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fandomhigh2006-02-13 02:24 pm
professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-02-13 02:24 pm
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US History (Monday, February 13, 7th period)
"It's only taken us six weeks," Josh said, "but we're finally ready to talk about the first two Presidents of the United States." He made a face. "As God is my witness, we will get past the Civil War in this class. I don't care if it means we skip most of the 1800s to do it."
He looked down at his notes. "George Washington. Father of this country. Chopped down a cherry tree, couldn't tell a lie, blah, blah, blah. He was so much more interesting than the crap we've memorized about him. He was creating the position of the president based on an article in the Constitution and what he personally felt would be a good idea." He looked up. "Do you know how screwed we could've been if he hadn't been the kind of man he turned out to be? He could've set himself up as a president for life. A lot of people wanted him to. The Constitution only laid out how long the term of office ran--not how many times you could get reelected. Washington stepped down after two terms, which put us so far ahead of the game in 'how democracy works' I can't even express it. Half the world still hasn't figured this part of it out."
He looked around. "Ahem. Anyway. Washington also established the first Cabinet to advise him: Hamilton for Treasury, Jefferson for the State Department, Knox for War: some huge heavy hitters. In Henry Knox's case he was also a big fat guy, but that doesn't really matter. They were there to offer opinions to Washington, and in the case of Hamilton and Jefferson, get into huge fights about the nature of democracy and the direction they should take the country in.
"And thus began the political parties. Hamilton believed in a strong central government run by the prosperous, well-educated elite. He wasn't a big fan of the people: he said they tended to follow, sheep-like, behind any leader." Josh raised an eyebrow. "Which might be true, but it's not exactly something we want to talk about. Jefferson believed in individual self-governance with the government as far away as possible. Hamilton's party was called the Federalists. Jefferson's was the Democratic-Republicans, shortened to the Republicans." Josh grinned. "Just to make life difficult for you, the Democratic-Republicans were the beginning of the modern Democratic party."
He looked down at his notes. "Washington stepped down after two terms and warned everyone about the evil of political parties. Which was completely ignored, of course." He shrugged. "Sorry, but it was. People believe different things. No one agrees with another person on everything all the time. And if you do? That's the sign of powerful narcotics, not a functioning democracy."
He shuffled his papers. "So. John Adams became the second President of the United States and the first one to live in the White House in the new capital city: Washington DC." He pointed out the window. "Which is over there. And John Adams? Might've been a great man. He did amazing work on the Declaration of Independence. But as a President? Pretty much a disaster."
He smiled. "See? I teach differently. I'm not going to pretend all Presidents were created equal when they clearly weren't. Let me show you example number one: the Alien and Sedition Acts. The three Alien Acts, inspired in no small part by the French Catholic refugees heading for the US because of their own revolution, made it close to impossible for aliens--foreigners, not some of you people from other planets--to become citizens. Another one said that the president could throw anyone he wanted out of the country for no reason at al--which Adams never used but it doesn't make it less of an abuse. And the Sedition Act made it a crime to criticize the government."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "If this were to happen now--you know, in a way that's not couched as terrorism prevention--the Supreme Court would smack it down so fast it would make your head spin around. Unfortunately at this point, the Supreme Court pretty much had no idea what it was supposed to do. So the state legislatures took it upon themselves to declare the Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional in their own states. Allowing states to veto federal laws like this would come back to bite us in the ass during the debate leading up to the Civil War," he said, "so keep the Kentucky and the Virginia Resolutions in mind."
He put his notes down. "That's all I've got for you today. Any questions?"
He looked down at his notes. "George Washington. Father of this country. Chopped down a cherry tree, couldn't tell a lie, blah, blah, blah. He was so much more interesting than the crap we've memorized about him. He was creating the position of the president based on an article in the Constitution and what he personally felt would be a good idea." He looked up. "Do you know how screwed we could've been if he hadn't been the kind of man he turned out to be? He could've set himself up as a president for life. A lot of people wanted him to. The Constitution only laid out how long the term of office ran--not how many times you could get reelected. Washington stepped down after two terms, which put us so far ahead of the game in 'how democracy works' I can't even express it. Half the world still hasn't figured this part of it out."
He looked around. "Ahem. Anyway. Washington also established the first Cabinet to advise him: Hamilton for Treasury, Jefferson for the State Department, Knox for War: some huge heavy hitters. In Henry Knox's case he was also a big fat guy, but that doesn't really matter. They were there to offer opinions to Washington, and in the case of Hamilton and Jefferson, get into huge fights about the nature of democracy and the direction they should take the country in.
"And thus began the political parties. Hamilton believed in a strong central government run by the prosperous, well-educated elite. He wasn't a big fan of the people: he said they tended to follow, sheep-like, behind any leader." Josh raised an eyebrow. "Which might be true, but it's not exactly something we want to talk about. Jefferson believed in individual self-governance with the government as far away as possible. Hamilton's party was called the Federalists. Jefferson's was the Democratic-Republicans, shortened to the Republicans." Josh grinned. "Just to make life difficult for you, the Democratic-Republicans were the beginning of the modern Democratic party."
He looked down at his notes. "Washington stepped down after two terms and warned everyone about the evil of political parties. Which was completely ignored, of course." He shrugged. "Sorry, but it was. People believe different things. No one agrees with another person on everything all the time. And if you do? That's the sign of powerful narcotics, not a functioning democracy."
He shuffled his papers. "So. John Adams became the second President of the United States and the first one to live in the White House in the new capital city: Washington DC." He pointed out the window. "Which is over there. And John Adams? Might've been a great man. He did amazing work on the Declaration of Independence. But as a President? Pretty much a disaster."
He smiled. "See? I teach differently. I'm not going to pretend all Presidents were created equal when they clearly weren't. Let me show you example number one: the Alien and Sedition Acts. The three Alien Acts, inspired in no small part by the French Catholic refugees heading for the US because of their own revolution, made it close to impossible for aliens--foreigners, not some of you people from other planets--to become citizens. Another one said that the president could throw anyone he wanted out of the country for no reason at al--which Adams never used but it doesn't make it less of an abuse. And the Sedition Act made it a crime to criticize the government."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "If this were to happen now--you know, in a way that's not couched as terrorism prevention--the Supreme Court would smack it down so fast it would make your head spin around. Unfortunately at this point, the Supreme Court pretty much had no idea what it was supposed to do. So the state legislatures took it upon themselves to declare the Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional in their own states. Allowing states to veto federal laws like this would come back to bite us in the ass during the debate leading up to the Civil War," he said, "so keep the Kentucky and the Virginia Resolutions in mind."
He put his notes down. "That's all I've got for you today. Any questions?"
Sign in (February 13)
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During the lecture
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He paused.
"Okay, I am. Why was the first alien you encountered not wearing pants?"
Re: During the lecture
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After he regains his composure he looks back up. "No, man, totally naked. Which, somehow, is less disturbing than the mental image I just got."
Re: During the lecture
He walked back to his desk muttering something about "not enough coffee in the world."
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Look, still only have two legs! Still want to go shopping?
Re: During the lecture
That's good to know! And sure, if you still want to.
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Veronica passes Piper the note with a frown.
Re: During the lecture
OMG, we are!
Re: During the lecture
Re: During the lecture
Questions?
After class
OOC