Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech"
March, 1963
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
The audience for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" could not have been more astounding. Delivering his speech to over 200,000 civil rights supporters, King shared his message of hope with the dream that one day all would share his vision of equality.
Although Abraham Lincoln had given the Emancipation Proclamation a century prior to this speech, King believed that the Negro population still lived under oppression in the United States, and have suffered for enough time. He called from the Negro to rise and walk with the white man, with the goal that one day they would all live freely and happily together, under the idea that "all men are created equal."
With their journey toward equality already begun, Martin Luther King Jr. claimed that there was no turning back and no giving up. He dreamt that the American nation would one day allow its citizens to live together without segregation or hatred, and that even his children would not "be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
With a now greater meaning to it, he closed his speech by quoting the Negro spiritual:
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are free at last!"
Friday, January 15, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
LAD #25- Dawes Act
Dawes Act
February 8, 1887
Enacted in 1887, the Dawes Act dealt with the Native American population and their reservations, and allowed them land in said reservations for agricultural and grazing purposes, so long as they were surveyed. The treaty allotted land to any head-on-family Indians and for the most part were to be used for the grazing of livestock. The allotments allowed under this act were to be selected by the Indians withing their families, with the head dividing allotted land between their children. The government agents setting up these allotments were to be in charge of following the rules and regulations as created by the Secretary of the Interior as approved by the President. The land unclaimed or simply not granted to the Indians would then be used for the settlement by non-Indian citizens, as seen fit by the United States government. The Secretary of the Interior could lawfully negotiate with an Indian tribe to purchase land given to them so long as the agreement followed the treaty the reservation was held under, and the Native American tribe could consent to sell on certain conditions, yet the purchase would not be complete unless ratified by Congress. The tribe could maintain religious or educational work within a hundred and sixty acre tract as long as it conformed with the society and was approved by the Secretary of the Interior. This act would not extend to the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, or to even the Seneca Indians of New York, but rather simply pertain to the Native American tribes within Oklahoma. Under the provisions of this act, one hundred thousand dollars would be spent by the Treasury for surveying the land to be allotted, and would be repaid from the sales of land acquired by the Indians. This act would also not allow for the removal of the Southern Ute Indians in Southwestern Colorado to a new reservation without the consent of a majority of the adult men in the tribe.
February 8, 1887
Enacted in 1887, the Dawes Act dealt with the Native American population and their reservations, and allowed them land in said reservations for agricultural and grazing purposes, so long as they were surveyed. The treaty allotted land to any head-on-family Indians and for the most part were to be used for the grazing of livestock. The allotments allowed under this act were to be selected by the Indians withing their families, with the head dividing allotted land between their children. The government agents setting up these allotments were to be in charge of following the rules and regulations as created by the Secretary of the Interior as approved by the President. The land unclaimed or simply not granted to the Indians would then be used for the settlement by non-Indian citizens, as seen fit by the United States government. The Secretary of the Interior could lawfully negotiate with an Indian tribe to purchase land given to them so long as the agreement followed the treaty the reservation was held under, and the Native American tribe could consent to sell on certain conditions, yet the purchase would not be complete unless ratified by Congress. The tribe could maintain religious or educational work within a hundred and sixty acre tract as long as it conformed with the society and was approved by the Secretary of the Interior. This act would not extend to the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, or to even the Seneca Indians of New York, but rather simply pertain to the Native American tribes within Oklahoma. Under the provisions of this act, one hundred thousand dollars would be spent by the Treasury for surveying the land to be allotted, and would be repaid from the sales of land acquired by the Indians. This act would also not allow for the removal of the Southern Ute Indians in Southwestern Colorado to a new reservation without the consent of a majority of the adult men in the tribe.
LAD #24- William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech
William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech
July 9, 1896
Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan began his speech by claiming to have come to speak in defense of the cause of humanity. Believing the country had undergone a great trial on March 4th, 1895 when Congress addressed the Democrats with the issue of money in the country, also asserting that those who supported the free coinage of silver in the Democratic Party had the right to take control of the party's policies. The Democrats in favor of the coinage of silver assembled together and were victorious from time to time, yet were hindered by those among them in the Democratic Party who did not support their ideas.
In his speech Bryan claimed that they did not come together as individuals at the time, but rather as representation for people equal under the law. He and those who supported similar ideals came to speak for the 'boarder class of businessmen' and not as aggressors, declaring themselves to be fighting in defense of their families and posterity and no longer willing to entreat or petition any longer.
The supporters of the silver's coinage deemed the income tax unconstitutional when it was brought to the Supreme Court and even when it was first passed. However, Bryan supported an income tax, and not those who would refuse to pay their dues.
While he and his followers fully backed the idea of silver being the primary form of currency, the United States government had worked to issue the gold standard in the country. William Jennings Bryan heavily supported the use of silver over gold due to the inflation it cause, which would also make it less difficult for the farmers to pay off their debts and to completely reverse the descent of the American economy at the time. At the time Bryan stood by the belief that they would be victorious. The large cities may have been in favor of a gold standard, yet the farms did not share the same ideal.
Bryan dared the government to meet them at a field and defend the gold standard, saying that they would fight with all of the support he had from those with commercial and laboring interests declaring that the government "shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
July 9, 1896
Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan began his speech by claiming to have come to speak in defense of the cause of humanity. Believing the country had undergone a great trial on March 4th, 1895 when Congress addressed the Democrats with the issue of money in the country, also asserting that those who supported the free coinage of silver in the Democratic Party had the right to take control of the party's policies. The Democrats in favor of the coinage of silver assembled together and were victorious from time to time, yet were hindered by those among them in the Democratic Party who did not support their ideas.
