Megan's AP American Blog

LAD/Blog #21: Emancipation Proclamation In this proclamation, Lincoln declared that all slaves are now free. He says the government of the US will recognize/maintain their freedom, and will do nothing to repress them. He then declares the following states as rebellious: Arkansas, Texas, (part of) Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and part of Virginia. He says that all the slaves in these states are now free. Then, he urges the freed slaves to be non-violent, and suggests they work for wages (and says some will be taken into the armed service). He ends by saying that he “[invokes] the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God,” in making this act. Emancipation Proclamation Brown v Board of Education ( synthesis) This court case ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It helped in ending segregation, like the Emancipation Proclamation helped end slavery, and both w...

LAD/Blog #20: Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Lincoln begins by saying that since this is his second oath of office, there is no need for him to have a long address. He points out that four years later, he doesn’t have much new information to provide, as the public is aware of the progress of the war. He says that neither side of the country wanted the conflict, but because one wanted to stay united and the other wanted to break away, war started. He says slavery caused it, and that when war was upon them, neither side had predicted how difficult it would be. He then says that neither side would have thought slavery (the cause of the war) would end before the war itself. He speaks to God, saying that neither side received all they had wanted (all their prayers granted), but justifies it by saying “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Finally, he ends his speech by saying they should bring the nation back together, and establish lasting peace.  ...

LAD/Blog #19: The Dred Scott Decision The Dred Scott Case (final decision) took place in 1857, and hurried the beginning of the Civil War. The case was over Dred Scott and his wife filing suit against Irene Emerson for their freedom. Dred Scott had been sold to John Emerson (Irene’s husband), and under him had lived in Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory, where slavery had been prohibited due to the Missouri Compromise . In 1846, after being hired out, he filed suit for living in free territories without being granted freedom. He may have been dissatisfied with being hired out, about to be sold, or offered to buy freedom and was refused- any of these reasons could have lead to his pushback. John Anderson and the Blow family (Dred’s first owners) helped him during the litigation. In 1846, whether or not they deserved freedom was less important than considering property rights- if they were valuable, could they be taken away because of where the owner took them? The Dred Scott...

LAD/Blog #18: Sojouner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman Speech” Sojouner Truth begins her speech by saying that the white men will soon be caught up in the protest of rights by women and African Americans. She says that some men say women need to be helped in every way, and should have the “best place everywhere.” She says this never happens to her, but isn’t she a woman? She gives examples of her hard work, and things she’s has to endure, saying she’s a woman. She then asks what intellect has to do with women’s or African Americans’ rights. It is pointed out that women can’t have as many rights as men, because Christ wasn’t a woman, so she asks where Christ came from- a woman! Finally, she says that women should be able to change the way society has taken away their rights, and says that men better let them.   Sojouner Truth Susan B. Anthony (synthesis) Susan B. Anthony, like Sojouner Truth, was a woman's rights advocate who pushed for reforms and for equality for women....

LAD/Blog #17: Frederick Douglass’ “5 th of July” Speech Frederick Douglass begins this speech by pointing out that the writers/signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. However, he says he has trouble viewing them favorably, because of who he is and the injustices that his race has had to endure. He asks why he was asked to speak, as he does not have the “principles of political freedom and of natural justice” that citizens are ensured. He says that he is not included in the celebrations of the Fourth of July, as he does not have the rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence. He says, “Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us,” highlighting the divide. He (and those he stands for) do not enjoy the freedoms of justice, liberty, and prosperity that the holiday represents. He asks if people are mocking him by asking him to speak. He speaks from a slave’s point of view (saying he cannot ignore them), and says that the found...

LAD/Blog #16: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address took place after the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. He begins by saying the nation of America was created under the principles of equality, and that they are now in the midst of a war that tests the nation’s strength. He says that the battlefield is a resting place for many brave men who have struggled for their cause. He says that nobody will forget what they have done, and says those still here must continue their work. He declares that the living must dedicate what they do to those who passed, and ensure they did not die in vain; so “that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”    Lincoln's Gettysburg Address JFK’s First Inaugural Address (synthesis) JFK’s inaugural address is similar to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in that they both were enduring messag...

LAD/Blog #15: Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address Lincoln begins his inaugural address by saying he won’t speak to matters that aren’t very important to the nation’s current state. He starts on the topic of slavery, saying that he will not interfere with the South’s continued use of slaves- he has no right to do so, and says that each state has the right to do as they please under the Constitution, with one state not preferred over another. He speaks to the Fugitive Slave Law, even referencing what is written in the Constitution, and says that it will be enforced. He says that states should abide by the Constitution, and not try to look for ways laws could be seen as unconstitutional. By doing so, the Union would only be weakened. He then speaks to American history, stating the Constitution was made “to form a more perfect Union,” and if it is not followed, disunity would ensue. Additionally, he says that no state can get out of the Union, and also that actions against the governme...