LAD #20: Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, and effectively freed all slaves within “any States or designated part of a State.” The government and military will be fully involved in enforcing their freedom. The Proclamation goes so far as to state that anyone who defies this order and tries to inhibit slaves from leaving will officially be in rebellion against the United States. President Lincoln and the military forces he commands will openly suppress this rebellion. This will be in full effect for the first 100 days after the Proclamation is established. The states that are affected by this are 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.

Lincoln again states that all slaves that reside in these areas are free and that their freedom will be maintained by the military and government. He suggests that the newly freed slaves find paid work and abstain from violence. He also says that some of these freed slaves will end up in the United States military.

LAD #19: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln acknowledges that since it is his second election, there is less reason to make a long speech. He discusses the “great contest” that the nation is facing and provides an optimistic point of view on the subject. However, he clearly gives no prediction on its outcome.

Four years ago, the nation was anxious about a civil war and Lincoln had desired to preserve the union without warfare. Neither party wanted war, but in a way it was inevitable. He talks about slavery and how it was a reason for the North to keep fighting this war. He suggests that neither party expected the war to be this close or indecisive. He appeals to humanistic and religious values, stating that both sides read the same Bible and pray to the same God. Lincoln furthers this by saying that slavery was brought by God, but continued past its appointed time by man. Above anything, Lincoln wishes for the war to end with the side of justice winning. He talks of peace at the end, extending his focus to all nations around the world despite the fact that the United States is in the midst of a civil war. 

LAD #18: Dred Scott decision

The slavery debate in the South was raging in the late 1850s. The famous Dred Scott case embodied both the pro-slavery and abolitionist movements in the North and South sections of the United States. Many intelligent Americans were informed of the Dred Scott Case, and its implications for the future of expansion and the future of slavery in the United States. It was stated that the decision belonged fully to the Supreme Court Chief Justice Taney. His decision was wildly argued over and he got a lot of personal dislike from the people. He did not expect blacks to be able to be a part of the American political community, including both slaves and free blacks in the same category. With this assumption that Scott was never a full citizen of the United States, Taney was able to declare that he should not be allowed to sue in Federal Court at all. He says that the Constitution does not differentiate between slaves and other property, and thus Dred Scott is still a slave even after being relocated to the Missouri territory. 

LAD #17: Ain't I a Woman

Truth makes detailed references to the several miniature revolutions and reform movements going on in America at the moment, and speculates on when the white men will start to react violently over all of these power usurping issues.

She then goes on to detail her own personal experiences as a Southern black women, with her children sold off into slavery and her own experiences as a slave.

She relates this back to the reform movements that she is here to support, and points out a religious relate. She relates women today to both Eve and the virgin Mary, pointing out that women are strong and just as worthy as men.  

LAD #16: Fredrick Douglas's "5th of July" Speech

Douglas begins by addressing his fellow citizens, who presumably include both slaves and free men. He questions the idea and spirit of independence, announcing his belief that independence is a right all are entitled to. He states that the day of independence, celebrated the day before on July 4^th, is important but not wholly justified with many in the nation still not free. He addresses those who may mock him, scorning and shaming them. He goes so far as to call upon religion to prove his point. He eventually gets through to the fact that he is talking about American slavery. He attempts to get all Americans to empathize with the slaves and their opinion on freedom and things. He calls slavery “hideous” and “revolting.” Douglas’s goal is to prove that black and white men are equal in every way and calls to the stand the fact that many black people are doctors, gold diggers in California, and many other things other than slaves. He calls slavery the act of robbing a man of his liberty.

In conclusion, Douglas states that the Fourth of July is only a bad occasion for enslaved black people to feel the fact that they are not free and nowhere near independence. He condemns free Americans for not doing anything about slavery and questions the values that America truly stands for. 

LAD #15: Gettysburg Address

Lincoln takes us back to the beginning of the nation, when unity was the only option and the forefathers of the United States accomplished the nearly impossible feat of uniting the new nation. The current civil war has disrupted that union, but more importantly, it has caused American men to lay down their lives, and that is consecration enough for the grounds at Gettysburg. He commands respect for the battlefield and assures that the war and all it implies will never be forgotten from here. His final line puts in his hope for freedom and peace within the nation. 

