Blog #18: Sojouner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech

Sojouner Truth gave this speech at the Women's convention in Arkon Ohio that called out the unfairness and standards in regards to gender. Truth starts her speech by calling out that women are treated as if they cannot do things themselves, such as being helped into carriages or carried over mud-puddles. However, Truth explains that she, as a women, has ploughed fields and done many things that men could not have and yet she was still a women. She further explains the pain and grief she has suffered that no man could ever know and how men will never know how strong it is to battle through a women's hardships. Truth proves that women are capable at a great many things and should have the same rights as men. Truth takes it one step further by also pointing out that men believe a women should be helped but as a black women that is a slave she has never received help of any kind but yet she is still a women. Truth also points out that Christ came from a women as well and that women have incredible power and thus should be equal to men.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg also fought hard that men and women should be equal in all areas of life whether it be jobs or home functions. 

Blog #17: Frederick Douglass' "5th of July" speech

Douglass gave his speech on the 5th of July to make a point about how July 4th is supposedly a day for independence in which the slaves cannot celebrate. Douglass said that the 4th of July is yours not mine, reffering to how America has fulfilled its promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to white men and not anyone else. In his speech, Douglass reflects on the meaning of freedom and challenges whether or not America is the land of the free because it still has slavery. Douglass continues with how the 4th of July serves as a reminder to all those in slavery that this is not a country of freedom at all and can never be until the institution of slavery is forever defeated. Douglass finishes his speech with how he believes that slavery will be wiped out from the abolitionists. Douglass also ends his speech with a poem written by William Lloyd Garrison about how only when the chains of slavery are broken can the country truly be one of freedom and the promise of the constitution made by the founding fathers will be fulfilled.

Martin Luther King Jr also delivered his "I have a dream" speech that emphasized that everyone should be equal in the country

Blog #16: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle in American history and is one of the first images when thinking of the civil war. Lincoln promised the country when he became president he would not let civil war break out but yet it did anyway. Lincoln begins the address by stating four score and seven years ago, in reference to 1776, the young nation of America was founded on hopes and aspirations that the people of the world have the power to seek their own happiness and to fight against tyranny. Lincoln tells the men gathered that they are doing their part to keep their great country together and that they have fought valiantly. Lincoln talks about the bloody destruction and says that the war must end and that these soldiers have unfinished work. Lincoln dedicates the ground as a resting place for the soldiers who died in battle and said that the world may forget what happened year but I will not. Lincoln ends his speech by stating that anything less than complete unity in the country would mean that these men have died in vain and that they still have a job to do so that America shall not perish from this earth. 

John F Kennedy had a similar message when speaking out in his inaugural address, he asks the people, what can you do for your country, again promoting unity and keeping America stable.  

Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln starts his address by acknowledging the growing concerns of the south and how they feel their freedoms are at risk under a Republican administration. Lincoln says he has no intention of dealing with the issue of slavery and emphasizes how the balance of power in the country must be kept in balance. Continuing, Lincoln also talks a lot about the importance of not just balance in slavery but in other places such as state's rights and how the unity of the country will determine its success. Lincoln also cites passages from the constitution regarding slavery and states rights and says how they must adhere to the constitution. Lincoln says that he was undertaken to weight in which to preserve the fine cracks that are appearing in America and how his administration will combat the rising tensions that plague the country so that people can thrive under a beautiful diverse nation instead of shut each other out. Lincoln also points out that as a nation, America has suffered and gone through countless tests of will and that although the slavery issue is extremely dominate he will not let the country fall at this moment when it has so much history of perseverance. Lincoln's final words of his address we are not enemies, but friends, we must no be enemies. The overall message of Lincoln's address is one of unity and fixing the tensions that have been growing in the country. 

This theme of unity is similar to Jefferson's address when he spoke that we are all federalists, we are all Republicans 

Blog #14: Calhoun's Speech on the Compromise of 1850

In this speech, Calhoun talks to the senators about how the slavery issue is pulling the country apart and that something must be done by the government to ensure that this is avoided. He also continues by stating that the majority of the problem is the discontent of the South who feels that their freedoms and way of life are being encroached. Calhoun states that the South feels pressured and outnumbered in many areas such as congress, wealth, and land distribution. Calhoun's proposal is that to end the tension the government needs to appease the South by allowing them equal right to territory and slaves so that their is balance in the two sides. Calhoun fought hard against the compromise of 1850, however it was still passed. 

Lincoln was also a huge advocate against letting the south leave and fought the civil war because he knew how important keeping the south was for America.  

Blog #13 Polk's War Message 1864

Summary of Polk's War Message
Polk begins his address by stating that America wished to establish peace with Mexico so that both countries could be good neighbors and to settle the issues of border disputes. However, when America first sent an envoy over to Mexico to begin political discussion, they refused to receive him or listen to any of his propositions and also invaded US territory shedding blood in the process. Polk proceeds by accounting how John Slidell was sent over to Mexico on friendly terms to promote discussion about new areas of tension between two countries. The Mexican Government led by General Herrera denied Slidell any discussion. Continuing, Polk describes how shortly after this event, Herrera yielded the government to a new leader General Paredes however Paredes also rejected diplomatic talks with the US. As tensions were rising, military troops were sent in at the Texan Border to prepare if Mexico were to invade Texas, which was now becoming an integral part on the union. Mexican troops also lined their side of the border and eventually fighting broke out when 63 American troops became engaged in a skirmish with Mexican troops on the Rio del Norte. Polk finishes by stating how war with Mexico is inevitable and that the war is necessary to maitain American pride and to retaliate against Mexico's unruly actions with diplomacy and the border.


The XYZ affair was another instance in which diplomacy was refused between American and France which led to further tension.
   

Blog #12 Declaration of Sentiments

Declaration of Sentiments 

1. List the Democratic principles at the start
       The Declaration of sentiments talks about how all men and women are created equal in society and how both genders have inalienable rights. Furthermore the Declaration talks about how the power of the government is derived from its service to its people and if the government should ever take action against its people unjustly or fail to be a representation for its people then it will be shut down. The Declaration continues by stating that Prudence will dictate the longevity of the government and that the people living under the government have their rights to rise up and change the government should it become destructive.

2. List 5 Grievances
-He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable rights to the elective franchise.
-He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns
-He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice
-He has made her, if married, in the eyes of the law, civilly dead.
-He was withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men-both natives and foreigners.

3. Make note of the final resolution.
        The final resolution of the declaration talks about how the Women do feel oppressed and that this had gone on long enough for the Women now to raise their voice to this injustice. The Women pledge to use every instrument and tool at their disposal to gain the rights to easily given to man. In addition, the declaration also talks about how Man has gone against the very willing's of God is withholding women's rights and that they rely on people to do what is right and true and give women their rights effective immediate.

4. List 5 notable people who signed the Declaration of Sentiments.
-Fredrick Douglas
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton
-Mary M'Clintock
-Henry Seymour
-Cynthia Fuller