Posts Tagged ‘Jefferson’

Nov

Mr. Adams Goes to Washington

Posted by: Trish in American History, American War of Independence, Colonial History, Cultural History, History Blog, Personalities in History, World History

John Adams: 2nd President of the United States of America November 17, 1800 the United States Congress and then president John Adams move the United States government from the comfort of Philadelphia to the hardly finished and rather rough quarters in Washington D.C. Adams would become the first American president to live in the White House.

John Adams was the vice president under the country’s founding father, George Washington. He became the country’s second president in 1796 when Washington declined a second term. Adams served from 1797 to 1801. Born in October of 1735, Adams early life was blessed in comparison to many Americans.

Graduating from Harvard at age 20, Adams was destined for life as a lawyer but he was better with a pen than any legal text. He enjoyed writing about current events and observing the world around him. He was a serious student of the world. Many described him as Washington’s perfect foil and a contrast to the first president’s outgoing personality.

Adam’s political life began before the American Revolution when he provided legal defense to British soldiers after the Boston Massacre. He was the leader of the Whig party and elected into the Massachusetts house in 1774 when he became a member of the famed Continental Congress. Adams believed in a democratic nation governed by the laws of its citizens.

Congress Voting Independence, a depiction of the Second Continental Congress voting on the United States Declaration of Independence Adams’ love of country and ardent desire to separate from Great Britain made him the ideal candidate to join Jefferson and Franklin on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Finally Adams’ skill as a writer would find a use. A great use in fact.

He would also be involved in creating the Massachusetts constitution in 1780.

Adams did run for the job as America’s first president but was beaten squarely by Washington. The rules of the election back then dictated he would become the first vice president instead. He must have done a good job to be voted president during the next election.

Adams’ presidency was not a happy one. The party suffered from internal problems and Adams was not treated as a president should be by his own constituents. He left office disappointed with the way things had gone and did not try for a second term.

Interestingly, Adams passed away 50 years after the signing of the declaration in July 4, 1826. He believed that at least Thomas Jefferson survived from the original founders of American independence. He did not know that Jefferson had died a few hours before himself. Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”

Adams’ is a mixed legacy, one full of famous firsts and the legacy of freedom marred with the internal division of his party.

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Tags: 1735, 1774, 1780, 1796, 1797, 1800, 1801, 1826, Adams, American Independence, American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, Boston Massacre, Constiution, Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, Franklin, George Washington, History DVDs, History Store, Jefferson, John Adams, July 4th, November 17th, replica guns, Replica Swords, scale model kits, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, Whig Party

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Apr

The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Heading West of the Mississippi

Posted by: Trish in American History, Colonial History, European History, Historical Events, Personalities in History, The Napoleonic Era

The Lewis and Clark Expedition With the conclusion of the Louisiana Purchase in late 1803, President Jefferson had the land that would push the United States from coast to coast. A route to the Pacific Ocean was the main geographical priority of the era. But with 828,000 miles included in the purchase, discovering the route would take determination, ambition and most of all, perseverance.

Perhaps in the spirit of the lands former owner, Napoleon, Jefferson decided an army of adventurers was necessary for the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase territory. Approval from Congress was given for $2,500 to fund a group of men called the Corps of Discovery. The Corps was to travel from coast to coast, east to west creating the official geography for the area. The Corps needed a leader and Jefferson had someone in mind.

Secretary to the president, Meriwether Lewis was assigned the task of mapping the route to the Pacific as well as collecting valuable data about the area he would travel through, the former Louisiana Purchase region. His companion and equal on the journey was William Clark, an army buddy and friend chosen by Lewis for his strength, courage and past guidance. His map making abilities and army survival techniques would also come in handy. The pair began an expedition that has provided lovers of the past with many a story, adventure and lesson.

Map of The Louisiana Purchase In early spring of 1804, after receiving congressional approval in February, the corps of Discovery (which consisted of about 45 men) set out on the trail with the main objective of discovering a river route from coast to coast. This waterway could aid in the transportation of commercial goods, encourage further exploration and migration and expand the reaches of American influence.

The journey began in Wood River, Illinois in May of 1804, traveled through the Midwest into the Rockies and the lands of Missouri, the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. They ended up in Chinook, Washington along the Pacific coast in November of 1805.They travel home in 1806. It took a total of two and half years for the Corps, its leaders and guide to find a clear route to the Ocean but they did, despite numerous hardships, lack of supplies and treacherous weather conditions.

Along the journey, the Corps encountered various Native American tribes, fur trappers and early settlers including the Shoshone wife of a French trader. The story of Sacagawea stems from this meeting and is one of the most well known components of Lewis and Clark’s journey. Sacagawea, along with her two month old son, acted as guide for the explorers through the lands of her people giving advice on obstacles ahead as well as what prairie plants and desert animals were safe to eat. Even after Sacagawea’s knowledge became regional, she chose to stay with the explorers.

They traveled about 15 miles a day, marking their paths on hand drawn maps, sketching the scenery and wildlife and sending specimens and news back to Washington throughout. They entered areas hitherto unknown to western Europeans and were surprised at the diversity of species and landscapes they encountered. Bears were just one of the animals the group would discover in the wild lands. When they returned home after their two plus year journey, the men, their helpers and the stories of their travels immediately became legend.

Before the travels of Lewis and Clark, no American knew of the beauty of the Rocky Mountains or the diverse culture of the country’s original tribes. The price tag of 15 million dollars seems cheap in comparison to the wealth of information, people and natural beauty offered by the American west. Lewis and Clark and the tales of their encounters and discoveries will decorate the pages of American history books forever as testament to curiosity, ingenuity and American style adventures.

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