LAD #37: Brown vs. Board of Education

This case occurred as a result of Linda Brown wanting to attend a white school in Topeka, because it was close to her house and more convenient that taking the railways to a black school. She sued the Board of Education for denying her the right to attend the school, and was backed by the NAACP in court as an underprivileged child. This case challenged the "spate but equal" policy put into place because of Plessy vs. Ferguson. The NAACP advocated that the feeling of inferiority among a black student when separated would disrupt their learning, and the Supreme Court overturned the "separate but equal" clause in public schools. This result of this cause was a large step in the Civil Rights movement for African Americans.

LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

Communism was still feared, and Truman created the doctrine regarding Greece and Turkey of the Balkan Peninsula. These nations were struggling, and Truman believed that Congress should allow the United States to support these nations with financial aid, so that democracy could be preserved. President Truman did not want the Soviet Union to overpower these nations after WWII, so he believed the United States should intervene if necessary. Truman notes that the last time the United States decided not to take action in a situation similar, we found ourselves at war.

 

LAD #35: FDR's Executive Order #9066

In this order, FDR stated that he had the right to do anything in his power to protect the United States from destruction of national defense materials, utilities, and premises. He advocated that military establishments could be placed anywhere necessary, and these were meant to hold people who supported the Japanese Government. Specifically, these military areas were built to hold Japanese families. Approximately 120,000 Japanese people were held in this camps.

 

LAD #34: FDR's Declaration of War

On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred on Oahu Island. FDR believed that this was an appropriate reason to declare war, and told this to Congress. He famously categorized the attack on Pearl Harbor as, "a day that will live in infamy" and stated that war was a fair response to the attack. He believed that the Unites States had an adequate military and support system for the war. FDR was not going to let this act of terror go unsettled. Japan had also attacked Guam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, proving that they had it coming for them. FDR inspired the people saying that he would protect the United States from further attacks.

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural Adress

Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered this speech on March 4th, 1993. On a positive note, he starts off his speech by stating that the Unites States will revive and prosper after he fixes an economic crisis. He said that although the nation was suffering economically, there were ways to come out of this depression. He gave the people the hope they wanted by stating, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." He told the people that they should not focus on money itself, but rather on the values of hard work and determination. Since the unemployment percentage was immensely low, that was FDR's number one aspect to fix. As another large supporter of preserving democracy, FDR was willing to listen to what the people had to say.

 

LAD #32: Kellogg Briand Peace Pact

After WW1 ended, the Treaty of Versailles proved to be unsuccessful and wasn't ratified by the United States. Another post-war treaty on a minor scale was the Kellogg Briand Peace Pact, which was created between the United States and other European Nations. The pact outlawed solving problems between nations by declaring war, unless it was for the purpose of defense. It encouraged rather the use of diplomatic strategies to resolve disputes. The Pact also required that nations associated with it obtain ratification of it from their government, and after this the pact would be put into effect. Although the pact contained appetizing ideas, it proved to be unrealistic because of future wars.  

LAD #31: Wilson's 14 Points

The conclusion of the Great War left many open options regarding how to handle the aftermath. Wilson's 14 points supported a more lenient policy to be placed upon Germany. France, Italy, and Britain believed that Germany should pay off a colossal amount of debt, but Wilson saw this as unrealistic due to the state of destruction that Germany was in. Wilson pointed out that the land in Russia that the German Military incorrectly claimed to be theirs was occupied by other ethnicities. Wilson's 14 points were: no more secret treaties, freedom of the seas, the removal of economic barriers, reduction of weapons, adjustment of colonial claims in the interest of the natives and colonizers, evacuation of all Russian territory, Belgium should be independent, France should be ultimately liberated and allowed to recover Alsace Lorraine, all Italians have the right to live in Italy, self-determination granted to Austria-Hungarians, self-determination granted to Balkan states, Turkish people should be governed by Turkish government, Poland should be independent and have sea access, and the League of Nations should be created.