In his speech Bryan claimed that they did not come together as individuals at the time, but rather as representation for people equal under the law. He and those who supported similar ideals came to speak for the 'boarder class of businessmen' and not as aggressors, declaring themselves to be fighting in defense of their families and posterity and no longer willing to entreat or petition any longer.
The supporters of the silver's coinage deemed the income tax unconstitutional when it was brought to the Supreme Court and even when it was first passed. However, Bryan supported an income tax, and not those who would refuse to pay their dues.
While he and his followers fully backed the idea of silver being the primary form of currency, the United States government had worked to issue the gold standard in the country. William Jennings Bryan heavily supported the use of silver over gold due to the inflation it cause, which would also make it less difficult for the farmers to pay off their debts and to completely reverse the descent of the American economy at the time. At the time Bryan stood by the belief that they would be victorious. The large cities may have been in favor of a gold standard, yet the farms did not share the same ideal.
Bryan dared the government to meet them at a field and defend the gold standard, saying that they would fight with all of the support he had from those with commercial and laboring interests declaring that the government "shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
LAD #23- The Populist Party Platform
Populist Party Platform
July 4, 1892
The Populist Party formed an alliance of farmers in the 1870s and 1880s in opposition to the growth of big business, and the toll they took on these people. The Party claimed the government had been corrupted by the influence of said businesses and the public opinion ignored. Lamenting their woes, they claimed to have been denied their right to organize, and that their country was reverting to European conditions. One of their goals was to put the government back into the hands of its people, rather than the businessmen.
July 4, 1892
The Populist Party formed an alliance of farmers in the 1870s and 1880s in opposition to the growth of big business, and the toll they took on these people. The Party claimed the government had been corrupted by the influence of said businesses and the public opinion ignored. Lamenting their woes, they claimed to have been denied their right to organize, and that their country was reverting to European conditions. One of their goals was to put the government back into the hands of its people, rather than the businessmen.
The Party refused to stand down until its demands were met, asking that labor unions be made permanent, and that any money made by a person remain in their own possession. With the belief the government ought to own the railroads rather than the other way around, they also expanded on their ideas involving the country's financial methods, demanding national currency and a graduate income tax to name a few. One of their main goals was to have means of transportation and communication to be owned and operated in the interest of the people, along with the claim that the government should reclaim excess land owned and unneeded by the railroads to be used for settlement instead.
The Populist Party demanded a free ballot without Federal intervention, the income tax be used for the reduction of the overall taxes caused by industry and also calling for the restriction of immigration that would cost Americans' jobs. They supported the idea of workers organizing themselves into unions and at the same time declared that armed guards such as Pinkertons be removed from workplaces.
In all the main focus of the Populist Party was in favor of the interest of the people, and generally demanding that the national government deny any aid to a corporate business.
LAD #22- McKinley's War Message
William McKinley’s War Message to Congress
April 11, 1898
"In the name of humanity...The war in Cuba must stop."
McKinley felt it to be his duty as President to address the crisis in Cuba and its effect on the relation between the United States and Spain, stating that the war in Cuba had led to the annoyance and irritation of American citizens, causing a decrease in trade and capital as well. McKinley continued by saying that there was a chance the violence would not end unless one side of the dispute was completely destroyed, but maintained the idea that this could not be allowed to happen. The President then called for the utilization of 'neutral intervention,' thereby siding with neither aggressor. However, McKinley also felt that by declaring neutrality he ran the chance of achieving nothing in the Cuban-Spanish issue, and believed that there were other methods of ending the war.
In all actuality McKinley believed that the United States had no business in the affairs of another nation, though he also felt that America owed Cuba protection and ought to provide some legal support. He claimed that the United States also had the right to intervene if its trade and commerce were put at risk and solidified his argument by saying that the conditions in Cuba posed a threat to America's peace.
The sinking of the Maine only furthered McKinley's idea that the situation in Cuba was intolerable and needed to be fixed along with the pacification of said island. The President asked Congress to allow him to take measures in order to end the hostilities and establish peace and a stable government as a result, leaving the the issue in the hands of Congress.
Congress would later bring the United States into the war, siding with the Cubans rather than the Spanish.
April 11, 1898
"In the name of humanity...The war in Cuba must stop."
The Cuban people revolted against their Spanish rulers in 1895, bringing the island into a bloody war. The United States remained neutral for the most part, and two days after sending an ultimatum to Madrid, President McKinley address Congress in an effort to bring about an end to the violence in Cuba.
McKinley felt it to be his duty as President to address the crisis in Cuba and its effect on the relation between the United States and Spain, stating that the war in Cuba had led to the annoyance and irritation of American citizens, causing a decrease in trade and capital as well. McKinley continued by saying that there was a chance the violence would not end unless one side of the dispute was completely destroyed, but maintained the idea that this could not be allowed to happen. The President then called for the utilization of 'neutral intervention,' thereby siding with neither aggressor. However, McKinley also felt that by declaring neutrality he ran the chance of achieving nothing in the Cuban-Spanish issue, and believed that there were other methods of ending the war.
In all actuality McKinley believed that the United States had no business in the affairs of another nation, though he also felt that America owed Cuba protection and ought to provide some legal support. He claimed that the United States also had the right to intervene if its trade and commerce were put at risk and solidified his argument by saying that the conditions in Cuba posed a threat to America's peace.
The sinking of the Maine only furthered McKinley's idea that the situation in Cuba was intolerable and needed to be fixed along with the pacification of said island. The President asked Congress to allow him to take measures in order to end the hostilities and establish peace and a stable government as a result, leaving the the issue in the hands of Congress.
Congress would later bring the United States into the war, siding with the Cubans rather than the Spanish.
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