LAD #21: Canegie's Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie makes his own thoughts known on capitalism in "The Gospel of Wealth". Carnegie counter-argues claims made by a large portion of the population - they complains that he is "a robber baron". He states that the economy is to blame because it allows for an uneven distribution for wealth between different socioeconomic social classes (the rich and the poor), and that the people's complaints would disappear if the economy promoted economic equality and universitality. Carnegie continues by proposing a solution to the people's problems, claiming that the wealthy must invest their money into the future of the future race which would also even the distribution of wealth between these different groups. To provide evidence supporting his claims, Carnegie recognizes Europe's one-time practice of primogeniture, which allow cash to flow. But, he recognizes that it ended in a failure because it is based upon the decisions of the first born son - this could completely prevent the state (and the people) from gaining this necessary income. After his initial clame, Carnegie states that a wealthy man's death taxes should be enforced onto his entire estate so the wealth and its value goes into the hands of the commoner, but also allowing the wealthy to spend their money for a benevolent purpose. This is unarguably Carnegie's main argument, because he proposes that all wealthy men must invest their wealth to benefit society as a whole. Carnegie lived by example, as shown by the many libraries he developed and the eventual creation of a university (Carnegie Institute of Technology which is Carnegie-Mellon University today).

LAD #20 The Emancipation Proclamation

In his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln declares that all United States slaves are now free and that both the government and the military will defend their freedom. Additionally, he claims states that do not comply will be recognized as "in rebellion against the United States". Lincoln appeals to ethos by noting his authority: he is both the United States President and the military's Commandeer-in-Chief. He further asserts the slaves freedom by mentioning that all states that are not deemed rebellious by the government must provide fair wages (exemplifying a push for equal rights). To provide one such job oppurtunity and to gain a greater military support for war, Lincoln makes it known that he could easily find a job for a freed slave in his military.Lincoln conlucdes that he has "fixed" America by moving it in this Constitutionally appropriate direction.

LAD #19 Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln discusses issues brought by the Civil War in his Second Inaugural Address. He begins by arguing that both the north and the south did not want war. But, despite diplomatic measures in an attempt to maintain peace, Lincoln asserts that the southerners would rather have war than peace, leaving the northerners no other option aside from preserving the Union. Unfortunately, neither side was capable of understanding how long it would take for such issues to resolve, which only further fueled the sectional hatred between the two groups for years to come. Lincoln mentions that several individuals prayed for the aid of god in order to attain victory in war against their hated opponents. Lincoln then proclaims that praying (alluding to hatred) is useless because none of the people's prayers have been answered. Lincoln states that he does not know the end result of this war, but he believes that the result is in God's hands and he will know what is best for the nationn. Lincoln concludes by attempting to inspire the people to remain strong, and that the people must not fight only for the nation, but for each other.

LAD #18 Dred Scott vs Sanford

Chief Justice Roger B. Taney sided with Sanford in the Dred Scott vs. Sanford case. Taney made the court's reasoning known, stating that the court concluded that because Scott was a slave whose parents had been born in another country, he cannot be recognized as a citizen and therefore cannot legally receive any American liberties prescribed in the Constitution. Instead, Taney believed that Scott (a slave and a foreigner) should be recognized as a lesser person, or a peice of property. As a result, Scott can neither receive protection through the American Constitution nor receive the liberties of a common white man, culminating down to the fact that Scott has no right to fight for his rights in the judicial system. Conversely, Sanford has rights given to him from the Constitution to use Scott as property. This court decision contradicts the Missouri Compromise because Scott had lived in slave free Illinois, but he can still be recognized as property. Because of this decision Scott once again became a slave and the precedent Taney set pitted the north and the south against each other, leading to the Civil War.

LAD #17 "Ain't I a Woman" Speech

Sojourner Truth argues against injustices she receives because of gender and color in her 1851 speech, "Ain't I a Woman?". She begins her argument by noting that although social reform is taking place in the north, there is still a large amount injustice taking place in the south. One example she points out is that there may be men who help women out of chivalry, no man has ever helped her becaue of her skin color (which makes her lowly regarded part of a lesser being). To provide evidence to support the claims of injustice she receives she argues that she has all the other strengths of a woman - she can plow, farm, and "work as much and eat as much as any man" - while also having to take the tasks and bear sufferings that other men cannot have, such as having thirteen children while later being burdened with grief that most of her children would be sold into slavery. Additionally, Truth advocates for women's rights by arguing that women are as "intellectual" as men. She also counter argues claims men have made such as "Christ wasn't a woman" by asserting that Christ came from God and a woman. Truth concludes that Women need to turn the world "right side up again", otherwise, not only African American women, but women in general will continue to be oppressed.

LAD #16 5th of July Speech

Frederick Douglass proclaims that the 4th of July is meaningless (in his words, "a sham") in the eyes of his fellow African American slaves in his speech "What To The Slave Is The 4th Of July?" Douglass begins his argument by announcing the hypocrisy concerning Americans' celebration of independence because while they believe that they have eliminated all tyrannical elements from their nation, in reality, they are directly responsible for oppressing the African Americans. As a result, Douglass tells his audience that because they continue to celebrate Independence Day, Americans are still neglecting to see the dark and ugly underbelly of the nation - socioeconomic injustice. Douglass finds that by enslaving African Americans and that by treating them inhumanely, they will never have any actual freedoms in the home of the free. Douglass asserts that beliefs that African Americans are lesser than their white counterparts is foolish, as they perform labor which Caucasians have also performed, noting that they have built houses, constructed bridges, and have taken part in fishing. Additionally, Douglass tugs on the emotions of his audience by asserting that the oppressed are men of faith and believers of God. Douglass concludes by claiming that despite being a free, independent nation, there is an incomparable amount of injustice and atrocities here than anywhere else in the world.

LAD #15 Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Lincoln honors the soldiers who have so far sacrificed themselves to preserve the Union during the Civil War while also recognizing the significance of this action in his Gettysburg Address. In his address he solemnly states that nothing he could say can properly represent the sacrifice made by the Union soldiers. Lincoln claims that it was because these soldiers sacrificed themselves that the union has so far been preserved. He also makes an appeal to pathos by proclaiming that the battlefield will be these soldiers final resting place. Because of their sacrifice Lincoln tells his audience that they must continue fighting so that the soldiers do not die in vain and that the people's freedoms and democracy are preserved. Lincoln concludes that the people "shall have a new birth of freedom" by the end of the war and that this fighting will ultimately make both the nation and its people stronger.