Before I came to PSEC, I did not think of myself as a good writer. I never had a good idea of how I was being asked to write my essays. From that, I tend to overstress about essays and I know that is a big part of the problem. During this first quarter of school, my writing has grown, but there are also still some weaker points in my writing as well. Some of my strengths are finding good quotes to back up my points through research and creating outlines. I know that my weaknesses are writing introductions and conclusions, and writing good transition sentences. Overall, I believe my writing skills have improved since the beginning of this quarter.
A strength I think I have is finding quotes that fit with my topic. In my Bacon’s Rebellion essay, I chose to write about how Nathaniel Bacon cared more about getting back at the Natives than actually helping the Virginians. I found a quote in A Young People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn that stated my thoughts perfectly. “Bacon owned a good bit of land. He probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor. Still, the common people of Virginia felt that he was on their side.” Books are a good way to find quotes, but online research is a faster way of finding information. Looking through JSTOR I have found quotes such as “including cultivating cotton for household use and for manufacture into cloth.” which fit my essay from essay 2 when I was discussing the crops found in Georgia. This quarter has taught me how to research online and in books. I understand much better what I’m supposed to be looking for when researching for essays.
Creating outlines is another strength I find in my writing. Even though outlines are not in the final draft or the essay, they help get there. I used to only know how to make webs or lists before writing essays. This quarter I was taught a new way to write my ideas in an outline. I love the idea of an outline more than a web because in an outline once it’s done, the essay is done as well! I know I slacked on the second essay’s outline, but I know I’m good at them because of the first one I did. I learned a new way of organizing my thoughts and I know I’ll keep using this style of outline.
Unfortunately, one of my weakest points in my writing is probably my introductions and conclusions. Since elementary, I have had this same problem. I am not very good at stating my ideas in a creative way that catches the reader’s attention. It is hard for me to make my conclusion sound different than my introduction. Both of them just turn into a list of the things I talk about in my essay. Nobody has ever “taught” me how to write an introduction or a conclusion, at least in a way that I understood. I would like to know how to write good introductions and conclusions because they are supposed to either catch the readers attention, or leave them with the feeling that they understand what I was talking about in my essay.
Another weak point in my writing is transition sentences. All It feels like I know how to do is use words like “clearly” and “unfortunately” to start a paragraph. But I know that isn’t right because I have read many professional essay’s and none of theirs only use “ly” words to transition. Even after my “ly” word, I don’t know how to use it in a good sentence that makes people understand what I’m going to be saying in my essay. I wish I had creative flare that would tell me whether or not what I am writing about is actually interesting or just dull and repetitive.
Closing out this quarter, I have begun to feel myself approach my goals of becoming a good writer. Though I feel like my skills as a writer are improving tremendously, I still do not feel that I am up to par on my overall writing skills. My conclusions and introductions are poor, and my transitions are just as bad but I’m making improvements. I have improved my researching skills this quarter, as well as writing outlines. I am really glad I was in this class because I improved greatly and now have a much better understanding of what an essay should look like.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Portfolio: Essay # 2 A Georgia Patriot
It was time we let go of our mother country and formed our own country. As a Patriot from Georgia, I say getting away from those overpowering British men and forming our own country was the right direction to go in! It was not logical for us to be associated with the British any longer! The charter of Georgia in 1732, by saying “…do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province… And that all and every person or persons, who shall at any time hereafter inhabit or reside within our said province, shall be, and are hereby declared to be free.” (Charter of Georgia, 1732) When Georgia became a colony in 1732 it showed that we were ready for independence. Our army is more than ready to fight on our own. Especially with help from the French, we are unstoppable. Becoming our own country was the only logical way to handle our governmental problems. Georgia and the other colonies will be able to support themselves with crops that can give them money. Our rights are important and honored by our government.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense speech showed the most important part of us becoming our own country.
He said "[I]t is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness."
(Common Sense, Thomas Paine) Logic tells us that it is not reasonable for us to be governed from across miles and miles of ocean. It takes too long to get information to travel the long distances. A law could be set in place and by the time we even got word of it, the law could be no longer in effect! It is simply not logical to govern across waters.
