Just a simple blog, full of WONDERFUL things! :)
Posts tagged Constitution
Decisions, Decisions!
Jan 30th
When Thomas Jefferson was President of these United States, he decided that he wanted to buy New Orleans from France. He wanted to buy it without any war being made, so he sent Robert Livingston to France to try and buy it. Not only did France offer them New Orleans, but they also offered them the whole Louisiana Territory! France offered to sell it for fifteen million dollars! The United States was allowed to spend ten million dollars, but they still agreed because that was a great deal! There were a couple problems though. One of them was that Thomas Jefferson did not believe that the Constitution allowed him to buy it.
Jefferson was a strict constructionists. He thought that Congress should be allowed to exercise only a few implied powers so that the government would stay small. While buying the Louisiana Territory, he was going against his beliefs because by being a strict constructionist he did not believe that the government should be used to organize banks, build roads, and invest in other things that would be of use to the United States. There were opponents and supporters of the Louisiana Purchase. The supporters said that the fifteen million dollar price tag was a really good deal, and the Louisiana Territory would double the size of the United States. But some of the opponents worried that the purchase was unconstitutional, and did not know if it was proper to give citizenship to the foreigners.
Even though Thomas Jefferson does seem like a hypocrite for going against what he believes in; I still think he showed great leadership. I think leaders should do whatever they think is right, and not follow what others believe in, unless they also believe in it. Jefferson was staying true to himself by buying the Louisiana Territory. He did it, and he didn’t let anyone stop him just because he was a strict constructionist. I also think that to show leadership, you must also show bravery. It was very brave of him to buy it, knowing that people were going to judge him because he went against his original beliefs. I think that he didn’t properly interpret the Elastic Clause. The Elastic Clause is a statement in the Constitution that allows Congress to pass all laws that are necessary. Buying the Louisiana Territory was not necessary for the United States to do, but it still was a good decision because if it wasn’t purchased, then our whole country would be extremely different today!
This whole scenario reminds me of a time when I was shopping at the mall actually! France offered the United States the whole Louisiana Territory for just fifteen million dollars! That was a great deal! Well one time, I went to the mall specifically for just a little bit of makeup. I went to a makeup store called MAC, and the sales person offered me a lot of makeup for a really good price! Even though I didn’t need all that makeup, I got it anyways because the price of it was great! This relates to Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase because at first he only wanted to buy New Orleans, but once France offered him the whole territory for a good price, he took it! My connection can help me get a better understanding of Jefferson’s decision because in a way it’s like I was in his shoes with the decision of purchasing something. I know how he felt while buying it because even though my situation wasn’t as dramatic as his was; they are still almost the same!
Link to picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_chapman/4018415202/
Do what ever you want!
Dec 19th
If you were apart of the Untied States Goverment, would you want to make decisions morally, or only be able to make choices on what the Constitution says? This is called having a loose construction and a strict construction. I personally would rather have a loose construction because what if you were going through a situation in court, and you couldn’t figure out what to do because there was no rule made for it? You would obviously have to do what you believe in most! While making the Constitution, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton debated on whether to have a strict construction or s loose construction of the Constitution. Hamilton wanted a loose construction and Washington wanted it to be strict. In the end, the Constitution, called the “elastic clause”, was made in a loose construction. So if it weren’t for Alexander Hamilton going over the Constitution with George Washington, we all might be in a different situation right now! Think about it!
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Link to the photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtheowl/3992546509/
My Movie (Part 2)
Dec 10th
A few posts down I said that I had made a video about Article 1 Section 1 and 2 of the Constitution. Well guess what! I finally got it! 
So here it is…ENJOY!!!
We Come From Greece?!
Dec 10th
Have you ever looked at a goverment building in Washington, D.C, and said, “Huh, that building reminds me of Greece!” Well thats because most of the buildings in Washington D.C reflect the architecture style of Greece. One building that has the Greek, Roman revival style of architecture is the, Supreme Court of the United States. This buliding was created, because in the Constitution, it says that the judicial power of the United States, has to be held at one Supreme Court. In this building, they sometimes discuss rule making, and there is also a lot of jurisdiction held there. This building resembles some Greek buildings because the roof of it is in the shape of a triangle, as are many, many buildings are in Greece! This building is also white, like most Greek buildings are. If you look at a picture of Temple of Nike, then you will definitely be able to see the resemblance between these two buildings.<3-dom-<3
Link for the picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbell1975/2305293901/
Making a Movie:)
Nov 24th
This picture was taken by me on my trip to D.C
That was what our whole video was about, we made a “movie” sequence in it where we did little interviews. I am sorry that I can not show my video right now, but I will try and get it up here as soon I can!
What Can You Do?
Nov 9th
The United States Constitution
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What’s Your Constitution?
Nov 8th
The United State's Capitol Building, located in Washington, D.C
Canada- How is the Constitution in Canada different from the United States, considering there’s Territories and Provinces.
Australia- Do you too have 10 Amendments, or anything like it?
New Zealand- How is your style of voting different from the United State’s style?
For ANY country…
How does your Congress work? The people in Congress for the United States are seperated into two groups, the Senates and the House of Represenatives.
What kind of main power do you have in your country? For example, in the United States, we currently have President Obama.
Please feel free to answer any of these questions. Thanks!
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Your State.
Nov 2nd
Did you know that the Legislature of your state chooses when everybody can vote, where it will take place, and how it will take place? Well I didn’t know this, but after reading a little about Article 1 Section 4 in the Constitution, it captured my attention. For all these years i thought all of the States managed their elections the exact same way! This makes me wonder…if I ever become the Legislature of my state, then I can make those rules myself! However; Congress can also make changes to your decisions if they don’t think they are appropiate.
-Dom<3
Intruders in my Household.
Sep 18th
You have no evidence at all. You know nothing about me, and what I have done throughout my life. You have no idea if any of the things I’ve done, are “bad.” So who would give you the right to come in and search my house, search me, and search the papers and work that I have done? I have the answer for that-no one. The fourth amendment in the Bill of Rights says, 
“Nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things, unless they can prove to a judge that they have a good reason to think you have committed a crime.” I definitely think that this is the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights. Unless that person has committed a crime, you have no right to go through someones things. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never committed a crime. So I think that it would be really disrespectful for a person to go through your personal items, your house, and your body! Don’t you think? So for that reason, I think that the fourth amendment is the most important. I also think that the first amendment is very important, but that’s just a whole different story! If you want to know what all ten amendments are, then check out this link…http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/billofrights.htm
-Dom<3
Comments! :)