Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was mainly a religious “awakening” to an awareness of the welfare of souls. More importantly, it was an awakening to the state of America in many aspects; religion was just one aspect.

The revival mentality was important. It gave the American people the idea that something needed to be changed, that something could be changed. Various reform movements followed: reform in prisons, reform in public education, reform in temperance, reform in the slave system, and even reform in society in general to name a few.

Prisons were changed to give criminals at least humane living conditions. Asylums were created to help people reform themselves and become acceptable to society. Public education went through reforms to give children education in tax-supported state school systems. Discipline was as important as academic subjects taught in these schools. The temperance movement arose because it was seen as liberating to be the master of your own self and not be tied down to any addiction (to alcohol or anything else). Reform in any area, in fact, was seen as liberating yourself because having the self-discipline to control yourself gave you the ability to expand your freedom.

A few communities wished to reform themselves so completely that they left society. The Shakers, the New Harmony community, and the Oneida community wished to create a Utopia, or a perfect community. The Oneidians and the Owenites fell apart after a few years. The Shakers, however, still have vibrant communities. These communities, which set up completely new ways of life, were the extremists. Not everyone saw the need to go so far.

Americans, in the midst of all this reform and revival, also saw the need to reform the slave system. Not everyone agreed on how to do this. Some wanted to send all the slaves to a colony in Africa. Others wished to free the slaves on the spot. Southern plantation owners didn’t want to get rid of their slaves; to them, slavery meant profit.

The second Great Awakening set the stage for this climatic conflict over slavery. Many, many diverse interpretations of the Bible came forth because so many new preachers, so many new versions of religion emerged.

Sectional differences came from different interpretations of the Bible. Southern preachers interpreted the Bible as promoting slavery. Northern preachers condemned it. The Bible quickly became a battleground long before the Civil War was actually fought. The various interpretations of the same passages of scripture led to confusion and heated arguments. For the first time, every ordinary American citizen was forced to think about the institution of slavery and decide for himself whether or not he agreed with it. Mark A. Noll, in his book America’s God stated, “Commonsense moral reasoning perceived directly and intuitively the propriety of the slave system and perceived with equal force its impropriety.”

Americans were forced to choose. They generally sided with their regional generalities. The Northerners did not depend on a slave-driven economy. They saw slavery as wrong. The Southerners did depend on slavery. They interpreted the Bible so as to support their arguments that slavery could exist.

All these arguments arose from the Second Great Awakening. It changed the way religion was viewed. It forever changed the course of American History in regards to slavery, and many other aspects.

Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity

One of the exhibitions at BYU's Museum of Art is entitled "Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity."

The exhibition houses works of art of a religious nature, such as Arnold Friberg's "Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land."

On the tour I went on with the class, I was taught how to look for an intimation, or a symbol of Christ our Savior.





















Ron Richmond's "Exchange No. 8" depicts two chairs. One is overturned and has a red cloth draped over it. Standing over it, or above it, is an upright chair with a white cloth.

Where some might see only two chairs, I learned to look at colors and symbols. Red stands for blood and injury. White is a symbol of purity and cleanliness. The scripture Isaiah 1:18 comes to mind, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." An interpretation of this painting is that it could be symbolic of the Atonement of our Savior, who overcame death and sin, and bled from every pore to become white and holy forever. He extends that opportunity to become pure to each of us. The upright chair could be a throne, or the "Mercy seat" of God, or the "Judgement seat" of Christ.

















Frans M. Johansen's work "The Rod and the Veil" is not a painting, but a huge piece of sculpted bronze. the two figures are both reaching for a rod, which, in LDS doctrine, often represents the Word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One figure is higher than the other, and is reaching behind from what appears to be a thin cloth. Again, in LDS doctrine, the "veil" is the thin shroud that covers the earth that humans might not know all things. When we die, we go through the veil and are able to understand more about the Plan of Salvation. We are taught that people on both sides of the veil are reaching towards eachother, and that it is the Gospel that brings us together. This work of art depicts that reaching, that desire to be with one another. It is a part of God's Plan of Happiness.

La Amistad

I watched a BYU approved edited version of the Warner Brothers and HBO film The Amistad. Some of the violence and other parts that made it an R rated movie were cut out. Nevertheless, the point of the film was driven across well. I encourage readers of this post to either watch the movie, which presents this supreme court case, or do some research on the Supreme Court case of United States of America vs. the Amistad Africans.

