Nathaniel Ferrer
10/04/24
HIST 104H
Tyranny is Tyranny
1) Do you agree with the statement on pg. 61 that "the mobilization of lower-class
energy (citizens) by upper-class politicians, for their own purposes" represented a long
history in American politics? Can you think of any examples in American history where
this occurred?
Analyzing America’s history and politics, I believe it is evident in how upper-class
politicians have taken advantage and utilized the lower-class in order to serve their own
gain! Primarily we see how England had utilized the working class in the birth of
America in the New World! In order to assert their global dominance and in order to
gain resources that would be lucrative for the empire, working class citizens, indentured
servants would be sponsored by the upper class and sent to the new world in order to
farm and retrieve lucrative crops, and obtain other resources. In addition, it is mentioned
how in the 1760s, those in power were promoting political projects “for keeping the
people poor in order to make them humble”. James Otis spoke against rulers of the
Massachusetts colony and because of these projects like the Stamp Act in 1765, which
required colonists to pay a tax for paper and documents, grievances arose and mob
action exploded.
2) On pg. 73 the book discusses the inequalities that exist in the Constitution.
Specifically, the philosophy of the Declaration of Independence is for people to secure
their life, liberty, and happiness and the government should be overthrown if it fails to do
this. These ideas are generally attributed to John Locke and his writings but can these
ideals or equal rights exist when there was (and is today) so much difference in the
wealth of each person?
Though it was stated in the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal, it
did not reflect in history completely. There is an aspect of faith in this statement brought
by the founders and writers of the declaration, as it is believed the rights of men are
God-given, intrinsic and could not be taken away. As seen in history though and even
today, these ideals were not completely present. Though the drafters of declaration
stated equality, there was still the presence of slavery and many of those slaves were
not granted liberty and were not able to truly express happiness as proposed in the
Constitution. They were seen as property, for the sole purpose of working for their
masters. In addition, we see even how women were viewed throughout history and how
even these ideals of the Declaration of Independence were challenged for them. They
