Paul Cooney
AP American
Mr. DeCarlo
8 January 2007

LAD 20- Cross of Gold speech

Given at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Bryan delivered his most famous speech, the “Cross of Gold” which dealt with the issue of currency in the United States. The Democratic Party wanted to standardize the value of money to silver, not gold. Because silver was in greater supply than gold, inflation would occur that would make it a lot easier for debtors (particularly farmers) to pay off their debts. The backers of a gold standard were primarily the Republicans, who felt that protection again inflation was of utmost importance. The final paragraph sums up the true message that Bryan was trying to deliver:

“If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

Paul Cooney
AP American
Mr. Decarlo
8 January 2007


LAD 19- The Populist Party Platform

The preamble, written by Ignatius Donnelly, is symbolic of agrarian concerns of the Farmers’ Alliance along with the values of the Greenback Party while also endorsing the (urban) Knights of Labor. As stated in the preamble, the purpose of the gathering was to restore the Republic form of government to the common man on the same grounds that the country’s independence was founded on. The Platform’s 10 point “Expression of Sentiments” was as follows:

1. They wanted to adopt the Australian (secret ballot) system, which would enable a free and fair count in all elections, without Federal Intervention.
2. Income tax profits should be used towards the cutback of the tax upon the domestic industries of the United States.
3. They supported pensions to ex-Union soldiers and sailors.
4. The demand of the “further restriction of the undesirable emigration”
5. Sympathy for the labor unions in their purist for shorter hours, and stronger enforcement of the present eight-hour law.
6. The large amount of mercenaries was bothersome to this group. This “Pinkerton” system was a “menace to our liberties.”
7. The “initiative and referendum”
8. The limitation of the office of the President and the Vice-President to only one term, as well as allowing direct election of Senators by the people.
9. The opposition to subsidies and national aid to private corporations.
10. This group supported the Knights of Labor, who oppose it because it represents tyranny.

They document opened with some of these “truths.” Transportation is public necessity, and the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people. As for the he telegraph and telephone it should also be owned and operated by the government in the interest of the people. ­ Land should not be monopolized and alien ownership of land should be prohibited.

Paul Cooney
AP American
Mr. Decarlo
8 January 2007


LAD 21

The General Allotment Act of 1887 (commonly known as the Dawes Act) gave the President the right to survey Native American land and divide it into allotments in whatever fashion he deemed appropriate. Many were aginst the Act, as they believed that a reservation system was inhumane, and under it the Natives could never be self-sufficient. There are eleven sections to the Act
· The President was authorized to divide up Native American’s land, giving them a certain amount of acreage according to age.
· Natives will choose their own allotment; the family will choose for each minor child; the orphan children will be accounted for by Native American agents.
· Each Native American agent has to certify each allotment and file the paper work accordinly.
· Native Americans not on their reservation or without reservations will receive the equal allotment.
· Secretary of the Interior will hold the agrements in trust for 25 years; the Secretary can negotiate under existing treaties for the land.
· Every Native American is elligable to become a United States citizen after completion of the Land Patent process.
· Water rights on irrigated land were evaluated.
· The Act could not be applied to the Five Civilized Tribes and several other tribes.
· Appropriations of funds were made to carry out the Act.
· Power of Eminent Domain was established over the allotments.
· And finally, a provision for the Southern Ute Native Americans.
The Dawes Act opened up millions of acres of land for white settlers because all of the Native tribes had been relocated.

Paul Cooney
AP American
Mr. DeCarlo
3 January 2007

LAD 18-William McKinley’s War Message

William McKinley’s war message to Congress opened with a statement regarding his duty to inform them on the state of the Union form time to time. He made some major statements for intervening with Cuba, including the facts that the United States’ trade has suffered, investments in the nation by American citizens in Cuba had vanished, and moral of the citizens was such that it affected the national legislature. McKinley’s four major points for U.S intervention were: to end the declining condition of the Cuba, to offer the Cuba citizens our protection, to stop the strain on America’s commerce, and finally to end the “menace to our [the United States and its citizens] peace.” Then the President brought in the situation of the Maine, which was destroyed (under investigation) by the Spanish. He concluded with a statement of how it is the United States’ responsibility to help Cuba and its citizens, urging Congress to declare war on the Spanish.