LAD #14: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln introduces himself and begins his speech with a wide idea of government, the presidency, and the age-old tradition of the inaugural address. He specifically states that he will not talk about matters that are not currently pertinent. From there, he jumps directly into the sectionalism issue. The Southern States hold the belief that their rights are in danger. Lincoln assures them that this fear is unfounded and the government wishes to detract from their rights. He then quotes a prior speech of his to prove this: “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” He says that he will stand by this and similar declarations. He wishes to preserve the Federalist balance of power in the nation and protect states’ rights. His plans for the presidency are to preserve the union by securing the rights of states to their own institutions but having the Federal government play a role in the lives of the nation’s people.

Lincoln next starts with some more specific claims about slavery. He quotes the section of the Constitution that mentions the fleeing of slaves from state to state. He upholds that every member of Congress swears to every section of the Constitution, including even this controversial bit. He continues to talk about the particular clause, belays the question of whether the right to re-impress slaves is a Federal or Reserved power, and even goes into the will of the captured slave. He questions the human rights involved in the slavery system, with a very clear purpose  of not offending the South.

Lincoln goes on to state his mission in office. He wishes to uphold the Constitution in all its fairness, and uphold the rights and safety of United States citizens. He humbly accepts his new position as President and praises all others before him. He again states his admiration for the Constitution. He questions the unity of the United States, referring slightly to the unsuccessful government under the Articles of Confederation. He then negates its value by saying that the union was together before the Constitution even existed, and as such the union should remain together.

He states a new type of revolution that could occur, state against state. He wishes that the bond of the union could mean more to the states than simply the bond of the state government to its people. Lincoln personally believes that his main duty is to keep harmony between the states and preserve the union as it has always been. He does not wish for this process to be violent, and he promises that there will be no violence unless it’s absolutely necessary on federal authority.

The laws of the federal government will continue to be enforced inside the union as much as the Constitution dictates. Lincoln is aware that there are people within the union who wish to see it destroyed, and to them he hopes that his message is able to get through and make them see his more sensible side. He does not believe that any true constitutional right has been denied to anyone within the union, despite all of the sectional dissent. Lincoln admits that he does not know whether the Constitution would permit slavery in territories, and that this is a question among many others that must be solved. This leads Lincoln into a description of additional constitutional controversies, which must be solved by the relenting of either the majority or the minority. This is a dire threat to the stability of the government. He asks the people if there are some who believe that no perfect union can ever be achieved.

Lincoln from there enters into a commentary on the possibility of secession. He asks if secession and anarchy have common ground. He firmly states that questions of constitutionality go to the Supreme Court and that they decide what is just and fair about the current outstanding issue. He expresses that constitutionality of laws is assured by judicial review.

He quickly jumps back into the central issue of slavery, stating the main debate between the two sides of the issue. Lincoln clearly states why secession is not an option, and compares the United States to a divorcing couple.

Lincoln reinstates the fact that government gets its power from the people that it governs, which is a constitutional principle, and swears to protect their rights and happiness within the union.

Lincoln ends his speech by encouraging all citizens or whichever state, section, or political party that they may belong to, to think about the issue and see Lincoln’s points. He states that this issue is in the hands of the citizens, not the president, and bides them to wish with him that the  government and the people could remain friends and refrain from becoming enemies. 

LAD # 13: Polk's War Message

Mexico-Texas Boundary 1845-1848

Polk’s war message of 1846 is about the possibility of a war between Mexico and the United States because of their recent disagreements. Mexico has been the main aggressor in this problem. Former peacekeeping advances have failed dismally. The Texas boundary is a main cause of concern in American and Mexican relations. The attempts to create a democratic compromise by Mr. Slidell and General Ferrera were an attempt at keeping the peace between the United States and Mexico, but this attempt as well as others largely failed.

