LAD #16: The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was written by Abraham Lincoln. It was a declaration saying in which states slaves were free. Lincoln stated that the “Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons.” This meant that the government recognized the freedom of these slaves and that they would not do anything to repress this freedom. He stated that “Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.” He then goes on to say that slaves should not use violence unless it is self-defense. Finally, he states that the act is an act of justice and states that this act will finally affix the country.

LAD #15: Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

On Saturday, March 4, 1865 Abraham Lincoln made his Second Inaugural Speech for his second term as president. He states that the speech would not be as detailed as his first one since, at the time there was not much he could talk about. Although it was almost the end of the civil war, and although slavery had almost ended, Lincoln stated that it was not a time for celebration but a time for remorse. He states that it was a horrible war in that brothers fought brothers, and countrymen fought countrymen. He also says that we should all be taking care of each other. He closes out his speech saying “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, 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 meant that he was going to do his best to end the war, with no hard feelings, and that he was going to repair all that was damaged during the war, physically and mentally.

LAD #14: Dred Scott vs. Sanford Supreme Count case

The Dred Scott Court case had lasting impacts on American history. Dred Scott was a slave that traveled from Missouri to Illinois after the Missouri Compromise. He believed that once in Illinois he was a free man. In April 1846, he sued for his freedom, arguing that since he had been in both a free state and a free territory he had become legally free, and could not have afterwards reverted to being a slave. The case was brought to the Supreme Court and Roger Taney made the decision. Roger Taney decided in the case of Scott vs. Stanford that African Americans could not be granted citizenship to the United States and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories. Taney also stated that Scott not a citizen of the United States did not even have the privilege of being able to sue in a federal court. It was also decided that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Taney ruled in favor of Stanford and sent the case to a lower court.

LAD #13: Gettysburg Address

This was one of Lincoln’s most famous speeches delivered four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg. He first dedicates the battleground to the brave men, living and dead, that fought in the war, and helped the nation in a time of desperation. He then says that the Civil war was a “new birth of freedom” for the country. He also says that the American democratic tradition will never perish stating the “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

LAD #12: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln delivered his first inaugural address on Monday, March 4, 1861. He starts of by saying that he has no reason to discuss those matters of administration because he needs to discuss the matters dealing with the Southern states. His whole inaugural address was basically all directed to the south in which he discussed about mainly the issue of secession and slavery. He states that he has no purpose or inclination to rid the southern states of slavery. He says that it is up to the states to decide about slavery, not him and the federal government. He then goes on to say that he is a strong supporter of the Fugitive Slave Law which stated that No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall in consequence of any law or regulation therein be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. This meant that all runaway slaves must be returned to their owners. He says that he will do anything "to preserve, protect, and defend the United States Constitution.” He then states that he had no objection to the Crowin amendment to the Constitution. Then he states that mails will be continued throughout his presidency. He then goes on to talk about secession and how it is basically impossible. He states that physically the country could not separate. He states “We can not remove our respective sections from each other nor build an impassable wall between them.” He ends by saying that no matter what we are all country men and that “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”

LAD #11: John Calhoun's Speech

Since Calhoun was too ill to read this speech another senator with Calhoun present in the Senate Chamber proceeded to read it. He commenced by asking the question of how the union shall be preserved? He then says that the one cause of the sectionalism between the North and the South is slavery. He then says the reason for this division is because of the different political influences. He then states that another reason for the split between the North and the South was the growing size of the North. This meant that the North would take over Congress. He then talks about the tariff and how it is only beneficial for the North. Calhoun’s point is that the union will be able to be preserved only if the North, the bigger and more powerful faction helps the South.

LAD #10: Polk's War Message

On May 11, 1846 President Polk made a message to the Senate and House of Representatives about America’s relations with Mexico. He said that for the last few years America has been nothing but peaceful with Mexico. Polk had sent John Slidell of Louisiana to Mexico on a mission. This mission had nothing to do with violence, but only to purchase the territory of California and New Mexico. The Mexicans realized that Slidell was not only in their country for that and they sent him back home. Polk built up an army in Del Norte just in case the Mexicans attacked. They did and a few American soldiers were killed. Polk was extremely angry with this and this caused him to develop even more hatred for Mexico. The commerce between the two nations was horrible and there was no reason for peace. Polk suggested that Mexico be terminated through war.

LAD #9: Declaration of Sentiments

In 1840 a group of American women met, in Seneca Falls. These women believed in equality, for both men and women. In the Seneca Falls Convention these ladies wrote the Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration of Sentiments has three major parts. The first restates the Declaration of Independence, except it includes women. For example it states "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal." The next part of the document lists all the inequalities between men and women. It talks about how ignorant Natives and foreigners are given more privileges than they were. In addition they state about unequal education, the rejection of the right to vote, and many more unfair practices. The Declaration of Sentiments then finally goes on to stating how these problems will be fixed. For example it states, that women should be treated as god intended her to be an equal. It also states that women should be given the same knowledge that men do, so they can be an important part of society. The Seneca Falls Convention was a major milestone, not only for women's rights, but also for abolitionism.