LAD #20 Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation

Summary of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued September 22nd, 1862, effected January 1st, 1863:

In the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln declares that all slaves held in any states or parts of states were declared free, and that the executive government, including the army and navy, will "recognize and maintain the freedoms of such persons." Furthermore, he claims that any states who maintain slavery will be in rebellion with the United States, and those states which have representation in Congress will not be in rebellion. Lincoln then lists the southern states that are in rebellion, and he again declares that the slaves held in those states are thenceforward free, and will be supported by the executive government and army and navy.

Lincoln then calls out to the newly freed blacks and enjoins them to avoid violence, and declares that any "persons of suitable condition" will be received into the military service of the Union.

LAD #19 Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Summary of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, 1865:

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Speech is rather short, and at its opening he declares that there is little new news to present to the nation, and that the progress of the war was as well known to the general public as it was to himself. He states that his first inaugural was devoted to saving the nation without war, but now war has come upon them because "...one party would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish."

He goes on to briefly discuss the how slavery led to the war, and how the war to date has surpassed the worst expectations on either side. He contemplates how both sides have prayed to God for assistance, and also how he believes that the Lord has his own plan on how to exact justice for the hundreds of years of bondage the slaves have been made to suffer.

Lincoln concludes with the resolution to complete the war, repair the nation, care for the damaged soldiers and their widows and orphans, and "...do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace..."

LAD #18 Dred Scott vs. Sanford Decision

Summary of the Decision of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney in the Dred Scott vs. Sanford Case, 1857:

Roger Taney had been chosen to write the majority opinion of the court in the Scott vs. Sanford Case, which would include considerations of Negro Citizenship and the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise, after a rejected opinion originally written by Justice Nelson. President elect James Buchanan even threw his support to the Supreme Court in his Presidential inauguration before the case had been settled.

Taney reported in a low voice the "shameful decision" of the Court on March 6th, 1857. In regards to the citizenship of Negros, Taney claimed that Negros, even free ones, were imported to America as slaves and are thus not legal citizens. Thus, without citizenship, they do not enjoy the privilege to sue in Federal Court

Furthermore, Taney stated that real citizens of the U.S. (in this case slaveowners) could not be deprived of life, liberty, or property anywhere in the U.S., including American territories. As slaves were not distinguished from other forms of property, and the Missouri Compromise deprived slaveholding citizens of their "property", the Missouri Compromise was thus declared unconstitutional.

Lastly, Dred Scott hoped that he could be declared free because of his stay in the free state Illinois. Unfortunately, Taney declared that the status of the slave depended on the laws of the state of residence when they brought the suit to Court, which was for Scott Missouri. The case was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, sent to the lower court with directions to again dismiss it, and thus the ruling of the Missouri Supreme Court in Sanford's favor  was upheld. Dred Scott was still a slave.

LAD #17 Sojouner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" Speech

Summary of Sojouner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" Speech, Akron, Ohio, 1851:

A very brief speech in which Sojouner starts by describing how white women are treated delicately. But is Sojouner a woman? Then how come she works in the fields, gets beaten and whipped, has 13 children who were mostly sold off as slaves, and never receives comfort?

Further, she argues that, even if her intellect is less capable than a white's or a man's, as whites and men claim, doesn't she still deserve to be taught regardless? And addressing the argument of clergy, which states that women have less rights than men because Jesus was a man, Sojouner states that Jesus was born to a woman. She concludes that women ought to be able to turn the world right side up again, and that "the men better let them."

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

Summary of Frederick Douglas's "Fifth of July" Speech, Rochester, NY, 1852:

Frederick Douglas was asked to speak on the 4th of July at Corinthian Hall in Rochester New York on the question "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" (he actually gave his speech a day later). Instead of issuing a joyous speech about liberty, he declares that while the white man may celebrate his independence, the Fourth of July is merely a mockery for Blacks, who have been brutally oppressed by the very people who celebrate "equality". Douglas declares that for this reason the Fourth of July is an even darker day than any other to the Black slave. Also, he declares that he will with all his power denounce slavery, but will only do so in ways that are right and just. Finally, he claims that the dark actions of American slavery are the vilest inhuman history.

LAD #15 Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Summary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863:

Lincoln delivered a very short speech at Gettysburg. He stated that America was born of the notions of liberty and equality, and that the men who died at Gettysburg- in America's Civil War- were fighting for the perseverance of any nation born of such noble and democratic ideals, as though the war was a test to see how a nation of America's ideals could be sustained.

He discusses how the people need to dedicate the battlefield to those who gave their lives. However, he recognizes that a dedication from the living at this time has little value compared to the consecration that the brave men who died on the field imparted to it.

Finally, he states that the men who passed away their will not have died in vain, and that he resolved, "...that the government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

LAD #14 Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Summary of Lincoln's First Inaugural Address:

Lincoln states that he does not believe in discussing matters that are not of pressing concern to the nation in his public address, and he immediately starts discussing the issue of slavery. He claims that it is not his intention to interfere with Southern slavery; that it is a right of the states which he has no right to interfere in, and that no States within the Union will be favored in regards to Constitutional protection over any others. Further, he claims that the return of fugitive slaves is written in the original Constitution, and thus that the Fugitive Slave law will be enforced. He pleads for States to abide by existing laws instead of reputing them in the hope that they will be examined and found unconstitutional.

Further, Lincoln is aware that he is entering the Presidency at a difficult time, with the threat if disunion perpetually growing.  However, he believes that disunion by any one state from the union undermines the Constitution and the laws of the Union, and it is Lincoln's intention to execute the established laws to the best degree possible, as is his assigned job for his post. Ultimately though, it is the peoples' right to decide the fate of the country. Furthermore, he does not intend to use force against any portion of the nation.

