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

Sojourner Truth delivered this, her most famous speech, at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio. In the beginning of the speech by saying that "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere." She then says no ones ever helped her anywhere or given her the same courtesy, even though she's a woman. She then tells about her hardships as a slave and how she had " borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery". After she attacks the audience saying she is as smart as the other women, and that Jesus came from God and a woman. She ends her speech by saying that women were going to flip the world around again. 

LAD #16 5th of July Speech

Douglass gave this speech on July 5, 1852 in a place called Rochester, New York. The purpose of the speech was to inform the crowd of what July 4th would mean to slaves. He asks the crowd "What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?" Douglass describes the "immeasurable distance". He talks about the justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence that people gained during Independence, and how slaves gained nothing during this time. He states that  "This fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." He begins the end of his speech by revealing to the crowds the cruel injustices of slavery. He has a list of grievances that includes the treatment of slaves and the cruel work they are forced to do on daily basis. Toward the end he asks the crowd again "What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?" He answers saying that it is a "hollow mockery".

LAD #14 Lincoln's First Inaugural

Lincoln starts off his speech by saying that he does not want "to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States”. He wants the states to decide the issue of slavery in their own state and that the federal government would not interfere with the institution. Lincoln's main goal is to keep the union intact and prevent an all out Civil War.Lincoln also promises that citizens do not need to fear that their rights are in danger in any way. He then says that he will hold to the Consitution and that he will not use violence if he doesn't have too. “In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall be none unless it is forced upon the national authority." Lincoln then offers security, but remains neutral on slavery saying that Constitutino neither permits or abolishes it. He warns against secession and continues to stress the importance of a united nation. He ends the speech by saying that “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."

LAD #15 Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Lincoln starts the speech by reminding the crowd about the founding of the nation and how the founding fathers worked for a nation free of tyranny. He then says that this war is questioning whether a country like ours can survive for any real length of time. Lincoln then says that the speeches that were made there on that day would not be remembered, but the deeds of the soldiers now buried in the cemetery would be. They were fighting for the task facing the nation. He then ends the speech by saying that the soldiers did not die in vain and that the nation would survive.

LAD #13 John C. Calhoun

In this speech, Calhoun says that slavery is a issue that can no longer be ignored. He says that he has 

"endeavored to call the attention of both the two great parties which divided the country to adopt some measure to prevent so great a disaster". He forsaw that slavery was an issue that one day might dissolve the union the founding fathers had worked so hard to create. The issue of slaery was dividing Congress, as even the dream of manifest destiny was beign haltered by the introduction of a new state into the union would cause a frenzy of activity from both sides of the issue. Next Calhoun addresses the tariff. He states that "It is well known that the government has derived its revenue mainly from duties on imports." He feels that the tarrif heavily favors the north and that if unity wants to be kept in the nation then the removal of the tariff might be in order.

LAD #12 Polk's War Message

The point of the message was to address "The grievous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico upon our citizens throughout a long period of years". The Americans were attempting to peacefully negotiate with the Mexican Government, but to no avail. The land disputes of the Rio Grande were growing and the Mexican Government was attempting to try and get rid of the Americans settling in the land that the Mexicans believed they already did. Trade with Mexico was virtually non-existent, and while the US had "[exerted] our best efforts to propitiate her good will", the relationship between the two countries was souring. Mexico was threatening to declare war on the United States if the U.S. annexed Texas, and volunteer soldiers, some under the command of future president Zachary Taylor, were being sent to Texas to defend American interests. After Texas was  incorporated into the Union, Taylor was sent down to defend the new state from a Mexican invasion. At the end of the Message Taylor states that "As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country". This means that Polk does not want war but he is willing to fight to protect American interests, and will not hesitate to defend the growing country.

LAD #11 - Seneca Falls Declaration

The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, written seventy two years after the Declaration of Independence, was basically a rewrite of the original declaration to include women. For example at the beginning of the second paragraph the document restates Jefferson's famous quote by saying "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness:". The Declaration then has a list of grievances of man against woman, similar to that in the Declaration of Independence. These grievances include the denial of education to women, unfair tax requirements, and subordinate postions in the church and the state. The second part of the Declaration then expresses how these wrongdoings can be resolved. It states that all laws putting women lower in society are against laws of nature, and that it was God's will that men and women be equal. The document by stating with the barrier laws taken down women would strive to the greater good along with men, and that women would pass on morals and religion along with men.