LAD #30- Brown vs. Board of Education

The court case of Brown vs. the Kansas Board of Education began when Linda Brown, an African-American third grader wanted to go to the white school that was 7 blocks away. However, she was forced to walk through railroad tracks and walk one mile to get to the African-American school. They challenged the school board stating that separate but equal really isn't equal. They stated that the African-American children had developed an inferiority complex. the NAACP and the Brown's lost locally, but they repealed to the supreme court. The chief justice, Earl Warren ruled that separate but equal between races isn't equal at all. He then ordered that all public schools had to be racially integrated.

LAD #29- Truman Doctrine

President Truman addresses that Greece is asking the US to aid its country economically. Greece is not a rich country and it lacks sufficient resources to keep the country from being occupied from foreign invasion. It hopes that with finincial aid from the US it will be able to avoid falling to Communism and will be able to establish a democratic government that is stable. The country of Greece is in desperate need of financial and economic assistance in order to enable it to resume purchases of food, clothing, fuel and seeds. It has specifically asked for help from the United States rather than the United Nations because of their need for immediate help. The country is constantly threatened by communist groups and unable to protect itself because of its small and poorly organized army. Greece's neighbor, Turkey also deserves attention as well according to Truman. Aiding Turkey is essential to the preservation of the Middle East therefore we must provide them with economic and financial aid as well. It is the duty of the United States to prevent countries from falling from the choice of democracy into a communist government. By helping these countries the United States will be giving effect to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. According to Truman, if Greece should fall into Communism the immediate effect would be that Turkey would fall too and then continue to spread throughout the Middle East. Therefore Truman asks Congress for $400,000,000 to aid Greece and Turkey and also American to provide American civilians and military personel in the countries as well. If the US is to falter in our leadership role it is possible the the world may be endangered, including endangering the welfare of our own nation.

LAD #28- FDR's First Inaugural Address

In Franklin D. Roosevelt's inaugural address he announced his plan of the New Deal. He states that there is concern in the nation that taxes have rises and the ability to pay has decreased, farmers have no market and savings of thousands of families have been lost. In addition, unemplyment is common and he wishes not to deny any of these things and to be truthful. FDR calls for a restoration of ethics and action by the nation. The first task he faces is to put people to work. FDR calls for strict limitation on credit and banking and an end to speculation of money. He goes on to say that everyone in the nation must work together and be a good neighbor. It is times like these that prove how people are interdependent on one another. Furthermore, he is aware that the nation faces an unprecedented trama therefore he is is willing to adapt the political power of the legislative, judicial and executive branch in order to pursue restoration. He accepts his role as the leader "of a great army" and will take direct and vigorous action for the arduous days ahead.

LAD #27- Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact

The Kellogg-Briand Act of 1929 was a treaty between the United States and the other powers. It was a treaty that stated that any power who wanted to seek interest in terms of war should be denied of the pact. This was done in order to encourage by example to other nations of the world to adhere to the Treaty. Article I stated that High Contracting Parties should condemn the concourse of war in relation with one another. Article II stated that if problems should ever arise between any of the nations that it will only be dealt with by pacific means. Article III says that the Treaty should be put into effect once it is ratified. It became effective July 24, 1924.

LAD #26- Schenck vs. US

The Schenck v. United States was an indicament on three counts. The first count being a conspiracy to violate the Esionage Act of June 15, 1917 by causing insubordination in the military and navy. Also the obstruction of recruiting and enlisting services during a time of war with Germany with the sending of mailed documents to those drafted by the Act of . the defendants printed and mailed documents by the Act of May 18, 1917. The second offense was the conspiracy to commit a federal crime against the United States. The third was the mailing of things that were unmailable. Schenck was a socialist leader who circulated flyers to recently drafted men and cited the Thirteenth Amendment which was against "involuntary solitude." The Conscription Act was a result of the resistance. Schenck was convicted of violating the Espionage Act and the justice declared his conviction constitutional. Justice Holmes then sets up the "clear and present danger" and announced that it was inappropriate to yell "Fire!" in a movie theater.

LAD #25- Wilson's 14 Points

Wilson begins his 14 points by pointing out that there should be no secret alliances and there should be absolute freedom of the seas, equal trading rights, and demilitarizing. He goes on to state that adjustment of colonial claims and evacuation of troops from Russia, Belgium, and France are vital. He then suggests an adjustment of the Italian borders and wants to secure an independent Austria-Hungary. Finally Wilson's last 4 points consist of the evacuation of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro, the granting of Turkey's soverignty from the Ottoman Empire, and the creation of a polish country. (yay polish!) To conclude, his last and most important point to Wilson, consisted of the formation of a League of Nations to help avoid war.

