Reilly and the Rowdies

Reilly and the Rowdies:
 Sophie Ross, Kaia Johnson, Regan McQuain, Izzy White, Ana Blazevic, Eden Justi

Draft:
Thomas Jefferson & Andrew Jackson
Ronald Reagan
Boss Tweed
John Marshall
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Edison
Lee/ Schwarzkopf
Susan B. Anthony
Thurgood Marshall

Andrew Jackson

Ana Blazevic

Andrew Jackson was known for wanting to represent the common man, and became a national hero at New Orleans, and defeating the British. He is known as one of the most influential political figures in between 1820-1830, and became the leader of the democratic party. Supported by the Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, Jackson was also able to acquire Florida in 1821. Andrew Jackson was known as the first frontier president, and contributed towards the political power shift from the East, to the West. Andrew Jackson is very well known for dismantling the 2nd bank of the United States in 1832, and was able to handle South Carolina and the Nullification Crisis. Besides being known as the 7th president, Andrew Jackson will be remembered for his many achievements throughout his presidency.

Thomas Jefferson

Eden Justi

Thomas Jefferson’s extremely large role in american politics began during the revolution, during which he played an active part in opposing british rule. Jefferson was appointed to the second Continental Congress and was later chosen to write the Declaration of Independence, one of the most important documents in American history. He became the country’s first secretary of state under George Washington, and later the foreign minister to France. Jefferson was an anti-federalist, and his election as president in 1800 paved the way for the eventual dissipation of the federalist party. Despite this, his time as president did not exactly reflect this defined stance. Jefferson exercised his executive power in order to acquire the Louisiana territory. This acquisition doubled the size of the United States and led to later westward expansion. In addition, Jefferson was a champion of the common yeoman farmer, and dreamed of a United States built on a self sufficient, agrarian economy. He was often seen in slippers, and did not practice many official formalities, such as taking a horse drawn carriage to the presidential inauguration.

Robert E. Lee

By Regan McQuain

Although leader of the infamous Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee is by far the most influential general, along with Schwarzkopf. He was  admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated 2nd in class of 1828. Not to mention, he won three brevets for gallantry in the 1846 war with Mexico, and emerged with the rank of colonel. From 1852-1855, Lee served as Superintendent of West Point, educating many of the men who would later serve under him and against him in the Civil War.  He was commander of the Army of Northern Virginia and under his direction it became the most famous and successful of the Confederate Armies Lee was recognized as the Virginian General-in-Chief of all Confederate forces, Lee chose the wise decision to surrender and spare the lives of thousands of his own men as well as Grant’s at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War.  He will forever be remembered as a brilliant and respected American General.

Norman Schwarzkpof

By Regan McQuain

Norman Schwarzkpof began his military career in the Vietnam War. He refused to leave his own men, even when injured, and spent much of his time training Southern Vietnamese combat skills so they would have the ability to defend themselves, without US help. His bravery and honor earned him 3 silverstars and 2 purple hearts. After the war, he held various military and diplomatic roles eventually elevating himself to the rank of general. He never took an advance or surrender for granted, always continuing to push harder at the enemy. Schwarzkpof spearheaded Operation Desert Storm, lasting only 4 days, often called the “100 hour War”. He executed a policy of continual bombing and massive amounts of US and UN troops entering the middle east which eventually lead to Hussain’s surrender in 1991. His strategies during the Persian Gulf War, while basic, were some of the most effectives, and some still used to this day in the wars in the Middle East.

Abraham Lincoln

By Izzy White

Abraham Lincoln was the most influential president and quite arguably the most influential figure in United States history. His hatred of the idea of secession and his willingness to use force to preserve the Union prevented the US from falling apart during the Civil War and established the precedent for a strong federal government that would allow the US to thrive. He was the man that on January 1, 1863, issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared free slaves within the Confederacy and his actions would pave the way for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the nation. His passion and motivation for preserving the US as well as his shrewd military strategy and skillful leadership makes this man far surpass any other American leader in history.

   

Thurgood Marshall

By Izzy White

Thurgood Marshall was the Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court from 1967-1991 and the first African-American justice. He was extremely influential in ending racial segregation, especially when he successfully argued against racial segregation in schools in the Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954. While total enforcement of the ruling proved difficult, the case provided the legal basis for the Civil Rights Movement. It also established Marshall as one of the most important and successful lawyers in the US. Marshall stands alongside MLK Jr. and Malcolm X as one of the most important leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. While he may be the least publicly celebrated of the three, he was arguably the most influential in the fight for racial equality. His third way of fighting for equality was fighting legally through the courts, and this was the way proved the most influential. After Marshall's death, his obituary read: "We make movies about Malcolm X, we get a holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, but every day we live with the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall."

