LAD #37: Brown vs. Board of Education

The Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Case judged the constitutionality of the "separate but equal" clause (from Plessy vs. Furgeson) in education.  A black third grader by the name of Linda Brown was forced to endure a three mile hike through extremely rough terrain just to get to her designated school -- because she was not allowed to go to an "all whites" school.  Even though the white school was a mere seven blocks away, Brown was not allowed solely because of race.  When her family contacted the NAACP for help, her case gathered much support from people facing similar hardships, desiring to finally challenge the principle of segregated schools that created a black inferiority complex amongst students of the African American race.  However, the Topeka board responded that segregated schools were an adequate representation and preparation for each's individual future lives (and thus were justified).  When brought to the Supreme Court, the case was re-argued as the judges were forced to interpret educational segregation as coinciding or contradicting the "equality rights for rights" notion of the fourteenth amendment. Finally, after much deliberation, the court decided that segregation did in fact create an air of black inferiority in schools and was ruled unconstitutional. Though marking a significant step toward desegregation, the ruling was largely ignored as the intractable racist status quo of the south impeded the progress of equal civil rights.

LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

Instead of immediately venturing into the spotlight of American politics, the Cold War slowly but surely worked its way up the ladder.  After a complete failure of peace conferences following the war, the United States and the Soviet Union entered a war against governments.  The Truman Doctrine was what first spoke forth of the Communist threat of expansion -- starting with Greece.  Therefore, after WWII was over, American troops immediately dispatched from the battle fields and set off to rid the Greek State from German control and influence.  With the Soviet Union claiming to take control of the nation, the United States (with next to no help from Britain and the practically useless League of Nations) deemed Greece in need of its assistance.  He issued the departure of a small military army along with food and supplies that would equip the Greek army with sufficient weapons to defend and rebel against the Soviet Union.  Once Truman asserted that Greece was temporarily safe, he took note of the dilemmas right next store in Turkey -- who, just like Greece, needed the modernization and development of a Democratic government that would be provided for by the United States.  With the helping of these countries, the United States executed and established its responsibility of being the the World Superpower 'for Justice,' spreading political freedom along with the will of the majority into office.  It became the protector of the 'free world' from Communism. It is for this reason that Truman asked Congress to send a total of 750 million dollars and a contingency of American military servicemen and women to Greece and Turkey for reconstruction and modernization.

LAD #35: Executive Order No. 9066

In accordance to his Executive Order No. 9066, FDR granted multiple military officials (including the Secretary of War and Military Commander) the power to maintain a military residence within certain areas -- both foreign and local -- for troops.  The temporary inhabitants were to be provided "transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations that may be necessary" for the fulfillment of their assigned tasks.  To help maintain balance and order, the military men was also given the right to use Federal/State agencies for additional troops.  FDR also authorized and planned out aid for each individual military inhabiting through providing Federal and independent agencies of hospitalization,  food, clothing, transportation, use of land etc. TO prevent the destruction of this order, it also contained parts that superseded those originally believed to be ahead in the "food chain."  Such examples would be acts such as the Proclamation of December 7 and 8, 1941, superseding the authority of the Attorney General.  Yet this does not mean that it completely nullified the Proclamation, it merely took precedence over it when control was needed by the military.  Likewise the Order did not interfere with either Executive Order 8972 nor the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

LAD #34: FDRs Declaration of War

Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), FDR issued a declaration of war on Japan to Congress.  FDR claimed that the confidence of the armed forces, the overall power of the nation, and a conviction and determination brought by the People, Japan must not go unpunished.  Based on the facts of the attack and events leading up to it (Midway, Hawaii, Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, etc.) there is no denying that Japan secretly and suddenly broke any notion of peace that had ever existed between the US and the Pacific island nation.  To confirm and ensure the nation's interest and protection from this aggressive island overseas, Roosevelt urged Congress to ultimately declare war on Japan -- which would bring the United States into the Second World War.  A war that most definitely would not have been won without the aid of the United States.

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural

Orating his first inaugural, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt recognized that his presidency would be defined by how he copes with the perilous journey through the economic depression. Despite its looming, FDR had no intentions of "sugar coating" the extent of the depression -- he was just going to tell it as it was.  Speaking one of the most famous lines ever uttered by a United States President, FDR stood resolute on his "firm belief" that "the only thing [America had] to fear was fear itself."  This was the hope that epitomized his first inaugural that became prevalent in his presidency as well.  Not only exceedingly hopeful, the United States' leader was a realist who also noticed the tough times thrust upon the common man and the economy.  He noticed that the farmers had no where to turn, families had no money to spend, the industrial corporations had no trade to effectively pursue, and the supreme belief of lost hope spreading throughout the nation.  Whilst setting no blame upon anyone, he did not leave the unethical practices unnoticed.  Instead, FDR constituted that the belief and ethics of society needed to shift away from the egotistical and narcissistic greed back towards the benefit of the many and spread of wealth.  His other efforts of relief included redistributing the nation's population from the overcrowded cities back to the agricultural ways of the past.  Leaving no stone left unturned, Roosevelt acknowledged the troubles at the hearth of human society and promised to cure these homely ills before any foreign policies would even be considered.  Ending his first inaugural, FDR developed his policy of self-sacrifice and collect action; the ideal that working together would rekindle the true American spirit that needed to be rejuvenated.  It is with confidence that Roosevelt ends his address, looking out toward the future with a pragmatic sense of optimism about the years to come.

