American Pasts Final!

AUHHHHH

Chattel Slavery

a view that the individual was “property” owned by another person

their body was owned

could be bought and sold

a form of slavery in the ancient world; kinda the one we think of the most in America

Helotry

a form of slavery where the person was tied to the land

owed labor; their labor was owned

an inherited status

but since they were tied to the land they could not be bought or sold

Debt Slavery

individuals who sold themselves into slavery to work off their debts

not inheritable

could basically earn freedom probably maybe

Natural Rights

“Natural Rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and are so universal, fundamental, and inalienable” that they cannot be repealed

the Declaration of Independence would say everyone was born with “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal”

governments were to make laws that would protect the natural rights of men

Proportional Rights

the understanding that your rights as a citizen were to be proportional to your activity in the polis aka your participation in gov

only citizens had full access to rights; but access didn’t mean they automatically had them. they had to earn them

so the enslaved didnt have many rights because they didnt participate in the government

Aristotle and Slavery

basically he thought that not all men were created equal

thought that participation in government was how you conferred rights

your life purpose is to become as human as possible (aka to pursue happiness)

how did you do this? political participation

he figured that if you fell into slavery it was cuz you didnt do a good enough job pursuing happiness, you didnt cultivate your virtues enough

he even would have thought that maybe slavery was good to people cuz it exposed them to the good ones and you could learn from your masters

“slavery is both just and beneficial”

“nature has clearly designed some men for freedom and others for slavery”

Epictetus

a roman slave who studied stoic philosophy

rejected Aristotles’s claim that the enslaved deserved their low status

but he did accept slavery as a part of the natural order

basically his theory was that slavery was a circumstance that you couldnt control. you had to accept it. but to him, it had nothing to do with virtue

enslaved people should focus on developing their reason

free people could be just as enslaved if they let their passions control them

American Colonization Society

one campaign to end slavery

would raise money to reimburse slaveowners for freeing their slaves

they would then send the freed slaves to Africa because they were #racist

#racism in this nation has gone from latent to blatent

in general, people who supported emancipation did not believe that white and black americans could peacefully coexist

Radical Abolition

American Anti-Slavery Society (1833)

founded by William Lloyd Garrison, called for the IMMEDIATE emancipation of the enslaved

didnt want to compensate slaveholders

didnt want to send them back

based on the ideology of natural rights

Polybius

a greek historia who wrote the history of rome and a discription of the roman government intended for a greek audience in an attempt to explain roman instutions to greeks living under roman rule

applied Aristotle’s concept of mixed government to the roman government

Res publica

res = thing

publica = public/common

so res publica = the thing held in common, which is the government

everyone in roman society plays a role in the government

its OUR thing

the thing held in common / republic

government participation shared among all citizens

democracy checked by monarchical and aristocratic elements

Roman CItizens – male landowners who served in the military

Consuls

the monarchical element of roman gov

two consuls that serve one year terms, elected by the Peoples Assembly

the heads of state, commanders in chief, could call people into the Assembly, presided over senate, diplomatic duties

Senate

the aristocratic element of government

the wealthiest families were in this and they inherited their positions

losing wealth (or dying) = not in senate anymore

could adopt a son to serve in the senate

advised consuls, controlled treasury, controlled foreign policy, couldn’t pass laws

People’s Assembly

the democratic part of the roman republic

all citizens were members (all men who were in military were citizens)

no recognition of “one person, one vote” and instead you were put into voting groups and each group had one vote

• wealthier groups more abundant

• and they would stop counting the votes once a majority was reached, counting from wealthiest classes down

could pass laws, declare war, elect consuls, elect tribunes (who could veto things)

Imperium

latin for “the power of command”

the consuls had this

Civic Virtue

really important in Rome because you needed to be virtuous to participate in gov; if they failed to be virtuous their republic would fail

expected of all citizens and their patrons (aka the wives had to be virtuous)

