although i thought the dark was more fun, it WAS too hard to read. so i went with my favorite color, green. this is more calming too don’t ya think? get a little metheny in the background and i can relax. pat metheny is my current musical interest. kind of stumbled upon it and it stuck. got me off my maroon 5, john mayer, and jack johnson kick. though mayer and johnson are still running close second. metheny is just calm and perfect for my drowned out distraction music. but i will save that ramble for another day. i’m supposed to be studying now!

no tsk tsk, i got a lot done!

i spent the morning in a group evaluation session for my grad program. it was actually amusing. we each had a laptop, networked with the others, to type responses to various questions. as we were given the question we had to respond with 2-4 word responses/reactions. no one knew who was typing what, other than we all know each other well enough to figure it out. as usual things got a little goofy at times, but it was a lot of fun. sort of. hard to think straight at 8 AM on a saturday after a long week. it was a good planning session for study and graduation as well. i’m just glad to know i am not the only one a little freaked over the whole process. i was told not to get lost in the detail, but i so am. sleep has won out the last few days and i have gotten behind. i’m almost caught up and plan to spend tomorrow finishing the catch up race. i have to already start playing catch up with grading school papers too. OMG i hate grading papers and entering grades. see with my students i cant give an assignment and actually get something done. they are too needy at this point in the year and must be guided through the process of reading the question and looking up the answer. ARGHH!!!!! it is ok, they mature. it just takes a bit. guess i should stop blogging and catch some sleep so i can catch up with my study schedule…

kontan jou….

We have read a lot of works over the past two years and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on her Diary1785-1812, is my favorite. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It may be because it was one that we did not have to review and I could simply read and enjoy the content. However, I think it would have been good even if reading for the sake of reviewing.

The book summary from back cover:
“Between 1785 and 1812 a midwife and hearler named Martha Ballard kept a diary that recorded her arduous work (in 27 years she attended 816 births) as well as her domestic life in Hallowell, Maine. On the basis of that diary, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich gives us an intimate and densely imagined portrait, not only of the industrious and reticent Martha Ballard but of her society- a portrait that sheds light on its medical practices, religious squabbles and sexual mores. At once lively and impeccably scholarly, A Midwife’s Tale is a triumph history on a human scale.”

The organization of this work was great. First Ulrich presented the diary entries as they were entered, then went on to explain each event using records from the time and other personal accounts of specific events to present the entire picture. I found the statistics presented to be rather interesting. For example the total first births Ballard saw 1785-1797 were 106. 40 (38%) were conceived out of wedlock, 31 (29%) premarital pregnancy, 9 (8%) illegitimate. Another interesting item, whenever a woman was giving birth to a child out of wedlock she was asked during the pains of labor to name the father, in expectation that at the time of intense pain and stress she would not lie and he could be held accountable. Ballard was also considered a healer. She used various methods and roots for ailments. An appendix of the work includes some of these, which include bleeding a cat and applying the blood, administering root to induce vomiting, or mixtures of root, herb, and urine for salve applications and such. I’m amazed people survived the treatments for many troubles.

the cooper book is one of those that i picked up and had no recollection of reading. sadly i can say that about several. so much more review and study will need to be done there.

johnson’s work is one i did not really like. it was an easy read, just too statistical for me. seems that the operations of society revolved around power. no surprise there. it seems that many workers conformed to the religious expectations of society merely for the economic/social benefit of doing os. this is not surprising as people do conform for acceptance and gain. i will have to add specifics on the johnson later. several interesting points to bring out regarding temperance, affiliation, and church attendance.

A Shopkeeper’s Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 1815-1837
Paul E. Johnson

Johnson argues the domestic changes faced in the home lives of Rochester citizens led to changes in their religious beliefs and practices, which in turn led to a reorganization of their politics. He attempts to explain the causes of such change and the influence of key figures.

Johnson first examines the impact of migration and the impact of migratory participation in the local economy. He then indicates the changing attitudes regarding the personal and social relationships of workers and proprietors. Various political and moral movements receive attention as well as the revival and its aftermath.

He proposes the revival did not emerge from lacking moral panic among the ambitious that moved to Rochester. In fact, Johnson affirms a solidification of moral unity and enthusiasm resulting from the revival. He proclaims the primary driving force for revival was the increase of class tension. In Johnson’s opinion, revivals brought order and self-restraint to society. It was a means of coping with changing views of employee/employer relationships. Although wage-earning and advancement were driving forces for conversion, some participated willingly, while others merely sought economic improvement.

