LAD #26: "I Have a Dream" Speech

 

King begins his historic and legendary speech simply - "I have a dream". Using repetition, he repeats this phrase throughout the speech, creating significance in its meaning and creating emotional appeals to the audience. In his speech, he hopes that there will be a time where all men are judges equally by the content of their character. With this he then moves to someday children of different colors will be able to play together. King infers to the injustice of the Constitution by claiming that "all men are created equal" - both black and white men are equal at character. King continues about how he dreams that the crooked become straight, the wrongs will be corrected, and the narrowminded slave owners of yesterday can sit down and eat with their prior slaves. King's dream came true, as his speech alone united millions.

LAD #25: The Dawes Act

The Dawes Act of 1887 called for the protection Indian reservations. The government (specifically the President) did this by designating reservation land to Indian families that would obviously continue to remain a part of the United States. The government managed to carry out the Dawes Act peacefully by allowing the natives to maintain a large enough "section" (which was based upon age and family size). The Dawes ACt also protected the natives from tribal conflicts by creating provisional lines that allowed for each tribe to attain an equal amount of lan. However, if these provisional lines did not last for any reason, the territorial lines were redrawn by the Secretary of the Interior. Going to the extreme of guaranteeing the natives hapiness, the US government gave patents to the natives to ensure that the natives' new lands would remain theirs as long as they did not leave the US domain in the next twenty-five years. During this time, all economic activity was to be carefully watched by the Secretary of the Interiror. The American government also had the right to distribute the land for homes, irrigation systems, and educational facilities. The government would also protect the natives freedom of religion by allowing religious practice in a sector of the provided land.  Lastly, citizenship was offered to all Indians who supported the act, follwed the laws, and were born within the borders of the United States. Unfortunately, the act did not apply to all native tribes (specifically, the tribes moved by Jackson and the Seneca Nation in New York). The act also contains no protection from railroads, telegraph lines, or other public uses as decreed by Congress.

LAD 24: William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan's makes the Populist Party's beliefs known, predominantly their view on using both gold and silver as currency, in his 1896 "Cross of Gold" speech. Bryan begins his argument by asserting that he does not to worsen controversy on the matter by presenting his argument, but instead express the ideas of the working class and the common man. After, he emphasizes the notion that Democrats hostile attitued towards the Republicans is inneffective and only deepens political hatred. After making this point, Bryan attacks the Republicans himself by claiming that the Republicans view on bimetalism (it would interfere with their business, which opposed silver coinage) was flawed. He points out that such Republican ideas and practices are a detriment to the "common man's business", hurting everyone who is not a major power in big business. Bryan then defends the Democrats in their supposed "unconstitutional" income tax law. He states he supports it because it epitomizes democracy (which has apparently been erased from the upper class' minds) by allowing citizens of all distinctions to have some equality in economic protection. Bryan also notes the Republicans attack on the Democrats negative viewpoint towards bank currency, which He compares to Andrew Jackson in his plight against the Bank of the United States - which arguably "saved America." Bryan further continues his assault on the Republican Party by pointing out its flaws: he recognizes that McKinely supported bimetallism, although the group denies it. Bryan then alludes to Britain want to a gold standard, showing that Republicans simply agree to European ideals. In his conclusion, Bryan delivers the finishing blow to the Republican Party by claiming that "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

LAD #23: The Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party Platform was formed to counter big business and monopoly during America's Industrial Revolution. The Populist Party proclaimed that its purpose was to protect the rights of the common man - the party made its own "Declaration of Independence" which condemns the US government for the atrocities that existed in American borders: the slums that spotted cities, the working class' reliance on big business, and the robber barons' exploits upon the American people. The Populist Party's agenda was also for the production of silver as currency and pay restrictions to economically control the wealthy. In addition, they fought for men outside of the working class, arguing that the government must protect agricultural productivity becaus it would further protect Americans and it would create an economic boom that would counter the issues with currency that existed during the time. In short, the party sought to bring power back to the people and restore true democracy for all Americans. The Populist Party also declares in their Declaration that unions are a necessity over the working class and that the government should have ownership and power over the railroads, telephone, and telegraph. Lastly, the Populist Party stands firmly against monopolizing land to support business, and instead it should belong to both "its creator and its laborers". The Populist Party fought for an open ballot, pensions for solidiers, and sympathy towards laborers (reasonable workday, better pay, better working conditions). 

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

President McKinley claims that the bitter, bloody war between Spain and Cuba must be ended to protect humanity, civilization, and American interests. A major issue that McKinley presents is that the violece between these two countries not only upsets the American citizen, but is also hurting American trade -especially the capital. In an effort to pacify his citizens and save the economy from impending doom,  McKinely syllogizes two possibilities: he can either take a position of neutrality, but still intervene; or he can provide benefits and support to one side. After carefully contemplating this dilemma, McKinely deduces that if the US is forced to choose the latter, he would have to side against the insurrectionists. However, the cons of the former, which can speciously be justified, is too great of a detriment. The four major points McKinley asserts in his speech is that the "horrible miseries" and "barbarities" that take place in Cuba would continue; the unprotected Cuban citizen deserves to be protected (which relates back to the Monroe Doctrine); neutrality would create a "very serious injury to American commerce and trade"; and it would forever ruin current political affairs with Cuba. Through calculated risks, McKinley chose to protect the Cubans, openly stating that the American's are too closely intertwined Cuba for the Us citizen to ignore Spain's atrocities. Such action would later lead to the Spanish-American War (which ended oin a decisive American victory) and the eventual occupation of Cuba.