Undoubtedly, our army is much stronger than we thought. “Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat-bottomed boats.” (The Crisis by Thomas Paine,) When the French come to be on our side, it shows how they do not mind helping protect our country. Because the French will be showing our friendship by helping us out in times of need, other countries will want to be on our side as well. Because of this, we don’t need the British.
In times of war, Americans will be able to help each other and their selves. We are capable of growing our own crops “including cultivating cotton for household use and for manufacture into cloth.” (Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin) We are an independent country and we don’t need the British to support us. She is the mother and we are the children. After awhile, the child grows up and leaves the mother on his own adventure. We did just that and it was about time.
As our colonies grew, I began to see that it is possible for us to be independent. Our leaders are promising to treat us well. In Georgia’s constitution, it says “…and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges.” (Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777) This quote shows me think that protecting and honoring our rights is important to the government. Our “rights, franchises and privileges” are being protected and we gladly took advantage of that to get rid of the pesky British.
Leaving Britain was the smartest thing we could have done in our situation. Thomas Paine proved that governing across waters does not work well and would have soon become impossible. Our friendliness with the French has shown that we can win wars, especially with the help of our allies. Our cotton growth is just a small example of how we can support ourselves, even in times of need. Government is in charge of holding our rights and privileges high, and they have proved that they do. We are better off on our own and we do not need the British to help us grown and form into a better country than we started with.
Works Cited
1. Charter of Georgia, 1732
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
3. The Crisis by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm
4. Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413
5. Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense speech showed the most important part of us becoming our own country.
He said "[I]t is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness."
(Common Sense, Thomas Paine) Logic tells us that it is not reasonable for us to be governed from across miles and miles of ocean. It takes too long to get information to travel the long distances. A law could be set in place and by the time we even got word of it, the law could be no longer in effect! It is simply not logical to govern across waters.
Undoubtedly, our army is much stronger than we thought. “Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat-bottomed boats.” (The Crisis by Thomas Paine,) When the French come to be on our side, it shows how they do not mind helping protect our country. Because the French will be showing our friendship by helping us out in times of need, other countries will want to be on our side as well. Because of this, we don’t need the British.
In times of war, Americans will be able to help each other and their selves. We are capable of growing our own crops “including cultivating cotton for household use and for manufacture into cloth.” (Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin) We are an independent country and we don’t need the British to support us. She is the mother and we are the children. After awhile, the child grows up and leaves the mother on his own adventure. We did just that and it was about time.
As our colonies grew, I began to see that it is possible for us to be independent. Our leaders are promising to treat us well. In Georgia’s constitution, it says “…and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges.” (Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777) This quote shows me think that protecting and honoring our rights is important to the government. Our “rights, franchises and privileges” are being protected and we gladly took advantage of that to get rid of the pesky British.
Leaving Britain was the smartest thing we could have done in our situation. Thomas Paine proved that governing across waters does not work well and would have soon become impossible. Our friendliness with the French has shown that we can win wars, especially with the help of our allies. Our cotton growth is just a small example of how we can support ourselves, even in times of need. Government is in charge of holding our rights and privileges high, and they have proved that they do. We are better off on our own and we do not need the British to help us grown and form into a better country than we started with.
Works Cited
1. Charter of Georgia, 1732
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
3. The Crisis by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm
4. Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413
5. Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
Portfolio: Essay# 1 Bacon's Rebellion
In 1676, a man named Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion known as Bacon’s Rebellion. By the end of the rebellion, many Natives lives had been lost. According to Howard Zinn, Bacon’s Rebellion “was not a war of American colonists against the British. Instead, Bacon’s Rebellion was an uprising of angry, poor colonists against two groups they saw as their enemies. One was the Indians. The other was the colonists’ own rich and privileged leaders.”(A Young People’s History of the United States Pg. 35) Although many people will probably disagree with me, I believe that Nathaniel Bacon’s actions of killing the Natives were not justified by his motivations. Bacon should have handled his issues in a way other than killing the Natives. He was only acting like a little child not getting his way. After the government declined Nathaniel Bacons request to fight back against the Native Americans, he wrote a Declaration discussing his reasons for siding with the colonists and his reasons for rebelling. Bacon talked about Governor William Berkeley and the government. They had apparently unjustly taxed the poor colonists and farmers. Native Americans were attacking the colonists and the government was siding with the Natives by not protecting the farmers. Because Nathaniel Bacon’s heart was in the wrong place, his reasons were nullified.