Basically, the Spanish ship La Amistad was bringing slaves from West Africa to Cuba when the slaves revolted and took over the ship. They allowed some of the crew to live in order to sail the ship back to Africa, but instead they ended up off the coast of New England. The Africans were taken into custody until it could be decided who owned them: Spain, the sailors of the ship La Amistad, or the commonwealth of Connecticut. Multiple court cases were held to determine who owned these Africans. Eventually, the case went to the Supreme Court where James Quincy Adams, former President of the United States, argued for the Africans and their plea for freedom, even in the case of an imminent civil war.

This “simple property” case could not be handled by lower courts of America because a much larger question than who owned the Africans was at stake. The question was, rather, about the nature of man. Do all men have the right to be free? To pursue life, liberty and happiness? In the case of our American ancestors, they proclaimed such in the Declaration of Independence but did not enact such a principle because they were frightened of ripping apart a country which had just been brought together.

As (in the movie) Adams said in reference to a civil war to extend that right to all people, “…and then at last perhaps the last battle of the American Revolution will be fought.” Adams was right. The case of U.S.A vs. the Amistad Africans opened the door for the first political discussion on the rights and freedom of all men, not just White land-owning males. It led to civil war, but the great injustices and wrongs of centuries were righted when at last slavery based on race was ended, and all men were declared equal and free.

Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith’s book entitled AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS came at a revolutionary time. Not only were political ideas coming around in America, but new economic ideas occurred as well.

This book inquired that the set measurement of wealth was NOT how much treasure there was in the castle of the king of a country, rather the measurement SHOULD BE the living standard of the people of that country.

At the very time the idea that people should have liberty to choose was occurring, a decisive critique of the system came out questioning whether or not that provided economic freedom. This idea fit right in with the ideas that the revolutionary Americans were considering concerning their new government.

In European countries like England, the king, or the head of the government, also regulated the economy. In the new American system, the government and the economy were separate. This gave the people the liberty to choose their economic patterns. Naturally, they chose to have personal increase, and so it was the throughout American history, people traded in order to benefit themselves.

It all started with an inquiry. Part of any revolution is questioning the set standards and looking for a better way, which is what Adam Smith’s INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS precisely did.

Crandall Printing Museum

The Crandall Printing Museum, located at

275 E Center St. Provo, UT 84606-3133

is well worth a visit. The curators take the visitors on a personal tour of the museum, showing how printing was developed from Gutenberg's press to the 1830s.

The Crandall Museum has the most complete model in the world of an original Gutenberg press. Johannes Gutenberg created the printing the press in the 1500s. Every problem Gutenberg had in printing, he solved with inventions. From the type cast, to the type case, to the “bed” of the paper, to the ink, to the ink balls, to the actual corkscrew press, the press and all its other components, Gutenberg had to invent. He hand-carved each of the 256 characters he used in printing the Latin bible. He created a small, handheld box in which to pour the carved type to create a mold. He created the ideal metal for creating type – not too hard, and not too soft, and cools quickly. His childhood with metals contributed to this. He solved the problem of transferring ink to the type, the problem of keeping the page in position, the problem of printing on both sides of a sheet of vellum, and many, many more potential problems. His complete printing system is responsible for the literacy rate increasing in the Western world. After performing some printing in German, he was asked by the Catholic church to print 180 Bibles. This he did, and the printed copies were embellished by illuminators.

In 1776, the printing press was again instrumental in changing the world. The Declaration of independence was printed on a press that was very similar to Gutenberg’s press. The only difference was that instead of being made of a wooden frame, an iron frame was used. The availability of the printed word sparked ideas in people and encouraged the American Revolution.

In 1830, another important book was printed on a press again very similar to Gutenberg’s original press. The only change this time was a change in the manner of putting ink onto the type: instead of balls, a rolling-pin type instrument was used. The Book of Mormon was printed on a press in Palmyra, New York that was shipped there from New York City on the newly-finished Erie Canal. 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed and bound in just under six months.

The advances in printing from the 1500s to the 1830s were few and minute. Gutenberg’s system must have been inspired. Nearly every part of it was perfect for the task it was prescribed to do. Notice which major book was printed on it first: the Bible. Next came the Declaration of Independence, which set the stage for a revolution that would lead to religious freedom in America, a place where the Book of Mormon could come forth. And lastly, the Book of Mormon was printed in large quantities so the gospel could be spread. For 5000 copies to be printed in just over six months would require one copy completed every two to three minutes. That kind of speed was unheard of in the 1830s! God had a hand in developing the printing press to bring about his righteous purposes.

Free Response

Free response: Please write 700 words on a topic or thoughts you have enjoyed in class this past semester

These thoughts come from a discussion on the road to independence.