In The South and the Politics of Slavery, Cooper uses extensive primary source material such as manuscripts and newspapers to examine the role of slavery in southern politics. His purpose is to establish slavery as the preeminent issue of southern politics during the antebellum period.

Although there were arguable issues of economics and power in southern politics, such as the bank and tariff issues, Cooper contends slavery was the catalyst for political strife. According to Cooper, political parties of the south existed to serve the national rights of southerners and not defend or define economic and religious concerns. Slavery was the paramount concern and all other matters failed to measure up in importance. As slavery became the definitive issue of southern politics, parties concerned themselves with addressing the societal views that they considered defined the South.

Cooper examines election related issues between the 1830s and 1850s and elaborates upon the competition between Southern Democrats and Southern Whigs. As they compete with each other, they seem to also be in contest with Northern Democrats and Northern Whigs. Cooper describes it as a “sectional one-upmanship” that will eventually lead to the demise of the Whig party (xi). The Southern version of each party attempted to prove their southern worth and loyalty to the social mores of southern society. Both proclaimed to defend the institution of slavery. According to Cooper, it was the social mores of white society that merged with politics to produce the politics of slavery.

In an attempt to defend his thesis cooper dedicates the first half of his work to early Democratic Party and the origins of the Whigs. He also examines the issue of slavery in campaigns of 1836 and 1840. In doing so, Cooper concludes southerners created a successful agenda “based on white manhood suffrage and broad voter participation” that was not immune to outside influence (42). Issues of nullification and the tariff were still divisive to the parties. The latter half of his work deals with territorial expansion and debate, the Compromise of 1850, sectional tension, and failure of the Whig party; all issues which remain easily traced to the tensions of slavery’s continuance and expansion.

To succeed in the southern political arena it was necessary to convince the people that the party endorsed southern honor and interest, as well as goaled to protect it. Between 1830 and 1860, interest of most concern to southerners was slavery. This interest, not merely relegated to the concerns of the elite, crossed socio-economic lines to culminate into the realm of sectional concern. Protection of slaves remained vital to the freedom and independence of southerners. To lose the institution of slavery relegated southerners to a perceived status of subordination and dependency. Due to the fact that the Whig party failed to retain party support and met its demise, Cooper declares the Democrats most successful in playing the politics of slavery.

Cooper’s primary source documentation is extensive and thorough. He presents a compelling argument that parties could not depend solely on southern support, and those seeking southern support must proclaim protection of slavery. He addresses other issues that are debated as true southern concerns, such as the tariff, national bank, westward expansion and its economic impact, but in doing so Cooper successfully ties in the relationship to slavery as the primary southern concern. He offers an extensive and compelling argument for the southern political agenda.

week one is over and i am so glad. with students, we have only attended 6 days of school. it feels like 6 weeks. today was the most difficult day, but i can still say we got off to a great start.

except for a few very minor things the girls got off to a great start too. aub is loving the whole school experience. she was excited to get to go to spanish today and she adores her PE coach. i’m glad she likes it. there was this fear that she would not like or wouldnt adjust. it has been a tough week of adustment for all of us. the girls came close to falling asleep on the way home each day. going to work with steve after school has been a serious adjustment. i get there as quickly as i can, but it is still difficult. juj will be studying africa this year. that’s great since the sitter just got back from uganda. (resource!) i like seeing her excited about history and places. she came home today asking me for resources on washington d.c. i really hope she holds to her enjoyment of math and science, but i want her to love/appreciate history too.

although there is much to do for next week, and i desperately need to study…its time to call it a night and catch up on sleep.

kontan jou!

it has been a long time since i was stung by a bee. snot a freakin bug it hurts! i’m getting groceries out of the trunk. and you know i dont want to make several trips so i load up. reach up to close the lid and POP! i really thought i had just gotten a real good jolt from the static or something. but it was on top of my hand and the delayed throbbing started pretty quickly. ouch ouch ouch dirty words ouch. came inside put stuff down and iced the hand. OMG it hurt. right beside the middle knuckle. i am not a happy camper. that HURT. juj and aub put the groceries away, juj turns and says well, you know in a few minutes he will be dead. i receive great satisfaction from this reminder. the little cuss. i feel better knowing that after it inflicted pain on me it died. they die right? anyway,my knuckle still hurts. but the swelling went down. i took antihistamine and that helped…guess i better take the itch pen tomorrow. hope it stops soon. i dont like pain.

