LAD#37- Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education

Linda Brown, an African American elementary student, had to walk to school many miles away even though there was a school just several blocks from her house. When her father tried to enroll Linda in the local white elementary school, she wad not admitted. Mr. Brown then decided to talk to the local NAACP to try to see what they could do to challenge this rule. When the board of education of Topeka was challenged, they said that the segregated schools were helping prepare black children from their inferiority to whites once they reached adulthood. This case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. Here it was decided that the "separate but equal" clause that was decided in the Plessy v. Ferguson case, is not equal at all and has no place in schools. This case is known for overriding the decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson case and leading to the desegregation of schools.

LAD#36- Truman Doctrine

Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947

One aspect of the situation that President Truman is dealing with, involves Greece and Turkey. The government of Greece has asked the United States for economic assistance. This is assistance is extremely important for Greece to survive as a free nation. Greece does not have many natural resources so they have had to work extremely hard to make ends meet. In the years during and following WWII, Greece faced many invasions. Germany came in and destroyed roads and railways, and brought illness to both people and livestock. Even after the Germany take over, Greece is still threatened by Communists. Turkey is also in a difficult situation that requires aid from other nations. The United States must take a leading role in the formation of the United Nations due to its victorious position in WWII.I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. President Truman felt that it was important to help out all nations during times of need, "I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes." If the United States does not help Greece and Turkey, it will not only effect those nations but the whole world.The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. "If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world -- and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation. Great responsibilities have been placed upon us by the swift movement of events."

LAD#35: Executive Order #9066

Executive Order #9066:

In Executive Order #9066, FDR designated military camps for the internment of Japanese-Americans. These camps will provide the people with food, shelter, transportation, land, and other supplies and services necessary to live. Roosevelt backs up this order by saying that it is being enacted in hopes to prevent any espionage, or acts of sabotage. Japanese-Americans were banned from the coast and moved inland to Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.

LAD#34- FDR's Declaration of War

FDR's Declaration of War

To start off his Declaration of War, FDR coins his famous term about December 7, 1941, "A date which will live in infamy." The attack on Pearl Harbor was a great shock to the United States due to the fact that America was at peace with Japan. What makes the attack even more shocking is that an hour after the attack started the a Japanese ambassador met with the United States Secretary of State to respond to a message. It was made clear that this attack was planned far in advance. Japan gave the United States a false sense of hope and peace. Japan has attacked other islands in the pacific following the attack on Pearl Harbor. By entering the war, FDR hopes that the United States can prevent this type of attack from ever happening again on American soil.

LAD#33- FDR's First Inaugural Address

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address- March 3, 1933

Entering the presidency four years into the Great Depression, FDR needed to have a speech that would comfort the country and give citizens hope for the future. And he did just that in his First Inaugural Address. He started off by coining his famous phrase, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."He proceeds to ask for the nation's support as he enters the presidency, claiming that the only way that he'll be successful in leading the country is if his country believes in him. He then addresses the terrible state that the United States is in; high unemployment, high taxes, and little money. I liked his quote, "Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment." This quote shows that he doesn't want to tell them that everything is okay, because it isn't, but he is able to tell them about his ideas on how he thinks we can get out of this desperate time. He does remind people that our country has an awful lot to be thankful for because of what our forefathers fought for. FDR does a good job of looking forward towards the future and trying to encourage a distraught nation to hold on, while still acknowledging the hardships of the time. He reminds us that each individual can learn from this terrible time, as can the government.

LAD#32- Kellog-Briand Pact

Kellog-Briand Pact 1928

The Kellog-Briand Pact was a renunciation of war in response to controversies, as a means of peace between the United States and other world powers.The world powers that signed the treaty were Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Japan, India, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. It also decided that all issues that arise should never be sought unless by pacific means. In the third and final article, it was determined that the treaty would be ratified by all of the nations that signed it, and it would remain open for other nations to join.

LAD#31- Wilson's 14 Points

Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points January 8, 1918

In Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points, he starts out by discussing Russia's plan for a peace agreement from the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. He then continues by saying that the main cause of WWI and the people that should be punished for the war are Germany and her allies. The United States has different views on how the countries involved in WWI should come to a peace agreement. Wilson's first point is that there should always be diplomacy between world powers. He then pleas for freedom of the seas in times of peace and war. He asks for the removal of all economic barriers and the establishment of equal and fair trade between all nations. He asks for a free and impartial adjustment of all the imperialist claims. He demands the evacuation of all Russian, French and Belgian territory. For land, he continues by requesting a readjustment of the frontiers of Italy. He asks for freedom for the people of Austria-Hungary. He wants Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro to be evacuated and that all occupied territories be restored. He asks that Turkey and Poland have their own independence and sovereignty. His most famous and final point is his request for an association, or League of Nations to promote mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial rights to all countries, not just the world powers.