It took the 1st Continental Congress fourteen months after the first bloodshed of the Revolution at Lexington to declare independence. The reason it took so long was that there were no Americans. Rather, they were British Colonists. It took fourteen months of war to unite the colonies and forge an American identity. The delegates from most of the colonies (all but Georgia) wanted to reconcile with Britain. All they were after was a reassertion of their rights as British citizens. A few hotheads could see no other option but independence from Britain with all ties severed.

Since there is an entire ocean between Great Britain and America, it took several months for colonial grievances to even reach Britain’s shores, and another three months for a response to come back. The colonies needed the wrongs righted immediately, and that simply wasn’t possible.

Though it was apparent that the current relation with Britain wasn’t working, many Congressional delegates still wanted to reconcile. For one thing, they could not see the next step. Declaring independence would mean a long war demanding on resources, time, and people. The war would be fought on American soil. American families, farms, forests would be destroyed, not British. Britain was a formidable enemy. At the time, they had the most significant empire with the world’s largest army and navy. The colonies didn’t have a real army, much less a navy.
Up to the declaration of independence, Britain had been protecting colonists from Native Americans, who were of course resentful on white encroachment on their land. Once America and Britain were openly fighting, Britain would blockade all American ships, so the merchant economy would be destroyed. Hundreds would lose their jobs. Britain would promise freedom to American slaves, thus prompting revolts from within. War and armies bring bad things to the land in which they are fighting. Congress did not want to bring alcoholism, diseases, abuses, a “rowdy crowd” to America. Congress did not want to be responsible for how badly the colonies would turn out should they (likely) lose the war.

Despite all the reasons for waiting to declare independence, several actions of the British swayed the colonial population from reconciliation towards independence. During the “unofficial” war, before independence was declared, there still was a portion of the British army in America. That army bombarded American citizens, whether or not they were loyalists. Those Loyalists were offended and move to the Independence thinking. British employment of German mercenaries (Hessians) was another unpopular move.

Finally in July of 1776, the vast majority of the colonial population and the delegates in the Continental Congress wanted independence. It was clear that reconciliation with Britain would never happen. Independence was the only way to secure the rights that had been lost as British colonists. Those few delegates who were still against independence bowed out so Congress could be united in their voice for independence.

Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, and it was reviewed and revised in committee. On July 2nd, it was read aloud in a general assembly of Congress and signed. The men signing this document were literally putting their necks on the line. Not only that, their family names, their economic prospects, their futures could be ruined. They could be forever known as traitors to the British crown, should Britain win the war and subdue the American rebellion.

The Declaration was half of the revolution. After separation from Britain, the united colonies had no way to govern themselves. The Declaration had many principles that are central to the American way of life. It was not until the Constitution that the Revolution was complete. The Constitution enacted the principles found in the Declaration to ensure the liberty of the people. The Constitution filled the void left by the distance from Britain. It helped colonists become self-reliant. It created the government that has lasted more than two hundred years.

From the initial road to Independence to the Declaration, to the creation of Constitution, America became united and strong as a country, rather than weak, individual colonies.

The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution

Please write 500-600 words on the Book of Mormon description of the founding of America.

Most of the following discussion based on the above prompt comes from
BELIEVING HISTORY
Latter-day Saint Essays
Richard Lyman Bushman
Edited by Reid L. Neilson and Jed Woodworth
Columbia University Press
New York

Like last week’s post, this article is well worth a read; sadly, however, I do not have the rights or privileges to post the article here, though I will reference it.

The main point of the afore mentioned article is that Joseph Smith, the translator, could not have written the Book of Mormon because there is no subconscious Americana hidden in the writing. Rather, the book must be what it claims to be: a collection of prophecies or scripture from ancient Americans, who did not have revolutionary ideals in their heads while writing the book.

The ideals the author, Richard Bushman, addresses are “first, the depiction of the American Revolution as heroic resistance against tyranny; second, the belief that people overthrow their kings under the stimulus of enlightened ideas of human rights; and third, the conviction that constitutional arrangements such as frequent elections, separation of powers, and popularly elected assemblies were necessary to control power.”

The Book of Mormon depicts the American Revolution as due to Divine deliverance, not heroic revolutionaries acting on their own. 1 Nephi 13:17-19 reads “[The] mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (emphasis added).

Nowhere does it describe a George-Washington-type hero, a revolutionary Continental Congress, no tyrannical kings or Parliaments. In fact, the theme is reliance on God to deliver a people, as is a theme in ancient scripture: Moses and the Israelites, and in the Book of Mormon, the deliverance of the people of Limhi from the Lamanites.

