LAD #17: Ain't I A Woman Speech

Sojourner Truth is standing up for the rights of negro women, the "double jeopardy people". She starts off by noting how women should be helped out of carriages, because they are fragile and dainty, and should get the best place, but she has never gotten that, because she is a woman. Women like her should have as much rights as their counterparts because they are as tough, they work as hard, and they can get beaten just as much. Then Sojourner mixes in some religion, noting how Jesus came from a woman not as man.

LAD #16: 5th of July Speech

 

Frederick Douglass starts off his speech by noting how they asked him to prepare a speech commemorating the Declaration of Independence. Then he is quick to note the irony in the fact that these white men are free and celebrating their Independence, but his people are still enslaved, so e cannot celebrate with these white men who are free. America, supposedly land of the free, is not free for all. African Americans are as able as white, so therefore, they should have the same equality. It is wrong to work these African American people without wages, to hit them and lash them, to sell them like property, and starve them. The Fourth of July to an enslaved person, is a mockery at them. This nation has done worse atrocities to their slaves than their European counter-parts.

LAD #15: Gettysburg Address

On November 19th, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. He starts off by saying that America was based off of the fact that all men are created equal, and that equality is what led to the American Revolution. The people who have died at Gettysburg have done so because they have faith in what they believed in. Their cause was a noble one, and they died fighting for it. The men that fought here will never be forgotten. The soldiers still living and fighting are dedicated to their causes and should keeping on fighting, but that those who died are the real heroes today, and that they should be remembered because of how hard they worked for what they believed in.

LAD #14: First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

On March 4th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln presented his inaugural speech. In it, Lincoln addressed the South's fears of losing their rights to owning slaves. He clearly starts off by noting their anxiety, and telling them that he has no intentions against them or their right to slavery, even though the party in government has changed to the Republican Party. He then says that he has no right to remove slavery. He promises that any slaves who escape to free states do not get to be free, and if caught, they will be brought back to their owners. He then directs the South to the fact that they signed the Constitution and therefore, as a result, are "locked into" the Union. He goes on to say that violent actions taken against the government will be considered "treason" against the government, and only then will he need to enforce laws. He then says that the country must stay together because it is a union, one part without the other will not last. The ends by saying that the Union must have peace with one another, that no one section should be divided against another section, in order to maintain a stable government.

LAD #13: John Calhoun's Speech

Calhoun, in his speech, states the many reasons that the US's unity is threatened by sectionalism. Some of the causes include slavery, which the Southerners were very discontent with getting rid of, because it was their work force. As well as the growing political parties of the Democrats and Whigs, which caused people to ally with either side, and to hate those who opposed their party. The Northerners now have a greater say in government because of the addition of Northern states, and as a result, can do as pleases themselves, completely ignoring the Southern part of the Country's wants.  Then, there's the fact that the South brings in most of the revenue, but the North, because of their greater and still growing power, gets the bulk of the South's money. Calhoun then goes on to re-elaborate on the fact that slavery is a sore spot for the South, and that there is an underlying threat of secession from the Union. Calhoun wants the country to do its best to stay united, by appeasing the South in any way they can.

LAD #12: President Polk's War Message

 Polk starts off by saying that the United States had tried to has peaceful relations with the Mexican government, even sending envoys to try and make amends over boundary disputes; but the Mexicans would not entertain their ideas. Polk sent Mr. Slidell to help fulfill the desires regarding boundary disputes. General Herrera, the governor was willing to hear the envoy, but just before this could go through, the government was taken over by General Paredes, who would not hear what the envoy had to say. Polk order troops to be ready to take action, and placed them between the Nueces and the Del Norte in Texas, this is because Texas asked to be annexed into the United States. The troops were across from Matamoras, where the Mexican troops were stationed. The Mexicans responded that if the American troops were not moved farther back within 24 hours, that the Mexicans would attack. Polk then goes on to state that the once friendly relations are long gone and the US is justified and should go to war with Mexico because it is in their best interests.

LAD #11 - Seneca Falls Declaration

This Declaration was created in 1848,  with the Declaration of Independence in mind. That is to say that, the Seneca Falls Declaration states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal..." the same way as the Declaration in 1776. Starting off, the women list their many grievances with the government, and the fact that women are considered inferior to men, thereby giving them less rights. They include, no voice in government, no right to divorce, and if divorced, women don't get guardianship of their children, no right to property, or the money they make, and no right to a college education. Like the Declaration in 1776, the women then states resolutions to this problem. These include, women being equal to men, more rights within the Church, and being taken seriously in public/being able to contribute her own ideas in public meeting without being ignored.