The reasons for the rebellion were simple. Nathaniel Bacon was practically handed the opportunity to take charge over the poor farmers. Wilcomb E. Washburn states that Governor Berkeley thought that, “Indian attacks on the frontier, economic depression, bad weather, high taxes—all created discontent and desire for relief” (Sir William Berkeley’s “A History Of Our Miseries” Edited by Wilcomb E. Washburn Pg. 1). Berkeley is saying because the farmers were having issues with the government and the weather, they were looking for relief anywhere they could find it. These were the reasons Bacon was able to take control over the poor farmers. The farmers were looking for something or someone to help them get out of their distress. Nathaniel Bacon took advantage of the farmers mess and turned it into his profit. My point is, without these excuses Bacon would have no way to fight back against the government and the Natives.
Furthermore, when the colonies began searching for more land, they started taking over the Natives’ land. In The American Promise: A History of the United States, it says “In their quest for land, they pushed beyond the treaty limits of English settlement and encroached steadily on Indian Land.”(The American Promise: A History of the United States Pg. 91) Obviously, the Natives were not happy with the arrangement. The Natives began fighting with the colonists for their land back. Colonists became upset when the government would not give them weapons to fight back. Once, Rev. Robert Gray said “By what right or warrant we can enter into the land of these Savages, take away their rightful inheritance from them and plant ourselves in their places, being unwronged or unprovoked by them.”(Empire’s of the Atlantic World Britain and Spain in America. Pg. 11) Gray was saying that the colonists had no right to take the Natives land. Gray’s statement is correct. The government should have given the farmers weapons to protect themselves, but on the other hand, the government should not have let the farmers move onto the Natives land in the first place. At this point, the poor colonists were already upset with the government and ready to trust anyone who was willing to be on their side to get the respect they deserved. I think that Bacon was ready to lead them and knew it would be a good way to get at the Natives.
Obviously, Bacon took advantage of the poor colonists. Because Bacon treated the colonists like he was on their side, they elected him into the House of Burgesses, which was the first governmental system in Virginia. Telling the colonists that he wanted to help them fight back against the natives, Bacon found their trust. “Bacon owned a good bit of land. He probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor. Still, the common people of Virginia felt that he was on their side.” –Howard Zinn (A Young People’s History of the United States) A few years prior, one of Bacon’s friends had been killed by the Natives. This gave Bacon an inside reason to want to fight the Natives. Even though he told the colonists he was only trying to help them, He wanted only to avenge his friend. I think that even though Nathaniel Bacon showed his good intentions to the colonists, all he really wanted to do was get back at the Natives for his friend.
Undoubtedly, the colonists had been treated badly by the government not only by them siding with the Natives but by taxing the poor for the governments own good. In his declaration, Bacon says “Great unjust taxes upon the commonalty for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate.”5The government is the target of this part of the declaration. Bacon is saying that the government is taxing the poor, without giving anything back to the colonists. Even though the issues of taxes are an important part of government, I don’t believe it has anything to do with the Native Americans. Therefore, Bacon had no reason to go to war against them.
William Berkeley did not approve Bacon’s request to fight the Natives. “so he begged of the Governor for a commission in several letters to him, that he might go out against them, but he would not grant one, so daily more mischief done by them, so your brother not able to endure any longer, he went out without commission”, wrote Elizabeth Bacon-Nathaniel Bacon’s wife- in a letter to Bacon’s sister back in England. Finally, Bacon had had enough of the government not letting him do what he wanted with the Natives. Without government consent, Bacon and the colonists rebelled. Sadly, Bacon died suddenly never getting to finish his movement. But the rebel had no lasting effects, proving even more my point that Bacon was only being selfish and his actions of killing the Natives were not justifiable.
Sources:
1. A Young People’s History of the United States. Volume One: Columbus to the Spanish-American War. By: Howard Zinn, Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff.
