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Read all 4 DB and response per DB 150-200 words each reply
Instructions-
- Be aware that the replies portion of your Discussion Board Forum is worth more than your thread. Review your grading rubric for more details.
- Replies must be considered as “Letters to the Editor,” assuming you are the reader of this newspaper and want to respond to what you have read.
- Substantive replies of 150–250 words are required. Comments such as “You have a good point,” “I like what you said,” or “I agree (or disagree) with you” are not adequate replies. Letters to the Editor must show some analytical thought and encourage more dialogue. Ask questions, give a different point of view, bring up another aspect of the topic your classmates did not cover, and so on.
- RE: Topic 1: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson – Heretical Teacher or Guardian of Religious Liberty?
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Editorial Article: March 22, 1637
Location: Boston Massachusetts
Anne Hutchinson a courageous Boston woman who recently began holding assemblies after church to discuss the Bible has been placed on trial. It has been said that by her doing this, it is a direct assault on the churches. Spiritually, Hutchinson believes that the Puritans emphasized on good deeds too often, as appose to emphasizing on grace. Because of this, Anne Hutchinson was brought before the general court. She has found herself in a position where she is now the first female defendant in a Massachusetts court. Anne has also come to a realization that her accusers are as well her judges.
Anne held prayer meetings joined by both men and women and has also said that even children should disobey their parents when they are immoral. In response to Anne, Governor John Winthrop has said “We do not mean to discourse with those of your sex.” Hutchinson has professed that the local clergy did not have inspiration from God, and has as well wanted to know what laws she has broken. The courts have disclosed to Anne that she has broken the fifth commandment because she was directly disobeying the church and state, and consequently her own parents.
The authorities have made it clear to her that they were disturbed by her criticism of the colony’s ministers and her proclamation that an individual could know God’s will directly. Anne was put on trial for heresy, and she, by no surprise defended herself in the most brilliant way. However, she claims to have had a revelation from God which sealed her fate. Immediately after the trial, Hutchinson was permanently removed from the colony.
The price that Anne Hutchinson had to pay for being an honorable Christian, was being placed on trial for dispersal of the Word of God. The fact that Anne Hutchinson had the courage and strength to stand firm for religious liberty meant that she was brave. We all in every way should have the right to exercise and express our thoughts and beliefs in a way that is forthcoming, respectful, and loving to those around us and not be condemned for spreading the gospel, or for proclaiming what God has done for us. Psalm 25:5 says lead me in Your truth and teach me,For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Foner, E, and John A, G. 1991. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Accessed December 11, 2017. http://www.history.com/topics/anne-hutchinson
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- RE: Topic 3: The Stamp Act – Justified or Too Much to Ask?
The Connecticut Courant.
Monday August 19, 1765 (No. 1)
Hartford, August 19, 1765
In a bold move on March 22, 1765, the British parliament along with the consent of His Majesty King George III; has determined to charge the subjects of all American colonies a stamp tax to offset the cost of posting English troops here. Ships are presently in route from Britain to the American colonies loaded with the required stamps, documents, publications, legal papers, and even playing cards. In just a few months from now, the British ministry will begin imposing this Stamp Act on November 1, 1765. From that day forward, colonists will be required to purchase and use the approved paper for every business interaction, publication, and legal document. Furthermore, the British government is proposing to punish any violations of the Stamp Act using un-fair trials where the accused will not have access to a jury. While we as British citizens living in the American colonies do not specifically oppose taxes to help pay for the British troops protection; we do vehemently oppose any such tax which is implemented without our colonial representatives approving them as such. Who among us had a legislative representative give written approval, or was present in the British parliament meeting to authorize the use of such an extraordinary measure? As colonists we are still British citizens, and as such we require that we are afforded the same rights as our brothers and sisters in our home country.
Presently Patrick Henry is gathering supporters and he is meeting with the Virginia House of Burgesses to discuss what measures should be taken to protect the rights of the people of the American colonies. He strongly believes that “since Colonists brought English liberties with them, and the Colonial charters recognize these specific liberties, then only Virginia can tax Virginians, and they can ignore all other taxes”.[1] Also, just last week on August 14th in Massachusetts Samuel Adams and his followers known as the Sons of Liberty, in an act of protest; raised an effigy of Andrew Oliver the local Stamp Master and proceeded to vandalize his home.[2] While we cannot allow the destruction of personal property to continue, we must act to resist this mandate. If we do nothing, then the British parliament will continue to erode the personal rights of all Colonists. I propose that each colony should send delegates to reason out what rights as British citizens should be preserved here in the colonies. In the meantime, I suggest non-violent protests should take place to boycott British goods, and services until the Stamp Act can be reversed.
References
Patrick Henry and the Stamp Act Resolves. Performed by Shelly Bailess. United States. Transcript. Accessed December 4, 2017. https://download.liberty.edu/courses/d1kta.mp4.
- RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible Tragedy?
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Editorial Published April 5, 1770
The horrible massacre, that occurred on King Street on March 12 has now taken the life of innocent bystanders, merchants and even a youth; while leaving several others wounded. Party men led by Captain Preston, charged 30 to 40 residents that were gathered on King Street and began to push them with their bayonets. When the men in the crowd began to defend themselves with snowballs, Captain Preston commanded his troops to fire at will killing and severely wounding others. In total during this brutal attack and massacre of innocent people, it is told that as many as 12 guns were used. At the end of the Indian War, a union existed between the British and the colonies, which resulting in the appointment of a Board of Commissioners. This board was implemented to create community and commerce. The very same board instructed the “Commissioners to be resident in some convenient part of his Majesty’s dominions in America.” [1] This was largely supposed to be a favor for Boston and the residents. However, “the residence of the Commissioners here has been detrimental, not only to the commerce, but to the political interests of the town and province; and not only so, but we can trace from it the causes of the late horrid massacre.” [2]
Once the Commissioners arrived, rather than building community with the residents and establishing commerce throughout town, they began to involved themselves in political schemes, and most importantly, they began to invade in essential rights of the residents by manipulating votes. Captain Folgier was dismissed of his duties over a vote that opposed the views and desired outcome of the Commissioners. It is a result of these acts, that are politically motivated by the Commissioners, that the town and its residents have encountered violations of freedom. The residents have experienced neglect, embarrassments and even great levels of frustration and aggravation towards their surrounding way of life. It is only because of these politically motivated issues and events that unfortunately the town was motivated and left with no other choice than to begin to plan disturbances and protests that would ordinarily never occur. These events were the cause for the town to voice their displeasure and even resentment towards the Board of Commissioners. It is a reminder of what the Holy Scripture states in Deuteronomy 10:17, “for the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.” (NASB)
However, this act alone does not condone the behavior and response from the Commissioners and the military. Soon after, soldiers were seen firing their muskets in public streets which easily endangered the lives of many peaceful residents. Indeed, the soldiers were clearly not sent into town to preserve peace, but to exhort force instead. Anonymous eyewitnesses to this horrifying massacre claimed that Captain Preston’s men were not under any danger, and in fact, the snow balls being thrown at them would have been the only method of provocation against the soldiers. Captain Preston gave the order to shoot at will and as a result of his careless and inhumane behavior eleven men were killed and wounded. Captain Preston’s disdain towards the town residents was clearly visible and his ruthless leadership caused for innocent lives to be taken. This was absolutely a horrible massacre that should have been prevented.
References:
American History “Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770.” From Revolution to Reconstruction 2012. Accessed December 12, 2017. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/anonymous-account-of-the-boston-massacre-march-5-1770.php
- RE: Topic 5: The Boston Tea Party – Destruction of Private Property or Justified Act of Defiance?
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Assignment/Stance: The Boston Tea Party was a Justified Act of Defiance
The Boston Harbor Newspaper
Editorial published on December 18, 1773
The Tea Act, passed by Parliament a few months ago on May 10, 1773, permitted the British East India Company Tea control over the majority of the tea sales in the American colonies. The Tea Act made it so we colonists could only purchase British tea. This outrageous act gave the British East India Company Tea far too much control and a monopoly on our precious tea, which they were taxing for. The ships carrying tea into the Boston Harbor were demanded by colonists to return to Britain, but they still entered the Harbor anyway.
These atrocious acts are what led the Sons of Liberty to take things into their own hands and to make their move to do what is right. Last night, on December 17, 1773, an organized group of people wanting to undermine British rule in our colonial America called the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians. They split into three different groups and each led by a different leader, boarded three specific ships in our Boston Harbor that contained tea. The boarded the Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver, which were not British ships, but American ships that were carrying tea owned by the British East India Company Tea from London, England to the Boston Harbor. On board, the Sons of Liberty opened boxes and effectively destroyed over ninety-two thousand pounds of tea by dumping it into the Boston Harbor. If you go out to the Harbor now, you can see tea floating on the surface of the water. There are small rowboats out on the water now beating the tea with oars to sink what is left.
The Sons of Liberty represent all of us who are tired of the British rule over us. “Bostonians did what was necessary” to ensure that the tea did not reach land.1 They even did it civilly as they politely asked captains to surrender the keys to where the tea was stored and they did not damage the ships in any way. After dumping only the tea, they went peacefully home. Their work was a justified act of defiance in which they successfully got their point across that they did not like the tax. Who knows what will happen next? Whatever comes our way, we will stand together and fight until we abolish the British rule over our land. As the Holy Bible says that “two are better than one,” let us all urge each colony to join in this fight together.2
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