James Monroe had some very big contributions. His first being helping negotiate the Louisiana Purchase with Thomas Jefferson as his partner. Monroe was selected by Thomas Jefferson himself . They knew each other by studying in the same school. Monroe helped settle the Missouri Compromise. It stated that some parts of Missouri were not permitted to slavery.
When Monroe went to Boston it was hailed as the “Era of Good Feelings” but didn’t turn out that way. He named a southerner, John Calhoun, secretary of war and named John Quincy Adams as secretary of state. Before his presidency he joined the Virginia House of Delegates for the military.
Monroe’s most famous contribution was the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was when Monroe set a law for the Spanish about their future colonization in Latin America. Spain wanted to expand out to Latin American with help of the European governments. James Monroe did not want them too expand. The Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams thought they should avoid conflicts with the Spanish. Monroe agreed with Adams.
After Great Britain heard the news they offered a “hands off“ treaty. This treaty stated that they won’t help Spain and that they won’t try to conquer Latin America . Ex-presidents Jefferson and Madison urged Monroe to accept the offer. Adams said it would be better to say what they mean to Russia and France then to be a “Small boat in the wake of a large British boat“. Monroe agreed with Adams but also had something to add . Monroe Said “Not only Latin America must be left alone but also Russia must not approach the Pacific coast“.
James Monroe said “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 Power”. This stated the opposition to extension of European control or influence in Latin America.20 years after Monroe’s death they named this the Monroe Doctrine.
Bibliography: www.whitehouse.gov
Saturday, December 22, 2007
"James Monroe's Family Life"
The Virginian-born James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States went through some difficult times in his personal life. Although he was fortunate to have the best educational opportunities just after the Revolutionary War, Monroe gained strength after suffering the losses of loved ones.
Monroe was born in 1758 as the son of an established farming family in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Monroe walked several miles each day to join a small group of boys at the school of Parson Campbell. Later he attended Campbelton Academy at the age of 11. During school he met and befriended classmate John Marshall, who went on to become the Chief of Justice. Marshall and Monroe competed for top student in their class. Just before turning 16 his parents, Spence Monroe and Eliza Jones passed away, leaving him the family farm and the responsibility of his older sister and his three younger brothers.
After attending William and Mary College and studying law with Thomas Jefferson, in 1786 he met and married 17-year-old Elizabeth Kortright of New York. They moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where Monroe set up his law practice. On December 5, 1796 he wife gave birth to daughter Eliza. Three years later their son James Spencer was born, however, James died just before his first birthday.
During the Revolutionary era, many American including our presidents lost loved at young ages, but still found the courage and strength to become leaders.
Bibliography: www.whitehouse.gov, www.JamesMonroe.org
Monroe was born in 1758 as the son of an established farming family in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Monroe walked several miles each day to join a small group of boys at the school of Parson Campbell. Later he attended Campbelton Academy at the age of 11. During school he met and befriended classmate John Marshall, who went on to become the Chief of Justice. Marshall and Monroe competed for top student in their class. Just before turning 16 his parents, Spence Monroe and Eliza Jones passed away, leaving him the family farm and the responsibility of his older sister and his three younger brothers.
After attending William and Mary College and studying law with Thomas Jefferson, in 1786 he met and married 17-year-old Elizabeth Kortright of New York. They moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where Monroe set up his law practice. On December 5, 1796 he wife gave birth to daughter Eliza. Three years later their son James Spencer was born, however, James died just before his first birthday.
During the Revolutionary era, many American including our presidents lost loved at young ages, but still found the courage and strength to become leaders.
Bibliography: www.whitehouse.gov, www.JamesMonroe.org
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Adventures of Henry Hudson
I, Henry Hudson am in search of a noble crew but I will be proved otherwise, starving deep in the freezing ocean. I’m roaming the streets looking for a crew that won’t turn their back on me, that won’t give up in the hardest of times, one that will make it through freezing night and burning days. “But where can I find a crew like this, no ordinary man can outstand these tasks” I said.
So far I only have my teenage son Eyal.
One day after a good night sleep my son Eyal had an idea where to go to find our crew he said,
“I think we should go to the beach and look for people in ships that are about to dock and ask people if they want to go with us”.
We found a man named Joe. He was tall, skinny, and looked like he could survive with a little bit of food. Joe was not getting paid well and when we asked him to be part of our crew he accepted.
“He looks trustworthy enough he surely will not betray us”. I said to Eyal.
The next day we went to the dock and met a man named Rob, he was strong, buff, tall and had tattoos all over his body. We talked with him and he didn’t seem to like the idea of going out on a ship and risking his life to find a Northwest Passage. We began to convince him and he finally accepted under one condition. His brother, Max had to come with us. We happily agreed. We finally had our crew and were ready to get a ship for our voyage.