LAD #32: Kellogg Briand Peace Pact

The Kellog-Briand Pact, albeit a noble effort from war-ridden nations, was noticeably ineffective when considering its solution to military conflicts between countries.  After the Great War had ended, the leaders of numerous countries began working together to ensure an "everlasting peace" to the world.  Among the treaty members were the leaders of America, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, the free state of Ireland, Canada, the Australian Commonwealth, the Dominion of New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Japan, Poland, Czechoslavakia and many others. These members chose to follow by practicing passive action when resolving any problems, putting down war as a barbaric act that is beneath the humane strategy of diplomacy. The first article of the Pact outlawed war to solve international problems of the countries, the second stated that all international conflicts needed to be resolved through diplomatic solutions. Lastly, the third Article orates that the treaty will continue to remain open for all other countries to join if they deem it fit to outlaw war when considering foreign policy.  Furthermore, Article three also gave America the responsibility of providing all abiding nations of the treaty with a written copy which were ratified in our nations capitol.

LAD #31: Wilson's 14 Points

Responding to Russia pulling out of WWI, President Wilson addressed the serious blow that the Allied Powers sustained in losing the eastern portion of the war.  Through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the revolution-bound Russians made peace with the Central Powers and effectively left the War for the British and French to clean up.  Wilson, while also admiring the benchmark that the treaty set for Democracy, questioned the validity and effectiveness of the treaty -- for Russia ended up losing all territory occupied by the Central Powers, unable to get it back.  This seemingly Democratic act "watered down" Wilson's view of what was actually occurring (whom the Russians spoke to and whom the Germans truly represented).  In order to fully preserve the true Democratic nature and justice of the world, Wilson declared that it was United State's duty -- much like the White Man's Burden and imperialism -- to join the war and protect Democracy throughout the globe.  America needed to "make the world safe for Democracy."  Simply put, the points Wilson provided for the world were designed to unite the world in order and peace.  Amongst them included: ending secret treaties, freedom of the seas, removal of all economic barriers, colonial self-determination, reacquisition of lost territory to the countries of Russia, France, Italy, and Belgium, the peaceful organization of Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro and the other Balkan States, a sanctioned Ottoman port, and finally...a League of Nations.

LAD #30: Schenck vs. United States

In the Schenck vs U.S. verdict, Schenck was found guilty by the Supreme Court on three accounts: exercising conspiratorial actions, conspiring to commit a crime against the U.S., and unrightfully using the postal system to send "unmailable" items.  A secretary to the Socialist party during WWI, Schenck was arrested and put on trial for distributing "anti-war" pamphlets that caused unease and defiance amongst troops drafted into the Great War.  Falling back on the Constitution's 1st Amendment, Schenck argued that the governmental laws (Conscription Act and the Selective Service Act) were unconstitutional since they violated the 13th Amendment -- forbid the practice of undesired labor.  Furthermore, Schenck indicated that people had the right to protest acts such as these.  When put on trial, Schenck stubbornly claimed that his right to freedom of the press was created and established by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.  Despite this, however, the Supreme Court felt that this right was not consistent with the manner in which the crime was committed as his rights to free speech caused a "clear and present danger" to the safety of those around him.  His actions were synonymous with shouting fire in a theatre -- it would cause widespread chaos and obstruct the serenity of his surroundings.

LAD #29: Keating Owen Child Labor Act

The Keating Owen Act was created to prevent interstate trade of child made products.  In general, the founded preventions created the fact that for any product made via participation of labor from anyone under sixteen -- not that interstate trade could be conducted with the product (prevent the constitutional regulations).  Furthermore, the act outlawed the usage of child labor for more than eight hours per day, six days a week, earlier than six am, or later than seven pm.  Plus, it was provided the act was the right of the Attorney General, Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce to construct a board to create and publish uniform rules to enforce provisions.  The Secretary of Labor has additional power to inspect and extrapolate any mill, workshops, etc. to ensure that the above regulations are followed.  Any violations whatsoever discovered by anybody would be immediately brought to district courts "sine mora" (without delay).  Yet this does not apply to any organized clubs recognized by the Agricultural Department of the United States (punishments = maximum of $200 for the first offense and a maximum of $1000/ imprisonment for 3 months.  With any false statements made by the guarantee of a person claiming the production of a product follows that the stipulations above is applied to said person.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural

From the very start of his first inaugural, Wilson advocates that change has occurred.  The Government has taken a turn to become predominately democratic.  However, this doesn't mean that an extreme shift of ideals will accompany the shift of political affiliation.  Better yet, a new order has come to appropriate the aspect of things that have grown to become known and familiar.  Numerous troubles were threatening the teetering nation then (mostly involving conflicts against the Progressive Platform that Teddy Roosevelt and Taft efficiently obliged to.  Therefore, Wilson goes on to praise the moral and mental strength of the American nation -- before the list of problems he demands must be addressed (among them: conserving natural resources).  Hence, a mentality was created by every human or generation themselves, a biased and uncontrollable mentality.  On the contrary, Wilson claims that justice should be the overall goal of the government.  First it must rectify the countless wrongs of industrialization (tariffs and corruptness), respect towards the rights of labor, and agricultural gratification.  From Wilson's perspective, the government has become an instrument to ensure the equality of society.  Yet, even doing this, Wilson still remains at ease and thoughtful with his asking for the aid of humanity -- to modify the economic domination one step at a time.

LAD #27: Clayton Antitrust Act

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act, simply, serves to legitimize and open up America's stand against the corruptness of Big Business and the Robber Barons of those corporations.  It was a figurehead that stood on the shoulders of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act created prior.  One regulation created by the act was that it made the discrimination of price between numerous products of similar value obsolete -- example: charging more for short railroad trips than long railroad trips -- if this undermines competition and raises the chance of corporate monopoly.  Yet, this document was not created to prevent the consumers choice and bona fide transactions (allowing complete an utter free trade).  Another benefit of the act was to prohibit granting unjust rebates and other price shifting properties used to force out competition.  Lastly, an additional prevention heeds the causation of free trade by preventing intercompany stock purchasing in order to lessen competition

LAD #26: MLK I Have A Dream Speech

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., we see fit to listen to his famous words during his "I have a dream" speech on the day named after his work for civil equality.  Addressing the masses who attended his speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, King speaks of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation that had ensured the freedom of the black slaves from the perils of social status under the white supremacy.  He goes on to declare that even though the laws laid forth by the famed president in media res of the Civil War, the "Negro is not free," and has become an exile in his own land. King (and all those whom followed him) therefore have come together at the nation's capitol to "cash their check."  A check promising the protection of ALL men, unalienable rights - life liberty and the pursuit of happiness - to ALL men; no more segregation.  King hopes that one day justice will come and denies all doubt of impossible equality; he has faith in the American people.  Yet, King also makes clear that violence is never the answer.  Instead, he orates that people must affirm their beliefs of justice with patience, not hatred.  In order to progress in the rights movement, the rights of white men must first be upheld before they can fully seek gratitude and equality.  King then goes on to explaining his idealistic vision of the future: dreaming of the day when the sons of formers slaves and slave owners can congregate without feud; a day when little black and white boys and girls can hold hands as sisters and brothers.  In order for this to be a reality people must dedicate themselves to liberty and freedom, giving the phrase the deserved awe and respect it demands: "let freedom ring."  For it must ring from all throughout the United States, in both the lands free of hatred and the sweltering hot spots of racial contention in the South, from ever "hill and molehill of Mississippi." When that becomes a reality, then the people of the nation may move forward together as prophesied in King's noble dreams.

LAD#25: The Dawes Act

Approved on February, 1887, the Dawes Act was created to continue the US's policy of abiding by the rules of Indian reservations.  To implement this goal, government created a set of steps that would section out tracks of land for ownership to the Indian families -- even though the US still owned it.  To populate these reserves more cooperatively (no force), the Dawes Act claims that land will be siphoned out as such: 1/4 to each head of family, 1/8 for any person over 18 or any orphan under 18, and 1/16 to any person under 18 born prior to the rules of allocation.  Additionally, there are much more beneficial factors to the Dawes Act dealing with land allocation (grazing land for animals).  Furthermore, to prevent conflict between tribes, provisional lines would be made to assure that every one's land is completely equal to what they are entitled.  Yet, if suitable lines are not drawn by the landholders themselves, an agent of the tribe IS allowed to draw a fair boundary line as directed by the Secretary of the Interior.  Also, covering the issue of non-reservation Indians, they can still be given land as long as they apply to the local land office.  Patents can be handed out to ensure that the Indian lands are owned for 25 years.  Extensions, selling, or purchasing lands will be regulated by the Secretary of the Interior.  The US also has the right to use sold Indian land for the distribution of settled homes, education, etc..  Any religious organizations will be given 160 acres automatically.  Finally, citizenship is offered to any Indians who follow this act as no law can be to deny the Indians' personal protection without processing that any Indian born in US territory has been given land shall become a US citizen.  Yet, this act does not apply to all such as the many displaces nations due to the Trail of Tears as well as those being from the Seneca Nation of NY.  Also, this act holds no protection of Indian lands from being cut through by railroads, telegraph lines, or public uses as decreed by Congress.