Republican Exempla

Lucretia

Horatius Cocles

Cincinnatus

these people were part of rome’s oral tradition and their stories were of great deeds and morality and they were used as examples for roman citizens

Lucretia

a woman who was known for her faithfulness to her husband and was a model of feminine chastity

the r*pe of Lucricia - the kings son did it

she takes her life so that she doesnt have to live with the “dishonor” of that

and the story ends with the men in her life overthrowing the Tarquins and establishing the republic in 509 BCE

Horatius Cocles

a one eyed lower level military officer who holds off the Etruscans at a bridge on the Tiber river

he holds off the etruscans while the roman army takes apart the bridge, and then he swims to the other side

an example of putting rome above one’s own life

Cincinnatus

a member of the minor elite and held a few lower level elected offices

called upon to serve rome as the dictator twice

his 1st dictatorship he was called upon while he was plowing his land, and in 15 days he solved all of the problems. he laid down the Fasces and went back to farm

2nd time he fixed everything in 21 days

example of not holding onto power

humility, modesty, service to the greater good and not to oneself.

Senators/Generals

they used their power as a basis to dominate the republic and destroy the prominence of other senatorial families, taking more power for themselves

Rome’s rapid expansion led to immense wealth and power made available to military leaders; they could then use this money to gain political power by sharing their spoils with their army men and gaining loyalty; their men would become more loyal to their senator-general than they would be to the republic. They could then influence political decisions.

important cuz they caused the decline of the Roman Republic

examples: Marius, Sulla, Caesar

Julius Caesar

He was a senator-general from an elite family

goes on the Conquest of Gaul 58-52 BCE and was really good; sent a legit ad campaign back to Rome and gained a lot of loyalty

senators in rome were like “yo caesar you have to relinquish your power and come back only as a citizen cuz you are too goated” and Caesar was like “no fuck you” and marched on Rome (crossed the Rubicon)

half of the senators fled; the other half tried to give him a position as consul to appease him and also everyone who really liked him in rome

the senators who fled came back and also marched on rome and the Civil War with Pompey began
Caesar made dictator (for 6 months) to solve the issues and then made dictator for life; and yes he did win the war

as a dictator, Caesar centralized power

• consuls became his lieutenants

• new senators who were all loyal to him

• all subjects of the Roman Empire were subject to citizenship which made him more liked

• Julian calendar

And then he adopted octavian as his heir

and then he was murdered by Brutus, who was a hero to the founders

even claimed divinity lol

Octavian/Augustus

So after Caesar is murdered, Mark Antony enters the scene and kinda fixes everything, and then Octavian is like “wait bro my dad wanted ME to be in charge!

so there is a temporary share of power and Mark Antony is now in love with Cleopatra and is like “our kids are gonna be the heirs to the Eastern Empire” and Octavian is pissed so he fights Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium, 31 BCE

Senate proclaims Octavian “Augustus” which means “majestic” but isnt to be confused with king but literally just is a king…

Augustus does a whole bunch of shit to reduce the senate and the assembly

manages to hold role of consul and tribune at the same time and had personal control of the military

Principate

the word used to describe octavians reign after he defeated mark antony

he wanted to legitimize his rule by saying he was restoring elements of the past, but he didnt wanna be seen as a KING so he called himself “princeps” which meant first citizen (but in actuality he was a monarch lol)

Demagogue

a popular leader who gained their popularity by playing on people’s passions, emotions, prejudices

used their popularity to promote their own self interest and power and didnt actually help solve issues or serve the common good

their followers were factions or parties

#trump

Faction/Political Parties

founding fathers were really afraid of this

a group of people united by their passions, emotions, prejudices

george washington talked extensively about this in his farewell address

Bank of the US

Hamilton’s plan to assume state debts and establish a national bank

Cabinet Battle 1

the bank would basically help the states to pay off their war debts and pay back the people that still hadn’t been paid back

also would serve as a depository for the National Gov so that they had a place to literally keep the money in while they were handling it

the estb of the bank was kinda problematic because it isnt listed as a thing Congress can do, but it might fit under the “necessary and proper” clause. The government was allowed to tax people, borrow money, and make money, so the bank was thus “necessary and proper”
TJ hated the idea of the bank and thought Ham was just trying to benefit the position he held. worried about ham being a demagogue

hamilton literally says “they are at the head of a faction that hates me.”

