School Papers

For constructive criticism or help with a school paper, etc, come and post here!

Oh, if only I'd known about this sooner, I could have had you guys look over my seven pages of ecology research!

lol i might have to pass on that

i would prolly have more use of this if I actually did my papers at least a night before they were due...

My Federalist Paper:

FEDERALISM
And What it Means to the American People

Jason Guffey
U.S. History 1492-1865
Fall 2009

INTRODUCTION TO FEDERALISM

Friends, fellow Americans in the great year of 1787, I beseech you; hear what I have to say. Long and difficult has our struggle been for a stable system of government, but time and the efforts of many have waved a bright, new chance into our hopeful arms. I present to you the Constitution, a document bringing forth a resolution to all of our problems! No longer will we be left to our own doings as states. We are all one nation, after all, and we the people should, indeed, band together and unite for the bettering of our young country. Although we are factually separate colonies, we have united to defeat such a menacing force as the British army, but why stop there? Why should we all separate onto our own states’ paths, therefore separating the strengths of our arms and even our voices once more? We should join together and stay united and whole! And this gift of further unification is what the blessing of a document, the Constitution, is all about. Instead of individual state governments left to their own meanderings and their own problems, one, unified government of elected officials will guide the way.
The legislature in itself will be comprised of two bodies, the Senate, and the Assembly. We, as Americans, will vote for who we want in the Senate, which will consist of one elected official per colony, while a representative will be placed in the Assembly per 40,000 citizens a colony homes (McGill 2). To regulate this legislative body will be the judicial and executive branches of the new federal government. The leader of this executive branch, a future follower in the footsteps of our very own General Washington, will be voted in by another small group, referred to as the Electoral College (McGill 2). If there really are any of you out there that would rather have to fend for themselves and their own individual state government than be able to rely on the support and bravery of such a man as General Washington and those that follow him, would we not have won such a valiant revolution in the first place?

UNIFICATION

This is, to say, uniting our separate states under one, federal government with enough power to take action in dire times. Would it not be wise for one to be able to expect President Washington’s aid in matters such as Indian attacks or a fearsome domestic uprising? These matters should be enabled for the interference by a federal official of our own election and choosing, despite what the anti-federalists may claim. The drafters of the Constitution have looked to “reason and common sense” to reach this compromise of a document (Teti 1), so can it really be so difficult to see such a unified, central government as entirely beneficial to our youthful nation?
The Articles of Confederation have promised us this unification, but it is only in name, as the United States of America remain hollow. Sure, the strength of our arms is admirable and the voice of our resolve is just, but are we really united in such a way that suit’s the name that we have been so gracious to accept from the very men that wish for our further unification? I say nay to this, as individual state governments left to themselves seems all too independent for anyone truly understanding of the cause. “A firm union acts to defend against domestic faction and insurrection (Willison 43).” Aye, I say to this, as too much independence of each state would weaken the government’s strength to deal with even the most petty of domestic problems. “The growth of the nation’s trade and shipping had already led European maritime powers to think of ‘clipping the wings by which we might soar to a dangerous greatness.’ Essential to the growth of an American economy was the creation of a federal navy of sufficient enough strength to make its weight felt in the world (Willison 44).” Not only can the federalists all agree that the federal government is weak without the Constitution, but the intimidating navies of the European nations believe so as well.

SEPARATION

With so much confidence in those that support the federalist beliefs, one must wonder what it is the anti-federalists are getting at when they reject such a great document, no? It’s the anti-federalists’ misinterpretation in their ignorant belief that the Constitution will take away from the individual powers of each state, but this is not so. As previously stated, the legislative body of the new government will be selected by the states, “the Assembly to consist of persons elected by the people, to serve for three years. The Senate to consist of persons elected to serve during good behavior… chosen for that purpose by the people (Hamilton, John C. 393).” It will be in the hands of the citizenry like you or me to decide who best represents our states. “Notwithstanding the different modes in which they are appointed, we must consider both of them as substantially dependent on the great body of the citizens of the United States (Hamilton 46).” It’s also a common federalist belief that one federalist government will entirely replace the state governments and only act in accordance with the nation as a whole, but this is not the case, as state governments will be let to act based on their own local problems, while federal intervention will be entered in so long as those issues affect our nation as a whole.
Thomas Paine even thought that, “between the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1778 and their approval by the states in 1781, many delegates to Congress and many officeholders in the central government had reached the conclusion that the current constitutional belt was too loosely buckled (Keane 219).” Thomas Paine, the writer for which we all know to have authored the revolutionary Common Sense, even agrees with federalism, a system that he believes will be superior to any government established before. “Massive debt would be brought under control, and Congress would prove to be more effective and popular, in no small measure because the jumbled taxation system would be simplified (Keane 226).” This federal system could help out immensely when it comes to our country’s war debts, which is understandably why Congress would become so popular. Paine has proven to be a brilliant mind at that, and I’m sure I won’t be the only one trusting his reliability, history, and intelligence.

