One of the quickest and best ways to get a feel for the overall course of American political history is to read through the inaugural addresses of the presidents on the Bartleby "Great Books Online" site. Please select *one* of the inaugural addresses from the period we have been studying. Read through the address and cite here a line that seems to you particularly important. Try to find a line that might help you and others reading the blog prepare for one of the exam study questions, e.g., the question on the quality of the men elected to the presidency during this period. Garfield's address might be particularly useful since his time as president was so brief and there is little else to evaluate him on.Ulysses S. Grant: First Inaugural Address, Second Inaugural Address
Rutherford B. Hayes
James A. Garfield
Grover Cleveland: First Inaugural
Benjamin Harrison
"Loyalty to the principles upon which our Government rests positively demands that the equality before the law which it guarantees to every citizen should be justly and in good faith conceded in all parts of the land." (Cleveland, line 18)
ReplyDeleteI find this line is highly relevant in regard to the quality, character, and political courage of the presidents elected during this period.
-Kelly Mayo
"Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern States that it is my earnest desire to regard and promote their truest interest—the interests of the white and of the colored people both and equally—and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have not merely a united North or a united South, but a united country." (Rutherford B. Hayes, line 10)
ReplyDeleteThis quote seems required for that time period and even today, as we should always view our country as united as a whole; not North or South, Republicans or Democrats, white or black or brown or yellow, or any other term that divides us. My only criticism of the quote is that it wasn't addressed to the entire country but to the "countrymen of the Southern States." We need to find our common ground instead of always looking for what we cannot agree upon. Our differences make us stronger when we are united by what we can agree upon.
"It will be my endeavor to execute all laws in good faith, to collect all revenues assessed, and to have them properly accounted for and economically disbursed. I will to the best of my ability appoint to office those only who will carry out this design." (Grant, First Inaugeral Address, Line 10)
ReplyDeleteHere Grant is stating what he is going to do to help the economy. With this being a key part in a free society it is clear that he is trying to to help the citizens be more independent. He has also taken time to note that he will appoint those who share his vision to help with the task.
"He serves his party best who serves his country best." line 13
ReplyDeleteI think this quote is important because it reflects one of the major issues of the Reconstruction era: political division and corruption. Hayes was emphasizing that elected officials should put the needs of the nation ahead of party politics.
"The virtues of courage and patriotism have given recent proof of their continued presence and increasing power in the hearts and over the lives of our people. The influences of religion have been multiplied and strengthened." (Harrison, Inaugural Address, Line 7)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is powerful/meaningful because it focuses on the virtues of the U.S. even through the reconstruction period. Before this he addresses some new additions to the U.S. and adds this piece to show that these morals will stand in the face of hardships.
"The office has come to me unsought; I commence its duties untrammeled. I bring to it a conscious desire and determination to fill it to the best of my ability to the satisfaction of the people." (Ulysses S. Grant First Inaugural Address, line 5 & 6)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is important because it shows that Grant wanted to be a good president and serve the people, not just gain power for himself. When he says that the office came to him "unsought," he means that he did not chase after the presidency. This helps show that he was humble and felt responsible for doing what was best for the country. This quote can be used to show that Grant had good qualities as a leader, such as honesty, dedication, and a strong sense of duty.
While there should be no surrender of principle, our task must be undertaken wisely and without heedless vindictiveness. Our mission is not punishment, but the rectification of wrong. (Grover Cleveland First Inaugural Address, line 21 & 22)
ReplyDeleteThis quote really stood out to me because it is a great response to Reconstruction. Time and time again, we have seen evidence that shows that punishing the loser never works. For example, Germany after World War I was crippled, which only served as fuel for WWII. This quote says that while we aren't saying the loser was right, we are trying to help them become better, not punish them. This is a great standard for a Reconstruction-Era president to have.
"It is the high privilege and sacred duty of those now living to educate their successors and fit them, by intelligence and virtue, for the inheritance which awaits them."
