LAD #14

 





Lincoln's First Inaugural Address was clearly a message to the Southern states threating to secede from the Union. In this speech, Lincoln assured these states that, though he was a Republican, he would not push an abolitionist agenda. Instead, he declared that he would abide strictly by the terms established by the Constitution. Slavery would not be abolished in the states where it already existed. Fugitive slaves would be returned to their masters. Lincoln emphasized that his platform had always been one in support of the states' rights delegated by the Constitution. However, Lincoln also declared that talk of cession would not be tolerated. He went so far as to deem cession unconstitutional and further emphasized the importance of preserving the Union. Lincoln also warned that the idea of cession would not end if the Southern states ceded. Minorities would continue to rise up in the ceded sections and, following the example set by the first cession, threaten to cede as well. Lincoln also reminded his constituents that no provision or protection dictated by the Constitution had ever been infringed on by the Federal Government. He closed the speech by touching on an amendment that had passed through Congress declaring that the Federal Government would not interfere with the domestic duties of states. He said that he would not oppose this legislation and called again for the union of all states.

LAD #13

In John C. Calhoun's "The Clay Compromise Measures," the grievances of the Southern states were explained. According to Calhoun, the Federal government was biased towards the Northern states. This accounted for the favorable terms of key pieces of legislation in the eyes of the North. The Ordinance of 1787, the Missouri Compromise, and the "Tariff of Abominations" all appeared to push a Northern agenda and ultimately caused the population difference between the two regions. The Northern states gained more land from the Louisiana Purchase and other United States annexations than than the South. The Northern states, namely the manufactorers, benefited from protective tariffs which were ultimately a financial burden on the South. As a result, money from the South flowed continuously to the North and encourged immigrants to settle in the North as opposed to the South. This created the population inequality. All of this political leverage in Congress was being used to restrict slavery and the Southern states could not stand for this.

Becasue of these injustices, Calhoun argued that the Southern states would have no choice to but to secede from the Union. Unhappy with Northern domination and offended by the Northern view that their way of life was immoral, the Southern states had given up too much and could not give up anymore to preserve the Union. If the Union was to be preserved, the North would have to extend a diplomatic hand.

 

LAD #12

In Polk's War Message of 1846, the President Polk justified war with Mexico by explaining, chronologically, relations that had existed between the two countries. This explanation began with the unfortuante circumstances surrounding the American diplomat to Mexico, John Slidell. After asking Mexico if an American ambassador would be accepted to resolve territorial disputes and tensions between the two countries and recieving an affirmative answer, General Herrara refused to meet with him. When Herrara's government was overtaken by a military coup led by General Paredes, the United States offered their diplomat again. Slidell was again rejected, disrespected, and returned home unsuccessful.

After the annexation of Texas, military support was sent to the new state to protect it from Mexican aggression. In response, Mexican General Ampudia demanded that the United States disband its military establishments. When an American search party was sent to patrol the border and determine if Mexico was arming its borders in preparation for an attack, the group was ambushed. Several men were killed. Mexico then declared war on the United States.

The combination of these two factors  justified war with Mexico in Polk's eyes and he urged the American people to rally around the cause.

LAD #11

 

In the Seneca Falls Convention Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, feminist leaders established the basic rights of women. The document begins as a mimickry of the Declaration of Independence and highlights the injustices that man has inflicted on women. It highlights the oppression of women throughout the course of American history in regards to laws and social expectations. Among the injustices cited in the document are the lack of female suffrage, the inability of women to own private property, and women's exclusion from many professional fields. The document also states that women are equal to men in the eyes of God and that God's laws take precedent over human legislation. Following this line of logic, human laws that oppress women go against the natural order. The women at the Seneca Falls Convention concluded their document by resolving to remain actively seized in the matter and by emphasizing that women have the right to pursue causes that they view as morally unjust in the public sector.

LAD #10

In President Monroe's seventh annual message to Congress, it became clear that the United States sought to eradicate European influence from the Western Hemisphere. Monroe's statement, which later became known as the Monroe Doctrine, declared that the United States would protect the interests of newly sovereign states in the Western Hemisphere from European domination. Monroe sympathized with these new countries because he believed that they were founded on ideals that paralled those of the American Revolution. Their governments differed from those European institutions which had previously governed them. The statement made it clear that European influence was not welcome in the Western Hemisphere and that it would be seen as a direct infringement on American sovereignty. Monroe warned Europe that the United States was prepared to violate its desire to remain neutral in order to protect its sovereignty and the sovereignty of the new nations. Through the Monroe Doctrine, he also emphasized that the United States wished to maintain friendly relations with European nations and had no desire to interfere wth European affairs.  In this way, the Monroe Doctrine was America's way of asserting its jurisdiction over the Western Hemisphere while still attemting to preserve peaceful relations with Europe.

LAD #9 Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

Thomas Jefferson walked a fine line as he delivered his first Inaugural Address. Though he had previously sympathized with the anti-federalists, advocating for states' rights and a less powerful federal government, Jefferson appeared to shift toward a federalist point of view in an attempt to present himself as a more moderate figure. In this speech, he applauded the Constitution. He declared that it would guide him during his time in office and that it was necessary that the American people unite around it. Jefferson deviated further from the  anti-federalist approach, saying that the new United States government was the "strongest Government on earth." However, Jefferson softened this viewpoint to any that might disagree with him by emphasizing that the government's power would come from the people and that its purpose would be to protect the rights and livliehoods of its constituents. He resolved to be friendly with foreign countries without engaging in alliances. He promised to encourage agriculture and pay back debts. Most of all, he told the American people to accept differences in political opinion and understand that all Americans are united by the same core principles.

Columbus Blog #8

 

  Though Christopher Columbus is a celebrated historical figure who enjoys his own national holiday in the United States, further analysis of his character and expeditions reveals that he is not a hero. Instead, he was a man of low moral character who selfishly exploited the generous nature of the native people he encounterd and set a precedent for the treatment of Native Americans for future European conquistadors and settlers. The fact that Columbus took underserved credit for seeing the New World first, and accepted the 10,000 maravedis per year for life as a result, is an immediate indicator of his low moral standard. However, his reputation comes under serious question when one examines his interactions with the Arawak Indians. The Arawaks greeted Columbus and his men bearing food and gifts; sadly, these gestures served only to wet the appetite of the greedy explorer. He took several prisoners hoping that they would lead him to deposits of gold. This began Columbus' tyrade of violence, murder, and imprisonment of the Arawaks. Dragged from their homes, hundreds of the New World's indigenous people were sent overseas to be slaves in Spain or else employed on brutal Caribbean encomiendas and in mines. Suicide rate among the Arawak people was high and population declined exponentially. This blatent disregard for basic human rights would be repeated by the expeditions of Cortes and Pizarro in Central and South America as well as by the constituents of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other British settlements. Columbus' reputation hides these unconvenient truths.