submitted on time and according to the requirements will receive 10 POINTS as always (which is the equivalent of a very short quiz so you know).  Thanks so much and looking forward to reading.

The Principles and Goals of Harkness Critical Conversations Going Forward

Today we used the Harkness Method officially for the very first time.  We will use it regularly going forward during this year. At the beginning of the class, we mentioned focusing on three points: 1) Posture, 2) Engagement, and 3) Looking at the Class.  Given that we will be using this method and now that you've had a chance to begin to use it as a group for 20 minutes, please reflect on what principles and "rules" (i.e., posture, engagement, etc.) you think that you as an individual and the group as a whole must focus and develop to make our critical conversations even more effective? Please respond by offering THREE thoughtful ideas about what you think you AND the group must do together to improve our work in class even more.  You can respond in bullet points, but if you do make sure they are complete sentences with a clear explanation of what you mean.  Avoid using the things we focused on today (the three I named) unless you want to offer another level of reflection on them.

The Motivations of the American Revolution: Political or Economic

Do you think the American colonies' eventual revolution was rooted in a) primarily political motivations OR b) primarily economic motivations? Please offer a careful and thoughtful response that offers both factual evidence and a personal interpretive approach. The response should be at least 10 sentences of careful and thoughtful reflection.

"American?"

What defines an American? The love of liberty, the pursuit of justice, the urge to invent,the desire for wealth, the drive to explore, the quest for spiritual values? Or are there much darker latent forces that demand critique? The paradox of the American identity is that although the United States is a melting pot of many different traditions, motives, and ideals, there are nevertheless distinctive qualities that define the American character. Please respond to this question and statement in AT LEAST 10 THOUGHTFUL SENTENCES. BE BOLD AND INSIGHTFUL.

Another New View of Slavery and then Indentured Servitude's Abhorrence

Today we watched an intense film that presented a very detailed account of the conditions and abhorrence of slavery and then indentured servitude. At the end of class, we briefly discussed one new idea that surprised us. Please offer 2-3 new facts or concepts that you discovered today and what effect they have personally on your evaluation of various areas of the English, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies (Note: you can choose one of these to focus on, but if you choose England, be sure to focus on different regions.) Please offer a careful and thoughtful response that is well written and offers both facts and personal reflection. The response should be at least 10 sentences.