LAD 20

This was Bryan's "cross of Gold speech. He was a democratic delegate that was trying to get the nod for presidency. He delivered a heartfelt speech about democratic brothers against brothers over the silver markets in American coinage. He just basically says that the democratic party is dominant and awsum. He makes everyone feel good about his speech because of his use of logic over supposedly unconstitutional actions.

LAD 19

The Populist Party platform, was written for a socialist organization knwon as the populist party. htey represented 1/3rd of the independant vote duuring the late 1800's. htey belived that industrialism was evil. This manifesto of their belifs just asked for unrigged elections, end of laizez faire, the beiginning of socialism among other things. To me it was a scary time when peole wanted thigns that the government oculdnt provide, becuase where is the governement gonna get money they dont have? This brand of socialists also had a probelm with the practical termination of silver backed currency. I would jsut like to remind that silver is way to flexible to back currency. in the comstock load alone 600 billion dollars worth of silver was found, think about how that would shake our currency and make it worth nothing if another large load was found.

LAD #21

The Dawes act had to do with the provision of lands to native Americans as part of the Indian policy during the late 1800's. It made for a more even distribution of lands supposedly trying to get the native Americans to settle down onto farms. It gave land to these lands in distinct family structure. Each head of the family got 1/4 a section while all those over 18 during the creation of the Dawes act got an 1/8th. The act insured the survival of many old reservation that did not interfere with white people, while making these reservations to protect both US citizens and the natives.

LAD 18

This was an address to the congress made by president McKinley. He was clearly trying to invoke war with Spain over the treatment of the Cubans and US citizens in Cuba. He summarized it as our duty, because it is on our doorstep, even though it is not in our house. He tells it as if we will be a neutral party if we enter the conflict, and will only act as mediators to the crises. He wants to end the barbarianism that is going on, on both sides. He pleads with congress that it is about our economy too, and that we are loosing our businesses down their as well as capital that has been sunken in their by US citizens. Nearing the conclusion, he casually mentions that the Spanish ambassador has agreed to look over terms and stop the fighting.