GP210 American Government VIP - Week 7 Lectures: In this week you will investigate the decisions of three early American presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln and their influence on the political doctrine and social change through a series of videos. Keep in mind, in the first assignment for the week you will be directed to review only one president. However, the quiz has questions on all three presidents, so make sure to review all the videos provided for each president. Make sure to utilize the "My Notes" section to organize your thoughts with regard to what is the most important information within the lecture that is being imparted. Here are some important key points from each video to remember and/or research further. George Washington Key Points: George Washington created the first Cabinet. George Washington was the first President to occupy the White House. George Washington argued against political parties. George Washington personally commanded the troops that put down the Whiskey Rebellion. George Washington issued a proclamation that kept America neutral, and prevented it from siding with France during the French Revolution. (True Fact: The French sided with America during the American Revolution.) Thomas Jefferson Key Points: Jefferson paid about $.04 per acre to France for the Louisiana Purchase. (True Fact: The United States paid about $.02 per acre to Russia for Alaska.) The Louisiana Purchase was made, in part, to help trade on the Mississippi River. Jefferson was able to complete the Louisiana Purchase in part because Napoleon needed to finance French wars in Europe. Abraham Lincoln Key Points: Because of Constitutional limits, Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves just those slaves in the Confederate states. One of the results of the Emancipation Proclamation was thousands of black soldiers started to fight on the Union side.
Week 7 Assignment and Discussion: Week 7 Assignment: Precedents Set By George Washington George Washington was aware that many of his actions would be regarded as precedents. Here are three precedents that Washington established: 1. Washington created the first Presidential Cabinet. Who was on the Cabinet, and what Departments did they represent? Who is on the Cabinet today, and what Departments do they represent? 2. Washington was the first President to leave office after two terms. Is that precedent still followed today? Why or why not? 3. Washington was the first to establish foreign policy, and issued the Proclamation of Neutrality. What situation did this proclamation address? What agency advises the President on foreign policy today? What is the role of this agency? Be sure to include where you got your information. For example, include web site addresses. After reviewing the precedents listed research the Internet to find information regarding possible constitutional amendments made as a direct result of each precedent. Example: George Washington decision to only serve two years in office was considered an unwritten rule. However, if you research this precedent you will learn that Franklin D. Roosevelt chose to run four times for office and was elected all four times. As a result, Congress amended the Constitution in 1953, limiting a President to two elected terms making the unwritten rule an official law. Much more information regarding the ratification can be found through further research. Week 7 Discussion: Presidential Decisions In this discussion you are going to choose one of the presidents from this week s assignment - Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln. Be sure to watch all the videos provided for the president of your choice before responding to the discussion questions below: The precedents set by these three Presidents were far-reaching. As you watched the videos, did you think about the consequences of those decisions? Select one precedent. What is its effect today? What do you think - was the decision a good one, or did it have unfortunate unforeseen consequences? Remember what you discovered from the previous assignment for the week. Did the precedent change the course of history or cause a constitutional change? Make sure to sight the changes or events that occurred as a result of the precedent. Example: Imagine what life would be like in America if these customs and precedents were not used. If the President did not have a cabinet would he be an effective leader of the executive
branch? Would he be able to make the right decisions? If the Electoral College ignored the state popular votes would the American people accept their choice of President? How could our political system operate without political parties and how efficient would Congress be if committees did not exist? Could we reasonably expect all members of Congress to be knowledgeable about all aspects of government? The committee system lets them develop expertise in certain areas. As an example of just how important these customs and precedents are, look at the term limit issue. When a President violated the precedent set by Washington the nation thought it was so important that we created a Constitutional Amendment to make that portion of the unwritten Constitution into a part of the written Constitution. There have been two times in history where the unwritten rule of the two-term limit was not adhered to and both times it was by a Roosevelt. The first time was by Theodore Roosevelt. Although he followed the precedent set and finished after his second term, he became enraged at the way the newly elected President, William Taft (who was Roosevelt s choice) did things and in response Roosevelt ran for President for a third time under a new third party named the "Bull Moose Party." However, Roosevelt split the vote with Taft and a Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, was elected instead. It took another Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), to violate the precedent a second time. FDR ran for, and won a third and a fourth term. FDR died before serving his fourth term and his Vice President, Harry S. Truman, took office. Many Americans, while loving FDR, recognized that the two-term limit should be protected. FDR was President for over a decade. In 1951 the 22nd amendment was ratified setting a two-term limit. In doing this we made a part of the unwritten constitution a part of the written constitution. Again, here are some of the precedents set by each president: Washington's Precedents: Neutrality in Foreign Affairs Use of Force To Enforce The Law (Whiskey Rebellion) Left office after two years, stating no man should have the honor for more than two years. Calling the Cabinet to Offer Advice How to address the President (he came up with the title President.) First presidential candidate to be inaugurated First to make inauguration speech Thomas Jefferson s Precedents: Lewis and Clark expedition Reduction of the army and navy Decreased the size of the government departments Cut the federal budget Repealed the whiskey tax The Chesapeake Affair The embargo act Abraham Lincoln s Precedents:
Introduced measure that resulted in the abolition of slavery/emancipation Proclamation Confiscation Act Suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus and upheld the Declaration of Independence above the Constitution Resource Sites for Assignment and Discussion: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/abrahamlincoln Resource Sites on Studying Strategies: Effective Study Skills Resource Sites on Writing Strategies: Writing Essays and Papers Site your Sources: General guidelines on citing Websites American Psychological Association (APA) style Chicago style Modern Language Association (MLA) style Turabian/Harvard style American Medical Association Spelling and Vocabulary Tips: Spelling strategies English spelling rules are complex, with many exceptions... Spelling rules & exercises American spelling rules and exercises... Common misspelled words Words commonly misspelled or spelled correctly but not used properly... There They're Their pronounced the same, but spelled differently according to usage...
Too Two To pronounced the same, but spelled differently according to usage... "Y" with suffixes When "y" is the last letter in a word... Prefixes and root words As you go through this exercise, note that a word's root or stem is its foundation... Suffixes and silent "e" If a word ends with... Mapping vocabulary The exercise will help you remember, use and understand a vocabulary word... Picturing vocabulary Use your mouse to draw what comes to mind about the given word... American alphabet recited Actor James Earl Jones recited the alphabet in 1.5 minutes as a test pilot for Sesame Street...