LAD #21 Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was created by Congress to set aside certain land for the Indians, it was known as reservations. Any indians that have been alloted land on reservations are getting surveyed or resurveyed. Each person in charge of a family will get 1/4 a section of land, anyone whose single and over 18 will get 1/8 a section of land, any child without parents who is under 18 will get 1/8 a section. However if the government feels that the land they are on could be of better use with farming or grazing the Indians must find a new piece of land to settle on. If there is not enough land in a reservation for each person then it will go in class structure who gets land and who does not. The land set aside for reservations and how the sections are divided amongst the indians is to be done by an agent appointed by the president. If an indian belongs to a tribe that does not have a reservation they may apply for land in a local land office. Even thought the Indians arnt treated like everyone else, they are still expected to abide by government laws civil and criminal.

LAD #20 Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

On July 9, 1896, William Jennings Bryan gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The issue of the speech was over whether or not to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. This caused unrest and conflict among the Democratic party. They are all from Massachusetts, yet they want different things and each person comes up and says something different that they want. A group of the Democrats are no longer going to fight or petition they are simiply just going to defy the others. They keep arguing back and forth one group is saying that the income tax passed by the other was unconstitutional and the group that passed it is saying that it was constitutional at the time. On the other hand, the other side is accusing them of resenting national bank currency and they keep arguing. The one group thinks that it is the government who should be coining the money. This whole speech is about what they people want, and how voting will change the way the monet is coined based on the results.

LAD #19-Populist Party Platform

The populist party emerged from the alliances of the 1870s and the 1880s. The political party of the Populists resented "concentrated capital." The populist party believes that the nation is demoralized and that public opinion is "silenced." They hoped that they would be able to influence the ways of the governement and improve the overall economy of their country. The populist party opposed the usage of silver and gold has now replaced it. There main goal is to restore power into the hands of "plain people." In there platform they state that we need labor unions, they demand a sound currency. They think that an unsound currency is americas main problem, they want the silver to gold ratio to be 16 to 1, they want a graduated income tax. The populist party also believed that government should own the railroads not private owners and use it to benefit the public. They also want a fair ballot and a fair count in the elections.

LAD #18 McKinley's War Message

The United States was able to keep its neutrality policy for a while when Cuba first revolted against its Spanish rulers. However they were not able to keep their policy of neutrality for long. They had to intervene. McKinley with the help of Congress did what ever was in his power to end the revolt. Spain didnt agree,forcing the the United States to enter the war on the side of the Cubans. McKinley then addressed Congress, explaining that a war is going on in Cuba and the United States had no other choice but to intervene. The war in Cuba is of such a nature that, short of subjugation or extermination, a final military victory for either side seems impracticable. Because of this war in Cuba, United States trade and investments within Cuba have suffered. Last December McKinley said that the annexation of Cuba would be considered "criminal aggression." Earlier in 1875 President Grant made a statement saying that the United States could not recognize Cuba as and independent nation. McKinley still to this day agrees with President Grants thoughts on Cuba. He said that there are two different ways they can enter the war either making the two sides compromise or by fighting on one specific parties side.

Mckinley had a few reasons why the united states was just in going to war. One was to put an end to bloodshed and hostilities. A second reason for intervention is that the Cubans were being deprived of their legal protection and it is our job to protect the Cubans legal rights. A third reason for intervention was because of the suffering of commerce and trade. A fourth reason is that Cuba is very close to the United States and the war and revolt could spread. Another reason for United States intervention was the destruction of the Maine which was docked in a Havana harbor. He then said that the issue was up to Congress and for them to make the final decision.