LAD#30- Schenck v. United States

Schenck v. United States

During World War I, Schenck mailed letters to draftees telling them that the draft was a monstrous thing and that the draftees should not "submit to the intimidation."Schenck continued to oppose the draft by protesting the Conscription Act. The main question that arose in his trial was "Are Schenck's words protected by the free speech clause of the 1st Amendment?" This became a difficult question because that freedom of speech clause said the freedom of speech is allowed unless it is libelous or harmful. Holmes, the lawyer on this case, determined that Schenck was not protected in this situation. Holmes references a "clear and present danger" in his final decision when discussing Schenck's actions. Schenck's actions were a danger to the United States do to the fact that he was trying to persuade people to not do their duty as an American citizen by honoring their country. Holmes felt that Congress has the right to dissuade Schenck's evil.

LAD#29- Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

The Keating-Owen Bill banned the sale of products from any factory that employed children under the age of 14, from any mine that employed children under the age of 16, and from any facility where children under the age of 16 worked at night or more than 8 hours a day. This bill was passed by Woodrow Wilson. However, due to judicial review, it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court due to the fact that is allowed the government to control interstate trade. This bill took an interesting way of handling the child labor effort. It didn't do anything for the rights of children, but it did hurt the companies that had children laborers, ultimately leading to rights for the kids.

LAD#28-Wilson's First Inaugural Address

Wilson's First Inaugural Address

To start his inaugural address, Woodrow Wilson discusses that he is the first Democratic president in 15 years so the country will experience a change. This new Party that is now ruling the country will bring about change. People will have to let go off their usual habits and start to accept new ways. He continues by complimenting the United States Government and discussing the legacy that has been set since the 18th century. I like his phrase, "But the evil has come with the good, and much fine gold has been corroded." This phrase discusses the Gilded Age and how the gold has been corroded and it isn't so shiny anymore due to the corruption that has occurred. Another great phrase that he says is, "With the great Government went many deep secret things which we too long delayed to look into and scrutinize with candid, fearless eyes. The great Government we loved has too often been made use of for private and selfish purposes, and those who used it had forgotten the people." This is a valid summary of the time of corruption and laissez-faire capitalism that the United States experienced. By saying this, Wilson is acknowledging that the corruption existed but he will not let that happen. Wilson continues to astutely describe the way of life, government, and economy in America during this time. He talks about Industrialism and Big Business and then continues by talking about the currency system. 

LAD#27- Clayton Antitrust Act

Clayton Antitrust Act

The Clayton Antitrust Act was an act that was passed to supplement other laws that went against monopolies. This act made it so that any person engaged in commerce cannot discriminate in prices against specific buyers who are intentionally discriminating so that they can lessen the competition or attempt to create a monopoly. No company can prevent specific buyers from buying its goods. And lastly, no corporation engaged in commerce can get any stock that is in the same type of commerce.

LAD#26- "I Have a Dream Speech"

Summary of "I Have a Dream Speech"

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, he talks about the adversity that black men and women faced in the racist 1960s. Not only does he discuss the struggles that they faced, but he also looks to the future in hopes of an end to discrimination and racial equality one day, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." King's powerful argument is only emphasized by his repetition of the phrases "I have a dream..." and "Let freedom ring.." King's speech is truly inspiration when looking to the future, it lit the fire in many peoples' souls to fight even harder for the end of discrimination.

LAD#25-Dawes Severalty Act

Dawes Severalty Act

The Dawes Act gives the President the right to allot a portion of land from a reservation to a head of each family. The President also has the right to designate portions of land for grazing and farming practices. Not only was this act an attempt to diminish the land holdings of the Indians, but it also was an attempt to assimilate them into American culture. By selling the Indians these plots of lands, the government was ultimately giving the Indians an opportunity to take on the Western American lifestyle.

LAD#24-Cross of Gold Speech

Cross of Gold Speech Summary

In this speech, William Jennings Bryan discusses the gold standard, however he expresses a different point of view. He shares how the gold standard of the United States affected the people from the South and West and how it gave them financial issues. Bryan expressed his support for free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. His most famous line from this speech, "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold," showed his negative view towards the gold standard.

LAD #23- Populists

Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party emerged from the farmer's alliances of the 1870s and 80s. This party was independent of democratic and republican view points. Instead, the populist party was anti-industrialism, and many of its leaders fought against Big Businessmen. This party mainly consisted of the workmen. It supported Unions, a National currency, and it wanted the government to allow the people to control the railroads. The populists wanted a fair ballot in all elections, they wanted to restrict "undesirable immigration,"they wanted fewer work hours, and lastly, they wanted to limit the Presidency to one term and allowing the people to directly chose Senators.

LAD#22 McKinley's War Message

Summary of McKinley's War Message

President McKinley tried to avoid a war with Spain. He even sent an ultimatum to Spain, threatening them to get out of Cuba. Spain agreed, so McKinley addressed Congress telling them that we needed to start taking the steps to end the Cuban conflict. Unfortunately, the war urges of Congress members and the American people led to the United States declaring war on Spain on April 11, 1898. The war raging on in Cuba seems like there will be no victory on either side. McKinley felt that the United States' only options were to intervene as an impartial neutral or to become an active ally on either side. The United States has a right to intervene in the war due to the serious damage the war has created for our trade, commerce, and business from the destruction of the island.