New Deal Franklin Delano Roosevelt "Liberalism Era"

The New Deal was a series of social, economic and governmental reforms created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was one of the major events in the American History. As we know in 1929, the American stock market crashed provoking a serious effect in the American’s economy. Because of the horrible situation, Roosevelt decided to focus in re-stable the economy with some programs. These programs were going to reform the finance system.  Also, these programs were going to create new works for the American population for example in the constructions of dams, state parks, build homes, roads and public structures. The New Deal also established the Social Security system. Therefore, the New Deal by Roosevelt was one of the most significant programs created in the United States which also impacted the country and helped in its growth.

BLOG 11: Progressive Era

It was a period of social activism and reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s. Herbert Croly wrote one of the most powerful works during this era, which “justified a powerful Hamiltonian government as a means of realizing Jeffersonian goals of democracy and individual happiness.” In other words, it was the idea of combine both ideas and constructs a powerful country, a big government that promotes equality. He focused a lot on approaching to the idea of democracy. Individual liberty cannot be taken away and the government should not interfere but secured it. Also, governments should guarantee the individual liberty to people. However, this liberty brought a lot of conflict. The equality will not be regulated. Many will violate and try to over rule and work for their own interesting. Every individual will demand different interest and will demand for an equality, which many time, will not be fulfill and cannot be afforded. It will bring “ambiguities and self-contradictions.” Therefore, people will fight to have the same powers.

BLOG 10: W.E.B DuBois

William Edward Burghardt DuBois was an attacker of injustice and a defender of freedom.  He was against racism.  He was an intellectual leader of the black community in America. He wanted to find ways to overcome the racial discrimination. One of his most powerful writing is call “ The Souls of Black Folk.” This book contains essays on race. He believed that social science could provide the knowledge to solve the race problem. He expressed his disagreement with Jim Crow laws. He clashed with Booker T Washington who urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and elevate themselves through hard work and economic plan. DuBois disagreed with it and wanted all Negros to be free and had the same opportunity White Americans had.

BLOG 9: Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism refers to the idea of “the survival of the fittest.” Those are the people whom generate the wealth to the country. In addition, the best human being needed to fit, be healthy and responsible for his/her own wealth and actions. The most prominent form of such views stressed competition between individuals in free market capitalism. Moreover, it s associated with ideas of struggle between national or racial groups. Working class was just going to work for their own interesting while in the individual level lose sight of the larger society. This was the reason why people were dividing into different social level depending on their need and the stronger will survive. Plutocracy was the political system governs by the wealth people. It abused the government just to increase the wealth.

BLOG 8: Abraham Lincoln "Speech on the Dred Scott Decision"

Abraham Lincoln, considered by many as the greatest American president, was the 16^th president of the United States. He was the president during one of the most difficult situation of the United States, which was the Civil War. Lincoln was losing interest in politics when Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by congress in 1854. This law promoted the slavery and immoral things as Lincoln viewed it. During his presidency, one of the most injustice cases took place. Dred Scott was a slave whom sued the Supreme Court demanding his liberty and freedom. He wanted to get his USA Citizenship.  The Supreme Court decided that a slave was not protected by the constitution and could never be U.S. citizens. Also, it was prohibited a slaves to sue in court. Basically, slaves were not considering human beings. I found it ridiculous. How can a person be classifying just because of skin color or where they come from? What makes a human being more human than others? 

BLOG 7:Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience is the act of protest against what people believe it is unfair. It is the active refusal to obey certain laws. It is also know as being nonviolent resistance. In the United States of American, there have being certain civil disobedience that has marked the country. People use this technique to call the attention to a necessary change. Henry David Thoreau was essayist to protest against the authority of the government, which really wants to control people’s consciences. He was motivated by his disagreement with the slavery and the Mexican-American War. During that time, slavery was a difficult situation. It was getting out of control with the Fugitive Slave Act after the 1850. However, it was not the only problem but also the desire of America to become imperialism with the Mexican War. 

BLOG 6: Roe V Wade

Roe v Wade is one of the most important Supreme Court decision regardless with abortion law and making abortion legal in the United States during the earlier months of pregnancy. Before this case, abortion was illegal in all the United States during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. After this case, it became legal also during the second trimester if it was to protect the health of woman.  The court decision was made primary on the Ninth Amendment, which “ Protected a person’s right to privacy.”  This amendment explains the personal liberty and the restrictions upon the state. It used to determinate if a woman has or not the right to stop her pregnancy. In Addition, this case addressed points like giving the life to an unwanted child with an unstable family and all the stress during the pregnancy, which will affect the life of the child. The child will mostly born with problems or disability because of her mother instability. Roe was “a single pregnant woman which brought to the court her case of abortion to save her life.” I definitely agree with abortion during the first trimester. For me a mother has the right to decide whether or not she would like to have the baby. At the end she will be the one whom will have to take care of the child. Also, there are moments in which a woman is not ready to have a child and it could happen because of an accident or a rape. Therefore, a woman has the right to stop her pregnancy. 

