LAD #26

Martin Luther King- "I Have a Dream"

 

MLK begins his speech with a reference to the Emancipation Proclamation and how it was a beacon of hope for negros throughout the nation.  But one hundred years later, they are not free but rather held back by segregation and discrimination.  This is what he wants to address and expalin to the American people.  With the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence a life of liberty was promised to every man in America but this has not yet been accomplished.  This is what African Americans were now demading, their right to the true American life.  Most importantly though, the time for this change is now.  If the country does not address this issue now, it will have terrible results of revolt.  But for those African Americans, do not become violent, maintain your dignity and discipline.  Do not hate all white men, as most do not hate us.  African Americans cannot do this alone and they cannot turn back on this mission.  Negroes will not be content until they are complete equals to the white men.  MLK had a dream rooted in the American Dream itself that one day the United States would live up to her promises to all of her inhabitants.  One day the past will be the past and all men no matter their color will be brothers.  With this faith MLK will go south and hopr to transform the nation.  One day freedom will be granted to all no matter the color of their skin.

LAD #25

Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was passed in 1887 to move Native Americans to individually owned properties.  It created Native American reservations which could be surveyed at anytime.  This was all a part of the government's plot to assimilate these natives into American society.  Each member of the tribe was granted a certain amount of land and they were all given a chance to become American Citizens. If Natives were not placed on a reservation then they still had the chance to buy land, but it was owned by the government.  If the Natives behaved as American citizens then they had the same rights and immunity as any others.  But, not surprisingly, some of the Natives were excluded from this act and did not have a chance to enjoy it's privileges.

LAD #24

Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

 



On July 9th, 1896, William Jennings Bryan gave his infamous Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic national convention.  He spoke of the ongoing conflict over the use of gold and silver int he economy.  He believed the ratio of gold to silver should be changed to 1:16.  He talks about the importance of money, most importantly silver to the democratic party.  Silver was of such great importance that they were now called the "silver democrats".  He emphasizes the advantages of being Americans and that the workers are the people who should be cared for.  He advocated for free coinage of silver seeing as there was an abundance of the metal.  If this metal was used to their advantage it may solve some of America's economic problems.  The wealthy did possess gold but the majority of the country did not.  If gold continued to be implemented the majority of the nation, the common people would not be able to benefit.  If the poorer americans could use silver they would be able to thrive economically.  Overall for the benefit of the majority of Americans silver should be more commonly used as currency.

LAD #23

Populist Party Platform, (July 4, 1892)

 

The voting system in the United States is completely corrupt.  The urge to be wealthy in the US is starting to destruct civilization.  The existing political parties are doing nothing to solve these atrocities and do not plan to do anything.  The populist party seeks to give political power to the average American.  Many laborers work hard but do not profit from their work as other, more rich Americans do.  The populist party fights for the power of the people and equal rights and privileges for all.  The party will fight for the strength of labor unions and will support those who create the wealth given to the rich.  Railroads should be owned by the government to prevent cruelty to workers.  The economy should be subject to free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold and it should be circulated quickly.  A higher income tax should be put in place but the money in the US should be kept more so in the hands of its people.  Along with railroads, the telegraph and the telephone should also be owned by the government.  Also all of the land should be owned by the people of the US.  The secret ballot system must be adopted along with a higher income tax.  Pensions shall be granted to ex-Union soldier and sailors.  Immigration must be restricted to protect American jobs.  Hours of labor should be restricted. The offices of the president and the vice president shall both be restricted to one year.  And lastly, no national aid shall be given to any private corporations.

LAD #22

McKinley's War Message

In 1895, the Cuban people revolted and the US stayed neutral but the fighting could not go on any longer.  The American minister to Spain relayed that the Spanish government was prepared to stop.  But two days later McKinley spoke to Congress pleading with them to do something to stop the war in Cuba leading them to eventually enter the war on April 19th.  McKinley begins by stating his duty as president to inform Congress of prevalent information.  It has been a struggle for the US to remain neutral through all of Cuba's suffering.  The US has had to face economic hardship because of the fighting.  The war in Cuba cannot be won unless one side is destroyed and the US obviously does not want to see that happen.  Before McKinley had said that the US had 4 options, recognize the Cubans as belligerents, recognize Cuba as independent, try to bring up a compromise or enter the war on one side.  Although President Grant believed recognition of Cuban independence was impracticable, recognition of belligerence would be worse.  Both of these then are not of use.  So either the US should intervene as a neutral or as an ally to one side.  The US has been using friendly intervention for a while now but it would be difficult in Cuba.  But Americans can support this intervention with our need to put an end to such terrible atrocities in the name of humanity.  The US has an obligation to protect such a small country legally.  Also US commerce has been affected.  Lastly and most importantly, the affairs in Cuba are a constant menace to American peace and is a constant threat to our government and people.  The destruction of the battleship Maine is a reminder of this threat.  The only hope is an end to fighting in Cuba.  So McKinley asks Congress to authorize him to take action in Cuba for the interest of humanity.  It is now in the hands of the Congress and without this the fighting will most likely destroy more.