both men think that they are doing what is best for common good and that the other doesnt want him to let him do what he has to do because he must be corrupt!! no pretense of policy disagreements / loyal opposition

Jay’s Treaty

So there was a lot of issues surrounding foreign policy in the US:

• france was at war with Great Britain during their revolution - do we help like promised?

  • “we signed a treaty with a king whose head is now in a basket”

• GB isnt honoring the peace treaty and is still in their forts, supplying Native Americans with arms to terrorize americans

• GB blocking trade between US and West Indies

• Impressment was an issue; GB was kidnapping American merchants and making them serve in the navy

Jay’s Treaty made decisions:

• They would not help France

• GB would leave their forts

• trade reopened to West Indies

• GB became most favored trading ally with US

• Impressment not resolved in the treaty

Lots of Americans are mad about this treaty because 1) why are we working with GB 2) why arent we helping the french and 3) why didnt you solve the impressment issue

Ham calls those who oppose the treaty demagogues looking to stir up passions and discredit the gov to gain power

TJ is meanwhile calling ham the “monarchial party” and they would lead to US becoming part of GB again

Federalists

Hammy 🙂 And G Wash kinda and also John Adams (shit)

Republicans

James Madison, TJ

George Washington’s “Farewell Adress”

Dear America,

PLEASE DONT FORM FACTIONS HOLY SHIT IT WILL BE BAD I AM VERY AWARE OF THE WHOLE NORTH VS SOUTH SLAVERY THING AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA FORM GEOGRAPHICAL PARTIES AND THAT IS DANGEROUS PLEASE DONT DO THAT AND YES I KNOW MY OWN CABINET MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY FORMING POLITICAL PARTIES BUT HOLY SHIT PLEASE DONT GO ALONG WITH THAT

I want to sit under my own vine and fig tree,

Geo. Washington

(he warned that passions led to factions which led to demagogues)

(and also he warned that a back and fourth swinging between these parties would suck #yup)

The American Cincinnatus

GEORGEEEEEEEE

cuz like Cincinnatus he set aside power

he built himself to be the most virtuous person there was and then demonstrated it and he was fucking awesome and like he taught himself the classics cuz he didnt have that good of an education poor george

110 Rules of Civility

1. dont touch your dick

2. dont be a dick

he voluntarily stepped aside from power like over and over again and when he had power he was very thoughtful and methodical with it like the HERO HE IS I LOVE YOU GEORGE

Even King George III said that george washingtons ability to give up power made him the greatest man in the world

Society of Cincinnati

created after Geo Wash was ready to dip

made for rev war officers to benefit their families

promoted rights, preserving the union, assisting rev veterans and their families

motto: “he gave up everything to serve the republic”

America’s first hierarchical society, still exists and revolutionary officers’ descendants

Domes

like in Rome; all over the US

capital building, state capitals (but not NY ☹ ) and also TJs Monticello and also his like memorial thing in DC

Obelisks

I RAISE FUNDS IN DC FOR THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT

and also cleopatra’s obelisk in NYC why do we have that

Differences between Classical Thinkers’ and the Founders’ understanding of natural rights

Classical Thinkers:

• Aristotle would have thought that human beings did not have access to rights just because they were alive; all men were NOT created equal

• Rights were only to be defined and conferred by men; a completely political entity

• your rights derived from your participation in the government

Founders:

• all men are created equal

• life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• rights apply to all people

• governments exist to protect those rights and should not deprive a person of their rights

Classical thinkers’ influence on both pro-slavery and abolitionist Americans

Classical thinkers overall thought that slavery was just a part of the natural order.