2. Sir William Berkeley’s “A History Of Our Miseries” Edited by Wilcomb E. Washburn
URL: http://www.jstor.org/pss/1915651
3. The American Promise: A History of the United States
4. Empire’s of the Atlantic World Britain and Spain in America. By: John Huxtable Elliot
URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=mkJwZGbwkqsC
5. Nathaniel Bacon’s Declaration
6. Document #9. Letter by: Elizabeth Bacon
The reasons for the rebellion were simple. Nathaniel Bacon was practically handed the opportunity to take charge over the poor farmers. Wilcomb E. Washburn states that Governor Berkeley thought that, “Indian attacks on the frontier, economic depression, bad weather, high taxes—all created discontent and desire for relief” (Sir William Berkeley’s “A History Of Our Miseries” Edited by Wilcomb E. Washburn Pg. 1). Berkeley is saying because the farmers were having issues with the government and the weather, they were looking for relief anywhere they could find it. These were the reasons Bacon was able to take control over the poor farmers. The farmers were looking for something or someone to help them get out of their distress. Nathaniel Bacon took advantage of the farmers mess and turned it into his profit. My point is, without these excuses Bacon would have no way to fight back against the government and the Natives.
Furthermore, when the colonies began searching for more land, they started taking over the Natives’ land. In The American Promise: A History of the United States, it says “In their quest for land, they pushed beyond the treaty limits of English settlement and encroached steadily on Indian Land.”(The American Promise: A History of the United States Pg. 91) Obviously, the Natives were not happy with the arrangement. The Natives began fighting with the colonists for their land back. Colonists became upset when the government would not give them weapons to fight back. Once, Rev. Robert Gray said “By what right or warrant we can enter into the land of these Savages, take away their rightful inheritance from them and plant ourselves in their places, being unwronged or unprovoked by them.”(Empire’s of the Atlantic World Britain and Spain in America. Pg. 11) Gray was saying that the colonists had no right to take the Natives land. Gray’s statement is correct. The government should have given the farmers weapons to protect themselves, but on the other hand, the government should not have let the farmers move onto the Natives land in the first place. At this point, the poor colonists were already upset with the government and ready to trust anyone who was willing to be on their side to get the respect they deserved. I think that Bacon was ready to lead them and knew it would be a good way to get at the Natives.
Obviously, Bacon took advantage of the poor colonists. Because Bacon treated the colonists like he was on their side, they elected him into the House of Burgesses, which was the first governmental system in Virginia. Telling the colonists that he wanted to help them fight back against the natives, Bacon found their trust. “Bacon owned a good bit of land. He probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor. Still, the common people of Virginia felt that he was on their side.” –Howard Zinn (A Young People’s History of the United States) A few years prior, one of Bacon’s friends had been killed by the Natives. This gave Bacon an inside reason to want to fight the Natives. Even though he told the colonists he was only trying to help them, He wanted only to avenge his friend. I think that even though Nathaniel Bacon showed his good intentions to the colonists, all he really wanted to do was get back at the Natives for his friend.
Undoubtedly, the colonists had been treated badly by the government not only by them siding with the Natives but by taxing the poor for the governments own good. In his declaration, Bacon says “Great unjust taxes upon the commonalty for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate.”5The government is the target of this part of the declaration. Bacon is saying that the government is taxing the poor, without giving anything back to the colonists. Even though the issues of taxes are an important part of government, I don’t believe it has anything to do with the Native Americans. Therefore, Bacon had no reason to go to war against them.
William Berkeley did not approve Bacon’s request to fight the Natives. “so he begged of the Governor for a commission in several letters to him, that he might go out against them, but he would not grant one, so daily more mischief done by them, so your brother not able to endure any longer, he went out without commission”, wrote Elizabeth Bacon-Nathaniel Bacon’s wife- in a letter to Bacon’s sister back in England. Finally, Bacon had had enough of the government not letting him do what he wanted with the Natives. Without government consent, Bacon and the colonists rebelled. Sadly, Bacon died suddenly never getting to finish his movement. But the rebel had no lasting effects, proving even more my point that Bacon was only being selfish and his actions of killing the Natives were not justifiable.
