LAD#10: Monroe Doctrine

Summarize.

Expressed to Congress on Decemeber 2nd, 1823, during President James Monroe's seventh annual message, the Monroe doctrine opens with reference to a discussion with the Russian Imperial Government and the Government of Great Britain about possible colonization of the northwestern coast of North America. He then states that although he values the friendship of both governments, it is in the best interests of the United States that American continents are to no longer be considered for colonization by any European powers. 

Monroe then goes on to speak of the interest Americans have held in the events of Europe, and how much they hope for the "liberty and happiness" of the men who live there. However, the United States does not take part in European wars when it does not concern them, only doing so when they are threatened directly, unlike in Europe where a complex web of alliances brings countries in to wars that don't necessarily concern them. On this note, any further attempt at colonization of the western hemisphere is considered a threat to the United States' peace and safety.

With the recent events in Spain and Portugal, Monroe finds evidence that Europe is still unsettled. The policy of the United States in accordance with foreign affairs, is and will continue to be friendly neutrality, and not interference with any of it's internal government.

He finds that any attempt of the allied powers to extend their government to either of the American continents without the possible endangerment of the United States, and that those in South America would not adopt a European government of their own accord. Therefore, any such attempts would be considered an unfriendly act towards the United States that would not be met with indifference.

LAD#8: Columbus Blog - Hero or Villain?

Should Christopher Columbus be considered a hero or villain?


Personally I find it hard to believe this, but Columbus was definitely more of a villain than a hero. All my life I was taught Columbus was an amazing explorer for his discovery of the Americas. But his treatment of the natives was terrible. One could say that he as only acting as any man would of his time; foreign, non-white peoples were generally considered slaves, barely above animals. By using that logic it could also be argued to an extent that Hitler was only acting on the antisemitism of his time. So I feel that Columbus is a villain for the way he treated the natives that he and his crew came upon, especially in his second voyage where he dragged 500 natives home to Spain, of which two hundred died en route and most died soon after arrival. Though it was custom for his time, it makes it no less evil an act for him to mistreat another human being, no matter how "primitive".


The one thing I won't do is blame Columbus directly for the mass decline in the population of the American natives. It would be like shooting the messenger; he is not responsible for the actions Europeans took when he told them of his discovery.