Letter to Lily

April 27, 1849

My Dearest Lily,

            Life sounds just wonderful out in the west. I am so happy that you and Willie have finally settled down and are ready to start your family. As for Anthony and I we are always busy.  The children are starting school again next month. I am proud to say that I finally have a job working in a factory. Anthony’s business is really slow right now. It seems that people no longer need tailors to repair their clothes. Instead, they throw it away like it is just trash. I had to start working just to help put food on the table. We would love to reunite with you guys over there, but you must understand that the trip is quite costly and not easy to make with three children. The west sounds wonderful though. I truly miss you! You are the only person I can speak to now that mom is gone and to know that you are about 3000 miles away and we can only speak through mail. That why it hurts me to say that we cannot join you there. Our life is here in Pennsylvania. We must do what is best for our children. We cannot simply tell them we are moving and make them leave their lives here. I hear such wonderful things about the west. The open land and the great weather but right now it just can’t be done. We just don’t have the means right now to do it. I am so sorry my dear. I miss you so much and tell Willie hello for us. Anthony and the children miss you all dearly.

Love,

Tina

The Constitution of the United States

The Constitution created on July 4, 1776, will be marked in the history of The United States of America for the rest of life. This day of Independence truly shows the power of what the Untied States had even back in the 1700’s.

In the summer of 1787, delegates of the new colonies gathered in Philadelphia to create new laws. James Madison was most influential because of the way he was able to eloquently speak, but as well get his point understood easily. It was decided that no one would leave Philadelphia until a constitution and a set of laws was created. The Virginia Plan became the focus of the group early on. This Plan was calling for the creation of a bicameral government. Like the Virginia Plan, The New Jersey Plan was put in place, which gave Congress power to tax and create executive and judicial branches. On July 2^nd, the continental congress was stuck in a deadlock. The Great Compromise arose because of the inability to make decisions. This final decision had the legislative branch split into two different houses, and each state would have a house of representatives based on the size of their state. Through The Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise was created to give 3/5 the rights to enslaved African Americans. Now the Constitution called for a separation of powers among three powers, which we still use today. There were three so the new government could have a checks and balances system. This system made it possible for an equal government and to have everything balanced. The Electoral College was created to collect the votes of the individual states, and whichever candidate had the most was awarded with the most votes became President.

            The supporters of the Constitution such as Alexander Hamilton and George Washington were called federalists. These Nationalists were in support of the Constitution, but also argued that it needed to be approved. The Anti-Federalists were extremely against the Constitution believing that it would be the fall of American Liberty. After the Federalists won ratification, The Bill of Rights was passed which composed of 10 Amendments that gave the rights to the people.

            Finally in the Fall of 1788, the new government was finished.  George Washington was The United States of America’s first President. Washington was to appoint a cabinet that he believed would be best to help him run the country. The secretary Thomas Jefferson was to manage the Nation’s relations, and Alexander Hamilton was to be the Treasury Secretary. During the first few years of Washington’s administration, there were many issues to handle and the officals had jobs that no one knew how to do before. Washington believed that the public should treat him like a royal. He lived in a very large and extravagant house, which was to be called the White House. To create a capital city, they decided that a 10 square mile tract of land would be used as the capital called District of Colombia. This was right on the Potomac River and was close to Washington’s house. 

Encounters and Colonies

Who were the first Americans? Almost 40,000 years ago the first settlers came to what is to be known as the United States of American. Three major cultures were soon to meet and have to find a way to develop as one unit. The three cultures would soon lead a vast global interchange and be the start to a brand new world.

Even though the three cultures had similar customs, they were all different in their own ways. The Native Americans who were native to the lands had kinship networks that made their families extremely close and social. In their opinion they didn’t need anything more then what they had. The Europeans who were 1st cross to the new lands were the ones who in the end, bring the cultures together. People seeking refuge from the hierarchy of Europe made the trip to start a new life. The last of the three cultures were the Africans. Africa, the head of trade had much to offer to the new lands. Songhai, one of the largest empires at the time had an abundant amount of gold and ivory to trade with the rest of the world. When the Europeans mainly Spanish and Portuguese came, they brought the Africans with them for free labor. The trade off to the Africans working for them was that after 7 years of backbreaking labor, they would receive their own piece of land and were free to do what they wanted with it. With all the new ideas happening in the new world, Europe enters the Renaissance for a quest of knowledge to learn and understand much more.

Navigating the seas wasn’t always an easy task, but for Christopher Columbus there was no fear in searching for something new. Columbus set off west hoping to land in India. Sometime during the journey Columbus and his crew land on the islands in the Caribbean being greeted by the Tainos Indians. This trip was not made history because of its discovery, but for is encounters with the people. With this sail came the exchange of many goods from people all the way to technology. The Columbian Exchange brought many great and innovative ideas to the Indians but as well as death with the spread deathly disease.

            After 1942, the Dutch, Spanish, French and English reach America and all have ideas of how to make themselves rich. The Conquistadores of the Spanish, invaded many congregacions in éattempt to win power over the Americas. In attempt to make friends with the Native Americans, the Spanish created a system know as the encomienda system. This system created jobs for the Native Americans to work under the Spaniards. After colonization, the Spanish established Persidos to mark as outpost and keep watch during battles. A man named Popé assembled the discouraged people and revolted against the Spaniards which in the end drives the Spanish away. Powhatan the leader of the Native Americas was very upset with the Spaniards and distrusted them very much. Soon, the Native Americans became allies with the English and created a treaty; pay for land. With all the land, the English decide to grow tobacco. A small farm turns into multiple and there is not enough hands to work the fields. The English turn to indentured servants who would work for a period of seven years and then receive land in return. The English brought a huge wave of new immigrants which includes the Puritans. The reformation pushed the Puritans out of their native lands seeking religious toleration. 

            Mercantilism was practiced throughout the colonies in hope of give more power to their state, but to sustain their power they had to maintain a balance of trade. This meant they must import as much goods as the export. At the beginning it worked to their benefit, but Great Britain did not hold up to their side of the deal and created the salutary neglect. The agriculture throughout the Americas, Africa, and Europe created the triangular trade, which proved to sustain a great amount of significance throughout the century. The middle passage was a route traveling between Africa and Europe bringing enslaved Africans who would soon be sent to America. The people of the Americas were not extremely rich landowners, but  gentry  the people of the colonies who could not afford to have people work for them. All seemed well until the Great Awekening arose and bought great tension to the colonies. Preachers traveled around the colonies reminding the people of the power of God and the authority of the clergy. With this, many people decided that they would stand up for themselves and speak against the opposing theories.

            In the end, the trip to the Americas brought many new ideas and opportunities. The Relations were made stronger between many countries and cultures. A new age of people arose and the colonists finally had a place to call their own and be who they wanted to be.