Sources:
1. A Young People’s History of the United States. Volume One: Columbus to the Spanish-American War. By: Howard Zinn, Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff.
2. Sir William Berkeley’s “A History Of Our Miseries” Edited by Wilcomb E. Washburn
URL: http://www.jstor.org/pss/1915651
3. The American Promise: A History of the United States
4. Empire’s of the Atlantic World Britain and Spain in America. By: John Huxtable Elliot
URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=mkJwZGbwkqsC
5. Nathaniel Bacon’s Declaration
6. Document #9. Letter by: Elizabeth Bacon
Portfolio: Final Exam: Frame 1
From Geoffrey Meredith, “The Demise of Writing” I understood that illiteracy is a big issue right now. I think that computer programs such as Spell Check are completely disabling our human ability to learn. Meredith believes that the Spell Check and similar programs are useful to the community. “And clearly these functions are needed.” Meredith says. In my opinion, these functions are not needed because people are becoming dependent on them. I am becoming reliant myself. But there are ways to fix the problem from going any further.
Unfortunately, technology has changed the way people work. Everything is done on computers. Everyday I see examples of people becoming dependent on computers. The biggest example I have come across is me. I have found myself typing and not knowing how to spell a word and just looking at the spell check to fix it for me. Consequently, writing something on paper has become a difficult task for me. I worry about whether I’m spelling words right or not, and even when I should be using a comma. Sadly, I have to admit that I have become dependent on computers. It is so easy just to guess and then right away know if you’re right. It is nearly impossible to make spelling errors and grammatical mistakes in today’s world.
Programs like Spell Check are crippling us. We shouldn’t need computers to tell us how to write. If this trend continues, no one will know how to write and will just be dependent on computers for the answers to everything. Following the trend even further, I predict that in the near future, people won’t have to write at all. Computers will take over everything that has to do with writing while people become lazy and illiterate completely.
An answer to the problem of dependency on computers is, in my mind, simple. To fight back against illiteracy, computer programs should be taken out of schools. “[O]ne-fifth of the population is functionally illiterate” States Meredith. This quote shows that kids are learning that it’s ok to just let the computer tell them what they’re doing wrong. Though kids definitely should learn to type to keep up with technology, they shouldn’t have to do it with the answers right in front of them. They should at least learn how to spell on their own. By taking Spell Check off the computers in elementary schools, middle schools, and even high schools, kids will be forced to learn how to write without the help of computers.
Even though it may seem that computers are helping people with their writing, they are doing the opposite. Computers are making people completely dependent on technology. I am a good example of that because I know I have become dependent. Consequences that will occur from this are people becoming completely illiterate and dependent on computers and not being able to write at all. Simply by taking Spell Check programs off school computers, I think it is possible to reverse the scary thought of everyone becoming illiterate and reliant on technology and computers.
Unfortunately, technology has changed the way people work. Everything is done on computers. Everyday I see examples of people becoming dependent on computers. The biggest example I have come across is me. I have found myself typing and not knowing how to spell a word and just looking at the spell check to fix it for me. Consequently, writing something on paper has become a difficult task for me. I worry about whether I’m spelling words right or not, and even when I should be using a comma. Sadly, I have to admit that I have become dependent on computers. It is so easy just to guess and then right away know if you’re right. It is nearly impossible to make spelling errors and grammatical mistakes in today’s world.
Programs like Spell Check are crippling us. We shouldn’t need computers to tell us how to write. If this trend continues, no one will know how to write and will just be dependent on computers for the answers to everything. Following the trend even further, I predict that in the near future, people won’t have to write at all. Computers will take over everything that has to do with writing while people become lazy and illiterate completely.
An answer to the problem of dependency on computers is, in my mind, simple. To fight back against illiteracy, computer programs should be taken out of schools. “[O]ne-fifth of the population is functionally illiterate” States Meredith. This quote shows that kids are learning that it’s ok to just let the computer tell them what they’re doing wrong. Though kids definitely should learn to type to keep up with technology, they shouldn’t have to do it with the answers right in front of them. They should at least learn how to spell on their own. By taking Spell Check off the computers in elementary schools, middle schools, and even high schools, kids will be forced to learn how to write without the help of computers.
