LAD #20: Emancipation Prclamation

Background:         
          The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Lincoln after the Battle of Fredericksburg, the victory there an excuse to finally do it. The proclamation was created with the intent of worsening conditions in the south, while still preserving the allegiance of the border states, as it freed slaves in enemy occupied territory only.

         As of the first of January, 1863, all slaves in areas still in rebellion shall be be forevermore free. Lincoln justifies this as fit and necessary. The territories included in this act are: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, with exceptions applying to certain counties and parishes. Lincoln states that this proclamation will be enforced by the Military, but also urges freed slaves to abstain from violence.

LAD #19: Lincolns second innaugural

          Lincoln begins his second inaugural address by basically stating that he is going to keep it short and sweet, unlike his first. The reason for this is that many of the issues he would discuss are already well known enough, and are largely linked to the war. Both sides sought to avoid this conflict, but in the end, war was really inevitable. Slavery was an interest that was a main contributor to tension, and ultimately war. Both sides thought the war would render a quick victory, but unfortunately this was not true. Lincoln ends with the statement that what they are doing is ascertained by god, and looks forward to peace as a unified nation.

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

          Initially, the first time the supreme court met on the matter they slightly favored Sanford and decided to make a moderate ruling based on this. However, they neglected larger issues of negro citizenship and the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. As a result, the SC's first decision written by Justice Nelson did not fit the opinion of the majority, and was thrown out, assigning the next decision to be written by Justice Rodger B Taney. The decision ruled that:
          - Blacks, even free blacks, were not considered citizens of the united states and therefore could not sue in court.
          - The Missouri compromise is unconstitutional as it deprived peoples in those territories of slaves, who were considered in the case to be property.
          - No decision was actually made as Taney believed the case should lie with the state from which a slave escaped, therefore he threw it back to the Missouri courts.

LAD #17: Aint I a Woman

          Truth begins by commenting on the current fights for rights by both slaves and white women, and suggests white men will be in a fix soon. She then makes a very good point that men view women as weak and defenseless, and must be treated such as the fragile creatures they are, helped into carriages, walked across puddles and such. But Truth fires back to this thought that no man has done that for her, and she is a woman. She can work and eat like a man, and she is a woman. Men argue that women cannot have rights because of inferior intellect, but this is not fair. Men say women can have rights because Christ was not a woman. However, Christ was born from god and woman... man had nothing to do with it. Although the first woman god created had the strenghth to flip the earth upside down, women today had the strength to flip it back.

LAD #16: Douglass' 5th of July Speech

          Douglass begins his speech with a series of questions; Why am I here to speak today? What have I to do with the nation's independence? Are those liberties and freedoms written in the declaration of independence and constitution extended to us (African Americans)? If god were to decide the answer to these questions, the outcome would be favorable to his cause, and would lighten the work of his job significantly. Unfortunately this s not the case. He is in fact not included in this honoring of American Independence as he and all other blacks do not share the rights and liberties had by their white counterparts. Slavery is an issue that has caused the nation to look black. The United States government is false and hypocritical as not all men are equal under its laws.

LAD #15: Gettysburg Adress

          The address begins with the famous line "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." - a principal that had now come into play, taking center stage as the catalyst of the civil war, manifesting itself in the form of the debate on slavery. Lincoln states that although they have made part of the battleground a memorial, they cannot consecrate it. That is done by the individuals who fought and died on the field. They shall not die in vain, as tremendous effort will be made to ensure "the birth of a new freedom" and the preservation of the union.

LAD #14: Lincoln's first inaugural

          Lincoln begins by stating that he will not be discussing any aspects of his administration that do not involve immediate anxiety. He then immediately addresses the apprehension felt by many in the southern section, and states there is no need for it- He does not oppose slavery, and feels he has no right, nor inclination to interfere with the institution of slavery. He also addresses states rights, acknowledging that it is the right of states to regulate their own domestic affairs, and denounces lawless invasion of any state or territory. Lincoln assures that no single section will be endangered by the new administration, and in addition they will cheerfully provide to protection to any state that should request it regardless of section. A main point is made that the laws of the constitution will be enforced in all states of the union, and the Union is to be preserved.

LAD #13: Calhoun speech

          Calhoun's speech deals mainly with the issue of slavery. He poses a series of questions and answers that all interconnect; the issue of slavery is rooted in sectionalism, sectionalism is a result of the varying policies and sentiments of peoples in different regions, including the south, experiencing much discontent over the issue; the discontent is a result of the continuous issues over slavery, and the North, and its attempt to hamper state's rights. In addition, a large contribution to discontent in the south was the fact that the equilibrium in the distribution of power between the north and south had been destroyed and the south had been left out of contemporary actions of government. Calhoun questions whether or not the Union can be saved, stating that it would be relatively easy out of context, but complete compliance with both parties would be difficult.

LAD #12: Polk's War Message

           With war looming between the countries of America and Mexico, largely due to border and territorial disputes, the US sought to peacefully resolve the matter through diplomacy. However, Mexico at first did not receive the American ambassador, and refused peaceful adjustment. Texas had become part of the US and a force had been sent to protect its borders from an invasion from mexico, which seemed likely. Ultimately, the US had sought diplomacy, but mexico refused to cooperate, and as a result, war had become imminent.

LAD #11: Declaration of sentiments

          The declaration begins with the statement that sometimes it is necessary for a group to change their role in society, but this change should be supported by reasoning, which will be given. The declaration is very much alike the Declaration of Independence, and in the beginning of the second paragraph, exactly the same, with the addition of "Women" in the phrase "all men and women are created equal. Also akin to the Declaration of Independence, the declaration of sentiments contains a list of grievances including the lack of the right to vote, and minimal property rights. 

LAD #10

          While Monroe was in office, discussions were had with the leader of Russia regarding land rights in the American Pacific Northwest. The Monroe doctrine establishes that the American continents (the western hemisphere) are no longer to be colonized by European nations. The doctrine also reiterates the United States' claim to neutrality in affairs between Spain and its colonies and their fights for independence in the western hemisphere. Monroe states that the US will not meddle in foreign Affairs with Europe, continuing the policies followed by previous presidents, and will also not interfere with colonies already established in the Americas. The bottom line is that the doctrine closes off the western hemisphere to further colonization by European powers... if this is violated, America will regard it as an aggressive act, and defend itself as such.