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.