Even though it may seem that computers are helping people with their writing, they are doing the opposite. Computers are making people completely dependent on technology. I am a good example of that because I know I have become dependent. Consequences that will occur from this are people becoming completely illiterate and dependent on computers and not being able to write at all. Simply by taking Spell Check programs off school computers, I think it is possible to reverse the scary thought of everyone becoming illiterate and reliant on technology and computers.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Essay #2 Reflection
Once I got writing, essay #2 was a lot easier than essay #1. But actually getting started on E2 was really hard for me. I know I slacked on the outline of E2, and it really came back to bite me. That made it hard for me to write my entire essay. E1 was an easier essay for me because I actually wrote a decent outline. One thing I think I did alright, was finding quotes that fit with my topic. Unfortunately, my weakest points are probably my intro and conclusion. I’m not very good at stating my ideas in a creative way, or creating a different way to state them in my conclusion. I still don’t feel that I am up to par on my overall writing skills but with another essay on the way, I’m sure I’ll be able to improve my techniques.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Essay #2 Final Draft
American Patriot
It was time we let go of our mother country and formed our own country. As a Patriot from Georgia, I say getting away from those overpowering British men and forming our own country was the right direction to go in! It was not logical for us to be associated with the British any longer! The charter of Georgia in 1732, by saying “…do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province… And that all and every person or persons, who shall at any time hereafter inhabit or reside within our said province, shall be, and are hereby declared to be free.” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp) When Georgia became a colony in 1732 it showed that we were ready for independence. Our army is more than ready to fight on our own. Especially with help from the French, we are unstoppable. Becoming our own country was the only logical way to handle our governmental problems. Georgia and the other colonies will be able to support themselves with crops that can give them money. Our rights are important and honored by our government.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense speech showed the most important part of us becoming our own country.
He said "[I]t is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness."
(http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm) Logic tells us that it is not reasonable for us to be governed from across miles and miles of ocean. It takes too long to get information to travel the long distances. A law could be set in place and by the time we even got word of it, the law could be no longer in effect! It is simply not logical to govern across waters.
Undoubtedly, our army is much stronger than we thought. “Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat-bottomed boats.” (http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm) When the French come to be on our side, it shows how they do not mind helping protect our country. Because the French will be showing our friendship by helping us out in times of need, other countries will want to be on our side as well. Because of this, we don’t need the British.
In times of war, Americans will be able to help each other and their selves. We are capable of growing our own crops “including cultivating cotton for household use and for manufacture into cloth.” (http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413) We are an independent country and we don’t need the British to support us. She is the mother and we are the children. After awhile, the child grows up and leaves the mother on his own adventure. We did just that and it was about time.
As our colonies grew, I began to see that it is possible for us to be independent. Our leaders are promising to treat us well. In Georgia’s constitution, it says “…and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges.” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp) This quote shows me think that protecting and honoring our rights is important to the government. Our “rights, franchises and privileges” are being protected and we gladly took advantage of that to get rid of the pesky British.
Leaving Britain was the smartest thing we could have done in our situation. Thomas Paine proved that governing across waters does not work well and would have soon become impossible. Our friendliness with the French has shown that we can win wars, especially with the help of our allies. Our cotton growth is just a small example of how we can support ourselves, even in times of need. Government is in charge of holding our rights and privileges high, and they have proved that they do. We are better off on our own and we do not need the British to help us grown and form into a better country than we started with.
Works Cited
1. Charter of Georgia, 1732
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
3. The Crisis by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm
4. Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413
5. Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
It was time we let go of our mother country and formed our own country. As a Patriot from Georgia, I say getting away from those overpowering British men and forming our own country was the right direction to go in! It was not logical for us to be associated with the British any longer! The charter of Georgia in 1732, by saying “…do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province… And that all and every person or persons, who shall at any time hereafter inhabit or reside within our said province, shall be, and are hereby declared to be free.” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp) When Georgia became a colony in 1732 it showed that we were ready for independence. Our army is more than ready to fight on our own. Especially with help from the French, we are unstoppable. Becoming our own country was the only logical way to handle our governmental problems. Georgia and the other colonies will be able to support themselves with crops that can give them money. Our rights are important and honored by our government.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense speech showed the most important part of us becoming our own country.
