LAD#20- The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation January 1st, 1863

In the Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln frees all the slaves in the Southern states excluding few counties. He makes it known that these slaves must be freed without resistance or punishment towards them. He also makes sure that the slaves do not try to harm people unless using it as a form of self defense. He also invites these freed slaves to be members of the military.

LAD#19-Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Saturday March 4th, 1865

When Abraham Lincoln was elected President for his second term, the United States was in the heat of the Civil War. He starts by addressing the fact that four years ago at his first inaugural address, he was solely devoted to saving the Union without engaging in a war. Now his second inaugural address is devoted to discussing the war. He says, "let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."This shows that Lincoln is ready for the war to end. He acknowledges that it has been a good fight over some big sectional issues, but now it is time to end it and become the UNITED States of America once again.

LAD#18- Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott Decision 1857

In the Dred Scott Case decision, Chief Justice Roger Taney was the man that was required to come to a complete conclusion on the case. He had to take many aspects of the Constitution into consideration including the laws over property rights and freedom of speech. The main issue that came into play was the facts that black slaves were considered property despite the fact that they are indeed human. Because of this Dred Scott should be treated as property of the state so he the state would decide how they wanted to deal with him. And Missouri, being a slave state, took Scott back into slavery. Also according to Taney, blacks were not even citizens of the United States, so Dred Scott had no right to even sue Stanford. Taney, lastly deemed the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

LAD#17-"Ain't I a Woman" Speech

"Ain't I a Woman" Speech, Sojourner Truth, 1851

In this speech, Sojourner Truth discusses her views on feminism and slavery. She wonders why men feel like women should be treated so delicately, if women like Sojourner work just as hard as men. She also wonders why she doesn't get treated like a lady due to her slavery. This speech goes along with the belief that all people, men, women, and blacks, should be treated equally.

LAD#16- "5th of July Speech" by Fredrick Douglass

"5th of July" Speech, Rochester, NY 1852

In this speech Fredrick Douglass discusses what the Fourth of July is to him. "The Fourth of July is yours, not mine." This is a very powerful statement. Douglass is basically saying that the whites have this holiday to celebrate their freedom and independence of the United States, but blacks do not get to be included in this celebration due to their lack of freedom. He expresses how all these citizens are celebrating while he only hears the wails of millions of slaves. Douglass even refers to slavery as "the greatest sin in America."

LAD#15- The Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address

In Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address, he discusses the current state of the "United" States of America. The country is fiercely fighting in a Civil War and there are many deaths. Lincoln suggests that the citizens of the United States continue with this fight that the deceases soldiers from the Battle of Gettysburg failed to complete. He expresses his hope that our country can move past this war and become united once again under one government for the people.

LAD#14- Lincoln's First Inaugural Addresss

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address 1861

In Lincoln's first inaugural address, he starts off saying that he understands that some southerners might be apprehensive about Lincoln coming into the presidency due to the fact that he's a Northerner from Illinois. He addresses the slavery issue saying, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."Lincoln continues his speech by addressing the current issues of that time. He promises the country that he will follow the ways of the Constitution and allow the people their rights. He promises to follow the ways of a true democracy and not hold supreme authority.

LAD#13-John Calhoun Speech

Summary of John Calhoun's Speech March 4, 1850
The Clay Compromise Measures

In John Calhoun's speech that he was to ill to actually give, he discusses the disunion that is present in the United States. He expresses his feelings that the North has a dominance over the South due to their role in Federal Government that mainly benefits them, and also the division that is present due to the slavery issue. The North is the only area that has territories. The South owns no territories. Because of this, John Calhoun fears that as new states are added they will all go to the North. This will disturb the equilibrium, not only in number of Northern vs. Southern states, but it will also create inequality within the Senate. Calhoun creates a great image, describing the United States as a Union that is bound together by many cords and the disunion that is present must be the work of time only. "It is only through a long process, and successively, that the cords can be snapped until the whole fabric falls asunder." This image that he creates explains that the disunion that is present in the U.S. is not solely based on slavery, it is also made up of other issues that have been brewing over time. He closes by saying that as Senators representing their states, they must come to a conclusion on how to proceed.

LAD#12-Polk's War Message

Summary of President Polk's War Message 1846

The United States wants to have peace with Mexico. In prior attempts to discuss peace with Mexico, they have refused to hear us.  John Slidell was sent to discuss this boundary with General Herrera of Mexico.  But at this point in time General Herrera's government was falling so they were in no position to come to any terms and they also disagreed with making a decision. So during Slidell's time there there was a power change and Mexico was now in the hands of General Paredes. General Paredes also refused to discuss the situation with Slidell. Disputes continued to occur along the border of Texas and Mexico, and right before this address, Mexico crossed into our territory which leaves the U.S. with no other choice but to declare war.

LAD#11- Seneca Falls Declaration

Summary of the Seneca Falls Declaration July 19, 1848

Historically, men have not treated women equally. They have held more power in jobs. They are able to vote. They rule their family. But both men and women are created equally, so they should be treated equally as well. This declaration lists all of the grievances that men have pushed on women. The format of this declaration is very similar, along with the diction, to that of the Declaration of Independence. For example they begin with "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal..." and it also continues with a list of grievances similar to how the colonists had a list of grievances towards Britain. It ends with a resolution, with women asking for equal rights to men. It sums it up saying that women were born equal to men, and God created them just the same, therefore women should not be subordinate to men.