LAD #30

The case Brown vs. Board of Education was an instrumental case in the journey for civil rights. Previously the case Plessy vs. Ferguson had ruled that seperate but equal facilities should be permitted in the United States. This ruling actually allowed for the legalization of jim crow laws. However in 1954, under what would later be referred to as the Warren Court, segregated schools were declared unconstitutional. The actual case of Brown vs. Board of Education was prosecuted by the NAACP, which was led by Thurgood Marshall. The consequences of this single ruling were substantial. And while civil rights in America still had quite a ways to travel before becoming perfect, this ruling was a significant step in the right direction.

LAD #29

The Truman Doctrine was issued during a time when the threat of communism penetrated the minds of many Americans. After World War II, it was apparent that Russia was a large superpower. President Truman, concerned with the growing power of Russia, pushed legislation on the Congress. This legislation was supposed to save many nations in Eastern Europe from becoming communism. After the war many of those nations suffered major losses and destruction, therefore making them subject to democratic failure. These nations, among which are Greece and Turkey, consisted of hungry and unhappy people. These people fearing the worst, hoped for the aid of the United States. Because the United States was not only in a strong economic position but also political, they figured that the United States would be a great role model.

LAD #28

Franklin D. Roosevelt issued his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933. At this time our nation had suffered great hardships during the Great depression. One of the reasons Roosevelt receives so much credit for his presidency is because he could concoct eloquent speeches such as these and deliver them in such a charismatic manner. The speech was coated in inspirational phrases such as," the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR used this speech to promote a pugnacious nature in people, in order to make people fight back against the ongoing depression. He encouraged people with a better tomorrow, if only they could fight today. FDR made people believe in the Constitution again, he hoped that the Constitution would adjust and change as necessary and as it always has before. Roosevelt ensured the people that he would extend his powers to combat the hardtimes. He would suggest new legislature and ultimately be the reason for a complete turn around after the Great Depression would cease.

LAD #27

The Kellogg-Briand Pact marks a turning point in the manner in which nations of the war hoped to coexist. This document was also referred to as the Pact of Paris and signed officially on August 27, 1928. The document opens with the countries within the pact and their representation. It later breaks down into different articles. The essential idea of article I is the idea of war not being the first choice when it comes to foreign relations. The second article discusses the way in which these nations wish to carr on their foreign relations- peacefully. The third and final article states that the treaty will remain open until all of the powers sign the treaty. And that once each nation has signed the treaty, they are thereby ratifying sed treaty. After World War One, most nations agreed that the destruction and complete devastation they faced should be avoided in the future at all costs. Wilson chose to promote his ideas within his fourteen points, while other efforts such as this pact were being formulated.

LAD #26

The case of Schenck against the United States left a large impression on the American justice system. This was a case where Schenck relied on his freedom of speech to air his views. However at this post war torn time, America had settled upon the Espionage Act. Essentially this act limited the freedom of speech and the basic freedoms that people like Schenck took for granted. At the end of the case the unanimous decision of guilty caused great uproar. The sentence delivered by Oliver Wendell Holmes was guilty because people's freedoms can be limited when they are causing a "clear and present" danger. This is still an idea we live by today, however the accusations against Schenck were argueably unjust. But at this time, when paranoia flooded American politics, our government decided it was better to restrict certain freedoms than provide the chance for our nation to be further torn apart.

LAD #25

President Wilson created the fourteen points in order to preserve peace in the post war world. Wilson placed a great amount of emphasis on these points, fully believing in their power to transform the global community into harmonious nations. Wilson begins by explaining just what the United States wishes to gain out of these peace talks. He then discusses each of his fourteen points that would ensure the safety of peace in the world. Some of these points include freedom of the seas, evacuation of troops from various areas, adjustment of different statehoods, and most importantly his fourteenth point. After Wilson issued his fourteen points, it became clear that the point he held most dear was the fourteenth or the creation of a league of nations. This league of nations would be a governmental body based upon the idea of diplomacy over destruction. President Wilson felt positive that a treaty could fix a great deal of the problems that had caused World War One to occur in the first place.

LAD#24

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act:
This was a law that had originated from the opposition to trusts at this time period. The law had the basis of the sherman anti-trust act, but consisted of other specific provisions against the unethical and now illegal spirit of trusts. The first provision was to eliminate "price discrimination". This idea was benificial because it would increase a spirit of competitiveness that had been lost in some companies abilities to compete as larger companies could lower their prices dramatically. The next provisions were instituted in order to eliminate selling to only specific people or companies that would benifit them in the long run. Following these were the provisions, which held the purpose of destroying unethical merging or acquisitions. A lot of these large trusts overtook smaller companies in order to benifit their own selves in the end. This led to a decrease in the small enterprise that had effectively categorized the American economy into a capitalistic natured economy. And finally a provision which made running two or more like companies illegal. This would eliminate further what was ongoing with the mergers and aquisitions- eliminating the business spirit of America. The Clayton Anti-Trust distinguised the progressive era as a period of change and a positive outlook- returning America to its enterprise foundations.