Nowhere in the book does it describe a tyrannical king. Rather, the colonial Americans are delivered from the “Mother Gentiles.” In the Book of Mormon, the people actually persist in having a king. To their mindset, a good king was a good thing:
“If it were possible that you could always have just men to be your kings,” Alma said, “it would be well for you to have a king” (Mosiah 23:8).”
“If it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments . . . then it would be expedient that you should always have kings to rule over you. (Mosiah 29:13)”

For some of Nephite history, the government consisted of a “reign of judges.” This reign was far different than the American Constitutional government. There were no elected officials, it was not a democracy, and most of the principles associated with the Constitution are missing.

Bushman concludes, “The Book of Mormon was an anomaly on the political scene of 1830Instead of heroically resisting despots, the people of God fled their oppressors and credited God alone with deliverance. Instead of enlightened people overthrowing their kings in defense of their natural rights, the common people repeatedly raised up kings, and the prophets and the kings themselves had to persuade the people of the inexpediency of monarchy. Despite Mosiah’s reforms, Nephite government persisted in monarchial practices, with life tenure for the chief judges, hereditary succession, and the combination of all functions in one official.” (no checks and balances with the government split into three branches as we know today).

The Book of Mormon has Old-World precedents that no American would write. Only ancient prophets with that mindset already engrained in their culture could actually write such a book. The Book of Mormon is what it claims to be: a scriptural record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.

Martin Diamond: The Revolution of Sober Expectations

Please note that I do not have license to post this document for all to see.
I would recommend looking it up and reading it at a library. Some useful information in doing so is provided directly below:

Martin Diamond
The Revolution of Sober Expectations
Delivered at
Independence Square, Philadelphia,
in the House of Representatives Chamber, Congress Hall,
on October 24, 1973

In 500 words or less, describe what you think Martin Diamond meant by his title, 'Revolution of Sober Expectations'?

The following is a response to the above prompt.

Overall, Diamond’s main point is that the founding fathers knew the Declaration of Independence could not institute a government. By creating a Constitution founded on the principles found in the Declaration, the founding fathers had enacted their “sober expectations” for this experiment.

Martin Diamond had a full awareness of what the founding fathers expected for their “American Experiment.” They knew that human beings weren’t perfect; that creating a perfect society would require more horrendous deeds than living with human imperfections.

One main point Diamond made is that if men were angels, they wouldn’t need a government. The founding fathers are implied realists, not utopian dreamers.
Another point is about the self-evident truths. The only way to let other people see that the truths declared self-evident really are self-evident is to let them try it for themselves. The principles in the declaration do not just apply to Americans, but to all people. Also, a government is instituted by the consent of the governed.

The founding fathers never foresaw a “majority rule” as many elementary school children now think of democracy. The majority can be just as tyrannical as a minority. Rather, the founding fathers created a democratic republic, which would afford some protection against such tyranny as they had experienced with England.

Diamond asserts “Men are created equal but only with respect to the equal possession of certain unalienable rights.” (emphasis added). This American Experiment was not intended to live up to the ideals of a consecrated utopia that some envisioned. Rather, the fathers once again had realistic expectations for America.

Sober expectations were necessary for the completion of this ongoing experiment. No ideals, however nice, could live up to reality. If men were angels, they would not need a government. The founding fathers were sober in their expectations of the government they created with the Constitution. It can withstand men’s imperfections because it is founded on the self-evident truths and other important principles in the Declaration of Independence. Together, these two articles of our history create our Government, our Experiment which continues to persist and defy our fathers’ “sober expectations.”

John Adams

Please write 500 words on John Adams by using your out of text readings, text-book and the movie shown in class (HBO’s film John Adams).

The following is a response to the above prompt:



According to a short biography (http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams/)
John Adams was more of a political philosopher than a politician. He was very much intrigued by the thought of “the American Experiment.” He would be impressed to know that the “Experiment” he helped to found has survived more than 200 years.

The road to independence was long. Many of the colonies wished to reconcile with England. Adams saw reason to wait to push his cause of independence until the colonies were more united. After war had broken out, Adams was more vigilant in his persuasion of the Continental Congress towards independence.

As an advocate for independence, his was the speech that won over many of the delegates in the Continental Congress who were not totally won over prior to the final vote on Richard Henry Lee’s proposal that “these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

After this (unanimous) vote, Adams asked Thomas Jefferson to write a declaration to be sent to the English king. He then took a main part in the committee revising it after Jefferson wrote it. (Ironically, he and Jefferson had a falling out for most of the time that either was politically active. Even more ironically, they both died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.)

