LAD #16- Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation begins with the promise to all slaves that as of January 1st, 1863, all slaves in the US, along with those in rebelling states, shall be free. Lincoln goes on to reassure the slaves that they will be represented in Congress and then continues on to list the names of the rebelling states in which this new law would take effect. Through the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln encourages all the current slaves to act with peacefullness, yet if nececasry, they should fight for their freedom. He concludes by stating that the army of the nation will protect the freed slaves, yet once again emphasizes the importance of the avoidance of violance.

LAD # 15- Lincoln's Second Innaugural Address

In his second innaugural address, Lincoln starts out by stating the short length of his address. He tellls his fellow Americans that he feels as though the state of the union is much more fragile now, than in any other time during his role as President. Lincoln also goes on to state that the Civil War can be attributed to two differring opinions; the opinion of the south (a war over the nations preservation) and the opinion of the north (the nations preservation over war). Furthermore, Lincoln nexts talks about the issue that many felt was the main precursor to the Civil War; slavery. He defends his administrations policy of not allowing the territory of slavery to exapnd because it does not affect any established states traditions. Finally, Lincoln closes by asking the nation to continue to work together to put an end to the Civil War once and for all, so then to be able to mend the nation's wounds as well as the wounds of so many American families.

LAD #14-Dred Scott Decision

Elected to write the majority's opinion for the Scott vs. Sanford was Roger B. Taney. In his innaugural address, President Buchanan pitched in his support for the Court. In his decision, Taney decided that the black race did not have the right to sue, given that they were property and not citizens. Finally, Taney claimed that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional becuase it restricts Blacks from the rights of citizens. Therefore, the court did not make a ruling, and the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Sanford was upheld.

LAD # 13-Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

In Lincoln's Gettysburg address, Lincoln states that the Civil War is testing whether or not the nation can edure the ensuing war, and continue its principles of liberty. He begins by commending the the soldiers at Gettysburg. He states that although the words stated at the battle might be forgotten, the actions of those soldiers will never be. Finally, he closes by stating that under God, the US will be able to bring forth the birth of a new nation.

LAD # 12-Lincoln's First Innaugural Address

President Lincoln starts out his innaugural address by addressing some of the issues regarding slavery. He states that as President, he will not personally get involved with the matter. He later goes on to defend the states' rights, the fugitive law, and the constitution. With regards to the Constitution, Lincoln suggests that so long as the states abide by it's predetermined laws, then the union will be able to remain united. Finally, Lincoln states that anyone who intends on disrupting the unity of the nation cannot do so as bound by the constitution. To conclude, Lincoln adds that any idea of sucession is a contributing factor to anarchy.

LAD #11- John Calhoun Speech

In John Calhoun's speech, his main idea was clear. He believed that the nation was being pursued by an increasing threat of disunion. He urges compromises as a way to preserve the union and keep it together as a whole. In his speech, Calhoun stated that the cause of the widespread unhappyness was the differences in beliefs between the North and the South; issues he concluded that would only continue to grow as the North began to prosper more and more. By stating that the representation in government is unequal, Calhoun also gets his message across that the cause of this disunion is in part, the government's fault. In his compromise, Calhoun suggests that the only way to appease both divisions would be to grant the South rights to the land that has been acquired and to get rid of the idea that the south MUST chose between abolition in slavery; it simply cannot be done if the preservation of unity is the main goal. Lastly, Calhoun states that making these necessary changes and having the North accomodate for some of the Southern grievances will inevitabley decrease the threat of disunion to a certain extent.

LAD# 10- Polk's War Message

Polk begins his war message by referring back to his earlier address in 1845 regarding Mexico. He refers to the time when the American government tried to negotiate the border dispute with Mexico. This was a result of the previous governemnt of Mexico being taken over by the millitary. With a new military power in place, the Mexican government began crossing the American border and killing American men. In order to protect these men, Polk felt it was nesecary to declare war. Finally, Polk concludes his speech by asking that Congress recognize the war and start consituting a force of troops. He also claimed that this would be a short war, and it would provide a quick solution to the existing problem with Mexico.

LAD #9-Seneca Falls Declaration

The Seneca Falls Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York in July of 1849. It was the first women's rights convention ever held in the United States and is often looked at as the birthplace of feminism. Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the convention attracted some 240 supporters. At the Convention, those present constituted the declaration known today as the Seneca Falls Declaration. Starting out much like that of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, the delegates adopted a statement, as well as a series of resolutions calling for women's suffrage and the reform of marital and property laws that had previosuly kept women in an inferior status to men. Not only does the document state that BOTH men and women have the power to overthrow the government if it doesn't follow the correct principles, but it also goes into some of the ways in which men have created a supremecy of themselves over women, through certain things such as denying them the right to vote, own property or wages, or have the power to educate themselves.