LAD #26: MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech

From the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous 'I Have a Dream' Speech on August 28th 1963.  Part of the March on Washington, King's speech was presented to millions calling for equal civil rights for all people of any race.  He begins this speech referencing the Emancipation Proclamation.  He states that after this proclamation was announced the slaves were officially free, yet 100 years later blacks are still not free.  He continues this idea mentioning the ways in which blacks are mistreated, discriminated against and segregated.  Along with this, King speaks of the Declaration of Independence, and how African Americans still do not receive an equal treatment as whites.  King declares that now is the time to change these injustices and abuses of civil rights.  He believes that everyone wanting this change must stick together, and never let up.  King shares his beliefs in his famous words "I have a dream..." "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."  This sums up his hopes that through hard work, our nation can one day truly be equal for all people.

LAD #25: The Dawes Act

 Signed into law February 8, 1887, The Dawes Act allowed the U.S. to break up Native American lands into individual parcels.  These little chunks of land would be given out to each of the individual Native Americans, and the surplus land was to be sold to white settlers.  The plots that were given out to the Native Americans depended on each persons age, as well as if they had a family or not.  Furthermore, Native Americans were allowed to choose their own land, and if two people chose the same plot then it would be divided and they'd be given the rest of their land somewhere else.  If picks for plots were not made in a certain amount of time (four years), then an agent would pick for them.  Native Americans with this land would receive legal patents that would be enforced and protected.  These Native Americans were now under U.S. law however.  This meant they could be protected by the law, but also could be punished by it.  Lastly, Native Americans not a part of any tribe could apply for U.S. citizenship.  Tribes such as the Iroquois and the Sioux were not offered these things however.

LAD #24: Bryan's Cross fo Gold

The most famous speech in American history was written and orated by William Jennings Bryan on July 9th, 1896.  Given at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, this speech centered around endorsing the free coinage of silver at a 16 to 1 ratio to gold.  Bryan starts off his speech by explaining to the crowd that men are born, live and die, but that principles are forever lasting.  He declares that the matter at hand is one of these principles.  Around this time, a section of the Democratic Party called the silver Democrats took over the Party and spread across the country. There goal was to campaign to try and get silver to be coined freely.  These men were unselfish and put their opinions aside and agreed with the majorities views.  Bryan explains that northern businessmen got in the way because they were only following their interests, as opposed to those of the common man.  He believes that the miners and farmers were equally as good as the businessmen in New England.  Bryan explains that this fight for the free coinage of silver is one of the average man, as many farmers needed this to pay off debts. He views the income tax as something good for the people and that government should play a bigger role in coining money. Bryan stood firm in his belief that Americans must move toward bimetallism, instead of just gold.

LAD #23: Populist Party Platform

Emerging from the Farmers Alliance, the Populist Party rose in the 19th century as a third independent party in the presidential elections.  The Populists were opposed to having all the money in the hands of a few, and were against big business in general. Along with being against big business, they were also against all the corruption that dominated Washington, and felt that workmen were being denied their rights.  This party called for silver to be used as an unrestricted form of currency.  The Populist Party believed that these problems had arisen because of the other parties lack of taking action against it, and believed it was time to put the government and the money of the country back into the hands of the "plain people".  Along with supporting the rights of workers, this party was all for labor unions as well.  They also called for government to operate the telephone companies and a public railroad that worked in the interest of the people. Among these things they believed in restricting foreigners so that Americans could get American jobs.  All of these ideas were written into a Declaration of Independence-style document.

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

 On April 11th, 1898, President McKinley addressed Congress about the war in which Cuba was fighting against Spain.  Americans had tried to remain neutral after fighting broke out in 1895 when Cubans began their quest to gain independence.  McKinley spoke to Congress about this ongoing war because for the first time the lives of American citizens were beginning to be affected. Along with this, the economy and trading relations were also being impacted by the war.  McKinley explains that three years into the war there is still no obvious victor, and that he believes America either needs to become neutral in the war, or become a military ally.  McKinley explains that this intervention is necessary to put an end to the bloodshed, protect the lives of Cubans, as well as saving our own trade, and government.  The last reason given was that the U.S.S. Maine was supposedly blown up by a torpedo, so action needed to be taken.  He finalizes his speech by asking Congress to allow the U.S. to take action to make peace.