Our nation is founded on historical significance, most of which were noted in books or journals from important people who helped change America’s history. Though some documents remain hidden, the many documents we do have are very important to the construction of our nation. Early-American Documents are being used as references today, however, there are also many documents that are not being used that should be. These documents are written from presidents, freed slaves, civil war heroes, and other famous people in history. All of these Essential American Documents have helped our nation.
America, our nation, which was built upon freedom, has been through almost everything imaginable throughout our two hundred and …show more content…
Grant’s “Special message to congress.” He was the overall commander of the Union army during the Civil War, and also served as president from 1869 to 1877. Even though he was a great commander during the war, most historians believe that his presidency was one of the worst in our nation’s history. His ideas, however, were very popular with the northern people, and hated in the south. He reinstated President Lincoln’s law, that all freed slaves were citizens, and all males had the right to vote. Southern people however refused to follow this law by making the slaves pay poll taxes, residency requirements, and making them take literacy tests to keep them from voting. Nowadays, any person at the age of eighteen has the ability to vote if they are a legal citizen of the United States. President Grant used President Washington’s quotes to help guide him through his terms. He believe that, “Power is derived directly from the people, and the institutions must depend mainly upon their intelligence, patriotism, and industry.” He wanted the whites to withhold no legal privileges of government from the black citizens. Even though his presidency wasn’t the greatest, his beliefs and documents are being well referred to this day in age, and are still being upheld by many presidents. He has definitely left a mark on our nation that continues to be noticed by every …show more content…
Kennedy to Berlin to speak. When it was his turn to speak, he told the people of Berlin, in their language, that, “No matter where I go, no matter what I do, I always have a suitcase in Berlin.” He also called out General Gorbachev of the Soviet Union to, “Tear down this wall.” He set up an initiative called, “Strategic Defense” to shield the people, and increase the safety of the world. He also complimented the people of Berlin on how well they fought for their freedom. Again, like president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speech, the people of the United States don’t have to use Reagan’s speech today because we are not in a conflict like we were back then. We don’t have the same type of problem now as Reagan had with Berlin. Though we don’t see many issues that are compatible to those of Reagan’s, there may be a time when his speech will give guidance to the people, even if it’s not