LAD #24-Clayton Anti-Trust Act

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act made changes to the Federal Anti-Trust Act. The Act prohibits price discrimination if it lessens competition. Some of the other revisions outlined in the Clayton Antitrust Act were: changes in merger laws, sales conditions, and ownership laws. Furthermore, in section 17, the anti-trust laws stated in the Act are not intended for use on labor organizations. To conclude, the Act states that any violations of the laws it establishes may result in a court case.

LAD 23-Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916

The Keating-Owen Child Act of 1916 was introduced in order to restrict the hours children could work as well as outlaw the intestate sale of products produced by children. Not only did it help to regulate child labor, but it also banned the sale of items at places where children under the age of fourteen were working. Also, an eight hour working day was set up for children under the age of 16. Finally, another aspect of the act was that certificates would now be required for children to work. Although not passed right away, eventually it was, and is still in place today.

LAD #22- Wilson's First Inaugural

On March 4th, 1913, Woodrow Wilson stood before the Americans and delivered his first inaugural address. Beginning by pointing that when the house of Representatives became Democratic, the whole government changed. Wilson says that he wants to answer how the Democrats will change the government. He talks about how life is great, and how America built a wonderful government that has stood for a long time. However, with the positives Wilson is also quick to point out the flaws in America. He notes the importance of sanitary laws, labor-friendly laws, and pure food laws. Finally, Wilson concludes by calling all the honest men out there to help further his cause for rebuilding the nation and help usher it forward.

LAD #21- Dawes Act

Included in the Dawes Act, commonly known as The General Allotment Act of 1887, is eleven sections. In the first section is included the right of the President to divide tribal lands amongst the Native Americans. Section two allows Native Americans to individually chose their own allotment of land. Following this, the third section discusses the proper amount of paperwork that needs to be done to certify each land allotment. Continuing on, section four provides Native Americans not living on the reservation to receive equal land allotment, as well. Section five allowed the Secretary of the Interior to maintain some control over the allotments for a quarter of a century. More than halfway through, the sixth section declares that allotment holders may become US citizens upon the completion of the Land Patent. Section seven continues on to discuss the water and irrigation rights, section eight about the exemptions of the Five Civilized Tribes, and sections nine reassures the funding for such an act. Coming to an end, sections ten discusses the power Congress has of eminent domain, and lastly, section eleven includes a provision for the Southern Ute Indians.

LAD #20- Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

The Cross of Gold speech was delivered by Williams Jennings Bryan at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1896. The speech supported bimetallism, using both silver and gold to represent the nation's currency. Included in his speech is the idea that the inflation that would result from the silver standard would make it easier for farmers and other debtors to pay off their debts. Also, it would reverse the deflation which the U.S. had previously experienced. To conclude with his speech, Bryan's attacks the gold standard as well.

LAD #19-Populist Party Platform

In the 1880s and 1890s, a third party, consisting of BOTH democrats and republicans was created. Known as the Populist Party, they strongly opposed the big business that was going on at the time as well as all of the negative connotations that it encompassed. Beginning with listing the problems facing the nation, it is stated that America is "degenerating into European conditons."
Furthermore, as the document continues, it is noted that the other two political parties propose no sufficient platform where as the Populist Party's platform is simple: to restore the government into the hands of the people. By doing things such as declaring unions permanent and financially doing things such as establishing postal savings banks, the Populist Party felt that they could do just that. Their expression of sentiments exclaims that they demand a free ballot, free elections, the abolition of the Pinkerton system, and that they oppose any aid to any private corporation for any reason.

LAD #18-McKinley's War Message

With regards to Cuba, the United States managed to remain neutral for three years; from 1895-1898. By April of 1898 however, neutrality was no longer an option.
In his message to Congress, McKinley describes the war as not only hurting the nation financially, but morally as well. He believes that it is not a matter of who will win the war; merely, rather who will give up first.
Continuing on, McKinley states that there are three options to the end of the war: 1. intevention as an impartial neutral, 2. formulating and proposing a rational compromise, or 3. fervently picking an ally an siding with them.
He brings up the USS Maine conflict and clearly defines the tensions that were seemingly increasing between Spain and the United States.

LAD # 17- Gospel of Wealth

In Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth, he claims that the uneven distribution of wealth that is present when he wrote the essay is important, and that it is better than the economic situation of older societies. He continues on to describe the philanthropic responsibilities of the self made "rich man." Carnegie writes that the wealthy should share their money with the community to help the public and believes that uneven distribution is beneficial for the people of the United States, and in a sense, superior to Communism.