LAD #20: The Emancipation Proclamation

Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was a document that declared that slaves would be freed in the states that were in rebellion. In addition, he states that the United States government will recognize and maintain the freedom of these slaves and that he hopes that they will not resort to violence.

LAAD #19: Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

Lincoln's second inaugural address summarizes what has happened in the past four years, stating that at the time he gave his first inaugural address, there were people who would rather go to war than to preserve the Union, and there were people who would go to war in order to preserve the Union. He states how although one eighth of the population was constituted of colored slaves, this group of people has generated a great deal of interest, so much so that a war was being fought in part because of this group of people. Lincoln ends by stating how he hopes to finish the job he has started and to see this through until the end.

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

This Supreme Court ruling describes the setting with which this decision was made, discussing the context of the reconsideration of the early decision made. The ruling then states that the Constitution made no distinction between slaves and property, and that because Dred Scott was considered property, he could not make his case to the Supreme Court. Because of this, the case was to be sent down to a lower court for further ruling.

LAD #17: Sojourner Truth's Speech

Sojourner's speech talks about how women are calling for equal rights, but people don't recognize the rights of black women. She discusses how although men state that women should be helped into carriages and such, she has never experienced that, even though she is a women. From her tone it appears as though she has interrupted a convention of some sort.

LAD #16: Frederick Douglass' "5th of July"

Frederick Douglass discusses how the 4th of July represents the independence of the white American, but not of the black American. He states as those that are celebrating the holiday are rejoicing, there are people who are suffering due to a lack of freedom. The freedoms that are enjoyed by the whites are not enjoyed by the blacks, and stating that the 4th of July only serves to greater emphasize the distance between blacks and whites. This distance also emphasizes the hypocrisy of the nation, stating that the celebration is but "a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages."

LAD #15: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address opens with the famous "Fourscore and seven years ago," stating how the nation was one birthed in liberty with the idea that all men are equal. He addresses where he is giving the speech (Gettysburg), a battlefield with the dead men who had fought the recent battle. He promises that these men will not have died in vain, and that they will be remembered. These deaths increase the vigor with which the nation will continue the task with which these men have died for.

LAD #14: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln opens his speech stating how he does not plan to interfere with slavery, as those who elected him know. He then discusses runaway slaves and how they should be dealt with, but as before, reassures the South that his main goal is to keep the Union together. Lincoln describes the United States as it was under the Articles of Confederation, stating that if secession was legal, than the "Union is less perfect than before the Constitution." Lincoln then urges the nation to abide by the rules of the Union in order to maintain its preservation. He condemns the thought of secession and deems it as anarchy. He closes by stating how the Union must be preserved, and that although the issue of civil war is at hand, the divided people must not become enemies.

LAD #13: John C. Calhoun's Speech

Calhoun opens by saying that there is in fact a division due to slavery, in part due to the two political parties. Calhoun continues by stating how this would not have been a problem if not for the government/North agitating the Southerners about their slaves. He states that if the abolition of slavery is passed, then the South will have no choice but to either give in and accept the abolition or secede from the Union all together. He provides an answer to this problem, one that states that the only way to rid the Union of the problem of slavery is to not abolish slavery and by "removing the causes by which this belief has been produced." However, the only party strong enough to make such a change is the North.

John C. Calhoun

LAD #12: Polk's War Message

Polk opens his message stating how the U.S has been trying to negotiate and establish peace between the United States and Mexico, but then continues stating how that attempt has failed. Because of a revolution that prevented a peaceful negotiation between the two nations, Mexico failed to deliver on their promise and that the U.S could not be accused of giving unreasonable demands or not following reasonable demands from Mexico. Polk closes by stating how Texas had wanted to annex herself to the United States, but Mexico has prevented her from doing so. This was unacceptable and therefore action had to be taken.

James K. Polk

LAD #11: Seneca Falls Declaration

Structured almost identically to the Declaration of Independence from the Revolution, this document lists women's grievances about men, similarly to how Americans listed their grievances about the king of Britain. These grievances include women not being able to vote, follow laws that women have had no say in, and being exempt from law as long as the immoral actions are in the presence of her husband. Afterwards, the women who wrote the document list their demands, stating that women should be treated equal to men, that the expectancy of behavior be equal among both genders, that women should have the right to vote, and that efforts to receive these benefits must be seen through by both men and women.