LAD/Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address speaks to the "Fellow Citizens of the United States." Lincoln realizes there is apprehension in the South due to slavery, yet he states he has no desire to take away the institution of slavery from the people. He goes on to emphasize the rights of states, and how this is essential to the balance of power. Lincoln does not want to construe the Constitution, however, he wants to review acts that were not repealed and determine if they are unconstitutional. So far, the Union has held up, so Lincoln sees it as his duty to preserve the union. The issue of slavery has presented the threat of secession, but the nation has gone through so much as a whole and he does not want the unity to be threatened. Lincoln ends his address with "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies." which emphasizes his desire to prove that America is a united nation that must not be split and threatened by civil war.

similar to Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson opened his inaugural address with " we are all republicans, and we are all federalists" proving that America should not tear itself apart of parties or political view but that they are one whole nation.

LAD/Blog #14: Calhoun's Speech on the Compromise of 1850

Calhoun, who did not actually deliver the speech himself as he was too ill, addressed the disunity of the nation in regard to the division between the North and the South. He determines what has put the Union in danger is the discontent of the South. And, efforts so far have not been as successful in attempt to preserve the Union. One of the causes of this discontent is slavery, yet the lack of balance in Congress has also caused discontent since the North became more dominant. Also, the issue of land and revenue raised distress in the South, because the North is characterized as wealthier. Therefore, Calhoun says that the US needs to appease the South by giving them an equal right to territory and slaves. Despite Calhoun's efforts, the Compromise of 1850 was still implicated. 

Abraham Lincoln advised against succession similar to Calhoun, however when the south seceded    from the United States he fought to keep the Union.

LAD/Blog #13: Polk's War Message

Polk's War message emphasizes the urgency of cementing relations with Mexico. Polk states that the United States has a strong desire to establish relations with them and adjust the boundary. Therefore, in an attempt to reopen diplomatic relations, the Mexican government agreed to receive an envoy to discuss the wrongs done upon American citizens which also became a question of boundary. Even though the government of Mexico was planning on beginning friendly relations when the envoy arrived, growing hostilities led to an overthrow of the government in Mexico. Polk sends in the military to prevent Mexican invasion of US territory and after not agreeing to retreat, Mexican armies invaded. Polk states the two nations are now at war, but the war was to be blamed on Mexico.

The Mexican American war is similar to the American civil war, war was not the goal before either, and the Mexican American war was needed because of Mexicos invasion of US territory and the civil war was needed due to the threat of the south splitting the union.

LAD/Blog #12: Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments

1.    The democratic principles at the beginning are that all men and women are created equal and that both have certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights were stated in the Declaration of Independence, the were reinvented in the Declaration of Sentiments and included women.

2.    Grievances in the Declaration of Sentiments include that men force women to succumb to laws under which they have no control, men take away rights to property from women, men have taken all profitable employment, they deny women access to education and men help create the laws of divorce so that they have power. These grievances are obviously unfair to woman and they need to be changed

3.    The final revolution states that the women feel they are being fair and that they expect this to be faced with a variety of reactions and rejection, yet they hope that is will be followed with efforts of change.

4.     The Declaration of Sentiments was signed by people including Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Margaret Pryor, Richard Hunt, and Fredrick Douglass. Susan B. Anthony, however, did not sign the Declaration of Sentiments: not because she disagreed with it but because she was not at the convention.

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the Declaration of Sentiments was the beginning of the women's rights movements. women would continually fight for the right to vote until 1920 when the 19th amendment was ratified stating the right to vote could not be denied by sex.

LAD/Blog #11: Monroe Doctrine

In the Monroe Doctrine, President Monroe declares that the American continents are free and independent of any chance to colonize.  He says this in accordance to the agreements made with Russia and Britain.   Although he sympathizes with the rebels in their rightful desire to gain independence, he states that the United States must remain neutral throughout the conflict.  He shows no interest in allowing the United states to interfere with the "de facto" government.   Monroe then states that the policies of the western hemisphere greatly differ from the policies of the eastern hemisphere.  America prepares a defense only when the rights of the citizens on their side of the Atlantic Ocean are being violated.  Finally, Monroe says that any involvement with the European system of alignment will cause nothing but conflict and unrest.  Therefore, neutrality is the only solution.

Woodrow Willson declared neutrality while the world fought in world war one.

LAD/Blog #10: Jefferson's First Inaugural

During Jefferson’s first inaugural address, Jefferson addresses the crowd as “Friends and Fellow Citizens” showing his humble and responsible character as he is about to take up one of the most powerful position in the American government. Promising to abide by the constitution and protect the rights of citizens. Through his campaign Jefferson’s election has been focused on the rivalry between the two political parties John Adams representing the federalists and Jefferson as the candidate for the Republicans. However, during his speech, he refers to the American people as one, saying “we are all republicans, we are all federalists” this statement helped connect his speech to a much larger audience boosting his popularity. Jefferson’s inaugural address also ensures the rights of the people. He safeguards justice, freedom of religion and press, civil over military authority, peace and safety, agriculture and commerce, and the right to election. He states that his beliefs are to have America unite under “one heart and one mind” and therefore would do his best to help preserve and protect the rights of his people. Jefferson ends his speech showing that although his their president he is person and tells the people he will make mistakes and would like to ask for their forgiveness now.

 

Although it was his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln's speech was similar to Jeffersons. at this time the country was in the middle of the civil war. while he spoke about the wrongs of slavery he did not criticize the south. instead he spoke for the people saying that both the North and South are to blame for the war and both are in the wrong. he spoke on the hopes of reconstuction, and that the could come together as a nation. Similar to Jefferson, coming out of a close race with the federalist he did not slander them or bash their beliefs but hoped he could unite the two in support of the nation.

Columbus

Was Cristopher Columbus a hero or a villain?

            Since elementary school, we have been taught that Christopher Columbus was a hero and that he discovered the America we know today. However, these stories are not told through the right point of view. Was not told through the Indians who barely survived his encounter, his story was told by the Spanish, who deemed him a hero, Columbus who pronounced his discovery and actions as progress. Using the word progress to mask the mass genocide he committed when discovering America. Colobus told Spain that the natives were willing to trade everything, when in reality he just stole all their gold and enslaved their people.Once there was no gold left, they were forced on to encomienda’s, large slave estates. Not only did he steal and lie to the natives he killed and enslaved most of the Natives forcing them to work in mines, which also would lead them to their death. And despite his heroic appearance as discovering the New World, our Columbus Day celebration is merely celebrating how Columbus's wrong doings brought us here today.

America went through the same in the Philippines , thinking they were doing right by their country by killing 3 million innocent Filipino children and civilians during the early 1900s.