How+Ch.+20-21+apply+to+our+nation's+history+&+modern+society


 * === === **Chapter 20: //Are fortresses, and many other things to which Princes often resort, advantageous or hurtful?//**

//Timing is KEY!// __[Historical Connection]__ = = One of the stronger messages in that which Machiavelli discusses in Chapter 20, is the importance of arming his men,”…has always armed them, because by arming them, those arm become yours…” There is a clear necessity of distributing arms to a Prince’s subjects, because a Prince and his country need an army that can protect and represent who they are as a whole. Reading farther into Machiavelli’s beliefs, he brings up an interesting point: the inappropriateness of arming a Prince’s men. “…a new prince in a new principality has always distributed arms…but when a prince acquires a new state…then it is necessary to disarm the men of that state…” If we were to look at our history, there is an issue quite similar to the concept that Machiavelli tries to enlighten us with. If we go back to the first half of the early 19th century, we can notably recollect that the United States of America dealt with the most controversial debate: the abolition of slavery. The question in which befuddled the whole nation: would the emancipation of slavery be a beneficial or detrimental effect towards the United States? “Even used as a war power, emancipation was a risky political act. Public opinion as a whole was against it…” The South was determined to keep slaves because it would expand their economical success, however, those living in the North found it immorally wrong. Ultimately, “Lincoln proposed to put slavery on a course of gradual extinction.” He found it most appropriate, in order to keep the states “united” to keep that evil necessity of slavery, but as time moved on, the Civil War would rid of slavery once and for all. There is clearly a time and a place for everything and Machiavelli tries to emphasize this concept because our leaders sometimes have to make hard decisions that some will either love or hate it. > [|Abraham Lincoln: Slavery] > [|Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation]

//Trust// __[Modern Society Connection]__ As long as anyone has been concerned, the Domincan Republic has been governed by a cruel dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Machiavelli states that a Prince has to recognize that he has to arm his men, however at an appropriate time because, "...when you disarm them, you at once offend them by showing you distrust them..." The people of the Dominican Republic have had leaders from the Trujillo family who have stripped them of everything they could possibly own or be. "Trujillo reorganized the state and the economy and left a vast infrastructure to the country, but personal freedoms and rights were virtually nonexistent, and the democracy and politics suffered under his regime." Since the people of the Dominican Republic have been living under this oppression, there has been a lot of hatred that they have bred against him for all that he has done to his people. The common people were constantly watched and were not allowed to do anything to perturb his regime. But there was a time when his rule became to extreme and even though he denied the common people from attaining weapons, they began to revolt against him. A perfect example of this would be the depicted in Julia Alvarez's, In the Time of the Butterflies. While her story is not biographical or historical, it contains the things that people would do in order to rebel against Rafael Trujillo. Machiavelli would most indeed be proud of Trujillo because he followed what he talks about when finding the appropriate timing of arming people. If Trujillo didn't have a firm hold on his people and they had the opportunity to arm themselves, who knows if Trujillo's regime would've lasted so long. He made sure only to arm men who would work for him and do what he asked them to do. While it is quite cruel, it worked to his advantage for generations of his family to come.


 * === === **Chapter 21:** //**How A Prince should conduct Himself as to gain Renown**//

//Take a chance, make a MOVE!// __[Historical Connection]__

One of the most emphasized messages in Chapter 21 discusses a Prince’s choice of aiding any opposing powers in a time of war. While Machiavelli clearly believes that, “…it will always be more advantageous for you to declare yourself…” in aiding a certain power, back in the late 18th century, our former President George Washington actually declined in doing this. Instead he declared, “…and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerant Powers...” This didn’t sit quite well with the two opposing parties, Hamilton and Madison. They believed that they should declare themselves in somebody’s favor and saw the Proclamation of Neutrality unnecessary. Jefferson even mentioned, “why not stall and make countries bid for [American] neutrality?" Jefferson proves that it is necessary to make other countries work for you in a time where they are in disputes with foreign affairs. Why not take advantage of other state’s crises? Machiavelli indeed mentions to, “Never let any Government imagine it can choose perfectly safe courses…” As harsh and manipulative as it sounds, it's important to keep other foreign powers on their toes and when having the opptunity, make their misfortunes your treasures.

[|Proclamation of Neutrality] [|Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality]

//Choosing Sides// [Modern Society Connection]

For the last couple of years, our country, the United States, has been struggling with "axis of evils" in the Middle Eastern part of the world. Besides the United States, a small country known as Israel has had many conflicts with countries from the Middle East due to religious reasons. Machiavelli clearly stated, “…that a prince ought to take care never to make an alliance with one more powerful than himself for the purposes of attacking others…” and when the United States had to decide whether or not to stay out of the Middle Eastern country affairs with the Israelites, they have decided to aid the underdog country, Israel. If any foreign power decided to mess with Israel, the United States has been there 100% to help. Now the United States have been wondering if Iran has become a potential threat to the United States. President Bush, who quoted by FOX Television news stated, “We are doing the heavy lifting in Iraq and Afghanistan … and that Israel needs to handle this themselves.” Since the United States doesn’t have the time to start a war in Iran, they have found themselves trying to use Israel to fight Iran. “However, for reasons mentioned above, Israeli leaders have been reported to believe that the United States will not move militarily against Iran and that they will end up using their own forces instead.” The United States clearly doesn’t need help from other countries to take down a country like Iran, but because in previous affairs in which the United States has helped Israel, “…he is indebted to him, and there is established a bond of amity…” Machiavelli has clearly shown that it is always advantageous for a Prince to make some type of ally because it will be to a great benefit to a Prince’s province eventually. The United States seems to be in need of military reinforcement and it seems that Israel wouldn't have a problem in doing so. If the United States hadn't always been there for Israel, in a situation like this, they could've been in some type of political turmoil.

[|The United States, Israel, and the Possible Attack on Iran]