After spending three days to farm and sell the crops for money to buy the ship, my crew and I went to the king of England and asked him to fund our exploration. The king asked “What are you looking for and why should I pay for it”?
“I am looking for a Northwest passage and it may bring you a shorter route to Asia. This will make trading easier and faster” I replied.
“Then it is settled” the king said.
“You will have one ship and two dinghies for your journey” the king said.
“Thank you sir” I replied.
The next day we packed up all the food and water for the journey. We said our last “good-byes” to friends and family before entering the chilling Artic Ocean in search for a Northwest passage. My crew and I got on the ship and waved good-bye. Who knows what will happen in the open water!
We are five days into the journey and we are running four hour watches, one person at a time. If a crew member sees a storm he must wake the crew up and hoist the storm sail, just in case the normal one couldn’t hold out. Luckily everybody is getting along well and we have seen no major storms. We are right on pace and we might be ahead of schedule.
Yes, we have done it, we have made it to the Artic Ocean. Now it is time to find a Northwest passage. Out here it is brutal, last night temperature dipped to zero degrees! We could see icebergs around us. We have enough food for two weeks and it takes a week and a half to get back to England. What should we do? I put that in the hands of the crew.
Last night I asked them, “Should we go back or keep on looking for a Northwest passage?”
Rob and Eyal said we should keep on looking confidently but Joe and Max said we should go back. I’m so confused I feel as if I’m in middle of the street, should I cross on a red light and risk it all or wait until it becomes green and play it safe. We came to a compromise. We decided to search for a Northwest passage for two more days and then go back to England. Two days went by with no progress.
On our way back we were talking about what we thought we did wrong. Me, Rob and Eyal said, “We went too much to the north”.
Max did not agree he said, “We went the right amount north but we just didn’t go enough to the west”.
We came back from our first voyage and the king seemed less interested in us. The king said “I will give you one more chance if you don’t succeed, I will no longer sponsor you”.
“Don’t worry king, I will not let you down” I said. Two weeks after returning from my first voyage, I left on my second. I left with the same crew and the same ship.
On our second voyage the same thing happened except this time we did not go as much to the north. We still see icebergs, it was still freezing. We spotted land but no Northwest Passage. We went back home with empty hands and the king of England gave up on us. Now we are thinking to go to the Netherlands and get permission there. They seem interested.
We made a trip to the Netherlands seeking funding, and the Dutch grew very interested in our voyage. They would give us the sailboats and the food, even a better deal then what the English gave us! Everybody was pleased. We said our last “good byes”, got on the boat and away we sailed into the open sea again.
We are making good progress on our voyage, but on this journey our crew seems more nervous than before. Joe and Rob have been getting into fights every now and then. We are in the Artic Ocean and we plan on going west. Max keeps on saying that he sees land to the south. I don’t believe him but we are going to check it out.
As it turned out, Max was right. We went to the south and saw land! We discovered an inlet and sailed into it. It started getting warmer but it is still very cold. We’re still going to check out what is down the inlet but we only have enough food for two weeks. We are going to search for four more days and then return home.
We couldn’t find anything in the four days, except for an opening to the Atlantic Ocean. We went back home and are planning on exploring the inlet more. This time we are going to bring more food and water, so we can last longer at sea. We are once again saying our last “Good Byes”. These may actually be our last with the way the crew is acting. There has been lots of bickering lately.
We’re in the inlet searching for a Northwest passage, there is barely anything in view. All we can see is icebergs and grassy land in the distance. The crew wants to turn back now but I won’t let them not after all this hard work I can’t let them. We are running low on food and water, everybody is getting grumpy. My son says he hears them speaking of mutiny.
To my surprise, I wake up the next morning and I’m afloat in a dinghy with my son. We have yellow water that is rotten and stinking, we also have some pieces of bread that was nibbled on from rats. How will we survive? Should we paddle to land and get water there or just die a death by freezing.
After a week my son is dying and so am I. We are just miles away from land, will we make it? After four hours adrift we made it to land and are not able to walk. We can only crawl to the field where we see wheat, apples, corn, and other foods But Indians are guarding it. Should I try to steal it? My son is dying, I must.
I’m inches away from the food, when an Indian guard with a rifle spots me. He says a word that I can’t understand so I just stop what I’m doing and run to my son with legs I can barley walk on. The guard shots Bang! He hits me right in my chest, and I pass away in my son’s arms
So far I only have my teenage son Eyal.
One day after a good night sleep my son Eyal had an idea where to go to find our crew he said,
“I think we should go to the beach and look for people in ships that are about to dock and ask people if they want to go with us”.
We found a man named Joe. He was tall, skinny, and looked like he could survive with a little bit of food. Joe was not getting paid well and when we asked him to be part of our crew he accepted.
“He looks trustworthy enough he surely will not betray us”. I said to Eyal.
