LAD #20: The Emancipation Proclamation

On New Year's Day, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.  This monumental declaration abolished slavery in the rebelling south, except for the bumper states, officially freeing all states.  This proclamation explains that, as commander-in-chief, Lincoln would use the military to make sure these slaves were freed if necessary.  He tells the slaves not to act out in violence, unless in self-defense, and asks them to join the military if they so choose.  He ends this proclamation justifying these actions with the Constitution and the favor of God.

LAD #19: Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

President Lincoln delivered his 2nd Inaugural Address on March 4th, 1865.  He started off this speech by declaring that it was not nearly as important as his first speech, which spoke of trying to avoid war in preserving the union.  In this speech he explains why this was not accomplished.  Lincoln explains that averting war was not possible with the north's plea to abolish slavery and the south's persistence in spreading it.  This split could not possibly remain in the same country.  Therefore war was necessary and unavoidable.  Lincoln goes on to say that there are still many similarities in the south, both reading the same bible and believing in the same god.  Lincoln concludes his speech by saying that they must continue to fight until complete unity is restored.

LAD #18: The Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott v. Sanford court case was very influential in deciding issues surrounding slavery.  In February 1857, the Supreme Court headed by Supreme Curt Justice Roger B. Taney, reviewed whether African-American slave Dred Scott was free or not.  He had crossed into a free-state and believed that this meant he was no longer a slave to his master.  Taney decided that Dred Scott was not allowed to even bring this to court because he was not a citizen, but instead "property" of his owner.  This decision meant that all slaves were considered property, regardless of what individual states viewed them as, and they can not be defended in court.  Taney went on to say that Congress did not have the right to abolish slavery within the states.  Finally, he concluded saying that slaves could not be taken from their owners without due process.  These decisions were very influential leading many historians to believe that it was the trigger for the Panic of 1857.

LAD #17: "Ain't I a Woman?"

Sojourner Truth delivered her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at a women's convention in Ohio, 1851.  In it, she combines elements from being both an abolitionist and a women's rights advocate.  She explains how guys are always saying how they have to treat women with respect and be chivalrous, but no one ever has treated her like that.  She says she can do anything as good as a man, but just because she's a woman people do not take her seriously.  She believes that because she is black she does not get treated like the other women, but because she is a women she is treated even worse.  All in all it shows that there are more than one inequality in America at this, with Truth feeling the effects of both the unfair treatment of blacks and of women.

LAD #16: "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?"

On the 4th of July, 1852, former slave turned abolitionist Frederick Douglass presented a speech titled "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?"  In it he describes how he can not celebrate Independence Day alongside the rest of the country because he's not included in it.  Douglass says he cannot celebrate the liberty, justice and prosperity because he does not have these things.  This day only exemplifies how much of a difference there is between blacks and whites.  Therefore, he mourns on this day.  He then goes on to declare that the nation is hypocritical and wrong for celebrating this day as millions of people in America are enslaved.  He is disgusted by this, and is blunt and to the point in saying that Americans are going against the Declaration of Independence and the Bible in not treating all equal.  He is ashamed that blacks have to prove they too are men, as they do all of the same things in expanding the nation as whites do.  Through the eyes of a slave, he describes this day as unjust and cruel, looking down on whites for rejoicing in festivities. 

LAD # 15: The Gettysburg Address

Lincoln delivered his powerful Gettysburg Address on November 19th 1863.  He began with the famous line "fourscore and seven years ago" speaking of founding the nation on the basis of liberty and that all men were created equal.  He went on to explain that the outcome of the civil war will show whether a nation based on these principles can survive.  He commemorates all the soldiers that have died in the war, fighting for trying to keep the nation together.  Lincoln declares that the words said on that day should not be remembered as much as the actions of the heroic soldiers that have died there.  He believes that it is everyone's duty to continue the work that the soldiers had started on preserving the union.  He does not want to let these men die in vain, and wants to make sure that the country remains together.

