Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HIS 151
6/25/17
Module 14
Whether we like to admit it or not, we are all shaped from past situations. Generation
after generation our kinfolk have used trial and error to ensure that their offspring have better
chances and opportunities to become more successful than them. This same idea is often used
throughout the world by the masses to bring forth a better tomorrow. The world is constantly
changing because people are looking to the past to see what went wrong, and why, to avoid the
same mistake and to bring liberty and equality in greater quantities. As a historian of early
America, I can now assert myself and make contributions to society. Learning from our ancestors
I can better understand why the world around me is the way that it is, while also taking steps to
try and make sure that it continues to evolve into a better place for everyone.
I picked the topic of law and ethics because I believe these two subjects have had the
biggest influence on past individuals. This reigns especially true for the figures that contributed
to the foundation of our nation. They literally had nothing in place to call their own prior to
declaring independence and looked to the past and how they had been treated by the British to
make new laws. Because I now know that some of their decisions only benefitted a select group I
The French Revolution brought with it many ethical issues to The United States and
George Washington. Although France had been an ally during the American Revolution and
greatly helped us achieve a victory against Great Britain, George Washington was reluctant to
stand beside them in their own revolutionary time. Although many people were against his
Bretz 2
decision, I believe it would have been incredibly hypocritical to support a country that didnt
want the same democracy he just spent years putting in place. It would have been a slap in the
face to his brothers in arms that paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for independence from
Britain. He wisely choose what he was going to do thinking about it from various angles using
his own experiences. Consequently, the lessons of history, though supremely valuable when
wisely formulated, become grossly misleading when oversimplifiers try to transfer them
mechanically from one age to another, or from one place to another (McNeill).
The Louisiana Purchase may have been one of the greatest accelerators in terms of
expansion for our country but ethically it was handled poorly. Jefferson thought about the benefit
of his citizens and his citizens alone. I feel he did a poor job of using past events to help
influence his decision when the time came. There had been turmoil between Americans and
Native Indians since the discovery of the new world and he pushed even further. In essence,
history teaches us to move forward, recognize our mistakes and learn from them, and ultimately
create a better existence for all (Postma). This quote explains exactly the opposite of what he
did. Learning from the past he could have tried to negotiate with the natives instead pushing
We look to the past to understand the present, and so did they, we construct appeals
regarding how things should be based on how they have been (Hodges). Its pretty obvious that
Gabriel (Prosser) had this same understanding when he decided to rebel. He may have used
examples from the past when he decided to create a better life for African American slaves.
Using previous examples it may seem hard to understand why his rebellion only made matters
worse but I think he may have put too much emphasis on the past and not the present. Thomas
Bretz 3
Jefferson was all about living off the land so he should have known then that slave conditions
Now that I am an amateur historian trying to make this world better when I leave it Im
not sure where to begin. Its almost as though the important issues similar to the examples Ive
chosen are at a stalemate when it comes to change. You can look at Syria now and its very
similar to the French Revolution in regard to why its happening. An evil government against
equally evil rebels with two of the worlds super powers choosing sides.
The birth of our beautiful nation means nothing to the natives still living in it. We forced
them from their land and gave them certain incentives and benefits to try and make up for it.
However the government just recently showed they again havent learned much because of the
Standing Rock protest. Once again fueled by greed and selfishness the decision makers only
My last example is the police shootings. Think all the way back to Gabriel and all the
civil rights activists that have come afterwards. The treatment of African Americans by people in
authoritative roles still is not humane and we do something to fix it. This is an issue when we as
a group need to take over a find a solution to why its happening. Is it police training, is
misguiding cell phone footage, is it the attitude towards police in urban neighborhoods?
Because of these issues that seems to be a constant in American life your question for me
is harder to answer than I anticipated. What can I do to better society? Sadly, nothing. Nothing
accept make sure that Im as good as I can be as an individual. I can also soak in everything that
goes on around me and teach my children. I may be too far along but our youth are our future. So
Bretz 4
if I could pick one thing it would be to let people know that. My goal is to teach the children and