LAD #21: Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth

LAD #21: Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth


Andrew Carnegie was a very successful businessman in the Industrial era of America's history. In order to resolve contradictions between wealth and social provision, he had a "Gospel of Wealth." In it, he said that the problem is the administration of wealth and that class divisions keep society very divided. As years progress, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, dividing us even further. However, this is just the way of life and mankind because it creates a distinct culture which is ultimately beneficial to the country. While there are only a few wealthy in monetary terms, true wealth comes from being educated on the world. Wealth can only be distributed in three ways: passed on to family, used for public purposes, or administered by its possessors. The first way is the most selfish, the second is also, for the person just waits for them to die and then it is distributed, but the third is the best way. It will help lessen the gap between rich and poor to make life better for everyone. Philanthropy is ergo a natural duty of the wealthy man.

LAD #20: Emancipation Proclamation

LAD #20: Emancipation Proclamation


On January 1st, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation. He began by freeing all the slaves in the very first line of his address and making the point of ensuring that the United States would recognize these people as free. However, this only included the Southern States currently in rebellion. These new freed slaves would have their rights maintained in the Union and the Northern States. It did not apply to some parts of the country including different states and cities as to stay in good favor with them and not create new enemies.

LAD #19: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

LAD #19: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

When Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency for a second straight time, he discussed several important issues in his inaugural address. He begins by stating that the second inaugural address is clearly less important than the first one. Then he goes on to say that he has high hopes for the future of the Civil War. He states that the war was caused more because of sectional rivalries and the fact that some people wanted to preserve the union, but others did not care. He realizes, however, that these sectional rivalries were caused by the issue of slavery in the states and disagreements over it. Also, this civil war lasted much longer than it was expected to. The war was also not fought for intelligent or legitimate reasons, for each side had very similar people and principles (except for one major difference). Then he says that it is important that the war be over soon for the sake of everybody. Finally, he delivers a statement to encourage people not to drop the war effort and to help get this over and won as soon as possible.

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision


In the case of Dred Scott vs. Sanford in 1857, the Supreme court ruled in favor of Sanford. They sided with the opinion of  Roger B. Taney who took everything into account. People began to realize that a decision was going to occur soon and so did James Buchanan, who used his connections to find out what that decision would be and supported it in his inaugural address. He said in it that eventually the people of the states would solve the conflict of whether there should or should not be slavery in America and that he backs the Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case. Taney then announced the decision, saying that even free Negroes were not citizens of the US and they ergo cannot sue in an American court. Then he said that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and that Scott was still a slave.

LAD #17: Ain't I A Woman

LAD #17: Ain't I A Woman

In 1851, Sojourner Truth gave a speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio, concerning the topic of  racism and sexism and the prejudices associated with the two. She begins by stating that with all the movements of abolition and women's rights, that the white men are bound to become nervous soon. Then, she says that she saw a woman being helped into a carriage and that she does not get the same treatment because she is black. She realizes that women are being treated as inferior in this case as well, but asks the question "Ain't I a Woman?" implying that she is at a double disadvantage because of her race. Then she puts in some humor and says that even though Christ was a man, he was created by a woman. Furthermore, she stated that the first woman God made was powerful enough to turn the world upside down. After that, Truth did not have "nothing more to say."

LAD #16: 5th of July Speech

LAD #16: 5th of July Speech

Frederick Douglass gave a speech concerning Independence Day in 1852. In it, he discussed what Independence of America and the 4th of July has to do with slavery and slaves themselves. He began by asking the question of whether the topics discussed in the Declaration of Independence are extended to black people. He then goes on to praise the fact that America has come so far in being a fairly free and equal society, but that it was still unfair that so many people (including blacks) did not have those freedoms extended to them, making it a very unequal society still. By saying this, he implies that Independence day is ironic because a large part of the population of the United States is being denied the rights that the day is based around celebrating. To a slave, the 4th of July is just a reminder of all the injustices that occur to them on a daily basis. He then states that there is not a nation in the world that is as bad as the United States at that time concerning slavery. Upon concluding, he says that you can search all over but you will not find a country as hypocritical and barbaric as the US.

LAD #15: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

LAD #15: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address


In Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he discusses the Civil War after the Battle of Gettysburg. He begins by telling of when the nation was conceived and that it was based upon the principles of equality. Then, he states that the Civil War is a very difficult challenge for a nation to endure. Then, he recognizes all the soldiers that have fought in the war, but specifically those at Gettysburg. He says that it does not matter what he says about the soldiers, but what they did was of the utmost importance. He continues that these men who have died cannot have died in vein, but that the living now have to step up their game and keep up the fight that the soldiers started, and that by doing so, the nation can once again be home to equality and freedom.