LAD #30: Schenck vs. US

In the time period leading to WWI, a socialist advocate named Charles Schenck took action in hope of destroying the draft policy implanted by the government. He stated that the draft violated the 13th Amendment because it supported the concept of "involuntary servitude." Due to his attempt at the prevention of recruitment by draft, he was charged with violation of the Espionage Act. Schenck stated that the 1st Amendment supported his right of Freedom of Speech, and believed that what he was doing was not unconstitutional. Holmes declared that the words used by Schenck would bring out a "clear and present danger." Holmes believed that Congress had the right to prevent evils that would have derived from the ideas and words of Schenck, by limiting the power of the 1st Amendment.

LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

As a result of the prevalent "muckraking" up to 1916, this labor act declared the trade and sale of products between states made by children, illegal. Working hours were also shortened for children due to this act. Forcing children to work any period of time longer than 8 hours was illegal if they were between the ages of 14 and 16. The workweek of children was also limited to 6 days a week, and children were prohibited from working after 7 p.m. However, the act was eventually declared unconstitutional because it was an attempt to regulate interstate commerce.  

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural

Wilson began his address elaborating how we shouldn't fear, but should trust the government in times of hardship and unemployment. He explained how industry's peak contained corruption, and this corruption needed to be revised.  He believed that employment was key to the nation's success, but policies that would have needed to be put in place to increase employment may have had the ability to harm the economy immensely. Beneficial reforms that he desired to put in place were sanitary laws, pure food laws, and improved labor laws. Overall, Wilson explained how reform was needed to improve the nation as a whole. 

LAD #27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

Passed by the United States Congress in 1914, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was created to revise and improve the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Clayton Anti-Trut Act stated that big businesses and corporations were not permitted to grant different prices to different consumers. The Act also prohibited granting rebates to force competitors out of business. The main purpose on this section of the act was to prevent trade-restrictive monopolies. The Act also regulated the sale of stocks by limiting how much stock one competitor can have in another's company.

LAD #26: MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. starts his speech off stating that the African Americans were "freed" after the civil war with the Emancipation Proclamation, but segregation prevents this idea of freedom. He believes that the country as a whole should allow all races to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. He expresses that the time for gradual change is long gone, and that the Negro must be granted civil rights. He advocates that African Americans should not act uncivilized, or use violence along their search for citizenship. He hopes that America will make his dream reality, by supporting that all men are created equal.

   

LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

The Dawes Act was issued in 1887 and it ultimately divided Native American land into properties. The Native Americans were given different land with arbitrary boundaries placed by the government. The head of each family received one quarter of this land, but the land was still technically under governmental supervision. Those who did not receive land had the right to relocate where they pleased. The act gave Native Americans equal rights under the law, but it eventually became invalid.

LAD #24: Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 9th, 1896. He began by complimenting American workers, and talking about how important they are. He believed that the coinage of silver would stimulate the economy, and that the United States needed a lender figure who would distribute wealth in America. He also stated that the money of the wealthy is earned by the poor.

LAD #23: Populist Party

The Populist Party supported factory workers of big businesses in the late 19th century. The party created a document listing grievances of big businesses, and the unfair working conditions that the businessmen provided. They also believed that silver should be used as sound currency, although the support for silver at this time was scarce in terms of the country as a whole. They believed that increased agriculture would boost the economy. The party also believed in the legal unionizing of labor forces and that the government should operate infrastructure. Ultimately, this party stood for creating better opportunities for workers.

 

 

 

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

In 1898, President McKinley addressed the United States Congress stating that it would be best if the war between Cuba and Spain didn't continue. He did not want to put economic relations with these nations at risk, and chose to serve as a neutral element in the mix proposing peace terms for the two nations. Eventually, McKinley decided  to remain a neutral party and composed a four step plan. One: The United States must realize that protection of the people is necessary. Two: The USA should evaluate the degree of importance of the war. Three: Violence will be responded to with retaliation. Four: If economic interests were harmed then the United States would enter the war. Given by the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war.