Adams was a great advocate for liberty in the months leading to the revolution. He was very outspoken and would not bend his will nor would he compromise.

Although we normally think of John Adams as one of our great founding fathers, and, later, a great president, he was, by his own admission, obnoxious and not well-liked. He was loud, outspoken, and would not listen to opposite views. This won him no friends. However, as a member of the Continental Congress that would eventually lead to a declaration of independence, he found friends in Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry, also people who wished for a separation from England.

John Adams also considered his wife, Abigail Adams to be “his dearest friend.” While she kept the farm and the family outside of Boston, John was in Philadelphia, endless debating with the Continental Congress. They wrote letters to each other, and he greatly valued her counsel and advice.

One of his most notable enemies was John Dickinson, who supported reconciliation with Parliament. They had heated debates every day the Continental Congress was in session, especially during the overly hot summer of 1776. Fortunately, Dickinson was not in attendance at the final vote on independence.

Adams published Thoughts on Government which expressed his views on what a government should be, specifically that of the American government after independence was declared and the colonies were faced with the task of uniting themselves and governing themselves. This document was used in creating many of the state constitutions.

Adams knew his place in history. He knew that if this “experiment” should last, it would be revolutionary in changing the world.


Outside Sources:

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams#Continental_Congress

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dickinson_(delegate)

Lightbulb!

This is one of my very favorite "Aha" moments.

I was sitting in the basement of my dorm, doing math homework (Linear Algebra homework, to be more precise). Basically all we do is manipulate matrices, so for the homework I had to prove certain identities of Transposed, Inverse, and Symmetric matrices. Then I got to apply Permutation Matrices to those matrices. Doing all these proofs used to be mind boggling, but tonight it clicked! I was able to prove almost every problem that got thrown my way! I love this class because
a) we do proofs in class, making it easier for my "proof" skills to improve
b) the teacher is the same guy who taught my mom and dad in the same class their freshman year
c) It's not calculus! (I love calculus, but need to review quite a bit before I take another calculus class)
d) Matrices are useful! (just about every computer program you use is based on matrices)
e) AS afore mentioned, I can do proofs! and it only took me 18 years to figure it out :)

I am a happy camper, thanks to my lightbulb moments.

Blogging for Honors 240

Imagine that you live in Africa and have been captured by a slave trader and are being shipped across the Atlantic. Write a 500 to 750 word personal narrative on recording what your thoughts and experiences might be along your journey.
The following is a response to the above prompt:
Darkness. Darkness, and sickness, misery, and torment everywhere. Most of us on this ship have lost our will to live. We would rather die than be subject to the hands of another. In Africa we lived our own lives and liked it that way.
The captain treats the crew cruelly. They take out their frustrations on us. We fight amongst ourselves. We come from different tribes – all over the west coast of Africa, and so, we fight. When a few decide to get along, they start to plan rebellions, but not enough people ever agree to a plan, so it never happens. We are stuck here until we die, or, if we are strong, until we reach the Americas, where death is almost certain. I do not know the certainty of this statement. No one has come back from America to Africa to tell horror stories about it, but from what has already happened, and what is happening now, with the stench of bodies all around, I wish for and welcome death rather than try to cling to the small hope of life.
Slave catchers from another village attacked my village. They had guns and behaved very violently. I was not fast enough trying to run away. They took me, and the others they had captured, to the coast, where they traded us for more guns to white people. We left Africa a few days after being boarded onto the ship.
We are packed into the ship as many as can fit in any available space. We are practically on top of each other, and no one can move without bumping another person. Every day we are taken above the hold onto the deck for a few minutes of “exercise” to keep us in a somewhat healthy condition for when we are to be sold in America. The few minutes of sunshine are exquisite, but fleeting. After moving around at the crew’s command, we are shoved back into the hold, bodies cramming next to bodies.
We are chained in long lines to each other at the ankle. This keeps one from jumping off the ship, because he cannot fall far with the twenty other people chained to him still on the ship. These chains rub our ankles until the skin is open and raw. Then they are infected with whatever (usually multiple) diseases. The ankles swell until the chain barely fits and rubs more so the ankle can never heal.
Those who die, and they are many, are thrown off the ship into the sea. No burial or ceremony, just a simple toss into the depths of the sea where the bodies are quickly devoured by sharks. The water around the ship turns red from the blood of those bodies being torn apart by the devils of the sea.
The uncertainty of it all is horrible. What will come next? What could possibly be worse than this? I imagine a thousand fates more horrible than each moment I’m living, and then they turn to reality. Death is all around. Sickness persists. Rape, torture, demoralization of any African happen at any given hour. This is why I welcome death.