The next day we went to the dock and met a man named Rob, he was strong, buff, tall and had tattoos all over his body. We talked with him and he didn’t seem to like the idea of going out on a ship and risking his life to find a Northwest Passage. We began to convince him and he finally accepted under one condition. His brother, Max had to come with us. We happily agreed. We finally had our crew and were ready to get a ship for our voyage.
After spending three days to farm and sell the crops for money to buy the ship, my crew and I went to the king of England and asked him to fund our exploration. The king asked “What are you looking for and why should I pay for it”?
“I am looking for a Northwest passage and it may bring you a shorter route to Asia. This will make trading easier and faster” I replied.
“Then it is settled” the king said.
“You will have one ship and two dinghies for your journey” the king said.
“Thank you sir” I replied.
The next day we packed up all the food and water for the journey. We said our last “good-byes” to friends and family before entering the chilling Artic Ocean in search for a Northwest passage. My crew and I got on the ship and waved good-bye. Who knows what will happen in the open water!
We are five days into the journey and we are running four hour watches, one person at a time. If a crew member sees a storm he must wake the crew up and hoist the storm sail, just in case the normal one couldn’t hold out. Luckily everybody is getting along well and we have seen no major storms. We are right on pace and we might be ahead of schedule.
Yes, we have done it, we have made it to the Artic Ocean. Now it is time to find a Northwest passage. Out here it is brutal, last night temperature dipped to zero degrees! We could see icebergs around us. We have enough food for two weeks and it takes a week and a half to get back to England. What should we do? I put that in the hands of the crew.
Last night I asked them, “Should we go back or keep on looking for a Northwest passage?”
Rob and Eyal said we should keep on looking confidently but Joe and Max said we should go back. I’m so confused I feel as if I’m in middle of the street, should I cross on a red light and risk it all or wait until it becomes green and play it safe. We came to a compromise. We decided to search for a Northwest passage for two more days and then go back to England. Two days went by with no progress.
On our way back we were talking about what we thought we did wrong. Me, Rob and Eyal said, “We went too much to the north”.
Max did not agree he said, “We went the right amount north but we just didn’t go enough to the west”.
We came back from our first voyage and the king seemed less interested in us. The king said “I will give you one more chance if you don’t succeed, I will no longer sponsor you”.
“Don’t worry king, I will not let you down” I said. Two weeks after returning from my first voyage, I left on my second. I left with the same crew and the same ship.
On our second voyage the same thing happened except this time we did not go as much to the north. We still see icebergs, it was still freezing. We spotted land but no Northwest Passage. We went back home with empty hands and the king of England gave up on us. Now we are thinking to go to the Netherlands and get permission there. They seem interested.
We made a trip to the Netherlands seeking funding, and the Dutch grew very interested in our voyage. They would give us the sailboats and the food, even a better deal then what the English gave us! Everybody was pleased. We said our last “good byes”, got on the boat and away we sailed into the open sea again.
We are making good progress on our voyage, but on this journey our crew seems more nervous than before. Joe and Rob have been getting into fights every now and then. We are in the Artic Ocean and we plan on going west. Max keeps on saying that he sees land to the south. I don’t believe him but we are going to check it out.
As it turned out, Max was right. We went to the south and saw land! We discovered an inlet and sailed into it. It started getting warmer but it is still very cold. We’re still going to check out what is down the inlet but we only have enough food for two weeks. We are going to search for four more days and then return home.
We couldn’t find anything in the four days, except for an opening to the Atlantic Ocean. We went back home and are planning on exploring the inlet more. This time we are going to bring more food and water, so we can last longer at sea. We are once again saying our last “Good Byes”. These may actually be our last with the way the crew is acting. There has been lots of bickering lately.
We’re in the inlet searching for a Northwest passage, there is barely anything in view. All we can see is icebergs and grassy land in the distance. The crew wants to turn back now but I won’t let them not after all this hard work I can’t let them. We are running low on food and water, everybody is getting grumpy. My son says he hears them speaking of mutiny.
To my surprise, I wake up the next morning and I’m afloat in a dinghy with my son. We have yellow water that is rotten and stinking, we also have some pieces of bread that was nibbled on from rats. How will we survive? Should we paddle to land and get water there or just die a death by freezing.
After a week my son is dying and so am I. We are just miles away from land, will we make it? After four hours adrift we made it to land and are not able to walk. We can only crawl to the field where we see wheat, apples, corn, and other foods But Indians are guarding it. Should I try to steal it? My son is dying, I must.
I’m inches away from the food, when an Indian guard with a rifle spots me. He says a word that I can’t understand so I just stop what I’m doing and run to my son with legs I can barley walk on. The guard shots Bang! He hits me right in my chest, and I pass away in my son’s arms
Greenwich Village
These pictures were taken in Greenwich Village. The one on the left is a picture of a modern row house. The picture on the right is a picture of the arch in Greenwich Village.
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