LAD#26- "I Have a Dream Speech"

Summary of "I Have a Dream Speech"

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, he talks about the adversity that black men and women faced in the racist 1960s. Not only does he discuss the struggles that they faced, but he also looks to the future in hopes of an end to discrimination and racial equality one day, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." King's powerful argument is only emphasized by his repetition of the phrases "I have a dream..." and "Let freedom ring.." King's speech is truly inspiration when looking to the future, it lit the fire in many peoples' souls to fight even harder for the end of discrimination.

LAD#25-Dawes Severalty Act

Dawes Severalty Act

The Dawes Act gives the President the right to allot a portion of land from a reservation to a head of each family. The President also has the right to designate portions of land for grazing and farming practices. Not only was this act an attempt to diminish the land holdings of the Indians, but it also was an attempt to assimilate them into American culture. By selling the Indians these plots of lands, the government was ultimately giving the Indians an opportunity to take on the Western American lifestyle.

LAD#24-Cross of Gold Speech

Cross of Gold Speech Summary

In this speech, William Jennings Bryan discusses the gold standard, however he expresses a different point of view. He shares how the gold standard of the United States affected the people from the South and West and how it gave them financial issues. Bryan expressed his support for free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. His most famous line from this speech, "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold," showed his negative view towards the gold standard.

LAD #23- Populists

Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party emerged from the farmer's alliances of the 1870s and 80s. This party was independent of democratic and republican view points. Instead, the populist party was anti-industrialism, and many of its leaders fought against Big Businessmen. This party mainly consisted of the workmen. It supported Unions, a National currency, and it wanted the government to allow the people to control the railroads. The populists wanted a fair ballot in all elections, they wanted to restrict "undesirable immigration,"they wanted fewer work hours, and lastly, they wanted to limit the Presidency to one term and allowing the people to directly chose Senators.

LAD#22 McKinley's War Message

Summary of McKinley's War Message

President McKinley tried to avoid a war with Spain. He even sent an ultimatum to Spain, threatening them to get out of Cuba. Spain agreed, so McKinley addressed Congress telling them that we needed to start taking the steps to end the Cuban conflict. Unfortunately, the war urges of Congress members and the American people led to the United States declaring war on Spain on April 11, 1898. The war raging on in Cuba seems like there will be no victory on either side. McKinley felt that the United States' only options were to intervene as an impartial neutral or to become an active ally on either side. The United States has a right to intervene in the war due to the serious damage the war has created for our trade, commerce, and business from the destruction of the island.