Lincoln claims that never have Constitutional rights been openly denied to people of America. Also, if the minority secedes from the majority if the States, as they threaten to do, who is to say that the resulting body will not continually secede from the greater body every time the minority does not get its way? The idea of secession is essentially anarchy. In addition, a secession may separate the government of the United States and the independent body, but it is impossible for the independent body to physically move away from the mainland United States.

Although he does not advocate it, the people have the right to amend the Constitution. He even acknowledges that they have the right to revolutionarily overthrow the government. However, he generates his power from the people, and it is his task to uphold the present government. Finally, he encourages the people to carefully of their decisions, and it is ultimately in their hands whether or not to go to civil war. And Lincoln promises that he will preserve, protect, and defend the nation.

LAD #13 Calhoun's Speech on Clay's Compromise Measures

Summary of John Calhoun's Speech on Clay's Compromise of 1850, in regards to slavery in Texas:

(Speech was read by another senator, as Calhoun was too ill to read it himself. The speech was read on March 4, 1850, and Calhoun passed away March 31, that same month.)

Calhoun recognized that the unity of the Union was threatened. He goes on to discuss the issues that were endangering the Union.

The Southern States were originally agitated by the slavery question, and their discontent has grown, despite the meager calming influence of widespread political parties. The overpowering force of the North in government has overshadowed the South, which was caused by the North's greater number of States and greater population. And the growth in States in the North showed no signs of letting up. Thus, the North will gain a much larger representation in the Senate over the South.

Also, the South claims that their States have been restricted in land claims (in the Northern attempts to receive Texas) and have received an undue amount of taxation, while the North gained territory and most of the benefits of taxes. Similarly, the South is a major exporter of goods, and thus was hard hit by the tariffs, and it has few factories, and thus did not receive the benefits of the duties taxes.

The slavery question is particularly perplexing, and as the North pushes so ardently for abolition, Calhoun believes abolition or secession are the only options available for the South. To prevent the dissolution of the nation's unity, Calhoun pleads to appease the demands of the Southern States, claiming that appeasing them will remove the source of agitation that initiated the Southern discontent. However, he claims that only the stronger power, the North, can institute a Constitutional amendment to re-establish the equilibrium between the North and the South. He then rawly challenges the Senators to make their choice, reducing the issue to either submitting to Calhoun's idea of Northern support or to forcing the Southern secession. He even proclaims that California will be a test, and if it is admitted under Northern conditions, the South will interpret the situation as though the North were deliberately crushing the South for ambitions of power and aggrandizement.

LAD #12 President Polk's War Message

Summary of President James K. Polk's War Message, 1846:

An America envoy, John Slidell, was sent to Mexico to reestablish friendly relations between the nations and to solidify international boundaries, but he was rejected by their government. Furthermore, Mexico has invaded American territory and shed American blood.

Mr. Slidell had been assured he would be accepted by the Mexican government under General Herrera, which was at the time tottering. When he arrived, a popular revolutionary party forced the government to refuse Mr. Slidell. Approximately a month later, General Herrera surrendered the Presidency to General Paredas; a revolution conducted solely by the military.

Mr. Slidell attempted to become an envoy to the new, militaristic Mexican government, but was refused. Thus, the Mexican government refused negotiation with American for no sufficient reason, and had made no propositions of its own to remedy the existing border and citizen issues in Texas.

An American military force had previously been assembled between the Nueces and the Del Norte Rivers to meet a potential Mexican invasion attempt, which was threatened after Texas's appeal and resulting annexation into the U.S.

American generals were instructed to move troops but without aggressive action towards Mexico, on the Mexican side of the Del Norte River. However, Mexican General Ampudia ordered the Americans to retreat, and after a month without their cooperation, he announced that he considered hostilities to have commenced. A small group of American soldiers were attacked while scouting the Mexican troops, and some were killed while the rest were forced to surrender.

Polk proposes that America is called to fight Mexico as a result of Mexico's wrongs against American citizens over the past years, that trade with Mexico long ago stopped being beneficial, and that America has long attempted unsuccessful peaceful negotiations. Furthermore, after Mexico has declared war on the U.S., invaded American territory, and killed American citizens, the conflict would be a vindication of American honor, rights, and interests.

LAD #11 Seneca Falls Decleration

Summary of the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan b. Anthony, and M.J. Gage, July 19, 1848:

There are two portions in the Seneca Falls Declaration, the first being the Declaration of Sentiments. This first portion was structured very similarly to the American Declaration of Independence. It copies the wording the the Declaration of Independence's intro and simply adds in phrases like "...all men and women are created equal...". This method both draws attention to the document, invokes the patriotism of the heroic Declaration of Independence, and takes a stab at the hypocritical irony of the glorified male struggle for independence and the suppression of women under the law. It further copies the Declaration of Independence by citing a list of grievances, most valid, some exaggerated, including such points as the historical lack of women's right to vote; the lack of women's civil rights, particularly for married women; her inability to participate in law, medicine, the church, or the government; her inability to earn a male's wages; the altered codes of moral behavior between men and women; and a woman's inability to receive a complete education at college. Finally, the authors acknowledge that they will be ridiculed, but that they will continue to petition for their rights and attempt to hold further conventions.

The second portion lists the resolutions of the women, which proclaim their views on the issues mentioned in their grievances and proclaim what ought to be accomplished. For example, the women resolve that it is their duty to secure their "sacred right to the elective franchise". They close by mentioning it is the right and duty of both men and women to promote "...every righteous cause by every righteous means..." and thus that the rights of women ought to be proclaimed.