Cobblestone articles from September 2008

Cobblestone archives from September 2008

Editor's Note.(Editorial)
September 1, 2008... It's party time! In this election year--particularly one that's breaking new ground with a major political party having supported both a woman and an African American as possible presidential candidates--we thought it fitting to look at the...

A difficult task.(George Washington and the birth of two party system in America)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] George Washington did not want to be president in 1789. For many Americans, however, he was the only person for the job. He was persuaded to accept his unanimous election despite a heartfelt desire to remain...

Fight for the constitution: steps in the establishment of a more stable government.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It is remarkable to think that in 1776 the planters and slaveholders of the South could find common cause with the traders and small businessmen of New England. But that is exactly what happened. Determined to throw...

Birth of party.(Alexander Hamilton)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He never became president in his own name, but Alexander Hamilton held enormous power in the early years of the republic. He lent the prestige that his name carried to a cause that was close to his heart--the...

Government of the people.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Like Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson could be proud of his impressive accomplishments in behalf of the founding of the United States. He was the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence. He was one of...

Club, candidates, and cadres.
September 1, 2008... Clubs provide a good way to bring like-minded people together. In the early years of the United States, the Anti-Federalists organized into "democratic societies" across the nation. In these social surroundings, members could suggest political...

Election that fractured a friendship.
September 1, 2008... Sometimes politics and friendship just don't rex. One of the most famous friendships in American history was nearly destroyed by the rise of political parties. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met at the 1775 Continental Congress in...

Eeny, meeny ...(1800 united states presidential elections)
September 1, 2008... There was an unexpected catch to the Democratic-Republican victory in 1800. The party leaders had chosen Thomas Jefferson to run as president and Aaron Burr to run as vice president. When all the votes had been counted, Federalist John Adams...

Tangled party roots.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Did you know that our two major political parties today both trace their origins to the same political party? Well, sort of. Here's a look at how they took root and how they've branched out to be the major players...

Divided we fail.
September 1, 2008... The tension and the struggle for control between the two major political parties often means that certain issues are not addressed quickly or adequately. But there are times when the two parties must work together for the greater good of the...

Did you know?(campaign slogans)
September 1, 2008... Slogans--catchy, easy-to-remember phrases--have often offered creative ways for candidates to get their messages across. Here are some of the most famous. "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!" One of the most memorable of all campaign slogans,...

Can I count your vote?(The Past is Present)(political campaign materials)
September 1, 2008... From buttons to banners and handkerchiefs to hats, candidates and the parties that support them have used all kinds of things to encourage voters to rally around them. On the following pages, we've included a sampling of some political...

The rise and fall of third parties.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Politically, third-party candidates are losers. They have never won a national election, and they often do not expect to win. What they do achieve, however, is a voice for the unrest or dissatisfaction felt by...

Beans to ballots.
September 1, 2008... In Colonial times, voters indicated their preferences by putting beans or corn kernels into a container. Later, each party issued a paper ballot with only its candidate's name printed on it, a practice that led to voter intimidation. In the...

Counting heads.
September 1, 2008... The word "poll" has many political meanings. It may refer to the actual voting process: When people vote, they are in effect being polled (asked whom they would like to see elected). It also is the location where votes are cast, often referred...

Party pros and cons.(two-party system)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Talk about a hot debate! For more than 200 years, politicians, scholars, and even citizens have argued about whether political parties are meaningful, helpful, or even healthy. In his farewell address in 1796, our...

Reaching out across the Web.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thanks to the Internet, communication between political parties and potential voters has increased. Not only can citizens find lots of information, they can access it anywhere, anytime. They can even participate in...

Parties around the world.(Going Global)(political parties)
September 1, 2008... In the United States, we're used to having two main political parties, but in other parts of the world, party politics may be arranged in very different ways. Imagine having more than two major political parties, or even none at all! ...

Jefferson vs. Hamilton.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Thomas Jefferson hated Alexander Hamilton, and Alexander Hamilton hated Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton worked as the secretary of the treasury. Jefferson worked as the secretary of state. Hamilton wanted a national bank, but Jefferson didn't...

Dueling secretaries.(Your Letters)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grace Elmer Birmingham, Alabama

Sadness.(Your Letters)(Poem)
September 1, 2008... Sadness Sadness is a painful thing. Anger can cause sadness. Don't be sad anymore-- no one should cry. To everyone out there, sad or happy, we need to see more smiles than tears. Diana Oliva ...

I am.(Your Letters)(Poem)
September 1, 2008... I Am I am tenderhearted and love to dream. I wonder about my future and my future ideas. I hear all of today's conversations playing back. I see myself climbing the biggest mountains and being famous for great...

