LAD #25

Senator Henry Dawes, the author of the act bearing his name

The Dawes Act was an attempt to assimilate Native Americans into American society. Reservations were broken up into parts that were given to the head of each family, and each individual living alone. If they behaved (to American standards), the property became theirs and they became American citizens after 25 years. Leftover land was sold to fund government efforts to "civilize" the natives. The "Five Civilized Tribes" - the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles - were exempt from the act.

A depiction of "forty acres and a mule"

This act is similar to the "forty acres and a mule" that were given to newly freed black people after the Civil War. Like the Dawes Act, the federal government gave a marginalized group of people a plot of land to allow them to become a part of American society. Also, both efforts failed, as the land given in the Dawes Act was unsuitable for farming, and turned out to be too small, and President Andrew Johnson ended the forty acres policy, and many blacks had their land taken away as Johnson redistributed the land to whites.

LAD #24: Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan

At the 1896 Democratic National Convention, William Jennings Bryan says that he supports free silver (bimetallism), since he believes it would bring the nation prosperity. He also strongly opposed gold, saying that America should not just have a gold standard because England does, and that America does not need help from another country to use silver ("let England have bimetallism because the United States have"). Bryan believes that America needs an Andrew Jackson to "stand . . . against the encroachments of aggregated wealth." Bryan then defends the income tax, saying it justly puts the burdens of the government on the backs of the people - the government protects the people, so it's fair that the people are paying the government back for their protection. He says that Democrats are against the bank currency, and again complements Jackson, saying that in destroying the bank he "saved America." This speech gave Bryan recognition and led to his nomination for President.

Andrew Jackson

Bryan's speech is similar to Specie Circular, issued by Andrew Jackson. In both instances, the men are advocating for a change in acceptable currency. Jackson requires gold or silver to buy land instead of paper money, while Bryan wants to change from a gold standard to bimetallism, in which silver is an acceptable currencty.

LAD #23: Populists

The Populist Party nominating convention in 1890

The Populist Party was formed to appeal to workers ("we seek to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the 'plain people.'"). They wrote that workers should be able to unionize, and fought for a shortened workday and reasonable wages. The Populists favored an involved government, including government ownership of railroads, the telegraph, and the telephone. Also, they wanted restricted immigration - land owned by foreigners should be reclaimed by the government and given to "actual settlers." Plus, the Populists sought a more direct democracy - they wanted direct election of Senators, and a free ballot and fair count, expressing their displeasure with the corruption in elections. In addition, they demanded free and unlimited gold and silver coins, and thought that the country's money should be kept in the hands of the people - the state and national revenue should only be for the necessary expenses of the government - otherwise the money should be with the people.

Alexander Hamilton, a prominent Federalist

The Populist Party is similar to the Federalist Party, since both parties desired a strong central government influence in the lives of the people.

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

President William McKinley

McKinley says that the current revolution is just one of many that have occurred in Cuba against Spain over the last fifty years. The revolutions have been a lot of trouble for America, since the US had to enforce its neutrality laws, and the revolutions were a disturbance to the American people. And, American trade has been hurt by the revolutions, and the money that citizens invested in Cuba had been mostly lost. McKinley says that a victor in the war is unlikely, and what will probably occur is that one or both sides will get tired. He cited a previous speech in which he said that a proclamation of neutrality would not help towards calming the situation in Cuba, and he still believes this. He then suggests ways to help end the war - either as an impartial neutral, by suggesting a compromise, or as an ally of one of the countries. McKinley advocates for an armed intervention to free Cubans from the Spanish.

President James K. Polk

McKinley's War Message is similar to Polk's War Message since in both instances, the President recommends war to solve an issue that is detrimental to the American people. In Polk's case, there was violence on America's soil as America was in the fight for Texas, and in McKinley's case, the revolutions in Cuba are an irritation to the American people and have hurt trade and the finances of the people.

LAD #21

Andrew Carnegie

In his essay titled the Gospel of Wealth written in 1889, Andrew Carnegie wrote that a society in which only a few have wealth was the most natural and efficient result of capitalism. He also wrote that the difference in lifestyle between the wealthy and the working class was greater than ever. This is not a bad thing, and is actually beneficial since it is important to have patrons of the arts who fill their homes with fine artwork and literature. He also wrote of the benefits of being wealthy - having wealth allows for a high quality of life, including an education.

Carnegie then discusses what to do with wealth - it can be given to descendants, donated, or spent. With great wealth comes responsibility - the newly wealthy, self-made upper class needed to be philanthropic, but it was dangerous to give money to groups that cannot mentally or emotionally handle it. Also, wealthy people need to set an example of modest living, and to consider any extra wealth as trust funds to be used to the betterment of their community. The final responsibility of the wealthy class is to help those with less by providing wisdom and experience.

Poor Richard's Almanack

The Gospel of Wealth is similar to Poor Richard's Almanack, written by Benjamin Franklin. Both works contain advice and important information on how to be successful from a well-known and well-respected voice in society.