RISING SUPPORT

Although Hamiltion was met with strong opposition in New York in his defense of the Constitution and republican government, “[he] turned to… two collaborators, James Madison, the delegate from Virginia, and John Jay, the secretary of foreign affairs, to write The Federalist, a series of 85 essays in defense of the Constitution and republican government that appeared in newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788 (DeConde 4).” Thomas Paine was chastised by enemies for his beliefs, but he too, pushed the envelope just a bit further in support of this document. Referring to federalist James Madison, “his influence produced ratification by Virginia and led John Marshall to say that, if eloquence included ‘persuasion by convincing, Mr. Madison was the most eloquent man I ever heard’ (Madsion 3).” “Still brimming with energy, [John Adams] had spent his time studying the history of European politics for patterns and lessons that might assist the fledgling American government… to produce- namely, a stable republican form of government (Ellis 4).” Even John Adams has worked for this chance that we now have to take: the chance to have our very own federal government that triumphs over the numerous failed systems of the past. Amongst the darkness of tombstones that display those that have failed before us, we will not waver, and we will shine brightly as the new federalist, republican government we are destined to be. “It is the right of the people to alter or to abolish [a failed government], and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness (Jefferson).” It is this Constitution, formed by the hands of those we have so prominently supported, that is the alteration of the failed governments before us, and the document that will allow us to grow and prosper into the nation that revolutionaries like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and George Washington dreamed of. WORKS CITED

McGill, Sara Ann "Constitutional Convention." Constitutional Convention (2009): 1. Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.

Teti, Dennis "`Publius': The Federalist Papers." World & I 13.10 (1998): 28. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.

Willison, George F. The Federalist, Notes. Lincoln: Neb John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1971. Print.

Hamilton, John C., ed. The Works of Alexander Hamilton. Vol. II. New York: Charles S. Francis & Company, 1850. Print

Hamilton, Alexander "The Federalist papers." Federalist Papers (Great Neck Publishing) (2009): 1. Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.

Keane, John. Tom Paine A Political Life. First ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995. Print.

Alexander, DeConde "Hamilton, Alexander." Britannica Biographies (2008): 1. Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.

“Madison, James." Britannica Biographies (2008): 1. Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.

Ellis, Joseph J. "Adams, John." Britannica Biographies (2008): 1. Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2009.

Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. Avalon Project. Yale Law School, 4 July 1776. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp>.

My Andrew Jackson book review:

