Lad #23 The Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party Platform- summarize

The Populist Party was created in an effort to address and attempt to diminish some of the political, economical, and social issues that have corrupted balloting, among many other things, and has resulted in an even larger gap between rich capitalists, who owned all the land, and poor people, who had pretty much nothing. Urban workmen, time and time again, have been denied the right to organize among themselves to gain self-protection, and wages have tanked even lower, which in turn furthered said gap between rich and poor. The Populist Party declares that the nation, as a whole, has yet again begun to favor the rich creditors, which in turn led to an increase in corruption, as expected. They also declare that the country desires a return of the Republic back to the common man, as well as wanting to expand the government in an effort to end issues such as injustice, poverty, and oppression in general. Next, they demand that labor unions be constitutional (legal),  for they believe that the wealth should belong to those who created it. They also suggest that telephones, railroads and telegraphs should be under the control and power of the government. The Populist also requested a change to a more stable and safe currency, like soft money, rather than gold and silver hard coin, as well as the institution of postal savings banks. They also request for monopolies to be prevented, especially over natural resources. The Populist Party concludes in demanding, as the main issues they wanted to resolve, an anonymous voting system that was free of charge, so voters could have privacy, as well as a request for the limit of a President's power of rule (and VP) to one term only.

This is a picture of the logo for the U.S. Democratic Party, for they too are a political party, advocate for better wages and such as well.

LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

Read the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 - summarize

The Dawes Severalty Act was an act passed in order to allow the President of the United States to be able survey and divvy out lands in reservations, in "severalty", to any Indian located on the land. This was to be allowed whenever The President feels that a reservation was in any way more so advantageous for the success of agriculture. One quarter was to be assigned to each head of the family, each Indian older than 18, and to each orphan under the age of 18. For regular children under 18 years old, one sixteenth would be allotted. In this act, the power of re-assigning land was held by the President, so all transactions were not always final. Indians themselves could choose their land as well, and was typically done by the head of the family, although not always. This act also required special agents be hired in order to help in the land-assigning process. Additionally, this Act offered up U.S. citizenship rights, although it excluded some Indian tribes.

I decided to connect The Dawes Severalty Act to the story "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" by Sherman Alexie. I did this because one, we just read it in English Class so it came to mind, and two, because a lot of it is about how Indians on Reservations get discriminated against, even though there is no law restricting them. This is much like how The Dawes Severalty Act offered U.S. citizenship right to a select group of tribes, and not every Indian Tribe.

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

Read President McKinley's War Message - summarize

 

President McKinley's War Message was created as a response to the Cuban revolution against Spain. The Cuban Revolution was a conflict that McKinley had a desperate desire to end.  In his letter to Congress, he talks about his hatred towards this battle, which has been occurring for over half a century. It also required the United States to continuously enforce its neutrality laws, which in turn frustrated and ticked off the citizens.  The revolution has had a vast amount of negative impacts on the United States economy, especially because it impaired trade.  In this message, McKinley influences Congress to go through with ending the war. The two possible ways of doing so included either creating reasonable compromises, or even an promoting a particular side.  President McKinley decided that he would most likely side against Cuba, in an effort to end hostility. However, he revealed that he preferred using a more neutral approach.  He determined it was necessary to first must evaluate the state of rights of life, as well as the rights of property protection, that the Cubans had. He also requests that all hostiles that pose a threat to the United States must be priority to get taken care of.  Because the two nations, Cuba and the United States, are reliant on each other for many different things, it was stated that conflicts, at all costs, needed to be eased. In the end, Congress had the final decision as to either coincide with the requests, or go about other methods of treating these issues.

LAD #20

LAD #20: The Emancipation Proclamation

In Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, on January 1^st, 1863, he proclaims that all slaves in rebelling states are free and that the government participate in maintaining and preserving that freedom. Essentially, all of those who are deemed slaves or treated as such, whether it be official ownership or straight up oppression, would be emancipated, and given their rights and freedom back. He also made sure that newly freed slaves knew that they are welcome to now join the army. All new rights to be extended to these slaves included receiving fair wages and a more free life. This address went over a very sensitive and important issue in society, and really helped gain America more equality.

LAD #19

Summarize Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, 1865:

Essentially, in Lincoln’s second inaugural address, he declares that the news of progress of any war entanglement was as readily available for the people to access as Lincoln had himself. It was a shorter message for there wasn’t all that much news to convey. He describes first address as one devoted to saving the nation without instigating war, but acknowledges that now war has come upon them.

He briefly discusses the impact slavery had on the war, and how the war has proven to be worse than expected. He acknowledges that both sides had used their beliefs in God to pray, and Lincoln also describes how he believes that God has his own plan as to how to bring justice for what felt like an eternity of slave-owning practices.
Abe draws his address to a close with the end solution being finishing the war out, repairing damage done to the nation, and then take care of/ hospitalize wounded, or dead soldiers, along with their widows and children.

LAD #15- Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Summarize the Gettysburg Address:

In President Abe Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, his main discussion topic is in regards to the Civil War that broke out after the Battle of Gettysburg. He starts his address by explaining how the nation was created and the principles it was founded on, such as equality. Then, he acknowledges that the Civil War is a very difficult challenge and sets a high amount of internal tension, too much for a nation to endure. After that, he gives recognition to all of the soldiers that have fought in the war, but specifically those at Gettysburg. He claims that what he says about the soldiers doesn't matter or have any significance, but admits that what the soldiers did was of great importance, and had direct impacts and significance on history. He continues in declaring that the soldiers must not have died in vein, and makes it known that the people living now need fill the necessary roles of those who died and keep up the fight that they had started. To wrap it up, he claims that and that by doing so, and having people step up to fill the shoes of the deceased soldiers, the nation will once again practice equality for all and freedom as well. 

This is a picture of the Declaration of Independence, where we broke off from Britain's rule, which previously depressed our rights and liberties.

LAD # 14- President Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Summarize:

Abraham Lincoln delivered his First Inaugural Address on March 4th, 1861. His address began with Lincoln declaring that he had no previous intentions of slowing, or stopping slavery in the states that had already been determined to be slave states. In fact, he said he only wanted to stop the spread of slavery to new (different), non-slavery states. After that, Lincoln states that he would protect the rights of states,  and turn the creating a new sense of patriotism and unity in the United States again. Additionally, he also claims that the purpose of the oath that he had taken to be President was to protect the Constitution, while also making him responsible for law enforcement throughout the Union. Finally, he also proclaims that he will do anything necessary to keep the United States wholesome (as a Union) and to prevent war from breaking out between states. He attempts to prevent Civil war by declaring that if a state secedes, it would be unconstitutional, therefore setting up a deterrent for interstate tensions.


This is a picture of Barack Obama at his inauguration, being sworn into the Presidency.