As with all nations since the dawn of civilization, there comes a period where re-evaluation and self-scrutiny become necessary to determine whether or not the nation still contains the the core beliefs and values needed to continue its progress and hold on to its power in the face of adversity and hardship. For the U.S. this critical point has arrived. With the country facing pressure from the economy, social relations, and a host of the other current issues, many citizens have already begun the process. Many of the values and beliefs held since the foundation of the country are cited almost like a mantra. At nearly every sporting event, national holiday, public occasions and so on there are remainders of what the U.S. stands for in the form of song, pledge, and every other media. It is as if the repetition is necessary to keep the nation on track and in line. Yet, one must ask whether we have already fallen off track?

From the very conception of the nation, our values have created a precedent. Our core values- equality, freedom, opportunity – form the American mindset for U.S. citizens and foreigners abroad. Citizens often view these rights as a given. Others feel that these values distinguish the U.S. from many other world governments. The U.S. is viewed and cited as a working example of these values. In Jean de Crevecoeur’s “ What is an American?,” American is viewed as a place where “individuals of nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and prosperity will one day cause great changes in the world.” Though the statement was made by a Frenchmen over 200 years ago, it continues to resonate with people today. This mindset also appears in the novel Tortilla Curtain in the character, Candido, who comes to America with his wife in order to manifest his own version of the American dream.

There are probably many versions of the American dream. Many view the American dream in the terms set by the Declaration of Independence, a founding American document. “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is a phrase taken from the Declaration that is used to describe the American Dream. Many people follow the idea that this interpretation of the dream is in synchronicity with happenings in the U.S.

However, it appears that the dream is not automatic. In Jose Vargas’ article, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant,” Vargas states that he believed that if he “achieved enough, I would be rewarded with citizenship.” Yet, despite his achievements, he still faces a risk of deportation. In a similar thread, Candido and his wife, America from the novel Tortilla Curtain have a similar discovery where Candido’s wife discovers that even “native” U.S. citizens are not treated with the same material equality as others considered higher on the social scale. A seemingly more accurate description of the dream is that developed from Robin M. Williams Jr. in his book from 1970, American Society: a Sociological Interpretation. In the novel, the core values are listed as “Equal Opportunity, Achievement and Success, Material Comfort … and Freedom.” This does not seem to be present in all levels of American society. Vargas met the requirement for Achievement and Success yet he was not given the rights of citizenship. This can be viewed as an hypocrisy considering that the majority of citizens are descendants of immigrants.

That leads to the issue of whether or not the American dream is subject to prejudice. In Abigail Adams’ “ Letter to John Adams” it is clear that despite the fact that women during the revolution were more than capable of managing independently in their husbands’ absences. Phyllis Wheatly, a Black female slave, used Christian principles to argue in her “Letter to Reverend Samuel Occum” that the actions of Christian slave owners was “Absurdity of their Conduct whose words and Actions are so diametrically opposite.” Despite the moral implications of Christians owning Christians, combined with the fact that many Africans both enslaved and free had been converted to Christianity, slavery still prevailed for nearly a century after the letters publication. In both situations prejudice and hypocrisy work their way into American dream, the closely related American values and in some areas, the American people.

The average United States citizen believes in the American dreams as a promise to all U.S. citizens. Yet, the inequality observed can’t be ignored. It appears that the American dream is used to imply that the individual is widely responsible for the economic or social situation they are in and that as long as the opportunity is given, the individual is often at fault and has the responsibility and ability to fix the situation. As long as there are examples of individuals who possess more material wealth than other, the general idea is that abundance is achievable by all regardless of any adversity faced by individuals. It seems as if the American dream is an excuse for the country and its inhabitants to not confront issues that may be impeding the growth and overall unity of the country and its citizens.

1776 Congress adopts the name The United States of America

1777 Congress adopts the stars and stripes flag

1781 The Revolutionary War ends

1787 Delegates from the 13 states meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to write a consitution

1788 The Consitution takes effect

1789 George Washington becomes the first President of the United States

1791 The Bill of Rights becomes law

1792 Washington is elected to a second term

1796 John Adams is elected the new president

1800 Washington. D.C, became the nation’s capital. Thomas Jefferson is elected the new president

1801 Jefferson send the U.S. Navy to fight Barbary pirates in North Africa

1803 The Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the United States

1808 James Madison is elected as the new president

1812 The War of 1812 begins

1814 British troops burn Washington, D.C. Dolly Madison saves important papers and a portrait of George Wasington

1815 The War of 1812 ends

1816 James Monroe is elected the new president

1820 The Missouri Compromise is adopted as law

1823 The Monroe Doctrine takes effect

1824 John Quincy Adams son of John Adams, is elected the new President.

Now lets turn the tables back a little and learn some on George Washington, our first president.