The government of Mexico has been fairly uncooperative in such matters since then, and there are still definitive problems with the border of Texas. Polk has already ordered an army to stand between the officially declared United States territory and Texas, which is yet undeclared, for protection. The United States and Mexico recognize different borders in that area, and Polk is confident that the United States, with superior military and resources, can win this war and get Texas for themselves.

In their invasion of Mexico, the American troops were ordered to stay away from being aggressive toward Mexicans or Mexican property so that their relations could still be described as peaceful. Despite Mexican hostilities, the American army led by one General Taylor was able to keep his distance, causing political harm to befall only Mexico. 16 American soldiers were killed or wounded in a Mexican attack.

This attack is only one small spot in years of shaky relations with Mexico, during which numerous wrongs have befallen the United States from them. Polk suggests that a war with Mexico is a long time in coming. Commerce with Mexico and any peaceful relations that have existed are already greatly suffering. The nation of Texas will be a mere casualty in this attempt to right the wrongs between the two major countries.

Mexico has acted aggressively toward the United States despite attempts to negotiate peace, which leaves the United States no option but war.  

LAD #12: John Calhoun's Speech

Calhoun starts by stating his interest in preserving the union despite the slavery issue. He believes that one must understand the cause of the dissolution of the Union to try to solve the problem. The main cause, in Calhoun’s opinion, is the fact that the Southern states are unhappy with the union. Going further, the discontent that exists in the South is caused by the different political parties in their political lives. The force of political parties is a powerful one and could not stop the Southern discontent from spreading. There is another, deeper cause to the discontent in the South, and that is the simple belief among people in the South that they cannot remain a part of the union.

There are many causes for this feeling, the first being the prevalent slave issue. The fact that the northerners have dominance in the Federal government greatly bothers the South as well. This has led the South to believe that they are oppressed.  

Calhoun expresses some concern about the upcoming census, and the fact that there are territories approaching statehood in the North, but not the South. The true concern in this matter is that this problem is completely caused by the government. The looming problem of a sectional majority in the legislative branch of the Federal government also contributes. The North is also claiming territory and leaving the South out of it.

The problems caused by the tariff which helped Northern merchants but indirectly hurt Southern farmers is of particular issue. This has the effect of making the North richer and more appealing to immigrants. This contributes to the population shift that has given the North the majority in Congress.

Here, Calhoun jumps back to the issue of slavery, and how against it Northerners are. The slavery issue alone creates dissonance between the two, because the North thinks of slavery as sinful and primitive. Because of this, they feel that the South is a problem that takes away from the character of the nation as a whole.

Unless something is done, the nation will fall apart under these problems. The sectional problems cannot end until slavery is ended, but even that blow will not end the disunity between sections. However, if the agitation continues at the same level, the union will fall apart.

From here, Calhoun questions how the nation can be saved. Only by destroying the root cause for the problems can peace be achieved. Only the North can accomplish this, but they must be willing to, as they are the stronger party. The aim is to improve and strengthen the South to put the nation on equal footing.

Calhoun hopes that all the Senators to whom he is speaking wish for a peaceful settlement, and begs that his ideas be considered. He believes that he has done his duty on this matter by giving this speech, and that others must actually take the steps to produce peace. 

LAD #11: Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments

The beginning of the Seneca Falls Declaration mimics the introduction to the Declaration of Independence in saying that all  men (and women) are created equal and some specific clauses and oppositions to that statement.

They go on to create a list of grievances, specifically citing things that man has done to womankind, which continues to follow the format of the Declaration of Independence. These grievances include their rights to citizenship and property, and citing the specific differences between the treatment of men and women in American society, by both the public and the government. It includes both Church and state, showing that woman is given a subordinate position in both. The last grievance is more social and general, referring to the respect that women procure.

The Declaration next says that women should immediately be given all the rights that they are owed by the government. The next paragraph even states that they understand the difficulty of this process and the ridicule that they will unrightfully earn.

The last section contains a number of resolutions that the convention hoped to achieve, or claimed to already be true. The equality of men and women is the only central theme to these resolutions, for they involve equality in church, state, and society in general.