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.

LAD #23

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916:
This article details the process by which child labor was eliminated in America. The first step was revealing approximately just how many children were suffering in working conditions. The 1900 census revealed that there was about around two million of these children. People such as Karl Marx and Charles Dickens brought this issue to the front-burner. Their works made people sympathize with the injustices that were occuring in these factories. This particular law was based upon the suggested bill of Albert J. Beveridge banned that sale of products from stores that had employed kids. Several more laws suggested that child labor elimination was a priority of our nation. However the Supreme Court did not give the Congress power to regulate this type of labor till the 1920's. This left little room for federal legislation. The final decision for child labor was concluded with the court case of U. S. v. Darby in 1941 which has kept child labor from being part of our ation since the time it was inacted. Although child labor was a clear injustice it took time for our nation to enact and propose the right laws so to eliminate this injustice forever.

LAD #22

First Inaugural Address of Woodrow Wilson:
Woodrow Wilson begins his inaugural address by pointing out the unity in his election and the large base of support for his party. He claims that this is not just the success of a party- it is the success of an idea. People are looking for change in America, and the Democratic party is where the change can be found. Wilson discusses the many great aspects of our nation, only to recognize that while there are a lot of aspects that this nation should not be pround of. In our determination for wealth and power, we have overlooked the cost with which these things are coming. Mainly the cost of human suffering- basically the lack of proper human facilities in our quest for great wealth. One great grievance Wilson wishes to change is the tarriff that is instituted at this time. He claims that it violating our taxation rights as well as several other basic rights. Wilson keeps referring back to the idea of justice, and how this idea has cemented our own nations foundation. He wants the return to justice and the pursuit of basic rights and happiness. He ends with an optimistic view on the future.

LAD#20

The speech made by William Jennings Bryan, could be called the most famous speech of this period in American history. It was delievered at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Bryan begins by asserting the importance of the financial issue in America at this time. Byran transitions into talking about the importance of the actual worker in American by saying, "the man who is employed for wages is as much a businessman as his employer". Through this statement, it is clear that he represents the working people of America and his views will hence look out for the best interests of those who are working in America. Subsequently, Bran discusses his views on the vitality of the income tax and next how it is true that he does disagree with national bank currency- but perhaps this is a credible position considering men such as Jackson have also stood in the same position. However the primary issue of this entire piece is the backing of money in our country. Bryan decided that the most important reform to take place was the reform that would standardize the value of money by backing it through silver means instead of teh gold standard. This could lead to a larger circulation for the money and in turn this could solve a great deal of other problems that were surfacing at this time. The deflation could be solved, and other issues could be brought to the front burner by settling this one issue of standardizing money. Bryan's speech was powerful and logical, it is no wonder this speech is still well known today.

LAD#19

Populists Party Platform:
The Populist Party was founded on the princible of reform for unjust business practices. At a time when laissez faire ruled the land, it is reasonable for these workers to assume the big businessmen of our country are actually running the country. And being so powerful, these men were able to take advantage of the "lowly" worker if they felt it necessary. So in order to prevent these actions and assure their security, this party was founded. Firstly, they want a permanent union of laborers in the United States. Next they wanted to insure that the people would earn the money that is rightfully theirs. And this would be insured by making any money illegally taken from the workers, called a robbery. Finally, they wanted the government to intervene on who owned the railroads. For the most part the latter idea was because it would cut down significantly the net power of the big businessmen in the country. Overall by seeking for the improvement of working conditions, these party members were able to alert the nations people of the corrupt business measures.

LAD#21

This act was highly influential to American history. This act begun the reservation process in American. At a time when the United States was land hungry, the government used their influence to force Native Americans to move onto reservations. While the cruel treatment of Indians has been a mark on United States history, this particular act was sort of on the same line as the previous treatment. This act forced people to move onto foreign lands that were alloted based on your position in a family and how old you were. The government also always held that they could remove more land if they felt it was necessary. Additionally, with each new section that was introduced to this act, less rights were provided for the Native Americans. These lands were appropriated through patents made by the government for a period of twenty five years. But during this time the land was still under the Untied States name, which meant that in any particular instance we had control over a situation. This made sense for America's government because this was a time when relations with the Indians were not desired.

LAD#18

When McKinley addressed Congress, he was very concerned about the situation between Spain and Cuba. For one thing this war had begun taking its toll on the trade relations of the United States. Since a great deal of trade was conducted with these nations, the matter was pressing. McKinley later asks the Congress for support to defend Cuba for several reasons. Mainly these reasons are Cuba is an American neighbor, it is effecting our trade, American lives were lost and America feels a particular duty to protect Cuba.