ReplyDeleteI think this quote is important because it highlights Garfield's belief that education and civic responsibility are essential to preserving the nation. He argued that future generations must be prepared to participate in government and make informed decisions. This idea reflects the concerns of the late nineteenth century, when leaders were trying to strengthen democracy after the Civil War and during a period of rapid social change. The quote also suggests that Garfield valued intelligence, moral character, and public service, which can help us evaluate the qualities he brought to the presidency despite his short time in office.
This is McKenzie Fisher I dont Know Why it says Anonymous
Delete"We have not been obliged to fight for our existence against any alien race; and yet out life has called for the vigor and effort without which the manlier and hardier virtues wither away. Under such conditions it would be out own fault if we failed; and the success which we have had in the past, the success which we confidently believe the future will bring, should cause in no feeling of vainglory, but rather a deep and abiding realization of all which life has offered us" (Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Address, line 6-11).
ReplyDeleteI chose this passage because I think it stated what the main theme of America could be about. We are a country that does not abide by birth rights like the royals do or a specific ethnicity, and we as a country have worked hard to be where we are as a country. I also liked how it stated that if we as a country failed, it wouldn't be anyone else's fault but our own, and that big realization shows all of what we have achieved as a whole.
Grover Cleveland, Line 8
ReplyDelete"Its exposure to degradation should at once arouse to activity the most enlightened statesmanship, and the danger of depreciation in the purchasing power of the wages paid to toil should furnish the strongest incentive to prompt and conservative precaution." (Line 8)
I feel like these are the most important within Cleveland's speech namely due to the fact that this sounds incredibly forthcoming with his policies and what he wants to do. The exposure to degradation, for context, is the necessity of a soundness and lack of instability, that this exposure to should be one to serve as a sort of call to arms. As a nation, we should stand up for the well-being of the people and not sit idly by to injustices economically. The rich grew richer (the northern companies, later, wanting Cleveland in his first term to keep the harsh tariffs) and the poor grew poorer (the farmers and the southerners, wanting the tariffs to be relieved and lessen prices of tools the average citizen needed to survive).
Overall, I feel like even if someone were to take out any "ideological groundwork" to this statement (if that makes sense), the sentence would still hold its strength in setting forth a precedent to Cleveland's speech. It set up his stance, and any following statements followed shortly after.
"It is a question in which every citizen of the nation is deeply interested, and with respect to which we ought not to be, in a partisan sense, either Republicans or Democrats, but fellow-citizens and fellowmen, to whom the interests of a common country and a common humanity are dear" (Rutherford Hayes, line 6).
ReplyDeleteThis line shows the quality of man that Hayes was. He expresses that people need to come together as a nation, no matter their political party. This shows Hayes' character as a leader of the nation.
"In meeting these it is desirable that they should be approached calmly, without prejudice, hate, or sectional pride, remembering that the greatest good to the greatest number is the object to be attained."
ReplyDeleteUlysses S. Grant
Line 15
This line it is important because it shows that he cares about everything the country has dealt with, and it is something that previous administrations have never been through. It is important that he recognized the war that had just taken place.
“Social equality is not a subject to be legislated upon, nor shall I ask that anything be done to advance the social status of the colored man, except to give him a fair chance to develop what there is good in him, give him access to the schools, and when he travels let him feel assured that his conduct will regulate the treatment and fare he will receive.”(Grant, Second Inaugural Address, Line7-10)
ReplyDeleteIn a post civil war era where slavery was the hot topic this was a bold stance to acknowledge how unfairly colored people had been treated even after they were “free”. He recognizes that there is a need to further equality among all people. An equality that they had not yet received up until now. A strong focus on the thought that all men are created equal now we need to treat them as such.
"But we must not forget that we take these gifts upon the condition that justice and mercy shall hold the reins of power and that the upward avenues of hope shall be free to all the people" (Benjamin Harrison, Line 34).
ReplyDeleteThis shows Harrison's belief that America's success and wealth should be accompanied by fairness and equal rights for all. Equal opportunities for all citizens is very important for a country rather than just focusing on economic growth. This shows us what kind of man Harrison was because he was valuing the importance of national unity and ethical issues. This shows his care for the nation's people.