Born february 22, 1732, in Wesrmoreland County, Virginia. He had seven to eight years of formal schooling, leaving at the age of 15. He was a farmer and military commander. He’s vice president was John Adams. Married January 6, 1759 to Martha Dandridge Curtis. They had no children of their own, just Martha’s two from her other marriage. Washington was known as a commander in the War, the name stuck when he was moved to being a president. They started calling him Commander, and that’s how Commander and Chief came to be for presidents. Washington died December 14,1799, he went for a ride in the worst part of winter and got very sick. He died a week later, but not from sickness per say, back then they thought draning some of your blood would heal you, but in this case it made Washington weaker and he died.

Thomas Jefferson

He also had a love for nature, and like other presidents he spent his free time outdoors. It is believed that he played the violin or had a special interest for classical music.  

John Adams

He swam every morning naked. Back in the day, you didn’t have to worry about people following you around, but one day, a reporter, followed the president and forced him to give her an interview. She wouldn’t leave until he answered some of her questions. That reporter was Anne Royall. 

President Lincoln

He enjoyed baseball, but back in the day, people didn’t call this sport baseball– town ball was the name of the sport. It is also believed that Lincoln had a thing for the paranormal world. After losing his son, Lincoln contacted a medium and a séance was held several times at the white house. 

President Chester Arthur 

He was a fisherman before he became president, and he really enjoyed fishing because he never stopped fishing after he entered office. His love for fishing inspired the whole nation–fishing became a very popular sport in the U.S. 

Teddy Roosevelt

He was probably one of the most healthy and active presidents. He had too many hobbies. He enjoyed wrestling, boxing, tennis, and a number of outdoor activities: horse riding and shooting. 

William Taft 

He liked dancing and tennis. But his favorite hobby was golf and he played golf all the time. 

Among the most influential families in American history, the Adamses of Massachusetts produced two Presidents, international diplomats, and notable historian-writers. Adams National Historical Park preserves the grounds, homes, and personal property of four generations of the Adams family, who lived here from 1720 to 1927.

The park includes the two houses, just 75 feet apart, that were the birthplaces of John Adams, second U.S. President; and his son John Quincy Adams, sixth President. The nearby Old House, built in 1731, was home to John Adams and John Quincy Adams; Charles Francis Adams, minister to Great Britain during the Civil War; and Henry Adams and Brooks Adams, both literary historians. The Old House grounds include a historic orchard and a formal garden. The adjacent 1870s Stone Library, built at the request of John Quincy Adams, houses more than 12,000 volumes.

The buildings contain a great number of personal items, including furniture, fine art, and decorative art, all once belonging to various members of the Adams family. A prominent family member was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, a strong figure in her own right and one of the most intellectually capable and influential First Ladies of the United States.

These structures can be visited by guided tour (fee). Tours leave from the visitor center, with visitors riding a trolley to the Presidential Birthplaces and the Old House and Stone Library.

The Best Destinations All Year Round

A.  Barack Obama               B.  John F. Kennedy          C.  Franklin Pierce

2.  How many Presidents has the United States had (including Barack Obama)?

A.  40                                 B.  42                                C.  44

3.  Who was the first Vice President to assume the presidency?

A.  John Tyler                     B.  Lyndon B. Johnson       C.  Gerald Ford

4.  Who was President when the stock market crashed in 1929?

A.  William Harding           B.  Herbert Hoover            C.  Harry Truman

5.  What ranking was President Abraham Lincoln?

A.  13                                B.  15                                 C.  16

6.  Who is the only President who was with the Federalist Party?

A.  John Adams                 B.  George Washington     C.  James Madison

7.  How many Presidents have been killed while in office?  (Bonus if you can name them)

A.  5                                 B.  4                                  C.  3

8.  Who is the only President who was never elected as President or Vice President?

A.  Thomas Jefferson       B.  Gerald Ford                  C.  Chester Arthur

9.  How many Presidents have been elected under the Democratic Party? (including our current President)

A.  12                              B.  13                                 C.  15

10.  How many Presidents have been elected under the Republican party?

A.  18                              B.  16                                C.  17

11.  How many Presidents died in office due to natural causes?  (Bonus if you can name them)

A.  3                                B.  6                                  C.  4 

12.  Which President served the shortest amount of time in office?

A.  Zachary Taylor           B.  James Buchanan          C.  William Henry Harrison

13.  Which President served the longest amount of time in office?

A.  Franklin D. Roosevelt     B.  Theodore Roosevelt     C.  Ronald Reagan

14.  How many ex-Presidents are still alive (as of October 2011)?  (Bonus if you can name them)

A.  5                                  B.  4                                    C.  3

15.  Who was the only President to resign from office?

A.  Richard Nixon              B.  Bill Clinton                     C.  Franklin Pierce

Answers

1.  B.      2.  C      3.  A.     4.  B      5.  C      6.  A      7.  B (Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy)    8.  B      9.  C      10.  A      11.  C (William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, William Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt)     12.  C      13.  A      14.  B (Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush)            15.  A

Hope you enjoyed Monday’s Quiz!

