Presidential Quote Analysis

Assignment Instructions

For this assignment you will pick a presidential quote below and analyze it in terms of what was meant in the historical perspective.  Remember, history does not happen in a vacuum and one thing always influences the next.

What you need to do:

Pick a presidential quote from the list below.  Remember to cite the quote when you use it or you have plagiarized….
Write a 3 page response covering the historical context and importance of the quote.
Your paper should have 4 distinct parts

A.  The introduction paragraph that introduces the quote to be analyzed. 

B. The body paragraphs, that are 4 things that should be answered here…

        1. What is the historical context? (what, historically was happening at the time?)

          2. . How can the quote be applied to the historical context of the time.  When, where, why was it said. 

          3.  What in the Presidents background influenced his quote (think upbringing and things like religion, region, education, etc

              4.  How can the quote be applied to the current historical atmosphere (the last 50 years or so).

C.  A conclusion paragraph that wraps the paper up. 

D. Citations – Your paper must be cited and include at least 1 photograph and 2 academic sources.  You must also cite your quote.  You must include intext citations inside your paper and a reference page.  Papers that do not have both intext citations AND a reference page will be given a grade of ZERO.  I am not looking or perfection, but you must attempt to do citations correctly.  Look in the resources section for helpful information concerning citation styles.

Things to Remember… this is an academic paper, so you must use Standard Edited English,  adhere to common formatting and citations styles.  Look inside the resources sections for more information about citations as well as sample papers for citation styles…  While this is a history paper, your grammar, formatting and citation styles will be graded too, so spend some time on that and always remember to edit!  Be sure to label the file FirstnamelastnameAssignment 2.

Presidential Quotes:

1. George Washington – When one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly.

2. John Adams – If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence.

3. Thomas Jefferson “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

4. James Madison – The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.

5. James Monroe – Peace is the best time for improvement and preparation of every kind; it is in peace that our commerce flourishes most, that taxes are most easily paid, and that the revenue is most productive.

6.  John Q. Adams – “Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. It is the first element of all lawful government upon earth.”

7. Andrew Jackson- “To the victors belong the spoils.”

8. Martin Van Buren –  “The government should not be guided by Temporary Excitement, but by Sober Second Thought.”

9. William Henry Harrison – There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.

10. John Tyler – “Our wise men flattered us into the adoption of the banking system under the idea that boundless wealth would result from the adoption.”

11. James K. Polk – Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a part only, but of the whole people of the United States.

12.  Zachary Taylor – “I hope some compromise will be entered into between the two parties, slavery & antislavery, which will have the effect of allaying violent passions on both sides.”

13. Millard Fillmore – “God knows I detest slavery but it is an existing evil, and we must endure it and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the Constitution.”

14. Franklin Pierce – “The dangers of a concentration of all power in the general government of a confederacy so vast as ours are too obvious to be disregarded.”

15. James Buchanan – “To avoid entangling alliances has been a maxim of our policy ever since the days of Washington, and its wisdom no one will attempt to dispute.”

16.  Abraham Lincoln    In a storm at sea no one on board can wish the ship to sink, and yet not unfrequently all go down together because too many will direct and no single mind can be allowed to control.

17. Andrew Johnson – “Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.”

18. Ulysses S. Grant – “Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private school, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate.”