The author will quote poems from Quincy Adam’s journal and will then try to evaluate what he was implying. John Quincy also wrote documents in the newspaper supporting his father and while he was doing that he would take care of his sick mother (134-136). Overall John Quincy Adams was a very talented writer and most importantly an influential
During the years that lead to the United States Civil War, the embroilment over slavery became not only a social controversy, but also a legal and political one. Supporters, and non-supporters of slavery each looked to the American constitution as well as the predominant culture of the time for direction in handling this matter. One person whom established their landmark works on this was Frederick Douglas, an emancipated slave, who fought relentlessly for the abolishment of slavery. In 1852, Frederick Douglas was allowed to speak his thoughts at the July 4th celebration. In his speech, he made it known that he despised the treatment of the Black slaves, as well as the irony and hypocrisy that followed.
I think that is why many people didn’t see him as a hero until later. Thoreau was always known as an abolitionist who protested against a lot of things, but what made him most famous was his protests against the Mexican-American War. Thoreau went so far with his protest that he spent a night in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax that would support the war. Thoreau also wrote an essay in 1848 called, “Civil Disobedience”, which mainly discusses man’s willingness and unwillingness to accept the conventions of politics. He emphasized the magnitude and significance of individuality vs. conformity.
A man has an obligation to act according to the commands of his conscience, even if it goes against majority opinion, the reigning leadership, or the laws of society. In cases where the government supports unjust laws Thoreau's idea of service to one's country ironically takes the form of resistance against it. Resistance is the highest form of patriotism because it demonstrates a desire not to overthrow government but to build a better one in the long term. Thoreau just wants to eliminate the ideas that make it a bad government not the entire government itself. Thoreau then talks about the issue of change through democratic ways.
However the other two will check the one wanting to exceed thus, balancing out the power and securing citizens from a dictatorship type of government. Another reason would simply be when he states, “If men were angles, no government would be necessary.” In other words since we are not angles but are men if we had power in our hands we would abuse it. Then he continues that even though the powers are shared and are equal the government should still be able to control not only the people but, themselves. This will only help protect the people’s individual rights including the minority. In the end he says that in order to have a balanced government the majority must agree on justice.
Thoreau’s purpose is to convince the citizens of America to not follow the majority, but do what is felt to be morally right. Thoreau believes that citizens have the right and responsibility to disobey laws and regulations if they are unjust and not moral. Another one of Thoreau’s main points is that there
He defends and speaks for not only Twain but also “Melville, J. W. DeForest, and George Washington Carver,” all other writers who did not conform to the standard portrayal of blacks as the unintelligent, insensitive, inconsiderate individuals Jefferson painted them to be. It would be easy to say that Smith is an “abolitionist” and against slavery, but it is more important to consider that he comes from a modern viewpoint. In 1984, nearly a century after Twain first set his pen to the task of authoring Huckleberry Finn, slavery had been outlawed for nearly one hundred and twenty years. Racism, undoubtedly, still existed, but for most of the literary intelligentsia, such as Smith, the subject of the “right and wrong” in slavery was not a matter of debate. The debate surrounding the essay is in judging Twain’s depiction of the “negro” Jim and its relation to past and present racial discourse.
Thoreau believes that the government takes the power out of the people’s hands. He also believes that majority rule overpowers the conscience of man and that it is handled in a very improper manner. This also plays into how he feels about the unjust laws in the government. Thoreau thinks that the unjust laws aren’t fixed because Americans believe they have to have a majority of people who agree that the law is unjust and he thinks that that shouldn’t be the case. Thoreau only has the American people’s interest at heart and want them to become a better and greater people, this is what makes him a patriot.
A Letter to the Editor It is Walter Cuffey's opinion that providing free housing and healthcare naturally would diminish people's desire to work for the government and pay their taxes, which in the long run would lead the country to bankruptcy. This contradicts Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior's opinion who believes it simply would create millions of jobs in the housing and health care industries and because of that generate a greater economic prosperity. I do not believe that the free housing Jackson mentions is meant to be expensive and luxurious. However, by free housing I imagine, he in point of fact means shelter, so that no-one in America have to live on the street. Once you have got a roof over your head, a solid base to return to,
Citizens should be encouraged to embrace their citizenship, and not merely as a duty, but as a meaningful opportunity to participate in their own government for the sake of common good and in building the culture of life. In addition, it is an exercise of significant individual power. Now, most Americans will tell you that our politicians have all the power, but I disagree. Although it is true that our politicians do make the laws, here in the United States of America, the people have the authority. If an individual does not vote, then that individual cannot argue or comment on the outcome of what our politicians do.