LAD #16- Emancipation Proclamation

January 1, 1863 marked the day in which President Lincoln stated that all slaves would be freed, and that no person or government official could take away the liberties they gained, or suppress their rights in any way. He stated that every slave within the borders of the United States would be pronounced free and would remain free forevermore. He said that he could do this by means that it was deemed necessary and proper for the betterment of the United States as a whole. It was stated that labor should be applauded with wages, and that people of any race are eligible for the services of the United States and its armies.

LAD #15- Lincoln's Second Inaugural

Lincoln stated that since his first inaugural speech was so lengthy, there was little that he still had to cover. Also, because of his frequented meetings with the public throughout his four year presidency, he had already addressed many of the issues he needed to. He knew as much about the progress of the war as the people did, and he believed that significant strides were being made. Four years prior, everyone knew that war was coming and they were preparing for it. Although neither party necessarily wanted war, it was almost inevitable and it came regardless. He mentioned that one eighth of the population was black slaves, and were mainly located in the South. Although the government only went so far as to forbid it in future territories, everyone knew that the well-being of these slaves was a great cause of the war. Neither side, however, predicted the length and the great extent of the war, and Lincoln hoped it could come to an end.

LAD #14- Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott Decision had a lot to do with the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise and if the United States was going to go according to the laws of the Missouri Compromise or write new laws. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney was the spokesperson for the court. This decision spread across the country, and it forced people to take a side on the issue of slavery and how far each state should go in deciding this question for themselves. Only two days after Buchanan’s inauguration, everyone filed into the courthouse to hear the decision made by Taney. He raised the question of whether a black can be given the rights of a normal American citizen, and be entitled to the privileges held by these citizens. Another one of these rights was the right to sue, and he stated that blacks did not even have this right, so it was unconstitutional that Dred Scott was even suing them in the first place. Also, they designated Dred Scott as a piece of property. Therefore, he said that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. They were still slaves because they were bought in a slave holding state, and would thus remain enslaved. Since Scott was purchased in Missouri and Missouri was a slave holding state, he was a slave.

LAD #13- Gettysburg Address

When this country was first discovered, and the Constitution was written, it was put forth on the basis that all men were created equal. This should still hold true today (when the Gettysburg Address was written), The Civil War is testing these principles, and whether a nation based on these principles can actually endure and prevail. All of the people who have risked their lives to help this nation need to be fought for, and because so many people have lost their lives in trying to preserve the Union, it must be preserved. The Union, that was created for the people by the people, must remain intact.

LAD #12- First Inaugural Address

The First Inaugural Address was presented when Abraham Lincoln was starting his first term as President of the United States. He stated that there was some tension in the Southern states regarding their treatment. He stated that he was not going to address the issue of slavery, for he felt that he did not have the right to do so. He said that the people voted for him because they knew that he did not hold a stand against slavery, and he felt that he had to carry out this promise. He also said that there was controversy over the service and labor. He also said that when a slave was freed, it did not truly matter whether it was the responsibility of the state or federal government, because what has to be done will be done. There need not to be violence to solve this problem, Secession represents monarchy, and should not be considered. He wanted to preserve the union at all costs, and he would do anything in his power to keep this. There is also no rush to make rash decisions, He said that they are now enemies, and the Union should consolidate.

LAD #11- Polk’s Message

Mexico and the United States wanted to work together in order to better the relations between the two countries. A great deal of time was put into these considerations, and the relations between the newly acquired territory of Mexico were considered. Diplomats were sent to the Mexican territories in order to figure out the regulations to the treaty. Friendly relations were wanted of the two countries; however, a clear agreement was hard to negotiate. Government was essentially changed because of this; the people in charge of government as well. The terms were deemed reasonable. The Rio del Norte son became the southern border of the United States and the northern border of Mexico. The alliance with Mexico was almost dissipated. They wanted to conquer Texas as well, in order to gain more lands and increase the total size of their nation. All of the Southern states were required to give their opinions, and Congress was asked to formally declare war.

LAD #10- The Clay Compromise

The Clay Compromise speech was actually delivered by John C. Calhoun, a South Carolinian. In it, he eloquently stated his dissatisfaction with the Union. He continually brought up points in helping to preserve the Union, but he said the backbone was that it was the North’s fault the South was dissatisfied, and it was the North’s fault that the South wanted to seceded, because the South was given unequal opportunities and an unbalanced representation in the government. The slavery question was also very important, according to Calhoun. He stated that the more states that were admitted into the North’s side, anti-slavery etc., the less say the South would have in the government. The Senate, which has two Senators from each state, would be swayed if the majority if it was from the North, and thus the North would dominate the government. The Western states that are being admitted, mainly Oregon, Minnesota and neighboring territories, were all being admitted into the North’s side, only strengthening Calhoun’s argument that the North is taking control of the government. Thus, the equilibrium is being destroyed, the thing that Calhoun and the rest of the Southerners are most upset about. 20 northern States to 14 Southern states tipped the scale, favoring the North, as the Senators were mainly from the North. Three quarters of the country’s land mass was now controlled by the North, leaving a small quarter for the South. The tariffs also benefit the North at the expense of the South, as they imported goods more readily. He also stated that the South was willing to work on preserving the Union, but only if the North would leave at rest the issues causing the conflicts, such as slavery and expansionism and give the South a more equal part in government.

LAD #9- Seneca Falls Convention

At the convention, women talked about their role in society. Only marking the very beginning of this long struggle, women demanded equal rights under the law, in which part of the Convention they re-wrote out part of the Constitution and included the phrase “…that all men and women are created equal…” After this, they went on to state their grievances and the opportunities they have missed out on because of their inferiority, such as the laws they are forced to follow, even though they had no say in the making of them, or women’s lack of authority over property, and the fact that once she is married, she becomes ‘civilly dead,’ or the fact that the government will only recognize them as individuals if they can benefit from them somehow, through taxation of her property or by other means. Also, they grieved over the fact that most profitable and respectable jobs are occupied by men, for colleges to get a good education are only opened to men. The second part stated their resolutions to these problems, including that any law that puts a woman in a subordinate position under a man should be void and not possess any authority. Also, the religious aspect was brought in when the women stated that God created them to be equal to men, not inferior, and thus should be treated as such. They also stated that the behaviors of respect that are demanded of women should be demanded from men as well. In conclusion, the Convention’s purpose was to gain rights for women by listing grievances they hold and listing resolutions to them.