BLOG 5: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States in 1801-1809. Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and was one of the most influential Founding Fathers. He also founded the University of Virginia.  In the Declaration of Independence he showed much of the highest Ideals of the American Revolution and also knowledge from works from others of his partners especially John Locke’s The right of Man.  It empathized in the ideals of freedom and democracy. He was not agreeing with the slavery but owned slaves, which contradicted his point. Also, he doubled the size of United States with purchase of Louisiana in 1805. He wanted to follow agrarian agricultural systems and did not get involved in any industrialization.  

BLOG 4: The Constitution Article 1

The constitution of the United States of America is composing of seven articles. Each article talks about the duties of the executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. The constitution clarifies the power of the Federal and State government. And finally, it also point out how are we allow to make changes at the constitution. Basically, the article one is describing the roles and rules of the Legislative branch. Congress is the one in charge of making the laws for the United States. It consists in two houses, The Houses of Representative and Senate. In section two says that member of the House of Representative are chosen every second year and who qualify and meet all the requirements to be part of the house. The number of representative is determined by the population of each state, so bigger the state, more representatives. On the other hand, the senate of country as it says in section 3, it composing of two senators from each state, which are chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years and should receive one vote. It also explain that in order to be a member of the houses you must be citizen for nine years, be thirty years old and be from the state you are run for. Then in section 4, it talks about how each state should creates way for elected its representatives and the congress has to meet at least once a year especially in December. In section 5 says than the congress have to have the minimum number of members present in order to assemble.  And members who do not show up could be expelled with votes of the others members. But in order to do that, the congress must keep records or journals of each meeting and voting. Section 6 tells us that the members of the congress will be paid. Then in section 7, “explained us how bills becomes laws.” Section 8, it lists specific powered that the congress has such as declare war, raise money and establish post office. But in section 9 some limits are put on the congress. And finally section 10 prohibits the states from some things such as don’t allow them to make their own money and declare war. I think that the American Constitution is one of the best well-structured and organized one. The first article and its sections clearly show well development and how each point was treat carefully. 

Reflection #3 John Wise " Democracy Is Founded im Scripture"

In this article, John Wise described that there are three form of governments. Democracy in which people choose their leaders. Also, people are sovereign. People are free to criticize their elected leaders and representatives. " A democracy is then erected when  a number of free people do assemble together." The second form of government is aristocracy. It is a form in which the country is rule by the best and the rich and powerful people.An aristocracy is a group that benefits from a excess amount of wealth, power and education.  The third form of government is a monarchy. This is referring to the idea of just one person has to rule and control de government. 

Democracy is "the government by the people." We, the people, are the one who select the person who is going to represent us; our rights and our state in general. Also, we elected in a way the president. However, we did not participate in a direct way with issues in our governments. We do not approve law. 

Reflection #2- Roger Williams " The Bloody Tenet of Persecution for Cause of Conscience" and "The Bloody Tenet of Persecution, Made Yet More Bloody. "

Roger Williams was an American Protestant and "and the first one to protested of religious freedom and the separation of the church and the state." He found the Rhode Island and Providence colony. He disagreed with the idea of persecution and opened his colony to any type of religion. In other words, any religion was able to be practiced in his colony. In his writing " The Bloody Tenet of Persecution for Cause of Conscience," he presented the idea of separation of the church and civil matters. He basically said that the church acted in a hypocrisy way and destroyed millions of souls. It also practiced violence against people by persecuting them and their beliefs. For him, everyone was allow to practice the religion his or her wanted. His idea of the separation was because he thought that the church and the state should not be mixed up with each together. Then in 1652, he wrote The Bloody Tenet of Persecution, Made Yet More Bloody. In this book he again repeated that every man must do what his conscience tells him to do. The beliefs are the must important and trustful thing. In this article he explained that we have to do what we think is right, "fight with the spirit of love." 

Reflection #1 John Winthrop: The Little Speech (1639)

John Winthrop in "The Little Speech" talked about the kinds of liberty. According to him there are two types of liberty "Natural liberty and Civil or federal liberty." According to him " Natural liberty is what man shares in common with beasts. Man, as he stands in relation to man, has the liberty to do good or evil."  As man grow, they become more evil. Many times, we do not know how to control ourselves. We are able to take revenge with our hands when we think something is wrong. In the other hand, civil or federal liberty is the relation between God and Man, moral law and politic views. " This liberty is the proper end and object of authority." We live in a world where we need in somehow authority. There is too much of corruption in nowadays and people just want to do what is good for them. Many times, we think we are the only people living in this world and we want to govern as it suits us. That is why we need governments because otherwise we will all be lost. We will not know what to do and to lead. How would our lives be without government? Our countries will be a chaos. In some way, we need authorities to lead us into what we need to do.