on a good note today, juj caught a fish. first time. i know horrible, we have a wonderful pond in the back yard and we dont fish. djembe hates it, i dont mind it but what is the point. i’m not going to clean it and eat it, and frankly i have no desire to bait the hook or remove the fish. juj went to visit our new neighbors and he let her hold the fishing rod. i hope this does not start a trend. i dont wanna deal with stinky fish. and the idea of getting a hook out of my child does not thrill me either.

aub ate lunch today. woohoo, kindergarten obstacle one down. she is really liking this whole school bit and i think juj is liking her teach as well. taught for the first time this sem today. second day of school. i’m wiped. kids did well. i hope this is a trend for the year.

time for bed though…my hand still hurts.

quick overview…

american exceptionalism refers to the idea that the US holds a special place in the world. here there is opportunity and hope, derived from a balance of public and private interests…governed by ideals that are focused on personal and economic freedom. from a political science perspective the definition centers on unique traits in the US that do not correlate with nat’l charicteristics of other industrialized and democratic countries. there are some who take the interpretation of moral superiority, others who refer to america as merely an exceptional ideal. those who dissent state the idea of exceptionalism is nothing more than propaganda promoting a centristic view of america.

Manifest Design: American Exceptionalism and Empire by Thomas Hietala

Hietala presents Manifest Design as an evaluation of American expansionist ideas and policies in the context of the late Jacksonian period. He expands upon the traditional and historically accepted motives for expansion including security, progress, and desire of new areas of interest. Supplementary motives are included such as stability, modernization fears, the Jeffersonian reverence for agriculture, and racism. In Hietala’s view, Jacksonian expansionism served to protect the vulnerability of America from both foreign and domestic threats.

The 1830s reflect partisan debate regarding the scope of national government. Whigs favored greater federal control, while Democrats embraced laissez-faire policies. Domestic disputes consumed party conflict relegating foreign policy. By the 1840s, foreign policy is a reflection of domestic concerns. Hietala concludes Democrats and Tyler Whigs preferred expansion to increased government involvement or reform measures.

Expanding America with the acquisition of Texas was at the forefront of American debate in the 1840s with removal of undesirable people as a recuruing theme in Hietala’s work. He describes northern Democrats as disapporving of slavery, but exlpains their greater fear of black northern migrartion in the event of emancipation. The annexation of Texas, shifting slavery and the black population westward to eventual removal, seemed the ideal plan. Natives of the area, Indians and Mexicans, were obstacles to overcome by force. Hietala concludes American feeligns of superiority were the self-serving impetus for expansion.

It was not government policy of expansion that determined the fate of Mexicans, Indians, and Blacks, but the uncontrollable racial destiny which includes Anglo-Saxon superiority and preordination or empirical control of the continent. According to Hietala, feelings of American superiority, validated by successful expansion, withered little by the acknowledgement of problems. He describes the developing empire as dysfunctional. Expansion did not eliminate growing sectional strife regarding the issue of slavery. The destiny for American expansion, manifest design, revealed the lacking ambition of security and increased efforts toward purification of American society.

Hietala also addresses the desirer of America to compete internationalllya with powers such as Britain. With manipulation of trade and development of domestic resources, expansionists hoped to surpass British dominance in world markets. In this desire resided fear of urbanization, class conflict, and the ills of modernization. Expansionists embraced technology improving transportation and improving farm output, but did not welcome industrial growth such as factories, mines, and a national bank, seen as detrimental to individual success. Overshadowed by domestic issues of racial dominance, in Hietala’s work, it seems expansionists lost sight of the necessities of foreign competition.

Hietala successfully and extensively examines the aggressive design of western control within the United States. Information is adequate to conclude America’s exceptionalism, achieved by design, was not necessarily destiny. The United States, with deception and aggression took lands from the Native Americans, and removed native Mexicans, annexing their land by force with both groups seen as an inferior race. However, Hietala does not emphasize enough the importance of foreign competition. He repeatedly presents racism as the prevailing force for American action. Although Hietala thoroughly discusses the topic and his method varies from chapter to chapter, the message is redundant. He also fails to address, in depth, the social concerns of urbanization, industrialization, and expansion.

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later to be addressed…What is American exceptionalism?