Prof. Boerner's Explorations

Edited by Gerald Boerner

    
Introductory Comments:

Today was marked by the birth of the leader of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and the First President of the United States under the Constitution — George Washington. This day was celebrated as a federal holiday up until the honoring of the birth of all presidents on President’s Day in 1971; this day is celebrated on the third Monday of February under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Because of the proximity of the traditional Washington’s Birthday holiday on February 22nd and this new President’s Day, many still refer to it as Washington’s Birthday.

Other events occurring on this day in history include the acquisition of the Florida Territory from Spain in 1819 and the victory of our U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team over the highly favored Soviet team in the 1980s Winter Olympics. Our team went on to win the Gold Medal by their victory over Finland a few days later..

We now will proceed to examine some of the events that are associated with day in history... GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2012 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 1344 Words ]
    

Quotations Related to George Washington:

[ http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_washington.html ]

“The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.”
— George Washington

“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”
— George Washington

“Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.”
— George Washington

“The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.”
— George Washington

“Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”
— George Washington

continue reading…

Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

After the end of the Revolutionary War, the Treaty of Paris of 1783 gave the new American Nation was given territorial borders occupying most of the land east of the Mississippi River. This included the land that extended from the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes in North, the Mississippi River on the West, The Atlantic Ocean on the East, and the Spanish territory on the South. The most ambiguous of these borders were those in the South.

From the time of the Spanish conquest of the new world, Spain concentrated its efforts on the lands of the Aztecs and Incas where large hordes of treasures were found. In addition, they took control of the Caribbean islands, especially Cuba. Ponce de Leon had claimed Florida for the King of Spain, but it did not have the gold that was so important to the Spanish. There were half-hearted efforts to start settlement there to keep it out of the hands of both the British and the French. After all, it was a buffer between the gold-rich regions and the lands of these other European powers.

After the conclusion of the Seven-Years war, or as we know it, the French and Indian War, The Spanish gave West Florida to the British in exchange for Cuba. Later, the Spanish re-established ownership of the territory. In the early years of the United States there were a continuing series of conflicts over where the boundary was between the two countries.

As the French became more established in Louisiana, the Spanish wanted to protect their Texas territory, so they negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819. This treaty gave the U. S. sovereignty over Spanish lads between the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. This acquisition led to the statehood for Florida and included the entire Eastern seaboard into our nation.

So, let’s start our exploration of today’s topic…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 3788 Words ]
    

Quotations Related to FLORIDA:

“If you want to be angry at Gore, be angry at him for not fighting harder in Florida.”
— James Carville

“My parents didn’t want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that’s the law.”
— Jerry Seinfeld

“I’ve just opened a show in Florida, although I also have many pieces on display around the world.”
— Tony Curtis

continue reading…