John Marshall

By Sophie Ross

 

John Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1801 to 1835. His court opinions helped lay the basis for United States constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches. The longest-serving Chief Justice and the fourth longest-serving justice in U.S. Supreme Court history, Marshall dominated the Court for over three decades and played a significant role in the development of the American legal system. Most notably, he reinforced the principle that federal courts are obligated to exercise judicial review, by disregarding purported laws if they violate the constitution. Thus, Marshall cemented the position of the American judiciary as an independent and influential branch of government. Furthermore, Marshall's court made several important decisions relating to federalism, affecting the balance of power between the federal government and the states during the early years of the republic. In particular, he repeatedly confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law, and supported an expansive reading of the enumerated powers.Marshall built up the third branch of the federal government, and augmented federal power in the name of the Constitution, and the rule of law. Marshall. In his 34-year tenure, Marshall gave it the energy, weight, and dignity of a third co-equal branch. Marshall's Court brought to life the constitutional standards of the new nation. Marshall used Federalist approaches to build a strong federal government over the opposition of the Jeffersonian Democrats, who wanted stronger state governments.His influential rulings reshaped American government, making the Supreme Court the final arbiter of constitutional interpretation. The Marshall Court struck down an act of Congress in only one case (Marbury v. Madison in 1803) but that established the Court as a center of power that could overrule the Congress, the President, the states, and all lower courts if that is what a fair reading of the Constitution required. He also defended the legal rights of corporations by tying them to the individual rights of the stockholders, thereby ensuring that corporations have the same level of protection for their property as individuals had, and shielding corporations against intrusive state governments. Some of the most notable cases include: Marbury v. Madison, Fletcher v. Peck, McCulloch v. Maryland, Cohens v. Virginia, and Gibbons v. Ogden.  


Ronald Reagan
By Kaia Johnson


The Reagan Revolution, aimed to re-energize the American people and make them more self - sufficient, relying less on the government for support. Reagan’s campaign pledge was to restore "the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism.", and in many ways, he did. When he ran for the presidency,Reagan won by a wide margin of popular support, winning 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. His determination and maturity after a subsequent attempt at his assassination caused his popularity to rise significantly. Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, reduce inflation, heighten employment rates, and boost national military defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union.In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa. All in all, The Reagan years saw a resurgence of prosperity, and the ideal of “peace through strength” seemed to be within grasp.

Susan B. Anthony

Ana Blazevic

Susan B. Anthony grew up in a politically active family, only boosting her motivation to speak up, and be heard. She started with supporting anti-slavery movements, and even the temperance movement. Shockingly her interest to give women the right to vote emerged when she was denied to speak at a temperance convention. This encouraged her to continue, and support the women rights movement. Susan B. Anthony also found the National Women Suffrage Association, and traveled all over the country giving speeches to encourage more women. Although Susan B. Anthony passed away before the 20th amendment was passed, the US Treasury Department acknowledged her hard work, and even placed her face on a one dollar coin. Susan B. Anthony is still credited today for her achievements in the women's rights movement, and will forever remain a sole supporter for women's rights.


Boss Tweed
By Kaia Johnson

Boss Tweed rose to be the most powerful, and likely the most dishonest, manipulative, and greedy political figure in Tammany Hall in the later 1850s. (Tammany Hall was New York’s political machine.) By the mid 1860s, Tweed had risen to the top of the organization and created the corrupt “Tweed Ring,”. The Tweed Ring’s crimes include but are not limited to openly buying  votes, encouraging bribery and corruption within the justice system, stealing millions of dollars from city contracts, and dominating and manipulating New York City politics, often not for the good of the people. IN 1871 Tweed and his band of scoundrels used substantial political funds to remodel the courthouse in an extravagant display of corruption. Exposed by cartoonist Nast, and the New York Times, their corrupt reign had finally begun to peter out. All of Tweed’s mischevious and greedy cronies were soon after found guilty and fittingly sentenced to prison. Tweed was no exception, sentenced to time in prison for forgery and larceny, among other extensive charges. In 1875 he made one last attempt to escape from his much deserved fate, running away from prison to Cuba, and then Spain. However, Thomas Nast’s cartoons came to the rescue. In 1876, Tweed was caught arrested by Spanish police, who recognized him from Nast’s well known depictions. Tweed’s importance as a villain of America’s history is not only what he did, but it’s implications. He may not have been the first to buy votes, or court rulings, but he certainly did it with more pomp and sheer magnitude than any had before him. Tweed set a dangerous precedent of dishonesty, and greed being acceptable in politics. Tweed showed the type of all consuming power that corruption and greed can bring, and wet the appetites of future liars and deceivers. Even in modern day politics, dishonestly and scandal is not uncommon. It is hard to know how Washington might function had its system and honor not been tarnished and laid waste to by the haunting spirit of greed, or should I say, Tweed, that can so easily slip into the hearts of humans.

Thomas Edison
by Reilly Webster

More than any other individual, Thomas Edison was credited with building the framework for modern technology and society in the age of electricity. In his 84 years, Thomas Edison had amassed a record 1,093 patents: 389 for electric light and power, 195 for the phonograph, 150 for the telegraph, 141 for storage batteries and 34 for the telephone. He also created the world’s first industrial research laboratory. By the time he was in his 30s, Edison had become one of the most famous men in the world. In addition to his talent for invention, Edison was also a successful manufacturer and businessman who was highly skilled at marketing his inventions–and himself–to the public. His rise from poor, uneducated railroad worker to one of the most famous men in the world made him a folk hero, and he left behind the legacy of a man preoccupied with striving towards a better society by creating better innovations for the business world and our economy.