American Colonization Society:

• thought that slavery did, in fact, take away people’s natural rights

• said they should be free but would pay slave owners and should move the freed population “back” to Africa

Reaction to American Colonization Society include “We are Americans, having birthright citizenship – natural claims upon the country – claims common to all others of our fellow citizens – natural rights, which may, by virtue of unjust laws, be obstructed, but never can be annulled.”

Radical Abolitionists:

• slavery did not fit natural rights

• free them bro

Pro-Slavery thinkers including White Southerners:

• called on Aristotle’s quote: “Nature has clearly designed some men for freedom and others for slavery”

• “slavery is both just and beneficial”

• argued that Liberty was not a natural right like the declaration of independence said, but that it should be “reserved for the intelligent, the patriotic, the virtuous and deserving.

Lincoln and Douglass:

• argued that Slavery prevented people from becoming truly virtuous

• declaration of independence was a foundational set of goals for them to work towards 🙂

• slavery could be improved upon

Founders’ understanding of the Roman Republic as a mixed government

Got the information fromPolybius

Consuls - Monarchy

Senate - Aristocracy

Assembly of the People - Democracy

liked the checks and balances and the way that power was divied (example: senate considers war, asks consuls to call assembly, assembly would have to declare war, then consuls have to return to senate to fund the war, then the assembly makes another vote..)

also liked how slow it was

liked that every citizen had a role and that all of them could hold office

liked that power was shared

saw that the ideal was to maintain liberty by sharing power so they adopted it

Influence of the Founders’ understanding of the Roman Republic on the US Constitution

division of power via three branches

division of power based on states vs central gov

checks and balances

veto

elections

limited terms

Different perspectives among the Founders on civic virtue

kind of the debate on who was virtuous enough to serve in the government?

Elitist Perspective:

• only the elites had an education good enough to ever be virtuous enough to be in government

• common people were too self interested, not well educated on important matters

• wanted people to have a limited role in the government

• leaders should be “fathers of the people”

• let the people make their voices heard at election time, and then they can shut the fuck up

Populist Perspective:

• Any virtuous citizen was fit to govern (including soldiers bro)

• common people were generally virtuous enough to lead and to pressure elected officials to vote in one way or the other

• saw leaders as “friends of the people” or even “servants of the people”

Influence of the Founders’ understanding of civic virtue on the US Constitution

The Constitution was built to balance virtue and popular participation

1. controlled the size of congressional districts in the House of Representatives

2. made shorter terms in HR

3. made senators elected only by state governments

4. gave them longer terms

5. built the electoral college

Reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman Republic

expansion, money, senator-generals, greed, Cataline and the turn from Romans who were worried about the common good to Romans who were interested in only themselves, according to Sallust

and demagogues

Founders’ beliefs about the fall of the Roman Republic

1. Men who lacked virtue would take advantage of divisions to impose dictatorship

2. Demagogues

3. factions led to the downfall of popular governments

they saw Shays Rebellion as factions and were really scared

Founders’ beliefs about factions and how the Constitution would prevent factions

factions = bad

Constitution’s attempts to safeguard against factions:

1. geography spaced people out; made it harder to unify people over their passions

2. electoral college ensured virtous leaders

3. checks and balances limited ambition and self-interest farming

4. separation of powers limited ambitions and self-interest farming, too

5. the free press would help educate people about what is going on in the gov

(think about how Trump isnt getting everything he wants cuz of the seperate branches and their powers)

Founders’ reactions to policy differences in the Washington Administration

HOLY SHIT WE DONT KNOW HOW TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT THINKING THE OTHER IS TRYING TO DESTROY THE UNION

no pretext of loyal opposition

everyone thought that what they wanted was best for the common good and thought the other man was acting in his own self interest - cuz if I am right, you must be wrong

Ancient Rome’s influence on popular culture in the US

star wars

oblisks

domes

built environment

literature and media