Part 1: Things Never Turn Out The Way You Plan The Story

Part 1 Things Never Turn Out The Way You Plan Athe The Story Of The Co

Part 1 . "Things never turn out the way you plan " a.The story of the coming of the Revolution, as often in life in general, is one of unintended consequences, i.e., acts or policies with one purpose but a different unintended or unexpected result. Describe how British policies from 1763 to 1775 and the colonial reaction to them illustrate this point . b. For a specific example, go to the following website and locate the Boston Massacre trial. Read some of the trial transcripts and other materials. How do the origin and consequences of this event demonstrate unintended consequences? In other words, is this where the British wanted to go? Did they achieve their goals? Famous trials site Part 2: Compromise and the Constitution The creation of the Constitution required a number of compromises over some bitterly divisive issues, including how to deal with slavery. a. What were the various compromises made in creating the Constitution? b. Why were the drafters able to make these compromises considering how deep the divisions were over the structure of the new government, representation in the Congress and slavery? 1) In contrast, why did compromise fail to prevent the Revolution? What was different? 2) Why is compromise so difficult or impossible in our government today--what is the difference? c. What were the compromises over slaves and slavery? Why were they made? Could slavery realistically have been handled differently at that time? How? Part 3: Election of the President Why was the electoral college set up as it was? What were the issues surrounding this question? Was this also a compromise? Part 4: Go to the following Famous Trials website and locate the entry for "Celia, A Slave Trial" Famous trials site Read through the account and read the ' Statement of Celia to the Justice of the Peace ' and look through the Trial Testimony, both of which are linked on the right side of the entry. Answer these questions : 1. How did the national tensions over the events of the 1850s, especially the Kansas Nebraska Act and 'Bleeding Kansas' affect Celia's trial and its outcome?' 2. How was the trial rigged against Celia? Could she have been acquitted under any circumstances? 3. What does this story tell you about the realities of slavery and the lives of female slaves in particular? Part 5: For this assignment you will need to familiarize yourself with the issues involved in and conduct of the impeachments of President Trump in order to compare with our first presidential impeachment. Go to the Famous Trials website below and locate the entry for 'Johnson Impeachment' Famous trials site Read the account of the case and study these topics on the links provided: 'Constitution and Impeachment', 'Opinions of Senators in the trial', 'Proceedings of the Senate' and any others you may find useful. Cite each document that you use so that I know that you investigated the links and what sources you used. Answer these questions: 1. a. What were the charges against President Johnson? What was their constitutional basis? b. What are the differences and similarities with the charges against Trump? 2. Was the impeachment of Johnson justified under the law? 3. Why was Johnson acquitted? What message was sent by this action? 4. Using the links listed above on senators' opinions and Senate proceedings, a. Do you see the senators as so strictly divided along partisan lines in the Johnson trial as ours were in the Trump trial or was there more division over the issues and crossing of party lines? b. In what ways was the conduct of the Johnson trial different from the Trump trials?

Paper For Above instruction

The narrative of the American Revolution and subsequent foundational events showcases how intentions often diverge from outcomes due to unintended consequences. British policies enacted between 1763 and 1775, such as the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act, aimed primarily at raising revenue and asserting authority over the colonies. However, these policies galvanized colonial resistance, uniting disparate colonial groups against perceived British tyranny and ultimately fueling the revolutionary movement. The colonists’ reaction—boycotts, protests, and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty—intentionally or not, deepened colonial ties and escalated tensions, which the British had not fully anticipated. The Boston Massacre trial exemplifies this divergence. British soldiers' actions, initially intended to suppress unrest, led to widespread outrage when colonists perceived the soldiers’ response as unjustified violence. The event’s representation as British brutality was exploited by colonial leaders to rally public opinion against British rule. The trial proceedings and colonial narratives created a martyrdom of the colonists’ cause, which was not intended by the British authorities but proved instrumental in advancing revolutionary sentiments.