John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth President of the United States (1825–1829). He was also an American diplomat and served in both the Senate and House of Representatives. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a diplomat, Adams was involved in many international negotiations, and as Secretary of State, he helped formulate the Monroe Doctrine. Historians agree he was one of the great diplomats in American history.

As president, he proposed a program of modernization and educational advancement, but Congress, controlled by his enemies, stymied him. Adams lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson. In doing so, he became the first President since his father to serve a single term. As president, he envisioned a plan for national greatness resting on economic growth and a strong federal government, but his presidency was not a success as he lacked political adroitness, popularity or a network of supporters, and ran afoul of politicians eager to undercut him.

Adams is best known as a diplomat who shaped America’s foreign policy in line with his conservative and ardently nationalist commitment to America’s republican values. More recently Howe (2007) portrayed Adams as the exemplar and moral leader in an era of modernization when new technologies and networks of infrastructure and communication brought to the people messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics, as well as moving goods, money and people ever more rapidly and efficiently.

As secretary of state and as president, Adams had tried to obtain Texas from Mexico. But in Congress he resisted to the last the movement for annexation of Texas. By that time the entry of Texas into the Union would have meant the creation of one or more new slave states. On the other hand, he championed the annexation of Oregon, where slavery did not exist. “I want the country for our Western pioneers,” he said.

Adams was a patron and supporter in Congress of scientific activities, especially in the fields of weights and measures, and astronomy. He led the movement for establishment of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. one of the nation’s foremost centers of learning.

“Old Man Eloquent,” as Adams was called, opposed the war with Mexico that followed the annexation of Texas in 1845. He considered it an unjust war. On February 21, 1848, while protesting the award of swords of honor to the American generals who had won the war, Adams collapsed on the floor to the House of Representatives. He died two days later in the Capitol.

During most of his early career as a diplomat, Adams was little known throughout the country. His term as president was unpopular. Always a reserved man, he seemed cold and aloof to the people. His career in the House Representatives made him a violently controversial figure. It was not until the final years of his life that Adams won esteem and almost affection, especially in the hearts and minds of the millions who hated slavery. Representatives of both political parties journeyed to Quincy, Massachusetts, for his funeral. In death, John Quincy Adams seemed at last to belong to the whole nation.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Independence Hall is located in

Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the letter. He was helped by John Adams. Thomas Jefferson spent a long time writing the letter. It was important that it looked nice. It was printed by a person who did that for a job. This person is called a printer. It had to look nice for the King. The letter went to the printer on July 4, 1776.

In the letter, they gave three reasons. The first reason they gave was that they believed all people were equal. The second reason they gave was that they believed everyone was given some rights by God. They then went on to list three of those rights. They chose to use the words life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It took until August 2, 1976, for all the men to sign the letter.

They knew that the letter would make the King angry. When he read the letter, he was very angry. This started the American Revolutionary War. It was then that America became a country. The war lasted until 1787.

After the war, a group of men traveled to Independence Hall. These men were from each of the states. No one came from Rhode Island. The men spent 4 months talking about what the new government should look like. The men finally agreed on a plan. Then James Madison wrote the United States Constitution. The last person did not sign the Constitution another year for everyone to sign the Constitution. Many of the men had returned home before they signed the Constitution. Just like today, not everyone could agree. Many people protested on the street. These protests were broke up by a horrible disease, yellow fever.

The building is now owned by the United States. People can visit the building, but they must have a free ticket. The building is open all day. The building is open every day. Kids visiting the building receive free trading cards. These cards tell more about the men. Kids can also see the rooms where these meetings were held.

John Quincy Adams had a major role in forming the Monroe Doctrine. Adams words in that famous document made it clear that the United States would not tolerate any new European colonization in the Americas. The doctrine properly bears President Monroe’s name. For it was Monroe who in 1823 first declared in principles to the world as American foreign policy.

The Election of 1824:

Adams was never a dynamic politician . But his accomplishments brought him before the people in the national election of 1824. There was no real party contest. The old political parties had disappeared during the so-called Era of Good Feeling of Monroe’s administration. It was a contest of leaders.

General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, received a majority of the popular vote. But no candidate received the necessary majority in the electoral college. Jackson had 99 electoral votes; Adams, 84; and Henry Clay of Kentucky, 37. Under the Constitution the election had to be decided by the House of Representatives. The voting there was by states and was limited to the first three candidates. On February 9, 1825, Adams was elected president by a bare majority of states.

John Adams, then 90 years old, was delighted at his son’s victory. But Abigail Adams did not live to see the presidency come to rest on her son’s shoulders. She had died in 1818.

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Image via Wikipedia

So the next time you think celebrities and the rich and famous have it made in the shade, just remember that diseases like Graves don’t discriminate based on wealth or fame. Take care of yourself, and know that Graves can be lived with – and those suffering from its effects deserve respect and care.