LAD #20: Emancipation Proclaimation

Emancipation Proclamation

Summary: The Proclamation designated January 1st, 1863 as the official start of lincoln's emancipation of the slaves in Confederate Territories. Essentially the proclamation stated that all slaves in Confederate States were legally free, and could be employed for wages, and could serve in the US Military as freemen. In truth, this was mostly a political move meant to make the North look more justified in the War, to both Americans and potential European Allies. This can best be seen by the fact that it only "freed" slaves in Confederate States (which had no effect until Union troops invaded) and by how the proclamation carved out special exceptions for territories in CSA States that were actively supporting the Union.

(Slavery was not truly banned in the US until the 14th Amendment of 1868, and even then black Americans faced a brutal uphill battle for even legal equality into the late 20th century).

LAD #19: Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural

Summary: Lincoln initiates the short speech by declaring that not much has changed in his policy and goals, mainly due to the Civil War. He then addresses the divides present in the nation that caused the war, claiming that neither side wanted war, but the South was willing to go to it to achieve their secession, and the North was willing to take up arms to preserve and defend the Union. Lincoln then shifts to the SLavery Issue, saying that it has become the epicenter of conflict between the North and South, even though he had never intended to do more than limit its further spreading. He ends the speech calling for a new era of peace and unity within the damaged nation, and declares his continuing focus on fixing the divides that broke the nation into war.

(Lincoln's final inaugural words of peace and unity between partisans on both sides are very similar to the acceptance speeches and inaugural addresses of modern day candidates, such as Donald Trump's recent address. This is meant to encourage healing along party lines after incredibly aggressive and divisive campaigns).

LAD #15: Gettysburg Address

Gettysburg Address

Summary: Lincoln expresses his extreme gratitude for the fallen and the veterans of the Civil War, proclaiming that it was because of their sacrifice that the young American Democratic Experiment would endure, and thus the Republican ideals it stands for would not die off. He then closes by further honoring the fallen soldiers, saying that it was their blood and bravery that truly consecrated the grounds of Gettysburg, not the "feeble" actions of their government (which legally set aside land as a national cemetery to the fallen).

(I found it funny that similar ideals were reflected in the speeches of Lincoln's nemesis, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who told his followers that it was the CSA that truly fought for democracy and freedom, through escaping the "tyranny of the North").

LAD #14: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Summary: Lincoln begins his speech by addressing one of  the most heated topics of the era, slavery. He re-iterates to the South that they need not to worry because he has no intentions of abolishing slavery in places where it has already existed. This idea, which is very much contrary to the way wee view him today, details how Lincoln’s main objective in the address was establishing his goal, preservation of the Union. Lincoln thought the secessionist talks of Southern leaders were un-American and unconstitutional. Lincoln knew that the Constitution was unclear on some issues like slavery and secession but stated that how these things would be solved would determine the fate of the Union. Lincoln concludes the address by stressing the fact that the states of the nation should be friends, not enemies, so that unity and nationality could be restored to the fractured nation.

(Lincoln was the first US President to come from the Republican Party, which just weeks ago had its most recent presidential candidate elected, Donald J. Trump).

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott Decision

Summary: Dred Scott v. Stanford was one of the most brutal anti-black decisions to come out of the antebellum Supreme Court. The Court ruled in three major ways. Firstly, they ruled that Dred Scott, and all black Americans, were not US citizens, and thus could not sue in Federal Courts. They then ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, because it deprived citizens of their right to property (in this case "property" being slaves). Finally, the Court stated that "freed" slaves were not in fact free, and that it was up to the states that harbored them to decide their rights/freedoms. This further divided abolitionist republicans, and pro-slavery democrats, and set the stage for the upcoming Civil War.

(The post-war 14th Amendment overturned Scott v Stanford by granting citizenship to all born/naturalized black Americans).

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

Sojourner Truth Ain't I a Woman?

Summary: Truth begins by illustrating the hypocrisy in her society, how women were seen as frail and to always be cared for by a gentleman (ideas she also disagreed with, but more on that later), and yet she, clearly a woman, had endured hard labor, the whup, and the theft of many of her children under the very "gentlemen" who said much of the above. This is the first part of her speech, explaining plain and simple how just because she is black, she is treated more horribly than most men would treat even their worst enemies, and how her oppressors were obvious and blatant hypocrites. She then also attacks the entire idea of women being inferior to men, countering several arguments, including that of "inferior intellect" and that of jesus being a man. All together she argues for equality for women and black Americans, in a time were to support either notion could be seen as crazy.

(Both of these inequalities would carry on well into the 20th century, and in a reduced, though still significant, capacity, to today).