LAD #24: Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan was able to successfully integrate the values of the Populist Party in his "Cross of Gold" speech to the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1896.  Most notably concerning the platform of bimetallism (both gold and silver should be coined by the U.S. mint), Bryan begins by saying that the money question is the issue of the hour -- asserting that silver Democrats are not here to deliberate their stand on this issue. He wished to clarify that there was no plan of hostility of the Democrats against the Republicans (even though it drastically conflicts the ideas of the Republican platform). He then defends his platform against Republican accusations -- the first of which say that bimetallism would interfere with their big business -- responding that the Republican practices have interfered with the "common man's" business. Further Republican accusations involve the Democrats passing an alleged "unconstitutional" graduated income tax law -- Bryan merely holds that he is indeed supported of such a cause (it accurately represents the Democratic ideals upon which the nation was founded - that every man must contribute his own share in order to fully deserve to enjoy their protection). Republicans also condemned the Democrats' opposition to the national bank's currency (which Bryan accepts) comparing their stand to that of Andrew Jackson's against the conspiracy that was the BUS. He also compares himself to Jefferson (he thinks that money is a function of the government, not up to the banks to be printed/ distributed). Bryan then looks at the inconsistencies of the Republican party, saying that the platform on which McKinley was elected called for a gold standard until bimetallism was achieved... if the gold standard is as beneficial as the Republicans claim, why are they waiting to replace it? Bryan thus successfully orates his position on the gold standard, combining the Populist and Democratic Parties.

LAD #23: Populist Party Platform

In general, the Populist Party Platform is a reaction to big business throughout the industrial age of America.  Similar to Thomas Jefferson's famous document of 1776, the Populist platform adopted a 'Declaration of Independence.'  Following the preamble (which unveils the true status of the slum-stricken cities) the document reveals the true problem of the economic social gaps and growing poverty on big business.  Furthermore, they demand a switch from the traditional gold standard of money to a more acceptable (for them) and attainable silver standard.  To back up this statement, they vocalize that even though agriculture rakes in billions upon billions of dollars for exchange annually, the current currency system fails to successfully implement this process.  Consequently, the workers of these man-made products are forced into poverty which therefore lead to falling prices, and therefore form corruptness within the economy.  Their overall intentions were to restore the government into a true Democracy, leaving the hands in the power of the people.  Their next cause of actions was the declaration of their beliefs of what the true economic standings should be: legal unionizing of labor forces, coinage of silver and gold in currency at a value ration of 16:1, and government ownership and operation of the railroads, telephone, and telegraph. Additionally, monopolization should be outlawed, allowing the rightful owners the right to the land that they rightfully own. Lastly, they resolve for free and fair ballot, fair and liberal pensions for ex-Union soldiers, and stand for an overall sympathy with labor organizations and pleas: shorter workday, better pay, better conditions. 

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

When President McKinley addressed Congress in April of 1898, he advocated his belief that the Cuban-Spanish War should be ended as quickly as possible, "in the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and duty to speak and to act."  Eventually noticing the harmfulness of these uncivil insurrections in American trade, capital, and the mindset of many fearful and head-strong U.S. citizens, President McKinley persuaded Congress to end the war by any means possible -- including the means of a neutral intervention that could cause agreement between the two OR completely sponsoring one side (as long as any forceful actions were avoided at all cost).  When mulling over the rationality and arguments behind his cause, McKinley realizes that the entire endorsement of one side is inevitable as is the eventual consequences and violence of war.  The difficulties of neutrality are that even though it is much more justifiable, it would require much more diplomatic involvement and be much more highly improbable. The fist two steps involve the U.S. recognizing its relationship with the two's conflict as both close in proximity and politics -- Cuba's people also have the rights to land, liberty, and property.  Thirdly, this call to aid is legalized by any injuries on the country itself (ex. trade, U.S. bloodshed etc.). Finally, the U.S. is called in to end hostilities when the values of the United States are in jeopardy. The two nations, being so intertwined in both economic and social spheres are related politically and it is the United States' duty, in light of disturbances and injuries such as that of the Maine explosion, to pacify Cuba. However the manner in which this goal is to be attained is ultimately left up to Congress.