LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

Although the situations were very different with the reasoning behind the two, the forceful moving to a confined area of the Japanese internment camps is similar to the Indian reservations.






Dawes Severalty Act Summary: This act was established in regards to Indian policy, more specifically, how reservations would be divided. This policy focused on on breaking up reservations by granting land allotments to individualize Native Americans. The head of each family was given 1/4 of the land, single children over the age of 18 1/8, to each orphan child under 18 they would get 1/8 of a section, as well as every other single person under 18. Lands that were not given to the Indians were open to non-Indians and the development of railroads. Even if the Native Americans did not live on that land they were given as a patent for the government to protect it. The act emphasized individual ownership of land, which contrasted with the traditional unity of the culture. The act ultimately tried for assimilation and deprived the Indians of their land for the need of railroads and the development of infrastructure.

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

In his speech, Bryan directly compares what he wants to happen, gain independence from the corrupt, controlling government, to the Declaration of Independence, when they fought for independence from a corrupt government as well. 



William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech Summary: Bryan opens by saying that, as a person, he could run for the Democratic nomination. He claims, however, that the race is a matter of principle, and that it is the humanitarian principle which he supports that is running. He also claims that every working man is a business man, and that the Westward-moving pioneers are as supported by the party as the Eastern Elite. He continues by saying that he defends families against the "encroachment of aggregated wealth". He supports the income tax law that was recently found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. He went against his Democratic beliefs by supporting the governmental control of money and banking. He discusses the large issue of silver not being backed the same way that gold is and how the Republican nominee, McKinley is losing popularity because his party endorsed the gold standard and left out silver. Because of this, he is confident in his party winning the election. He competes his speech by saying that the Democratic party will support the struggling, poor workers who create the country's wealth and that the US should turn to bimetalism (using silver and gold) before other nations have the chance to and lead the world. He finishes the whole speech by saying "you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold".

LAD #22: President McKinley's War Message

FDR's Infamy speech is related to McKinley's War Message because both times Presidents were asking for more Congress to allow them to declare war.



President McKinley's War Message Summary: There was a bloody war occurring in Cuba against the Spanish and the US was sick of it so they demanded that the Spanish stop the fighting. The Spanish accepted these demands. McKinley wanted all the conflict in Cuba to stop and he told Congress to act on it. On April 19, Congress adopted a joint resolution which plunged the US into war on the side of Cuba. 

It was his duty to inform the Congress on the state of relations of the United States with Spain and of the warfare in Cuba. The current revolution is a build-up of other similar insurrections which have occurred in Cuba against Spain. Our trade has suffered do to it and much of the capital invested in Cuba has been lost. The war in Cuba is of the sort where neither side looks as they will win or lose until the physical exhaustion of one or both is achieved. In this regard being idle and issuing a proclamation of neutrality would be a bad idea. There remain forms of intervention, however, such as impartial neutrality by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, or as the active ally of the one party or another. The first one would be helpful in keeping friendly relations with both Cuba and Spain, yet the second one may be more useful in actually causing eventual peace and ending all conflict. He goes on to list all the reasons why the second option is possible and may be necessary. One of the important reasons he list is that the battleship Maine was destroyed by an external submarine which proves the amount of violence in Cuba. In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give use the right and duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop. He then asks the Congress to allow hi to take measures to assure end the hostilities and assure peace on Cuba. 

LAD #23: The Populist Party Platform

Today's Democratic Party is similar to the Populist Party because they fight for better minimum wages, protecting workers rights, and closing wage gaps.




The Populist Party Platform Summary: The Populist Movement emerged from the farmers alliances of the 1870's and 1880's. In the 1890's it emerged as a viable third party as it was a response to the growth of industrialism. It opposed the concentrated capital of banks and big businesses.

It begins with a preamble which states that the nation is on the verge of moral, political and material ruin. There is corruption throughout and the public doesn't have a say. The right to unionize is denied and the conditions of work are left awful. The value of silver has gone down to make way for gold which is controlled and is hurting the people. There are controlling influences dominating both parties and they are willing to sacrifice our well being to make more money. We believe that the power of the government should be expanded in order to end this oppression, and corruption.

Their platform is this... that labor Unions are permanent, wealth goes to he who earns and creates it, and the government should own and manage railroads. When it comes to finance, they demand a national currency that is safe and sound and issued by the government. There should be free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the ration of 16 to 1, the amount of circulating money is to be increased, an income tax is to be implemented, the money should be kept as much as possible in the hands of the people and the state and national revenues are to be limited, and postal savings banks are to be established for the safe deposit of peoples earnings. In terms of transportation... the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of  the people as well as the telegraph and the telephone. For land, it is the heritage of the people and it should not be monopolized, and the alien ownership of land should be prohibited, land owned by railroads and aliens should be returned to the government and reclaimed for actual settlers.

There is also an expression of sentiments with some of the big points being, fair elections, income taxes, pensions for ex-Union soldiers, protecting American labor, create better working conditions, presidents and vice-presidents should only be able to have one term, and national aid for private corporations should be forbidden.

LAD #21: Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation relates to the Gospel of Wealth in that Bill Gates as an incredibly wealthy person created a charity in which he donates very large amounts of money to for a good cause.



Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth Summary- Andrew Carnegie was an incredibly successful businessman who's wealth was based on the provision of iron and steel to the railways. To resolve what might have been seen as contradictions between creation of wealth and and social provision, he came up with the "gospel of wealth". He gave away his fortune to socially beneficial projects, such as libraries.
        The problem with the age in which he lived is the administration of wealth. The conditions of human life have not only changed, but they have been revolutionized. In the past there was little difference in wealth and social class, now a days there is a huge contrast in wealth and visible social class. This change, however, should be seen as beneficial and essential for the progress of the human race. A relapse to old conditions would be disastrous.
         The condition of affairs that is best for the interests of the race will inevitably give wealth to the few. The question is, what is the proper mode of administering wealth. There are three modes in which surplus wealth can be disposed of. It can be left for the families of the decedents; it can be bequeathed for public purposes; or it can be administered during their lives by its possessors. The first mode is the most injudicious and very monarch like. The second mode, it may be said that this is only a means for the disposal of wealth as it is no real good to the world until his death.  With this the estate of the person is often taxed very heavily after their death. This policy would work powerfully to push very wealthy people to attend to the administration of wealth during his life which would be the most fruitful for the society and people. He then says that this way of society where a few have great wealth is needed otherwise it would be similar to Communism in the fact that all the money would be equally distributed. It can be a much more powerful force for the elevation of our race. Even the poorest can be made to see this, as great sums gathered by few and spent for public purposes, for which the masses reap the benefit, are much more valuable than if the wealth was scattered among them. This is the third mode of using great fortune and by far the best for everyone involved.
          The duty of people of wealth is to first set an example of modest living, and to consider all surplus revenues that come to him to be trust funds of which he should administer in the manner of which their judgement sees as producing the most beneficial result for the community.