He said "[I]t is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness."
(http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm) Logic tells us that it is not reasonable for us to be governed from across miles and miles of ocean. It takes too long to get information to travel the long distances. A law could be set in place and by the time we even got word of it, the law could be no longer in effect! It is simply not logical to govern across waters.
Undoubtedly, our army is much stronger than we thought. “Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat-bottomed boats.” (http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm) When the French come to be on our side, it shows how they do not mind helping protect our country. Because the French will be showing our friendship by helping us out in times of need, other countries will want to be on our side as well. Because of this, we don’t need the British.
In times of war, Americans will be able to help each other and their selves. We are capable of growing our own crops “including cultivating cotton for household use and for manufacture into cloth.” (http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413) We are an independent country and we don’t need the British to support us. She is the mother and we are the children. After awhile, the child grows up and leaves the mother on his own adventure. We did just that and it was about time.
As our colonies grew, I began to see that it is possible for us to be independent. Our leaders are promising to treat us well. In Georgia’s constitution, it says “…and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges.” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp) This quote shows me think that protecting and honoring our rights is important to the government. Our “rights, franchises and privileges” are being protected and we gladly took advantage of that to get rid of the pesky British.
Leaving Britain was the smartest thing we could have done in our situation. Thomas Paine proved that governing across waters does not work well and would have soon become impossible. Our friendliness with the French has shown that we can win wars, especially with the help of our allies. Our cotton growth is just a small example of how we can support ourselves, even in times of need. Government is in charge of holding our rights and privileges high, and they have proved that they do. We are better off on our own and we do not need the British to help us grown and form into a better country than we started with.
Works Cited
1. Charter of Georgia, 1732
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
3. The Crisis by Thomas Paine, 1776
URL: http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm
4. Creating a Cotton South in Georgian and South Carolina, 1760-1815 by Joyce. E. Chaplin
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2210413
5. Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777
URL: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Outline #2
Body:
a. Protecting their people.
i.“and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges;” http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
1.This quote tells me about how the “rights, franchises and privileges” of the colonists are being protected against Britain.
2.Protecting the rights of the colonists is most important
b. Individualism
i. ”…do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province, by the name of Georgia, by which name we will, the same henceforth be called. And that all and every person or persons, who shall at any time hereafter inhabit or reside within our said province, shall be, and are hereby declared to be free, and shall not be subject to or be bound to obey any laws, orders, statutes or constitutions, which have been heretofore made, ordered or enacted by, for, or as, the laws, orders, statutes or constitutions of our said province of South-Carolina” http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
1. I think that when Georgia finally became its own separate state(/colony) It showed how they wanted independence. The second step of that is to turn away from Britain.
c. Common Sense
i. "As to government matters, it is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness—There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease." http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
1. It's not logical to govern across waters. Especially because of the time it takes for ideas and documents to travel.
a. Protecting their people.
i.“and use my utmost endeavors to protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises and privileges;” http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga02.asp
1.This quote tells me about how the “rights, franchises and privileges” of the colonists are being protected against Britain.
2.Protecting the rights of the colonists is most important
b. Individualism
i. ”…do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province, by the name of Georgia, by which name we will, the same henceforth be called. And that all and every person or persons, who shall at any time hereafter inhabit or reside within our said province, shall be, and are hereby declared to be free, and shall not be subject to or be bound to obey any laws, orders, statutes or constitutions, which have been heretofore made, ordered or enacted by, for, or as, the laws, orders, statutes or constitutions of our said province of South-Carolina” http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ga01.asp
1. I think that when Georgia finally became its own separate state(/colony) It showed how they wanted independence. The second step of that is to turn away from Britain.
c. Common Sense
i. "As to government matters, it is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power, so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness—There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease." http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/singlehtml.htm
1. It's not logical to govern across waters. Especially because of the time it takes for ideas and documents to travel.
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