LAD #14: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

On Monday March 4th, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln addressed nation in his first inaugural addressed.  He first explained how he only wanted to discuss the most important matters the country faced during that time, with the first being the issue of slavery.  Lincoln understood that many southerners were worried that he woulld end slavery.  To reassure them, he explained his firm stance on not interfering with slavery in the southern states where it was already established. He also spoke of maintaining state rights to strengthen the country.  Next he spoke of keeping the fugitive slave laws in place, where it is required to turn in slaves trying to escape freedom by traveling north.  Lincoln was most focused on keeping the nation united however. He explained the union as a sort of contract, needing more than one party to break it.  Therefore, he believed that it was unconstitutional to attempt to secede from the union.  Lincoln believed that conflicted can be avoided peacefully, but showed that he would do anything it took to keep the union together.  He felt it imperative that a civil war must be avoided. 

LAD #13: John Calhoun Speech

In 1850, John C. Calhoun realized that the Union was on its way to being torn apart.  He explained his worries to Congress through his speech which he was too sick to even read himself.  Right off the bat, he blamed slavery as one of the main reasons for the rising tensions between the north and the south.  He believed that this, along with many other issues, must be resolved if the country was to remain united. He said that much of the disunity came from the huge division in political parties between the Democrats and the Whigs.  Next he believed that there was an unfair balance of sectionalism in government, with most representatives from the north because of its dense population.  Because they were in control, they were able to use things like the BUS for their interests.  Calhoun explained that another reason the south was upset was because most of the new states being annexed were in the north, which yet again caused an unfair balance of power in the Senate, House of Representatives and in the Electoral College.  And on top of all of this Southerners hated the north's Tariff of Abominations, because it helped the north and hindered the south.  Finally Calhoun believed that slavery, more than anything else, was dividing the union.  The north believed it was unjust, while the south believed it was a necessary part of their economy which was already being hurt by the tariff.  Calhoun predicted that there could only be two end results, abolition of slavery or secession.  Calhoun told Congress that the only way to stop the South from eventually seceding would be to appease them by fixing some of these conflicts.  All in all, Calhoun predicted that if nothing was done, a civil war was on the horizon.

LAD #12: Polk's War Message, 1846

In 1846, President James Polk addressed congress with a message speaking of the relations between the U.S. and Mexico.  At the time the U.S. was fighting with Mexico despite the U.S. attempts to resolve the fighting peacefully.  These attempts had failed due to the Mexican government refusing to listen to the U.S. diplomats.  Because of the fighting with Mexico, trade which was once very good between the two countries was now suffering.  Polk then goes into detail on his attempts to resolve the fighting with Mexico peacefully.  He explains how he sent Mr. Slidell, a US diplomat over to Mexico to speak with their leader about border issues as well as the Mexican attacks on the Texans.  Although allowed into the city, the Mexican General Herrera refused to speak to Mr. Slidell.  Shortly after this General Herrera gave up power to General Paredes.  So the U.S. tried to talk to General Paredes but he too, did not listen.  Because of these failed attempts of peace, Polk asked Congress to understand his decision in taking military action, before Mexico attacked.  With U.S. General Taylor leading troops to set up Camp at Corpus Christi as well as beyond the Nueces River, Polk gave Taylor permission to use volunteer soldiers from Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.  Polk asked Congress to understand these actions and to officially prosecute war with Mexico by sending aid to help win the war.

LAD #11: The Seneca Falls Declaration

In the July of 1849, women across the country came to Seneca Falls, New York to discuss women's rights.  As a result The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was written.  In it these women call for the equal treatment of men and women alike.  The Declaration starts off almost identical to the Declaration of Independence but includes that "all men and women are created equal".  The declaration goes on to list all the sentiments or grievances women have, including how they were being treated unequally.  After listing these, the women provide "Resolutions", or ways to stop all of these inequalities to provide equal treatment.