The question, how can such an emerged individual, such as the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, continue the use of slaves; presents the rebuttal of Jefferson’s support of liberty as well as his ownership of slaves. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of presentism is, “an attitude toward the past dominated by present-day attitudes and experiences”. With this manner, one tends to make sense of the past events in terms of modern day values and perceptions. In Douglas L. Wilson’s, “Jefferson and the Character Issue”, and Paul Finkelman’s, “Jefferson and Slavery: Treason Against the Hopes of the World”, the problem of presentism is compared and nonetheless, both authors address the issue of presentism without prevarication. While some scholars struggle to avert the views of presentism, there are also many who do not. Many believe that it is important not to display any traits of hypocrisy, however, one may feel that the era is far a greater rule to take into account. Both make valuable and compelling arguments, but for very different reasons. Wilson openly addresses the issue of presentism by firstly explaining the meaning of presentism itself and secondly clarifying how it applies to the ethical behavior of Thomas Jefferson. Wilson states the following when questioning why Jefferson did not free his very own slaves; “The question carries a silent assumption [because]…presentism involves us in mistaken assumptions about historical…
of the culture Europe brought over mainly appeared across the Eastern seaboard (and some parts of the West) where the New World was gaining momentum. The beauty of architecture is every country has their own personal style. What separates America is the diversity that has inspired architecture up to this point. Numerous stylings such as Georgian, British colonial and Spanish colonial that originated in parts of Europe have carried over to America permanently to provide a sense of culture that…
Landmark” and “masterpiece” of “Spanish Renaissance architecture” in the 19th century, and boasts many similarities…
This work of art by American craftsman and woodworker Crawford Riddell from the Gothic revival period is one of the greatest expressions of the Gothic revival style in American furniture in my opinion. It stands not only as a work of rich craftsmanship but as a strong symbol of the political and social objectives of the era. The bedstead is the most striking and highly carved piece in the suite, and it is truly fit for a president! The bed is more than 13 feet tall, with elaborate peaks, a huge…
were many rooms including a separate living room and dining room. By this time they had glass windows, multiple fireplaces, and plenty of furniture. Lots of their houses were built in a style that reflected the architecture of the owner's homeland. There were german, dutch, Spanish, and English colonial styles built in many different regions. The log cabins were a rectangular shape. The cabins are around sixteen feet long and about fourteen feet wide. They used round logs with the bark left on…
also have an important meaning. John Smith, the earliest colonial leader of Jamestown, New Jersey, described the first Christian church built in the colony as "a homely thing like a barn set on crachetts, covered with rafts, sedge and earth" (“Jamestown Churches”). The picture of this structure in the imagination seems like an ordinary house made of logs and a thatch roof; it was not a sophisticated design as a church. Of course, as many of historical records show, the earliest colonial period…
Commentary Campus Richie Riches Need Archies March 01, 2002|BOB SHIREMAN | Bob Shireman, program director for higher education at the James Irvine Foundation, served as an education aide to President Clinton. Web site: www.irvine.org. Email Share Perhaps you have seen USC's advertisements playfully objecting to the "University of Spoiled Children" moniker that some had given the institution in years past. The ad made me wonder: If the spoiled children aren't at USC, where are they? They must be…
"Give me liberty, or give me death", the famous concluding words of Patrick Henry 's proposal to collect a militia for Virginia 's defense on March 23, 1775, to the Second Virginia Convention held at Richmond, has rung through the ears of the American people for centuries. As a strong supporter of the freedom attained by the colonial people of the Revolutionary City of Williamsburg, Virginia, Henry was one amongst many our nation 's forefathers to spark the efforts to commence a new nation based…
and capability. In order to be a successful man one must be both skillful and lucky (with luck being subservient to the virtuous man). In 1775 New York City, the atmosphere was a dangerous one. Two factions warred an internal war while the overarching threat of a British invasion sent shivers down every citizen’s spine. The decision that needed to be made was reconciliation or independence, and everyone had an agenda. Every potential politician or rebel needed a wealth of virtù and fortuna.…
In depicting architecture, the portrayal of or absence of people is always important as the function of architecture always involves people. Outside of the Egyptian and Greek temples, there are many people, with some wearing white. These people seem to be practicing their religions, as evidenced by the fires and the lining up of people. Another example of human activity are the boats in the river, which is a reference to another one of Cole's works, The Course of Empire: Consummation,…