Jason Guffey
U.S. History 1492-1865
Fall 2009

ANDREW JACKSON
By Robert V. Remini; book review by Jason Guffey

Andrew Jackson, commonly thought of as the hero of the War of 1812, savior from the nasty Indian tribes of the uninhabited western lands, and seventh president of the United States of America, has much more to him than meets the eye, as Robert Remini so determinedly tries to portray in his biography of the man, Andrew Jackson. The New York Times refers to Remini as the “foremost Jackson scholar of our time,” so it’s a safe and reasonable idea to trust in the credibility of the man’s words on the life and times of Andrew Jackson, whether it be on those political, those personal, and those military.
Despite his typical “rough and gruff” appearance, Andrew was really a caring man towards those he truly loved at heart, as Remini tells us through several stories, one of which being when he shed tears over the insults to his deceased mother that had been plastered throughout local newspapers during his run for the presidency. “One day, as he sat in his home in Tennessee reading a newspaper, he spotted a paragraph that had a neatly-drawn hand pointing to the opening words. As he scanned the first line he paled; then, in a sudden, uncontrolled burst of emotion he broke down in tears, and his body shook with grief (1).” These lines, already on the first page, introduce Jackson as an emotional figure rather than the gambling man or the honor-bound duelist we hear about later from Remini.
“His very appearance commanded attention. Straight and tall, he stood six feet one inch in his stockings (14-15).” This describes the Andrew Jackson that most of us commonly know when the man’s name is mentioned. “The most striking characteristic of his face was his deep blue eyes- eyes that could blaze with such passion when he was aroused as to paralyze with fright those who were the objects of his wrath (15).” Remini almost goes completely back on the “emotional man” he had portrayed as he introduced the story and shows us a tough man, one that can beat you down simply by looking at you. Not only was his appearance to be feared, but his desire for ambition also adds fuel to the fire of the Jackson legacy. “Although lacking in military training or experience, Jackson had been maneuvering to acquire [the office of major general of the militia of Tennessee] for quite some time. For one thing, he appreciated its value in promoting his reputation and advancing his career (35).”
Even in the political field, Andrew Jackson knew how to play hardball. “Let them (the states) threaten [the bond of the union] in any shape or form, and he would teach them the meaning of treason (136).” Even when meeting formally with dinner guests, Jackson’s toast was simply “OUR FEDERAL UNION,” he said, “IT MUST BE PRESERVED (136)” to the faces of the table’s “nullies.” “It was masterful politics,” Remini writes, “the Calhoun faction, once so important to the Democratic cause, and now so dangerous, was stripped of its power (141).” Jackson’s described “masterful politics” are what signified his presidency, as his ego assented him into believing that everything would be fine so long as he was president.
To be conclusive, Robert V. Remini does a great job at portraying Andrew Jackson’s multiple sides, despite sometimes seeming to suddenly flip from one to another, which may very well be because that’s the very way Jackson himself did it, in which case, bravo Remini. Although it does, at times, seem like it takes a little bit of time and a little bit of pushing, Remini does successfully pull off a great line of flow through the whole book, from Jackson’s early days getting hit by a British officer’s sword to his days stopping rebellions and attacks to even his later days as the seventh President. I’d personally vouch for and recommend this book to anyone interested in American history, as Jackson has truly been a key figure in it. Kudos to you, Remini, you truly do deserve your title of the “foremost Jackson scholar of our time.”

I'm not putting up my English Rough Draft cuz it SUCKS!!!!!!!!!

cmon duder, cant be that bad

hahahahahahahaha, oh yes it is. I got a 62% on it...

No book reports for me, I finished the required english classes, but I have to do French term papers and way too many essays for science and math. I guess this is just how it is after passing lameo highschool level intro classes.

You write essays for math?

Yes, Calc and every math following you must do essays on mathmatical phenomana, theory, and various projects (much like an AP Physics class in a US high school).

BTW, Andrew Jackson was also the only President who served in office when the country wasn't in debt.

(sp? phenomena?) Anyways, I have Calc next semester and my Pre-Calc final monday... Looks like next semester will be fun...

Wasn't Jackson also the only president to even have a Native American child?

Maybe the only one to have one in public.
If your in Calc does that mean your a sophmore or junior? Or was I just ahead in high school?

im with pickle on this one....i aint even started my paper for 2nd hr tomarra

If you guys are 16 does that mean your seniors?

DRS wrote:Yes, Calc and every math following you must do essays on mathmatical phenomana, theory, and various projects (much like an AP Physics class in a US high school).

BTW, Andrew Jackson was also the only President who served in office when the country wasn't in debt.

Yeah, cuz he caused it for everyone after him (King Mob)

I finished mah paper yesterday! It is WAY better
And we are actually Juniors

Wow, way to rub it in their faces that you got sham done a year earlier with all your AP classes....

What's 0 period?

Starts at 6:30 in the morning.

DRS wrote:Really? I was a senior when I was 16.
My schedule was:
0 Period Calc 2
1 Period Advance Band
2 Period AP French
3 Period AP Biology
4 Period AP Literture
5 Period AP Economics
6 Period AP Statistics

Wow, that's way too many AP classes for me I've got only 2 and I seriously don't like it

AP Calc and AP Physics are actually fun though, in calc we had a cool end of the year project where we built a roller coaster model and in physics we did stuff like that about once every two months.
As a junior I had:
0 H Pre-Calc
1 Advance Band
2 H English
3 French 3
4 AP Physics
5 AP Environmental Science
6 Anatomy (I remember dissecting my first fetal pig like yesterday...stab in the stomach, slit the throat, and poke out the eyes, and that was the assigned portion.)

I don't remember that year quite as well as my senior year though.

hahahaha AC Physics at our school is like a study hall

AP=Advace Placement (weighted grade) and I have no idea what AC is, I'll tell you this much, the AP tests are hard , I remember that one particulrly well, I had to really work my ass off to just to get a 4 on that AP.

AC = Accelerated, if you had our physics teacher, you would know why it's a study hall...