LAD #16: Emancipation Proclamation

On the first of January in the year of 1863 Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States finally addressed the slavery issue through the Emancipation Proclamation. The document stated, “All persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State…shall be then…forever free.” The slaves were granted freedom and the government and military authority were required to recognize their independence and under no circumstances were they to inhibit their rights. No violence was to be seen unless it was an issue of self-defense. He also suggested that those freed should find themselves a job and if all else fails they will be welcomed to serve in the armed forces. Lastly Lincoln graciously thanked God for the opportunity to resolve the burden that America had carried for so long.

LAD #15 Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

As Abraham Lincoln entered his second term he addressed the public for a second time. He said that it was unnecessary to make a lengthy address like his first one. The issue he addresses in this speech was the civil war. Lincoln remembered how during his first address he was all about preserving the union, yet the civil war was bound to happen. The south wanted to secede and the north would not allow them to. Lincoln says that no one thought that the war would last as long as it has. He then reminds the citizens that they are more alike then they think because they both pray to the same God. Lincoln closes his speech by stating that the nation would be stronger as it comes out of the war and he hopes the nation would eventually reach peaceful relations.

LAD #14 Dred Scott Decision

Justice Nelson wrote the first majority decision, however his decision ended up only being his opinion and therefore it was thrown out. Justice Roger Taney was then chosen to write the majority decision. He addressed everything, including Negro citizenship and the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. Taney first addresses the question of Negro citizenship. Taney stated that Negros were not citizens and therefore they could not sue in court. Taney then moved on to address the Missouri Compromise. He declared it unconstitutional because it went against the 5th amendment by threatening the property rights of slave holders. Taney ruled that the case be dismissed because a slave is property and property can not sue. Therefore, Taney ruled in favor of Stanford, not Scott.

LAD #13 Gettysburg Address

Lincoln begins the address be recollecting the past and how the nation was founded with the proposition that all men are created equal. He then states the nation is in a civil war and that the war is just a test to see if the nation can endure. He then gives honor to the men who fought in the war and those who gave their lives for the country. At the end he says that the men who died shall not have died in vain, as the conflict would be resolved and the country would be reborn, with a new birth of freedom and government of people.

LAD # 12 First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln begins his address by first stating that the property, peace, and security of no section are to be in any way endangered by the incoming Administration. He says that state’s rights are critical to have a balance of power. Lincoln also states that the constitution will be used to protect the states. He goes on to say that slaves should be returned to their owners when they escape. Furthermore, he says that everyone should follow the laws of the constitution because he will enforce them and he doesn’t want people to try and get them declared unconstitutional. He then reflects upon the past saying that the union has been together longer than just when the constitution was written. He says that the union has been formed since the Articles of Association 1774. He then says that the union would be less than perfect if it was separated. Lincoln says that he will use the power granted by the constitution to execute the laws to uphold the union in all states. He says that the declared purpose of the union is that it will constitutionally defend and uphold itself. He moves on to say that there needs to be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall be none unless it is forced upon the national authority. He goes on defending the constitution and he states “a majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.” He then says that any questions over the constitution can be decided by the Supreme Court. Next he states that the slavery issue between the north and the south cannot separate the union. He also says that the amending process can be used to make changes to the constitution, when the people grow weary of the government. He concludes his address by saying that the south and the north are not enemies, they are friends.

LAD #11 John Calhoun's Speech

John Calhoun begins his speech by stating that slavery is a cause of disunion between the two sides of the nation, the south and the north. He then asks the question, “How can the Union be preserved?” To answer this he goes to the problem of what is endangering the Union. The answer to this question is the sectionalism between the North and the South. The balance between the North and the South is being threatened, unlike when the nation was first created. A huge issue between the two sides was expansion. The south wants to expand because the north already has more power, and the north does not want to expand. The north controls the senate and has a greater population than the South. An additional issue between the divided nation was the tariff. The south greatly opposed it as it raised the price of goods and forced them to pay more. However, the north favored it because it helped their economy by making the British goods more expensive then American goods. These many things are dividing the nation and destroying national unity and promoting sectionalism. Calhoun believes that the only way to prevent separation was to satisfy the South; yet, to do this, the north had to be willing to make changes and without the north giving into some of the Southern demands the Union was doomed.

Lad #10 Polk's war message

In 1846, President James Polk addressed the Senate and House of Representatives and the purpose of his address was to discuss the issues of the American relationship with Mexico. The message states that the Mexican government has committed wrongs on United States’ citizens. Polk wanted to develop a peaceful relationship with Mexico. However, as he tried to solve and settle issues with Mexico, including boundary disputes, Mexicans became more hostile toward Americans. Onc General Paredes became the military leader, more problems between America arose. Problems worsened even more because the border between Texas and Mexico on the Rio del Norte was continually disputed and Polk wanted to have volunteer troops there to protect the United States from invasions. Yet, Mexicans did attack and kill and injure Americans. As a result of thes bad relations, commerce between America and Mexico stopped and both countries befitted from this. At the end, Polk says that he is willing to renew neogtiations and solve problems with Mexico diplomatically. However, it seems that Polk thinks that war was the only option to solving the issues.

LAD #9 The Seneca Falls Declarationof Sentiments and Resolutions

The first part of The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments says that all women and men are created equal and should enjoy the same rights as men. Women’s rights have not been protected by the government and the declaration states that women should be able to have inalienable rights the same as any other man. Throughout America’s history men have always had more dominance, while women have not played as great a role in society. Women have suffered as they have not had many rights that men have, including suffrage. There are multiple instances in which women have been treated unfairly, including that they have not had a fair chance at participating in business jobs or education, as the society at the time did not see women participating in such activities. Furthermore women have been prohibited playing an active role in the government. Women have not been able to enjoy their basic rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Resolutions of the Declaration state that women are entitled to all the rights that men have, and that they should fight for them. The declaration says that women must secure their rights, by forcing the change themselves.