Vote!(Your Letters)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aaron Rottmann Versailles, Missouri

The great depression.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... This short essay on the Great Depression arrived too late to fit into our March issue on that subject, but we wanted to include Andrew's thoughtful writing in the next available issue. Great job, Andrew! The Great Depression In the...

Battle of the secretaries.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hamilton and Jefferson are both working for President George Washington, but they argue and feud more than a swarm of furious bees. Mr. Jefferson (also known, Hamilton says, as a "contemptible hypocrite") believes...

Alexander Hamilton: America's Bold Lion.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alexander Hamilton: America's Bold Lion by John Rosenburg (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Milibrook Press, 2000, www.lernerbooks.com/) offers a comprehensive view of Hamilton, including both his good and bad...

More Perfect Union: The Story of Alexander Hamilton.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More Perfect Union: The Story of Alexander Hamilton by Nancy Whitelaw (Greensboro, North Carolina: Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2002, www.morganreynolds.com/) provides a solid general introduction to this Founding...

Alexander Hamilton: Soldier and Statesman.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alexander Hamilton: Soldier and Statesman by Pam Rosenberg (Mankato, Minnesota: Child's World, 2004, www.childsworld.com/) is best on Hamilton's early life, although it does devote chapters to his service to the...

Thomas Jefferson: The Revolution of Ideas.(Books to Read)(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thomas Jefferson: The Revolution of Ideas by R.B. Bernstein (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, www.oup.com) offers an honest perspective on Jefferson's life and accomplishments and doesn't shy away from the...

Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin (New York: Scholastic Paperback, 2006, www2.scholastic.com/) combines informative text with beautiful illustrations to bring Jefferson's story to life....

Thomas Jefferson.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thomas Jefferson by Cheryl Harness (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Children's Books, 2007, www.national geographic.com/) combines illustrations and text to convey the complex man who was our third...

The History of the Democratic Party and The History of the Republican Party by Heather Lehr Wagner, and The History of Third Parties.(Books to Read)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The History of the Democratic Party and The History of the Republican Party by Heather Lehr Wagner, and The History of Third Parties by Vicki Cox (New York: Chelsea House, 2007, chelseahouse .infobasepublishing...

On the Web.
September 1, 2008... www.senate.gov/reference/reference_ index_subjects/Political_Parties_vrd.htm will bring you to the U.S. Senate Web site's "Virtual Reference Desk." Most of the information pertains to the history of party power in the Senate specifically...

Places to visit.(presidential libraries)
September 1, 2008... Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia; www.monticello.org/. The home that Jefferson designed is a great place to learn more about this complex Founding Father. The house, gardens, and plantation are open to the public. There are 12...

From the archives.
September 1, 2008... Pick up these past COBBLESTONE issues to read more about America's early government: The Many Faces of George Washington (COB0711) Thomas Jefferson (COB8909) Benjamin Franklin (COB9209) The Adams Family (COB9311) Alexander...

Ethan rates it ...(www.alexanderhamiltonexhibition .org/timeline/index.html)(Website overview)
September 1, 2008... Not many Web sites focus on the founding of America's political parties. But at least one, www.alexanderhamiltonexhibition .org/timeline/index.html, delves into the life of one of the people who played a key role in the process. Alexander...

Political Lingo.(Say What? Exploring the origins of words and sayings)
September 1, 2008... Picking a candidate to support in an election is serious business, but some fun sayings have come out of the political process. For example, have you ever heard the phrase [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Jump on the bandwagon" traces back to...

From rags to riches.(Dr. D's Mystery Hero)(Column)
September 1, 2008... True or false: Every famous person from our Colonial period came from a wealthy family. I hope you said "false," because this month's mystery hero grew up in poverty on a Caribbean island--yet he became one of our country's most respected...

Brain ticklers.(political parties)
September 1, 2008... Give your brain a little tickle to see how well you read and understood this issue on the rise of political parties. If you believe the answer is false, give yourself the ultimate test and see whether you can explain why it is false. Answers...

A final word.
September 1, 2008... When you're old enough to vote, do you think you'll want to join a specific political party? Why or why not? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cartoon connection with Ebenezer & the Colonel.(Cartoon)
September 1, 2008... Democrats. Republicans, DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS... how can anybody keep them STRAIGHT? Political parties can be confusing, but they're an important part of your democratic process. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do I HAVE to pick a...

Party animals!(Creature Feature)(political party symbols)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When political opponents decided to make fun of President Andrew Jackson in 1828 by comparing him to a donkey, they couldn't possibly have imagined what they were setting in motion. Instead of taking it as an insult,...