TEST: Unit 5

“The gentleman . . . has been anxious to proclaim the death of Americanism. Sir, it is a principle that can never die. . . . Americanism seeks to defend every institution that exists under that glorious Constitution . . . . But we have been told that we belong to a party of ‘one idea.’ . . . Our great object is to attain to unity of national character; and, as necessary to that end, we embrace every measure and policy decidedly American . . . . We go for every thing American in contradistinction to every thing foreign. That . . . may be called ‘one idea’; but it is a glorious idea. . . . No alien has a right to naturalization . . . . To prevent this universal admission to citizenship, we frame naturalization laws, and prescribe forms that operate as a check upon the interference of foreigners in our institutions. . . . We are now struggling for national character and national identity . . . . We stand now on the very verge of overthrow by the impetuous force of invading foreigners.”

“It being desirable for the peace, concord, and harmony of the Union of these States, to settle and adjust amicably all existing questions of controversy between them arising out of the institution of slavery upon a fair, equitable, and just basis.”

“We are told now . . . that the Union is threatened with subversion and destruction. . . . If the Union is to be dissolved for any existing causes, it will be dissolved because slavery is interdicted [interfered with] or not allowed to be introduced into the ceded Territories; because slavery is threatened to be abolished in the District of Columbia, and because fugitive slaves are not returned . . . to their masters. . . . I am for staying within the Union and fighting for my rights.”

“Mr. President . . . I proposed on Tuesday last, that the Senate should proceed to the consideration of the bill to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas . . . . Now I ask the friends and the opponents of this measure to look at it as it is. Is not the question involved the simple one, whether the people of the Territories shall be allowed to do as they please upon the question of slavery, subject only to the limitations of the Constitution? . . . If the principle is right, let it be avowed and maintained. If it is wrong, let it be repudiated. Let all this quibbling about the Missouri Compromise, about the territory acquired from France, about the act of 1820, be cast behind you; for the simple question is, will you allow the people to legislate for themselves upon the subject of slavery? Why should you not?”

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens. . . . No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens . . . nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process; nor deny . . . equal protection of the laws. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States . . . counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election . . . thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants . . . being twenty-one years of age, and citizens . . . or in any way abridged, except for . . . crime, . . . the basis of representation therein shall be reduced. . . . No person shall . . . hold any office . . . who, having previously taken an oath . . . shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same . . . But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

“We were promised land and a republican government. Arriving in California, we were denied the chance to even buy or rent lands. Instead of republican government, we were oppressed by a military despotism. To overthrow a government which has stolen the property of the Missions for its own gain & has shamefully oppressed the laboring people of California; is the purpose of the brave men who joining the call for freedom.”

"The colonies and the states were not societies of equals with equal rights – they were organized exclusively by the white race and for the white race…

It is clear that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included as Americans and formed no part of the people who framed and adopted the Declaration of Independence."

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…"

"If they want eternal war, we accept it! They could have had peace, but they preferred war …

Next year their lands will be taken, and in another year, they can beg in vain for their lives. People who continue war beyond a certain limit must be taught the consequences . . .

We are not only fighting armies, but a hostile people, and we must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war."

"I confess that I am sick and tired of war. War is Hell — its glory is all moonshine!

Even the most brilliant success leaves dead and mangled bodies, with the agony and cries of distant families begging to me to spare their sons, husbands, and fathers.

It is only those who have never heard a shot, never heard the shriek and groans of the wounded and shredded that cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more misery".

"A house divided against itself cannot stand! I believe this government cannot endure, half slave and half free. I do not expect America's Union to be ended — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.

Either the opponents of slavery will stop the further spread of it, and seek slavery's ultimate extinction; or its supporters will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South."

"Friends in Arms! These dead that we carry on our shoulders are brave heroes who died in the Alamo. Yes, my friends, they preferred to die a thousand times rather than submit to the Santa Anna's bondage.

Yes, soldiers and citizens, these are worthy beings, who by the twists of fate gave their lives in the face of the ferocity of their enemies. Please join me and say to the entire world, 'Texas shall be free and independent or we shall perish in glorious combat!"

"We have been asked to believe that the Texans have been fighting to maintain the sacred principles of Liberty, and the Natural Rights of Man -- but their motives have been exactly the opposite.

The main goal of this war, led by the slaveholders of this country, has been to grab the large and valuable territory of Texas from Mexico, in order to spread the system of slavery and to later add it to the United States."

“All freedmen, [mixed-race], or white persons assembling, fornicating, or living in sin shall be fined $50 in the case of a freedman or [mixed-race]; $200 for a white man.”