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Synthesis Article:
The election of 1800 can be easily compared to the election of 2016. The two candidates in both elections are political enemies with differing beliefs. In 1800, former Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, was running against the former president, John Adams, and Aaron Burr. Jefferson and Burr were both Democratic Republicans in opposition to Federalist Adams. The end of the election resulted in a peaceful transfer between powers as Adams and his followers respectfully accepted defeat in 1801. In the current election of 2016, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee running against Republican, Donald Trump. The resolution of the election has been predicted to be messy as a result of the contentious campaigns, and Donald Trump declaring his uncertainty regarding his acceptance of the outcome of the election. Since 1797, the presidential elections in America have resulted in further division of the political parties. A permanent rivalry was established between the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans at the formation of the first party system during the election of 1797.
Continuity and Change:
Though claiming its independence in 1775, America still retained a few similarities to its previous colonial period, such as the continued usage of slave labor and Enlightenment ideas, as well as vast differences, such as women’s role in society and international conflict.
The usage of slavery was preserved as the southern states of America were still largely agriculturally based and in need of the cheap labor that slavery provided. Although the North began to experience extensive industrial growth at the beginning of the 17th century. Enlightenment ideas in the thirteen colonies during 1714 expanded throughout America, eventually leading to the revolution in 1775 and the creation of the American Republic.
Previous to America’s independence, women’s role in society was strictly domestic. Women received no education and no individual or political rights. Republican motherhood, introduced in the 1790’s, was the idea that mothers were the backbone of the republic because of their immense involvement in their son’s lives. It was understood that women were the primary teachers for their children, so as a result they needed to be educated. Though still limited and denied their individual rights, women's involvement within the Republic increased. During the colonial period, a necessary alliance with Great Britain between the colonies resulted in America’s involvement in European conflict, such as the French and Indian War. As a result of its previous encounters, George Washington declared America impartial by enacting the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793, which was developed to exclude America from its involvement in the French Revolution in 1789.
Image of the Era:
At the beginning of 1770, thousands of British soldiers inhabited Boston which resulted in the aggravation of the exploited colonists. On March 5, laborers, merchant sailors, and apprentices crowded the British, yelling and throwing rocks. A shot rang out, resulting in the British firing into the crowd of angry colonists. Once over, five civilians were counted dead, including Crispus Attucks, an African American merchant sailor. Paul Revere created “The bloody Massacre in King Street” shortly after the Boston Massacre. It was used as an effective piece of war propaganda for the colonists which led to a campaign to rouse the ire of the citizenry.
Primary sources:
The Loyalists in America believed that resistance against the crown was morally wrong; committing treason against the king would lead to death. “I must speak, tho I should lose my Life, tho I should lose the Affections of my Country.” They considered themselves to be loyal British subjects that should obey British Parliament. Without Britain the colonists would not succeed economically and would weaken, therefore making them the perfect target for foreign invasion. They believed that their relationship with their mother country was beneficial overall, as they received an immense amount of profit from the trade they did with Britain. “It was a Custom in a wise and virtuous State, to preface Propositions in Council, with a Prayer, that they might redound to the public Benefit.” The taxation from British Parliament was to pay off the large debt created in the country after the French and Indian War, which was primarily beneficial to the colonists. America was too far away from England to have representation in Parliament, it was unpractical.
“Great Britain not Intimidated” was a document created by Loyalist Samuel Seabury in 1774. It exposed the complications of the opinions of the American colonists. Some were in favor of a revolution and adopted the ideas of an independent nation, while others in opposition adhered to the continuation of British rule. Seabury illustrates the reasoning behind his personal opinion about the topic describing the strength of the British forces and identifying the impending revolution as an immense mistake.
The Patriots comprised the majority of the American population. They believed that England was economically exploiting them and depriving them of their natural rights. The colonists did not have representation in British Parliament which made the surcharges enacted damaging. The colonists believed that their involvement in the French and Indian War was primarily beneficial for the British and should be enough. Violence, riots, and death was occurring within the colonies as a result of the British laws and policies. They believed that they should not be restrained by their mother country and that they deserved freedom from the tyrants in Britain. The idea of breaking away from the crown and developing a government to protect citizen rights arose and expanded. Patrick Henry believed that war with the British was inevitable considering the fact that there were only two options; retreat or fight. The colonist’s passion for an independent future is what evidently resulted in the victory over the British. Documents such as the “Declaration of Independence”, the “Articles of Confederation”, the “Bill of Rights”, and the “Constitution” all assisted in the creation and success of the American republic. The colonist’s passion for an independent future is what eventually resulted in the victory over the British.
In the year 1776, Thomas Paine published his pamphlet “Common Sense,” which set forth his arguments supporting American independence. Paine first began supporting the idea of American independence in 1774. “Common Sense”, a very influential piece of work, encouraged the independence of the colonies from Britain. Paine’s work was credited with uniting the colonists and political officials concerning the idea of independence. In the outset of these ideas, many colonists considered themselves to be oppressed British subjects. “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither they have fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home pursues their descendants still.”
Primary sources:
http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/seabury/farmer/03.html
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/common-sense/
Citations:
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/arguments-against-the-independence-of-these-colonies/
http://historum.com/american-history/13813-american-revolution-justified-14.html
http://quotesgram.com/loyalist-quotes-revolutionary-war/
http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/results.aspx?hId=1004
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/arguments-against-the-independence-of-these-colonies/
http://www.270towin.com/1800_Election/
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-colonies-declare-independence
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-jefferson-is-elected
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history