LAD #10: Monroe Doctrine

1. What did the issuing of the Monroe Doctrine express from an American perspective post War of 1812?

• It showed that America was a strong, independent nation that the European countries were no longer able to manipulate. Since it proclaimed that the Americas were off limits to further European colonization, and America would intervene if a country tried to colonize, it showed that America was now a force to be reckoned with. 

2. What was Secretary of State Adams's hope when he wrote the Monroe Doctrine?

• Adams hoped that European countries would leave the American continent alone and stop trying to colonize it. 

3.  What is the key phrase in the entire document that you need to remember as the cornerstone of American foreign policy?

• "....the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." This is the key phrase that is most central to American foreign policy.

Columbus Blog #8

Should Christopher Columbus be considered a hero or villain?

• When children first learn about Christopher Columbus, often times they are taught a handy rhyme, "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492." From then on, Columbus is presented as a hero, the discoverer of the Americas, and without him, we might not be here. Kids then learn about the three ships--the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. I did not even learn the dark side of Columbus until middle school, because all along he had been celebrated and praised for his discovery. Perhaps that was such a great accomplishment that it overshadows the severity of the inhumane things Columbus actually did in the Americas. The holiday of Columbus Day celebrates Columbus as an explorer, and disregards his less praiseworthy deeds. It is easier to think of Columbus as a hero rather than a cruel, man who plundered the Native American's wealth, forced them into slavery, and ultimately destroyed their culture. I think that Columbus should not be defined as solely a hero or solely a villain, because in reality, he is a bit of both. America sat waiting to be discovered across the ominous Atlantic Ocean, and Columbus was one of the first, most courageous explorers to make the treacherous journey into uncharted territory. So, Columbus could be considered heroic. On the other hand, we should not forget how brutally he treated the Native Americans. While Columbus is both a hero and a villain in my opinion, clearly he is more of a hero, because our country continually chooses to take a day off to remember his remarkable discovery.