Hercules Mulligan – such a cool moniker – has a blog that I truly enjoy every Friday called Meet the Founding Fathers. He has interesting reading on that site, and invites folks to participate in a “Founding Fathers Quote Friday” on their blogs. I decided – as I have had a resurrection of interest in our colonial/revolutionary history recently - to try one, and will participate as the MEET (mood, energy, enthusiasm, time) permits.I have just finished a book on Samuel Adams titled Samuel Adams: A Life, by Ira Stoll, and will be posting a review of it before long on this blog site. In the chapter dealing with the Boston Tea Party there was a correlation of events that seems to relate to our present time: bail outs.
The British Parliament debated how to save the East India Company, which was some five million pounds in debt. The solution was one the Parliament thought was a win-win situation for the colonies and the company: giving the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies – with only the Townsend tax being paid. All other royal taxes would be waived. The colonies got cheaper tea; the East India Company had sole possession of a market, which would help it to sell its surplus of tea.
However, the Tea Act simply provided fuel for the fire of liberty in the colonies – if handled by the right person. That person was Samuel Adams. He would stir the fires against taxation and the dumping of unwanted tea on shores of America. Others would join in – often led by the wealthy merchants – such as John Hancock - who saw the economic downside of the Tea Act.
As a result of the Tea Act, Samuel Adams looked ahead at what the potential future held and stated:
“If we persevere in asserting our rights, the time must come, probably a time ofThe tea arrived in December 1773 – eventually being tossed over the side of the ships carrying it by the citizens of Boston.
war, when our just claims must be attended to & our complaints
regarded.” Letter to Joseph Hawley, October 13, 1773.
Bailouts don’t always work the way they should – and often have unforeseen consequences. I can’t help but wonder how the most recent 800 billion dollar (that’s $800,000,000,000.00) ‘stimulus package’ will affect our country economically, socially, and politically, in the long run.
Probably not in the way it was advertised or intended.
Essential Question: How can the use of quotations by the founding fathers be used to enhance the understanding of our students in the area of American liberties and Constitutional rights?
PHOTO SOURCES:
Adams Portrait
Adams Signature
6 comments:
Great post, MikeB! I'm so glad you participated today! I look forward to your review of the biography of Adams; he was a great Founder.
I think that the Tea Act, like the stimulus plan and the bailout, are one offense in a long train of abuses by the government to rob us of our liberties. I don't think that the Tea Act, or that taxes themselves, were the fundamental reason for our Revolution, nor do I think taxes should be the fundamental reason for our complaint against the government.
But it was one of the last nails in the coffin of peace between the colonies and Britain. Government seems to have failed to learn this lesson: nothing incites a people to rebellion so much as when you touch their pocketbook.
Our modern Congress doesn't seem much different from the old British Parliament now, does it?
Again, great post. I hope you will be able to continue to participate!
Found your blog through the eminent Mr. Mulligan.
Brilliant comparison to the Tea Party with the Bailout! I can only hope they have similar results.
To lend an answer to your question about using quotes, may I suggest that quotes by the Founders should not be tools themselves- not exactly-- but should be an enticement for students to delve into primary sources for themselves. Quotes can be used (and are used) for so many "this n' that" topics, and are frequently taken out of context. I think quotes should serve as summaries of a point considered but the real engine should be the primary sources themselves, filled with the original thoughts and intents, to skale the thirst for knowledge and understanding.
Welcome to FFQF and I look forward to reading more of your contributions.
I have to admit this was fun, and forced a 'thinking in the mindset of the past' process.
Thank you both for your kind comments. I'm looking forward to next week - and already have the quote!
What an excellent comparison! Would that we had a Samuel Adams around today.
Welcome aboard. I've missed it today, but hope to slide it in first thing tomorrow.
Hi MikeB! I heard about your post from Hercules Mulligan's blog.
I love how you compared the stimulus bill to the Tea Act! Just like the colonists didn't want the Tea Act, so many of us didn't want that stimulus. Spending our money without our approval...it really is like taxation without representation! If only there could be a 2009 tea party. Oh, and I agree with you wholeheartedly; that stimulus is going to bring a whole lot more trouble than it's advertised for.
In an answer to the ending question, I believe the Founders' quotes can definitely help students understand more about thier Constitutional rights. Sometimes looking at a document doesn't make sense until someone explains it to you, and the Founders wrote numerous explanations. Their words may be just what some students need for clarification (I know they've sure helped me out a lot).
Great post once again, and I hope you continue to do FFQF!
Dear Mike:
Great stuff , well-written, insightful, and very inspirational; furthermore, it does seem that the comparison between the Tea Act and the Stimulus Plan is appropriate inasmuch as many, many port cities and others are having their own recreations of the event throughout this month.
I also agree with Cato vis-a-vie the primary source material. When I started as an undergrad it naturally required a trip to Wash. D.C., Smithsonian, and National Archives!
And historylover2 brings so much light to the table with his assertion: "Just like the colonists didn't want the Tea Act, so many of us didn't want that stimulus. Spending our money without our approval...it really is like taxation without representation!
Moreover, now that the several states have found out that there are certain 'unwanted' strings attached to the funds (in re: Welfare and other State Social Services) most of them are wanting to resend the money as well.
As for your students: Whenever I approached 'Colonial America' with my student's we did everything from dressing to reenactments, to me bringing in traditional dress including white wigs deluxe with powder mostly trying to recreate a bit of Philadelphia summertime. That process always engaged every single level I taught at; yet, the greatest response was by far my student's at the collegiate levels!
Notwithstanding anything whatsoever, the mere reading—critically—into language they can relate too is a great way to start. (Btw, the link to the Tea Act, had a great deal more to say than who the Colonist's got their tea from; it would be a great 'teachable moment' to bring in the notion of local venders losing their jobs, the economy hurting, business monopolies, and again a massive government (British v. U.S. government now) intervention without consulting one private citizen—yet appointing several with tax problems.
Welcome to FFQF and keep up the great work!!
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