LAD #19 Lincoln's 2nd inaugural address

No one knew at the time of Lincoln's second inaugural address that the civil war was nearing it's end. And at the same time Abe Lincoln's life was also near his end. In just over a month both events would follow through, Abe Lincoln would be dead, and the Civil war would be over. For only a first term Lincoln had a tough four years with a civil war that erupted at the beginning of his term, and continued even through to his second. Honest Abe was not well, finding it hard to sleep, he had also lost his young several two years earlier. So through out the entire speech a somber tone is cast around, from Lincoln's words. Lincoln describes a brief history of the war, how many tried to avoid it, but were unsuccessful, but also there were people out their who were trying to destroy the Union. Also the justification of the Emancipation proclamation, that the government had not every fully intervened with the issues surrounding slavery. Slavery was morally wrong, and that it was just that it was ended. To finish of his speech he talked about when the South joins the Union that it should be welcomed back with open arms. And no grudges should be kept.

Dred Scott case

Many had kept an eye on the Dred Scott v.Sanford case. This case was an issue that had been a frequent topic in the United States. Slavery, slavery had been rearing its ugly head for many years at that point. The president elect James Buchanan wanted to know of the outcome of this case, so he could put it into his presidential inauguration speech. there is no doubt that this case was a monumental one in its day. Never before had the supreme court grab the bull by the horns, trying to determine whether this case was right morally. And when chief justice Taney gave his opinion paper, based on the decision that would be determined in the courtroom. It was decided that Scott, even though free had absolutely no privileges that were given to American citizens. They had determined that they had no rights because they were not citizens, and stating this Scott should not have even had the chance to bring this before them. Taney also discussed that in the constitution there had been no separation of property and slaves. Regardless of the fact that Scott lived in a free statte he was still a slave. This case was truly a slump within U.S. history. But it is amazing how over the course of a few decades how the tides would change, and make Scott a hero.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

To start Abe Lincoln wrote his famous Gettysburg Address on his train ride to the battlefield. As we know now the battle of Gettysburg is considered the turning point of the war. Up until that point the CSA had been winning the battles, then they were pushing north. This battle is still the bloodiest battle in all American history, Americans fighting their brothers. Lincoln starts his address talking about the foundation which the United States had been founded. then continues to commemorate the fact that the war was fought on the hollow grand that they were standing on. The men that died at Gettysburg will never be forgotten, and what they were fighting for would never be forgotten. Regardless of the fact that their job had not been finished but they had given the greatest sacrifice, and that they would never be forgotten.

Lincoln's first inagural address

As imagined the primery topic of Abe Lincoln's first inagural was the South's succession from the United States. He also stated that the induvidual states should decide on their own whether they be slave, or free. And at this point he had no issue with slavery itself. And slavery was not  a concern of his at this time, his job was to preserve the Union, and he planned to bring the new CSA back to the Union. He did not want to use force to bring the south back, he wanted negotiations to bring them back. Going back to the issue of slavery, he did wish to protect free slaves, so that they would not be kiddnapped, and brought back into slavery. And Lincoln wanted to continue government instatusions in the south, like the post office, because he saw no reason to revoak them. To sum up Lincoln wanted everyone to remain calm, that all would be brought back to normal. And the turbulance would soon settle.

The Clay Compromise Measures LAD #13.

John Calhoun was extremely outspoken Washington personality, that butted heads on many issues. He was a typical southerner, who had a large amount of money, and believed that slavery was not only for the south, that it should continue to spread.Calhoun spread the word about the importance of balance that needed to be achieved between the states.  Calhoun even states that the work down to prevent the country from spiting up was admirable. This issue was a growing topic, almost a pandemic. But then he becomes so bold to say that the North had more control within the government. And he relates this to the new territories being admitted into the U.S. that the power will become unbalanced, with the North having the most control. The North also had been industrializing, which would totally ruin the south. The incoming immigrants would stay in the North, because that is were the best jobs would be, the pollution would be great. The sum up is that the North, and the South would have to balance out, to benefit the entire country.

LAD #12

James Polk is often known as one of the hardest working presidents ever. He is also know for the expansion of the country during his presidency. In 1846 Polk delivered a message congress explaining the situation that the United States was, at the current time with Mexico. The United States had been fighting a war with Mexico the U.S. then tried to negotiate with Mexico, but they had ignored the U.S.  Polk then goes into detail about the attempt, he had sent an American diplomat, who was not allowed to meet with the Mexican general. Then Polk explains how this is what made going to war with Mexico unavoidable,and it was the last "straw". He then asked congress to help the war effort,by sending aid.

LAD #11.

For the final document, which was written by Elizabeth Katy Stanton, and signed July,19th 1848. The basis of the document was from the Declaration of Independence written some sixty odd  years earlier. But instead of protesting the king, which was done in the original declaration, this declaration protested the government showing their unhappiness. God had entitled that men and women be equal, and that the United States was not truly a free country if women were not granted the right to vote, among other legal issues. A list was then created to show the issues that they had with the current society. In the end one hundred people signed the declaration, some of which were men. This would be a milestone for women's rights, however women would not earn the right to vote until well after the turn of the century.