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

Frederick Douglas, 1852

Summary: Douglas begins with several rhetorical questions, all aimed at illustrating the difference between white and black Americans (both free and enslaved) in 1850's America. He then makes several statements, all meant as answers to the questions he first posed. Douglas says that while many Americans rejoice at the celebration of their freedoms on the national Holiday, millions of hardworking and equal [in body and mind, though definitely not legal status] black Americans can never celebrate those freedoms, because they lack them altogether. Obviously this is because many millions are enslaved, but Douglas also points out that free blacks are in no way legally or socially equal to their fellow Americans. He closes the long address by explaining how the US is unrivaled in its hypocrisy and tyranny. A nation that claims to value freedom and equality over all else, and broke free through force to end the rule of an aloof tyrant, enslaves millions of people and treats them as cheap property to be bought, sold, and abused.

(To me this whole speech connected heavily to the horrible irony that black soldiers in the Continental Army faced - they were told they were fighting to change things and to gain freedom from tyranny, but they simply came under the boot of  Americans, instead of British Colonists.)

LAD #13: Calhoun's Speech

The Clay Compromise Measures

Summary: To begin his speech, Calhoun declares that the Union is divided and on the verge of breaking, and then presents a question of how the union can be preserved. He then steps back and asks what endangered it in the first place, seeing several key reasons. The southern states no longer believe that they cannot remain honorably or safely within the Union, due to agitation of the slavery question by the North and unequal representation in the government continually favoring the North, due to a larger population (thus control of the House) and continually more numerous states in the North while there has been no new state added to the South (thus control of the Senate). Another major issue causing the feelings of sectionalism is the argument over slavery; to the south it was a vital part of their social and economic organization, while to the north it was basically viewed as a blemish on the Union's record. Unless something decisive is done to stop this agitation, the south may end up being forced to choose between abolition and secession. However, Calhoun argues, the union can be saved if the basic issues that are causing the southern states to fear their honor and safety can be removed without the south being forced to surrender more than it already has. The north must concede to the south equal territory, to stop agitating the slavery question, and to make an amendment to the constitution to protect southern equality with the north, Calhoun suggests. Without this, he feared (rightfully so) that the Union would be split in two.

(Similarly, today half of the US population lives in just the Blue Counties, and this has caused some modern sectionalism between the mainly-democrat cities, and the often-republican outer counties, who in states like NY, feel disenfranchised, as their state will always be a "blue state" because of the enormous New York City population).

LAD #12: Polk's War Message

Polk's War Message

Summary: Polk had tried his hardest to preserve and improve diplomacy with the Mexican Government, however with the arrival of a Military Coup in Mexico, the highest officials refused to even see the American Envoy, and had him thrown out of the country. In addition, Mexican troops had been threatening AMerican forces camped out on the border, and had then attacked a small patrol of American Dragoons, shedding American blood on American soil. In Polk's view, Mexico an the US were already at war, as the Mexicans had attacked us, and thus Congress must support further military action to defend the property, honor, and territory of the USA.

(A large part of the tensions between the US and Mexico was the Texan Revolution, and the subsequent annexation of Texas by the Union, which Mexico viewed as the US stealing their land).

LAD #11: Seneca Falls Declaration

Seneca Falls Declaration

Summary: The declaration begins with an almost parody-like rewording of the classic "We hold these truths to be self-evident..." line, adding "that all men and women are created equal." The document then lists a number of grievances that the authors had with the men and the society of the time. Included in this are the lack of female voting rights, the inability of women to participate in government and lawmaking, the general assumption that women belonged in and to the household, and the common forfeiture of female wages to male relatives/husbands. Then, after a brief paragraph cementing and combining all of this, the document lists a set of "resolved" statements, including the ideas that men and women were equal in spirit, mind, and matter, that women should act to gain social and legal equality, and that it is for the betterment of the whole human race that women and men be viewed as equals.

(Half a century later, 'suffragettes' would lead the march for women's voting rights, and finally gain this fundamental right of citizenship).

LAD #10: Monroe Doctrine

Monroe Doctrine

(President Monroe)

1.) The Monroe Doctrine's issuing revealed the common post-War of 1812 perspective of Americans, that Europe was unstable and the constant competitions for power between her nations could lead to great wars, and the imperialization of overseas territories. In addition, U.S. leaders often felt that Europe's imperial interests conflicted with the freedom and peaceful isolation of the Americas, and thus the European powers must not be allowed to increase their foothold in the New World, as even if it is outside of the Republic, such actions often mean conflict later on.

2.) Adams hoped that by penning such a declaration, he would peacefully but strongly ward off future attempts to reclaim New World territories by ambitious European rulers.

3.) "The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers."

(The spirit of this policy reminded me a lot of President Reagan's "Peace Through Strength" doctrine, as both are not meant to be threats of violence or attack, but instead strong assurances that if US interests, or those of our allies, were attacked, we would respond with the strength of force and/or diplomatic action when needed).