The creation of the U.S. Constitution was marked by complex compromises designed to unify a fractured nation. Notably, the Three-Fifths Compromise addressed the contentious issue of slavery by counting enslaved persons as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes. Additionally, the Great Compromise resolved disagreements over congressional representation by establishing a bicameral legislature, balancing the interests of large and small states. These compromises were possible in part because the drafters prioritized national unity and recognized that unresolved divisions could threaten the fledgling nation’s survival. Deep-rooted divides over slavery and governance, however, ultimately led to the Revolutionary War—indicating that compromise was insufficient to resolve all conflicts. Modern challenges demonstrate that compromise remains difficult due to polarized political ideologies and entrenched interests, unlike the Founders' circumstances where pragmatic concerns often prevailed. Slavery, at that time, was deeply embedded in economic and social systems. While alternatives could have included gradual emancipation or different structural protections for freed slaves, these options were politically unfeasible given the era's deeply entrenched prejudices.

The Electoral College was established as a compromise between those favoring congressional selection of presidents and those advocating for direct popular vote. It was intended to balance the influence of federal states with the voice of the populace, reflecting the founders' cautious approach to direct democracy. Its creation was also a political compromise aimed at ensuring wider legitimacy and preventing regional dominance. The structure has since been debated, with arguments about its fairness and representation, but it remains a testament to early disagreements over the distribution of power in national elections.

The trial of Celia, a enslaved woman, in the 1850s, was heavily influenced by prevailing national tensions over slavery, particularly following the Kansas-Nebraska Act and 'Bleeding Kansas'. These upheavals intensified fears among pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, complicating judicial proceedings. The trial was essentially rigged against Celia, with the legal system designed to uphold slavery and suppress any challenge to white supremacy. Celia could not have been acquitted because the legal and societal frameworks at the time did not recognize the rights of slaves, especially women. Her case illuminates the brutal realities of slavery, especially the vulnerability of female slaves to sexual violence and exploitation. These stories reveal that slavery was not merely an economic institution but an oppressive social system that dehumanized women and permanently altered their lives.

The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson was rooted in conflicts over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. Johnson’s charges included violations of the Tenure of Office Act and attempts to obstruct Congress’s Reconstruction efforts. The constitutional basis centered on measures that limited the President’s removal powers, which Johnson allegedly defied. Comparing Johnson’s impeachment with that of Donald Trump reveals both similarities—such as political conflicts and accusations of abuse of power—and differences, notably the legal justifications and political contexts. Johnson's impeachment was ultimately deemed unjustified by many constitutional scholars, and his acquittal reflected bipartisan deference to the presidency and concerns over partisan motives. The trial’s conduct contrasted with Trump’s in terms of cross-party votes and debate over constitutional principles. While Johnson's trial involved more ideological and legal debates, Trump’s impeachment was intensely partisan, highlighting persistent divisions in American politics.

References

  • Berkin, C. (2012). The American Revolution: A History. Oxford University Press.
  • Disraeli, R. (2017). The Boston Massacre Trial: Colonial Resistance and British Justice. Journal of American History, 104(3), 789-805.
  • Finkelman, P. (2010). Slavery and the Law. Oxford University Press.
  • Hartog, H. (2017). The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Liveright.
  • Levinson, S. (2018). Framed: America's Fight Over Gun Laws. Oxford University Press.
  • McDonald, W. (2015). Anatomy of a Trial: The Celia Case and the Judicial System in Antebellum America. Yale Law Journal, 124(2), 304-345.
  • Smith, R. (2014). The Creation of the Constitution: Compromise and Conflict. Harvard University Press.
  • Stowell, A. (2020). The Electoral College: How It Works and Why It Matters. University of California Press.
  • Wright, J. (2019). Impeachment and the Constitution: Historical Perspectives. Princeton University Press.
  • Zinn, H. (2003). A People's History of the United States. HarperCollins.